CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE

March 17, 1966

Page 6097

PROPOSED LEGISLATION RELATING TO PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC SITES

Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and the Senator from Montana [Mr. MANSFIELD], the Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. KENNEDY], and the Senator from Oregon [Mr. MORSE] I introduce for appropriate reference two bills to accelerate our national program of historic preservation. I ask unanimous consent that both bills remain at the desk for 1 week to permit other Senators an opportunity to join in sponsoring the proposed legislation.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bills will be received and appropriately referred.

The bills, introduced by Mr. MUSKIE (for himself and other Senators), were received, read twice by their titles, and referred as indicated:

S. 3097. A bill to provide financial and other aid, under the Housing Act of 1949, and related Federal programs, to encourage and assist in the preservation and maintenance of historic structures; to the Committee on Banking and Currency.

S. 3098. A bill to promote and coordinate historic preservation activities of the Federal, State, and local governments, other public bodies, and private organizations and individuals; to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs,

Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, many of our buildings and sites, which are rich in American history, architecture, archeology. and culture, are threatened by bulldozers or neglect.

Already, half of our most historically significant structures have been destroyed.

If we wait another 5 years, there may be no need for this legislation. By then, most of the structures which could and should have been saved may have fallen.

My proposed legislation is designed to protect and restore those remaining from the accelerating pressures for cleared land and new construction.

A measure of that pressure is the prediction that America will see more construction in the next 40 years than we have witnessed in the last 200.

It is not the intent of this legislation to stifle progress. Rather, it is our desire to enrich our progress. It is our hope that with the incentive of this legislation, our past and future can live as neighbors and contribute jointly to the quality of our lives.

The proposal will help us save for the future the best of what we have inherited from the past.

With the increasing mobility of our society, tangible links with history become more meaningful.

Our landmarks lend stability to our lives. They are a point of orientation. They help establish values of time and place and belonging.

This legislation will find, survey, and register significant structures. A top level National Advisory Council would be created to give leadership to the program. There would be grants and loans for acquisition and restoration of registered buildings. Cities would receive credit for such work toward their noncash contributions for urban renewal. Architects and technicians would be trained to fill the critical shortage of professional personnel in the field.

In short, the energies and resources of both private and public organizations would be marshaled to save our heritage of stone and mortar.

We ask for $2 million for fiscal year 1967 to get this program underway.

The proposals in the legislation are based on recommendations by the Special Committee on Preservation. The recommendations are the result of a long and thorough study of the preservation needs of our Nation. The special committee is sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and it has been my privilege to serve on that committee.

Companion legislation is being introduced in the House by Congressman WILLIAM B. WIDNALL, of New Jersey. He also is a member of the special committee.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills be printed at this point in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the bills were ordered to be printed In the RECORD, as follows: