[House Document 112-56]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
112th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 112-56
BUDGET REQUEST FOR DISASTER RESPONSE NEEDS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2012
__________
MESSAGE
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
A BUDGET REQUEST FOR DISASTER RESPONSE NEEDS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR (FY)
2012
September 20, 2011.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and
ordered to be printed
The White House,
Washington, DC, September 9, 2011.
Hon. John A. Boehner,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: I ask the Congress to consider the
enclosed budget request for disaster response needs through
Fiscal Year (FY) 2012. It includes a supplemental
appropriations request for FY 2011 of $500 million and a budget
amendment for FY 2012 of $4.6 billion for the Department of
Homeland Security.
The proposed totals for FY 2011 and FY 2012 would increase
by $5.1 billion as a result of this request. The additional
funding would fund disaster response needs in the Disaster
Relief Fund, including approximately $1.5 billion for the
Federal share of costs to respond to Hurricane Irene.
This request responds to urgent and essential needs. The
supplemental appropriations request would be designated as an
emergency requirement. The request for FY 2012 in the budget
amendment would constitute disaster relief within the meaning
of section 251 of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985, as amended by the Budget Control Act of
2011, and would therefore adjust the discretionary spending
levels for FY 2012 pursuant to section 251. The details of this
request are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama.
Enclosure.
[Estimate No. 1, 112th Cong., 1st Sess.]
Executive Office of the President,
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC, September 9, 2011.
The President,
The White House.
Submitted for your consideration is a supplemental
appropriations request for FY 2011 of $500 million and a budget
amendment of $4.6 billion to your FY 2012 Budget for the
Department of Homeland Security.
The proposed totals for FY 2011 and FY 2012 would increase
by $5.1 billion as a result of this request. The additional
funding would fund disaster response needs in the Disaster
Relief Fund, including approximately $1.5 billion for the
Federal share of costs to respond to Hurricane Irene.
Department of Homeland Security
Through the Disaster Relief Fund, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) provides a significant portion of the
total Federal response to Presidentially-declared major
disasters and emergencies. Primary assistance programs include
Federal assistance to individuals and households, public
assistance, which includes the repair and reconstruction of
State, local, and nonprofit infrastructure, and hazard
mitigation assistance.
This proposal requests an additional $5.1 billion of which
$3.6 billion is for the continued response and recovery efforts
associated with prior large events and $1.5 billion for the
estimated costs associated with the response to and recovery
from Hurricane Irene that will impact the Disaster Relief Fund
through FY 2012.
The $5.1 billion includes $500 million in supplemental
appropriations for FY 2011 and $4.6 billion for increased costs
in FY 2012. This is in addition to the $1.8 billion already
included in the FY 2012 Budget. The supplemental
appropriations, which would be designated as an emergency
requirement, are needed to ensure that the Disaster Relief Fund
has adequate resources to meet needs in the remaining weeks of
the fiscal year. The budget amendment request for FY 2012
constitutes disaster relief within the meaning of section 251
of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of
1985, as amended by the Budget Control Act of 2011, and would
trigger an adjustment in the ceiling for discretionary spending
pursuant to section 251. As such, the $4.6 billion budget
amendment would be included in an adjustment to the
discretionary cap in FY 2012.
This proposal includes funds only for FEMA's Disaster
Relief Fund. The potential need for additional funding for
disaster relief in other agencies is currently under review. If
additional funding is warranted, an additional budget amendment
may be required.
Recommendation
This request fulfills known and urgent needs for the
Disaster Relief Fund, and I recommend that you propose the
budget amendment and supplemental request. Therefore, I join
the Secretary of Homeland Security in recommending that you
transmit this proposal to the Congress.
Sincerely,
Jacob J. Lew,
Director.
Enclosure.
FY 2011 Supplemental Proposal
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
DISASTER RELIEF
For an additional amount for ``Disaster Relief'' for
necessary expenses under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) for
recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Irene,
$500,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided,
That the Congress designates this amount as an emergency
requirement for these specific purposes.
This request would provide an additional $500 million to
the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster response
associated with Hurricane Irene and other declared events. This
funding would address a potential shortfall through the end of
the fiscal year to ensure that Federal disaster response and
relief efforts continue unimpeded.
FY 2011 Budget Amendment
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
DISASTER RELIEF
FY 2012 Budget Appendix Page: 543.
FY 2012 Pending Request: $1,800,000,000
Proposed Amendment: $4,600,000,000
FY 2012 Revised Request: $6,400,000,000
(In the appropriations language under the above heading,
insert before the first colon: and, in addition,
$4,600,000,000, to remain available until expended, which is
designated by Congress as being for disaster relief pursuant to
section 251(b)(2)(D) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency
Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-177), as amended.)
This amendment would provide an additional $4.6 billion for
the Disaster Relief account and would increase the pending $1.8
billion in the FY 2012 Budget to $6.4 billion.
Of the proposed $4.6 billion, $3.6 billion is needed in FY
2012 for the continued response and recovery efforts associated
with prior large events, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita,
and Wilma, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, the 2008 Midwest floods,
and the 2011 spring tornadoes. Also included in the $4.6
billion are the costs associated with the response to and
recovery from Hurricane Irene that are likely to impact the
Disaster Relief Fund in FY 2012.
Through the Disaster Relief Fund, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency provides a significant portion of the total
Federal response to Presidentially-declared major disasters and
emergencies. Primary assistance programs include Federal
assistance to individuals and households, public assistance,
and hazard mitigation assistance, which includes the repair and
reconstruction of State, local, and nonprofit infrastructure.