    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [October 28, 2005]
    [Page 1626]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Transmitting
    Proposed Budget Rescissions
    October 28, 2005

    Dear Mr. Speaker:
        Today, in a separate message, I have asked the Congress to
    reallocate $17.1 billion of available funding in the Federal Emergency
    Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund to provide for further response
    and recovery efforts in the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina.
        As a further measure to ensure fiscal responsibility as we continue
    our unprecedented response to Hurricane Katrina, I ask the Congress to
    consider the enclosed request to rescind $2.3 billion from lower-
    priority Federal programs and excess funds.
        As we help the people of the Gulf Coast region recover and rebuild
    from Hurricane Katrina, it is more important than ever to redouble our
    efforts to reduce unnecessary spending elsewhere in the budget.
        In concert with this rescission proposal, I urge the Congress to
    reduce Fiscal Year 2006 nonsecurity spending below last year's levels,
    as proposed in my Budget. In addition, I urge the Congress to achieve
    the maximum amount of mandatory savings through reconciliation
    legislation over the next 5 years. These actions will advance our shared
    goal to maintain fiscal responsibility as we continue our assistance to
    hurricane-affected regions.
        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