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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 10/28/69 (includes minutes and Ford notes)
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1550991
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White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 10/28/69 (includes minutes and Ford notes)
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Robert T. Hartmann Papers
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These documents were scanned from Box 106 of the Robert T. Hartmann Papers at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. M.S toelf Hanor REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP MEETING OCTOBER 28, 1969 - 8:30 a.m. - CABINET ROOM Mmint AGENDA / g tests to action. since just before 5595 go. Th 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. I. Foreign Policy Milling gan. will describe anything but let's eway not and advers Test aimst 7 (a) November 3rd Address Knawer (b) MIRV will be discussed 1 u.s HSSR ready not several months sgo (best pripared) 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. III II. Message Appropriations Consumer ready greent -"ind until Message I week" more meanthy advance Crisis to Point (recent 1 tiste) It that time since send Junes 3 Hanoi unbridled 15 2005 Mayo - almon Tax Territy. will no Tax Readlock center Receipts Proposals last minute. fanition I. MBM, 198.8 194.8 Outlap 192.9 192.9 Commun onin White Hund Jan thang your +5.9 MIRV. +1.9 Thrints to $192.9 spending Total Death nei f Consumer affairs End wiship save many st / Compansund actum N inacher Consumer adming Cruncel may Than 1.5.53.5 increase 124 20 3 administrative intentives 0.8413 2 4 Warranties Consumer w Credit Conditions 1.0.3.D Task Force Regard purs -lay 5 Other (me extentes its) 0.5 Standards 4 6 ant testing "messiles" Colification state town GERALD ADVERIT ? FORD 7 Product safety sand as Dursion advocacy 2 Conserver new 7.5. asst 9) F.T.C att. Remarks new authority greater 10 prelimating FOR additives Snith Signature No Unin parcentage projoun of greater GNP. NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet WITHDRAWAL ID 05994 REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL National security restriction TYPE OF MATERIAL Diary CREATOR'S NAME Richard Poff TITLE Diary of White House Leadership Meetings -- 91st Congress DESCRIPTION re: Soviet weapons, SALT talks CREATION DATE 10/28/1969 VOLUME 2 pages COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID 026900689 COLLECTION TITLE ROBERT T. HARTMANN PAPERS (Newspaper reporter; Legislative Assistant to Congressman Ford; Chief of Staff to Vice President Ford; White House Counsellor) BOX NUMBER 106 FOLDER TITLE White House - Congressional Leadership Meeting, 10/28/69 DATE WITHDRAWN 11/16/1993 WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST JAS 3 been exploring several diplomatic approaches secretly. Nevertheless, after a year's negotiation in Paris, the only progress that has been made is an agreement upon the shape of the table. We have already offered every possible grounds for reasonable resolution of the conflict. If what they want is unilateral cease fire, they will not get it BO long as we have 50, 000 troops in Vietnam who might be endangered. The concept of "Vietnamization" is part of a "double track" sol ution (the other is diplomatic negotiation). RMN interduced Miss Kaauer with a compliment for the work she has done in the field of consumer affairs. He said that the President's message on sonsumer affairs would be sent to the Congress by the end of the week. It will break new ground. It is bold and innovative. It will propose the establishment of thStatutory Office on Consumer Affairs, designed to co-ordinate consumer programs. It will recommend an increase in the Consumer Advisory Council. It will recommend a new task force on warranties and a new office in the Justice Department for consumer advocacy. It will recommend that the FDA review the some 600 additives on the GRAS list (generally recognized as safe list). Springer said that he felt that the 10-point program "beat the radicals to the punch. Consumer legislation is an idea whose time is about to come. Mrs. Dwyer explained the changes that had been made by Rosenthal in legislation he had introduced earlier and described her efforts to fashion a Republican posture on the subject. RMN invited Mayo to use the charts to show the present appropriations posture. If the Administration's tax program is adopted, FY70 income will be $198. 8 billion; outlays will be $192. 9 billion, and we will have a $5. 9 billion surplus. Without tax legislation, outlays will be the same, but income will be reduced so that the surplus will be only $1. 9 billion. With respect to the $192.9 spending ceiling, he listed a in GERATO the 4 number of items which threaten to pierce it. They included Congressional action or inaction, $1. 5 to 3. 5 billion; Administration initiatives, $0. 8 to 1.3 billion; credit conditions, $1 billion to 3 billion; and re-estimates, $0. 5 billion. Bow explained the status of the continuing resolution. As reported by the Com- mittee, the resolution will increase the $192. 9 spend- ing limitation by $600 million. The Cohelan amendment to fund education programs at the level voted by the House in the Appropriations Bill on July 31 would increase the spending ceiling by $1 billion rather than $600 million. Mahon called yesterday to ask him to agree that the Committee surrender to the Cohelan amendment. Herefused. Ford said that Mahon had called him this morning and from what he could learn, an agreement has been reached that the Democratic Leadership will resist the education lobby on the Cohelan amendment. Ford said that present legislative prospects make it unlikely that Congress can adjourn before Christmas Eve. He suggested that in preparation, Congress should move the January 3 date for reconvening to a date later in the month. RMN said that he was sending a letter to the Vice President expressing his alarm about the posture of the appropriation 8 bills and calling attention to the fact that unless some of the measures are approved promptly, it will be impossible to prepare the budget estimates for FY71 in time to present them to Congress in January. RICHARD H. POFF GENATE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OCTOBER 28, 1969 OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS CONFERENCE OF SENATOR HUGH SCOTT DIS 1306 send timm Bd AND CONGRESSMAN GERALD R. FORD THE ROOSEVELT ROOM AT 11:09 A.M. EST CONGRESSMAN FORD: Good morning. This morning we talked about several matters, the first of which I will discuss. I will open it up by indicating that the President is sending to the Vice President and to the Congressional Leaders a letter which will be released shortly pointing out the critical nature of the fiscal crisis that we face, primarily because of the lack of action in the Congress on appropriation bills on the one hand, and the action of the Congress in other instances increasing authorization or expenditures. The letter to the Vice President and others in the Congress will point out that as of now the President has only two of the appropriation bills out of the 13 before him; one he has signed and one undoubtedly, he will sign sometime this week. In the House of Representatives we have passed only five out of 13 appropriation bills. I cannot relate the situation in the Senate, but the net result is the action on the part of the Congress in relationship to the appropriation bills is very, very poor, probably the worst in the history of the Congress. In addition, as I indicated, the Congress, after setting an expenditure ceiling of $192.9 billion for the current fiscal year has now, on more than a number of occasions, by legislative actions, either authorizations or approprations, breached that ceiling. The consequences here, I think you can summarize this way: This is irresponsible fiscal management on the LIBRARY GERALD GERALD R. FORD part of the Congress itself. Now the problem is complicated by one other situation. The President, the Executive Branch of the Government, must submit to the Congress in early January the budget for the next fiscal year, fiscal year 1971. Of course that sizable document which you have all seen cannot be put together at the last minute. With the lack of affirmative action on the part of the Congress on fiscal 1970 budget matters, the Bureau of the Budget is in a real bind on what they ought to plan for, what they ought to suggest that the President recommend for fiscal 1971. MORE - 2 - The letter to the Vice President and others will point out the critical nature of this situation and the fiscal irresponsibility of the Congress in not acting more affirmatively and more quickly. Q Will this letter be available today? MR. ZIEGLER: It will be available in about an hour. SENATOR SCOTT: The fiscal crisis which impends is not only unprecedented but can be extremely detrimental to the family budget as well as the national budget. We are four months into the fiscal year and these continuing resolutions in all but two of the 13 appropriations represent a situation that has never occurred before in the history of this country. In other words, the budget figures are not available and yet, by statute, the Administration must go in at the beginning of the year with a budget not yet based on information which the Congress has a duty to furnish and which they have not furnished. On another matter, Mrs. Knauer discussed with the Leadership a consumer message which the President will send up sometime within the next week, and that had a very enthusiastic reception. It is a bold approach. It is extensive. It breaks new ground. It involves not only the coordination of some of the 900-odd existing activities, but will set up new institutions to deal with consumer problems. The emphasis will be on the protection of the health of the American people. This will be an entirely new approach to consumer related agencies and toward communicating directly through Mrs. Knauer as a pipe line from the consumer to the President. CONGRESSMAN FORD: There was one other matter discussed. Dr. Kissinger outlined for the Leadership the situation in reference to the SALT talks. The President and the Administration were pleased that we have now made arrangements to meet in Helsinki. The Government of the United States is better prepared to sit down and negotiate with the Soviet Union in this very critical matter. The preparation has been going on for the last six or more months and there is unanimity within the Executive Branch of the Government on our position in the wide areas that will be included in these talks. The fact that the talks are limited to arms limitations does not preclude, however, the need and necessity for broader issues to be brought in as the talks progress. Q Mr. Ford, to what do you and Senator Scott ascribe the reasons for this delay in the appropriations action? GERALD FORD LIBRARY MORE - 3 - CONGRESSMAN FORD: Quite frankly, I wish I knew the answer to that. All we know is that the Congress has not acted affirmatively, affirmatively today, for example, and certainly by the end of the month this Government could be faced with a dire fiscal situation. If the Congress takes some action that blows wide open any fiscal responsibility, and there could be some contests between the House and the Senate, it is possible -- I hope it is not true -- that there could be no authority for any branch of the Federal Government to pay its employees, because the existing continuing resolution only goes until October 31. If there is a breakdown between the House and the Senate on the one part, and any problem between the Congress and the Executive Branch on the other, there could be no authority for any payment for goods, services or employees after October 31. SENATOR SCOTT: Or salaries of Congressmen, for that matter. Q Would you propose that the House and Senate meet around the clock in day and night sessions, at least not have this Thursday-Tuesday absenteeism, to correct the situation? CONGRESSMAN FORD: Let me say I wholeheartedly agree with the observation you have made. I think the Congress from now until we adjourn ought to be on a minimum of five days a week and hopefully a six-day week, with longer sessions each and every day. I think this is needed and necessary and in the public interest. SENATOR SCOTT: I would like to explain some of your question as to why we have held up. The Congress has not passed a number of authorization bills and, therefore, the Appropriations Committee cannot act on that particular matter, like the independent offices, there are three authorization bills not yet acted upon. Q On the SALT talks, what did you have in mind when you spoke of extending it to other problems? CONGRESSMAN FORD: In addition to the arms limitations problems, there are a number of political issues involving the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union. I don't think you can totally disassociate the two. Although the specific purpose of the SALT talks is to try and find a workable way to limit arms, the whole atmosphere between the United States and the Soviet Union depends on a number of other more or less political problems. I think the progress in one area has to be related to the progress in the other. Q Mr. Ford, did you talk about Vietnam this morning? GERALD LIBRARY FORD MORE - 4 - CONGRESSMAN FORD: The President did in this context: The President said that it would be unwise for any one of us or the nation as a whole to speculate on what he was going to say in his speech to the American people on November 3. 0 Did he say what he was not going to say? CONGRESSMAN FORD: The President just urged us all not to speculate on the content of that speech, except it would be a broad and comprehensive review of our situation in Vietnam. 0 Was he chastizing Senator Scott? CONGRESSMAN FORD: No, I don't think he was chastizing anybody. He was just telling us that the speech would be significant, comprehensive, but urged us not to speculate on the content. SENATOR SCOTT: Senator Scott stands on his own feet on these matters, and I think I have made my views clear. I think all of you will be terribly interested in the November 3 speech. I imagine you will watch it. I have full confidence that the American people will find it very reassuring. It will not only be a comprehensive review of the whole policy in Vietnam, as Congressman Ford has said, but will discuss "Where do we go from here?" I have no area of disagreement with that. Q Congressman Ford, can you list for us some of the spending increases which the Administration opposes and is it your belief that the President will not spend this money; that the Congress is just passing these increases, and the President will put this money in escrow? CONGRESSMAN FORD: The one specific legislative proposal that the President has indicated strong opposition to is the $1.5 billion pay increase legislation which went through the House, the $1.5 billion for this fiscal year, and $4.5 billion for subsequent fiscal years. That is the one where he has quite clearly indicated his opposition. There is no other specific bill that the White House has indicated its opposition to, as such. But there was a list of measures that show the add-on of the Congress and authoriza- tion and appropriations which I suspect would be made available from the Bureau of the Budget, if all of you are interested. Q Congressman Ford, who is to blame for this so- called fiscal irresponsibility on the part of Congress? CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think the Congress is in a very paradoxical situation. They talk about a spending limitation on the one hand, and then they succumb to the preasures of various groups who want the Federal Government to spend more than either former President Johnson or President Nixon have advocated in a wide range of spending areas. I think the Congress is unfortunately in the position -- and I regret it very much -- of talking about saving on the one hand, and then spending on the other. Congress has to realize that if we are going to get out of the fiscal mess we are in, we have to be consistent and that means a spending limitation. FORD & BERALD LIBRARY MORE - 5 - Q Congressman Ford, did you, in this review this morning, have any reason to believe, or was there any mention that there will be a breakdown in the passage of a continuing resolution going beyond the one that we have now? CONGRESSMAN FORD: Well, it is very possible that because of the conflict between the House and the Senate, the potential conflict between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch, that we may not have an extension of the existing continuing resolution. This would have tragic consequences. Q This is the crisis you speak of? CONGRESSMAN FORD: That is correct. Q If there is a failure to pass the continuing resolution and the Government is out of money --- CONGRESSMAN FORD: The Government is not out of money, it just cannot spend the money. The point was made, and I think it is a very valid one, that this long delay where we are four months in the fiscal year with only two appropriations bills on the President's deak, there is ample evidence that this delay, this lack of action by the Congress, is adding to the cost of Government. It was estimated by one of the knowledgeable people in the meeting this morning that this delay, this uncertainty -- I say irresponsibility -- is adding about two percent a year to the cost of Government. If you take a $200 billion budget, two percent of that is $4 billion a year. That certainly is something that we ought to find a better answer to than just going through the motions like we are. MORE -6- Q Has the continuing resolution been introduced? CONGRESSMAN FORD: Yes. The House Committee on Appropriations has recommended a continuing resolution which is on the Floor of the House at Noon today and there will be an effort made by some to add some $600 million to it which will again in part blow the lid off of the spending limitation which Congress has previously approved. As I understand it, there is serious opposition in the Senate to this kind of action by the House because if the House does this and they force it through the Senate, it means that the House has pre-empted the right of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate itself to determine what the spending should be in a very important area of our Federal budget. Q Mr. Ford, you suggested a couple of weeks ago that it is the Democrats who are dragging their feet. Do you still feel that way? CONGRESSMAN FORD: Certainly in the enactment of appropriation bills the record is crystal clear. This is not exclusively the problem of the Appropriations Committee because in many, many instances there is no affirmative action on authorization bills. Let me give you several examples: In the case of Foreign Aid, the authorizing committee in the House has not yet completed its mark-up on the Foreign Aid Bill, much less action either in the House or Senate. In the case of the Military Procurement Bill the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are in conference now. But you cannot bring out the appropriations bill until there is some action on the authorization. So you cannot point out the Committee on Appropriations. I think the Congress as a whole is at fault and for that reason I think we ought to move to a five day at the minimum and possibly six days a week session. Q We have been told again and again that the President thinks it is unwise for the press or the Congress to speculate on his November 3rd speech. Has he explained why he doesn't want the speculation? Does he feel it will raise expectations to the point they cannot be satisfied? What harm does it do to speculate, in the President's opinion? CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think it is more important to get the facts and the program from the man who has the GERALD LIBRARY FORD responsibility for the implementation and execution of our policy in Vietnam. For that reason, I think he is cautioning us not to speculate. Q What harm does it do? CONGRESSMAN FORD: Let me put it the other way: What good does it do? I don't think it does any good because on some occasions it might raise false hopes and on the other it might mislead the enemy as to what the President might say. MORE -7- Overall, I think it is better to wait until the Commander in Chief makes this report to 200 million Americans. Q Would you say this is a breakdown in leadership of the House Members on the Committees as well as the House Majority? CONGRESSMAN FORD: I think the Congress. as a whole must share the blame. Q Republicans, too? CONGRESSMAN FORD: Although we don't control the mechanisms, because we are in the minority, I think all of us, Democrats and Republicans, ought to put our noses to the grindstone and get this legislative program, that recommended by the President, to the desk of the President for his affirma- tive action. Q Congressman Ford, did the time taken by the Administration in revising the budget contribute at all to this delay? CONGRESSMAN FORD: To a very minor degree, and I think the President, in his letter to the Vice President and to the Leaders, indicates that if there is any blame on the part of the White House, they are willing to accept it, but the time has come now for joint action. It is the same attitude the President took in his message to the Congress a week ago Monday where he said, forget about who is to blame, let's get the job done. Q Are you saying in the SALT talks that the U. S. will bring up political issues at the outset? CONGRESSMAN FORD: As I understand it those talks will be specifically limited to the disarmament problems. But you cannot help but have these other political problems that are involved between the United States and the Soviet Union in the overall picture. Q Whose idea is this, though, Congressman? Is it the President's idea to expand the SALT talks? CONGRESSMAN FORD: No. It is just that I think we have to be mature enough to understand that all issues have to be kept in proper perspective. The arms talks are limited to that but there are other areas of disagreement that ought to be continuously discussed between the Soviet Union and us. Q Does the President envision this type of LIBRARY GERALD FORD dialogue? CONGRESSMAN FORD: Yes, I think the President expects to continue the dialogue with the Soviet Union as to their involvement in Vietnam, as to their interest in the Middle East, as to their interest in all other parts of the world. Q At Helsinki? SENATOR SCOTT: Not necessarily there. This might occur at other places. MORE -8- Q Are you suggesting that progress towards the arms limitations will depend on progress in other areas such as the Middle East? CONGRESSMAN FORD: Not necessarily, but this dialogue will go on at all times. Q There has been a great deal of caution on the part of Secretary Rogers on his pronouncements on this, both in New York when he met with Gromyko and since that, to take extreme care about any speculation about a political negotiating dialogue as they relate to the disarmament talks and his caution there? As he g.ve it to us, and these were on-the-record state- ments, was to the effect that any suggestion that we might enlarge these things or might take on a political discussion would leave both sides vulnerable to suspect the other of making a propaganda machine of it. CONGRESSMAN FORD: I thought I was crystal clear in saying that the talks at Helsinki would be on arms matters. But on the whole spectrum of what we have, the Middle East and Vietnam will continue to be on the agenda of both Governments. Q Did Judge Haynsworth's chances come up today and if so, how do you reckon them? SENATOR SCOTT: They were not discussed. Now, on the arms limitations matter -- (Laughter.) I think the President makes a very good point and that is that this Administration is not beginning these talks from a concrete, fixed, immovable position, but that there are a number of basic positions which the Administration has, which it has cleared with its allies and associaters with which the Joint Chiefs of Staff are familiar, and therefore the possibility of success which we urgently want is at least to a degree helped by the fact that 90 percent of the time can be spent in negotiating with the Russians rather than to lose SO much time as we have in past talks of this kind negotiating with ourselves. Q Senator Scott, you said that the delay in Congressional action on the appropriations bills would affect not only the Federal Budget, but the household budget. Could you be a little more specific as to how this will happen? SENATOR SCOTT: Certainly, because the delay, for example, on the extension of the surtax, the delay in the tax relief reform bill, the delay involving a further loss to the Government, the 2 percent variation in forecasts which Mr. Ford mentioned, all of these things contribute to inflationary pressures, all of these things make more difficult the holding down of the cost of living and therefore, do have a direct impact on the household budget. Q Senator Scott, have you told the President how you are going to vote on the Haynsworth nomination? GERALD LIBRARY FORD SENATOR SCOTT: And as I said, they do have a direct impact on the household budget. (Laughter.) Q Senator Scott, have you told the President how you are going to vote on the Haynsworth matter? SENATOR SCOTT: As I said, they do have a direct effect on the household budget. (Laughter.) END (AT 11:34 A.M. EST) 91st Congress, 1st Session STATUS OF REGULAR APPROPRIATION BILLS as of October 27, 1969 Reported Passed Reported Passed Conference Enrolled P.L. No. to House House to Senate Senate report bill and date Regular 1970 appropriation bills: Agriculture and Related 5-23 5-27 6-25 7-7 Defense District of Columbia Foreign Assistance and Related Independent Offices and HUD. 6-19 6-24 Interior and Related 7-10 7-22 9-18 9-22 10-14 10-15 Labor-HEW and Related 7-24 7-31 Legislative Branch 9-11 9-19 10-16 10-21 Military Construction Public Works, etc. and AEC 10-2 10-8 State, Justice, Commerce, Judiciary, and Related 7-21 7-24 Transportation Treasury, Post Office, and Executive Office 5-22 5-27 6-25 6-30 9-18 9-19 P.L. 91-74 9-29-69 FORD & LIBRARY HOUSE ACTION, PERIOD OCTOBER 14 THROUGH OCTOBER 27, 1969 Tuesday, October 14, 1969 FEDERAL SALARY COMPARABILITY ACT RULE (OPEN) H.Res.576 was adopted by a voice vote, to provide for two hours of debate. PASSAGE By a record vote of 311 yeas to 51 nays, with 1 voting "present", the House passed H.R. 13000, to implement the Federal employee pay comparability system, to establish a Federal Employee Salary Commission and a Board of Arbitration. Prior to passage, by a record vote of 191 yeas to 169 nays, the House agreed to the Gross amendment that requires that Congress take affirmative action on Federal Salary Commission recommenda- tions on congressional pay increases, and also deletes retro- activity provisions (agreed to earlier while in the Committee of the Whole by a teller vote of 65 yeas to 51 nays.) RECOMMIT The House rejected the Gross motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service by a record vote of 81 yeas to 281 nays, with 1 voting "present". Wednesday, October 15, 1969 VIETNAM MORATORIUM RESOLUTION Mr. Kastenmeier's objection was heard to a unanimous-consent request for consideration of H.Res.582, relating to demonstrations for peace. COINAGE ACT RULE (OPEN) The House passed H.Res.574 by a voice vote, to provide for two hours of debate. HABRARY - 2 - COINAGE ACT (Continued) PASSAGE By a record vote of 276 yeas to 65 nays, the House passed H.R. 14127, to carry out the recommendations of the Joint Commission on the Coinage. Prior to passage, the House agreed by a voice vote to the Casey amendment that provides that the reserve side of the Eisenhower dollar coin contain a design which is symbolic of the Eagle of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. Also prior to passage, the House agreed by a voice vote to the Sullivan amendment that provides for the Secretary of the Treasury to mint proof coins from such metals or alloys as he deems appropriate. RECOMMIT By a voice vote, the House rejected a motion by Mr. McClure to recommit the bill to the Committee on Banking and Currency with instructions to report it back containing provisions for the use of silver in minting. Thursday, October 16, 1969 EXPORT CONTROL ACT RULE (OPEN) The House adopted H.Res.575 by a voice vote to provide for one hour of debate. PASSAGE By a record vote of 272 yeas to 7 nays, the House passed 1.4293, to provide for continuation of authority for regulation of exports. Prior to passage, the House agreed by a voice vote to the Brown of Michigan amendment designed to broaden the language of the act to include "information" and "technology" in addition to "material" as items which if not restricted in export could adversely affect the national security. Also prior to passage, the House agreed to another Brown of Michigan amendment by a voice vote, that would alter the authority conferred on the President in the Export Control Act of 1949 by requiring the President in regulating exports to take into consideration the availability of a commodity from other nations with whom we have defense treaty commitments. GLNALD CUC - 3 - EXPORT CONTROL ACT (Continued) RECOMMIT By a voice vote, the House rejected the motion by Mr. Wylie to recommit the bill to the Committee on Banking and Currency. GUARANTEED STUDENT LOANS By a record vote of 326 yeas to 10 nays, the House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 13194, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize Federal market adjustment payments to lenders with respect to insured student loans when necessary in the light of economic conditions, in order to assure that students will have reasonable access to such loans for financing their education. Thus the measure was cleared for the White House. PEACE CORPS ACT By a voice vote, the House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 11039, to amend further the Peace Corps Act (75 Stat. 612) as amended, and sent the measure to the Senate for further action. Monday, October 20, 1969 CONSENT CALENDAR SUSPENSIONS (2 BILLS) By a voice vote, the House passed H.R. 14030, to extend the authority to transfer peanut acreage allotments. By a record vote of 311 yeas to 12 nays, the House passed H.R. 14195, the Federal Contested Election Act. Tuesday, October 21, 1969 D. C. REVENUE The House disagreed to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 12982, to provide additional revenue for the District of Columbia, and agreed to a conference asked by the Senate. Appointed as conferees were Representatives McMillan, Abernethy, Dowdy, Cabell, Nelsen, Harsha, Broyhill of Virginia, and Hogan. CLEAN AIR ACT GERALD LISBURY FORD The House insisted on its amendment to S.2276, the Clean Air Act, to extend for one year the authroization for research relating to fuels and vehicles under the provisions of the Clean Air Act, and agreed to a conference asked by the Senate. Appointed as conferees were Representatives Staggers, Jarman, Rogers of Florida, Satterfield, Springer, Nelsen, and Carter. - 4 - HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACT RULE (OPEN) By a voice vote, the House adopted H.Res.580, to provide for three hours of debate. Wednesday, October 22, 1969 HOUS ING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACT Continued The House continued consideration of H.R. 13927, relating to housing and urban development. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AUTHORIZATION The House insisted on its amendments to S.1857, to authorize appro- priations for activities of the National Science Foundation pursuant to Public Law 81-507, as amended, and agreed to a conference requested by the Senate. Appointed as conferees were Representatives Miller of California, Daddario, Davis of Georgia, Brown of California, Fulton of Pennsylvania, Bell and Mosher. GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT COMMISSION The House disagreed to the amendments of the Senate to H.R.474, to establish a Commission of Government Procurement, and asked for a conference with the Senate. Appointed as conferees were Representa- tives Holifield, St. Germain, and Horton. Thursday, October 23, 1969 SAVINGS BONDS The House considered by unanimous consent and passed by a voice vote, H.R. 14020, to amend the Second Liberty Bond Act to increase the maximum interest rate permitted on United States Savings Bonds. CHILD PROTECTION ACT The House agreed to the conference report on S.1689, to amend the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to protect children from toys and other articles intended for use by children which are hazardous due to the presence of electrical, mechanical, or thermal hazards, and returned the measure to the Senate for further action. GERALD FORD LIBRATT - 5 - LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS The House disagreed to the amendments of the Senate to H.R. 13762, making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, and agreed to a conference asked by the Senate. Appointed as conferees were Representatives Andrews of Alabama, Steed, Kirwan, Yates, Casey, Mahon, Andrews of North Dakota, Langen, Reifel, Wyman and Bow. A privileged motion was ordered that the conferees on behalf of the House be instructed to support the position of the Senate on Senate amendment No. 251, regarding funding for the west front of the Capitol. Subsequently, a preferential motion was made to lay on the table the motion to instruct conferees (agreed to by a record vote of 199 yeas to 165 nays.) HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACT Continued PASSAGE By a record vote of 339 year to 9 nays, with } voting "present" the House passed 11. R. 13827, to amend and extend laws relating to housing and urban development. Prior to passage, on a request for a separate vote, the House agreed to the Anderson of Illinois amendment that directs the Secretary of HUD that there will be no restructions or restraints on use of new technology in home construct except where such restraint is necessary to insure safety and healthful working conditions (agreed to earlier while in the committee of the whole by a teller vote of 130 yeas to 93 nays). Also prior to passage, on a request for a separate vote, the House agreed to the Teague of Texas amendment to the committee amendment (extends until October 1971 the authority of the VA Administrator to set maximum interest rates of veteran loans), and the Brock amendment to the committee amendment (extends until October 1971 the authority of the Administrator of FHA to establish interest rates on FHA loans) agreed to by a division vote of 163 yeas to 43 nays. RECOMMTT The House agreed by a division vote of 116 yeas to 92 nays, to the Weicker motion to recommit the bill with instructions to report it back with language that provides for construction of an equal number of dwellings as have been removed in urban renewal projects. GERALD FORM - 6 - Monday, October 27, 1969 DISTRICT DAY (5 BILLS) The House passed the following bills by voice votes: H.R.13837 To amend Healing Arts Practice Act H.R.12673 To authorize blood banks to transfer blood couponents H.R.9257 To amend the laws with respect to the parking or storage of motor vehicles H.R.13564 To eliminate straw party deeds in joint tenancies H.R.13565 To validate certain deeds improperly acknowledged or executed FEDERAL COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT RULE (OPEN) The House agreed to H.Res.854 by a voice vot.e, to provide for three hours of debate. The House began general debate on H.R.13950, the Federal Coal Mine Health Safety Act of 1969. Upon conclusion of general debate, the bill was read for amendment. Tuesday and Balance of Week H..l.Res. Making continuing appropriations for FY 1970 H.R.13950 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (continue consideration under 5 minute rule) H.R.14001 Selective Service Amendment Act of 1969 (open rule - four hours of debate) H.R.14252 Drug Abuse Education Act of 1969 (subject to a rule being granted) H.R.4244 Pertaining to the Administrative Conference of the United States (open rule - one hour of debate) GERALD LIBRASY FORD MINORITY LEADER United States house of Representatives Bob/queenil this at about 4P.M. 079530 Fil with nita THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON October 28, 1969 Dear Congressman Ford: My great respect and regard for the leadership of the Congress and of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees make me extremely reluctant to send this letter. I must, however, call attention to an impending crisis in the handling of the Nation's financial affairs. We are already almost four months into the new fiscal year. Only the second appropriation bill has come to me for signature. Authorizing legislation still lags. For the country the situation is fast becoming intolerable. The Executive Branch has already begun the preparation of the 1971 budget. Under the law, this budget must be submitted in January. It must be completed, there- fore, in December. But unless the Congressional pace is sharply accelerated, it is clear that many appropri- ation bills will not pass in time for Federal agencies to assemble the voluminous details necessary to meet the budget deadlines. To array and print the vast amount of technical detail required by the Congress in time to meet this schedule, Congressional action on appropriation bills must be substantially completed within the next few weeks. If this is not done, it may be impossible for me to trans- mit the 1971 budget in January. The Nation clearly has a right to question a Government which cannot conduct its financial affairs in an effi- cient manner. I urgently request your cooperation, therefore, in securing swift action by the Congress on the pending 1970 appropriation bills. Otherwise we will be frustrated in our efforts to move ahead efficiently on the 1971 budget. 1020 2 I write in this vein neither to criticize the Congress for delay nor to exonerate the Executive Branch for delay. At this critical point in the appropriations and budgetary process I am less interested in why we are where we are than I am in where we now seem to be headed. I am confident that you share these concerns. This same letter is being sent to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, the Majority and Minority Leaders of both Houses, and the Chairmen and senior Minority Members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. Sincerely, Richard Mifor Honorable Gerald R. Ford Minority Leader House of Representatives Washington, D.C. FORD & LIBRARY 076833 THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON October 28, 1969 Dear Congressman Ford: My great respect and regard for the leadership of the Congress and of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees make me extremely reluctant to send this letter. I must, however, call attention to an impending crisis in the handling of the Nation's financial affairs. We are already almost four months into the new fiscal year. Only the second appropriation bill has come to me for signature. Authorizing legislation still lags. For the country the situation is fast becoming intolerable. The Executive Branch has already begun the preparation of the 1971 budget. Under the law, this budget must be submitted in January. It must be completed, there- fore, in December. But unless the Congressional pace is sharply accelerated, it is clear that many appropri- ation bills will not pass in time for Federal agencies to assemble the voluminous details necessary to meet the budget deadlines. To array and print the vast amount of technical detail required by the Congress in time to meet this schedule, Congressional action on appropriation bills must be substantially completed within the next few weeks. If this is not done, it may be impossible for me to trans- mit the 1971 budget in January. The Nation clearly has a right to question a Government which cannot conduct its financial affairs in an effi- cient manner. I urgently request your cooperation, therefore, in securing swift action by the Congress on the pending 1970 appropriation bills. Otherwise we will be frustrated in our efforts to move ahead efficiently on the 1971 budget. CORD LIBRARY 2 I write in this vein neither to criticize the Congress for delay nor to exonerate the Executive Branch for delay. At this critical point in the appropriations and budgetary process I am less interested in why we are where we are than I am in where we now seem to be headed. I am confident that you share these concerns. This same letter is being sent to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, the Majority and Minority Leaders of both Houses, and the Chairmen and senior Minority Members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees. Sincerely, Honorable Gerald R. Ford Minority Leader House of Representatives Washington, D.C. MINORITY LEADER United States House of Representatives Rob/Reaml. at about liDD P.M. not helpful GERALD LIGAREY R.FORD HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE REA MELIVERE DEPARTMENT ONE WASHINGTON, D. C. 20201 OCT 28 1969 Honorable Gerald R. Ford House of Representatives Washington, D. C. Dear M Darry Day This is in response to your request for clarification of the Administration's views on proposed Continuing Resolutions to authorize spending for education programs at the increased rate voted by the House in HEW's Departmental appropriation bill. The President has stated repeatedly that he will not permit Federal expenditures in 1970 to exceed a total of $192.9 billion for the Government as a whole. He has also emphasized that he will not consider the question of Congressional increases over the budget until action on all appropriations bills is completed. These two firm positions should make it clear that whatever action Congress takes, the President's policy would not permit an immediate decision to spend over the budget. Sincerely, Secretary FORD it 070839 LIBRARY HEALTH. EDUCATION SECTION THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE WASHINGTON. D.C. 20201 U.S.A. OCT 28 1969 Honorable Gerald R. Ford House of Representatives Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Ford: This is in response to your request for clarification of the Administration's views on proposed Continuing Resolutions to authorize spending for education programs at the increased rate voted by the House in HEW's Departmental appropriation bill. The President has stated repeatedly that he will not permit Federal expenditures in 1970 to exceed a total of $192.9 billion for the Government as a whole. He has also emphasized that he will not consider the question of Congressional increases over the budget until action on all appropriations bills is completed. These two firm positions should make it clear that whatever action Congress takes, the President's policy would not permit an immediate decision to spend over the budget. Sincerely, Bob Secretary