[House Document 111-27]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




111th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document
111-27
 
                 REQUESTS FOR FY 2009 BUDGET AMENDMENTS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

                              transmitting

A REQUEST FOR FY 2009 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ONGOING MILITARY, 
                DIPLOMATIC, AND INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS




   April 21, 2009.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                         Washington, April 9, 2009.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Speaker: We face a security situation in 
Afghanistan and Pakistan that demands urgent attention. The 
Taliban is resurgent and al Qaeda threatens America from its 
safe haven along the Afghan-Pakistan border.
    With that reality as my focus, today I send to the Congress 
a supplemental appropriations request totaling $83.4 billion 
that will fund our ongoing military, diplomatic, and 
intelligence operations. Nearly 95 percent of these funds will 
be used to support our men and women in uniform as they help 
the people of Iraq to take responsibility for their own 
future--and work to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in 
Pakistan and Afghanistan. The rest of the money will fund a 
variety of defense and international efforts that will help to 
use all the elements of our power to confront the threats to 
our security--from securing loose nuclear weapons to combating 
fear and want under repressive regimes.
    In the past, the Congress has moved expeditiously to 
approve funding for our Armed Forces. I urge the Congress to do 
so once more. I also urge the Congress to focus on the needs of 
our troops and our national security, and not to use the 
supplemental to pursue unnecessary spending. I want the 
Congress to send me a focused bill, and to do so quickly. When 
this request returns to me as legislation ready to be signed, 
it should remain focused on our security. It is important that 
we follow the same approach we applied to the American Recovery 
and Reinvestment Act and keep extraneous and unnecessary 
projects out of this legislation.
    As I noted when first I introduced my budget in February, 
this is the last planned war supplemental. Since February 2001, 
the Congress has passed 17 separate emergency funding bills 
totaling $822.1 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
After 7 years of war, the American people deserve an honest 
accounting of the cost of our involvement in our ongoing 
military operations.
    We must break that recent tradition and include future 
military costs in the regular budget so that we have an honest, 
more accurate, and fiscally responsible estimate of Federal 
spending. And we should not label military costs as emergency 
funds so as to avoid our responsibility to abide by the 
spending limitations set forth by the Congress. After years of 
budget gimmicks and wasteful spending, it is time to end the 
era of irresponsibility in Washington. In this request, we are 
honest about the costs we will bear as a Nation, and we will 
use our resources wisely and responsibly to meet the threats of 
our time and keep our Nation safe and secure.
    There is no question of the resolve of our military women 
and men. Yet, in Afghanistan, that resolve has not been matched 
by a comprehensive strategy and sufficient resources. This 
funding request will ensure that the full force of the United 
States--our military, intelligence, diplomatic, and economic 
power--is engaged in an overall effort to defeat al Qaeda and 
uproot the safe haven from which it plans and trains for 
attacks on the homeland and on our allies. At the same time 
that we are increasing our troop commitment, we will employ the 
necessary civilian resources to build Afghan governance 
capacity and self-sufficiency.
    As the United States moves forward with our mission, we are 
asking our friends and allies to join us with a renewed 
commitment. As I made clear on my recent trip to Europe, the 
threat posed by al Qaeda is international in scope; the 
response to the threat also should be international. Going 
forward with this strategy, we will establish and regularly 
assess military and civilian capacity, checking progress 
through clear measurements to ensure an ongoing informed 
assessment and accountability. I have asked my National 
Security Advisor, General Jim Jones, to oversee this effort and 
to work with the Congress on the development of these standards 
for progress.
    In Iraq, violence has been reduced substantially because of 
the skilled efforts of our troops and the Iraqi people's 
commitment to peace. The threat of terrorism in Iraq had been 
dealt a serious blow. Iraqis are prepared to take 
responsibility for their own future through a peaceful 
political process. Because of this, we are positioned to move 
forward with a responsible drawdown of our combat forces, 
transferring security to Iraq's forces. Under the Strategic 
Framework Agreement and Security Agreement, Iraqi personnel 
have taken the lead in security operations and will continue to 
handle greater responsibility.
    Stability and security depend on responsive, capable, and 
accountable governments. This request includes funds to help 
create political and economic stability in post-conflict areas, 
assist Afghans and Iraqis to protect and sustain their 
infrastructure, and build their capacity for more responsive 
and transparent governance. This request also will enable 
military commanders to respond to urgent humanitarian relief 
and reconstruction needs in their areas of responsibility. We 
provide funds for the extraordinary security and costs 
associated with supporting U.S. diplomatic activity in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
    The request also increases funding to provide wounded 
servicemembers with the highest quality support and care, and 
provides additional compensation to our troops for their 
service in hazardous, life-threatening areas.
    This request reflects the reality of our day and age: We 
need to use all the elements of our power--economic and 
diplomatic as well as military--to confront threats to our 
security.
    Thank you for your consideration of this funding request 
and for your steadfast support for our servicemembers and their 
families.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Barack Obama.
    Enclosure.
                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                     Washington, DC, April 9, 2009.
The President,
The White House.
    Dear Mr. President: You have charged your administration 
with two critical tasks in providing for the security of the 
United States: ending the war in Iraq through a transition to 
full Iraqi responsibility for security and governance; and to 
disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and 
Afghanistan and prevent their return to either country in the 
future. Submitted for your consideration is a request for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 supplemental appropriations that will 
take significant steps toward meeting those two goals. This 
request totals $83.4 billion--nearly 95 percent of which is for 
military and security efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and 
Iraq. These funds will be used to help stabilize the security 
conditions in Iraq, and strengthen military, diplomatic, and 
intelligence operations in support of the new strategy for 
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
    The request provides $3.7 billion in critical support for 
other security initiatives, both within the United States and 
at specific threat locations overseas. This request meets your 
goal of comprehensive American engagement in key parts of the 
world, addressing emerging situations with all the tools of 
American power before they become crises. This will relieve 
further strain on our military while enhancing the safety of 
the American people.
    In addition, this transmittal contains an FY 2009 proposal 
for the Legislative Branch. As a matter of comity and per 
tradition, this appropriations request for the Legislative 
Branch is transmitted without change. The Legislative Branch 
request for the U.S. Capitol Police would total $71.6 million.
    Finally, I should note that in crafting this supplemental 
request, we have broken from past practices in key areas. First 
and foremost, these dollars represent what should be the last 
supplemental funding request for the wars in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. As part of creating an honest accounting of how 
taxpayer dollars are spent, you have directed the Office of 
Management and Budget, the Department of Defense, and the State 
Department to anticipate the costs for overseas operations in 
regular budget processes. Accordingly, your FY 2010 Budget 
includes those costs in the base Defense and State requests. 
While unanticipated emergency situations may arise, we believe 
that there will be sufficient contingency funding in the budget 
to accommodate those needs. Secondly, we do not seek to declare 
these funds as ``emergency spending.'' The emergency funding 
label has become a gimmick to mask the true costs of the wars 
in our budgets. Moving forward, the emergency label will be 
used as it was intended, namely, to fund unanticipated, sudden, 
urgent needs which cannot be provided within base operating 
funds.
    The major categories of funding are highlighted below.
DOD and Intelligence Community Activities in Support of Operations in 
        Iraq and Afghanistan ($75.5 billion)
    Ongoing Military Operations:
     $38.0 billion to fund the incremental costs of 
ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan during 
Fiscal Year 2009. This includes the cost of combat and 
stabilization operations, pre-deployment training, inter- and 
intra-theater transportation, aircraft flying hours, ship 
steaming days, and vehicle miles at a wartime operational 
tempo.
     $5.6 billion for a range of other items including 
medical benefits and support programs for the military, new 
military construction in theater, and intelligence activities 
supporting ongoing contingency operations.
     $0.5 billion in additional funds to continue the 
Commander's Emergency Response Program, which enables U.S. 
military commanders to respond to urgent, humanitarian relief 
and reconstruction needs in their areas of responsibility.
    Equipment and Force Structure:
     $11.6 billion to refurbish or replace equipment 
that is worn out or damaged from operating in harsh conditions 
in Iraq and Afghanistan, including $0.6 billion to procure four 
F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft to replace four fighter aircraft 
lost in the theater of operations.
     $9.8 billion to improve the protection of our 
forces with lightweight body armor, armored vehicles, safe and 
secure operating bases, identity management for access control, 
and persistent surveillance capabilities.
     $1.5 billion to confront the evolving threat from 
Improvised Explosive Devices.
    Support for Coalition Partners:
     $3.6 billion to expand and improve capabilities of 
the Afghan security forces.
     $1.4 billion to support Coalition partners who 
have provided assistance to U.S. military operations in 
Afghanistan and Iraq.
     $0.4 billion to build the counterinsurgency 
capabilities of the Pakistani security forces.
    Intelligence Operations:
     $3.1 billion for classified activities in support 
of ongoing counterterrorism operations. These activities 
include support to military operations, intelligence collection 
and analysis, and overseas law enforcement efforts.
    Cancellation of Emergency Funds and Re-Appropriation to 
Extend Availability:
     FY 2009 emergency funds provided in the 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008, for the Iraq Security 
Forces Fund ($1.0 billion) and the Afghanistan Security Forces 
Fund ($0.1 billion) are proposed for cancellation and 
reappropriation in order to extend the period of availability 
until September 30, 2010. The reappropriation of funds will not 
be designated as an emergency requirement.
Other Defense Activities ($350 million)
     $3.7 billion in defense costs for other security 
related Defense activities, most of which is offset by $2.9 
billion in fuel savings and $0.5 billion in procurement 
reductions.
International Affairs and Stabilization Activities ($7.1 billion)
    The request seeks funding for key international affairs 
programs as follows:
     $3.7 billion for foreign assistance and operations 
in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, of which:
         $1.6 billion is for increased economic 
        assistance for Afghanistan, and to support additional 
        civilian personnel, and diplomatic operations;
         $1.4 billion is for economic assistance for 
        Pakistan, and to support additional civilian personnel, 
        more secure infrastructure, and diplomatic operations; 
        and
         $0.7 billion is for assistance for Iraq and 
        related diplomatic operations.
     $0.8 billion to support the Palestinian people, 
strengthen the Palestinian Authority, and provide humanitarian 
assistance for the crisis in Gaza.
     $0.8 billion to sustain current United Nations 
(UN) peacekeeping operations, fund an expanded mission in the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and a new mission in Chad and 
the Central African Republic. A portion of these funds may be 
used to pay UN assessments attributable to a logistics and 
support package for the African Union Mission to Somalia called 
for by the UN Security Council.
    The proposal also includes:
     $0.6 billion in humanitarian assistance (excluding 
Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and West Bank/Gaza) to respond to 
international disasters, provide refugee and migration 
assistance, and deliver emergency food aid;
     $0.5 billion for other priorities such as economic 
and development assistance for the people of Kenya, Zimbabwe, 
and Burma; security assistance for Lebanon; funding for heavy 
fuel oil assistance and to support nuclear dismantlement in 
North Korea; counterdrug/anti-crime assistance for Mexico;
     $0.4 billion to address the impact of the global 
financial crisis in developing countries, including additional 
support for vulnerable populations through social safety net 
programs, targeted technical assistance to strengthen crisis 
response, and loans and loan guarantees for small and medium 
enterprises; and
     $0.2 billion to fulfill the United States' 
commitment to assistance for Georgia.

Other Security and Urgent Needs ($390.0 million)

     $89.5 million for the Department of Energy (DOE), 
National Nuclear Security Administration to safeguard nuclear 
material in Russia and other sites world-wide and to continue 
disablement and dismantlement of North Korea's plutonium 
program.
    DOE is also requesting to transfer unobligated balances 
from the SPR Petroleum Account to the Strategic Petroleum 
Reserve account to fund immediate cleanup and the highest 
priority safety and security hazards.
     $47.0 million for the Department of Justice, of 
which:
          $30.0 million is to implement executive 
        orders for the shutdown of the Guantanamo Bay prison 
        and review of the U.S. detention and interrogation 
        procedures;
          $5.0 million is for U.S. Attorneys for 
        extraordinary litigation expenses associated with 
        terrorism prosecutions of national importance;
          $5.0 million is for the Federal Prison System 
        to support counter-terrorism activities;
          $4.0 million is to support the work of the 
        Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives 
        personnel assigned to the Combined Explosives 
        Exploitation Cell and the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.
          $1.6 million is for the criminal Division to 
        provide training and assistance for the Iraq and 
        Afghanistan criminal justice systems; and
          $1.4 million is for the National Security 
        Division to continue supporting Military Commission 
        prosecutions.
     $2.9 million for the Executive Office of the 
President, National Security Council in order to meet 
additional program requirements and to ensure the continuity of 
support and services to the President of the United States and 
the National Security Advisor.
     $250.0 million in total for the Forest Service 
($200 million) and Department of the Interior ($50 million) for 
wildland fire suppression and emergency rehabilitation of 
burned areas. Funds would be available if existing 
appropriations will be imminently exhausted.

Recommendation

    This request fulfills known and urgent requirements that 
cannot reasonably be met through the use of existing agency 
funds. I have carefully 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 you transmit the proposals to the Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                           Peter R. Orszag,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.