[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 36 (Monday, September 12, 2005)]
[Page 1361]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Requesting 
Additional Emergency FY 2005 Supplemental Funds

September 7, 2005

Dear Mr. Speaker:

    On September 2nd, I signed into law Public Law 109-61, the 
``Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act to Meet Immediate Needs 
Arising From the Consequences of Hurricane Katrina, 2005,'' which 
provided $10.5 billion in emergency supplemental funds for hurricane-
related disaster relief.
    Due to the catastrophic nature of Hurricane Katrina, I am asking the 
Congress to consider the enclosed request, for an additional $51.8 
billion, for emergency FY 2005 supplemental resources for the 
Departments of Defense and Homeland Security and the Army Corps of 
Engineers.
    I hereby designate this proposal in the amount requested herein as 
an emergency requirement. This request responds to urgent needs 
associated with immediate response and recovery efforts associated with 
Hurricane Katrina in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and other affected 
areas.
    I urge the Congress to act expeditiously on this request to ensure 
that the Federal response to this disaster continues uninterrupted. I 
anticipate making a further request that will provide for additional 
response and recovery efforts after further assessing the impact of the 
hurricane.
    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