[House Document 108-185]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 108-185
REQUEST FOR FY 2005 BUDGET AMENDMENT
__________
COMMUNICATION
from
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
transmitting
REQUEST FOR AN FY 2005 BUDGET AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH A CONTINGENT
EMERGENCY RESERVE FUND TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
May 17, 2004.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered
to be printed
The White House,
Washington, May 12, 2004.
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Speaker: I ask the Congress to consider the
enclosed FY 2005 budget amendment to establish a $25 billion
contingent emergency reserve fund to support operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
Although we do not know the precise costs for operations
next year, developments on the ground in Iraq indicate the need
to plan for contingencies. We plan to pursue a full FY 2005
supplemental request when we can better estimate precise costs.
In the meantime, this reserve fund will ensure that our men and
women in uniform continue to have the resources they need when
they need them.
I have pledged to our troops that they will have all the
resources they need to accomplish this vital mission, and I
urge the Congress to approve this reserve fund.
The details of this proposal are set forth in the enclosed
letter from the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush.
Enclosure.
Estimate No. 5, 108th Cong., 2d Sess.
Executive Office of the President,
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC, May 12, 2004.
The President,
The White House.
Submitted for your consideration is a request for an FY
2005 budget amendment to establish a $25 billion contingent
emergency reserve fund to support operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense developed this recommendation
following discussions with our commanders in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Developments on the ground and uncertainty when
Congress would be in session to consider an FY 2005
supplemental indicate that the availability of a reserve fund
may be necessary to ensure there is no disruption in funding
and resources for our armed forces.
Following Congressional action, the contingent emergency
reserve fund would be available only if you make a subsequent
request designating all or some of these funds as an emergency
and essential to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The funds
would not be available for reconstruction activities. While the
funds initially would be allocated into the Iraq Freedom Fund
across the military services, the amendment would provide
flexibility to transfer funds if necessary. The contingent
emergency reserve fund would be available beginning in FY 2005.
The Department believes it has the resources it needs for FY
2004, assuming it has sufficient flexibility to transfer funds
between accounts.
The costs of continued operations over the next year cannot
be estimated with precision at this time. The contingent
emergency reserve fund would be accessed should there be a need
for additional resources. We plan to submit a full supplemental
request in early 2005 when the Department of Defense will have
better information on required resources. Until then, the
reserve fund will ensure that our troops will have the
necessary resources when they need them. Funds spent from the
reserve would reduce the cost of a full FY 2005 supplemental
request.
Recommendation
Attached for your consideration is legislative language
that would establish this fund. We understand that both the
House and the Senate Armed Services Committees have indicated
an interest in authorizing this fund in their FY 2005
Department of Defense Authorization bills. This legislative
language could be adapted to authorize this fund.
I have reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it is
necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of
Defense in recommending that you transmit the proposal to the
Congress.
Sincerely,
Joshua B. Bolten,
Director.
Enclosure.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Iraq Freedom Fund
CONTINGENT EMERGENCY RESERVE
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For additional expenses, not otherwise provided for,
necessary to support operations in Iraq or Afghanistan,
$25,000,000,000, available October 1, 2005, and to remain
available until expended: Provided, That the funds made
available under this heading shall be available only to the
extent that an official budget request for all or part of the
funds is transmitted by the President to the Congress and
includes designation of the amount of that request as an
emergency and essential to support activities and agencies in
Iraq or Afghanistan: Provided further, That funds made
available under this heading, may be available for transfer for
the following activities:
Up to $14,000,000,000 for ``Operation and
Maintenance, Army'';
Up to $1,000,000,000 for ``Operation and Maintenance,
Navy'';
Up to $2,000,000,000 for ``Operation and Maintenance,
Marine Corps'';
Up to $1,000,000,000 for ``Operation and Maintenance,
Air Force'';
Up to $2,000,000,000 for ``Operation and Maintenance,
Defense-Wide'';
Up to $5,000,000,000 may be used to reimburse other
appropriations or funds of the Department of Defense
and classified programs:
Provided further, That in addition to the transfer
authorized in the previous proviso, after consultation with the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary
of Defense may transfer the funds provided herein to any
appropriation or fund of the Department of Defense or
classified programs, to be merged with and available for the
same purposes and for the same time period as the appropriation
to which transferred: Provided further, the Secretary of
Defense shall notify the Committees on Appropriations and the
Authorizing Committees five days prior to the transfer of funds
made available under the previous proviso: Provided further,
That upon a determination that all or part of the funds
transferred from this appropriation are not necessary for the
purposes provided herein, such amounts may be transferred back
to this appropriation: Provided further, That the transfer
authority provided under this heading is in addition to any
other transfer authority available to the Department of
Defense.
This request for $25 billion for the Iraq Freedom Fund
would provide the resources necessary to ensure there is no
disruption in funding and resources for our armed forces. The
funds would only be available to the Department of Defense and
classified programs to support operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan and would only be available if the President makes
an emergency determination that additional resources are needed
for essential war costs. Funds would be available for all
service operation and maintenance accounts as well as emerging
needs. The amendment provides flexibility to transfer funds
across accounts and services if there is a need.