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Ford Newsletter, June-July 1972
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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WASHINGTON REMEN
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
(NOT PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE
June 12, 1972
HOUSE APPROVES LANDMARK HIGHER EDUCATION BILL
The House last week approved a landmark three-year higher education bill which launches a
number of highly important new programs.
The most significant of these are a program of Basic Educational Opportunity Grants and a
program of direct "no strings" aid to colleges and universities.
Apart from the higher education provisions of the bill, the legislation also places
obstacles in the path of forced busing to achieve racial balance--although the anti-busing pro-
visions are far too weak.
To combat forced busing, the legislation:
*
Postpones the effectiveness of Federal court busing orders until all appeals have been
exhausted or the time for them has expired--but this provision is to expire Jan. 1,
1974 (the Broomfield Amendment).
Prohibits the use of Federal funds for busing aimed at achieving racial balance- "except
on the express written voluntary request of appropriate school officials.
*
Prohibits Federal officials from requiring or urging schools to use their own funds for
busing "unless constitutionally required.
If
In the case of each of these anti-busing provisions, a House-Senate Conference Committee
weakened the language adopted originally by the House.
As I told the House in a Floor speech, the House conferees abandoned the House position in
conference despite the fact they had twice been instructed to stand firm.
The original Broomfield Amendment contained no expiration date. The other two amendments
were weakened when the conference committee added to them the words contained in quotation marks
above.
I favored the higher education bill, with some reservations. If I had been voting on the
higher education provisions alone, without the altered anti-busing language, I would have voted
for the Conference Committee Report. Last Nov. 6 I voted for the original House Higher Education
Bill, with its tough anti-busing provisions.
As a protest against softening of the anti-busing provisions, I voted against the Conference
Committee Report. The House approved the Report 218 to 180 and sent the legislation to the
President for his signature.
BILL CONTAINS EIGHT STUDENT AID PROVISIONS
The higher education legislation extends and improves existing student aid programs and
newly establishes others.
These provisions include the following:
-Basic Educational Opportunity Grants
*Establishes a new program of basic educational opportunity grants that would entitle
a college student to receive up to $1,400 in aid, minus whatever his family could
reasonably contribute, or up to 60 per cent of the student's need for aid, which-
ever is less. (This aid would drop to 50 per cent if the program were funded by
Congress at less than 50 per cent.) And before the basic grant program could go
AMOUNT
(over)
into effect, there would have to be minimum appropriations of $130 million for
Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, $237 million for the College Work Study
Program, and $286 million for Direct Loans (NDEA).
-Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (EOG)
*Continues the present EOG program through fiscal year 1975 as a supplement to the new
basic grant program and raises the maximum grant from $1,000 to $1,500 but limits
the total to $4,000 over four years.
Direct Loans
Extends NDEA loans as part of the Higher Education Act, permitting loans of up to
$2,500 during the first two years and removing the annual ceilings of $1,000 for
undergraduates and $2,500 for graduate students.
College Work Study
Extends the College Work Study program through fiscal year 1975 at authorization
levels rising to $420 million by 1975.
-Guaranteed Student Loans
Extends the current program, increasing the amount a student may borrow each year from
$1,500 to $2,500 but placing ceilings of $7,500 for undergraduates and $10,000 for
graduates on total amounts they may borrow.
-Student Loan Marketing Association
*Establishes 8. new program to help assure adequate funds for guaranteed student loans.
The association would sell stock and buy up student-loan notes from private lenders.
"Sallie Mae," as this proposal is called, was proposed by President Nixon in 1970.
-State Scholarship Incentives
*Authorizes Federal matching grants of up to 50 per cent for states that increase their
appropriations for college student-grant programs based on need.
Services for Disadvantaged
*Provides for a single appropriation for the Talent Search, Upward Bound, and Special
Services programs while permitting the programs to retain their separate identities.
NEW PROGRAM OF INSTITUTIONAL AID AUTHORIZED
The higher education bill authorizes a new program of direct aid to colleges and universi-
ties which is a sharp departure from the current categorical aid approach.
If fully funded, the program could provide up to $1 billion a year to public and private
institutions through fiscal year 1975.
The aid would be paid 10 per cent on the basis of the number of graduate students at each
institution and 90 per cent in terms of students receiving Federal aid (45 per cent for the
number of Basic Grant recipients and 45 per cent for the number of EOG, Work-Study and Direct
Student Loan recipients).
The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan was unhappy about this
institutional aid formula and therefore urged me to vote against the Conference Committee Report.
OTHER NEW PROGRAMS
The higher education legislation authorizes a number of other new programs. These include
a program which authorizes $275 million through fiscal 1975 for matching grants to assist in
planning, establishing and expanding community colleges.
The legislation further establishes a new program to help the States design, establish and
operate post-secondary occupational education programs. For this program, $850 million is
authorized over three years.
The bill authorizes a National Institute of Education, as proposed by the Nixon Administra-
tion. The Institute will gather and disseminate research information at all levels of education.
# # #
WASHINGTON REVIEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
NOT PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE
e
June 19, 1972
HOUSE FATTENS LABOR-H.E.W. FUNDS BILL
The House of Representatives last week approved a $28.6 billion Labor and Health-Education-
and Welfare Departments appropriation bill--a spending measure $1,275,833,000 over the budget
and $1,131,833,000 over the fiscal 1972 level of Labor and H.E.W. outlays.
Spurning the advice of its Appropriations Committee, the House added a $363,833,000 educa-
tion package to the committee's bill. I voted against this move--the Hathaway Amendment--
because the bill as brought to the House by the committee was already $912 million higher than
the budget total and $768 million over fiscal 1972. The Hathaway Amendment passed 212 to 163.
I made the point on the House floor that the appropriations bill provided as much as or
more money than in fiscal 1972 in every category of school aid increased by the Hathaway
Amendment.
The Hathaway Amendment added $212.5 million for disadvantaged schools, $27.6 million for
vocational education, $23.7 million for adult education, $25 million for libraries, $45 million
for other school programs, and $30 million for school districts with large numbers of children
of Federal employes.
The Appropriations Committee had already exceeded the budget by $301 million for education.
The committee had added $210,495,000 for aid to school districts educating children of
Federal employes, $50 million for vocational education for a total of $426,682,000, $26,770,000
for library resources for a total of $149.5 million, and $12.5 million for education for the
handicapped for a total of $143,609,000.
As passed by the House, the Labor-H.E.W. appropriations bill includes $3 billion for the
Labor Department and $25.6 billion for H.E.W. It is the largest Labor-H.E.W. bill ever.
Even this does not tell the full story because the House Appropriations Committee still has
$5 billion in budget requests for H.E.W. to act upon, including $1.5 billion for higher education,
$2.2 billion for the Office of Economic Opportunity, and $929 million in social and rehabilitation
services items.
REPUBLICANS ATTEMPT CUTS
Besides adding $301 million to the budget
for education, the appropriations committee
had piled on $611 million extra for health.
With the Hathaway Amendment bringing this
budget-busting movement to $1.27 billion,
Republicans attempted to cut the money bill
by 5 per cent. I supported this motion, but
it lost 209 to 137.
The Administration had presented a judicious
Labor-H.E.W. budget of $27.3 billion after
making cuts in low-priority programs and
reallocating funds to programs of high prior-
ity. They proposed increases for drug abuse
you DID A GREAT JOB' -- I thank Jim White
treatment, family planning services, the pro-
of Grand Rapids for the fine work he did as an
grams of the National Institutes of Health
intern in my office May 15-June 15, Jim will be
(especially cancer and heart and lung),
a senior at Albion College this fall, majoring
education for the handicapped, and education
in political science.
renewal programs.
LENRARI
The appropriations committee restored the Administration cuts, approved the budget increases
and added substantial health and education increases of its own.
With the bill bloated to $28.6 billion through committee increases and the addition of the
Hathaway Amendment, I voted against this spending measure as a gesture of protest. The bill
passed 277 to 60.
The $28.6 billion in the Labor-H.E.W. appropriation bill, together with $68 billion in
social security, railroad retirement and unemployment compensation funds for fiscal 1973, adds
up to $96 billion for human resources. This is $16 billion more than requested by the
Administration for national defense and accounts for more than one-third of the entire fiscal
1973 Federal budget.
HEALTH GETS BIGGEST INCREASES
The appropriations committee made its biggest increases in the health field.
There the panel provided $738,628,000 for health manpower funding, up $205 million over the
amount requested. The committee also added large amounts for the institutes of public health.
For the research institutes and divisions of the National Institutes of Health the committee
added $142,785,000 to amounts requested by the Administration. This includes $60 million more
for the National Cancer Institute, $44,720,000 more for the National Heart and Lung Institute,
and $38,065,000 more for the other institutes.
The committee also added $59 million to the budget to bring the alcoholism-fighting program
funding to $156.5 million.
Because a highly favorable interest subsidy program already is provided for hospital con-
struction, the Administration had included no hospital construction funds in its budget under
the old Hill-Burton program. The committee rejected this approach and put $112.2 million in the
bill for such grants.
The committee also added $120 million for health and nursing facilities construction, and
$20 million more for Community Mental Health Centers. In all, the add-ons for health and school
facilities construction grants totalled $261.7 million.
REVENUE SHARING SCHEDULED THIS WEEK
At this writing, the House was scheduled to take up Wednesday a bill providing $30 billion
over five years for sharing of Federal revenue with States and local units of government. Funds
to be shared the first year total $5.3 billion. I strongly support this bill.
Michigan would receive $243.1
million the first year, with
$90.4 million as the State's
share and $152.7 million the
local share.
The key vote will come on a motion
barring all amendments to the
bill. I expect pro-revenue shar-
ing forces to prevail.
OFF FOR CHINA
I will leave on a two-week trip to
China Friday, June 23.
House Majority Leader Hale Boggs,
D-La., will join me. We will be
accompanied by our wives and a.
small group of staff members.
'HAVING A GREAT TIME' Portland High School's 44 grad-
We will be in China nine days
uating seniors, accompanied by five sponsors, visited wash-
altogether. When I return I will
ington, D.C., after spending a day in Philadelphia and two
make reports to the President,
days in New York. They are shown with me on the steps of
the House of Representatives, and
the U.S. House of Representatives.
various groups in Michigan.
WASHINGTON REVIEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
July 17, 1972
CHINA TRIP AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
I returned to the United States July 7 after
spending nine days in the People's Republic
of China. It was an almost indescribable
learning experience.
House Majority Leader Hale Boggs, D-La., our
wives and 8 men attached to our staffs joined
me in the visit to mainland China.
We left the United States June 23, arrived in
Shanghai June 26, visited Peking, Shenyang,
An Shan and Canton before departing Communist
China on July 5 for Hong Kong.
You cannot spend even as short a period as
WITH PREMIER снои EN-LAI
nine days in the People's Republic of China
without forming some definite opinions.
SOME CONCLUSIONS
The Chinese people have made substantial mater-
ial progress since the Communists took control
of the country in late 1949.
While China is still a developing or even
"backward" nation by comparison with the United
States, the Chinese have measurably increased
their industrial production and have sharply
raised their agricultural yields.
By their own standards, the Chinese people are
far "better off" now than they were before the
Communist revolution. The situation might best
be described as the difference between mere
VIEWING ANTIQUE JADE SUIT
existence and life and between grinding poverty
and "a full belly.'
A Communist official at the Peking Jeep factory
perhaps summed up the life of the Chinese people
today when he said: "Ours is a low wage society
but our life is guaranteed."
Chinese Communist leaders call the society in
which their people live "a democratic dictator-
ship." It is indeed a dictatorship, but it is
not democratic in the sense that we know and
understand democracy. Every facet of life in
China is controlled and directed by the State.
Even doctors are "assigned" their duties by the
State. Everyone is equal, only some-the ardent
and leading Marxist-Leninists--are more equal
than others.
The Chinese are probably the most hard-working
AT THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
people in the world.
LAVESIT
(over)
When you consider the potentialities represented by 800 million people laboring devotedly
six days a week, for the most part without vacation, it staggers the mind. The discipline and
dedication of the Chinese are awesome and fearsome.
Despite the threatening statements Chinese Communist leaders have made from time to time in
the past, they now seem bent on a course of peaceful coexistence with the United States. Whatever
their motives, they are treading the path of friendship. Chinese leaders insist they have no
territorial ambitions, and this appears to be true. They point out they have internal problems
it will take them decades to solve.
OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CHINESE
We talked with Premier Chou En-lai for roughly five hours while we were in Peking.
We had a lengthy late-dinner conversation with him and then spoke with him for more than
three hours after dinner.
While I am not free to publicize the sensitive aspects of our conversations with Chou, I
can tell you his attitude was that the United States and China can find bases for agreement
despite the fact their systems are totally different.
Topics discussed included Indochina, people-to-people contacts and exchanges of information,
and possible release of three Americans held in prison in Peking for many years.
We talked with Vice Foreign Minister Ch'iao Kuan-hua for three hours in separate discussion
as well as conversing with Chou for about five hours.
I urged release of the American prisoners and was told the matter was under consideration.
In the area of exchanges of information, I think the field with the greatest potential for
both nations is medicine.
ACUPUNCTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE
I was personally most impressed with the Chinese use of acupuncture as anesthesia in
operations and also in the treatment of such afflictions as deafness.
Having seen three operations in which acupuncture was employed, I would be willing to under-
go certain kinds of surgery with acupuncture as the method of anesthesia.
The advantages of acupuncture anesthesia are that the
time of the operation is shortened, the danger is
reduced, and the recovery is hastened.
I found the evident results of acupuncture treatment
of the deaf nothing short of amazing. While those
who benefit are not "stone deaf" to begin with, it
seems obvious that acupuncture helps improve the hear-
ing of many deaf persons. While the needles may not
be readily visible in the photo at left, the picture
shows a deaf mute receiving acupuncture treatment.
I might also mention that the photo at bottom is
illustrative of the indoctrination in Maoist thought
which takes place among the Chinese beginning at age
TREATING THE DEAF WITH ACUPUNCTURE
3. The youngsters pictured with us presented a
song-and-dance performance extolling the virtues of
Maoist teachings and of the People's Liberation Army.
A SUMMING UP
Whatever we may think of the Communist Chinese system,
the fact remains that it is vital we live in peace
with the People's Republic of China.
Although there are wide philosophical differences
between us and China, it 1s important that we normal-
ize relations between the two countries.
AT CHINESE CHILD CARE CENTER
I believe our trip has helped promote understanding.
WASHINGTON REVIEW
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Kent and Ionia Counties
JERRY FORD
(NOT PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSES
July 24, 1972
HOUSE PASSES HEALTH AND HELP FOR AGED BILLS
The House last week approved bills strengthening the nation's attack on communicable
diseases and diseases of the heart, blood vessels and lungs and a bill setting up a National
Institute of Aging.
The House began the week by voting to extend for three years the present program for the
prevention and control of communicable diseases.
The bill is directed at the increases in recent years in the incidence of such communicable
diseases as measles, rubella (German measles), whooping cough and venereal disease.
To deal with these problems the legislation authorizes the appropriation of $90 million for
each of the fiscal years 1973, 1974 and 1975 and allocates the money as follows:
$5 million each fiscal year for grants to States to develop plans to meet epidemics and
other health emergencies.
$50 million for each of the fiscal years for program grants to control venereal disease.
$10 million each fiscal year for tuberculosis control programs.
$5 million each fiscal year for program grants directed at measles.
$20 million for each of the fiscal years to finance control programs aimed at communi-
cable diseases not otherwise specified.
There is special concern at this time about venereal disease, which has shown a fantastic
rise. Approximately 650,000 cases of venereal disease were reported in 1971, and this is
believed to be only a fraction of the actual cases. One estimate is 2.5 million.
Rubella (German measles) is also of particular concern because if it is contracted by
women during pregnancy deformities or mental retardation may result in the infant. A 5-year
program now is under way to wipe out rubella by inoculating all of the school children in the
country.
I strongly supported the communicable disease control bill as a very necessary response to
a demonstrated need.
HEART BILL RECEIVES OVERWHELMING APPROVAL
The House passed the National Heart, Blood Vessel, Lung, and Blood Act of 1972 380 to 10.
The United States must do everything it can to conquer the three great killer diseases--
heart, stroke and cancer.
Last year the Congress adopted a crash program attacking cancer. Now, with the passage of
the National Heart and Lung Act of 1972, I am hopeful we can make substantial progress against
heart and lung disease.
There are 26 million Americans today who are afflicted with heart disease. There are
20 million that are disabled with lung disease. It is long past time we did something about it.
The legislation passed by the House, similar to a bill approved by the Senate, provides for
the development of up to 15 new basic clinical research and training centers for heart, blood
vessel, and blood diseases and for 15 new centers for chronic lung disease. The bill authorizes
$1.2 billion over a three-year period for the program.
In addition, the bill authorizes $90 million over three years for the establishment of
heart, blood vessel, lung and blood disease prevention and control programs through the
(over)
cooperation of Federal health agencies, State, local and regional public health agencies and
nonprofit private health agencies.
Much can be done to reduce the number of heart and lung disorders. The bill passed by the
Congress will sharpen our attack on this problem.
HOUSE VOTES TO SET UP NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGING
The House approved B. bill establishing B. National Institute of Aging which would conduct
and support research on the aging process.
The institute also would do research involving the prevention, treatment and cure of
ailments which particularly plague the aged.
The bill further establishes a National Advisory Council on Aging, which is to advise,
consult with and make recommendations to the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare on all
programs relating to the aged administered by him.
The legislation authorizes $20 million to provide mental health services for the aged.
The bill is a step in the direction of alleviating many of the problems of the aged. I
vigorously backed it.
HOUSE APPROVES MORE AID FOR OLDER AMERICANS
The House approved and sent to the Senate a bill authorizing a three-year $1.5 billion
extension and expansion of Federal programs for older Americans.
The bill provides grants to States and local communities according to the percentage of
persons over 60 in each State's population. The program would be revised to focus on providing
economic and personal independence for older Americans and encouraging the development of strong
agencies to serve the elderly.
A VICTORY FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
The House last Wednesday turned back an attempt by the Democrats to push through a crash
$5 billion public works program which duplicated and overlapped previously-passed legislation.
This was a victory for fiscal responsibility and a defeat for politics as usual.
A majority of House Banking and Currency Committee members had approved a bill giving
communities $5 billion over the next 18 months to build water and sewer systems.
I pointed out in a speech on the House floor that the Congress has passed an $18 billion
Water Quality Act, which is now in conference, and that the House has passed a bill providing
the States and local communities with $5.3 billion a year for five years in general revenue
sharing. Water and sewer system construction is one of the purposes for which general revenue
sharing funds can be used.
As I emphasized in my speech to the House, the $5 billion public works bill was the
embodiment of duplication and waste.
The House first nullified the bill by adopting an amendment saying the program could not
go into effect in any year when the Federal deficit exceeds $20 billion. And then the House
killed the bill by a vote of 206 to 189. I of course voted against it. In my view, this was
one time when the taxpayers won one.
MICHIGAN PREVAILS
Another victory was recorded, this time in the House Agriculture Committee, when a meat
inspection amendment was modified to allow Michigan's stringent meat products ingredient
standards to stand.
A House agriculture subcommittee had adopted an amendment which would have withheld the
Federal Government's share of meat inspection costs from any State with ingredient standards
"different" from the Federal standards.
Thanks to some fast "lobbying" of the Agriculture Committee by several members of the
Michigan Republican congressional delegation, the amendment was modified by the committee.
# # #
Report
Serving
From Your Congressman
Michigan's Fifth District
JERRY FORD
NOT FRINTED At GOVERNMENT EXPENSE:
July 31, 1972
SHAPE OF THE NEW FIFTH DISTRICT
This is a good time to acquaint all of my constituents with the shape of the new Fifth
District, as established by the ruling of Federal Judge Damon Keith. Judge Keith acted after
the State Legislature failed to realign Michigan's 19 congressional districts to reflect growth
in population and population shifts since the last decennial census.
As the map below shows, our present district loses Bowne Township in Kent County and Sebewa
Township in Ionia. Added to the district are the townships of Thornapple and Yankee Springs in
Barry County, Roxand in Eaton, Lebanon and Dallas in Clinton, and Maple Valley, Bushnell and
Bloomer (except Carson City) in Montcalm. The new district's population is 467,543--the state
norm.
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Plainwell
Doster
Assyria
Bellevue
6
Ononda
37
4
12
Hickory
6
Olivet
11
Corriers
erlamont
40
131
Cooper
89
Gull
Bedford
Partello
Springport
7
5
(over)
NEW TOWNSHIPS WELCOMED
I am sorry that Bowne and Sebewa Townships will be lost to the Fifth District but I am
pleased to welcome the new townships which are being added to it.
The change in the Fifth and other Michigan congressional districts was an inevitable
consequence of the 1970 Federal Census, which showed Michigan's population had grown by 13 per
cent since 1960--to 8,883,313.
HOUSE PASSES FINAL VERSION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT BILL
The House last week approved a House-Senate compromise version of legislation which holds
great promise for rural America--the Rural Development Act of 1972.
The legislation is aimed at improving the economy and living conditions of rural America.
Under the bill, cities with a population of 10,000 or less will be eligible for loans and
grants for water supply projects, sewer and sewer treatment plant construction, fire-fighting
and rescue equipment, and development of industrial parks. The thrust is to make rural com-
munities more attractive for industry and for living.
The legislation provides low-cost loans to new or expanding businesses in non-metropolitan
areas. These loans will be guaranteed through a Rural Development Insurance Fund.
The Act also provides direct benefits for farmers. The Department of Agriculture may enter
into 10-year agreements with individual farmers to share the cost of soil and water conservation
projects and projects intended to prevent agricultural pollution.
The Rural Development Act of 1972 will not give rise to B. new bureaucracy. The loans and
grants will be administered by the existing Farmers Home Administration. The Agricultural
Extension Service, land grant colleges and county agents will provide the guidance needed by
rural communities to attract new industry.
PUSH ON FOR STRONGER ANTI-BUSING LEGISLATION
I have received several phone calls from Michigan residents wanting to know what I am doing
to fight forced busing to achieve racial balance.
I am doing everything humanly possible. I am working with leading Republican members of
the House Education and Labor Committee to bring about committee approval of a bill which would
prohibit courts from ordering busing across school district lines, as Federal Judge Stephen Roth
has proposed in the Detroit case. The ban would apply unless the school district lines were
drawn expressly for the purpose of racial segregation in the schools.
I think there is a good chance this bill will be reported out by the Education and Labor
Committee this week despite a last-minute delay to allow the NAACP and the U.S. Commission on
Civil Rights to testify on the bill.
Under this bill, school districts currently operating under court or federal agency deseg-
regation plans could apply for reopening of their cases. If the current plans exceeded the
requirements of the bill, they could be trimmed back.
On another front, there is also a possibility that the House Rules Committee will force the
President's busing moratorium bill and a proposed anti-busing Constitutional Amendment out of
the House Judiciary Committee. I have signed a discharge petition aimed at taking the amendment
away from the Judiciary Committee and bringing it to the House floor. However, the petition
still lacks the required 218 signatures. Rules Committee action would break the impasse.
HOUSE VOTES P.O.W. COMPENSATION
In view of the fact that some Americans have been prisoners of war in North Vietnam for as
long as nine years, the House last week passed a bill allowing members of the Armed Forces who
are missing in action to accumulate unlimited leave.
Under present law, a serviceman may accumulate up to 90 days of annual leave if he has
served in a hostile fire zone in excess of 120 days. With this limitation, there is no addi-
tional recompense to American POWs regardless of how long they are held by the enemy.
Under the bill approved by the House, additional leave time will accrue to the servicemen
concerned and their families ultimately will be reimbursed for the unused leave.
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