[DOCID: f:hd134.109] From the House Documents Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] 109th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 109-134 REQUEST FOR FY 2007 BUDGET AMENDMENTS __________ COMMUNICATION from THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES transmitting A REQUEST FOR FY 2007 BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> September 21, 2006.--Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed The White House, Washington, September 20, 2006. Hon. J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Speaker: I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed FY 2007 Budget amendments for the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Office in the Department of Homeland Security. The total discretionary budget authority in my FY 2007 Budget would not be increased by this request. 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. [Estimate No. 10, 109th Cong. 2d Sess.] Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC, September 20, 2006. The President, The White House. Submitted for your consideration are FY 2007 Budget amendments for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This proposal would fund the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding Office in one appropriation account rather than portions of three appropriation accounts as was the case in FY 2006. The Office will also be a separate budget line item, as Congress requested, so that funding of this office can be more easily tracked. Executive Order 13390 created the Gulf Coast Rebuilding Office and designated a Coordinator of Federal Support for the Recovery and Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Region. In FY 2006, the office was funded with resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund and Departmental Management and Operations accounts within DHS. This proposal requests $4.2 million for the Gulf Coast Rebuilding Office, funded within the Office of the Secretary, offset by a reduction to the Disaster Relief Fund of the same amount. Overall, the total discretionary budget authority proposed in your Budget would not be increased by these amendments. I have reviewed these proposals and am satisfied that they are necessary at this time. Therefore, I join the Secretary of Homeland Security in recommending that you transmit this request to the Congress. Sincerely, Rob Portman. Enclosures. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Departmental Management and Operations DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY AND EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT FY 2007 Budget Appendix Page: 473 FY 2007 Pending Request: $97,508,000 Proposed Amendment: $4,188,000 Revised Request: $101,696,000 This amendment would provide $4.2 million for the Federal Coordinator of the Gulf Coast Rebuilding Office in FY 2007. The Office will also be a separate budget line item within the appropriation for the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management (OSEM). This amendment is fully offset by a reduction from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), as requested in an accompanying amendment. The President created the Gulf Coast Rebuilding Office and designated a Coordinator of Federal Support for the Recovery and Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Region by Executive Order 13390, on November 1, 2005. The Coordinator is responsible for working with State and local officials to identify the priority needs for long-term rebuilding; communicating those needs to the decision makers in Washington, DC; and advising the President on the most effective, integrated, and fiscally responsible Federal strategies for support of Gulf Coast recovery. In FY 2006, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funded the Office with resources from DRF and from Departmental Management and Operations accounts within DHS. Specifically, a total of $2.3 million was provided to support 20 positions, including $1.4 million from DRF, $0.7 million from OSEM, and $0.2 million from the Under Secretary for Management. DHS provided notification to the Congress on June 30, 2006, of funding that was used to support this new office. The notification was approved by the Senate on July 20, 2006, and by the House on July 25, 2006. Of the total amount requested in this amendment, $2.6 million would support personnel costs for 20 positions. Other costs provided for in the request include $0.3 million for travel, $0.5 million for rent, $0.4 million for IT costs, $0.05 million for supplies, and $0.3 million for support services provided through the Working Capital Fund. The amount requested for FY 2007 reflects an annualized cost of items partially funded in FY 2006 and full-year operational costs for FY 2007, and does not reflect any growth for the Office. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency DISASTER RELIEF FY 2007 Budget Appendix Page: 517 FY 2007 Pending Request: $1,941,390,000 Proposed Amendment: -$4,188,000 Revised Request: $1,937,202,000 This amendment would decrease the FY 2007 request for the Disaster Relief Fund by $4.2 million in order to offset the increased funding requested for the Office of the Secretary to support the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, as described in the accompanying amendment. <all>