(The complete statement follows:) STATEMENT OF CLIFFORD G. MCINTIRE, DIRECTOR, NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND ASSISTANT LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION We appreciate the opportunity to present Farm Bureau's views with respect to H.R. 16543 and H.R. 16544, to amend the Bankhead-Jones Act. Farm Bureau is a general farm organization with a membership of 1,865,854 families in 49 states and Puerto Rico. It is a voluntary, non-governmental organization—the largest general farm organization in the United States-representing farmers from every part of the country who are producers of virtually every domestically produced agricultural commodity. Legislation proposed in H.R. 16543 and H.R. 16544, introduced by Mr. Poage, is similar in purpose to the objective of twelve separate legislative bills carrying sponsorship by sixty-nine Members of the House of Representatives. All would "amend section 32(e) of title III of the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act, as amended, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to furnish financial assistance in carrying out plans for works of improvement for land conservation and utilization, and for other purposes." This legislation would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to share “not to exceed one-half of the costs of a) the land, easements, or rights-of-way acquired or to be acquired by the State or other public agency or local nonprofit organization for such reservoir or other area, and b) minimum basic facilities needed for public health and safety, access to, and use such reservoir or other areas" in relation to public water-based fish and wildlife or recreational development in areas designated under the resource, Conservation and Development Program, authorized by Title 1, Section 102 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1962 (Public Law 87-703). The proposed legislation would limit cost sharing on no more than one such work of improvement for each 75,000 acres in any development area. H.R. 4879 by Mr. Zwach differs from other bills in the proviso that federal contribution "to any single improvement" shall not exceed $50,000, while in H.R. 16543, H.R. 16544 and H.R. 16620 a limitation is expressed in the following proviso "That in no event shall the Secretary share any portion of the cost of installing more than one such work of improvement for each seventy-five thousand acres in any development area." Essentially the same authority already exists under Public Law 566 for recreational and wildlife improvements in a small watershed project area. The following is a resume of appropriations for the Resource Conservation and Development Program by fiscal years: Twelve new R.C. & D. project areas have been authorized for operation by the Administration. Legislation as proposed in these bills does not carry specific limitation on appropriations. We are advised that annual appropriations to carry out the provisions of this legislation may be $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 per year. Farm Bureau policies strongly support the basic principles of P.L. 566. They also express very deep interest in rural development. The emphasis given to local sponsorship and local management are vitally important features of both P.L. 566 and R.C. & D. programs. This local involvement needs to be preserved as it is essential in the success of each project and in the wise use of public funds. We recommend the enactment of legislation as proposed by H.R. 16543 and other bills identical thereto. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. McIntire. Mr. TEAGUE. No. I want to join you, of course, Mr. Chairman, in welcoming Mr. McIntire back. When he was on this committee he was certainly, with the possible exception of you, the most knowledgeable member we had for many years in the whole field of farm legislation. The CHAIRMAN. We have never had one who knew more about it. Mr. McINTIRE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Teague. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Stubblefield? Mr. STUBBLEFIELD. I would just like to welcome Mr. McIntire back. As you say, he is a very knowledgeable fellow; and we are happy to have him any time. Mr. McINTIRE. Thank you, Mr. Stubblefield. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. McIntire. Is there anyone else who wants to be heard? STATEMENT OF CLAUDE A. BLACK, RETIRED ARMY ENGINEER, WASHINGTON, D.C. Mr. BLACK. Mr. Chairman, I am a retired colonel from the Army, Claude A. Black. I represent on a voluntary status a number of organizations in the State of Tennessee, and I have spent a great deal of time studying the whole problem of water and land R.C. & D. I think it is one of the finest things we have in the State, because I thoroughly believe in the concept of multicounty approach to improving conditions. I think this is one of the ways we can get it. I do not think we can do it together, even multicounty groups together, without such help as they get here. I agree wholeheartedly with the things said here this morning. I think of one other thing because I am retired. I think if this bill should go through and should be reasonably well funded and implemented, I think you will find it helping quite a bit as years go on, in population distribution. I think you would get quite a few more retired people interested in going to and living in rural areas if they had such things as this bill may result in providing. Thank you, sir. The CHAIRMAN. I think that is a good suggestion. We appreciate it. Any questions? (No response.) (The following letter was also submitted to the subcommittee:) THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, Mr. W. R. POAGE, Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: We would like to take this opportunity to present our views concerning H.R. 16543 and related bills which your Committee considered during hearings yesterday. We would appreciate it if this statement could be included in the record of those hearings. The National Association of Conservation Districts strongly supports H.R. 16543, H.R. 14793 and related bills that would authorize the Department of Agriculture to provide cost-sharing for fish and wildlife and recreation improvements in Resource Conservation and Development Projects. We urge the passage of this legislation. Our support of this measure is of long standing. At our 21st Annual Convention held in 1967 in Cincinnati, for example, the NACD Council-representing our 3,000 conservation districts and their associations in all the states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands-approved the following national resolution : The National Association of Conservation Districts believes that watershed structural sites located in Resource Conservation and Development Projects should be developed to their highest potential for long-range multiple-purpose uses. There is a growing awareness of the public interest in providing a sufficient amount of wholesome outdoor recreational facilities. We have noted that the recent sharp increase in the intensity of use of existing recreational waters has already produced crowded and hazardous conditions in many localities. We believe the public interest demands that additional recreational features and fish and wildlife development be provided at suitable structural sites to serve an expanding population. The lack of available federal cost-sharing has discouraged the full development of sites in Resource Conservation and Development Projects to meet reasonably expected needs for recreational waters and for improved fishing and hunting. Accordingly, the National Association of Conservation Districts recommends legislation to authorize full federal cost-sharing on structural measures in Resource Conservation and Development Projects to provide fish and wildlife development and to serve recreational uses, thus placing costsharing in R.C. & D. Projects on a basis comparable to that already available under other federal programs. Comparable resolutions have been approved in each succeeding year, including 1970, when at our 24th Annual Convention in San Francisco, the Council stated: We reaffirm our position urging the enactment of legislation authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture, at the request of conservation districts and other local sponsors, to provide technical and financial assistance for public recreational development, the construction of minimum basic recreational facilities, and the enhancement of fish and wildlife resources in Resource Conservation and Development Project areas. We are pleased that you and a substantial number of your colleagues in the House of Representatives have sponsored legislation to achieve this objective. We hope that this legislation, already passed by the Senate, can be enacted by the House at the earliest possible date. Sincerely, GORDON K. ZIMMERMAN, The CHAIRMAN. If not, the committee has completed its public session and will go into executive session. (Thereupon, at 10:30 a.m. the hearing proceeded to executive session.) |