[House Document 109-67]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
109th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 109-67
REQUESTS FOR FY 2005 BUDGET AMENDMENTS
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
REQUESTS FOR FY 2005 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AGRICULTURE, DEFENSE, HOMELAND SECURITY, THE
INTERIOR, STATE, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, AS WELL AS FOR INTERNATIONAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
November 1, 2005.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and
ordered to be printed
The White House,
Washington, November 1, 2005.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. Speaker: Today, I outlined a strategy to address
the threat of avian and pandemic influenza. This strategy is
designed to meet three critical goals: to detect and contain
outbreaks before they spread across the world, to protect the
American people by stockpiling vaccines and antiviral drugs and
accelerating the development of new vaccine technologies, and
to ensure that Federal, State, and local communities are
prepared for potential domestic outbreaks.
To provide the necessary resources to immediately begin the
implementation of this strategy, I ask the Congress to consider
the enclosed requests, totaling $7.1 billion, for the
Departments of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Defense,
Homeland Security, the Interior, State, and Veterans Affairs,
as well as for International Assistance Programs.
I hereby designate the proposals in the amount requested
herein as emergency requirements, and I urge the Congress to
act expeditiously on this request to ensure the country is
prepared for this growing danger.
The details of this request are set forth in the enclosed
letter from the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush.
[Estimate No. 15, 109th Cong., 1st Sess.]
Executive Office of the President,
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC, November 1, 2005.
The President,
The White House.
Submitted for your consideration are requests, totaling
$7.1 billion, for the Departments of Health and Human Services,
Agriculture, Defense, Homeland Security, the Interior, State,
and Veterans Affairs, as well as for International Assistance
programs. These funds are being requested in order to implement
the three goals in your strategy to address the growing danger
of avian and pandemic influenza.
This request includes $251 million to detect and contain
outbreaks before they spread around the world, $6.242 billion
to stockpile vaccines and antiviral medications and accelerate
the development of new vaccine technologies, and $644 million
to ensure the Federal government, states and local communities
are prepared for a pandemic outbreak that could quickly reach
the United States.
Separately, in order to strengthen our domestic production
capacity in times of potential outbreaks, the Department of
Health and Human Services will be transmitting proposed
legislation to provide vaccine manufacturers significant
liability protection.
As described below and in more detail in the enclosures,
the requests include the following:
Department of Health and Human Services
$6.7 billion is requested to support pandemic
influenza preparedness and response activities. The majority of
this request is for the stockpiling of countermeasures and the
development of the capacity to produce pandemic influenza
vaccine within six months for the entire U.S. population. The
request also includes resources for research and development of
more effective countermeasures and vaccine technologies, and
improved surveillance and preparedness efforts both
domestically and internationally.
Department of Agriculture
$91.4 million is requested for activities such as
animal health surveillance and monitoring; research and
production of poultry vaccine; planning activities; and
international biosecurity.
Department of Defense
$130.0 million is requested for the purchase of
pandemic vaccine currently in production, and for improved
worldwide avian influenza surveillance programs, equipment,
essential information management systems, and laboratory
diagnostic equipment. The request also includes funding to
provide assistance to military partner nations in procuring
protective equipment, laboratory diagnostic equipment,
surveillance, and communication equipment.
Department of Homeland Security
$47.3 million is requested for pandemic scenario
modeling, personal protective equipment, private sector
pandemic assistance planning, and exercises and training for
Department of Homeland Security frontline staff.
Department of Interior
$11.6 million is requested for improved domestic
surveillance of the health of wild birds at high risk of
infection and testing of wild birds harvested by hunters for
the H5N1 virus.
Department of State
$38.5 million is requested for international
response coordination, including foreign governments and non-
governmental organizations, diplomatic outreach, exchanges of
U.S. and foreign medical personnel, and for avian and pandemic
influenza health support and protection of U.S. Government
employees and families at U.S. missions overseas. Of the total
requested for the Department of State, $20 million would fund
the potential evacuation of U.S. Government personnel and
dependents from overseas missions.
Department of Veterans Affairs
$27.0 million is requested for enhanced human
health surveillance reporting from the VA health system and
real-time data transfer to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. The request also supports department-wide
preparedness and response planning.
International Assistance Programs
$131.5 million is requested for pre-positioned
supplies and equipment required to prevent and control the
spread of the avian influenza virus; a communications campaign
to increase awareness of risk and appropriate behaviors to
reduce transmission among humans and animals; improved
surveillance and response; and accelerated international
planning and preparedness.
Recommendation
All of the requests in this transmittal fulfill known and
urgent requirements that cannot reasonably be met under current
funding levels. I recommend that you designate the proposals
contained in this transmittal as emergency requirements.
I have reviewed these proposals and am satisfied that they
are necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the heads of the
affected Departments and agencies in recommending that you
transmit the proposals to the Congress.
Sincerely,
Joshua B. Bolten,
Director.
Enclosures.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Departmental Management
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES EMERGENCY FUND
For an additional amount for ``Public Health and Social
Services Emergency Fund'' to prepare for and respond to an
influenza pandemic, including the development and purchase of
vaccines, antivirals, and necessary medical supplies, and for
planning activities, $6,460,000,000, to remain available until
expended, of which $2,300,000,000 shall become available on
October 1, 2006; and $1,160,000,000 shall become available on
October 1, 2007: Provided, That products purchased with these
funds may, at the discretion of the Secretary, be deposited in
the Strategic National Stockpile: Provided further, That
notwithstanding section 496(b) of the Public Health Service
Act, funds may be used for the construction or renovation of
privately owned facilities for the production of pandemic
influenza vaccines, where the Secretary finds such a contract
necessary to secure sufficient supplies of such vaccines:
Provided further, That the Secretary may negotiate a contract
with a vendor under which a State may place an order with the
vendor for antivirals; may reimburse a State for a portion of
the price paid by the State pursuant to such an order; and may
use amounts made available herein for such reimbursement:
Provided further, That funds appropriated herein may be
transferred to other appropriation accounts of the Department
of Health and Human Services, as determined by the Secretary to
be appropriate, to be used for the purposes specified in this
sentence: Provided further, That the Congress designates the
amounts provided herein as an emergency requirement for this
specific purpose.
For an additional amount for ``Public Health and Social
Services Emergency Fund'' for activities related to pandemic
influenza, including international activities and activities in
foreign countries, related to preparedness planning, enhancing
the pandemic influenza regulatory science base, accelerating
pandemic influenza disease surveillance, developing registries
to monitor influenza vaccine distribution and use, and
supporting pandemic influenza research, clinical trials and
clinical trials infrastructure, $200,000,000: Provided, That
funds appropriated herein may be transferred to other
appropriation accounts of the Department of Health and Human
Services, as determined by the Secretary to be appropriate, to
be used for the purposes specified in this sentence: Provided
further, That the Congress designates the amounts provided
herein as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
This request includes a total of $6.66 billion to support a
comprehensive plan to expand the Nation's capacity to increase
the availability of vaccine, antivirals, and other necessary
countermeasures to protect against an influenza pandemic. The
centerpiece of the Department of Health and Human Services
proposal is to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity to allow
for the production of pandemic influenza vaccine for the entire
Nation within a six-month period and to increase the national
supply of antivirals to cover 25 percent of the U.S.
population. Some funding could be used to support the
construction or renovation of facilities to improve
manufacturing capacity. The request also supports research on
promising new vaccine technologies and antivirals, methods to
deliver vaccine more effectively and efficiently, and improved
surveillance to rapidly identify any potential outbreaks of
disease in the United States and abroad. Funding is also
requested to support communications to the public and to assist
States in the development of preparedness plans. Of the total
amount requested, $3.2 billion would be available for
obligation in FY 2006, $2.3 billion in FY 2007, and $1.2
billion in FY 2008.
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses''
related to the detection of and response to highly pathogenic
avian influenza, including research and development,
$91,350,000, of which not to exceed $7,000,000 may be
transferred to ``Salaries and Expenses,'' Agricultural Research
Service: Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts
provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific
purpose.
This request would provide funding for both domestic and
international programs related to the threat of an avian
influenza pandemic. Within the total amount requested, $73
million is included for domestic activities, such as the survey
and diagnosis of live bird markets, wildlife and bird flyways,
smuggling and waterfowl; planning and preparedness training and
modeling of scenarios; and the production of 40 million doses
of animal vaccine. An additional $7 million is requested for
research and development.
The balance of the funding requested for this account would
be for international program activities to provide technical
assistance to other nations in the areas such as the
surveillance of birds and swine; biosecurity and industry
practices; poultry destruction, disposal, vaccination; and
outbreak control and eradication.
In total, this funding would provide assistance to other
countries to more quickly detect and respond to an outbreak in
bird population, as well as enable the United States to more
quickly detect and eradicate an outbreak in domestic and wild
birds.
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Operations and Maintenance
DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM
For an additional amount for ``Defense Health Program'' for
necessary expenses related to vaccine purchases, storage,
expanded avian influenza surveillance programs, equipment,
essential information management systems, and laboratory
diagnostic equipment, $120,000,000: Provided, That the Congress
designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency
requirement for this specific purpose.
This request would provide the Department of Defense with
the ability to purchase avian influenza vaccines, increase
worldwide surveillance of the virus, and upgrade surveillance,
laboratory, and information management equipment.
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Operations and Maintenance
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, DEFENSE-WIDE
For an additional amount for ``Operations and Maintenance,
Defense-Wide'' for surveillance, communication equipment, and
assistance to military partner nations in procuring protective
equipment, $10,000,000: Provided, That the Congress designates
the amounts provided herein as an emergency requirement for
this specific purpose.
This request would provide the Department of Defense (DOD)
with the ability to upgrade surveillance and laboratory
capabilities. This funding would also enable DOD to assist
military partner nations in procuring protective equipment,
laboratory diagnostic equipment, portable field assay testing
equipment surveillance, and essential communication equipment.
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Preparedness
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
For an additional amount for ``Management and
Administration'' for training of Department of Homeland
Security personnel in emergency response procedures and
protocols associated with a potential outbreak of highly
pathogenic influenza; for preparedness planning within the
Department and in conjunction with the private sector related
to a potential outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza; for the
protection of Department personnel and the public during a
potential outbreak of highly pathogenic influenza; for pandemic
diseases outbreak modeling; and for isolation systems and
equipment, $47,283,000: Provided, That funds appropriated
herein may be transferred to other appropriation accounts of
the Department of Homeland Security, as determined by the
Secretary to be appropriate, to be used for the purposes
specified in this sentence: Provided further, That the Congress
designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency
requirement for this specific purpose.
This request would provide the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) with resources to plan and train in emergency
response procedures and protocols related to the potential
widespread outbreak of a highly pathogenic pandemic or avian
influenza. This funding would also support modeling
capabilities for understanding the likely patterns of pathogen
dispersion and outbreak and provide equipment to isolate
individuals in the event of a pandemic event.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
United States Geological Survey
SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH
For an additional amount for ``Surveys, Investigations, and
Research'' for the detection of highly pathogenic avian
influenza in wild birds, including the investigation of
morbidity and mortality events, targeted surveillance in live
wild birds, and targeted surveillance in hunter-taken birds,
$3,670,000: Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts
provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific
purpose.
This request would enable the United States Geological
Survey (USGS), working in coordination with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and other Federal
agencies, to begin an interagency effort to detect avian
influenza in wild birds, with an initial focus on early
detection activities in Alaska and coastal areas with a high
potential for contact between Asian and North American birds.
This proposal would also provide USGS with the ability to
increase personnel, upgrade equipment, and fund additional
field time and lab costs. USGS would assist in preparing
standard guidelines for routine and systematic monitoring of
wild birds, develop a uniform protocol for reporting mortality
events, and develop instructions for the safe handling and
shipping of specimens to diagnostic facilities, as well as
provide training to field personnel in these areas. This
funding would also allow USGS to process samples, report on
findings back to the field, and maintain a system for recording
mortality events.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
For an additional amount for ``Resource Management'' for
the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild
birds, including the investigation of morbidity and mortality
events, targeted surveillance in live wild birds, and targeted
surveillance in hunter-taken birds, $7,398,000: Provided, That
the Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an
emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
This request would provide funding to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) to increase its field monitoring for
avian influenza, allowing FWS to collect an estimated 6,000
samples in Alaska, and 5,000 samples in the Pacific and the
North American Pacific and Central flyways.
The FWS, in coordination with State and tribal natural
resource agencies, would also maintain hunter check stations
for waterfowl to collect additional avian influenza
information. The check stations would be operated in the lower
48 States during hunting season in areas where migratory bird
populations at risk for the disease stage during migration or
over winter.
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
OPERATION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM
For an additional amount for ``Operation of the National
Park System'' for the detection of highly pathogenic avian
influenza in wild birds, including the investigation of
morbidity and mortality events, $525,000: Provided, That the
Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency
requirement for this specific purpose.
As part of an interagency effort to detect avian influenza
in wild birds, this request would enable the National Park
Service to coordinate surveillance and monitoring of wild birds
within national parks in Alaska and other areas at risk.
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Administration of Foreign Affairs
DIPLOMATIC AND COUNSULAR PROGRAMS
For an additional amount for ``Diplomatic and Consular
Programs'' to support avian influenza country coordination,
development of an avian influenza response plan, diplomatic
outreach and health support of U.S. Embassy personnel stationed
abroad, $17,000,000, to remain available until expended:
Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts provided
herein as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
This request would provide $12.0 million for an avian
influenza country coordination, including foreign governments
and non-governmental organizations, and enhanced diplomatic
outreach for the International Partnership. This funding would
also provide avian and pandemic influenza health support and
protection of U.S. Government employees and families to ensure
continuity of operations at U.S. missions overseas. In
addition, $5.0 million would be provided for public diplomacy,
training, and other international outreach activities related
to avian and pandemic influenza.
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Administration of Foreign Affairs
EMERGENCIES IN THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE
For an additional amount for ``Emergencies in the
Diplomatic and Consular Service'' for emergency evacuation
support of U.S. Government personnel and dependents in the
affected region, $20,000,000, to remain available until
expended: Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts
provided herein as an emergency requirement for this specific
purpose.
This request would provide $20.0 million for the potential
evacuation of U.S. Government personnel and dependents from
U.S. missions overseas due to the impact of avian and pandemic
influenza, since this evacuation would be on a larger scale
than evacuations usually handled by the State Department.
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Administration of Foreign Affairs
EDUCATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
For an additional amount for ``Educational and Cultural
Exchange Programs'' for professional and administrative support
related to the International Visitors Program $1,500,000, to
remain available until expended: Provided, That the Congress
designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency
requirement for this specific purpose.
This request would provide $1.5 million for the
International Visitors Program to provide 100 additional
professional exchanges of doctors, health practitioners, and
nongovernmental organizations working on health issues to
support the international partnership for the response to avian
and pandemic influenza. The exchange programs will include both
U.S. doctors to be sent abroad to work on avian flu
eradication, flu vaccination, and treatment, as well as foreign
doctors to be brought to the U.S. for pandemic response
training and conferences.
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Medical Programs
MEDICAL SERVICES
For an additional amount for ``Medical Services'' for
enhanced avian influenza surveillance programs, planning
functions and preparations for the pandemic and to establish
real-time surveillance data exchange with the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, $27,000,000: Provided, That the
Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency
requirement for this specific purpose.
This request would provide the Veterans Affairs (VA) with
the ability to increase its avian influenza surveillance
programs and establish real-time surveillance data links with
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This funding
would also assist with planning and VA-wide preparations and
responses to avian influenza involving other community and
Federal partners.
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INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Agency for International Development
CHILD SURVIVAL AND HEALTH
For an additional amount for ``Child Survival and Health''
for activities related to surveillance, planning, preparedness,
and response to the avian influenza virus without regard to
section 10 of Public Law 91-672 and section 15 of the State
Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, $75,200,000:
Provided, That the Congress designates the amounts provided
herein as an emergency requirement for this specific purpose.
This request would provide $75.2 million in child survival
and health funds for the following activities: a communications
campaign to increase awareness of risks and appropriate
behaviors to reduce transmission among humans and animals;
surveillance and diagnosis to provide notification of an
outbreak within one week and confirmation within two weeks;
response capacity to mount a full-scale containment response
within two weeks of an animal or human outbreak; and planning
and preparedness so that countries have plans for effective
response to an animal outbreak and/or an extended outbreak
among humans.
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INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Agency for International Development
INTERNATIONAL DISASTER AND FAMINE ASSISTANCE
For an additional amount for ``International Disaster and
Famine Assistance'' for the pre-positioning and deployment of
essential supplies and equipment for preparedness and response
to the avian influenza virus without regard to section 10 of
Public Law 91-672 and section 15 of the State Department Basic
Authorities Act of 1956, $56,330,000: Provided, That the
Congress designates the amounts provided herein as an emergency
requirement for this specific purpose.
This request would provide $54 million in international
disaster and famine assistance funds to pre-position supplies
and equipment, such as protective equipment and antiviral
medications, which would be required to prevent and control the
spread of the avian influenza virus. These stockpiles, intended
for use abroad for the containment of localized animal or human
outbreaks, would be pre-positioned within one year of enactment
of the funds. In addition, $2 million would be available for
transfer to the Assistance for the Independent States of the
Former Soviet Union account in order to deliver and distribute
donated medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies to central
and eastern Russia.