    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [October 17, 2001]
    [Page 1260]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1260]]

    Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Requesting
    Additional Emergency Funding To Address Consequences of the September 11
    Terrorist Attacks
    October 17, 2001

    Dear Mr. Speaker:
        In accordance with provisions of Public Law 107-38, the Emergency
    Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to
    Terrorist Attacks on the United States, FY 2001, I ask the Congress to
    consider expeditiously the enclosed proposals, totaling $20 billion, to
    enable the Government to continue to provide assistance to the victims
    of the September 11th attacks and to deal with the consequences of the
    attacks.
        Public Law 107-38--legislation crafted and enacted with strong
    bipartisan cooperation--provided a total of $40 billion in emergency
    funding to the Emergency Response Fund. The $40 billion in emergency
    expenses enacted in Public Law 107-38 was provided to assist victims of
    the attacks and to deal with other consequences of the attacks,
    including the costs of: (1) providing Federal, State, and local
    preparedness for mitigating and responding to the attacks; (2) providing
    support to counter, investigate, or prosecute domestic or international
    terrorism; (3) providing increased transportation security; (4)
    repairing public facilities and transportation systems damaged by the
    attacks; and (5) supporting national security.
        As required by Public Law 107-38, on September 18th, I designated
    the entire $40 billion as an emergency funding requirement. Today, I
    hereby request and designate these individual proposals as emergency
    funding requirements pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced
    Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. In
    addition, I hereby designate the funds in or credited to the Defense
    Cooperation Account during FY 2002 as emergency requirements pursuant to
    section 251(b)(2)(A) of such Act.
        I am proud that we have continued to work together with such
    bipartisan spirit in the weeks following the despicable attacks on our
    Nation. Since final estimates of the total resources needed to address
    the consequences of this tragedy will not be known for months to come, I
    urge the Congress to enact--without delay--these specific requests that
    address immediate, near-term needs and that represent currently defined
    and certain requirements.
        My Administration does not intend to seek additional supplemental
    funding for either domestic or defense needs for the remainder of this
    session of Congress. If further requirements become clear, we will work
    with the Congress to address additional needs in the Second Session of
    the 107th Congress. In addition, we will assess the manner in which our
    FY 2003 Budget will address further needs as they relate to the
    September 11th terrorist attacks.
        The details of these actions are set forth in the enclosed letter
    from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I concur with
    his comments and observations.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this letter. The Office of the Press Secretary also made available the
    text of Office of Management and Budget Director Mitchell Daniels'
    letter.