CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE

November 5, 1969

Page 33031

Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, I congratulate the chairman of the Public Works Subcommittee on Economic Development, who served as chairman of the Senate conferees on S. 1072, for his achievement in bringing back to the Senate a strong bill and an imaginative bill.

If it is adequately financed and energetically implemented, it will add a major forward thrust to the momentum of economic growth that has been slowly developing in the less fortunate areas of the country.

I was, of course, disappointed that the conference turned away from the Senate provisions for specific sums for each of the title V regions. Under the sliding scale formula of the House bill, as approved in amended form by the conference, each region will be entitled to a considerably smaller amount than the Senate provided, and the entire program will be required to function with reduced authorizations. We will have to make do with what we receive, and we will have to make the best possible use of it.

The New England Regional Commission is now ready to go forward with some 18 specific development proposals. I think that under the language of the conference report amending sections 505, 509, and 514 of the act, there will be sufficient authority to proceed with the implementation of these plans.

For example, there is clearly provided authority for demonstration projects initiated by the commission on its own. This should permit preliminary work to begin on meeting some of the greatest needs of our region as determined by the Governors who form the commission.

These proposals are outlined in the Senate hearings, beginning on page 401. We have emphasized the need for greater autonomy on the part of each of the commissions in assessing and meeting the priorities of their own region. This increased flexibility of action is in keeping with the changes made in the basic act by the amendments first adopted by the Senate in 1967, particularly the supplemental grant provisions.

Adequate funding of commission efforts is the key to their success. If they have not shown greater forward movement up to this time, it is simply because they have not had the money.

While the Senate conferees would have preferred to move with specific authorizations for each commission's programs, the conference measure does give them a greater control over funds made available by requiring the Secretary to allocate all but the 10 percent he is authorized for technical assistance and administration.

The funds authorized to each commission by the Senate were of course based on certain criteria, such as population, area, per capita income and ability to use funds for development programs.

The conferees expect the Secretary, in making his allocation, to give full consideration to these factors as well as to the proportionate amounts which the Senate adopted.

In addition, the conferees expect the Secretary will submit to the Senate Public Works Committee notification of all factors utilized by him -- including the weight given each such factor -- in making allocations to the regional commissions.

Mr. MONTOYA. Mr. President, I move that the Senate agree to the conference report.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question is on agreeing to the motion of the Senator from New Mexico that the Senate agree to the conference report.

The motion was agreed to.