SENATE COMMITTEES ON INTERIOR AND IN CONNECTION WITH S. Res. 281 of the 84th Congress JANUARY 4, 1957 Printed for the use of the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS JAMES E. MURRAY, Montana, Chairman CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico RICHARD L. NEUBERGER, Oregon GEORGE W. MALONE, Nevada RICHARD CALLAGHAN, Chief Clerk NELL D. MCSHERRY, Assistant Chief Clerk GOODRICH W. LINEWEAVER, Committee Assistant for Reclamation LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL JANUARY 4, 1957. To Members of Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs, and Public Works: In pursuance of the responsibilities placed on our committees by Senate Resolution 281, adopted by the Senate on July 26, 1956, requests for comments, suggestions, and recommendations were addressed to all Federal, State, and other agencies concerned. Specific information was sought from Federal agencies in the form of examples of the application of several methods of cost allocations. Responses that undoubtedly will be helpful are attached and are being circulated in a committee print to agencies and individuals who have evinced interest in the objectives of Senate Resolution 281. We have directed our respective staffs to cooperate in the preparation of analyses of the responses. Further comments from interested agencies are solicited with a view to having an appropriate resolution prepared for introduction and reference jointly to our committees early in the 85th Congress. We will be pleased to have any comments or suggestions individual members, agencies, or organizations may have to offer by January 25, 1957. Copies of this committee print are being sent to Federal, State, and other agencies, with invitations to have accredited representatives present at a conference to be held in room 224-A, Senate Office Building, at 2 p. m., Monday, February 4, 1957, for an informal discussion of Senate Resolution 281. All agencies, organizations, and individuals concerned, as well as committee members, are invited to have representatives present at the conference. JAMES E. MURRAY, Chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs. DENNIS CHAVEZ, Chairman, Committee on Public Works. (The material referred to follows:) Senate Resolution 281 is as follows: RESOLUTION Whereas the Bureau of the Budget, on December 31, 1952, Whereas the Bureau of the Budget, on November 29, 1954, plication of which would impose further restriction by the executive agencies on Federal participation in the conservation and development of land and water resources, and on which hearings were held by the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs March 15 and March 30, 1955; and Whereas on January 17, 1956, the President of the United States transmitted to the Congress the Report (House Document Numbered 315, Eighty-fourth Congress, second session) of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Water Resources Policy, consisting of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Agriculture, designated by the President May 26, 1954, with a recommendation that "*** the Congress give prompt attention to its proposals"; and Whereas it is stated, at page 84 of the Economic Report of the President, transmitted to the Congress January 24, 1956, that "in due course, legislative proposals will be submitted to implement the recommendations" of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Water Resources Policy, but no such proposals have yet been submitted to the Congress and instead it is indicated that the ecommendations may be implemented by diect action onf the executive agencies; and Whereas notwithstanding that the conditions recited in this resolution result by reason of policies or actions under more than one national administration and by more than one branch and department of the Federal Government, it is desirable that this Congress initiate proper corrective action: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the stabilization of the national economy and the effectuation of the wisest, most orderly, and most economic utilization of the land and water resources of the Nation for the widest possible public benefit require that the Congress continue to exercise all of its constitutional powers to encourage the conservation and development of such resources to establish national policy pertaining thereto, and that any nullification by the executive agencies of this long-established principle would constitute a usurpation of the legislative power. SEC. 2. That land and water resources development should be planned in comprehensive bases and with a view to such an ultimately integrated operation of component segments as will insure the realization of an optimum degree of physical and economic efficiency. SEC. 3. That the number of Federal agencies, offices, and organizations having to do with the planning and review of projects for the conservation and development of land and water resources should be reduced, rather than increased, and that technical and administrative routing and review procedures should be simplified and shortened in order to facilitate and to accelerate the submittal of reports to the Congress in support of requests for the authorization of projects. SEC. 4. That reports to the Congress in support of requests |