[House Document 111-44]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




111th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document
111-44
 
           A REQUEST FOR FY 2009 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

                              transmitting

   A REQUEST FOR $1.5 BILLION TO ENHANCE THE NATION'S CAPABILITY TO 
  RESPOND TO THE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF THE 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA OUTBREAK




    June 8, 2009.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
         Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                        Washington, April 30, 2009.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Speaker: This week, as reports of the 2009 H1N1 
flu outbreak around the world were made public, my 
Administration has been carefully monitoring the situation, 
coordinating State and local responses, assessing the risks 
here in the United States, and cooperating with international 
organizations and health officials around the globe.
    Out of an abundance of caution, I asked the Congress 
earlier this week to consider a proposal to provide $1.5 
billion to enhance our Nation's capability to respond to the 
potential spread of this outbreak. As the attached detailed 
request reflects, these funds should be provided with maximum 
flexibility to allow us to address this emerging situation. 
Among the uses of these funds could be: supplementing anti-
viral stockpiles; developing a vaccine; supporting monitoring, 
diagnostic, and public health response capabilities; assisting 
international efforts to stem this outbreak and to address 
related international needs.
    Already, Federal, State, and local public health officials 
are working day and night to respond quickly and effectively 
wherever cases of this flu may be found and to prepare the 
entire country for any potential progression of this outbreak.
    I urge the Congress to act expeditiously in considering 
this important request, the details of which are set forth in 
the enclosed letter from the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Barack Obama.
    Enclosure.
                [Estimate No. 2, 111th Cong., 1st Sess.]

                 Executive Office of the President,
                           Office of Management and Budget,
                                    Washington, DC, April 30, 2009.
The President,
The White House.
    Dear Mr. President: Submitted for your consideration is a 
request for $1.5 billion to enhance our Nation's capability to 
respond to the potential spread of the 2009-H1N1 influenza 
outbreak.
    This proposal would provide maximum flexibility to allow 
your Administration to target its responses and resources as 
this emerging and unpredictable situation evolves. It is 
necessary to have this flexibility to respond in a manner that 
is most appropriate to the path of this outbreak. Immediate 
activities may include supplementing anti-viral stockpiles; 
developing a vaccine; supporting monitoring, diagnostic, and 
public health response capabilities; assisting international 
efforts to stem this outbreak and to address related 
international needs. The request also includes the flexibility 
to adjust the preparations for a recurrence in the fall or 
winter or for future pandemics.
    This requested FY 2009 supplemental appropriation would be 
provided to a proposed new account, Unanticipated Needs for 
Influenza, in the Executive Office of the President. These 
funds would be available for transfer by the Office of 
Management and Budget to Departments and Agencies, including 
the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, 
Homeland Security, and State, and the U.S. Agency for 
International Development, and others, for the purposes stated 
and only upon congressional notification.
    I have carefully reviewed this request and am satisfied 
that it is necessary at this time.
            Sincerely,
                                           Peter R. Orszag,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosures.


    
    
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