[House Document 107-258] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 107th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 107- 258 INTENTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND __________ COMMUNICATION from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING NOTIFICATION OF THE INTENTION TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUNDSeptember 4, 2002.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed The White House, Washington, August 13, 2002. Hon. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Speaker: In order to fulfill urgent requirements for civil aviation security, I am notifying the Congress of my intent to reallocate funds previously transferred from the Emergency Response Fund. To support revised emergency requirements in light of changing security needs, a total of $42 million will be transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration for security costs at air traffic control facilities. The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed letter from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I concur with his comments and recommendations. Sincerely, George W. Bush. Enclosure. [Estimate No. 21, 107th Cong., 2d Sess.] Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, August 12, 2002. The President, The White House. Submitted for your consideration is a request to reallocate funds provided in P.L. 107-38, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States, FY 2001. This request would reallocate funds previously transferred from the Emergency Response Fund (ERF). The Administration now proposes to reallocate $42 million in ERF resources to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pay necessary security costs at air traffic control facilities. Without these funds, FAA would be forced to furlough air traffic controllers and other employees to pay for the required security costs. This is one of the genuinely urgent funding needs in the recently enacted FY 2002 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act but it was among the $5.1 billion provided by the Congress as ``contingent'' emergency appropriations. Despite repeated objections from your Administration, Congress included an unprecedented provision requiring you to allow billions of dollars in unnecessary spending to access truly needed funds, such as those required for the FAA. The $42 million for FAA would be derived from previously allocated ERF funds, as follows:
$22 million from the Federal Buildings Fund in the General Services Administration, which cannot be obligated in the near future; $10 million from the U.S. Secret Service, which is available due to lower-than-projected overtime and travel costs; and $10 million from the Embassy Security and Construction program in the Department of State, which will not be obligated in the near future. Pursuant to P.L. 107-38, $32 million will be made available immediately and $10 million will be made available 15 days after this designation is forwarded to the Congress. I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it is necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the heads of the relevant Departments and agencies in recommending your approval of the requested reallocation. Sincerely, Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., Director. Enclosure. Reallocation of Amounts Previously Appropriated and Transferred From the Emergency Response Fund (ERF) TOTAL REALLOCATION Department of Transportation: Federal Aviation Administration Operations........................... $42,000,000 These funds will pay for necessary FY 2002 security costs at air traffic control facilities. Without these funds, FAA would be forced to furlough air traffic controllers and other employees to pay for the required security costs. Available Immediately: Department of Transportation: Federal Aviation Administration Operations........................... $32,000,000 This $32 million is available from previously allocated ERF funds: $22 million, from the Federal Buildings Fund in the General Services Administration, which cannot be obligated in the near future and $10 million from the U.S. Secret Service, which are available due to lower-than-projected overtime and travel costs. Available in 15 Days: Department of Transportation: Federal Aviation Administration Operations........................... $10,000,000 This $10 million is available from the Embassy Security and Construction program in the Department of State, which will not be obligated in the near future.