[House Document 109-31]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                     

109th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 109-31

 
INTENTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE EMERGENCY 
                             RESPONSE FUND

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

     NOTIFICATION OF THE INTENTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY 
              TRANSFERRED FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND




June 7, 2005.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered 
                             to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                          Washington, May 27, 2005.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: I am notifying the Congress of my intent 
to reallocate funds previously transferred from the Emergency 
Response Fund (ERF).
    To promote democracy and freedom, $7.7 million of ERF funds 
will be reallocated within the Broadcasting Board of Governors 
to support the operational costs of Arabic radio and television 
broadcasting to the Middle East.
    The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed 
letter from the Director of the Office of Management and 
Budget.
            Sincerely,
                                                    George W. Bush.
                [Estimate No. 4, 109th Cong., 1st Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                      Washington, DC, May 27, 2005.
The President,
The White House.
    Submitted for your consideration is a request to reallocate 
funds provided in P.L. 107-38, the Emergency Supplemental 
Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist 
Attacks on the United States, FY 2001, within the Broadcasting 
Board of Governors (BBG).
    In order to provide continued support for increased Arabic-
language radio broadcasting to the Middle East, and to support 
operations of the Middle East Broadcasting Network, Al-hurra 
television and Radio Sawa, the Administration proposes to 
reallocate $7.7 million in Emergency Response Fund resources 
previously provided to BBG to establish a medium wave 
transmitter in Egypt. The transmitter was intended to broadcast 
Radio Sawa, the BBG's Arabic-language radio service, on an AM 
frequency across the region. BBG has been unable to negotiate 
an agreement with the Egyptian government, and to date no 
progress has been made on construction of this transmitter. 
Five medium-wave transmitters currently broadcast Radio Sawa 
throughout the region, from Cyprus, Rhodes, Kuwait, the UAE, 
and Djibouti.
    The Administration now proposes that the funds be used to 
provide operational support to Radio Sawa and the Arabic 
television network Al-hurra. This reallocation was included and 
reflected in the FY 2006 Budget. Pursuant to P.L. 107-38, these 
funds will be made available 15 days after the transmittal of 
this request.
    I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied 
that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the 
Broadcasting Board of Governors in recommending this 
reallocation.
            Sincerely,
                                          Joshua B. Bolten,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

 Reallocation of Amounts Previously Appropriated and Transferred From 
                      the Emergency Response Fund

    Available in 15 days:

Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)
    International Broadcasting Operations...............      $7,700,000

    This funding will provide for operational support to Arabic 
radio and television broadcasting in the Middle East.
    This action is a reallocation of funds previously provided 
to BBG in November 2001 to establish a medium wave transmitter 
in Egypt. To date, no progress has been made on construction of 
this transmitter.