    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [February 14, 1995]
    [Pages 213-214]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to the Speaker of the House on Emergency Supplemental
    Appropriations Requests
    February 14, 1995

    Dear Mr. Speaker:
        My Fiscal Year 1996 Budget requests $10.4 billion in supplemental
    appropriations for the current fiscal year. Much of the request is for
    emergency requirements, such as contingency operations of the Department
    of Defense and disaster relief provided by the Federal Emergency
    Management Agency. My Budget also proposes to reduce low-priority
    spending in FY 1995 by $2.4 billion, primarily to pay for non-emergency
    supplemental requests.
        I was disappointed to receive your February 7, 1995 letter
    indicating your intent to delay action on several of these emergency
    requests until the Administration proposes offsets. I am particularly
    concerned about my request for $6.7 billion for FEMA Disaster Relief,
    all of which is properly designated as an emergency, under the terms of
    the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990.
        The Budget Enforcement Act established the authority for the
    President and Congress to exempt certain spending from the statutory
    caps, specifically for the purpose of meeting emergency, unanticipated
    requirements. This joint designation by the President and Congress has
    been used over the last four years to provide critical assistance in
    response to earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, extreme cold and
    agricultural disasters, and for other purposes.
        President Bush and Congress approved $10.2 billion as emergency
    spending in response to Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki in Florida,
    Louisiana and Hawaii. In fact, from 1991-1992, President Bush and
    Congress provided emergency funding for 100 accounts, totalling $12.3
    billion.
        I worked with Congress to provide $6.8 billion in emergency funding
    to aid the victims of the Midwest floods in nine states. I also reached
    agreement with Congress to designate emergency spending for the
    Northridge earthquake.

    [[Page 214]]

    The emergency designations were appropriate because the human and
    physical costs of these disasters were extraordinary and the economic
    effects were truly national in scope.
        Of the pending $6.7 billion FEMA request, $4.9 billion is related to
    the Northridge earthquake. Over 700,000 people were affected.
    Approximately 120,000 structures, including schools, hospitals,
    municipal buildings and private residences, were damaged. Almost 40
    miles of roads and freeways were rendered impassable.
        Following the January 17, 1994 earthquake, I responded with a
    request for emergency supplemental funding on January 26. Congress
    quickly responded to the urgent needs of the Southern California region
    and I promptly signed the emergency legislation on February 12, just 26
    days after the earthquake.
        The nation should be proud of our rapid response. All of the damaged
    highways were reopened to traffic within 10 months. Virtually all of the
    6,000 school buildings that were damaged have reopened. Over 113,000
    loans have been made to small businesses and homeowners, and FEMA
    disaster housing assistance has been provided to over 400,000
    households.
        Because of the need to respond quickly to the earthquake, FEMA's
    damage estimates were necessarily preliminary. Our revised request is
    based on the more detailed studies that are required of damaged
    structures.
        If action on our request is delayed, FEMA will, beginning in May, be
    unable to allocate funds to meet any new disaster requirements, unless
    money reserved for the 40 states currently receiving disaster assistance
    is cut. For example, emergency appropriations provided in FY 1994 are
    currently being used to fund assistance to people, businesses and local
    governments impacted by Tropical Storm Alberto in Georgia, the Midwest
    floods, the Texas floods and the recent floods in California. If action
    is further delayed until July, FEMA will run out of money.
        While I share your concern for reducing the deficit, I do not
    believe we should delay assistance to victims of natural disasters. I am
    proud of my Administration's record for reducing the deficit, while
    providing prompt assistance to the victims of natural disasters. When
    responding to crises, America has traditionally come together without
    regard to politics or region. In that spirit, I urge you to reconsider
    your decision.
        Sincerely,

                                                                Bill Clinton