[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 42 (Monday, October 22, 2001)]
[Page 1505]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Requesting Further 
Assistance to the Victims 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 Mitch Daniels' letter.