Summary: GAO reviewed the President's twelfth special message for fiscal year (FY) 1980. The special message proposed one new deferral of budget authority totaling $15.8 million and a revision to one previously transmitted deferral which increased the amount deferred by $0.5 million.
A technical adjustment should be made on the form documenting the deferral of funds for Department of Commerce participation in U.S. expositions. It should reflect that the deferral is proposed for the entire year, rather than part of the year. Agency officials have designated a part of the funds proposed for the deferral for obligation in FY 1981, with the remainder to be obligated in later years. A remaining amount available for obligation in FY 1980 will be obligated in FY 1980 under present program plans. However, because of various program delays, a portion of the funds apportioned for FY 1980 will not be spent and, therefore, will be carried over into FY 1981. A technical adjustment should be made on the form documenting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coastal Energy Impact Fund to reflect that the deferral involves funds available for grants. The related rescission proposal was proposed in the President's seventh special message. Congress failed to pass a rescission bill and, consequently, these funds were made available on June 5, 1980. Except as noted, GAO has identified no additional information that would be useful to Congress in its consideration of the President's proposals, and it believes that the proposed deferrals are in accordance with existing authority.
