EXTENSION OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC WORKS UNTIL JULY 1, 1939 JUNE 4, 1937.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. WOODRUM, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 7363] The Committee on Appropriations, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 7363) to continue the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works for two years, and for other purposes, report it favorably without amendment. The Public Works Administration, under authority of existing law, expires on June 30, 1937. It will have on that date, in an incomplete status, a number of Federal and non-Federal projects which have been undertaken heretofore pursuant to authorization of law. In addition, there are pending applications for grants or for loans and grants for non-Federal projects for which the respective States or local communities have held elections for bond issues and are prepared to proceed with when the Federal grant is available. The accompanying bill extends the life of the Public Works Administration for a period of 2 years, or until July 1, 1939, and changes from July 1, 1938, to July 1, 1939, the requirement of existing law as the date prior to which a project must be substantially completed. The bill also extends all provisions of existing law relating to the availability of existing funds for carrying out the functions of the Public Works Administration until July 1, 1939. The present law authorizes the Public Works Administration, upon the direction of the President, to use not to exceed $300,000,000 from moneys realized from the sale of securities for the making of further grants. The bill increases this limitation and authority to $340,000,000. The Independent Offices Appropriation Act of 1938 makes not to exceed $10,000,000 of such funds received from the sale of securities available for the payment of administrative expenses in the fiscal year 1938, and the accompanying bill makes provision for not to exceed $3,000,000 additional for administrative expenses made necessary by the increase in the amount for grants which may be made under the provisions of this bill. Under the provisions of existing law, the Public Works Administration, as of May 31, 1937, had, from all funds, other than the revolving fund, a total unallotted appropriation of $1,523,313.84. In addition, there was available in the revolving fund, for grant allotments for non-Federal projects, a total unallocated sum of $94,844,706, making a grand total of funds available for allotment to projects of $96,368,019.84. As of May 27, 1937, the Public Works Administration had applications for grants totaling $132,000,000. This sum includes nonFederal projects where elections had been held and bond issues authorized by the applicants. It also includes a list of school projects deemed hazardous to the lives of students which were submitted in response to Senate Resolution 97. The total of $132,000,000 involved in these applications, plus $3,000,000 for administrative expenses, makes an amount of $135,000,000 and deducting from this figure the unallocated sum of $95,000,000 in the revolving fund, makes a net additional requirement of $40,000,000 needed for grants if all of these projects are able to qualify. The committee, therefore, in connection with this bill, has increased the amount which may be used for grants under existing law from $300,000,000 to $340,000,000. Under the law as extended, no grant can exceed 45 percent of the estimated cost of the project, and the entire grant amount and procedure will be, as it has been in the past under existing law, subject to approval by the President. The Public Works Administration was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 16, 1933, for the purpose of increasing employment and stimulating recovery by the encouragement of useful public works. All will agree that it has performed a creditable and undeniably effective part in the recovery program. It was, however, established as a temporary agency, and in this continuation for 2 years the committee has inserted a provision that no allotment shall be made for any project hereafter the application for which has not been approved by the examining divisions of the Public Works Administration prior to the date of the enactment of this bill. Except for the projects, funds for which are made available through the increase of $40,000,000 in the revolving fund, and for such projects as may now be on hand and can be prosecuted with existing funds, the Public Works Administration will be in a status of liquidation. Several very large projects already committed may not be completed prior to July 1, 1939, but, with the exception of those and the possible exception of some projects which are now enjoined by court action, for which funds are reserved, it is anticipated that July 1, 1939, will practically see the completion of the functions of the Public Works Administration under existing law. There has been great demand and pressure from many sources in the United States for continuation of the Public Works Administration and the making of grants. Naturally, there will be such a sentiment so long as the Federal Government continues to give to communities a substantial proportion of the cost of their public improvements, but with the return of more normal conditions of business and a continuing and improving prosperous condition in all sections of the country, the Federal Government must, of necessity, withdraw as soon as possible from this emergency field. With the funds provided in the bill, the United States will be able to discharge all of the obligations, that any community can reasonably expect in connection with Public Works Administration activities. Beside the amount to be available for allocation for grants of $137,000,000, there will also be available for loans a total of $124,000,000 against which applications are now pending in connection with projects where elections have been held and in connection with the group of hazardous school projects in the amount of $19,000,000. The committee recommends the early consideration and passage of this bill by the House. The present authority of the Public Works Administration expires on the 30th of this month and if no further extension is made by law the present functions can only be carried on in a liquidation status by such agency as the President may designate for that purpose. The following statement shows the status of the revolving fund as of May 31, 1937, and another statement shows the Public Works Administration loan-and-grant applications as of May 27, 1937: Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, analysis of revolving-fund capital structure as of May 31, 1937 1. Cash balance available for allocation___. 2. Securities still to be purchased under present commitments. Present gross value of revolving fund.. 4. Deduct: Administrative expense allotment for 1938_.. Deficiency Appropriation Act of 1936. $300, 000, 000. 00 allotments........ 1 $49, 540, 577.95 1 115, 157, 895. 95 1 127, 751, 167. 90 292, 449, 641. 80 10, 000, 000. 00 282, 449, 641. 80 141, 505, 294. 00 158, 494, 706. 00 Balance for grant allotments under First Deficiency Net capital balance of revolving fund after providing 123, 954, 935. 80 1 The above figures are predicated on the assumption that the items under no. 2 and no. 3 above will yield, in the process of liquidation, a sum not less than $233,271.656.60 which represents the securities on band and still to be purchased less the profit in the amount of $9,637,407.25 now being held by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Balance revolving fund as of May 27, 1937 Uncommitted balance of $300,000,000 of revolving fund which is Balance available for grants from the $300,000,000.......... $148, 000, 000 Loans and grants-Public Works Administration applications 53, 000, 000 95, 000, 000 EXCHANGE LANDS IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK AND CHEROKEE INDIAN RESERVATION, N. C. JUNE 7, 1937.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed Mr. DEROUEN, from the Committee on the Public Lands, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany H. R. 5472] The Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 5472) to authorize the exchange of certain lands within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for lands within the Cherokee Indian Reservation, N. C., and for other purposes, report favorably thereon with the recommendation that the bill do pass the House with the following amendments: Page 2, line 5, after the word "to", insert "this exchange and to". Page 2, section 2, strike out all of lines 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, inclusive, and insert in lieu thereof the following: be expressed by secret ballot in a general election, in which a majority vote in favor thereof. Such election to be arranged and supervised by the Tribal Council within sixty days after the passage of this Act, and the results of such election shall be final. Page 3, line 7, strike out the word "said" and insert in lieu thereof "the Indian". Page 3, line 8, after the first word of the line and before the comma, insert "of the aforesaid reservation". Page 3, line 8, strike out the words "National Park Service" and insert in lieu thereof "United States for park purposes". Page 3, line 14, after the word "park", insert "or parkway". Facts concerning the proposed legislation are set forth in letter of the Secretary of Interior to the chairman of the Public Lands Committee, dated March 24, 1937, which letter is hereinbelow set forth and made a part of this report. |