[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