August 17, 1967
Page 23037
SOME POSITIVE SUCCESSES IN CREATIVE FEDERALISM
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, in the wake of the news of the past few weeks, it is not easy for one who has pressed vigorously for many years for a more creative federalism and for improved intergovernmental relations to speak with optimism.
I would be less than candid if I did not say that a vast new effort has got to be made in planning and rehabilitation in our core cities and in deteriorating rural centers. The model cities program, and the recent agreement between the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Health, Education, and Welfare, to coordinate their resources, must be augmented with greater funding and more effective administration – not just at the Federal level, but by greater initiative among the State legislatures, greater coordination of resources by State executives, and more enlightened ghetto-assisted action by local authorities. It has to be a joint approach, and the experience of the Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations indicates that such joint action is beginning to move ahead – however slowly.
At the same time, Mr. President, I think that in these days a little accentuation of the positive may be heartening to those who are concerned about the future of American federalism.
Some of this is reflected in the 10 outstanding awards and 16 meritorious awards made by HUD at the recent National Association of Counties Conference. I ask unanimous consent that the press release from HUD describing these awards be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the press release was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
HUD CITES 26 FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AWARDS
Twenty-six public bodies and agencies were cited today for Urban Development Intergovernmental Awards by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Announcement of the 10 Outstanding Awards and 16 Meritorious Awards was made today at the National Association of Counties conference in Detroit, Mich.
Among the activities that won special awards for efforts to promote cooperation across intergovernmental lines were: opening up of an entire metropolitan labor market area for a city's unemployed (Oakland, Calif.); combining city, county, and school library services to provide better library service for all (Alice, Texas); and development of a study course in law enforcement instruction for high school students (Des Moines, Iowa). Other activities included manpower, regional and local planning, transportation, and health, education, and school services.
Selected from 96 entries, the award-winning public bodies represent a wide variety of governmental units from 20 different States, ranging from county boards to large, complex State departments. Outstanding award winners are:
City of Oakland, Calif., for its coordination of manpower activities and long term development plans with State and Federal agencies.
City of Des Moines, Iowa, for its "Science of Law Enforcement and Police Procedures" course for high school students.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, for development and approval of its "master plan" for a regional mass transportation system.
Wayne County, Board of Supervisors, Mich., for accomplishments in health services to low-income school children, air pollution, and inter-municipal police services.
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, for its technical assistance program to help communities applying for and working with Federally aided programs, including Model Cities.
Joint Legislative Committee on Metropolitan and Regional Areas Study, New York State Legislature, for legislative proposals strengthening county planning and financial incentives for joint facilities serving two or more communities.
Cleveland Association of Governmental Officials, Shelby, N.C., for its support of Neighborhood Youth Corps, Head Start, and community action programs.
University of Oklahoma, Urban and Community Development Center at Tulsa, for its work with governments on problems of metropolitan Tulsa.
City of Alice, Texas, for its work with Jim Wells County on area wide thoroughfare, library, and school district problems.
City of Norfolk, Va., for effective coordination of government efforts in establishing the Tidewater Rehabilitation Institute.
Commenting on the awards program, HUD Secretary Robert C. Weaver said, "One of the most talked-about topics in government today is intergovernmental cooperation. The quality and number of entries in this competition is concrete evidence that localities are taking action, not just talking, in this vital area.
"The units of government that submitted entries for HUD's Urban Development Intergovernmental Awards have recognized that the most efficient response to many demands for services from their citizens requires action that crosses jurisdictional lines. I congratulate all of these organizations on their courage and ingenuity."
Meritorious award winners are: Board of Commissioners, Madison County, Ala.; Maricopa Association of Governments, Phoenix. Ariz.; Association of Bay Area Governments, Calif.; League of California Cities; City of Ontario, Calif.; City of North Miami, Fla.; Board of Commissioners, Clarke County, Ga.; City of Pomona, Calif.;
Also, Shawnee Development Council, Karnak, Ill.; City of Detroit, Mich.; Office of State and Regional Planning and Community Development, State of Missouri; City of Greensboro, N.C.; Philadelphia Port Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa.; Tocks Island Regional Advisory Council, Stroudsburg, Pa.; South Carolina State Development Board; City of Alexandria, Va.
Details of the Outstanding Awards are: City of Oakland, Calif., for its coordination of manpower activities and long term development plans with State and Federal agencies. The city formed the Oakland Manpower Commission in January 1967, to promote effective use and coordination of govermental manpower and employment activities. It involves all levels of government and cooperates with business, industry, and labor. As a result of its efforts, the California State Employment Service has made a major policy change to include the entire San Francisco- Oakland Bay Area labor market as a source of jobs for Oakland’s unemployed.
In addition, an Oakland Model Cities Task Force was created in cooperation with other governmental units for cohesive planning in applying for a Model Cities grant, and for other local problem needs.
City of Des Moines, Iowa, for its pilot "Science of Law Enforcement and Police Procedures" course for high school students. The two-semester project is designed to acquaint high school students with the nature and design of law enforcement, practical application of police and court procedures, and the relationship of the Constitution and Law Enforcement. It was established in cooperation with the Des Moines Public Schools, using a Department of Justice grant.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, for development of its "master plan" for a regional mass transportation system involving 79 cities, towns, and State agencies. This plan, subsequently approved, proposes a $369 million immediate action program of route extension and modernization of route stations, vehicles, shops, and related items.
Wayne County, Mich. Board of Supervisors, for accomplishments in health services to low-income school children, air pollution, and inter-municpal police services.
Working with the City of Detroit to create a county-wide health department serving a population of approximately 3 million, the Board had been instrumental in creating "PRESCAD," which provides comprehensive and continuing health care to PREschool, SChool age, and ADolescent children – particularly those of low-income families; and the Downriver Air Pollution Control Project, in cooperation with nine local communities, Wayne County, and the Federal government.
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, for its technical assistance to communities. The Department was foreshadowed by the Governor's Task Force on Model Cities and Metropolitan Development whose major purpose was to decrease the information gap between State and Federal governments and the municipalities concerning Federal policies and programs, and to provide technical services. Among its activities are a conference on Model Cities for local officials; visits to 22 municipalities and counties to explain the programs in detail; preparing and circulating explanatory papers on the Model Cities application requirements; undertaking research on related State statutes; and distributing questionnaires and interviewing mayors on the role of the State in providing municipal technical assistance. As a result, many cities which otherwise might not have responded were encouraged to undertake at least some stages of planning.
Joint Legislative Committee on Metropolitan and Regional Areas Study, New York State Legislature, for legislative proposals strengthening county planning and financial incentives for joint facilities. One example is a law providing that towns, cities, and villages must submit zoning and other land use changes to the county planning agency for review if the proposed change affects land within 500 feet of any existing or proposed county or state road and other specific areas. The Committee also sponsored a bill to provide State grants, subject to county approval, concerning the full cost of feasibility studies by two or more municipalities wishing to provide a joint facility or service.
Cleveland Association of Government Officials, Shelby, N.C., for its support of Neighborhood Youth Corps, Head Start, and community action programs. The Association sponsored two Neighborhood Youth Corps Programs for 231 high school youths, Head Start Program for 600 children, and a Community Action Development program, as well as organizing the Cleveland County Community Action Committee, Inc., a community action agency. At CAGO's suggestion, the Community Action Committee developed a Family Improved Project, a program designed to deal with poverty families as a total family unit.
University of Oklahoma, Urban and Community Development Center at Tulsa, for its work with governments on Tulsa metropolitan problems. The university has developed a comprehensive program of community services for Tulsa. Various projects include city and university representation on the Tulsa Community Services and Continuing Education Advisory Council; assistance in preparing Tulsa's application for a Model Cities grant, development of a report on "Professors of the City: One Approach to Urban Problems"; conferences on venereal disease education, with the cooperation of the Oklahoma State Health Department and the U.S. Public Health Service; and a project sponsored by the university, the Tulsa City-County Health Department, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the U.S. Public Health Service for employing residents of hard-core poverty areas as medical aides.
City of Norfolk, Va., for effective coordination of government efforts in establishing the Tidewater Rehabilitation Institute, for children and adults, on a region-wide basis.
A non-profit corporation, the Tidewater Health Foundation planned and now operates the Institute under contract. It has joined its planning efforts with the Norfolk Area Medical Center Authority, a public body created by the Virginia General Assembly. In addition, the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority made land available for the Institute.
The State of Virginia, through its Departments of Health and Vocational Rehabilitation and the State organizations, provided assistance in developing planning services and physical space for the Institute. The coordination of these efforts by the City of Norfolk in establishing the Institute has significantly contributed to the improvement of treatment services.
Alice, Texas, for its work with Jim Wells County on area wide thoroughfare, library, and school district problems.
Several years ago, all of the city's streets were made part of the county road system. Because of the size of the Alice street system, it was unreasonable to expect the county to assume full maintenance and construction responsibility.
The Alice City Council and the Commissioner's Court formally approved an agreement defining responsibility in street maintenance. This agreement for joint maintenance and development of a major thoroughfare system between the city and the county, based on a Comprehensive Master Plan developed by local governmental units and private utility companies, is unique for Texas. It is being used as a model for proposed new Texas legislation for joint governmental undertakings.
Two small cities near Alice had inadequate library staff, services, and books. The city and county cooperated with the Alice Independent School District to provide a joint library service with two branch libraries 20 miles from Alice, and the new central library was itself made possible by cooperation among the three governmental units. Alice administers the entire library program from its central facility, and also provides trained librarians for the "branch libraries." The county bears part of the operating cost for the three libraries.