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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
4526413
label
Fifth Annual Public Affairs Conference, American Institute of Architects and Consulting Engineers Council of the U.S., March 13, 1972
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
4526413
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Fifth Annual Public Affairs Conference, American Institute of Architects and Consulting Engineers Council of the U.S., March 13, 1972
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
subjects
Economics
Housing
Labor disputes
Legislation
Revenue sharing
iiifBase
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
4526413
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1972-03-31
month
3
year
1972
coverageStartDate
logicalDate
1972-03-01
month
3
year
1972
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
url
mediaId
278343ee1a71aa6c
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box D32, folder "Fifth Annual Public Affairs
Conference, American Institute of Architects and Consulting Engineers Council of the
U.S., March 13, 1972" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File
at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D32 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD AT THE FIFTH ANNUAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE OF
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS AND THE CONSULTING ENGINEERS COUNCIL OF THE U.S.,
8:50 A.M., MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1972, AT THE STREET STATLER HILTON HOTEL.
M Office Copy
If my friend Hale Boggs looks gloomy this morning, it's probably because
unemployment dropped 0.2 of a point in February to the howest point INT in 16
months. What's good news for the rest of us is bad news in Hale's book.
I might follow up that comment by saying I expect unemployment to dropt to
5 per cent or less by the end of 1972, and I believe we will see a 9 per cent rise
in Gro SS National Product this year--6 per cent of that as real growth and the
other 3 per cent in inflation.
The economy will be an issue in the 1972 campaign, of course, and I am not
afrawid of the judgment of the American people on that score.
Speaking of issues, Democrats in the House recently made clear that crippling
Atrihen
strikes in transportation will be one of the major issues of the fall campaign.
As you mayknew know, a House Commerce Committee subcommittee recently killed
for this year legislation to prevent crippling strikes in transportation. The
subcommittee vote was 6 to 5, with all of the Democratic members of the subcommittee
butmm one voting to kill the legislation.
In my view, that vote NNN did great injury to the Nation, and Republicans XX
will be constantly reminding the voters of that fact this fall.
The vote on the crippling strikes prevention legislation points up the fact
that all of the major Administration measuresm the Democrats refuse to enact will
become prominent issues in the 1972 campaign. The Democrats will, of course,
move and approve a number of the President's proposals.
Significantly, the Senate on March 2 approved an omnibus housing bill which
FORD
includes a form of the President's urban community special revenue sharing plan.
LIBRARY
The bill consolidates the Nation's housing, home subsidy and water and sewage
-2-
programs into one huge fund. The vote on the gilbi bill was almost unamimous-80 to 1.
The Senate went off somewhat on a tangent, giving Washington more control over
how the money is spent that the President has proposed. I predict that the House
will approve anspendent urban community development special revenue sharing plan
which is much closer to the Presidment's desires.
As you know, under special revenue sharing for community development we lump
together into one block grant the present separate grants for urban renewal, neighbor-
hood development, water and sewer assistance, neighborhood facilities, open space,
public works, land acquisition and others.
Indications are that the block grants for all of these programs will be between
$2 and $3 billion a year, to take effect beginning ** July 1, 1973. This will allow
for* the necessary tr ansition period.
This change in direction is a most healthy development in Federal, state and
local relations. As Federal urban development programs have grown, local counterpart
bureaucracies have popped up, many of them operating outside the control of elected
local officials. This is a fragmentation of local effort. It has made it difficult
for IME local governments to focus in proper priority sequence on the pubproblems
needing the most time and money. At the same time, local efforts have become
entagngled in the delays and distortions that result from submitting applications
for Federal aid.
Under special revenue sharing, cities will have a relatively free hand in x
deciding how to use Federal community development funds. Local officials will decide
how much to spend and on what. The bureaucrats' hold on City Hall will be broken.
I see Community Development special XWYNSH revenue sharing as a precise and direct
solution for the problèms now plaguing our system of urban aid.
-3-
Youkawa have heard much in the past about general revenue sharing-alloting BNK
our states and cities a definite percentage slice of Federal income tax revenue on a
largely no-strings-attached basis. Chances now are good that we will be making XSx
$5 billion or more a year available on the this basis to free local programs from
the red tape which now obstructs them. Prospects for passage of general revenue
sharing are quite bright now that House Ways and Maans Chairman Wilbur Mills has
introduced a will general revenue sharing bill which goes about 80 per cent
of the way with the President.
I believe there is also a good chance we will get some kind of health care
legislation thisy year. The President recently made a fresh pitch for this
legislation. Ways and Means will be tak ing up the health c are bills in executive
session after disposing of general revenue sharing. If we do not get sound health
care legislation this year, thisd will be an issue in the fall campaign.
We can also expect this year some kind of welfare reform legislation, a sizable
increased in Social Security benefits, consumer protection on warranties, the
creation of a consumer advocacy agency, increased aid for colleges and universities,
and a multi-billion-dollar program aimed at fighting waterpxpem pollution.
Pension reform is a strong candidate for legislative honors this year but it
is questionable whether there will be sufficient time to get a bill through both
houses.
As for an increase in the minimum wage, Mr. Boggs ist in a better position than
I am to predict the future of that legislationbecause it is a senior member of his
party who is kin keeping the House Education and Labor Committee's minimum wage bill
bottled up.
To sum up, then, this promises to be a fairly preductive session of Congress.
#####
REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD AT THE FIFTH ANNUAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE OF
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS AND THE CONSULTING ENGINEERS COUNCIL OF THE U.S.,
8:50 A.M., MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1972, AT THE STREET STATIER HILTON HOTEL.
M Office Copy
If my friend Hale Boggs looks gloomy this morning, it's probably because
unemployment dropped 0.2 of a point in February to the Rowest point int in 16
months. What's good news for the rest of us is bad news in Hale's book.
I might follow up that comment by saying I expect unemployment to dropt to
5 per cent or less by the end of 1972, and I believe we will see a 9 per cent rise
in Gro SS National Product this year-6 per cent of that as real growth and the
other 3 per cent in inflation.
The economy will be an issue in the 1972 campaign, of course, and I am not
afrawid of the judgment of the American people on that score.
Speaking of issues, Democrats in the House recently made clear that erippling
Atrikes
strikes in transportation will be one of the major issues of the fall campaign.
As you mayknew know, a House Commerce Committee subcommittee recently killed
for this year legislation to prevent crippling strikes in transportation. The
subcommittee vote was 6 to 5, with all of the Democratic members of the subcommittee
butmu one voting to kill the legislation.
In my view, that vote NEW did great injury to the Nation, and Republicans XX
will be constantly reminding the voters of that fact this fall.
The vote on the crippling strikes prevention legislation points up the fact
that all of the major Administration measuresm the Democrats refuse to enact will
become prominent issues in the 1972 campaign.
The Democrats will, of course,
move and approve a number of the President's proposals.
Significantly, the Senate on March 2 approved an omnibus housing bill which
FORD
includes a form of the President's urban community special revenue sharing plan.
LIBRARY
The bill consolidates the Nation's housing, home subsidy and water and sewage
-2-
programs into one huge fund. The vote on the giiki bill was almost unamimous--80 to 1.
The Senate went off somewhat on a tangent, giving Washington more control over
how the money is spent that the President has proposed. I predict that the House
will approve urban community development special revenue sharing plan
which is much cleser to the Presiduent's desires.
As you know, under special revenue sharing for community development we lump
together into one block grant the present separate grants for urbanrenewal, neighbor-
hood development, water and sewer assistance, neighborhood facilities, open space,
public works, land acquisition and others.
Indications are that the block grants for all of these programs will be between
$2 and $3 billion a year, to take effect beginning ** July 1, 1973. This will allow
fort the necessary transition period.
This change in direction is a most healthy development in Federal, state and
local relations. As Federal urban development programs have grown, local counterpart
bureaucracies have popped up, many of them operating outside the control of elected
local officials. This is a fragmentation of local effort. It has made it difficult
for bus local governments to focus in proper priority sequence on the paimproblems
needing the most time and money. At the same time, local efforts have become
entagngled in the delays and distortions that result from submitting applications
for Federal aid.
Under special revenue sharing, cities will have a relatively free hand in xx
deciding how to use Federal community development funds. Local officials will decide
how much to spend and on whate The bureaucrats' hold on City Hall will be broken.
I see Community Development special THERSE revenue sharing as a precise and direct
solution for the problèms now plaguing our system of urban aid.
Youkums have heard much in the past about general revenue sharing-alloting nuk
our states and cities a definite percentage slice of Federal income tax revenue on a
largely no-strings-attached basis. Chances now are good that we will be making $Ex
$5 billion or more a year available on tis this basis to ree local programs from
the red tape which now obstructs them. Prospects for passage of general revenue
sharing are quite bright now that House Ways and Maans Chairman Wilbur Mills has
introduced a will general revenue sharing bill which goes about Extixper 80 per cent
of the way with the President.
I believe there is also a good chance we mill get some kind of health care
legislation thisy year. The President recently made a fresh pitch for this
legislation. Ways and Means will be taking up the health are bills in executive
session after disposing of general revenue sharing. If we do not get sound health
care legislation this year, thisd will be an issue in the fall campaign.
We can also expect this year some kind of welfare reform legislation, a sizable
increasets in Social Security benefits, consumer protection on warranties, the
creation of a consumer advocacy agency, increased aid for colleges and universities,
and a multi-billion-dollar program aimed at fighting waterpxpmm pollution.
Pension reform is a strong candidate for legislative honors this year but it
is questionable whether there will be sufficient time to got a bill through both
houses.
As for an increase in the minámum wage, Mr. Boggs ist in a better position than
I am to predict the future of that legislationbecause it is a senior member of his
party who is kin keeping the House Education and Labor Committee's minimum wage bill
bottled up.
To sum up, then, this promises to be a fairly preductive session of Congress.
#####