March 22. 1974
Page 7938
TRIBUTE TO SENATORS ERVIN, METCALF, CANNON, ROBERT C. BYRD, AND OTHER SENATORS ON PASSAGE OF BUDGET REFORM
Mr. MANSFIELD. Mr. President, budget reform was set forth as one of the Senate's high priority items for the 93d Congress. The Senate has approved unanimously the Congressional Budget Reform proposal, and this outstanding success was achieved through the efforts of many Members of this institution.
I rise now to pay tribute to those Members most responsible. First, to the distinguished chairman of the Government Operations Committee, Senator ERVIN, goes our deepest gratitude for his outstanding leadership in this effort. His contributions and those of his committee have gone far to make the Legislative Branch of our Government more responsive and more responsible, more able and better equipped to deal with the most complex fiscal matters that are required to support the Nation and all national goals. We are indebted to Senator ERVIN for his unstinting devotion to the resolution of a matter that often in the past has placed the legislative branch at a disadvantage concerning the retrieval, the assimilation and the understanding information regarding the Nation's more difficult budgetary question.
We therefore, extend our deepest gratitude to Senator ERVIN and to his committee.
Managing this all-important measure on the floor as well were the very able and skillful Senators from Maine (Mr. MUSKIE) and Montana (Mr. METCALF). They exhibited once again their deep wisdom and immense capacity for understanding in recognizing the problems faced by Congress as it attempts to control the expenditures of the Government and to establish national priorities in applying and allocating resources. Senator MUSKIE and Senator METCALF have compiled records unsurpassed in the application of diligence and competence in the areas covered by S. 1541. Throughout this week we have been fortunate to have their invaluable assistance and guidance.
Our gratitude should be extended as well to the Rules Committee and particularly to Senator ROBERT BYRD and Senator CANNON. Their work in behalf of the proposal and that of the Committee on Rules as a whole were based upon many thoughtful and sincere views which contributed enormously to the discussion and ultimately to the overwhelming success of the measure. They are legislators whose effectiveness and leadership are unsurpassed.
I would like also to pay tribute to the distinguished Senators from Illinois (Mr. PERCY) and from Tennessee (Mr. BROCK) for their efforts on behalf of a better informed, more efficient and better equipped Congress. The cooperative manner in which they joined to support the proposal contributed indispensably to the expeditious handling and final passage of the bill. They deserve the highest praise for their work.
Joining also to assure a full and fair discussion on the floor of all of the matters involved were the Senator from Florida (Mr. CHILES) and the Senator from Delaware (Mr. ROTH). I wish to commend them particularly for their participation and contributions. The Senate profited enormously from their expressions concerning the issues involved.
There were many other Senators who joined as well. The record reflects the broad spectrum of those concerned, those whose support and views have made this measure one of the most significant building blocks in the reform of governmental institutions. In fact, without the cooperation of each Senator this week, the Senate would not have been able to accomplish the task with such efficient and successful dispatch. I wish to thank the entire Senate for this achievement. It is a tribute to each and every Member.