CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE

January 25, 1967

Page 1609

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL NEEDS

Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, yesterday the Congress received the administration's proposed budget for 1968. A detailed analysis of that document will require a good deal of effort expended over a long period of time. However, one thing is obvious -- the budget grossly underestimates the costs associated with the water pollution control needs of this country.

Last year the Senate unanimously agreed to legislation which would have authorized $6 billion over a 5-year period for grants to construct waste treatment facilities. For a variety of reasons, including the fact that the other body authorized in their bill considerably less money, the figure finally agreed to was $3.4 billion for a period of 4 years. This was below what our information indicated to be the national need. It, in fact, was a minimum figure.

The $450 million authorization for fiscal 1968 represented a $150 million cut below the initial Senate amount. The Senate conferees knew, in accepting the lower figure, it would be imperative that no less than $450 million be requested by the administration for fiscal 1968 to set an adequate pace.

The reasons for this position are obvious. In last year's legislation an incentive program was enacted whereby, if the States perform certain tasks, additional Federal funds would be made available. The legislation enacted last year provided for a basic Federal grant of 30 percent of a project's cost regardless of State activity. It provided a Federal share of 40 percent if the State matched 30 percent, and the Federal portion increased to 50 percent if the State provided 25 percent of a project's cost and had established enforceable water quality standards. Also, the Federal share would increase by 10 percent of the grant if the project was consistent with metropolitan area planning.

In many States the State legislatures are now in session. I am sure that they have been, or soon will be, alerted to the expanded Federal program. I am equally certain that their response will be somewhat less than wholehearted when they realize that the administration has requested an inadequate amount of money to support the program authorized by the Congress.

According to the budget, the President has requested $200 million for the construction grants program of which the administration estimates only $152 million will be spent. I question those estimates.

Because of the allocation formula in existing law, many States would not receive a sufficient amount in fiscal year 1968 even if the full $450 million were to be appropriated. For example, the State of New York, which voted by a margin of four to one a $1 billion bond issue to help offset the cost of water pollution control and which has an estimated cost of $1.7 billion to clean up their backlog, would only receive $37 million in 1968. In New York City alone, information supplied the committee indicates $179,585,532 will be spent in 1968. Therefore, even if all New York's money were allocated to New York City, that city would only receive a little over 20 percent of its cost. And in New York, because that State provides a 30-percent matching grant, the full Federal share would be 40 percent. With enforceable standards the Federal grant would be 50 percent. There are many other examples as the following chart demonstrates.

I ask unanimous consent that the table be printed at this point in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the table was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

[TABLE OMITTED]

Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the President's request of $200 million would cut by more than half the money available to any State in 1968.

The national concern for effective control of water pollution has not been translated into action by the administration. The funds requested for sewage treatment construction grants are totally inadequate.

The Congress must assume its responsibility to correct this inadequacy. The Senate did so last year when it authorized $6,000 million for water pollution control, and the final bill agreed to by the conferees reflected a considerable increase over the best compromise which the administration could propose. We cannot afford the delays inherent in the budget request.

The question before the Senate and the House must be whether or not, this year and in the years to come, we will make available the funds we unanimously authorized last year.

Mr. President, neither the Senate Public Works Committee nor the Senate unanimously agreed to last year's legislation without a great deal of study on the water pollution needs of this country.

Evidence abounds to indicate that we have tried to meet an identifiable need. I am convinced of this, as I am sure are my colleagues. I intend to go before the Appropriations Committee to request that the full $450 million be made available for waste treatment grants for 1968 and, if necessary, carry that fight to the floor of the Senate.