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
7346346
label
Memorandum of disapproval from the President on S. 2081 [Veto Statements and Announcements]
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
7346346
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Memorandum of disapproval from the President on S. 2081 [Veto Statements and Announcements]
citationUrl
collections
White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
subjects
U.S. Senate. (03/04/1789 - )
Legislation
Vetoes
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
7346346
levelOfDescription
item
productionDates
day
20
logicalDate
1976-10-20
month
10
year
1976
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
742daa055ee3105a
ocrText
Digitized from Box 33 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 20, 1976
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
MEMORANDUM OF DISAPPROVAL
I am withholding my approval from S. 2081, the
"Agricultural Resources Conservation Act of 1976."
S. 2081 would have required the Federal Government --
the Soil Conservation Service of the Department of
Agriculture -- to appraise the land, water and related
resources of the Nation, and to develop a plan and administer
a program for the use of private and non-Federal lands.
I have several objections to S. 2081. The bill would
set the stage for the creation of a large and costly bureau-
cracy to "cooperate" with State and local governments and
private landowners in an attempt to insure land use in
compliance with the master plan. Too often Federal
"cooperation" -- when accompanied by vast amounts of Federal
dollars and a large bureaucracy -- becomes Federal "direction."
I am not opposed to providing technical assistance to
those who need it. The Federal Government, including the Soil
Conservation Service, already does a great deal in the manage-
ment and protection of our natural resources. My 1977 budget
proposal called for outlays in excess of $11 billion for these
programs. Included in that amount is over $400 million for the
very program administered by the Soil Conservation Service
to which this bill is directed.
In addition, the bill would subject the President's
statement of policy -- a document that would be used in
framing Executive Branch budget requests for this program --
to a 60-day review period during which either House of Congress
may disapprove the statement of policy by simple resolution.
This would be contrary to the general principle of separation
of power whereby Congress enacts laws but the President and
the agencies of government execute them. Furthermore, it
would violate Article I, section 7 which requires that
resolutions having the force of law be sent to the President
for his signature or veto.
In summary, S. 2081 would violate the principles of
fiscal responsibility, minimum Federal regulation, separation
of powers, and constitutional government, and accordingly,
I withhold my approval.
GERALD R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE,
October 19, 1976.
#####