CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE
November 12, 1969
Page 33925
PUBLIC WORKS FOR WATER, POLLUTION CONTROL, AND POWER DEVELOPMENT AND ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION APPROPRIATIONS, 1970
The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill (H.R. 14159) making appropriations for public works for water, pollution control, and power development, including the Corps of Engineers -- Civil, the Panama Canal, the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, power agencies of the Department of the Interior, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Atomic Energy Commission, and related independent agencies and commissions for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, and for other purposes.
Mr. JAVITS. Mr. President, my colleague, the Senator from New York (Mr. GOODELL), is unable to be here and I ask unanimous consent that his remarks, prepared for the debate today, be included in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the statement was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
Mr. GOODELL. Mr. President, I wish to commend the distinguished Chairman of the Public Works Subcommittee (Mr. Ellender) and the members of that Subcommittee for their comprehensive work on the FY '70 Public Works Appropriations Bill.
Earlier this year, I was greatly alarmed to learn that the revised budget request for public works construction in the State of New York had been reduced from $7 million to $3.1 million.
New York State constitutes over 9% of the population of the United States. Many of our facilities, most notably the Port of New York, serve the entire Nation. Yet, the revised budget would have allocated only 5 % of the total funds for public works construction in the country.
Although I fully appreciated the fact that the inflationary cycle made budgetary restraints necessary, the drastic cuts suggested in the revised budget would have seriously hampered the ability of the State to service its urgently needed construction projects.
In view of this great need, I contacted the Chairman (Mr. Ellender) and strongly requested that the funds be restored. I am delighted by the Committee's response which recommends an appropriation of almost $6.8 million in construction funds for New York State projects -- more than twice as much as the revised budget request.
Among the funded projects, several were of particular concern to me:
THE NEW YORK HARBOR ANCHORAGES
The Port of New York, which serves the metropolitan area and the Nation, desperately needed funds to permit work on the deepening of anchorages to accommodate the ever increasing tanker traffic in the waters. As the Port of New York is our Nation's major harbor, this construction would ultimately benefit U.S. economy. Although almost $3.5 million was requested by the State of New York, the City of New York and the Port of New York Authority, only $500,000 had been recommended by the Administration.
The Committee responded to my request for more funds for this project by recommending a total of $2.9 million. I believe these funds will permit the significant continuation of construction on this important project.
NEWARK BAY -- HACKENSACK RIVER
This project in New Jersey is a bi-state concern. The channel dimensions of this waterway in Newark Bay have become a serious safety problem and threaten to impede traffic in the Port of New York area.
This vitally needed Port of New York Project has only received $100,000 in pre-construction funds over the past three years and as a result, no construction work has been started. The Administration budget request for this project was a mere $500,000 despite the fact that all those involved in the project recommended a minimum appropriation of $5 million. The Committee has approved a sum of $2.7 million, which will allow construction to begin on the project.
FIRE ISLAND INLET AND MONTAUK POINT BEACH EROSION
Protection of the beaches in this area has become imperative because of the severe storm damage which has been incurred on the South Shore of Long Island in the past. A total of $500,000 was recommended by the Administration for this local flood control project. I strongly endorsed additional funds for this project and the Committee has recommended a total of $880,000. In addition, the State of New York has given assurance that sufficient State funds will be available to match the Federal share.
In addition, I note that the Committee has also recommended an appropriation of $500,000 for the Fire Island Inlet to Jones Inlet. This strip of beach has also been severely damaged by storm and is in great need of protection.
Protection of the natural shoreline is essential for the conservation of the entire area.
IRONDQUOIT BAY
This project, authorized in 1958, proposes a channel access between Irondequoit Bay and Lake Ontario so that recreational navigation can be pursued in the area. The Committee has recommended an appropriation of $100,000 to begin construction on this long-awaited project which will greatly benefit the people of Monroe County and surrounding areas.
The Committee has also approved funds for several important studies on State projects which I have supported. These projects include preconstruction planning of harbor refuge at Hamlin Beach State Park with a recommendation of $40,000; and completion of the Lake Erie-Lake Ontario Waterway which will improve the St. Lawrence Seaway system so vitally important to the maritime economies of the United States and Canada. A recommendation of $100,000 has been made by the Committee for this study.
I thank the Committee members for their recommendations on behalf of New York State and I am grateful for their responsiveness to my requests. Many of these projects are designed to protect and preserve the natural resources of the State. Many will make these resources more usable. I am hopeful that the recommendations, will prevail in conference.
DICKEY-LINCOLN SCHOOL PROJECT
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the public works appropriations bill includes an item of $807,000 to continue advance engineering and design on the Dickey-Lincoln School hydroelectric project in northern Maine.
The record of the past several years is filled with evidence of the benefits which New England's first Federal hydroelectric power project would bring, the relationship of those benefits to cost, the need for low-cost power in northern New England, the need for peaking power throughout New England and New York, and the inability of the New England electric utilities to meet growing power demands.
The record will show that the other body has consistently rejected the funds needed to move this project ahead and has turned its back on one region of the Nation while continuing to provide funds for sources of low-cost power in virtually every other region of the United States.
The record will show that an investment of $2,154,000 has already been made in the project and that only $1,346,000 is required to complete the advance engineering and design on this project. Failure to appropriate the funds included in this bill will be a greater waste of money than the cost of completing that task.
The record will show that the senior Senator from Maine (Mrs. SMITH) has worked diligently to obtain appropriations for this project only to be set back by the other body time and again. The record will show that neither the senior Senator from Maine, who is on the Appropriations Committee nor I, as a member of the Public Works Committee, has ever attempted to withhold authorization or appropriation for needed, economically feasible projects in other parts of the country.
I believe that the Dickey-Lincoln School project will stand on its own in comparison with any project constructed anywhere in the United States. I believe it will help to assure an adequate supply of low-cost power and a Federal yardstick for New England and that it is needed to avert the major critical power failures which continue to threaten New England due to the inability of the private utilities of the region to fulfill their obligations to supply power.
The record of the past demonstrates that these private power companies would rather invest their funds in advertising campaigns about what they might do and lobbying campaigns against what should be done than in developing the region's power resources and supplying power needs.
I hope that the conferees will support the appropriation of these vitally needed funds so that New England can get on with the job of meeting her power supply demands and protecting the health and welfare of citizens by making available an adequate supply of power whenever it is needed, not just when New England's private utilities are prepared to make it available.
Mr. COOPER. Mr. President, I support the bill H.R. 14159, the public works for water, pollution control, and power development and Atomic Energy Commission appropriation bill, 1970. In addition to the matters I have already discussed, I direct attention to title III of the bill in which the Committee on Appropriations, for the first time since enactment of the Water Pollution Control Act of 1965, has recommended full funding of the authorization for waste treatment works. This action on the part of the committee, which will be adopted by the Senate, represents a significant congressional redirection to meet our environmental needs.
Full funding of pollution control is an action which recognizes today's priorities, an action which is needed and will be well received by the public. There is a growing and proper demand for protecting and improving the quality of our environment if we and future generations are to live. And this step provides a solid indication that the Congress is responding to that demand and need.
I want particularly to compliment Senator ELLENDER, chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, for his judgment and leadership in recommending and reporting this provision from the committee. The ranking minority member of the subcommittee Senator MILTON YOUNG, together with the full committee has done a great service to the country and all its people. I cannot let this occasion pass without paying similar respect to Senator MUSKIE, chairman of the Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution, of the Public Works Committee, and to Senator BOGGS, ranking minority member of that subcommittee, for whom this action today gives evidence of their long and steadfast efforts in the continuing battle to abate air and water pollution. As the ranking Republican member of the Public Works Committee, which has jurisdiction over basic legislation on water and air pollution and solid waste disposal, I would like to say that every member of the committee and its able staff under the leadership of Senator RANDOLPH, the chairman, have worked and contributed fully to this important cause.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall it pass? On this question, the yeas and nays have been ordered.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall it pass?
On this question, the yeas and nays have been ordered, and the clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
The result was announced -- yeas 86, nays 2, as follows:
[Roll call vote listing omitted]
So the bill (H.R. 14159) was passed.
Mr. ELLENDER. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.
Mr. MANSFIELD. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. ELLENDER. Mr. President, I move that the Senate insist on its amendments and request a conference with the House of Representatives on the disagreeing votes of the two houses thereon, and that the Chair be authorized to appoint the conferees on the part of the Senate.
The motion was agreed to; and the Presiding Officer appointed Mr. ELLENDER, Mr. RUSSELL, Mr. MCCLELLAN, Mr. MAGNUSON, Mr. HOLLAND, Mr. STENNIS, Mr. PASTORE, Mr. RANDOLPH, Mr. YOUNG of North Dakota, Mr. HRUSKA, Mr. MUNDT, and Mrs. SMITH of Maine conferees on the part of the Senate.
Mr. MANSFIELD. Mr. President, for this great success the Senate owes a deep debt of gratitude to the distinguished senior Senator from Louisiana (Mr. ELLENDER). His handling of this measure today marked yet another outstanding achievement for the able chairman of the Public Works Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee. Senator ELLENDER is a skilled and highly effective advocate. His command of every facet of a measure he leads is exemplary. The dedicated service he has always given the Senate and the Nation is unexcelled in this body. With this success today he has again demonstrated the fine qualities that have distinguished him over the years. May I add, that he is to be particularly commended for assuring an effective fight this year against the ravages of water pollution by defending so successfully the full funding of that program. The Senate is deeply grateful.
Assisting Senator ELLENDER in the task of preparing this bill in committee and presenting it to the Senate was the very capable and distinguished ranking minority member of the subcommittee, the distinguished Senator from North Dakota (Mr. YOUNG). He, too, contributed to the success of the measure with his strong and effective support.
The other members of the subcommittee are also to be praised for their contributions to the debate and for the high caliber with which this measure was handled.
Noteworthy also, were the contributions of the distinguished senior Senator from Delaware (Mr. WILLIAMS) and the distinguished Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. NELSON). They offered their own strong and sincere views on the measure and cooperated splendidly to assure its efficient disposition.
But especially, I should say again, we are indebted to Senator ELLENDER. His devoted efforts have produced an appropriations measure of very high quality, indeed.