Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
This file contains material relating to Richard Nixon.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
4795336
label
Ford Newsletter, June-August 1971
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
4795336
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Ford Newsletter, June-August 1971
description
This file contains material relating to Richard Nixon.
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Newsletters
subjects
Appropriations and expenditures
Freedom of the press
Legislation
Manpower policy
Military bases
Public works
Revenue sharing
Social security
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Welfare
War Powers Resolution, 1973
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
4795336
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1971-08-31
month
8
year
1971
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1971-06-01
month
6
year
1971
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
5d6a4188189ca67b
ocrText
WASHINGTON REMEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
- PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE
June 7, 1971
DEMOCRATS REJECT LOCAL CONTROL OF MANPOWER TRAINING
House Republicans last week could not get enough Democratic support to break the Federal
stranglehold on manpower training programs and give local communities the option of using
Federal manpower funds for public service jobs or job training.
The House twice turned down an Administration-endorsed
EDUCATION AND MANPOWER TRAINING
bill authored by Republican Rep. Marvin Esch of Ann Arbor
which would have authorized a $2.5 billion two-year prog-
BILLIONS $
ram aimed at turning control of manpower training back
to local communities and letting them decide how much of
9
SII(est)
their manpower money to spend on public service jobs.
583
(est)
8
$73
The votes against the Republican proposal were 204-182
$70
7
$68
and 202-183. I strongly supported the substitute offered
561
by Esch.
6
5
Having rejected the substitute bill, the House approved
545
244-142 a Democratic bill authorizing the expenditure of
4
$5 billion over a five-year period to create 150,000
3
public service jobs. Those would be mighty expensive
525
$20
jobs ($33,333 each), with no provision for moving the
2
$17
job-holders from public, taxpayer-subsidized employment
I
into private employment. As a consequence, I voted
against this bill.
o
1962
'64
66
68
70
72
The question involved in the legislative fight on the
I
I
MANPOWER, SCHOOL OUTLAYS RISE--Under the Nixon Administration, Federal
House floor was not whether to provide public service
expenditures for education and minpower have steadily increased. In addi-
jobs. The substitute bill would have done that--at the
sion, nae legislation has been proposed to consolidate and decentralize
discretion of local communities. The question was
manpower programs, provide public service employment leading to regular
jobs, provide a skill upgrading program, rediscribute and increase student
whether to reform a dozen Federal manpower training
aid to poor and Eow-income students, establish a National Foundation for
programs, with 10,000 local contracts, and let local
Higher Education to spus reforms, and establish a National Institute 06
officials set up their own training programs without
Education to conduct research aimed at improving education.
being tangled in Federal red tape.
The Democrats refused to consider manpower training reform because they wanted to focus
attenion on their move to set up a public service employment program. As Republican Rep.
John Erlenborn of Illinois pointed out, what they really want is a campaign issue for 1972.
Erlenborn noted that the President last year vetoed a combination manpower training and
public service jobs bill because the public service jobs to be created by the bill were the
WPA-type, with no transition to private employment. In view of this history, he said, the
Democrats could expect another presidential veto--and, hence, were only looking for an issue.
The Democratic push behind a public service jobs bill is part of a pattern aimed at the
1972 election. Earlier this year they passed an accelerated public works bill. The public works
bill, like the public service jobs bill, would not solve unemployment--but it makes good reading.
It is interesting to note that Arthur W. Okun, who was chairman of the Council of Economic
Advisers under Lyndon B. Johnson, recently warned Congress against coming up with too many
expenditure schemes in an attempt to stimulate the economy. Okun said he was "disappointed"
that the Democratic Congress was "dredging out just about every expenditure scheme." He
specifically mentioned the Democrats' $4 billion accelerated public works bill. And he could
very well have mentioned their $5 billion public service jobs bill.
The Senate, after a controversy similar to that in the House, has also passed a public
service employment bill with a price tag of $1.75 billion for a two-year program. House and
Senate conferees now will have to work out differences between the House and Senate bills and
and get the approval of both houses before the bill is sent to the President for his consid-
eration.
(over)
The need for returning manpower programs to local control was pointed up at a recent meeting
of Michigan Chamber of Commerce executives with Michigan congressmen and U.S. Labor Department
officials. At that meeting we heard from Richard Johnston, manager of the Grand Rapids consort-
ium of employers who last year provided 72 job training and placement opportunities for the un-
employed in our area. Johnston said 30 job opportunities were lost because of delay in getting
Federal officials to approve contract changes once the J.O.B.S. program was in progress. That
is the best reason I know to put local officials in charge of manpower training.
GENERAL REVENUE SHARING HEARINGS START
Hearings on President Nixon's plan to share$5 billion in Federal income tax revenue with
the states and local communities began last week in both the House and the Senate.
House Ways and Means Chairman
Wilbur Mills, D-Ark., did something
unusual for a chairman about to be-
gin consideration of a bill. He
said he was going to give the Ad-
ministration's revenue sharing bill
"a quiet burial,' and he reflects
the opposition of the Democratic
leadership.
I strongly favor general revenue
sharing because it will ease the
tax burden on local communities
(local real estate tax increases
would be less likely), and it would
permit the retention of local police
and firemen or the expansion of
other local services.
The $5 billion the Administration
wants to share with the states and
local communities would go to them
without strings attached. There
would be no Federal bureaucrat
telling them what to do with the
PORTLAND SENIORS VISIT U.S. CAPITOL--Portland High School seniors, 64 strong, visited Washing.com, D.C., last week,
money. They could use it to fill
accompanied by five chaperones. They are shown here with me on the House steps of the U.S. Capital Building. After I
had welcomed then to washington, the group toured the Capital. They also Cook in all the usual courist sights,
in the local dollar gap and avoid
including the white House.
raising state and local taxes, or
at least hold them down somewhat.
Michigan would get a $229 million slice of the $5 billion in Federally-shared revenue. Of
the state allocation, the State Government would get $128,883,405 and local units $100,265,427.
Kent County's share would be $1,363,217; Ionia County's, $90,308. Grand Rapids would receive
$2,215,551; Ionia, $144,587. Other local units would get their proportionate share.
But Mills is determined that the bill be killed. The only way it can be saved is for the
cities, counties and states to exert such pressure upon the Congress that Mills finally relents
and at least comes through with a compromise version of the Administration bill. Such a drive
is under way under the leadership of a National Citizens Committee for Revenue Sharing, headed
by former Alabama Governor Albert P. Brewer and former Pennsylvania Governor William W. Scranton.
This group has assembled a host of information pointing up the dire financial straits in
which various cities and states find themselves. Two of their items: Detroit has laid off 500
City employes, and Hamtramck is refusing Housing and Urban Development grants because that city
can't put up the local matching money to make use of the Federal funds.
SENATE ALSO ENDORSES VOLUNTEERS CONSOLIDATION
The Senate last week joined the House in endorsing President Nixon's plan to consolidate
seven or more Federally-funded volunteer assistance agencies by bringing them under an umbrella
agency known as Action. Attempts were made in both the House and Senate to kill the plan but
both moves were rejected. The consolidation includes the Peace Corps and Volunteers in Service
to America (VISTA). I think merger of the volunteer agencies will bring about a marked improve-
ment.
SUMMER JOBS AT HIGHEST LEVEL
President Nixon has reported that more than 824,000 job opportunities will be available this
summer for needy youth--674,000 through the Federal Government and 150,000 through the National
Alliance of Businessmen. This is the highest total in the 7-year history of the program.
#
#
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENDE
10
June 21, 1971
CONGRESS ENDORSES NIXON TROOP WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Both the House and the Senate endorsed President Nixon's policy on troop withdrawals and
the way he is ending U.S. involvement in Vietnam when both bodies refused last week to adopt so-
called end-the-war amendments.
The House rejected the Nedzi-Whalen Amendment 256 to 158. I voted against it. This was a
confusing amendment because it ostensibly promised to end the Vietnam War but on the other hand
gave the President as commander-in-chief full authority to continue the conflict if he decided
it was appropriate.
Approval of the amendment would have been a hoax because it would have raised false hopes.
By Dec. 31, 1971, President Nixon will have reduced our military forces in Vietnam by
377,000.
I firmly believe the U.S. troop withdrawal should be accelerated both in time and numbers.
It can be and should be, and I am urging the President and the Secretary of Defense to do SO.
The Nedzi-Whalen Amendment would not have required that all U.S. troops be withdrawn from
Vietnam by Dec. 31. It would not have cut the pay of those troops remaining in Vietnam after
Dec. 31. It would not have denied U.S. troops the use of weapons already in Vietnam or
authorized by previous legislation.
What, then, would the Nedzi-Whalen Amendment have done? With the loophole previously men-
tioned, it would have prohibited use in the Vietnam War after Dec. 31 of any funds in a $21
billion weapons procurement bill to which Reps. Nedzi and Whalen sought to attach their amend-
ment. These are weapons to be ordered or those being produced. Few if any would be available
for several years.
Furthermore, the Nedzi-Whalen Amendment would have thrown away our best bargaining tool to
get back our American prisoners of war. Former Sen. Eugene McCarthy has condemned Vietnam War
cutoff amendments because they would arbitrarily and unilaterally throw away the bargaining
power of our peace negotiators in
Draft Calls Requested by Department of Defense
Paris. The United States did this
(THOUSANDS OF DRAFTEES)
when America stopped the bombing
President
President
President
President
of Hanoi in the hope the Communists
Eisenhower
Kennedy
Johnson
Nixon
would negotiate a peace. The
400
Communists simply "banked" what we
364,700
gave away and demanded more. If
350
350
we want our POW's home and a nego-
299,000
tiated peace, we should not unil-
300
289,900
300
aterally give away our last bar-
218,700
gaining point.
250
250
233,200
There were two end-the-war date-
200
200
163,500
setting moves in the Senate last
150
week. A Dec. 31 deadline was
48,000
119,000
113,000
107,500
defeated 55 to 42, and a June 1
100
76,500
100
cutoff was rejected 52 to 44.
85,5006
50
50
Having turned down the Nedzi-Whalen
Amendment, the House approved the
0
0
1961
'62
'63
'64
'65
'66
'67
'68
'69
'70
'71
$21 billion fiscal 1972 weapons
procurement bill, 331 to 58.
I
Source: U.S. Selective Service System
voted for the bill, since the House
DOWN GO DRAFT CALLS This graph clearly shows how
Armed Services Committee had sub-
President Nixon has reduced draft calls.
mitted this future weapons list to
(over)
the House as essential to our national defense.
Earlier the House rejected a move to cut $102 million from the $1 billion anti-ballistic
missile item. This amendment made no sense. I voted against it. The U.S. should not unilat-
erally cut back on ABM construction just at the time when the Russians have finally agreed to
negotiate limitations on both offensive and defensive nuclear weapons. We would be throwing
away one of our trump negotiating cards.
VETO EXPECTED
I expect the President to veto a $5.4 billion public works acceleration, Appalachian
Region development, and economic development bill sent to the White House by the House of
Representatives last week.
The reason the veto seems inevitable is that the bill provides for a $2 billion program
of "accelerated" public works, with the Federal Government paying 80 per cent of the cost in
areas with heavy unemployment.
This would appear to be laudable legislation but the facts are to the contrary. The
accelerated public works program would have very little effect on unemployment, would not reach
its peak for perhaps two years and would create construction jobs when those newly suffering
from unemployment are primarily professional and technical people.
We have the history of the 1962 Accelerated Public Works Act to go by. When fully opera-
ting, that program created 46,000 jobs after two years and cost $900 million, or roughly $20,000
per job per year. Assuming that the proposed present program also created 46,000 jobs, the
cost per job would be $30,000 to $35,000. Inflation has boosted construction costs some 60
per cent since 1962. And it can be assumed that the 1971 program would not get into full swing
until 1973.
So what proponents of the accelerated public works program are talking about is a program
of high-cost construction jobs scattered throughout the nation, creating less than 900 jobs
per state on the average, and having only a minimal effect on unemployment.
The proposed accelerated public works program is a hoax. It would not accomplish what
its proponents claim for it. For that reason I opposed it initially and voted against the
final version which was sent to the President last week on a House vote of 275 to 104.
If the legislation is vetoed--and I believe it will be--I think any attempt to override
the veto will fail. The Congress then probably will enact separate legislation extending the
Appalachian Region development programs and the Economic Development Act.
The best way to deal with unemployment is to stimulate the private sector of the economy
and create real jobs. In that connection, it is significant that total employment increased
263,000 nationally in May to 78,961,000. This is an increase of 723,000 since last January.
These figures are a better measurement of what is happening in the economy than the unemploy-
ment rate. The latter reflects the increasing number of young people now reaching working age
and the fact that more than 1 million Vietnam veterans are rejoining the work force each year.
ATTENTION COIN COLLECTORS!
Persons interested in buying proof and uncirculated silver Eisenhower dollars may now
obtain order blanks at my district office, 425 Cherry Street, S.E., Grand Rapids. The forms
may also be obtained at Post Offices and commercial banks.
The U.S. Mint will begin accepting orders for the coins on July 1. No one person can
order more than five proof and five uncirculated coins. Separate orders must be submitted for
each type, and it may be several months before the orders can be filled.
The proof coins are $10 apiece; the uncirculated coins, $3 each. The proof coins are
made from highly polished blanks and are struck twice. The uncirculated coins are minted on
high-speed presses, are struck once, and do not have a special finish.
The non-silver or cupro-nickel Eisenhower dollar, which will go into general circulation,
will become available through commercial banks in late fall.
NEW INTERN TO WORK ON MASTER'S
Joseph R. Totoraitis Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Totoraitis Sr., 157 Travis Street
N.E., Grand Rapids, is working as an intern in my Washington office through the month of June.
He then will go to Rochester, Mich., where he will join the Teacher Corps. Joe will be
teaching in a low-income rural community. This is a 1½-to-2-year program which will culminate
in Joe's receiving a master's degree.
WASHINGTON REVIEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
June 28, 1971
(NOT PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE
HOUSE PASSES WELFARE REFORM-SOCIAL SECURITY BILL
The House last week approved 288 to 132 a combination welfare reform and social security
bill which can only be described as landmark legislation, a monumental measure.
The bill would replace the present Federal-State welfare system with a Federally-adminis-
tered system which is completely work-oriented in terms of employable adults. It also would
raise Social Security benefits by 5 per cent effective June 1, 1972, and make Social Security
increases thereafter automatic in relation to rises in the cost of living.
The basic goal of the welfare reform provisions in the bill is to make every family in
which there is an employable adult economically self-sufficient--to take the employable adult
off welfare rolls and put him or her on a payroll.
Here is what the bill would do on welfare:
полоН
Create 200,000 public service jobs
Require every employable adult to accept employment or job training
Expand Federal support for child day care, job training and placement
Provide financial incentives for recipients enrolled in job training
Encourage family unity by removing the incentives for parental desertion
Provide basic assistance to families headed by unemployable or incapacitated adults,
including a new and improved assistance program for the needy, aged, blind and disabled.
Here is what the bill would do on Social Security:
Raise benefits 5 per cent across the board for 27.4 million recipients as of June 1, 1972
Provide that benefits go up thereafter whenever the cost of living rises at least
3 per cent
Increase a widow's benefits to 100 per cent of the amount her deceased husband would be
be receiving if he were still living--the increase to be effective January 1, 1972
Raise the earnings limitation from $1,680 B. year to $2,000 for the taxable years ending
after 1971
Reduce the age upon which benefits are computed for men from 65 to 62
Increase 8. worker's benefit by 1 per cent a year for delaying retirement beyond age 65,
effective after 1971, based on earnings after 1970
I have been urging welfare reform ever since the President laid his reform proposals before
the Congress two years ago. I have been pushing for automatic increases in Social Security, tied
to the cost of living, for six years.
PRESENT WELFARE SYSTEM MUST BE REPLACED
There was opposition to the proposed welfare reform on the part of some conservatives who
objected to the cost and by liberals who contended the Federal income floor of $2,400 a year for
8. family of four was too low.
I argued that the present welfare system is beyond repair and must be replaced. One reason
is the fantastically escalating Aid to Families with Dependent Children. In Michigan, for
instance, the number of recipients on AFDC increased 48.9 per cent just from March 1970 to
March 1971, and costs increased 77.8 per cent during that same period.
My position is that we must adopt a system which seeks to move recipients from a condition
of dependence to a state of independence. We must make taxpayers out of tax-eaters.
A public welfare system worthy of the name should provide help to those in need to the
extent they are prepared to help themselves. H.R. 1, the bill the House approved last week,
provides for just such an assistance program, with a work requirement.
(over)
Why should work make a family ineligible for assistance in meeting its needs if wages are
inadequate to fill them--if, indeed, they are less than his neighbor's welfare checks? In
Michigan, for instance, a man's wages must be $1.94 per hour in a family of four before his
income exceeds corresponding welfare payments.
To those who object to aiding the working poor, I say that going on welfare should never be
more attractive than working.
In the long run there will be fewer on welfare than if the present system were to continue
because "work training" will put people back to work. The present system has incentives for
people to go on welfare and stay there; it carries within it the seeds of its own inexorable
growth.
To those who say $2,400 Federal income for a family of four is not enough, let me point out
that the states can supplement this Federal payment and still save tremendous sums in relation to
what they are paying for welfare now under the present system of 50-50 Federal-State sharing of
costs.
The key vote in the House last week was a choice between the present welfare system and the
proposed reforms. A move to kill the reform proposals lost 234 to 187. I voted for 8. change
and against the status quo.
HOUSE PASSES TWO APPROPRIATION BILLS
The House last week passed a $12.4 billion appropriation bill for the Agriculture Department
and other agencies and a $3.76 billion money bill for the State, Justice and Commerce Departments
and related minor agencies.
The House added to the Agriculture bill
$500 million not requested by the President
Honor
for sewer and water grants.
On a vote of 214 to 198, the House cut max-
America
imum price support payments for each of
three major crops on any farm from $55,000
to $20,000.
July 4
I voted for the $20,000 ceiling last year
but this year I voted against the lower fig-
ure because it was a case of not keeping
faith with the farmers. They have made
their plans on the basis of the $55,000
figure. I felt it was unfair to change the rules in the middle of the game.
The House on a vote of 172 to 225 rejected an amendment that would have cut off food stamps
from families of strikers. I voted for the amendment because furnishing food stamps to strikers
actually subsidizes a strike. It brings the Government into the strike on the side of the
strikers. The Government should be neutral in any labor-management dispute. It is interesting
that scanning of the 1971 Ford questionnaires returned to me clearly shows overwhelming
opposition in Kent and Ionia Counties to the furnishing of food stamps to strikers' families.
The House also rejected, 129 to 278, an amendment calling for a one-year moratorium on
stream channelization as part of the
small watershed program run by the
Soil Conservation Service.
I voted against this amendment
because I think the Soil Conserva-
tion Service has been doing a
first-class job. They are keenly
concerned about soil erosion--as
much so as the most ardent environ-
mentalist.
Furthermore, the Environmental
Policy Act of 1970 provides environ-
mental safeguards. Under this Act,
environmental impact statements
must be filed with the Council on
Environmental Quality before any
public improvement project can
THREE LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS were among Future
proceed. This means the U.S. Fish
Teachers 06 America attending a seminar last week in
and Wildlife Service could object to
Washington. Chatting with me, left to right, are Cathy
any channelization project which
Asplund, Karen Alexander, and Karen Reagan.
might harm the environment.
REMEN
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
July 19, 1971
HOUSE UPHOLDS FIRST AMENDMENT PRESS RIGHT
The House of Representatives voted 226 to 181 last week to kill a move by its Interstate
and Foreign Commerce Committee to cite the Columbia Broadcasting System and its president, Frank
Stanton, for contempt of Congress.
What brought the contempt citation attempt was CBS's refusal to supply the committee with
unused film shot in connection with its news documentary, "The Selling of the Pentagon."
According to sworn unchallenged testimony taken by the committee, CBS was guilty of
deceitful editing and transposition of questions and answers in producing the documentary.
When the committee demanded the unused film shot while the documentary was being made,
Stanton refused on the ground this constituted an infringement on freedom of the press. The
unused film, he contended, was like a news reporters notes and was privileged. Faced with this
challenge, the committee issued a subpena for the material--which CBS refused to obey.
Those Commerce Committee members who favored the contempt citation argued that the sole
issue at hand was that of proving fraud and deceit on CBS's part in production of the documen-
tary. They also contended the unused film was needed as the basis for any legislation the
committee might draft, directed at the abuse with which CBS was charged.
A majority of the House, including your congressman, felt that CBS was definitely guilty of
deception but that the First Amendment right of freedom of the press was at stake and was over-
riding in the matter.
I agree with those who contend that governmental interference with the news media has an
adverse impact on the right of free speech.
I feel sure that our founding fathers were aware that a free press would make mistakes and
would engage in various practices which the congress would find deceptive and fraudulent. Yet
they decreed in the First Amendment to the Constitution that "Congress shall make no law
abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.
James Madison, one of our early Presidents, said: "Some degree of abuse is inseparable
from the proper use of everything; and in no instance is this more true than of the press.
The courts have ruled that "no rational distinction can be made between radio and television
on the one hand and the press on the other in affording the Constitutional protection contem-
plated by the First Amendment." This
was affirmed by the Supreme Court in
1954.
In the case of the "Selling of the
Pentagon," CBS afforded the Vice-
President, the Secretary of Defense,
and the chairman of the House Armed
Services Committee an opportunity to
criticize the documentary on the air.
The Commerce Committee's motives were
of the highest order--to show the public
how alleged deceit and fraud had been
perpetrated. But Congress has no
WHEN TAKE-OFF-POUNDS-SENSIBLY delegates from all
business sitting in judgment on the
over the country gathered in washington, these Grand
content of news presentations and the
Rapids area TOPS advocates dropped into my office to
presentation of controversial issues.
see me. They are Agnes Kooiker and Anne Lehnen of
In other words, the First Amendment
Rockford, Goldie Butt of Belding, and Anne Laurn of
issue was paramount in the matter
Grand Rapids.
before the House.
WHITE HOUSE TO EXPEDITE PUBLIC SERVICE JOBS PROGRAM
I was delighted to learn last week that the Nixon Administration is going to move as fast as
possible to get the new public service jobs program rolling.
As you may know, Grand Rapids is seeking $2 million under this new program in order to keep
on the payroll City employes who otherwise may be laid off.
The minute the President signed
the bill which makes the public
service jobs program possible, I
got in touch with the White House
and with the Labor Department.
The Labor Department assured me
that although the new program is
primarily for placing the unem-
ployed in public service jobs and
giving them on-the-job training
in such employment, some of the
funds also can be used to provide
continued employment for munici-
pal employes who otherwise would
become jobless.
The Office of Management and
Budget on behalf of the President
submitted an urgent request for
$1 billion for this fiscal year
to fund the new public service
METROPOLITAN GRAND RAPIDS Camp Fire Girls attending a
jobs program.
Washington conference receive from me and Sen. Robert P.
Griffin a Flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol.
I will do everything possible to
They will use the Flag at Camp Wohelo on Lake Michigan near
see that Grand Rapids receives
Holland. The girls are, left to right, Debbie Houseman and
some of these funds so we will
Jackie West of Grand Rapids, Barbara Jackson and Sherryl
not find ourselves in the posi-
Smith of Wyoming, and Kathy Gillett and Mary worth of Grand
tion of laying off essential
Rapids.
City employes.
I am also hopeful that Congress this year will adopt the President's proposal to share
$5 billion in Federal income tax revenue with the states and local units of government.
If this legislation is enacted, it may be possible to avoid any increase in local taxes.
HOUSE PASSES TOUGH ANTI-SMUT BILL
The anti-obscenity laws in this country badly need strengthening. I therefore strongly
supported a tough new anti-smut mailing measure which has passed the House and now is in the
U.S. Senate.
The bill is designed to crack down on smut peddlers. It provides a definition of "obscene"
to get around court decisions which allow mailing of "nudie" magazines and other sex publications.
The legislation also prohibits the mailing of sexual material to youths under 17 and
requires special markings on mail that might contain "potentially offensive sexual material" so
people can destroy the mail or return it without opening it.
HOUSE APPROVES TRANSPORTATION MONEY BILL
The House last week passed and sent to the Senate a $7.9 billion Transportation Department
appropriation bill which included
$4.6 billion in Federal aid for
highway construction. The bill
passed 400 to 12. I voted for it.
It was $275 million less than the
President requested but that request
contained $235 million for the SST,
which Congress killed.
DISTRICT TOUR
My district assistant, Gordon Vander
Till, will be at the City Hall in
Belding from 2:30 to 5 p.m. July 23
THREE FINE INTERNS now are working in my Washington
to talk with anyone who has a
Office. They are left to right, George zeeff and Barbara
problem he wishes to bring to my
Valenti 06 Grand Rapids and William Jagger of Belding.
attention.
WASHINGTON REIEV
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
PRINTED AT EXPENSED
July 26, 1971
BILLS VITAL TO MICHIGAN INTRODUCED IN HOUSE
Two bills which are vital to Michigan have been introduced in the U.S. House of
Representatives--a measure to repeal the 7 per cent automobile excise tax and a bill to allow
auto manufacturers to pool their knowledge on car engine anti-pollution devices and thus speed
up development of a clean engine. These bills have also been introduced in the Senate.
I authored the House clean engine bill and co-sponsored the auto excise tax repealer.
Under present law, the auto makers cannot put their heads together to develop a clean car
engine as rapidly and economically as possible. They would be in violation of the antitrust
laws. Yet they are operating under a congressional deadline which requires them to put
virtually pollution-free engines in their cars by 1975.
It is costly to force the auto manufacturers to work independently on anti-pollution
devices--costly to the manufacturers and to the consumer. It also poses the possibility that
production will be interfered with and it thus threatens the jobs of auto workers.
I firmly believe--along with United Auto Workers President Leonard Woodcock--that the auto
manufacturers should be allowed to work together on building a clean car engine. This is in the
best interest of auto workers and the best interest of the country.
AUTO EXCISE TAX REPEAL WOULD BOOST ECONOMY
There are many reasons why the auto excise tax should be repealed. The chief reason is
that this would give the entire economy a shot in the arm.
Auto excise tax repeal would stimulate car sales and thus boost employment. It would help
hold car prices down.
Under present law, approved by Congress last December, the auto excise tax will be phased
out over the next 10 years. The phaseout will begin Jan. 1, 1973, and the tax will drop to zero
as of Jan. 1, 1982.
We should not wait to get rid of the auto excise tax. We should repeal it now.
HOUSE PASSES VETERANS BILLS
The House last week passed two veterans bills--one dealing with drug addiction and the other
with development of new medical schools.
The drug bill would:
*Provide a drug-addicted veteran with VA hospital treatment no matter what kind of
discharge he had received from military service
*Establish an orderly procedure for the VA to cooperate with the Armed Forces in treat-
ing members of the Armed Forces with drug addiction problems
*Provide that the VA Administrator may receive and treat drug-addicted ex-servicemen on
the basis of commitment from Federal courts
The other veterans bill would set up five new medical schools in conjunction with the
rb
Veterans Administration.
That bill is designed to help ease the severe shortage of physicians in the country and also
to improve VA hospital facilities.
(over)
HOUSE PASSES MILITARY CONSTRUCTION BILL
The House last week approved a bill authorizing $2,138,337,000 worth of military construc-
tion during fiscal 1972. This was $121,107,000 less than requested by the Defense Department.
EXPENDITURES ON THE
The bill placed major emphasis on "peoples
projects" aimed at improving conditions under
WAR IN INDOCHINA
which our service personnel and their families
live.
($ BILLIONS)
One of the most important of the "peoples
projects" involves improvement of troop bach-
$29.3
elor housing. The bill authorizes $273.1
$27.1
million for that purpose, more than double
$23.6
the amount for last fiscal year.
$20.7
The sum of $48 million is aimed at providing
privacy in existing military barracks. The
$158
objective is to attract Army volunteers.
There is no authorization in the bill for
military construction in Southeast Asia.
?
$6.5
The bill authorizes $56,181,000 for the
$3.5
modernization and improvement of five Air
Force depots. Air Force authorization also
includes $1,431,000 for K. I. Sawyer Air
1954-65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
Force Base at Marquette and $440,000 for
Wurtsmith AFB at Oscoda.
SPENDING ON the war in Vietnam has
The overall authorization includes $112.5
dropped drastically under the Nixon Adminis-
million for construction of a main hospital
tration, as this graph dramatically shows.
building at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
in Washington. The plans are to replace the
pre-World War II and mobilization type buildings which now are inadequate to support modern
medical equipment. Demolition work now is under way at Walter Reed.
The authorization bill also provides for:
$129.9 million for air and water pollution control at 173 military installations in the
United States and overseas
$172.5 million for real estate, easements and tactical and supporting facilities for
further deployment of the Safeguard anti-ballistic-missile system
$5,870,000 for projects in the Ninth Naval District, including a hospital corps school
and bachelor enlisted quarters at Great Lakes, Ill.
WIDER-BUS BILL APPROVED
The House last week passed a bill allowing a six-inch wider bus to operate on the
Interstate Highway System but only on those sections which have 12-foot lanes. This is permis-
sive legislation only and is not binding on any state.
The bill will go into effect July 1, 1973, unless the Secretary of Transportation reports
to the Congress that the wider buses will be unsafe. This gives the Secretary of Transportation
virtual veto power over the move.
HOUSE FAVORS JOINT COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT
The House voted to create 8. House-Senate Committee on the Environment. This joint committee
would provide a clear focus on many of the difficult environmental decisions which must be made
in the years ahead. I co-sponsored this legislation, along with House Speaker Carl Albert,
D-Okla., and others.
This bill now goes to the Senate. I hope the Senate will quickly approve this legislation,
so that Congress will be in a position to effectively carry out its responsibilities with regard
to environmental matters.
The committee would develop policies which would encourage the greatest possible public
and private efforts to improve the quality of the environment.
DISTRICT HOURS
My district assistant, Gordon Vander Till, will be at the City Hall voting room in Ionia
from 2:30 to 5 p.m. July 30 to meet with anyone in the Ionia area wanting to bring a problem
to my attention.
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
(NOT PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE
August 2, 1971
GRADUAL WITHDRAWAL, NEGOTIATION SUPPORTED
My 1971 questionnaire results are now in, and I have reported them to my constituents, the
Congress, and the President.
The balloting on Vietnam was most interesting.
I don't know what the November referendum in
Grand Rapids will show, because of the phrasing
of the question. But my questionnaire indicates
that more than 62 per cent of Kent and Ionia
County residents favor either the Nixon policy
of gradual withdrawal from Vietnam while seek-
ing a political settlement, or a stepup in the
fighting with victory as the goal.
A breakdown of this sentiment shows 49.3 per
cent favor withdrawing U.S. troops on a monthly
basis while continuing negotiations, while 13
per cent favor increasing our military effort.
Only 33.3 per cent said they favor withdrawal
GRAND RAPIDS PONY FROM CHINCOTEAGUE--This
by a fixed date regardless of the effect on
is the Assateague Island, Va., pony given to
negotiations.
the children 06 the Grand Rapids area by the
people 06 Chincoteague, Va. He will be trans-
The complete results of the questionnaire
ported to the Grand Rapids Zoo.
balloting are as follows:
YES
NO
OTHER
1. Do you favor Federal deficit financing to stimulate the
economy?
26.62%
66.41%
6.97%
2. Should the Federal Government impose strict controls
on wages and prices?
53.64
41.62
4.74
3. Should the Federal Government expand efforts to con-
trol air and water pollution even if this costs you more in
68.28
27.53
4.19
taxes and prices?
4. Should the Executive Branch of the Federal Government
be reorganized and the number of cabinet departments
reduced from 11 to eight?
68.69
20.40
10.91
5. Do you favor Federal legislation requiring "unit pricing"
of food items so you can compare the cost per pound,
ounce, etc., of the various brands?
77.48
19.04
3.48
6. Should food stamps be made available to those idled
16.72
80.46
by a labor-management dispute?
2.82
7. Should we keep a residual force in Vietnam until all
American prisoners of wor are released?
65.51
27.83
6.66
MULTIPLE CHOICE
8. On Vietnam, what is the best policy? Pick one.
A. Increase our military effort in hope of achieving
A.
12.98%
"victory"
B. 49.34
B.
Withdraw U.S. troops on 0 monthly basis while con-
tinuing negatiations aimed of a political settlement
C. 33.28
C.
Withdraw all U.S. forces from Vietnam by 0 fixed
other
4.40
date regardless of the effect on negotiations
9.
On State and jocal problems, what is the best answer?
A. Return 0 percentage of Federal income tax revenue
to the states and local units to hold down local
A. 37.73
taxes and help solve local problems
B. 25.51
B.
Increase state and local taxes and cut Federal in-
C.
come taxes
7.27
C.
Increase the funding for over 550 Federal grant
D. 13.94
programs, with local government matching funds
other
required
9.19
D. Have the Federal Government take over all welfare
multiple
6.36
costs and pay this cost from federal taxes
10. On welfare, which is better?
A. Keep the present system
A.
6.92
B. Adopt 0 Federal minimum income for families with
B. 81.62
children and enact a work or job training require-
ment
other 11.46
HOUSE PASSES APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
The House last week passed a $20.3 billion appropriation bill for the Labor and Health,
Education and Welfare Departments, a $13.3 billion final version agriculture money bill, and a
$4.5 billion public works appropriation bill.
The House added $82.4 million to the Labor-HEW bill for vocational rehabilitation for a
total of $695 million in "rehab" money, and tacked on $14 million to keep open the Fort Worth,
Tex., narcotics center.
The House rejected a package of Labor-HEW amendments which would have
added $200 million for the fight against various diseases.
I voted against the add-ons because the bill already was $321.7 million
over the budget recommendations, and $2.8 billion over the amount for
the same programs last year.
Very large sums are automatically appropriated for labor and HEW pro-
grams each year without going through the formal appropriating process.
And the Congress has already approved a separate $5.1 billion school aid
appropriation bill, with $3.5 billion in various health and welfare bills
still to be considered. It all adds up to $86.9 billion--far in excess
of the $73.2 billion the President has asked for national defense.
The public works appropriation bill included $3.4 million for Michigan
DISTRICT INTERN--
navigation, flood control and survey projects, including $765,000 for
Mary Jane Zinn of
St. Lawrence Seaway season extension and $425,000 for a Great Lakes
Grand Rapids is a
water levels survey.
summer intern in
my district office.
I voted against the "Ag" appropriation bill because it was $1,172,000,000
over the President's budget.
In the Labor-HEW and "Ag" appropriation bills, the Democrat-controlled House increased the
budget by more than $1.5 billion. That raises the question: Who is responsible for inflation?
HOUSE APPROVES PUBLIC WORKS BILL
The House last week passed a public works authorization bill which extended the life of the
Economic Development Administration and the Appalachian Regional Development Act and included
$500 million for accelerated public works for two years. Thus the House scaled back the $2 bil-
lion in accelerated public works authority contained in the bill the President vetoed last month.
I voted for the bill. The President is expected to sign it. Grand Rapids will be eligible
for aid under Title I of the bill, which includes the modified accelerated public works program to
be managed by the Economic Development Administration. The bill makes Federal grants of 80 per
cent or more available to eligible communities for certain public works projects.
BLUE COLLAR PAY RAISE O.K.'D
The House passed and sent to the Senate a Federal blue collar worker pay raise bill which
ultimately will add more than $180 million a year to the $4 billion blue collar Federal payroll.
The President vetoed a similar bill last year and
is expected to do so again, assuming that the
Senate passes it. The bill would destroy the
whole concept of paying Federal workers in a
local wage area the same rate as that paid by
private industry. I was opposed to the bill.
The pay raise would cost $76.8 million this fiscal
year; $115.3 million next year; and $181.3 million
the third year.
DISTRICT VISITS
My district assistant, Gordon Vander Till, will be
at various district locations from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
MONEY FOR JOBS--A city of Grand Rapids and
in August. He will be at Rockford City Hall
School Board delegation talks with me about
August 6, Lowell City Council Room, August 13;
chances for a $7.4 million Federal grant to
and Portland City Council Room, August 20. Any-
fund 633 public service jobs. Left to right
one wanting to bring a problem to my attention is
are Schools Special Programs Director Wallace
invited to talk with Mr. Vander Till. I will per-
Norgrove, Acting Mayor Lyman Parks, City Com-
sonally visit the district with my mobile office
missioner Patrick Barr, Commissioner Richard
August 23-26 and August 30-Sept. 3.
Schwaiger, Ass't School Supt. John Dow, and
city Manpower Coordinator Harold Oliver.
WASHINGTON
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
INCT
PAINTED
AT
GOVERNMENT
EXPENSE
August 9, 1971
MOBILE OFFICE TOUR SCHEDULED
During the recess I will devote nine days to a tour of Kent and Ionia Counties in my mobile
office. In addition, I have meetings, conferences and speeches scheduled in our congressional
district.
I will tour Kent County August 23 through 26, and Ionia County August 30 through Sept. 3.
In all, I will be taking my mobile office to 18 locations--eight in Kent County and 10 in Ionia.
My office hours will be from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
My complete mobile office schedule is as follows:
9:00 to 11:30 A.M.
2:30 to 5:00 P.M.
Mon., Aug. 23
KENT CITY
SPARTA
(Township Hall)
(E. Division Parking Lot)
Tues., Aug. 24
CEDAR SPRINGS
ROCKFORD
(Main at Ash)
(Don's Pharmacy)
Wed., Aug. 25
COMSTOCK PARK
STANDALE
(Lamoreaux Drug)
(Plaza)
Thurs., Aug. 26
GRANDVILLE
ROGERS PLAZA
(City Hall Parking Lot)
(Schensul's sign)
Mon., Aug. 30
BELDING
IONIA
(City Hall)
(First Security Bank)
Tues., Aug. 31
PORTLAND
LYONS-MUIR
(City Parking Lot)
(Tabor & Superior Sts.)
Wed., Sept. 1
SARANAC
LAKE ODESSA
(28 N. Bridge)
(BraDee Parking)
Thurs., Sept. 2
LOWELL
CALEDONIA
(Main at Lafayette)
(Main at Lake Ave.)
Fri., Sept. 3
BYRON CENTER
CASCADE
(Harkema Parking)
(Old Kent Bank Parking)
HOUSE VOTES PUBLIC SERVICE JOBS MONEY
The House has approved a $1 billion appropriation for fiscal 1972 to fund up to 172,800
public service jobs in communities hard-hit by unemployment. Grand Rapids is among those cities
expected to benefit.
The City of Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Board of Education are seeking $7.4 million
from these emergency employment funds to pay the salaries of 633 persons who would be employed
in City and School Board jobs.
I will do everything in my power to help obtain public service jobs money for Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids is definitely eligible under provisions of the Emergency Employment Act, and City
and School officials have moved quickly with their application to "get in on the ground floor.
(over)
HOUSE PASSES WAR POWERS BILL
The House has moved to reassert Congress's war-making power with a resolution requiring the
President to report to the Congress whenever U.S. forces equipped for combat are sent to foreign
areas in substantial numbers for any purpose.
HOUSING STARTS
I was wholeheartedly in support of the House Joint
Resolution, which was adopted under suspension of the
dramatic upturn
rules. I urged action of this kind by the Congress
in a speech last July 16 to the Pennsylvania Department
Millions
of the American Legion at Pittsburgh.
2.0-g
Purpose of the war-making powers bill, House Joint
Resolution No. 1, is to avoid future Vietnams. Had it
previously been law, it would have required a
Total
Presidential report to the Congress on:
136
12
*Deployment of U.S. troops in Thailand in 1961-62
*Troop buildups in Vietnam through August 1964,
when Congress approved the Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution
*Activities over Laos in early 1971
Had this reporting requirement been in effect in 1962
Federally Assisted
when President Kennedy increased the number of U.S.
advisers in Vietnam from 700 without combat gear to
16,000 men equipped for combat, the President would
have had to explain promptly to Congress why he had
FY:
1961
65
69
71
taken that action and his reasons for not seeking
(mit)
specific prior Congressional authorization for it.
A BRIGHT SPOT in the economy is housing
construction, which has reached a 10-year
It's true that Congress gave President Johnson blanket
peak nationally.
authority to carry on the Vietnam War with passage of
the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in 1964. But that action
was taken under circumstances charged with emotion.
We could have expected a much more reasoned and reasonable Congressional decision on the basis of
8. Kennedy report on troop dispatch in 1962.
HOUSE APPROVES FINAL VERSION DRAFT EXTENSION
A compromise version of a two-year draft extension bill finally came last week before the
House, which had passed its own draft bill last April 1. The House quickly approved the compro-
mise, which was in the form of a "conference report.
The big hangup was the so-called "Mansfield Amendment," which called upon the President to
withdraw all U.S. forces from Vietnam within nine months, subject to release of all American
prisoners of war.
House and Senate conferees finally agreed upon compromise language, which urges the
President to negotiate an immediate cease-fire in Vietnam and the withdrawal of all U.S. forces
by a date certain contingent on the release of all American prisoners, with the U.S. withdrawal
to be in phased form tied to the phased release of American POW's. This was a proper expression
of Congressional concern over Vietnam and our desire to end the fighting there.
The draft extension also provides for:
*A military pay raise of $1.8 billion on an annual basis to boost recruitment and encour-
age reenlistments, aimed at establishing an all-volunteer Armed Force
*An increase of $409.8 million in basic allowance for troop quarters
*An increase of $105.9 million in Dependents Assistance Allowance
A combat status first-enlistment bonus of up to $3,000 for a three-year hitch
*Draft deferments until graduation for students deferred during the 1970-71 academic year
*A bar to induction of any person who has lost a member of his immediate family through
service in the Armed Forces, and discharge of any surviving son or sons who would have
been exempt from induction for the same reason
MY ATTENDANCE RECORD AT 92%
During this session of Congress (up to July 30), there have been 8 total of 227 quorum calls
and roll calls. I missed only 18, for a showing of 92 per cent. There were 76 quorum calls;
I missed 3. There were 150 roll call votes; I missed 15. There was also the vote on electing
the Speaker of the House.
My current record slightly surpasses my attendance of the past 20 years, which averages
91 per cent.