District of Columbia - General Government
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 1961
District of Columbia Hospital Extension
H.R. 4913 Public Law 8779, approved June 30, 1961
This measure extends the Federal grant authority of the District of Columbia Hospital Center Act for 1 year, from June 30, 1961, to June 30, 1962. This act has the dual purpose of providing the District and other interested Federal agencies with the additional time to formulate a coordinated program of Federal assistance to George Washington University Hospital and other hospitals in the metropolitan area, and also preserves the present program of expanding private hospitals in the District through Federal grants provided under the provisions of the Hospital Center Act.
__________ Elections
H.R. 8444 Public Law 87389, approved October 4, 1961
To implement the 23d amendment to the Constitution providing that District residents may vote in the presidential elections, this measure will Retain 21 as the minimum age for qualified voters in the District. Abolish permanent registration and require all qualified voters to register in the year in which the presidential election is held. Liberalize requirements relating to absentee registering and voting, but permit only the physically incapacitated to register by absentee. Establish procedures for presidential elections to be selected in two ways: (1) By certification of the executive committee recognized by the national committee of a major political party; that is, a party which has had its candidates for electors of President and Vice President on the ballot in each of five States in the last election. (2) Any other party may have its candidates for electors submitted to the Board of Elections by presenting a petition to the Board signed by at least 5 percent of the registered qualified voters as of July 1 immediately preceding the election. Require an elector to take an oath or solemnly affirm that he or she will vote for the candidate of the party he has been nominated to represent; and that it shall be his duty to vote this way in the electoral college. Provide that only the names of the candidates of each political party for President and Vice President shall be placed on the ballot. Require a 1year residency in the District before one has the privilege of voting. Require that nominees for presidential electors must qualify as voters and must have been residents of the District for 3 years. Forbid the sale of alcoholic beverages on the day of the presidential election and during the hours when the polls are open, except sales by pharmacists on physicians' prescriptions.
__________ Fire Department Workweek
S. 1292 Public Law 87399, approved October 5, 1961
Reduces the present 60hour workweek of officers and members of the Firefighting Division of the Fire Department of the District of Columbia to a 56hour average workweek.
__________ Gambling in the District of Columbia
H.R. 4669 Public Law 87259, approved September 21, 1961
Strengthens the law relating to gambling in the District by authorizing forfeiture to the District of property seized in connection with a gambling violation. The procedure prescribed for forfeiting property is a libel action brought in the municipal court by the Corporation Counsel. Unless good cause is shown to the contrary, the property is forfeited to the District and may be made available for the use of any agency of the District government or may be disposed of as the Commissioners may, by order or regulation, provide. Where there are bona fide liens against forfeited property, the property may be sold at public auction; however, before the bona fide lienholder is satisfied, the District's costs for the public auction must first be paid.
__________ Police Force Strength
H.R. 7218 Public Law 8760, approved June 27, 1961
This bill raises the authorized minimum limit of the Metropolitan Police Force of the District of Columbia from 2,500 to 3,000 (at present the force has 2,714 members, 214 above the minimum level) to provide more adequate protection for citizens of the District.
District of Columbia, 1962
Capital Punishment--Abolish
H.R. 5143 Public Law 87423, approved March 22, 1962
This act
Abolished the mandatory death sentence for first degree murder in the District of Columbia, the only jurisdiction (State or Federal) which retains that penalty as mandatory in first degree murder convictions. Provided that life imprisonment may be the penalty for first degree murder if recommended by a unanimous jury vote, or by the court, should the jury be unable to decide between the death penalty and life imprisonment for a convicted first degree murderer. Provided that a defendant convicted of first degree murder, if sentenced to life imprisonment, will be eligible for parole in 20 years, to distinguish the first degree murder penalty from that for second degree murder under which parole is possible before 20 years.
_______ District of Columbia Courts
H.R. 12708 Public Law 87873, approved October 23, 1962
Increased jurisdiction of the municipal court of District of Columbia in civil cases from $3,000 to $10,000; increased its subpoena powers to an area up to 25 miles outside the boundaries of the District. Allowed the District Court of the District of Columbia to certify actions to the municipal court which do not justify a judgment in excess of $10,000. Changed names of municipal court to District of Columbia court of general sessions, and the municipal court of appeals for District of Columbia to District of Columbia court of appeals.
__________ Fire Department Workweek
S. 3086 Public Law 87697, approved September 25, 1962
Reduced the present 56hour workweek of officers and members of the Firefighting Division of the Fire Division of the Fire Department of the District of Columbia to a 48hour average workweek.
__________ George Washington Hospital Facilities
H.R. 6747 Public Law 87460, approved May 31, 1962
Authorized $2,500,000 to enable the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service to make grants to George Washington University equal to 50 percent of the cost of planning and carrying out a project of construction to expand and improve the facilities of George Washington University Hospital in the District of Columbia. Vested authority in the Surgeon General to approve any project plans. The expansion will include both teaching and patient facilities.
________ Juvenile Court Judges--Two Additional
H.R. 6747 Public Law 87413, approved March 9, 1962
This measure provided for the appointment of two additional juvenile court judges for the District of Columbia, making a total of three. The two new judges to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The judges appointed as a result of this measure to serve for a 10year term, or until his successor is appointed and qualified. To qualify, one must Be a member of the District of Columbia bar for a period of 5 years preceding his appointment. During a period of 10 years immediately preceding appointment have been a resident of the District of Columbia or of the metropolitan area of the District for at least 5 years of which not less than 3 years must immediately precede appointment. "Metropolitan area" means Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland, and Arlington and Fairfax Counties and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia. Have a broad knowledge of social problems and procedures and an understanding of child psychology. This act provides the present judge of the court shall continue in office and be considered as occupying one of the three positions of judge provided in this legislation. The chief judge, to be designated by the President, will receive $18,000 a year, and the associate judges will receive $17,500 a year.
__________ Policemen and Firemen Retirement and Disability Act
H.R. 6836 Public Law 87857, approved October 23, 1962
Amends existing law to create an additional category of service-connected disability which will enable policemen and firemen to retire if an injury or disease contracted other than exclusively in the performance of duty is aggravated by the performance of duty so as to disable the member from further duty. A member retiring under this bill will receive the same annuity as if there were no doubt of the disability having resulted exclusively in the performance of duty.
__________ Policemen and Firemen Salary Increase
S. 3705 Public Law 87882, approved October 24, 1962
Provided an average salary increase for District of Columbia police and firemen of 11.6 percent. In addition to the salary increase the bill provides for recognition of assigned responsibilities of certain officers and members of the several police forces and Fire Department of the District of Columbia. It provides a one-step advancement for privates with long years of service to more nearly equalize such service with the time required for newly appointed privates to reach the top. Eliminates the rank of corporal and permits better pay alignment among members.
__________ Tax Increase
H.R. 258 Public Law 87408, approved March 2, 1962
Provides for means of collecting needed revenue for supplementing the District of Columbia budget. There is a $21.3 million deficit in the District of Columbia proposed budget, due to the cut in the Federal contribution to pay the expenses of the District of Columbia government and also due to the mandatory increases in District of Columbia government employees. The increases in taxes include an increase to 3 percent from 2 percent on sales tax with no change on present 1percent tax on groceries and imposes a new tax on each deed at the time it is submitted at one-half of 1 percent of the consideration of the deed, with certain specified exemptions. Increases from 3 to 4 percent tax on transient lodging. Provides for the establishment of a parking fee account within the highway fund of the District of Columbia. The account would receive the revenue of all parking meters and other revenue acquired under the operations of the Motor Parking Facility Act and all the revenue now in the motor vehicle parking fund. The money will be used to maintain roads and highways and pay for the removal of snow and ice from the streets. Provides for standby authority for the District of Columbia government to raise water rates and sanitary sewer service charges by as much as 25 percent to meet continuing construction and operating costs. Permits the District of Columbia to be considered as an impacted area in order to receive Federal payments for school construction purposes. Increases the tax on alcohol and spirits from $1.25 to $1.50 per gallon.
__________ Teachers' Salary Increase
S. 1447 Public Law 87881, approved October 24, 1962
Provided an overall salary increase of approximately 10 percent for teachers in the District schools and a 5percent increase in annuities. Specifically the bill provides An increase in the salary schedules for teachers and school officers; A reduction from 18 to 15 in the number of classes in the pay schedule for teachers and school officers; Authorization for the Board of Education to discontinue the annual increments of employees whose performance is less than satisfactory; Placement of principals of elementary and secondary schools in the same class of the salary schedule; and A revision upward of the salary schedule for summer and evening school employees; A 5percent increase effective January 1, 1963, in all annuities then payable from the fund which commenced on or before that date; That the initial increase be extended on a graduated percentage basis total annuities which commence in the 5year period following January 1, 1963.
_________ Washington Hospital Center Increased Appropriation
S. 1834 Public Law 87511, approve July 1, 1962
Increased the authorization for the Washington Hospital Center from $3 million to $3,375,000 to provide one-half the additional funds needed to complete the Greater Southeast Community Hospital in Washington, D.C. It also extends the expiration date from June 30, 1962, to the end of this session. Thirty percent of the Federal contribution is to be reimbursed by the District of Columbia.
District of Columbia, 1963
Business
H.R. 4330 Public Law 88111, approved September 3, 1963
Amends the District of Columbia Business Corporation Act to Prevent any District of Columbia corporation from pleading usury statutes. Establish procedures whereby such corporations or a foreign corporation may change the address of the registered office. Permit foreign corporations to conduct certain activities within the District without being considered as transacting business.
__________ Commercial Redevelopment
S. 628 Passed Senate July 16; pending in House District of Columbia Committee
Amends the District of Columbia Redevelopment Act to provide clear legislative authority for the use of the urban renewal process in redevelopment of commercial areas within the District of Columbia, as well as residential areas, to which it is presently restricted. This bill brings the law of the District of Columbia in line with that of other major cities in the country by permitting it to conduct redevelopment activities in commercial as well as residential areas.
__________ Communicable Diseases Minors
H.R. 2485 Public Law 88137, approved October 11, 1963
Authorizes the Department of Public Health of the District of Columbia to treat minors for venereal disease on their own consent, when they present themselves voluntarily to the Department's health centers, rather than having to obtain such permission from their parents or guardians (as under existing law). Requires the Director of Public Health to exercise reasonable diligence in ascertaining the whereabouts of a parent, and notifying him of the minor's condition.
__________ Condominium Owners
H.R. 4276 Public Law 88218, approved December 21, 1963
Establishes within the District of Columbia a new estate in property known as "condominium," which is the ownership of single units in a multiunit structure with common elements. This fee simple ownership of a unit in a multiunit structure may be designed either for a residence, office, the operation of any industry or business, or other type of use, with its accessory units and will be known as horizontal property regime or condominium projects. In addition to the fee simple ownership, the owner would also have an undivided interest in the public portions of the building, which includes the corridors, stairways, basements, roofs, heating, and air-conditioning plants, and all other elements of common use. Under the bill, persons will be able not only to purchase and convey, but to lease and encumber units in a building in the same manner as other real property, and purchasers will be entitled to deed conveying said units to them along with an undivided share in the common elements of the structure.
__________ Correctional Industries
S. 1082 Passed Senate June 26; pending in House District of Columbia Committee
Creates a correctional industries revolving fund for the District of Columbia government with a net limitation of $2,500,000 to be used for performance and production of services which will contribute to the rehabilitation of the inmates of institutions in the Department of Corrections of the District of Columbia.
__________ Fiscal Affairs
H.R. 6177 Public Law 88104, approved August 27, 1963
Authorizes a permanent annual Federal payment to the District of Columbia of $50 million to help pay the expenses of running the District. The measure also increased the borrowing authority from a flat $75 million to $175 million.
__________ Insurance Laws
H.R. 1937 Public Law 8857, approved July 8, 1963
Purpose of this bill is to make the District of Columbia perjury statute applicable to those persons who make false statements under oath when applying for licenses or renewal of licenses as insurance agents and brokers in the District of Columbia.
__________ Junior College
S. 1406 Passed Senate November 26; pending in House District of Columbia Committee
Authorizes the Board of Education of the District of Columbia to establish a junior college division of the District of Columbia Teachers College with a 2year program of general pre-professional and terminal education by leading to the degrees of associate in arts.
__________ Learner's Permit
S. 1964 Passed Senate November 26; pending in House District of Columbia Committee
Provides authority to increase from $2 to $5 the fee charged for a District of Columbia learner's permit, to enable an expansion of the driver education program.
__________ Life Insurance Companies
H.R. 3191 Public Law 88191, approved December 5, 1963
Exempts life insurance companies from a 1913 act regulating money lending on securities in the District of Columbia. Under existing law, exemptions are applicable to the legitimate business of national banks, licensed bankers, trust companies, savings banks, building and loan associations, small business investment companies licensed and operating under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, or real estate brokers. To be exempt, a life insurance company must be authorized to do business in the District of Columbia or in any of the States of the United States.
__________ Motor Vehicles
S. 490 Public Law 8889, approved August 5, 1963
Eliminates the requirement that an alphabetical file on motor vehicle and trailer liens be kept by the District of Columbia.
__________ Motor Vehicles Inspection
S. 485 Passed Senate June 26; pending in House District of Columbia Committee
The purpose of this bill is to require the payment of a $1 reinspection fee for every reinspection subsequent to the initial one. Authorizes the Commissioners, at their discretion, to provide by regulation for the inspection of motor vehicles or trailers which, at the time of inspection, are not required to be registered in District of Columbia.
__________ Municipal Court
H.R. 3537 Public Law 8860, approved July 8, 1963
This bill will
Increase the jurisdiction of the municipal court of the District of Columbia in civil cases from $3,000 to $10,000. Increase the subpoena powers of the municipal court of the District of Columbia to issue and serve subpoenas for attendance any point within a 25mile radius of the District. Allow the district court for the District of Columbia to certify actions to the municipal court which will not justify a judgment in excess of $10,000. Change the name of the municipal court for the District of Columbia to the District of Columbia Court of General Sessions, and also change the name of the municipal court of appeals to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
__________ Practical Nurses' Licensing Act
S. 933 Passed Senate August 28; passed House, amended November 6
Amends the District of Columbia Nurses' Licensing Act to make it possible for competent practical nurses to obtain a practical nursing license without written examination if they have resided in the District and actively cared for the sick in the Washington metropolitan area for the year preceding the effective date of the licensing act (July 29, 1961).
__________ Registered Nurses Act
H.R. 1933 Public Law 8881, approved July 30, 1963
Amends existing law to lower from 21 to 19 years the age requirement for registration as a nurse by the Nurses' Examining Board of the District of Columbia.
__________ Relocation Costs
S. 1024 Passed Senate November 26; pending in the House District of Columbia Committee
Authorizes appropriation of District of Columbia funds for relocation costs, to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit organizations displaced by District governmental activities up to $200 per individual or family, and $3,000 per business or nonprofit organization, unless in the latter case a greater amount of actual moving expense is certified. Payment of relocation costs to displaces must be caused by the acquisition of property for construction of highways, buildings, and other public works. However, the bill also provides expanded and more effective relocation services for displacees resulting from condemnation of unsafe and unsanitary buildings, and enforcement of housing regulations.
__________ School Census
S. 1078 Passed Senate July 22; pending in House District of Columbia Committee
Authorized an annual appropriation of $102,700 to take care of the expenses of the school lunch program in the District of Columbia.
__________ Transit System
S. 1533 Public Law 88212, approved December 18, 1963
Transfers functions relating to mass transportation from the District of Columbia Public Utilities Commission to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission. Specifically it amends existing law to permit the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission, instead of the District of Columbia Public Utilities Commission, to make an annual determination of D.C. Transit System's net operating income and to certify it to the District of Columbia Commissioners for computation of exemptions from the motor vehicle fuel and real estate tax. Under the terms of D.C. Transit's franchise, the transit company is exempt from payment of these taxes to the District of Columbia, to the extent its net earnings are less than 6 ½ percent of gross operating revenues.
ECONOMY AND FINANCE
Economy and Finance, 1961
Area Development
S. 1 Public Law 8727, approved May 1, 1961
As a demonstration of the Senate's "persistence," it has, for the fourth time, passed a $451 million program in an effort to aid in alleviating the suffering in distressed areas hit by unemployment and underemployment where it is substantial and continuous not temporary and seasonal. This 4year program declares its purpose to be one of Federal help for areas needing economic redevelopment, to expand their economic activities, and pride employment wherever possible by Authorizing the President to appoint an Area Redevelopment Administrator in the Department of Commerce (confirmed by the Senate) to receive compensation equal to an Assistant Secretary. The Administrator is to perform such duties under the act as are assigned to him by the Secretary of Commerce. Creating an Area Redevelopment Advisory Board to advise the Administrator. The Board is to be composed of the Secretary of Commerce as Chairman and seven other department and agency heads. Requiring the Secretary to appoint a 25member National Public Advisory Committee on area redevelopment, composed of representatives of labor, management, agriculture, State, and local governments and the general public. Authorizing $300 million in Treasury-financed loans
(1) To industrial areas for constructing new factory buildings, rehabilitating and converting existing buildings for industrial use, redeveloping land and purchasing facilities, including machinery and equipment in cases of demonstrated need; (2) For rural areas for similar type loans; and
(3) For construction, alteration, and expansion of public facilities in both industrial and rural areas. Authorizing an appropriation of $75 million for public facility grants to be used in areas where the project could not be undertaken without the grant. Including an anti-pirating provision which prohibits Federal assistance for relocating an existing business enterprise from one area to another. Setting up eligibility requirements which must be met before assistance can be obtained. Limiting loans for private projects to 25 years, and up to 40 years for public facilities.
Authorizing grants of $4.5 million to help redevelopment areas evaluate developing potentialities for economic growth. Making urban renewal grants available to industrial redevelopment areas for nonresidential projects under existing urban renewal programs. Authorizing an annual appropriation of $10 million for retraining subsistence payments by the Department of Labor to unemployed workers who are undergoing training for a new job under the vocational training program. Terminating the program as of June 30, 1965.
__________ Dependent Children Aid
H.R. 4884 Public Law 8731, approved May 8, 1961
This bill will
1. Authorize a 14month program, from May 1, 1961, through June 1962 to permit States to aid needy unemployed persons and their children who are not now eligible for aid in which the Federal Government participates. 2. Use the same matching formula as is used in the present Federal-State aid to dependent children. 3. Require the State agency administering the expanded aid to dependent children program to enter into cooperative arrangements with the State agency administering the public employment officers in order to try to obtain employment for the parent. 4. Require that State welfare agencies enter into cooperative arrangements with the State vocational education agency for retaining unemployed parents. 5. Give the States the option to exclude from the benefits of the bill individuals who are receiving unemployment compensation. 6. Extend until 60 days after the close of the next regular session of the legislature, the effective date of the Flemming ruling which would have denied Federal matching funds to States who have terminated assistance to children in a home determined to be unsuitable unless the State makes other provisions for the children affected. 7. Allow the States the option of bringing needy dependent children under the program where a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the children are not receiving proper care and protection in their own homes and gives responsibility to the State agency to place them in approved foster family homes. 8. Increase from 80 to 100 percent Federal financing of grants for training of public welfare personnel from July 1, 1961, through June 30, 1963. 9. Authorize the use of appropriations to the Department of Labor for its administration of the employment security program to pay costs involved in borrowing State employment security personnel for the recently enacted Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act. 10. Increase by $3 the maximum amount to which the Federal Government will participate, on a matching basis, in State programs carrying out the special medical care provision of 1960 for recipients of old-age assistance (from $12 to $15). Effective July 1, 1961. 11. Increase the $9 million overall ceiling on public assistance grants to Puerto Ricoby $75,000 for fiscal 1961 and by $300,000 for fiscal 1962. 12. Include all States, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, District of Columbia and Guam.
__________ Duty-Free Allowance Reduction
H.R. 6611 Public Law 87132, approved August 10, 1961
As a part of the balance-of-payments program Congress has authorized, for a 2year period to July 1, 1963, a reduction from $500 to $100 the amount of purchases abroad that a returning resident of the United States may bring in duty free. However, because of the new program to promote tourism in the Virgin Islands, an additional $100 will be permitted tourists returning from the Virgin Islands, thus totaling $200 in this instance.
__________ Federal Unemployment Compensation Extension
H.R. 4806 Public Law 876, approved March 24, 1961
To help ease the unemployment problem throughout the country, Congress authorized Federal advances to permit the States to extend unemployment benefits up to an additional 13 weeks for workers who have exhausted their regular benefits during the recession, thus providing an unemployed worker with benefits up to a total of 39 weeks. These additional payments are to be made available to unemployed workers who have exhausted their benefit rights under a State program after June 30, 1960, and before April 1, 1962. It provides for financing by advances from the Treasury which will be repaid by a temporary increase in the net Federal unemployment tax of four-tenths of 1 percent on the existing wage base of $3,000, effective for calendar years 1962 and 1963. The act requires that temporary unemployment compensation be reduced by amounts received as a retirement pension or annuity under a public or private retirement plan provided, or contributed to, by a base period employer. Thus an individual would not be permitted to receive unemployment benefits under the bill, without reduction for retirement benefits, if both types of payments arise by reason of service for the same employer. The statutory limitation on amounts which may be granted to States for administration of their unemployment security systems is increased to $385 million (from $350 million) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1961, and to $415 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1962. The agency administering the State law is required to furnish the Secretary of Labor information relating to the personal characteristics, family situation, and employment of background of individuals entitled to temporary extended unemployment compensation under this act (on a sample basis).
__________ Public Debt Increase
H.R. 7677 Public Law 8769, approved June 30, 1961
This measure will increase the public debt limit for 1 year from the statutory level of $285 billion, by $13 billion, to $298 billion. Since 1946, when the wartime statutory limit came down from $300 billion to $275 billion, the permanent limit has been increased twice, from $275 billion to $283 billion in 1958, and then to $285 billion in 1959. It has been increased temporarily (for 1 year) five times since 1954. This year's temporary increase of $13 billion compares with 1959's 1year increase from $285 billion to $295 billion and 1960's increase from $285 billion to $293 billion.
__________ Public Debt--Reduce by Gifts
H.R. 311 Public Law 8758, approved June 27, 1961
This act specifically authorizes the U.S. Government to accept gifts of money or other property which are to be used to reduce the public debt. It provides for deposit of cash gifts, or proceeds from sales of other gifts, in a special account on the books of the Treasury, and money in this account is to be used to retire obligations of the United States which are a part of the public debt. Occasionally the U.S. Government receives gifts of money or other property made on the condition that the gift be used to reduce the public debt. However, the Treasury Department has no specific authority to use gifts it receives in this manner and, in the past has been depositing them in the general fund of the Treasury. Thus, this act will permit the gift to be used as the donor designated.
__________ Railroad Unemployment Insurance Extension
H.R. 5075 Public Law 877, approved March 24, 1961
Congress unanimously approved additional temporary unemployment benefits to unemployed railroad workers who have after June 30, 1960, and before April 1, 1962, exhausted all their rights to benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The maximum number of additional days would be 65 (13 weeks), but these benefits cannot exceed in any individual case 50 percent of the amount of unemployment benefits which could be paid to the unemployed worker in the benefit year. The act authorizes the Treasury to provide in advance the funds needed to pay for these temporary benefits, estimated to be $24 million. It adds temporarily, for the years 1962 and 1963, one-quarter of 1 percent to the rate of contribution now required of railroad employers to pay for the benefits regularly provided. These advances will be repayable primarily from the additional money contribution.
__________ Small Business Increase
H.R. 8922 Public Law 87198, approved September 5, 1961
This measure increases by $20 million the amount that the Small Business Administration may commit for loans under their regular basis loan program. This will enable SBA to continue its business loan program without interruption for approximately 1 month.
__________ Small Business Act Amendments
H.R. 8762 Public Law 87305, approved September 26, 1961
Increase the Small Business Administration's revolving fund by $105 million to enable the agency to operate its lending programs through fiscal year 1962. The bill also provided for SBA, the Defense Department, and the General Services Administration to develop cooperatively within 90 days a small business subcontracting program. Before the Defense Department and GSA officials promulgate any subcontracting regulations, they must seek the concurrence of SBA. Should SBA not concur, the issue must be referred to the President.
__________ Small Business Investment Act Amendments
S. 902 Public Law 87341, approved October 3, 1961
The Small Business Investment Act of 1958 was designed to increase the supply of long-term loans and equity capital for small business concerns. It provided incentives for private investors to form small business investment companies, licensed and regulated by the Small Business Administration, to supply venture capital and long-term loans to small businesses. It authorized SBA to make loans to State and local development companies engaged in lending to small businesses. Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Major changes in this act are: 1. The amount of subordinated debentures of a small business investment company which the Small Business Administration may purchase was increased from $150,000 to $400,000. 2. The amount of its capital and surplus that a bank may invest in an SBIC was increased from 1 to 2 percent. 3. The amount of section 303 (b) loans which SBA may make to an SBIC was set at $4 million, provided funds are not available from private sources. 4. The amount of funds from any source which an SBIC may furnish to a business concern was fixed at $500,000. A larger amount will require SBA approval. 5. SBA was given authority to institute administrative proceedings to suspend licenses of SBIC's for violation of the act or regulations. 6. SBA's revolving fund SBIC operations was increased by $75 million.
Economy and Finance, 1962
Accelerated Public Works Program
S. 2965 Public Law 87658, approved September 14, 1962
Enacted into law a bill designed to relieve some of the unemployment problems throughout the 50 States as well as provide for immediate public works programs. Authorized an immediate $900 million public works program in areas of chronic unemployment to initiate or accelerate projects already authorized or State or local projects for which Federal aid has been previously authorized. Areas eligible are those designated by the Secretary of Labor as areas of substantial unemployment during at least 9 of the preceding 12 months or designated by the Commerce Secretary as "redevelopment areas" under the Area Redevelopment Act. Earmarked $300 million of the $900 million to rural areas designated for redevelopment under the Area Redevelopment Act. Authorized the President to allocate funds appropriated to the heads of the departments and agencies responsible for construction of Federal projects or Federal aid to State or local projects. Allocated funds to be subject to requirements in the authorizing legislation except provisions limiting allocations of funds among the States and limiting total amount of grants for specified period of time. Authorized Federal share of cost to be at least 50 percent, and up to 75 percent if the State or local government is not financially capable of raising 50 percent of the funds. Authorized the President to prescribe rules, regulations, and procedures to assure adequate consideration of the relative needs of eligible areas such as severity and duration of unemployment, the income levels, and the extent of underemployment in eligible areas. Limited to 10percent commitments to any one State.
Required that projects to receive aid must be initiated or accelerated within a reasonably short time, must meet an essential public need, must contribute significantly to reducing local unemployment and not be inconsistent with locally approved comprehensive plans, and must be able to be substantially completed within 12 months. Prohibited use of funds, directly or indirectly, for planning or construction of schools or other educational facilities. Required that financial assistance provided under this act must produce a net increase in expenditures by the applicant for capital improvement projects approximately equal to the amount of non-Federal funds for the aided project. In signing the bill into law, President Kennedy stated:
I am today approving S. 2965, a bill which authorizes the appropriation of $900 million to initiate and accelerate Federal public works projects and to provide Federal assistance for a similar expansion of local public works to relieve unemployment and spur economic expansion in those areas of the country which have failed to share fully in the economic gains of the recovery from the 196061 recession. Enactment of this bill is a significant milestone in our effort to strengthen the economy and provide a greater measure of economic security to the unemployed. It is an important companion measure to other efforts already underway. The Area Redevelopment Administration has begun the long difficult task of stimulating the creation of new, permanent jobs in communities which have suffered economic reverses for the longest periods. Through the manpower development and training program, tens of thousands of jobless men and women will soon be learning the skills needed to improve their employment prospects and productivity. Because of expanded distribution of surplus agricultural commodities, thousands of destitute families now have at least the essentials of a decent diet. I shall shortly transmit to Congress a request for the appropriation of funds necessary to get the program underway. To insure that prompt use is made of the new authority as soon as funds are available, I am today issuing an Executive order designating the Secretary of Commerce as the coordinator of this program. Four principles will guide his efforts: The funds will be invested in worthwhile and necessary projects designed to make eligible communities better places in which to live and work. The jobs created will be made available to the maximum feasible extent to the unemployed within the eligible communities. The program will become operative as quickly as prudent management and respect for the foregoing principles permit.
__________ Federal Reserve Bank Authority--Extension
S. 3291 Public Law 87506, approved June 28, 1962
Extends to June 30, 1964, the present authority of the Federal Reserve banks to purchase securities directly from the Treasury in amounts not to exceed $5 billion outstanding at any one time. The Government has had this authority since 1942. It has been used rarely and only for brief periods, and has not been used at all since 1958. The bill is needed, however, to permit direct access to Federal Reserve credit which provides the margin of safety necessary if the Treasury is to fall to exceptionally low levels prior to the large inflow of cash over a tax date. In addition there may be occasions when Treasury financing operations ought to be postponed for a short period because of market disturbances, and direct access to Federal Reserve credit increases the Treasury's elbowroom in such a situation. And in the event of a national emergency which would disrupt financial markets, direct access to Federal Reserve credit would be necessary to continue the functions of Government.
__________ Foreign Bank Deposits
H.R. 12080 Public Law 87827, approved October 15, 1962
To help slow the U.S. gold outflow, this act removed for a period of 3 years the Federal Reserve Board's present ceiling--which ranges up to 4 percent varying with the duration of a depositon interest rates paid by U.S. commercial banks on time deposits of foreign governments, their central banks or other monetary authorities, and international institutions of which the United States is a member. Time deposits are interest-bearing savings deposits left in a bank for a set period. The intent is to attract funds that might wind up in foreign central banks and that might otherwise be converted into gold out of U.S. stocks.
__________ Public Debt Limit--Temporary Increase
H.R. 10050 Public Law 87414, approved March 13, 1962
Enacted a $2 billion temporary increase in the public debt limit lifting the ceiling from $298 to $300 billion to June 30, 1962.
__________ Public Debt Limit
H.R. 11990 Public Law 87512, approved July 1, 1962
Provides for a temporary debt limit of $308 billion for the period from July 1, 1962, through March 31, 1963; a temporary limit of $305 billion from April 1, 1963, through June 24, 1963, and a temporary limit of $300 billion through the remainder of the fiscal year 1963. Current statutory debt limitation is $300 billion. This consists of a permanent limit of $285 billion and a $15 billion temporary additional limit which expires as of June 30, 1962. Reason for need.The Treasury Department expects a seasonal budget deficit reaching a peak of $11.2 billion on December 15 of this year, just before the receipt of large tax payments. The Department has estimated the current fiscal year will end with a debt of about $294 billion. Adding the customary $3 billion allowance for flexibility to this figure gives a total of about $297 billion, or about $3 billion less than the current statutory debt limitation of $300 billion. This $3 billion, plus the additional $8 billion increase now asked in the statutory limitation, would provide the $11.2 billion seasonal deficit.
_________ Small Business Act Amendment
S. 2970 Public Law 87550, approved July 25, 1962
Increased the Small Business Administration's revolving fund to a total of $1.66 billion. Of this, $1,325 million put into a single pool for regular business loans and disaster loans and $341 million will be used for expanding the programs provided by the Small Business Administration Act of 1958. Also changed method of computing the interest that SBA pays Treasury for the funds it receives from Treasury for its lending programs. The Secretary, instead of setting a flat interest rate, will compute in June of each year a weighted average interest rate taking into consideration prior annual rates. In pooling the funds for business and disaster loans, Congress was mindful of the fact that so many business loans are made that there is danger of running low on disaster funds. They were assured by the SBA that a minimum of $14 million would be kept in reserve for this possibility. Authorizes the SBA to make loans, either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lenders through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis, to assist any firm to adjust to changed economic conditions resulting from increased competition from imported articles but only if an adjustment proposal of a firm has been certified by Secretary of Commerce under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962; the Secretary has referred the proposal to the Administration under that act and the loan would provide part or all of the financial assistance necessary to carry out the proposal; and the Secretary's certification in force at the time the Administration makes the loan.
__________ War Claims--General Aniline
H.R. 7283 Public Law 87846, approved October 22, 1962
Enacted an omnibus war claim bill which permitted the Government to sell General Aniline & Film Corp., seized during World War II, as German owned. Government now has a 93percent stock interest in the company. This legislation was required because Federal seizure has been challenged by a Swiss holding company, which contends to be the true prewar owner. If the claim should be upheld in the courts, proceeds from the sale of the Government stock--estimated at $150 million--will be used to compensate the Swiss company. In addition to authorizing the sale of General Aniline, it authorized compensation to U.S. citizens, or their heirs who lost property in Europe, the Far East, or at sea during World War II, or who suffered death, disability, or property loss on civilian passenger vessels attacked before the United States entered the war. Funds for these general war claims will be made available from sales of alien property seized in this country. This bill authorizes an immediate transfer of $100 million. Full payment must be made in cases of death or injury and to small businesses as defined in the Small Business Act. Small Business Act definition is a manufacturing concern with no more than 250 employees, a wholesale concern with annual sales under $5 million, or a retail or service concern with annual sales or receipts under $1 million. Should there be a balance remaining in the war claims fund, consideration will be given for payment for losses as late as 1951 by residents of Iron Curtain countries who have since become U.S. citizens; for World War II losses by any foreigner who has since been naturalized in this country; for Americans who were taken prisoner while serving in the armed forces of any country; and for Americans who were taken prisoner while serving in the armed forces of any country allied with the United States in World War II. Authorized returning to former owners the estates, trusts, insurance policies, annuities, and pensions seized by the United States during the war. Authorized payment of $500,000 to the Jewish Restitution Successor Organization to be used for rehabilitation of World War II persecutees who have since settled in this country. Funds would be made available from sale of property seized in this country from residents of enemy countries who were killed and persecuted during the war and left no heirs. Provided 18 months for claims to be filed. Foreign Claims Commission must complete action within a 4year period. Provided for return to persons entitled copyrights or rights or interests arising preventing contracts relating to copyrights (91 days following enactment).
Economy and Finance, 1963
Additional Mint Facilities
S. 874 Public Law 88102, approved August 20, 1963
Authorized a 10year program of construction and equipping of buildings in connection with the Bureau of the Mint operations and limits total expenditures to $30 million.
__________ Area Redevelopment Act Amendments
S. 1163 Passed Senate June 26; House Calendar
Amending the Area Redevelopment Act of 1961 to provide $455 million in additional Federal funds and to Clarify language in the act in regard to eligibility for designation of Indian reservations to make it clear that not only Federal but also State Indian reservations are eligible for designation as redevelopment areas. Increase the amount authorized to be outstanding for industrial or commercial loans from $100 to $250 million for projects in urban areas. Increase the amount authorized to be outstanding for industrial or commercial loans from $100 to $250 million for projects in rural areas. Increase the amount authorized to be outstanding for public facility loans from $100 to $150 million. Increase the authorization for appropriations for public facility grants from $75 to $175 million. Permit the required State or local 10percent contribution for industrial or commercial projects to be repaid concurrently with financial assistance extended by the Area Redevelopment Administration. Increase the annual authorization for appropriations for technical assistance from $4.5 to $10 million. Require that construction workers on any private project financed by ARA be paid prevailing wages as required by the Davis-Bacon Act. Permit funds appropriated for the area redevelopment program to remain available until expended; provide that any funds appropriated for business or public facility loans shall be deposited in the area redevelopment fund; and require payment of interest by the fund to the Treasury on any such appropriated funds used for business and public facility loans. Eliminate requirement that cities of less than 150,000 must pay three-fourths rather than twothirds of the cost of urban renewal projects. Designate as a redevelopment area any area within the United States where substantial unemployment exists and it has been certified that there are at least 50,000 Cuban refugees. Bar assistance to any foreign concern to establish plants or facilities or to establish or expand plants or facilities in the United States. Permit designation of redevelopment areas by contiguous groupings.
__________ Attorneys' Fees--Bankruptcy
H.R. 2833 Public Law 8817, approved May 8, 1963
In bankruptcy proceedings, permits courts on their own motion to examine into the reasonableness of attorneys' fees. Also provides that if an agreement is made, either before or after filing, to pay legal fees after filing, the court may on its own motion or on petition of the bankrupt made prior to discharge, examine into the reasonableness of such fees. Fees are to be held valid only to the extent of a reasonable, fair charge for the services. Anything over a reasonable fee will be canceled and if payment has been made, the excess will be returned to bankrupt. Under existing 60d of the Bankruptcy Act, the court can examine into the reasonableness of attorneys' fees only on petition of the trustee or any creditor. Amounts determined in excess may then be recovered by the trustee for the benefit of the estate.
__________ Cadmium Disposal from Stockpile
S. 1089 Public Law 888, approved April 9, 1963
Authorized the General Services Administration to dispose of approximately 2 million pounds of cadmium from the national stockpile, and permits the disposal to begin upon enactment of this bill instead of waiting until 6 months after October 20, 1962, the date of publication of the disposal notice in the Federal Register (statutory requirement). The initial offering for sale will be for approximately 300,000 pounds with subsequent offerings scheduled at least 60 days apart. Small lot sales will permit small business to participate in the purchase of cadmium. Cadmium is used chiefly in electroplating, pigments and chemicals, alloys, and storage batteries.
__________ Chicory--Duty Allowance
H.R. 2827 Public Law 8849, approved June 29, 1963
Extends for 3 years, to June 30, 1966, existing suspension of duty on crude chicory except endive, and continued for the same period the statutory rate of duty of 2 cents a pound for chicory, ground or otherwise prepared.
__________ Cork Insulation
H.R. 2053 Public Law 8832, approved May 29, 1963
Authorized a temporary (3year) suspension of import duty on corkboard insulation.
_________ Dependent Children--Foster Care
H.R. 2651 Public Law 8848, approved June 29, 1963
This bill extended for 1 year to June 30, 1964, the provision of the Public Welfare Amendments of 1962 which permits the responsibility for placement and foster care of dependent children under the program of aid to needy families with dependent children to be exercised by a public agency other than the one which regularly administers this program. Under the permanent provisions of existing law, Federal matching is made available to certain children placed under foster care pursuant to court order. The 1962 legislation provided an exception to the requirement that the responsibility for placement and care must reside solely with the State or local agency administering the title IV program to take care of the situation in a few States where it has been the practice for other public agencies, particularly juvenile courts, to be responsible for arranging placement and providing for supervision of children who the courts have decided should live in homes other than those of their own families.
__________ Deposit of Funds of Bankrupts' Estates
H.R. 2849 Public Law 8816, approved May 8, 1963
Amends the Bankruptcy Act to authorize the bankruptcy court to permit trustees to deposit funds of the bankrupt estates in interest-bearing accounts, such as time deposit accounts, savings accounts, and the like so that some increment will accrue to these estates. At present section 47a (2) requires a trustee in bankruptcy to deposit all money received by him in "designated depositories," and section 61 provides that the courts of bankruptcy "shall designate, by order, banking institutions as depositories for the money of estates***." These provisions have been interpreted to require the trustee to deposit the money of a bankrupt's estate in demand deposit accounts; thus, unless the creditors consent, the trustee could not make deposits in interest-bearing accounts.
__________ Duty-Free Allowance
H.R. 6791 Public Law 8853, approved June 29, 1963
Extended for 2 years, to June 30, 1965, the $100 exemption from import duties allowed on foreign goods brought back from outside the United States. Retained the present ceiling of $200 for goods from the Virgin Islands through March 31, 1964, when the exemption will be reduced to $100.
__________ Flood Disaster Victims--Study
S. 2032 Passed Senate November 8; pending in House Banking and Currency Committee
Authorizes the Housing and Home Finance Administrator to make a study of alternative programs to help provide financial assistance to victims of future flood disasters, including the present and other possible Federal flood insurance programs. Report to be made to Congress within 9 months from enactment or the appropriation of funds, whichever is later. The report must include an indication of the feasibility of each program studied, an estimate of its cost to the Federal Government and to property owners on the basis of reasonable assumptions, and the legal authority for State financial participation.
__________ Heptanoic Acid
H.R. 5712 Public Law 8893, approved August 8, 1963
Continues the existing suspension of the import duty on heptanoic acid for 3 years.
__________ Istle or Tampico Fiber
S. 6011 Public Law 8890, approved August 8, 1963
Continues to September 5, 1966, the existing suspension of duty on dressed or manufactured istle or Tampico fiber.
__________ Lumber Tariff
S. 1032 Public Law 88103, approved August 22, 1963
Excludes cargo which is lumber from certain tariff-filing requirements under the Shipping Act of 1916. This bill amends section 18 (B) (1) of the Shipping Act, 1916, to exempt lumber from the requirement that rates and charges for transportation in both directions between U.S. ports and foreign ports be filed with the Federal Maritime Commission and that increases in such rates and charges shall not become effective until 30 days after filing the increased rates and charges. At present these filing requirements apply to all cargo except cargo loaded and carried in bulk without mark or count. This will permit shippers of lumber to secure rates for transportation of lumber in foreign trade that are more competitive with those paid by foreign producers.
__________ Metal Scrap--Duty Suspension
H.R. 4174 Public Law 8850, approved June 29, 1963
Extends to June 30, 1964, the suspension of duties on metal scrap including such principal types of scrap as iron and steel, aluminum, magnesium, nickel, and nickel alloys.
__________ National Service Corps
S. 1321 Passed Senate August 14; pending in House Education and Labor Committee
Establishes a National Service Corps to strengthen community service programs in the United States. Life of the Corps is limited to 2 years. Authorizes appropriation of $5 million for fiscal year 1964 and $10 million for fiscal year 1965. Authorizes the President to appoint a Director for confirmation by the Senate at $20,000 a year. The Corps will work with the health and education needs of migratory farm families, Indians living on reservations, and rural and urban slums and depressed areas; the training and education of youth, particularly school dropouts; and the care and rehabilitation of the elderly, the disabled, the mentally ill, and the mentally retarded. The bill requires a request from the Governor of a State to the President before implementation of a program in that State. Specifies that projects should be undertaken only on local invitation and in cooperation with local governmental and other agencies and, if possible, should be supervised by those agencies. Specifies that no project will displace regular workers or duplicate or replace an existing service in the same locality. Limits the number of corpsmen to 1,000 during fiscal year 1964, and 5,000 thereafter. Authorizes payment of $75 a month plus minimal living allowances. Applicants must be of good moral character and enrollees are limited to those of American citizenship and Cuban refugees. Corpsmen will be made available to any department or agency of the United States or of any State or political subdivision, the District of Columbia, and any private person or organization pursuant to a contract or agreement which will not extend at any time for more than 2 years. Authorizes the President to establish a National Service Corps Advisory Council of 25 persons representative of agencies, public and private organizations, and individuals interested in Corps programs and objectives to advise and consult with the President on Corps projects and policies. Authorizes the employment of experts and consultants with compensation at rates not exceeding $75 a day. However, only 2 percent of the funds authorized or appropriated may be used for this purpose. Requires the President to submit an annual report to Congress each fiscal year.
__________ Polished Sheets and Plates of Iron or Steel
H.R. 3674 Public Law 8886, approved August 5, 1963
This bill eliminates an unintended tariff classification anomaly in Tariff Act of 1930 that permits polished stainless steel sheets to enter the United States as a lesser duty than is applicable to stainless steel sheets that are unpolished.
__________ Public Debt Ceiling
H.R. 6009 Public Law 8830, approved May 29, 1963
Provides a temporary debt limit of $307 billion for the remainder of fiscal 1963 and $309 billion for the first 2 months of fiscal 1964. H.R. 7824Public Law 88106, approve August 27, 1963
Extends to November 30, 1963, the temporary debt limitation of $309 billion. H.R. 8969Public Law 88187, approve November 26, 1963
Extends the present temporary debt limit of $309 billion for the remainder of this fiscal year but, also, provides an additional leeway of $6 billion to be available during the year for seasonal variations. The $315 billion limitation expires June 29, 1964, thus reducing the ceiling to the present $309 billion.
__________ Public Works Planning
Senate Joint Resolution 129.Passed Senate November 19; pending in House Banking and Currency Committee
Authorizes an additional $10 million for Housing and Home Finance Agency's program of advances for public works planning. This additional authorization will be provided by increasing from $58 to $68 million the statutory limits on the amounts which may be appropriated to the revolving fund from which advances are made. The program of advances for public works planning was enacted to encourage municipalities and other public agencies to prepare and maintain a current and adequate reserve of planned public works which could readily be placed under construction, and to promote economy and efficiency in planning and building public works. Eligible applicants include States, municipalities, and other public agencies of the States, including regional or metropolitan area authorities provided they have the legal authority to finance and construct the proposed facilities within a reasonable period of time. However, the public work for which the advance is requested must conform to any existing overall State, local, or regional plan, and must be checked with any Federal agency whose clearance is required. The agreement between the Government and the applicant requires the repayment of the advance when construction begins and authorizes repayment of a proportionate amount if only a portion of the project is initiated. Advances are interest free, but interest is charged on delinquent payments at a 4percent rate. Advances outstanding to public agencies in any one State are limited to not more than 12 ½ percent of the aggregate amount authorized to be appropriated to the revolving fund for the program.
__________ Silver Purchase Repeal
H.R. 5389 Public Law 8836, approved June 4, 1963
This bill repeals the Silver Purchase Act of 1934, section 4 of the act of July 6, 1939, and the act of July 31, 1946, which required the Treasury Department to purchase newly mined domestic silver at 90 ½ cents an ounce and authorized the Department to sell at the same price. Continues the requirement that the Treasury must keep a reserve of silver to match outstanding silver certificates and must supply silver in exchange for silver certificates on the holder's demand. Authorizes the issuance of $1 and $2 Federal Reserve notes to meet the needs of business and the public. Requires that the Secretary of Treasury not dispose of any free silver unless the market price of the silver exceeds its monetary value of $1.29plus an ounce, except that any free silver could be sold to other departments and agencies of the Government or used for the coinage of standard silver dollars and subsidiary silver coins. Repeals the tax on transfers of silver bullion after the date of enactment.
__________ Small Business Act Amendments
S. 1309 Passed Senate November 21; pending in House Banking and Currency Committee
Increased by $34.3 million the authorization for the small business investment fund bringing the total authorization under SBA's revolving fund to $1,700,300,000. Of the $34.3 million, it was estimated that $15.9 million would be allocated to operate the business investment fund under existing law and $18.4 million allocated to cover increased costs under the small business investment company program and the lending program to State and local development companies through fiscal year 1964. Broadened the causal basis of SBA's authority to make loans from its disaster fund to cover all natural disasters and provided that criminal charges could be brought against anyone who conceals, removes, disposes of or converts to his or someone else's use any property mortgaged to SBA as a security for a loan. Under existing law loans were limited to small businesses suffering losses through major drought or excessive rainfall disasters only. Bill also provides that loans be extended to firms that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of the inability of the firm to process or market a product for human consumption because of disease or toxicity occurring in the product through natural or undetermined causes.
__________ Small Business Investment Act Amendments
S. 298 Passed Senate November 21; House Calendar
Liberalizes the Small Business Investment Act to encourage increased capitalization of SBIC's by raising the amount of capital that SBA may invest in an SBIC, on a matching basis, from $400,000 to $700,000, and increase the time within which such sale may be made to 5 years from the date of licensing of the date of the enactment of these amendments, whichever is later. Gives SBA specific statutory authority for the standby program under which SBA stands behind loans made under the act by private banks to SBIC's. This section also increases the maximum amount of loans from $4 to $5 million. Repeals an amendment which limited to $500,000 the amount which an SBIC could provide to a single small business concern. Permits SBIC's to deposit idle funds in savings and loan associations, the accounts of which are insured by the FSLIC. Directs the SBA to promulgate regulations for the purpose of controlling conflicts of interests and require that such regulations include provisions for public disclosures in cases involving conflicts of interest.
H.R. 2675 Public Law 8892, approved August 8, 1963
Extends for an additional 3 years the period during which certain tanning extracts may be imported free of duty, and the period during which extracts of hemlock or eucalyptus suitable for use for tanning may be imported free of duty.
__________ Uniform Commercial Code
H.R. 5338 Public Law 88243, approved December 30, 1963
Adopts the Uniform Commercial Code, approved by the American Bar Association, for the District of Columbia.
__________ Urban Construction
S. 626 Passed Senate June 24; pending in House Public Works Committee
Authorized a 5 percent (from 10 to 15 percent) increase on the limitation on payments for construction engineering for Federal aid primary, secondary, and urban projects. Present law provides for a maximum Federal participation in engineering construction costs of 10 percent of the total estimated cost of a project financed with Federal aid primary, secondary, or urban funds, after excluding from such total estimated cost the estimated costs of rights-of-way, preliminary engineering, and construction engineering. Since the proposed amendment applies only to the Federal share of payments, the maximum net benefit to any State, with reference to the affected projects, would be a 2 ½percent transfer to construction engineering costs of Federal funds which would otherwise be used for the Federal share of actual construction.
__________ Youth Conservation Corps
S.1 Passed Senate April 10, 1963; H.R. 5131House Calendar
Authorized a 5-year, $100 million (fiscal year 1964) program to employ and train jobless youngsters between the ages of 16 and 22 in a Youth Conservation Corps and a Hometown Service Corps. Major provisions of S. 1 are:
Title 1 Youth Conservation Corps
Establishes a Youth Conservation Corps within the Department of Labor, headed by a Director appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate at $20,000 a year. Purpose of the Corps is to provide on-the-job training for young unemployed men aged 16 to 21 together with supplemental training and education programs to increase their opportunities for permanent employment. Primary work would be conserving our natural resources. Enrollees must be permanent residents of the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to establish standards of safety, health, and conduct for enrollees, and to enter into agreements with the Secretary of HEW for provision for such services. The Secretary is also authorized to enter into agreements with Federal and State agencies for conservation and recreational area development. Establishes a four-member Interdepartmental Committee on the Youth Conservation Corps composed of: Secretary of Labor, or his designee, as chairman, a representative of Department of HEW, a representative of Department of Agriculture, and a representative of the Department of the Interior. The committee will consult with and advise the Secretary on all operational phases of the Corps. Establishes in the Department of Labor a National Advisory Council on the Youth Conservation Corps composed of the Secretary, or his designee, as chairman, and up to 14 additional members appointed by the Secretary without regard to civil service laws. The members will represent the fields of conservation, agriculture, education, training, youth employment, labor, management, and the public in general. The Council is to review the operations of the Corps at the request of the Secretary. Enrollees in the Corps cannot exceed 15,000 during the first fiscal year and during the next 4 years the number will depend on congressional appropriations. Enrollment will be for not less than 6 months and, if permitted by the Secretary, an individual may reenroll, but his total enrollment cannot exceed 2 years. Fifty percent of the enrollment allocation will be made on the basis of the comparative populations within the male 16 to 21 age group. The remaining 50 percent will be distributed among the States by the Secretary based on the State's share of national unemployment. Enrollees will be paid $60 a month for the first enrollment and an additional $5 a month for each subsequent enrollment; up to an additional $10 a month may be paid on the basis of assigned leadership responsibilities or special skills.
Title II State and Community Youth Employment Program
This program has the same purpose for the same age group as title I. The States, if they choose, may establish conservation camps on State lands to improve natural resources or recreational facilities. In addition, work opportunities in improving educational, recreational, or other community assets; the elimination of blight; or assisting in hospitals, libraries, playgrounds, and welfare activities may be provided under the direction of the States or local communities. Enrollees may live either in State conservation camps away from home or may live at home. Provides for educational and vocational training, evaluation, testing counseling, and guidance. Title II will be administered by the Secretary of Labor but immediate supervision and control will be in the hands of States and communities. During the first year the program will be limited to 60,000 fulltime enrollees, and the remaining 4 years will be dependent on congressional appropriations. Authorizes $50 million for the first year, and the 4 remaining years will be determined by Congress. Costs will be shared half by the Federal Government and half by the State or community, except in cases of severe financial hardship where, in the judgment of the Secretary of Labor, a lower cost-sharing ratio may be required to enable the State or community to participate. In no case, however, may the State or local share be less than 25 percent but the State or local contributions may be made in kind as well as cash. Establishes in the Department of Labor a National Advisory Council on State and Community Youth Employment Programs composed of the Secretary or his designee, as chairman, and nine members appointed by the Secretary who are recognized authorities in professional or technical fields related to the employment of youth. Under both titles, the Secretary is required to submit annual reports to the President for transmittal to Congress. Participants under both titles will be from the 50 States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
EDUCATION
Education, 1961
College Housing
S. 1922 Public Law 8770, approved June 30, 1961
Increased the loan authorization for college housing by $300 million for each of the 4 years beginning July 1, 1961, through 1964, and increased the limitation for other educational facilities by $30 million for each of the same 4 years.
__________ Education of Blind Act Amendment
H.R. 9030 Public Law 87294, approved September 22, 1961
Authorizes wider distribution of books and special instruction materials for the blind by increasing the appropriations and the functions of the American Printing House for the Blind.
__________ Scholarships--Eligibility
S. 539 Public Law 87153, approved August 17, 1961
Permits legally classified American nationals to qualify and receive financial assistance under the Fulbright Act for advanced education abroad. The original act limited this aid to American citizens. However, through inadvertence or by an interpretation of the statute, the people of American Samoa were not considered American citizens and, as a result, could not qualify or receive financial assistance to continue their education abroad, as originally contemplated by the act. By removal of this barrier, it is possible for these people to qualify in the same manner as other American citizens who pursue advanced education abroad.
__________ Training for Teachers of Deaf
S. 336 Public Law 87276, approved September 22, 1961
This act establishes a 2year program to assist in training additional teachers for the deaf. It authorizes appropriations of $1.5 million annually to higher education institutions which are approved as training centers for teachers of the deaf. Provides for grants-in-aid to assist in providing and improving courses of training and study and to establish scholarships for qualified persons who wish to enroll in these training courses. Provides for an advisory committee, composed of persons with special knowledge and interest in training teachers of the deaf and in teaching deaf children, to review the program and applications of grantsinaid. The national shortage or classroom teachers of the deaf began during World War II and has become more acute each year. It is the task of the teacher of the deaf to bridge the gap between the deaf child's world of silence and the world of sound and hearing, the world of language and speech. The success with which a deaf child is able to bridge this barrier, to develop language and proportionately to minimize his great education handicap, depends upon the skill, the understanding, and the professional training of his teacher.
__________ War Orphans Education Extension
H.R. 3587 Public Law 87377, approved October 4, 1961
This measure provides additional time within which certain children may complete a program of education under the War Orphans Education Assistance Act of 1956. The class of eligibles afforded additional time is limited exclusively to persons whose opportunities for an education under the act have been impaired by virtue of their residence in the Republic of the Philippines. Additional time will be available to a person who had not reached his 23d birthday on June 29, 1956, and resided in the Philippines during all or part of the period June 29, 1956, through June 18, 1958. The 1956 act provided that the educational assistance could be afforded only to an eligible person enrolled in a school or other educational institution in the United States, its territories, or possessions. This provision prohibited eligible persons residing in the Philippines from receiving assistance under the program while enrolled in a Philippine educational institution. In 1958 Congress removed this barrier by permitting the eligible orphans to pursue their educational program in their home country, but failed to grant the additional entitlement of 36 months to make up the original 5year grant.
Education, 1962
Armed Forces--Educational Opportunities
H.R. 7727 Public Law 87555, approved July 27, 1962
Permits qualified members of the Armed Forces and the Public Health Service to accept, from non-governmental sources, competitive fellowships, scholarships, or grants for educational purposes. Bill is intended to relax restrictions against Federal employees receiving contributions and awards as provided in the Government Employees' Training Act (Public Law 85507). The military now assigns many of its personnel to non-governmental institutions for training. This bill would permit those persons to receive deserved honors for their work, which in turn would partially defray Government expenses in maintaining them. To avoid duplicate payment to a grantee, the bill provides if the grant pays for travel, quarters, etc., a reduction will be made from authorized Government payments.
__________ Captioned Films for the Deaf
S. 2511 Public Law 87715, approved September 28, 1962
Raised present ceiling of $250,000 to $1,250,000 for the established loan service of captioned films for the deaf in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and authorized the Secretary to provide for (a) research in the use of educational and training films for the deaf, (b) production and distribution of training films for the deaf, and © training persons in the use of films for the deaf.
__________ College Aid
H.R. 6984 Public Law 87638, approved September 5, 1962
Provided for a method of payment of indirect costs of research and development contracted by the Federal Government at universities, colleges, and other educational institutions. Authorized contracting agencies to include provisions in cost-type research and development contracts and grants with educational institutions for payment of reimbursable indirect costs on the basis of predetermined, fixed percentage rates applied to the reimbursable direct costs incurred.
__________ Depository Libraries
H.R. 8141 Public Law 87579, approved August 9, 1962
Increased total of depository libraries from the present 594 to a possible 1,174. Redefined "Government publication" to permit depositories to receive publications from subsidiary printing plants throughout the Nation, as well as from the Government Printing Office. Authorized the Government to assume the cost of mailing these publications. Permitted, in addition to the permissible two depositories per congressional district, up to two regional depositories for each State and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Permitted depositories to dispose of unwanted materials after 5 years for purposes of space saving. Present law provides for one depository library per congressional district. After much redistricting, 5 districts have 3 each, 37 have 2 each, and 104 have none.
__________ Educational Television
S. 205 Public Law 87447, approved May 1, 1962
This bill is designed to assist, through matching grants, in the construction of education television broadcasting facilities. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1963, and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years such sums, not exceeding $32 million in the aggregate, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of the bill. Construction grants.For each project for the construction of educational television broadcasting facilities there must be submitted to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare an application for a grant containing such information regarding the project as the Secretary may require by regulation, including the total cost of the project and the amount of the Federal grant requested, and it must contain assurance that (a) the applicant is (1) an agency or officer responsible for the supervision of public elementary or secondary education or public higher education within that State, or within a political subdivision; (2) the State education television agency; (3) a university or college deriving its support in whole or in part from tax revenues; or (4) a nonprofit foundation, corporation, or association which is organized primarily to engage in or encourage educational television broadcasting and eligible for a license from FCC for a noncommercial educational television broadcasting station; (b) the operation of the facility will be under the control of the applicant or a person who qualifies under section (a); © funds to construct, operate, and maintain the facility will be available when required; and (d) the facility will be used only for educational purposes. Limits to $1 million the total amount of construction grants available to any one State. Requires applicants to advise State education television agencies of applications for grants and requires the Secretary of HEW to advise the agency on the disposition of the application. Authorizes the Secretary to base his approval determinations for awarding grants on prompt and effective use of all available educational TV channels, equitable geographical distribution, and service to the greatest number of people in the greatest number of areas. Limits construction grants to 50 percent of the amount which the Secretary determines will be the cost, plus 25 percent of the amount which he determines to be the necessary cost of any education television broadcasting facilities owned by the applicant on the date of the application, thus limiting the total amount of the grant, in any case, to 75 percent of the cost. Limits to 15 percent of any grant the amount that may be used to acquire and install microwave equipment, boosters, translators, and repeaters to connect two or more broadcasting stations. Requires reimbursement to the United States if, within 10 years after completion of the facility for which the grant was made, the facility ceases to be used for educational purposes or the operator ceases to qualify. Requires each recipient of assistance to keep records of the amount and use of the grant, total cost of the project, any assistance from outside sources and the amount, and any other information required by the Secretary. Gives the Secretary of HEW and the Comptroller General of the United States full access to all such records, documents, papers, etc., for the purpose of audit. Authorizes the Secretary of HEW and Federal Communications Commission to consult and cooperate closely in carrying out the provisions of the act. Prohibits Federal interference in or control over educational television broadcasting or over the curriculum, program of instruction, or personnel of any educational institution, school system, or educational broadcasting station or system. Includes Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia within the definition of the term "State."
__________ National Science Foundation Amendments
H.R. 8556 Public Law 87835, approved September 16, 1962
Eliminated the non-Communist disclaimer from the National Science Foundation Act, and instead added a new provision making it a crime for any member of a Communist organization to apply for or to use any scholarship or fellowship awarded under the provisions of section 10 of the act. Required each applicant for scholarship or fellowship to provide the National Science Foundation with a full statement of the crime for which he had been convicted other than crimes committed before reaching age 16 and minor traffic violations for which a fine of $25 or less was imposed. Also required information regarding any criminal charges punishable by confinement of 30 days or more which may be pending against the applicant. Authorized the National Science Foundation to refuse or revoke and scholarship or fellowship award in the interests of the United States. Repealed the disclaimer affidavit requirement in section 1001 (f) of the National Defense Education Act and substituted a criminal penalty. Reenacted the loyalty oath provisions which are presently contained in section 1001 (f). Criminal penalties under section 1001 (f) provide for a penalty of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both, for a violation of this section. Added a new provision authorizing the Commissioner of Education to refuse or revoke a fellowship award if not in the best interests of the United States.
__________ War Orphans' Educational Assistance Act
H.R. 1811 Public Law 87546, approved July 25, 1962
Permits eligible beneficiaries under the War Orphans' Educational Assistance Act to attend foreign educational institutions under certain limited conditions. As originally enacted in 1956, war orphans' educational assistance was not available to a person eligible and enrolled in a course at an educational institution located outside of the States, territories, or possessions of the United States, District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. An amendment enacted in 1958 (Public Law 85460) extended the program to courses pursued in the Republic of the Philippines. This bill does not authorize enrollment in foreign educational institutions other than in the Republic of the Philippines, directly; however, it does recognize the practice of some of our own schools of offering programs which include prescribed study in a foreign educational institution (for example, a "junior year abroad" program), and would permit an eligible person to participate in such a program while continuing to receive war orphans' educational assistance. More specifically it authorizes such enrollments if (1) the subjects to be taken are an integral part of and fully creditable toward satisfactory completion of an approved course in which the person is enrolled in an institution of higher learning located in a State or in the Republic of the Philippines, (2) the tuition and fees for attendance at such foreign educational institution are paid for by the principal institution, and (3) the principal institution agrees to assume the responsibility for submitting to the Veterans' Administration required enrollment certificates and monthly certifications of training as to attendance, conduct, and progress.
__________ War Orphans Education Aid
H.R. 9737 Public Law 87819, approved October 15, 1962
Raised to 31 the present ceiling age of 23 when a war orphan must have completed his education provided suspension was due to conditions beyond his control.
Education, 1963
Educational Assistance
H.R. 221 Passed Senate amended December 10
Provides educational assistance to the children of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled as a result of a service-connected disability arising out of active military, naval, or air service during a period of war or the induction period. Wars include Spanish--American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict. Educational training cannot exceed 36 months for those generally between the ages of 18 and 23. The allowance for fulltime training is $110 a month, $80 for the three-quarters time, and $50 for halftime training.
__________ Exceptional Children--Teachers
S. 1576 Public Law 88164, approved October 31, 1963
Title III of the Mental Retardation Act authorizes grants to public or other nonprofit institutions of higher learning to assist them in providing professional or advanced training for personnel engaged or preparing to engage in employment as teachers of handicapped children, as supervisors of such teachers, or as speech correctionists or other specialists providing special services for education of such children, or engaged or preparing to engage in research in fields related to education of such children. To carry out the purposes of this act, authorizes $11,500,000 for fiscal 1964; $14,500,000 for fiscal 1965; and $19,500,000 for fiscal 1966. Authorizes the Commissioner to make grants to public or other nonprofit institutions of higher learning to assist them in establishing and maintaining scholarships for training personnel preparing to engage in employment as teachers of the deaf. Authorizes $2 million to enable the Commissioner of Education to make grants to States, State or local educational agencies, public and nonprofit private institutions of higher learning, and other public or nonprofit private educational or research agencies and organizations for research or demonstration projects relating to education for mentally retarded, hard of hearing, deaf, speech impaired, visually handicapped, seriously emotionally disturbed, crippled, or other health impaired children who require special education. Authorizes the Commissioner to appoint special or technical advisory committees as he considers necessary to advise him on matters of general policy relating to particular fields of education of handicapped children or relating to special services necessary for the problems involved.
__________ Higher Education
H.R. 6143 Public Law 88204, approved December 16, 1963
Authorizes a 5year, $1.2 billion program of Federal grants and loans for construction of classrooms, laboratories, and libraries and provides for congressional review at the end of 3 years. Both public and private schools are eligible for funds. Beginning with fiscal 1964, authorized $230 million a year for matching grants to the States for construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of undergraduate academic facilities, with 22 percent of the funds reserved for public junior colleges and public technical institutes. Beginning with fiscal 1964, authorized $25 million and $60 million in each of fiscal years 1965 and 1966 for construction grants to graduate schools or cooperative graduate centers; and $120 million a year for loans to institutions for construction, rehabilitation, or improvement of both undergraduate and graduate academic facilities. Grants to undergraduate colleges and public technical institutes will be on the basis of a State's per capita income and the number of high school graduates in the State--with the Federal Government furnishing 40 percent of the matching funds. For a public community college and public technical institute to be eligible, the institution must be publicly supervised and controlled and offer a 2year program beyond high school fully acceptable for full transfer credit toward a bachelor's degree, or a 2year program in engineering, mathematics, or the physical or biological sciences to train a student as a technician on a semiprofessional level in those fields. A branch of a 4year college is also eligible if located in a locality away from the parent school. Grants may be made for the construction of undergraduate academic facilities other than public community colleges and public technical institutes with one-half of the funds allotted on the basis of the relative college and university enrollments in the States and one-half on the basis of the relative enrollments of students in grades 9 through 12 in all private and public schools in the States. To be eligible for a grant, the applicant, other than a public community college or a public technical institute, must limit the construction to facilities designed to be used for engineering, natural or physical sciences, mathematics, or modern languages, or as a library. Authorizes direct grants to graduate schools and cooperative graduate centers but limits the grant to one-third of the development costs. Provides the basic authority for loans to institutions of higher education and to higher education buildings agencies for construction of academic facilities. Limits the amount of loans in any one State to 12 ½ percent of the total loans made. To be eligible for a loan not less than one-fourth of the facility's development cost must be financed from non-federal sources. And the applicant must have been unable to obtain the loan from other sources at comparable rates and conditions. Loans must be secured and repaid within 50 years. Annual rates of interest will be one-fourth of 1 percentage point above the average annual interest rate on all interest-bearing public debt obligations of the United States. In signing this bill into law, President Johnson said:
Working together, the Congress and the Executive Branch have made possible the enactment of a series of legislative landmarks in the field of education. Under these various measures: 1. We will help to provide college classrooms for several hundred thousand more students who will nearly double college enrollment in this decade. 2. We will help to built 25 to 30 new public community colleges every year. 3. We will help to construct the technical institutes that are needed to close the gap in this crucial area of trained manpower. 4. We will help to build graduate schools and facilities in at least 10 to 20 major academic centers. 5. We will help to improve the quality of library facilities in our own universities and colleges. 6. We will increase the number of medical school graduates and we will relieve the growing shortages of physicians and dentists and other needed professional health personnel. 7. We will enable some 70,000 to 90,000 additional students to attend college each year under an expanded loan program. 8. We will modernize and expand our Federal-State programs for vocational education in order to train for the changing world of work the 8 out of 10 young people who will never obtain a college education. 9. We will reduce the shortage of qualified personnel for the training and teaching of mentally retarded and other handicapped children. 10. We will expand our manpower development and training program to meet the growing problem of untrained, unemployed school dropouts. 11. We will expand programs for teaching science and mathematics and foreign languages, while extending the other valuable provisions of the National Defense Education Act. 12. We will continue the program of Federal financial assistance for the construction and the maintenance and the operation of schools that are crowded by the presence of children of Federal personnel. 13. And finally, we will, under legislation to be passed shortly, provide public libraries for the residents of cities and counties all over this great country who now have only antiquated library facilities and some have no libraries at all. This legislation is dramatic, and it is concrete evidence of a renewed and continuing national commitment to education as the key to our Nation's social and technological and economic and moral progress. It will help meet the demands of our economy for more skilled personnel; it will enable many more of our young people to cope with the explosion of new knowledge and to contribute effectively in a world of intellectual, political, and economic complexity. But these new measures will still not do the whole job of extending educational opportunities to all who want and can benefit by them, nor in meeting our growing national needs. I, therefore, strongly urge the Congress to take early, positive action on the unfinished portion of the National Education Improvement Act, particularly those programs which will assist elementary and secondary schools. In addition, I urge prompt action on proposed programs for combating adult illiteracy, for expanding adult education, for improving the quality of education at all levels.
__________ Juvenile Delinquency Act Extension
S. 1967 Passed Senate September 25; pending in House Education and Labor Committee
Extends to June 30, 1967, the Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Offenses Control Act and authorizes appropriations of $10 million a year. The basic act Authorizes the Secretary of HEW to make grants to State, local, or other public or nonprofit agencies for projects demonstrating improved methods for prevention and control of juvenile delinquency. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to agencies to develop courses of study and to train personnel for employment in programs to prevent and control juvenile delinquency. Authorizes the Secretary to make studies, give technical assistance and disseminate information pertaining to the prevention and control of juvenile delinquency. So far under the program, anti-delinquency plans have been financed in 16 communities. Action programs have been funded in 4 cities and special training centers for instructing specialists in delinquency have been established at 12 universities. In addition there have been 48 grants for special research and instruction.
__________ Library Services Act of 1963
S. 2265 Passed Senate November 26; H.R. 4879, House Calendar
Amends the Library Services Act of 1956 to increase Federal aid for expanding public library improvements to urban as well as rural areas and to authorize matching grants for construction of public library buildings. Increases the authorization for public library improvements from $7,500,000 to $25 million for the next 3 fiscal years. Existing law guarantees a minimum allotment of $40,000 to each State and $10,000 to Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. This bill raises this amount to $100,000 for each State and to $25,000 for Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. Adds a new title to the Library Services Act to provide for grants for constructing public libraries and authorizes the appropriation of $20 million for the next 3 fiscal years. This new title provides that the sums appropriated will be allotted among the States on the basis of their relative populations, except that each State will be first allotted $80,000, and $20,000 in the case of Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. The State plans for library construction must set forth criteria and procedures which are designed to insure that priority will be given to projects for facilities to serve areas having, in the judgment of the State library administrative agency, the greatest need for additional facilities and which give particular consideration for projects for facilities to help achieve the objective of developing library services to satisfy the needs of students of all ages for useful and readily accessible library services and materials. The plan must give assurances that agencies whose applications are denied will be given an opportunity for a fair hearing. The plan must also provide that laborers and mechanics employed on these projects will be paid wages at rates not less than the prevailing wage under the Davis-Bacon Act.
__________ National Defense Education Act Amendment
S. 569 Passed Senate October 24; pending in House Education and Labor Committee
This bill is designed to eliminate certain inequities in the National Defense Education Act which adversely affect education. Under present law, not to exceed 50 percent of a National Defense Education Act student loan can be canceled if the borrower, after graduation, becomes a fulltime teacher in a public elementary or secondary school. This bill extends this loan forgiveness clause to student borrowers who later teach in private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools or in institutions of higher learning. This bill brings about another significant change in the National Defense Education Act by permitting private school instructors to receive the stipends now given public school teachers at special federally supported institutes in counseling, guidance, and language instruction. At present public school teachers attending these institutes are eligible to receive $75 a week and an allowance of $15 a week for each dependent.
__________ Science and Technology Commission
S. 816 Passed Senate March 8, 1963; pending in House Science and Astronautics Committee
Authorizes establishment of a 12member Commission on Science and Technology to study the possibilities and methods of strengthening the Government's contribution in promoting national security, national progress in scientific and technical development, world peace, and in insuring maximum use of all scientific know-how and information by coordinating Federal research and development programs with those of private industry and nonprofit organizations including educational institutions. This is a study bill only. Section 1 emphasized need for establishing a program of national policies requiring coordination of science and technology programs and operations of the Federal Government by reorganizing existing departments and agencies which relate directly to Federal science, scientific research, and technology. A national policy program could result in increased efficiency in establishing systems for perfecting a scientific information program and improvement in policies for recruiting, training, and using Federal scientific and engineering manpower. Section 2 sets out following objectives (by means of a study): Effective reorganization of Federal departments and agencies which conduct or finance scientific programs to insure more effective performance. Elimination of undesirable duplication and overlapping; insurance of maximum use of resources of private industry and nonprofit research organizations. Conservation and efficient use of scientific and engineering manpower. Determine whether a Department of Science and Technology is needed and what scientific functions in other departments or agencies should be transferred to such a department. Section 3 waives the application of conflict-of-interest statutes for members or employees of the Commission. Section 4 provides for appointment of the members as follows: Four appointed by President, two from executive branch now participating in scientific or technological activities and two from private life who are eminent in one or more fields of science or engineering; Four appointed by President of Senate, two from the Senate and two from private life qualified in science or engineering; Four appointed by Speaker, two from the House and two from private life qualified in science or engineering. Sections 5 and 6 provide for election of a Chairman and Vice Chairman from among the members; and establishes seven as constituting a quorum. Section 7 provides that Members of Congress and members from the executive branch must service without compensation but provides for reimbursement of expenses. The other members to receive $100 a day plus actual expenses when actually engaged in performing their duties in connection with the Commission. Section 8 sets out the standards for personnel employment. Section 9 authorizes the Commission to establish an advisory panel to serve on request. Section 10 requires interim reports to the President and to Congress when deemed advisable and requires the final report to be submitted by January 1, 1965. Sections 1113 authorize the Commission to hold hearings; take testimony, and obtain necessary data and information from the Government departments and agencies on request of the Chairman or Vice Chairman.
__________ Student Trainees--Travel Expenses
S. 814 Public Law 88146, approved October 16, 1963
Authorizes payment of travel and transportation expenses to student trainees when assigned on completion of college work to positions for which there is determined by the Civil Service Commission to be a manpower shortage. Present law provides for these expenses only if the trainee was promoted to a shortage category position following completion of college training; in certain cases, the student received the promotion prior to graduation and was precluded from receiving travel expenses.
__________ Vocational Education--Impacted Areas--National Defense Education Act
Authorizes new matching grants to the States to expand vocational education programs, extends the National Defense Education Act, and extends the impacted areas legislation to June 30, 1965.
Vocational Education Act of 1963
Authorizes $60 million for this fiscal year rising to $225 million in fiscal 1967 and subsequent years for grants ($118,500,000 for fiscal 1965, $177,500,000 for fiscal 1966) for Vocational education for high school students
Vocational training for high school dropouts or high school graduates preparing to enter the labor market. Vocational education for those who have already entered the labor market and need training or retraining for stability or advancement. Vocational education for those who have academic, socioeconomic, or other handicaps which prevent them from succeeding in regular vocational education programs. These funds can be used to assist specialized vocational training schools maintained by the States for handicapped children. Construction of area vocational schools.
Related services such as teacher training.
Ninety percent of the above amounts will be available for grants to the States and 10 percent will be available to the Commissioner of Education for grants for research, leadership training, and pilot and developmental programs designed to meet the special vocational education needs of youths with handicaps of all types and of communities which have substantial numbers of school dropouts and unemployed youths. Establishes two new programs: (1) To create and operate residential vocational schools in large urban areas having substantial numbers of high school dropouts and unemployed youths; and (2) a work study program which will provide young people in need of part-time work in public institutions so they may earn up to $45 a month and be able financially to undertake fulltime vocational training. Authorizes an appropriation for both of these programs in the following amounts: $30 million for fiscal year 1965, $50 million for fiscal year 1966, and $35 million for the next 2 succeeding years. Directs the Commissioner of Education to determine the portion of such sums for each such year which is to be used for the purposes of either program. Under the 90percent formula distribution to the States, 50 percent will be allotted on the basis of their relative populations aged 15 to 19 and their per capita income, 20 percent on the basis of their populations aged 20 to 24 and their per capita incomes, and 20 percent on the basis of their populations aged 25 to 65 and their per capita incomes, with a minimum State amount of $10,000. For fiscal 1964, States need not match Federal Funds but must maintain State and local expenditures at least equal to the amounts spent under the various federally aided programs during fiscal 1963; for fiscal 1965 and then on, the States must match Federal funds on a 5050 basis in each of the use categories; however, Federal funds used for construction must be matched 5050 in the first as well as subsequent years. Requires each State, to qualify for Federal funds, to submit a plan detailing the policies, administration, personal qualifications, and accounting procedures of the program. Requires that laborers and mechanics employed under the act be paid the prevailing wage rates established by the Davis-Bacon Act. Establishes an Advisory Committee on Vocational Education in the Office of Education. Amends the 1946 George-Barden and the 1917 Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Acts to permit funds earmarked for a specific occupational category to be transferred to any other category, to broaden the definition of agriculture and home economics to fit persons for gainful employment outside the farm home. Provides that distributive occupation funds, now limited to employed persons, can be used for training young people who are still in school or are dropouts. Permits trade and industry funds, now limited to occupations requiring extensive skill or multiple skills, to be used for vocational education of young people while still in high school to equip them for single-skilled or semiskilled jobs. Removes the requirement that one-third of any amounts earmarked for trades and industries be spend only for part-time day or night courses for already employed workers. Makes permanent the practical nurse training program and the area vocational education program. Requires the Secretary of HEM to appoint and ad hoc national Advisory Council on Vocational Education in 1966 and once every 5 years thereafter to review the administration of the programs. EXTENSION OF NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION ACT
Extends NDEA for a 1year period and increases present $90 million authorization to $125 million for this fiscal year, $135 million for fiscal 1965. Raises the present $250,000 institutional ceiling to $800,000, thus enabling many of the larger institutions to participate more fully in the program. Extends NDEA to America Samoa; permits teachers in federally operated schools to receive benefits; and extends benefits to public elementary or secondary schools operated in connection with colleges of education or with universities as laboratory schools or schools maintained by public bodies such as State schools for the deaf or handicapped. Extends moratorium on interest and repayment of principal on loans while student borrowers are continuing their higher education to cover periods during which the borrower attends an approved institution of higher education located outside the United States. Extends the forgiveness feature, under which up to one-half of a student loan is canceled for service as a public elementary or secondary schoolteacher at the rate of 10 percent for each year of such service, to cover teachers in elementary or secondary oversea schools of the Armed Forces. Extends authority for financial assistance to strengthen science, mathematics, and foreign language instruction and authorizes the Commissioner to reallocate to other States any unneeded State allotments. Repeals the 1year allotment holdover provision of the original act which is no longer needed. Broadens the categories of equipment and materials which may be purchased to include test grading equipment, equipment used in connection with audiovisual libraries, and published materials relating to charts and maps. Extends the national defense fellowships title and grants the Commissioner authority to fill lapsed fellowships and to provide a flat $2,500 allowance, less tuition charged, replacing the present variable allowance to the institution. Extends the guidance, counseling, and testing programs and increases the annual appropriation authorization for grants to States by $2.5 million in order to finance the extension of this program to all seventh and eighth grades. Increases the minimum allotment to each State from $20,000 to $50,000 to permit a more adequate basic program in the less populous States. Grants the Commissioner re-allotment authority of unused funds. Extends the program of establishing modern foreign language centers and institutes and authorizes institutes for training teachers of pupils for whom English is a second language. Extends the program of research and experimentation in more effective utilization of television, radio, motion pictures, and related media for educational purposes, and brings into this program printed and published materials.
Federally Impacted Areas
Extends the impacted areas program for 2 years to June 30, 1965. This program, enacted in 1950, relates to public school construction and operation and maintenance costs of public schools, where the cost impact of Federal military and civilian personnel on school facilities and services can be met partially by Federal funds. Requests Secretary of HEW to transmit to Congress by January 1, 1965, and full report on the operation of this program. In signing the bill, President Johnson said:
It gives me great personal satisfaction to approve this legislation. It will expand educational opportunities at the grade school level, at the college level and at the vocational school level. This bill, like the bill I approved on Monday, is dramatic evidence of our commitment to education as the key to our social and economic and technological and moral progress. As I said then, this Congress has justly and fully earned the title of the "Education Congress of 1963." It has enacted more significant education legislation than any other Congress in our entire history. So it pleases me to congratulate Senator Morse and Senator Hill and Congressman Perkins and Congressman Powell and all of their colleagues, including Cabinet members, in this administration for their combined successful efforts in getting this legislation through the Congress and up to where we are signing it this morning. Modern demands upon labor and industry require new skills and an upgrading of old skills, require more education and greater knowledge. It has been said that we need over 100,000 technicians a year just to meet our needs in the engineering field alone but all our present programs combined, we are told, turn out a maximum not of $100,000 a year but only 20,000 technicians a year. We believe that this new law will help close this gap. Under this law high school students will be encouraged in stay in school. If they need financial assistance, they may receive it under a work and study program. Some of the most delightful years of my life were spend with the work and study program called the NYA where thousands of young men in high school and college were brought into a work and study program, and some of those men are today the leaders of this Nation. For the firs time Federal funds are going to be available to construct new vocational schools. Demonstration and research projects authorized under this law will vastly improved the quality of our vocational training. Where there is severe unemployment and high numbers of school dropouts, special experimental programs of residential vocational education schools are authorized. In addition, the amendment to the National Defense Education Act will make possible immediate loans to 70,000 needy college students not able to obtain such loans today. Finally, the extension of the program of aid to schools in districts affected by Federal activities will permit a continuation of Federal assistance where we have a special responsibility. I believe that this measure, together with a Manpower Development and Training Act, places us in a position to make a major attack on one of the most important obstacles to economic growth and productivity. It is a reaffirmation of our conviction that education is the cornerstone of our freedom.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Federal Employees, 1961
Overseas Teachers' Pay
S. 841 Public Law 87172, approved August 30, 1961
This measure 1. Amends a provision of the Defense Department Overseas Teacher's Pay and Personnel Practices Act, which authorizes payment of allowances during summer recesses to oversea Defense Department teachers, when they have agreed in writing to serve for the next school year. Existing statute requires that if for any reason a teacher does not report for duty at the start of the next school year, he must repay his summer allowance. This measure permits him to retain it if the cause of his failure to report for duty (death, serious illness) is considered valid by the Defense Department. 2. Also makes uniform the definition of "year" as "school year" rather than as "12 months," to correct certain administrative confusion.
__________ Retirement Increases--Permanent
H.R. 5432 Public Law 87114, approved July 31, 1961
This measure authorizes the use of the civil service retirement and disability fund to pay increases in annuities and survivorship benefits. Cost-of-living increases were granted to certain retirees and receive annuities based on service which terminated prior to October 1, 1956. When the measure was enacted, it provided that initially the increases should be paid from the civil service retirement and disability fund but that on and after July 1, 1960, the increases would terminate unless Congress appropriated funds to cover the cost. Thus the increases provided by the 1958 act are on a year-to-year basis, fully dependent on an annual appropriation for their continuance. Funds have been provided each year and, under present economic conditions, there is no prospect of abolishing the increases in the foreseeable future. Thus the Civil Service Commission recommended that the increases be made permanent and paid from the civil service retirement and disability fund, which this bill does.
__________ Scientific and Supergrade Increase
H.R. 7377 Public Law 87367, approved October 4, 1961
Authorizes an additional 480 supergrade positions and 280 additional scientific positions for the executive branch. The supergrades are GS16, GS17, and GS18. Three hundred and fifty-six of the supergrades are authorized for the general pool of the Civil Service Commission to be allocated to the various agencies where justified and needed. Fifty may be allocated only upon approval of the President and for agencies or functions created after the effective date of this act, 14 may be allocated only to the U.S. Arms Controls and Disarmament Agency when created, 4 may be allocated only to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, and 6 may be allocated only to the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice, 35 for the Department of Defense, and 15 for the National Security Agency of the Department of Defense. In the area of scientific type positions, 80 such new positions are provided for the Department of Defense, 13 for the Federal Aviation Agency, and 4 for the National Aeronautics and Space Council. However, with reference to NASA, 65 such new positions may be established on or before March 1, 1962, 35 more beginning March 1, 1962, and ending June 30, 1962, plus 35 more after July 1, 1962, or an aggregate of 135 such new positions. The salary range for the new scientific and professional positions will be from $12,500 and $19,000 a year, except (1) the maximum salary for the 13 new positions for FAA will be $19,500 and $21,000 maximum for 17 new positions in NASA.
__________ Travel Expenses of Government Employees
H.R. 3279 Public Law 87139, approved August 14, 1961
Increases the allowances of Government employees (judicial and senatorial employees included) for traveling expenses when on official business. Increases include: from $10 to $16 per diem allowance for regular fulltime employees for normal official trips; in unusual circumstances the travel authorization may be up to $30 per diem from $25 per diem; from 10 to 12 cents per mile allowance for use of privately owned automobiles or airplanes; up to $10 beyond the per diem regulations when travel is beyond the continental United States. Also adds parking fees as an item for reimbursement when incurred in official travel status; raises the authorized maximum per diem for certain State Department advisory committees to a par with other Government officials; and permits the President to establish per diem rates for travel outside the continental United States.
__________ War Hazards Compensation Act
H.R. 4357 Public Law 87380, approved October 4, 1961
Provides a 15percent increase in the level of benefits payable under the War Hazards Compensation Act of 1942, relative to injuries or deaths prior to July 1, 1946. The War Hazards Act is a part of the Federal workmen's compensation system applicable to employees employed by Government contractors, and who work outside the United States. The 15 percent increase however applies only to disability and death payments payable for periods on or after the date of enactment. It is estimated that the increase will cost about $720,000 for the life of the program; however, the present war claims fund from which these benefits are paid shows a surplus of about $832,000.
Federal Employees, 1962
Conflicts of Interest
H.R. 8140 Public Law 87849, approved October 23, 1962
Congress enacted a measure making major revision in Federal patchwork of legislation aimed at preventing present and former Government conflict-of-interest laws. It is the first important attempt to make uniform and bring up to date the century-old Government employees from improperly mixing private interest with their public office. In addition to conflicts of interest, the act is also concerned with strengthening the criminal statutes which relate to bribery. Briefly the bill Consolidates into a single section of Government-wide applicability the gist of the existing bribery statutes which apply to particular categories of Government officials. Strengthens some of the present conflict-of-interest statutes by increasing the range of the Government matters in which activities giving rise to conflicts of interest are prohibited. Extends their scope to include administrative proceedings and other similar matters which comprise a great part of the work of the Government departments and agencies. Facilitates recruiting skilled personnel to serve the Government on a temporary basis. Many individuals possessing special skills and knowledge required temporarily by the Government are engaged in private activities which are such that they would, under existing law, be required to give up those activities to serve the Government even on a temporary basis. This act modifies existing law to permit such service in many cases. In this connection, the bill creates a category of Government employees designed "special Government employees" who are not subject to the full extent of the prohibitions applicable to the ordinary Government employee. This category is composed of temporary employees whether compensated or not, who serve not more than 130 days during any period of 365 consecutive days either on a fulltime or intermittent basis. Includes District of Columbia employees within its scope.
Retains existing sections of law which apply to Members of Congress. One section prohibits Members of Congress from representing others before the agencies of the Government and the other section prohibits them from practicing in the Court of Claims. Retains existing law relating to retired officers of the Armed Forces. Subjects the regular Government employee to four major conflicts-of-interest restrictions. In general, he will be prohibited from representing any other person in relation to any transaction involving the Government; he will also be prohibited from participating in a transaction involving the Government in which he, his spouse, minor child, or business associates have a significant financial interest. Private sources will be prohibited from paying or supplementing his salary for his Government services. After leaving the Government service, he will be prohibited from representing another person in relation to any transaction involving the Government in which he participated personally and substantially as a Government employee. He will also be barred for 1 year following his Government employment from representing anyone in a matter in the area where he had official responsibility during his last year in the Government. Prohibits the special Government employee from assisting other persons only in matters involving the Government in which he has participated personally and substantially, and if he serves an agency more than 60 days a year, matters pending before that agency. However, as to participation in transactions involving the Government in which he, his spouse, minor child, or business associates have a financial interest, the special Government employee will be subject to the same restrictions as a regular employee. Similarly the post employment prohibitions applicable to a regular Government employee will apply equally to the special Government employee. The latter, however, will not be subject to restrictions against outside compensation applicable to the regular employee. Adds to any other remedies provided by law an authorization for the Government to void any contract or other transaction in relation to which there has been a final conviction under the bribery or conflict-of-interest statutes.
__________ Hatch Act Amendment
S. 919 Public Law 87753, approved October 5, 1962
Liberalized the mandatory requirement that a Federal employee be suspended for 90 days for any violation of section 9 of the act, regardless of how minor the violation may have been, by reducing the suspension period to 30 days.
__________ Pay Reform
H.R. 7927 Public Law 87793, approved October 1, 1962
In an effort to equalize the salary rates for comparable levels of work in private industry, and to provide within the Federal service equal pay for equal work, this Congress enacted a two-phase measure with one effective the first pay period following enactment and the second on January 1, 1964.
Major provisions are
Federal Pay Reform
Purpose. To provide that Federal salary rates be equal to salary rates for comparable levels of work in private industry; and to provide within the Federal service equal pay for equal work. Pay adjustment will be in two places--one effective the first pay period following enactment and the second on January 1, 1964. Classified employees.Increase of approximately 5.5 percent at the first pay following enactment and 4.1 percent on January 1, 1964. Placed a ceiling of $20,000 on GS18. Postal employees.Average increase will be $446 in the first phase and $138 in the final, or 8.6 and 2.6 percent. Corresponding increases were included for the Department of Medicine and Surgery in the Veterans' Administration and Foreign Service personnel. Legislative employees.Increase limited to 7 percent with a ceiling of $18,880.
Civil Service Retirement Annuities
Provides a 5percent increase, effective January 1, 1963, in all annuities which started on or before that date; applied the increase on a graduated reduction basis to annuities starting after that date. The President in signing the bill stated: The new pay legislation is the most comprehensive and significant salary revision in nearly 40 years. It establishes for the first time a basic salary policy, a method for annual review and updating of salaries, coordination among major statutory salary systems, and broad reforms and increased flexibilities under the Classification Act. It is not merely a salary increase statute. It furnishes a foundation for adjusting and continuously maintaining Federal salaries comparable to levels of equal difficulty and responsibility in private enterprise. Ultimately it will permit us to prevent large-scale attrition of Government employees due to more attractive private industry salaries. At the same time, it should not have an unsettling effect on private enterprise salary rates. By helping to reduce turnover, by attracting more capable people into the Federal service, and by improving employee morale, this legislation will make an important contribution to increased productivity. The provision of higher salaries for Federal employees and the plan to maintain these salaries at a level comparable to the salaries paid in the private economy places an added obligation upon Federal managers to make certain that the Government's business is carried on with the minimum number of personnel. To this end I am separately issuing to all departments and agencies of the executive branch a memorandum which will set forth a program to achieve better manpower controls and utilization. This legislation also establishes objective standards for adjusting annuities payable in the future under the Civil Service Retirement Act. This is a long overdue reform.
__________ Readers for Blind Government Employees
H.R. 11523 Public Law 87614, approved August 29, 1962
Provided for improved employment opportunities in the Federal service for qualified blind persons by authorizing departments and agencies to employ reading assistants who will serve without compensation from the Government. Provided that these reading assistants, if not on a volunteer basis, can be paid out of the personal funds of the blind employee or by a nonprofit organization.
Federal Employees, 1963
Coast Guard--Officers
H.R. 5623 Public Law 88130, approved September 24, 1963
Authorizes revision of provisions of title 14, United States Code, relating to appointment, promotion, separation, and retirement of officers of the Coast Guard. Effects of the separation or retirement of a percentage of officers in the higher grades who entered the service during World War II, in order to make possible promotion in all grades on a more normal basis than at present. Improves the quality and efficiency of the Coast Guard officer corps by replacing the present promotion system based on seniority with a system under which the best qualified officers will be selected for promotion, and those passed over twice for promotion will be separated from the service or retired. Facilitates the transition to this best qualified selection system by providing temporary authority to require separation or involuntary retirement of a percentage of officers now serving in the grade of commander, where promotion slowdown is severe, and in the grade of captain, where a stagnation problem is imminent. Less immediate problems in the lower grades will be alleviated as well, with a reasonably predictable career promotion pattern as the objective within the next few years, in order to assure retention in the service of well qualified young officers, and to hold out promotion incentives to attract qualified persons seeking a career.
__________ Coast Guard--Retirement
S. 1194 Public Law 88114, approved September 6, 1963
This bill removes the percentage limitation on enlisted retirements in the Coast Guard after 20 years' service. Present law limits the number of enlisted men who may retire on completion of 20 years' service in any 1 calendar year to not more than 1 percent of the total enlisted force of the Coast Guard. This limitation was enacted along with the adoption of the 20year retirement by the Coast Guard in 1939. One of the original purposes of the limitation was to prevent an excessive loss of experienced personnel. There is no comparable limitation on the retirement of officers, nor is there a similar limitation applicable to enlisted men of the Navy. This bill also discontinues the practice of paying a good conduct bonus on retirement, but exempts those presently in the service.
__________ FBI Director
S. 603 Passed Senate June 13; pending in House Judiciary Committee
Provides that the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, immediately following the time when the present incumbent in the office ceases to serve, and established the rate of his compensation at $22,000.
__________ Federal Employees Health Benefit
S. 1561 Passed Senate November 15; pending in House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
Amends the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act to 1. Permit enrolled employees to continue their insurance while receiving employee's compensation even though the original injury necessitating compensation occurred prior to the effective date of the act. 2. Include foster children under family enrollment if they are living in a regular parent-child relationship. 3.Eliminate the discrimination against married women in regard to the contribution made by the Government toward their insurance premium. 4. Allow previously retired employees who did not have an opportunity to carry their health insurance into retirement (because of restrictive provisions in the 1959 act) to do so. This would operate retroactively only to those employees who had health insurance coverage at the time of their retirement, but had not been enrolled for 5 years, or had not enrolled at their first opportunity. 5. Authorize the Commission to terminate the health insurance contracts or carriers having fewer than 300 Federal employee members when such cancellation is considered in the best interests of the program, and when another health insurance plan of a similar kind is available for those employees who belong to the plan affected. 6. Prevent the Government's contribution to health insurance from inadvertently exceeding 50 percent of premium costs.
__________ Medical Care for Coast and Geodetic Survey
S. 969 Public Law 8871, approved July 19, 1963
Subject to Presidential regulations, this bill entitled retired ships' officers and retired members of the crews of the vessels of the Coast and Geodetic Survey to medical, surgical, and dental treatment, and hospitalization at facilities of the Public Health Service if the employee was on duty on July 1, 1963 or date of enactment, whichever is later, or was retired as a vessel employee of the Survey on or before July 1, 1963, or the date of enactment, whichever is later. Dependents of the above designees will be furnished medical advice and outpatient treatment by the Public Health Service at its hospitals and relief stations and, if suitable accommodations are available, hospitalization at hospitals of the Public Health Service.
__________ U.S. Park Police
S. 932 Passed Senate April 9, 1963; H.R. 4893House Calendar
Authorizes the Secretary of Interior to determine and fix the minimum and maximum limits of age within which original appointments to the U.S. Park Police may be made. Under the discretionary authority given the Secretary of Interior, the maximum entry age will be in the 29 to 31year age range.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT
General Government, 1961
Congressional Medal of Honor Holders
H.R. 845 Public Law 87138, approved August 14, 1961
Proposes that persons awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor be placed on the honor roll at age 50 instead of the present requirement of 65. Authorizes a monthly pension of $100 instead of $10 as is now paid. Those who now hold the Medal of Honor would be paid the increased sum automatically, future holders would receive the increased amount at any time upon request. Thus great recognition would be given to the holders of this honor.
__________ Lincoln's First Inaugural
House Joint Resolution 155 Public Law 871, approved March 1, 1961
The first act signed into public law by President John F. Kennedy was a joint resolution commemorating, with proper ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 1961, the 100th anniversary of the first inaugural of Abraham Lincoln.
__________ Medal--Dr. Thomas a Dooley III
House Joint Resolution 306 Public Law 8742, approved May 27, 1961
Authorizes the President to award an appropriate gold medal, in the name of Congress to the late Dr. Thomas Anthony Dooley III, in recognition of his service to the people of Laos and to peoples in other newly developing countries.
__________ Pacific War Memorial
H.R. 44 Public Law 87201, approved September 6, 1961
Authorizes the appropriation of $150,000 to complete the construction of the chapel and memorial shrine of the U.S. Pacific War Memorial at Pearl Harbor. The memorial is to be located on the hulk of the U.S.S. Arizona and is to honor all personnel of our Armed Forces who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Three hundred and seventy thousand dollars has already been raised by public subscription and by appropriations from the State of Hawaii; they have been used in completing the first phase of the construction of the memorial. It is hoped that memorial will be completed by December 7, 1961, which will be the 20th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
__________ Woodrow Wilson Memorial Commission
Senate Joint Resolution 51 Public Law 87364, approved October 4, 1961
Establishes the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Commission to consider and formulate plans for the design, construction, and location of a permanent memorial in Washington, D.C., or its environs, to Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States. The membership is to be composed of: Former Presidents of the United States; two presidential appointees; two Senators appointed by the President of the Senate; two Congressmen to be appointed by the Speaker; and three members to be appointed by the President, one from each of the following: The Woodrow Wilson Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson Centennial Commission, and the Director of the National Park Service or his representative. The members are to service without pay but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses. The Commission is to report its plans and recommendations to the President and Congress at the earliest possible date.
General Government, 1962
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Commission
House Joint Resolution 711 Public Law 87453, approved May 21.
Congress enacted and President Kennedy signed into law a bill naming the three House Office Buildings in honor of former House Speakers. The original building will be known as the William B. Bankhead building, the second will be the Nicholas Longworth Building, and the one now under construction the Sam Rayburn Building. The three former Speakers held office when work on the buildings named for them was started.
__________ Medal--Bob Hope
Senate Joint Resolution 88 Public Law 87478, approved June 8, 1962
Authorized the President to present to Bob Hope, in the name of the people of the United States, a gold medal in recognition of his services to his country and to the cause of world peace.
__________ Macarthur Medal
Senate Joint Resolution 228 Public Law 87760, approved October 9, 1962
Authorized the President, in the name of Congress, to award a gold medal to the General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Directed the Secretary of Treasury to strike the gold medal with suitable emblems and inscriptions.
__________ Sam Rayburn Medal
Senate Joint Resolution 133 Public Law 87702, approved September 26, 1962.
Authorized the Secretary of Treasury to strike and present to the estate of Sam Rayburn a gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary, but to include the phrase "For services rendered to the people of the United States." The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to manufacture and sell bronze duplicates of the medal, under such regulation as he may prescribe, at a price to cover their cost. It is very unusual for Congress to recommend the striking of a gold medal for service as a Member of Congress. Prior to this recommendation for striking a medal for Sam Rayburn, the only other gold medal struck for service as a Member of Congress was for Alben W. Barkley while he was Vice President. Congress makes this recommendation only because Sam Rayburn was an extraordinary man, one of the truly great men of his generation. Except for the 80th and 83d Congresses, when he was minority leader, Sam Rayburn served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from September 16, 1940, until his death on November 16, 1961. On June 12, 1961, Sam Rayburn reached twice the length of service as Speaker of the House of Representatives attained by his nearest rival in history, Henry Clay. Clay's service as Speaker covered 3,056 days, or 8 years 4 months 11 days. Sam Rayburn, at his death, had served as Speaker for 17 years 62 days. In 1912 he ran for office as U.S. Representative from his district in Texas, and was elected, taking his seat in the 63d Congress, which first met in 1913. Thereafter, he was elected to each succeeding Congress through the 87th. From 1931 to 1937 he was chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. In the 75th and 76th Congresses, 1937 to 1940, he was majority leader. On September 16, 1940, he was elected Speaker. In his career, Sam Rayburn set many records. At 29, he was the youngest man ever elected speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. When he died, on November 16, 1961, he was 79 years old, and had served in the House of Representatives for 48 years 8 months, consecutively, surpassing the record of consecutive House service set by Adolph Joseph Sabath, of Illinois, which was 45 years 8 months 2 days, and the record of 46 years of nonconsecutive House service set by Joseph Cannon, of Missouri. On signing this act, President Kennedy said:
It is a great source of personal pleasure to sign this joint resolution in the presence of Members of the Congress from the State of Texas who served with Mr. Rayburn and knew him so intimately and are tied to him by the strongest lines of friendship. I join with them in authorizing the striking of the gold medal in recognition of the distinguished services of Sam Rayburn to the people of the United States. Mr. Rayburn had an extremely high sense of public service from the time that he was in the Texas Legislature, where he was speaker there as a young man; with his long service in the House of Representatives, where he had the universal respect and affection of Members of both sides of the aisle, and held the office of Speaker twice as long as any other person in our history, gave freely of his time and energy to all the Members of Congress and those occupants of the White House who served with him, whether they were Republicans or Democrats, and gave unfailing support. I think his career has been a sources of inspiration to all people in public life. In the State of Texas the love him, and I say I am glad to sign it in the presence of the Vice President, a longtime friend, Senator from Texas, Senator Yarborough, and Members of the Congress, all of whom have been in close association with him.
__________ National Cultural Center Week
Senate Joint Resolution 214 Public Law 87804, approved October 15, 1962
Authorized the President to proclaim the period from November 26 through December 2, 1962, as National Cultural Center Week. Congress, by the act of September 2, 1958, established a Board known as the Trustees of the National Cultural Center and authorized the Trustees to operate a National Cultural Center on a designated site in Washington, D.C. That act further emphasized the desire of the Congress that the National Cultural Center should be a national institution serving the American people through its programs. The Trustees of the National Cultural Center have developed a program to raise funds both for the National Cultural Center and for the support of cultural and civil organizations at the community level, and this fundraising program will reach a climax on November 29, 1962, in a coast-to-coast, closed-circuit telecast entitled "An American Pageant of the Arts," which will be a presentation of the regional art of our national heritage; and from which local sponsoring committees will keep up to 50 percent of the proceeds. This dual support of both national and local cultural institutions is in keeping with the Center's intentions of strengthening cultural organizations everywhere. The proclamation by the President designating the period from November 26, 1962, through December 2, 1962, will call the attention of the American people to the establishment of the National Cultural Center and its need for public support through financial contributions.
_______ White House Police Force
H.R. 11261 Public Law 87481, approved June 8, 1962
Provided for the creation of a permanent White House Police force, under the control and supervision of the Secretary of the Treasury, to protect the Executive Mansion and Grounds in the District of Columbia, any building in which White House offices are located, the President and members of his immediate family. The members of the force will possess privileges and powers similar to those of members of the Metropolitan Police of the District. Increased the number of the White House Police from 170 to 250. This bill authorized needed protection under present as well as future conditions and for protection of the President and his family while away from the White House.
General Government, 1963
Additional Assistant Secretary of State
S. 1512 Passed Senate July 16; pending in House Foreign Affairs Committee
Authorizes, subject to Senate confirmation, one additional Assistant Secretary of State. This position would be filled by the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. The Bureau of Intelligence and Research has the dual function of meeting the requirements of the coordinated intelligence community under intelligence directives issued by the National Security Council and also meeting the Department's own research and intelligence needs. The bill also authorizes retired Foreign Service officers to accept, with the specific authorization in each case of the Secretary of State, employment as advisors or consultants to foreign governments. This will enable certain newly independent countries to obtain advice and counsel in establishing embassies and setting up foreign service systems and becoming familiar with the international practices of protocol.
__________ Additional Assistant Secretary of Treasury
S. 1359 Public Law 8858, approved July 8, 1963
Authorizes an additional assistant secretaryship in the Department of Treasury.
__________ Administrative Conference of the United States
S. 1664 Passed Senate October 30; pending in House Judiciary Committee
Establishes a permanent Administrative Conference of the United States to provide machinery where the Federal administrative agencies can, with the active assistance of outside authorities on administrative practices, formulate recommendations to improve their own procedures. The basic objective of the Administrative Conference is to cut down on the time and cost of administrative procedures and, at the same time, preserve the necessary elements of due process of law. The 11man Conference will consist of a Chairman, Council, and Assembly, with the Chairman appointed by the President for a 5year term and confirmed by the Senate. The 10 members, appointed by the President, will serve for 3year terms. The basic powers of the Conference will be to study problems and make recommendations.
__________ Alaska Centennial Commission
S. 49 Passed Senate August 20; pending in House Judiciary Committee
Provides for the creation of the Alaska Centennial Commission and authorizes the Commission to cooperate with the State of Alaska to study and report on the way in which the United States can participate in the celebration in 1967 of the centennial anniversary of the purchase of Alaska. Authorizes an appropriation not to exceed $25,000 for the purposes of the Commission.
__________ Alaska Mineral Lands Selection
S. 1878 Passed Senate November 27; pending in House Interior Committee
Provides for an additional 5 years from January 3, 1964, within which the new State of Alaska may select lands under Federal mineral lease.
__________ Battle of Lake Erie Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission
S. 1828 Passed Senate August 20; House Calendar
Amends the joint resolution establishing the Battle of Lake Erie Sesquicentennial Celebration Commission to authorize an appropriation not to exceed $25,000 for the expenses of the Commission. The Commission to develop and execute plans for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie was created by the act of October 24, 1962. The 150th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie near Put-in Bay, Ohio, will occur on September 8, 1963.
__________ Big Hole National Battlefield
S. 138 Public Law 8524, approved May 17, 1963
Redesignates Big Hole Battlefield National Monument in Montana as Big Hold National Battlefield and authorized adding 460 acres to preserve the historic features and sites associated with the Battle of the Big Hole, bringing the total battle area to 666 acres. The additions will include the site of the Nez Perce Indian encampment where the first and most important phase of the battle took place; the twin trees from which an Indian sharpshooter punished the retreating troops; and the Army's howitzer pit, which was outflanked and captured by the Nez Perce warriors during the summer if 1877.
__________ Bourbon Whisky
Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 Passed Senate September 25; House Calendar
Expresses the sense of Congress against importing whisky designated as "bourbon whisky," since it is recognized as a distinctive product of the United States.
__________ Coinage of Kennedy 50-cent Pieces
H.R. 9413 Public Law 88256, approved December 30, 1963
Authorizes the Treasury Department to mint new 50cent pieces with the likeness of the late President John F. Kennedy. In requesting the legislation, President Johnson said:
The U.S. Mint, which operates under the direction of the Treasury Department, must have legislative authority to make this change since the present design of the Benjamin Franklin half dollar piece has been in circulation less than 25 years. If the design of a coin has been in effect longer than this period the Treasury can, on its own, change this design. Since the assassination of President Kennedy, many Americans have written requesting that his portrait be placed on a U.S. coin. If the Congress accedes to this request, the new half-dollar pieces will have President Kennedy's portrait on the face of the coin and an adaptation of the seal of the President of the United States as the central motif on the reverse side. Both the seal and the portrait, which was sculptured by Gilroy Roberts, chief engraver of the U.S. Mint, appear on President Kennedy's commemorative medal. The new half dollar will also carry the inscription, "Liberty," "In God We Trust," and the year of coinage on its face, while on the reverse side will appear "United States of America," "Half Dollar" and "E Pluribus Unum." Several factors entered into the selection of the 50cent piece to carry the likeness of the late President: It is the only subsidiary coin that does not bear the portrait of a President; a new production of half dollars had been scheduled to begin in January; more half dollars could be struck than if the design were used on a silver dollar. Since there is a limited amount of silver held by the Treasury for coinage, the country would benefit by being able to put into circulation more than twice as many coins for the silver used. The cost of making a new coin would be nominal, since the design already exists and the work connected with making new dies would be accomplished within the Treasury Department.
__________ Constitution Day
Senate Joint Resolution 48 Passed Senate June 11; pending in House Judiciary Committee
Purpose of the joint resolution is to designate the 17th of September in each year as "Constitution Day," and to request the President to issue, annually, a proclamation calling on the people to display our flag on that day in their homes and other suitable places.
__________ Design Protection
S. 776 Passed Senate December 6; pending in House Judiciary Committee
Granted effective protection against copying to creators of original ornamental designs of useful articles by providing simple, easily secured, and effective design protection for a period of 5 years, or if renewed, a period of 10 years. Existing law protects these creators by design patents; however, a design patent may not be issued until a search has been made to determine that such design possesses novelty. Thus the damage may be done before the search is complete.
__________ Eleanor Roosevelt Foundation
H.R. 4715 Public Law 8811, approved April 23, 1963
Authorized granting a Federal charter to the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Foundation. Under the terms of the charter, the Foundation will work in the areas of Mrs. Roosevelt's principal interests: relief of the poor and underprivileged; promotion of public health; promotion of economic welfare; and furtherance of international good will. In signing the measure into law, the President expressed his appreciation to former Ambassador Philip M. Klutznick, who has accepted the national campaign chairmanship. Hyman H. Bookbinder, on leave from his post as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Commerce will serve as the Director of the Foundation. President Kennedy announced the following members of the Board of Trustees: Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson, Chairman, New York, N.Y.; Philip M. Klutznick, national campaign chairman, Chicago, Ill.; Marian Anderson, Danbury Conn.; Bernard M. Baruch, Kingstree, S.C.; Robert S. Benjamin, Long Island, N.Y.; William Benton, Phoenix, Ariz.; Chester Bowles, Washington, D.C.; Henry Crown, Chicago, Ill.; David Dubinsky, New York, N.Y.; Myer Feldman, Washington, D.C.; Ralph J. Bunche, New York, N.Y.; Mrs. Marshall Field, New York, N.Y.; Raymond Firestone, Akron, Ohio; Arnold M. Grant, New York, N.Y.; Arthur Hanisch, Pasadena, Calif.; John R. Heller, New York, N.Y.; Mrs. Thomas B. Hess, New York, N.Y.; Mrs. Anna Rosenberg Hoffman, New York, N.Y.; Joseph D. Keenan, Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Joseph Lash, New York, N.Y.; Mrs. Albert D. Lasker, New York, N.Y.; Herbert H. Lehman, New York, N.Y.; Archibald MacLeish, Conway, Mass.; John J. McCloy, New York, N.Y.; Charles Mayo, Rochester, Minn.; George Meany, Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Agnes E. Meyer, Washington, D.C.; Jubal R. Parten, Houston, Tex.; Walter P. Reuther, Detroit, Mich.; Dore Schary, New York, N.Y.; Mrs. Stephen E. Smith, New York, N.Y. Herman Steinkraus, Westport, Conn.; Roy Wilkins, New York, N.Y.; Thomas J. Watson, Jr., Greenwich, Conn. The following, Mrs. Roosevelt's five children are ex officio trustees: Mrs. Anna R. Halsted, Birmingham, Mich.; James Roosevelt, Washington, D.C.; Elliott Roosevelt, Miami Beach, Fla.; Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., Washington, D.C.; John A. Roosevelt, New York, N.Y. In thanking them, the President said, "Mrs. Roosevelt, I believe, would be pleased to know that her friends and associates have chosen this way to continue her work, especially because it enables all citizens to take part in deeds rather than just words." The President expressed confidence that as soon as the American people become aware of the Foundation's "outstanding leadership and high purposes" they will respond generously to the appeal for support. The Foundation's financial backing will come from private sources, no Federal revenues are involved. An initial goal of $25 million has been set for a onetime campaign to be completed by October 11, 1964, the 80th birthday of Mrs. Roosevelt.
Former Presidents
Senate Resolution 78 Senate adopted October 1, 1963
Entitles former Presidents of the United States to seats in the U.S. Senate as Senators at Large with the right to speak on the floor and to participate in committee activities. It would not extend such a privilege to any former President removed from the Presidency under article II, section 4, of the Constitution or those holding any office to which U.S. Senators would not be eligible. Senators at Large would not have the right to introduce bills or resolutions, to make motions, or to vote on any matter. They would, however, have suitable office space in the Senate wing or the Senate Office Buildings.
__________ Government Contracts
S. 572 Passed Senate May 27; pending in House Government Operations Committee
To establish uniformity and equality in contracting for public utility services and in purchasing natural gas, coal, and other utilities. Government contracts for these services are limited to 10 years by this bill. The need for this limitation arose because of the interpretation of a provision in the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act which permitted natural gas suppliers to enter into 10year contracts to supply Government agencies with natural gas for the production of utilities but denied the same privilege to coal and oil producers.
__________ Guam--Rehabilitation
H.R. 6225 Public Law 88170, approved November 4, 1963
Authorizes appropriations up to $45 million against which the government of Guam may draw to finance public works and community development projects; $10 million will be in grants and $35 million in loans. Provides for the creation of a joint Federal and Guam Government Committee to prepare a long-range economic development plan for the island. The program authorized by this bill will provide for modern schools, governmental buildings, and planned community development including water, sewer, and partial power facilities. Repayment of the loans will begin in 5 years, June 30, 1968, and will continue for 30 years. The interest rate will be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury.
__________ Guam--Urban Renewal and Housing
H.R. 6481 Public Law 88171, approved November 4, 1963
This bill ratifies the action of the Legislature of Guam creating a public agency empowered to carry out urban renewal and housing activities and to participate in Federal programs of assistance in this field. This act will provide one means by which Guam can assist itself not only in overcoming the disastrous effects of two typhoons, but also in rebuilding its civilian housing accommodations to acceptable standards. These accommodations have been extremely inadequate since World War II when the island was occupied by the Japanese and heavily shelled by our own forces. The bill specifically provides that obligations of the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority are not obligations of the United States to the territory.
__________ Independence Day
S. Con. Res. 25 Passed Senate June 11; passed House June 26, 1963
Purpose of this concurrent resolution is to declare as the sense of Congress that the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence should be observed each year by ringing bells throughout the United States at 2 p.m. on the Fourth of July, or at such other time on that day as may be determined by local authority. The resolution calls on civic and other community leaders to take appropriate steps and to encourage public participation in the observance.
__________ Kennedy Art Center
Senate Joint Resolution 136 Passed Senate December 18, House Joint Resolution 871House Calendar
Renames the National Cultural Center as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Authorizes appropriations in an aggregate amount equal to the gifts, bequests, and devises held by the Board of Trustees but not in excess of $15,500,000. Provides borrowing authority by issuance of revenue bonds up to $15,400,000 to the Secretary of Treasury to finance necessary parking facilities for the Center.
__________ Licensed Attorneys
S. 1466 Passed Senate December 6; pending in House Judiciary Committee
Purpose of this legislation is to do away with the special bars for attorneys who appear before certain Federal administrative agencies. In a number of agencies, lawyers have met with delays attempting to deal with even the most routine tasks. Thus this bill eliminated admission requirements for licensed attorneys to allow persons to be represented before all Federal agencies by counsel of their choice, and require agencies to deal with litigant's representatives.
__________ Medals and Medal of Honor Roll
H.R. 2998 Public Law 8877, approved July 25, 1963
Expands authority for award of the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Air Force Cross, and the Silver Star to permit award of these medals for heroism and gallantry that occur in cold war situations. The bill continues authority for the award of these medals for distinguished service while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States. In addition, it would permit award of appropriate medals for persons whose heroism or gallantry occurs: (1) in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or (2) while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against opposing armed forces in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
__________ Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy--Temporary Help and Protection
H.R. 9291 Public Law 88195, approved December 11, 1963
Provides for a 12month period, office space, equipment, and staff for Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy's use, widow of the late President. Provides for a lifetime use of the franking privilege. Authorizes Secret Service protection for a 2year period for Mrs. Kennedy and her two children. Limits staff salaries to $50,000 a year and authorizes an appropriation of $65,000 to carry out purposes of the act, $15,000 of which is for the President's burial.
__________ National Council and National Arts Foundation
S. 2379 Passed Senate December 20; pending in House Education and Labor Committee
Establishes in the Executive Office of the President a National Council on the Arts of 25 members appointed by the President from among private citizens widely recognized for their knowledge, experience, and interest in the arts and are to include practicing artists, civic cultural leaders, members of the museum profession, and others professional engaged in the arts. The Council is to recommend ways to maintain and increase the cultural resources of the United States and to propose methods to encourage private initiative in the arts. Establishes as an independent agency a National Arts Foundation to come into being 90 days after the Council is established. The Foundation is to be governed by a 21member Board of Trustees selected in the same manner as the Council. The Foundation is to make matching grants to nonprofit professional groups engaged in or concerned with the arts and to States to assist in supporting existing projects and developing new ones. Authorizes up to $5 million for grants to groups and to States for fiscal 1964 and up to $10 million for each fiscal year thereafter.
__________ National Cultural Center
S. 1652 Public Law 88100, approved August 19, 1963
Extended to September 2, 1966, the termination date of the National Cultural Center Act. The bill also increased the number of general trustees of the National Cultural Center from 15 to 30 and provided staggered terms for the additional trustees. To correspond with the enlargement of the Board of Trustees, provided for a larger quorum requirement.
__________ National Public Works Week
Senate Joint Resolution 87 Passed Senate August 20; pending in House Judiciary Committee
Authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the week commencing September 8, 1963, as National Public Works Week, and calling on the people of the United States to celebrate the week with appropriate activities and ceremonies.
__________ National Stockpile
S. 1994 Public Law 88154, approved October 17, 1963
Authorizes the disposal of approximately 5,800,000 pounds of waterfowl feathers and down from the national stockpile and waives the requirement for a 6month waiting period before this disposal could begin.
__________ Pinkerton Detective Agencies
S. 1543 Passed Senate October 17; pending in House Government Operations Committee
Permits Federal agencies and the District government to contract with Pinkerton and other private detective agencies for guards. In 1893 Congress enacted legislation prohibiting hiring Pinkerton employees or employees of similar agencies. There had been an outbreak of industrial labor troubles and detective agencies were hired by management to protect property and non-striking employees. It was alleged that Pinkerton had "the largest trained and armed force in the country, outside the army and the militia. Because of this old law, the Government has been unable to permit detective agency firms to bid on contracts for guard service. While permitting the Government to contract with private agencies for guards, the Senate kept a prohibition against employing such agencies for investigative work.
_________ Presidential Transition
H.R. 4638 House asks for conference October 31, 1963
Authorizes the Administrator of General Services to provide, on request, to each President-elect and each Vice President-elect suitable office space, payment of staff salaries, travel expenses, communication services, printing and binding, and postage (subject to appropriations) during the transition period between election and inauguration. Under existing law former Presidents are authorized for life an allowance of $25,000 a year, an office staff provided by the Administrator of General Services to be paid an aggregate of no more than $50,000 a year, suitable office space and free mail within the United States and its territories and possessions. In addition, this bill authorizes for former Presidents, in connection with winding up the affairs of office and for a 6month period, office space, compensation for staff personnel and experts, travel expenses for himself and members of his staff, communications, printing and binding, and postal expenses. These temporary 6month benefits extend to former Vice Presidents who are not now covered by existing law. Limits the authorized appropriation to $500,000 for necessary expenses during the transition period.
__________ Public Lands in Alaska
H.R. 6118 Public Law 88135, approved October 8, 1963
Amends the Alaska Statehood Act to provide that the State may exercise its right of selection of certain Federal lands for community expansion purposes in tracts of not less than 160 acres. At present, under a Department of Interior ruling, the State's selections under the statehood act for community purposes are required to be in blocks of not less than 5,760 acres unless the State can show that a desired area of lesser acreage is in fact an isolated tract. Evidence shows that blocks of 5,760 acres were in many cases unnecessary for community expansion purposes and might well prove an unsound utilization of publicly owned lands, especially in the national forests. Also with the amount of land authorized for community expansion purposes by the statehood act limited to 800,000 acres, the requirement for selection in 5,760acre blocks may well inhibit community development in Alaska.
__________ Public Lands in Nevada
S. 873 Public Law 8835, approved May 29, 1963
Authorized the Secretary of Interior to convey 2,844 acres of public land in the State of Nevada to Lincoln County at the fair market value plus any adverse valid claims. Lincoln County has been declared a depressed area, and this bill will permit the county to attempt to develop this land for industrial or other uses. This particular acreage has little value for livestock grazing, recreational, or subdivisional use, and of unknown value for agriculture.
__________ Puerto Rico
H.R. 5945 Passed Senate amended December 9, 1963
Establishes a Commission to recommend procedures for settlement of political status of Puerto Rico.
__________ Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Mass
H.R. 976Public Law 88199, approved December 12, 1963
Provides for acquisition (by purchase or donation) of the 17thcentury Narbonne House in Salem, Mass., and for its administration as part of the Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
__________ Sam Rayburn Dam and Reservoir
H.R. 7594 Public Law 88123, approved September 11, 1963
This bill changes the name of the McGee Bend Dam and Reservoir on the Angelina River, Tex., authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1945, to the Same Rayburn Dam and Reservoir, in honor of the late Sam Rayburn, a Member of Congress from Texas and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
__________ Submerged Lands
H.R. 2073 Public Law 88183, approved November 20, 1963
This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, at the request of the Governors of Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, respectively, to convey to the government of the territory concerned whatever right, title, or interest the United States has in particular tract of tidelands, submerged lands, or filled lands in or adjacent to the territory, subject to certain limitations, if the land is clearly required for specific economic development purposes or to satisfy a compelling public need.
__________ U.S. Waters--Fishing
S. 1988 Passed Senate October 1; pending in House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
Prohibits fishing in territorial waters or along the Continental Shelf claimed by the United States except by domestic vessels, or as provided by international treaty, or by the Secretary of Treasury issuing licenses to foreign vessels where the Secretary of Interior certifies that permission would be in the national interest and on concurrence of any State, Commonwealth, or territory directly affected. Provides for penalties involving a fine of $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than a year, or both, for any person violating the provisions of the act. Authority is granted to seize and forfeit the vessel and all fish taken in violation of the act. Present law relating to seizure, forfeiture, and condemnation of cargo for violation of the customs laws is made applicable to seizures and forfeitures incurred under this act. Makes enforcement a responsibility of the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Interior, and the U.S. Bureau of Customs. Authorizes officials of appropriate Federal courts to issue warrants or other process as required for enforcement of the act. Authorizes Secretary of Treasury to issue regulations.
__________ Virgin Islands--Authority to Issue Bonds
H.R. 1989 Public Law 88180, approved November 19, 1963
This bill amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands of 1954 to reinstate the authority of the Virgin Islands Legislature to issue general obligation bonds for such purposes as schools, firehouses, slum clearance, libraries, and electric systems.