January 23, 1967
Page 1259
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the distinguished Senator from Connecticut [Mr. RIBICOFF], has made a thoughtful speech dealing with the problems of our cities. I appreciate the opportunity and the privilege I have had of reading it in advance of its delivery today.
The Senator is deeply concerned about the problems of urban America, has devoted long hours to the arduous task of exploring them, and has attracted widespread and useful public attention to them. I congratulate him upon these efforts and will certainly give thoughtful consideration to the specific proposals which he advances to deal with these problems.
I appreciate the thoughtful references which the able Senator makes to the work of my own Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations, which has been involved since its creation in the operation of the federal system and the relationships of the Federal, State, and local levels of government.
The work of the two subcommittees – Senator RIBICOFF's dealing with the organization of the Federal Government and mine, dealing with interlevel organization – is obviously complementary.
The Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations, in its staff studies, inquiries to Federal, State, and local offtcials, hearings, and legislative proposals, has explored the problems of administering Federal grant-in-aid programs, improving the coordination of cooperative Federal-State-local programs, improving the quality of personnel at the State and local level, providing uniform policies in relocation assistance under various Federal aid, strengthening regional and metropolitan planning operations, programs, and developing an improved mechanism for policy planning and coordination of Federal aid programs in the executive branch.
All of these areas are intimately concerned with. the viability of our metropolitan centers. Some of our recommendations were incorporated in the Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966.
Senator RIBICOFF's concern, and the concern of his Subcommittee on Government Reorganization, has been more directly involved with the internal organization of the Federal departments and agencies with responsibilities for Federal programs affecting our urban areas. I am glad that he is pursuing this concern and I look forward to continued cooperative efforts in this area.
In closing, Mr. President, I want to compliment the distinguished Senator from Connecticut for this thoughtful and idea-packed presentation. His speech today should stimulate a continuation of the effort to build a better America in our cities.