[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 38 (Monday, September 20, 2004)]
[Pages 1994-1995]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Transmitting 
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Requests

September 14, 2004

Dear Mr. Speaker:

    On September 6th, I submitted a supplemental request totaling $2 
billion for the Department of Homeland Security for urgent needs 
associated with Hurricanes Charley and Frances. The Congress' prompt 
action on this request ensured that immediate response efforts to these 
recent disasters would continue uninterrupted. In addition to utilizing 
the supplemental funds provided in Public Law 108-303, the Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, Federal Government 
agencies will continue to use existing resources and programs for 
response and recovery efforts.
    I now ask the Congress to consider the enclosed requests, totaling 
$3.1 billion, for additional emergency FY 2004 supplemental 
appropriations for the Departments of Defense, Health and Human 
Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, the 
Interior, and Veterans Affairs, the Corps of Engineers, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Small Business Administration, 
and the Executive Office of the President.
    I hereby designate these specific proposals in the amounts requested 
herein as emergency requirements. As I stated in my previous request, 
these additional requests will allow for a comprehensive response and 
recovery effort to address the critical needs associated with both of 
these hurricanes in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and other 
affected areas. I urge the Congress to limit this emergency request to 
those items

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directly related to the recovery efforts from the impact of these recent 
major disasters.
    The details of these requests are set forth in the enclosed letter 
from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
     Sincerely,
                                                George W. Bush