CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE

August 17, 1967

Page 22974

BOLD AND EXCITING VENTURE

Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I want to join with the distinguished Senator from Alabama in expressing my enthusiastic support for the President's directive today to begin an experimental Turnkey public housing program.

I, too, believe that this action today demonstrates President Johnson's deep commitment to rebuild urban America -- a commitment that began from the moment he assumed the Presidency.

The President and the Congress have begun a wide range of programs to meet head on the persistent and serious problems of city life in this country. And we have quickly discovered that there are no overnight miracles to progress in this field.

Slums have existed in our cities since the early 1800's. In fact, there are many buildings in our urban ghettoes that have continually housed generations of Americans for more than 100 years.

So we know that the task before us is immense.

But we also know that there are many roads to heaven, many new techniques that must be tried, many new starts made to demonstrate what will and will not work.

I believe that private industry has a vital role to play in the restoration of urban America. All of us know that local public housing authorities leave much to be desired in creating bold and workable solutions.

The public housing people seldom possess the kind of talent and energy necessary for the kind of projects we all want for the urban poor. And it is small wonder that they function at all -- faced as they are with mountains of red tape and constant delays.

A public housing authority must first find the land on which to build, negotiate a purchase price, buy the land, get the architect, plan the project, hire the contractors, supervise the building, and rent and maintain the completed structures.

There is no question in my mind but that private industry -- operating through profit incentive -- can function more efficiently and effectively from start to finish.

The Turnkey program will allow private builders to complete their project under the terms of their contract and continue to run it after completion.

We all hope that the results of this experiment will prove the feasibility of expanding such private enterprise projects throughout urban communities. And I think there is reason to be hopeful.

The genius of American industry is more than equal to this enormous task. Certainly government -- Federal, State, and local -- cannot do the job alone. If we are to succeed in rebuilding our cities to meet the needs of modern life then we must count upon the efforts of all sectors of society, public and private.

I commend President Johnson for embarking on this bold and imaginative venture. I believe all of my colleagues will join with me in hoping that this new Turnkey program provides new answers and insight into one of the great problems confronting America in the 1960's -- the problem of city living.