Through fee-generated funds transferred from the National Flood Insurance Fund, this fund supports activities to eliminate pre-existing, at-risk structures that are repetitively flooded, and provides flood mitigation assistance planning support to States.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

Through fee-generated funds totaling $20,000,000 transferred from the National Flood Insurance Fund, the National Flood Mitigation Fund will provide a mechanism to reduce the financial burden of pre-existing, at-risk structures that are repetitively flooded by removing or elevating these structures out of flood hazard areas, as well as provide flood mitigation assistance planning support to States and communities.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

FEDERAL CONSUMER INFORMATION CENTER FUND

Appropriations, 2002	$7,276,000
Budget estimate, 2003	12,541,000
Committee recommendation	15,000,000

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Consumer Information Center [CIC] was established within the General Services Administration [GSA] by Executive Order on October 26, 1970, to help Federal departments and agencies promote and distribute consumer information collected as a byproduct of the Government's program activities.

On January 28, 2000, the Consumer Information Center assumed responsibility for the operations of the Federal Information Center [FIC] program with the resulting organization being officially named the Federal Consumer Information Center [FCIC]. The FIC program was established within the General Services Administration in 1966, and was formalized by Public Law 95-491 in 1980. The program's purpose is to provide the public with direct information about all aspects of Federal programs, regulations, and services. To accomplish this mission, contractual services are used to respond to public inquiries via a nationwide toll-free telephone call center. The FIC was previously funded by the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act.

The Federal Consumer Information Center combines the nationwide toll-free telephone assistance program and the database of the FIC with the CIC website and publications distribution programs. The FCIC is a one-stop source for citizens to get information about government programs and everyday consumer issues.

During fiscal year 2002, FCIC became a critical part of GSA's newly established Office of Citizen Services and Communications which brings together all of GSA's citizen-centered programs. The new Office will serve as a central Federal gateway for citizens, businesses, other governments, and the media to easily obtain information and services from the government. Under this new organization, FCIC remains committed to its consumer information outreach mission mandate but adds additional channels to broaden its scope to provide all citizens with access to the information and services available from government. FCIC assumed operational control of the FirstGov.gov website and plans to begin accepting e-mail and fax inquiries from the public in fiscal year 2003.

Public Law 98-63, enacted July 30, 1983, established a revolving fund for the CIC. Under this fund, FCIC activities are financed from the following: annual appropriations from the general funds of the Treasury, reimbursements from agencies for distribution of publications, user fees collected from the public, and any other income incident to FCIC activities. All are available as authorized in appropriation acts without regard to fiscal year limitations.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends $15,000,000 for the Federal Consumer Information Center, an increase of $5,265,000 above the fiscal year 2002 enacted level. This increase is provided to enable FCIC to begin accepting and responding to e-mail and fax inquires from the public in fiscal year 2003.

The appropriation will be augmented by a projected $556,000 reimbursements from Federal agencies for distribution of consumer publications, user fees from the public, and other income. FCIC's anticipated resources for fiscal year 2003 will total approximately $15,556,000.

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