February 9, 1965
PAGE 2356
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON NATURAL BEAUTY
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, in his message on natural beauty yesterday, President Johnson went to the heart of one of the most critical problems confronting modern man: the threat of manmade waste to our survival. In the air, on our land and in our waterways we have too often dumped the residue of our industry and our affluence without regard to its damage to ourselves and our posterity.
President Johnson has given us a message of inspiration and a program for action. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution of the Public Works Committee I was particularly interested in his recommendations for preventing and abating pollution of the air and water. His suggestions were challenging, yet sensible, far-reaching, yet attainable.
The President emphasized the importance of the Clean Air Act of 1963 and stressed the need for additional action in preventing future pollution, in coping with the critical problem of automotive exhausts and in finding improved methods of disposing of solid wastes. Our subcommittee intends to hold hearings on these and other proposals during this session and to press for legislative action on improvements in the Clean Air Act.
In the field of water pollution control and abatement the President stressed those features of the Water Quality Act of 1965, S. 4, which the Senate passed on January 28. He stressed the importance of water quality standards, increased grants for sewage treatment projects, improved administration of the Federal water pollution control program and a research and development program to cope with the problem of storm and sanitary sewage. In addition he advocated an increase in grant ceilings for grants to State water pollution control programs and outlined administration plans to cope with the problem of pesticide pollution and Federal activities and operations which cause pollution.
The subcommittee intends to give intensive study to a number of these areas. We recognize the need to update and to improve our waste disposal and treatment grant program. We believe it is imperative that we accelerate our efforts to find improved techniques for treating organic and other wastes discharged by municipalities and industry. Field hearings will be conducted on these and other water pollution problems. In addition the subcommittee will conduct hearings on legislation dealing with pollution from Federal installations and non-degradable detergents.
Mr. President, pollution is a threat to the health, the emotional well-being and the social and economic welfare of America. President Johnson has emphasized the interdependence of these factors in improving the quality of life in these United States.
His message is a call to action, for the Congress, for the Executive, for the States and for business and private persons in all parts of America. His was a message on natural beauty which reaches far beyond consideration of esthetics alone; it goes to the heart of our need to create a meaningful and healthful life for ourselves and our children.