For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 21, 2002
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives
May 21, 2002
Dear Mr. Speaker:
I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed request for an FY 2002
supplemental appropriation for the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA). This request is for an increase in the mandatory cost of
disability compensation and pension benefits for veterans.
During the current year, VA has made dramatic improvements
processing claims, significantly accelerating the rate of payments.
This supplemental request for $1.1 billion is needed to help pay the
benefits associated with reducing the backlog of claims from previous
years. Absent this adjustment, there would be insufficient funds in
September to pay the 2.5 million veterans who are entitled to
benefits.
This transmittal also contains requests for FY 2002 supplemental
appropriations for the legislative branch. As a matter of comity,
appropriations requests of the legislative branch are transmitted
without change.
Furthermore, in accordance with provisions of Public Law 107-63,
the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2002, I hereby request and make available $54.0 million in
emergency appropriations for the Department of the Interior's Bureau of
Land Management. These emergency funds will be used to undertake
necessary rehabilitation projects on lands damaged by wildland fires
and to support fire suppression activities. I hereby designate this
amount 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.
The details of these requests 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,
GEORGE W. BUSH
# # #
|