For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 17, 2003
Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives
October 16, 2003
Dear Mr. Speaker:
I ask the Congress to consider the enclosed FY 2004 budget
amendments for the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to
reimburse emergency expenses to suppress forest fires in FY 2003.
These amendments would adjust upward the total discretionary budget
authority requested by $0.4 billion, bringing the total discretionary
funding agreed to by my Administration and the Congress to $786.0
billion. While this request increases total discretionary spending
beyond the previously agreed upon level, my Administration and
congressional leadership determined earlier this year that emergency
funding could be added when mutually agreed upon in advance. This
request is consistent with that agreement.
The requests in this transmittal are for the purpose of fulfilling
known and urgent requirements that cannot reasonably be met through the
use of existing agency funds. I hereby designate the specific
proposals in the amounts requested herein as emergency requirements.
The details of these requests are set forth in the enclosed letter
from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Sincerely,
GEORGE W. BUSH
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