[House Document 106-278] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 106th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 106-278 REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS __________ COMMUNICATION from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting THE REQUEST AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS PURSUANT TO SECTION 251(b)(2)(A) OF THE BALANCED BUDGET AND EMERGENCY DEFICIT CONTROL ACT OF 1985September 6, 2000.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed The White House, Washington, July 31, 2000. The Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sir: In accordance with provisions of P.L. 105-174, the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act, I hereby request and make available the remaining $14.0 million of the $28.0 million originally appropriated in that Act for U.S. contributions to the International Trust Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, Mine Clearance, and Assistance to Mine Victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I hereby designate the $14.0 million made available as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. 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 observations. Sincerely, William J. Clinton. Enclosure. [Estimate No. 17, 106th Cong., 2d Sess.] Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, July 31, 2000. The President, The White House. Submitted for your consideration is a request to make available $14.0 million in contingent emergency appropriations for the Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR) account administered by the Department of State. Your approval of this request would make available previously appropriated funds for the second contribution to the International Trust Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, Mine Clearance, and Assistance to Mine Victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the ``Fund''). P.L. 105-174, the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act, provided $28.0 million in emergency funding for NADR, contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. P.L. 105-174 requires that this emergency funding be deposited in the Fund in two equal installments. In addition, the Act provides that the deposits may be made only if the resources could be used effectively and if matching amounts were deposited in the Fund by other governments, entities, or persons. On May 8, 1998, you designated as an emergency requirement and made available the first $14.0 million contribution. The Department of State now indicates that other donors have made contributions to the Fund to match fully the original $14.0 million U.S. contribution. New funds have been contributed, but we are unable to match them unless the second $14.0 million is designated by you as an emergency requirement. The State Department also indicates that these funds could be used effectively for objectives consistent with ongoing efforts to carry out humanitarian demining activities in and around Bosnia, meeting the other main criteria established by the Congress. Therefore, I recommend that you designate this request for $14.0 million as an emergency requirement in accordance with section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended. No further congressional action will be required. I have carefully reviewed this proposal and am satisfied that it is necessary at this time. I join the Secretary of State in recommending that you make the requested funds available by signing the enclosed letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sincerely, Jacob J. Lew, Director. Enclosure. Emergency Appropriations: Amounts Previously Appropriated Made Available by the President International Assistance Programs International Security Assistance: Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR)............................................ $14,000,000 P.L. 105-174, the 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and Rescissions Act, provided $28.0 million in emergency funding for NADR, contingent upon the President submitting a budget request to the Congress and designating the entire amount requested as an emergency requirement. This contingent appropriation was provided for U.S. contributions to the International Trust Fund of the Republic of Slovenia, Mine Clearance, and Assistance to Mine Victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the ``Fund''). P.L. 105-174 requires that this emergency funding be deposited in the Fund in two equal installments. Accordingly, on May 8, 1998, the President designated as an emergency requirement and made available the first $14.0 million U.S. contribution. Through this current transmittal to the Congress, the President is making the second $14.0 million contribution available. To date, the fund has received contributions from 37 donors. The donor population has included 20 governments in addition to the United States, seven international commercial firms, and 10 international civic or humanitarian assistance organizations.