authority should be given to the Commissioner of Education to permit him to lend assistance in such a case. A recent example of the kind of a situation which I have in mind is the earthquake which occurred in the Seattle, Wash., area approximately 2 weeks ago. This was not a severe earthquake, but it did cause some damage to Seattle schools, particularly in the west Seattle area. Replacement of these facilities. will cause a sharp drain on the financial structure of the Seattle school system. There is every likelihood that many programs carried on by Seattle schools will suffer in order to make up the amount of money necessary to restore the damaged school buildings. I would like to suggest to the committee that it include a provision within S. 289 which would permit the Commissioner of Education to give assistance to school systems which find themselves in situations such as we now have in Seattle. Mr. Chairman, S. 289 is a very important measure and I commend you for having undertaken the leadership on it. I urge most strongly that the Congress pass it immediately. The education of our youth is far too important to be left to the kind of emergency assistance---great though it was-contained in the amendments to the Alaska Omnibus Act. Permanent authority such as contained in this bill should be given to the Commissioner of Education so that no time is lost by having to seek special assistance for every area struck by natural disaster. STATEMENT OF HON. BIRCH BAYH, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA Mr. Chairman, on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, vicious tornadoes swept through five Midwestern States. Great loss of life, serious personal injuries, and hundreds of millions of dollars in property damages were incurred in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. Shortly thereafter massive floods, first inundating areas surrounding the headwater tributaries of the Mississippi River, moved down that great waterway to wreak devastation and havoc in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. Only last Thursday an earthquake brought extensive damage to settled parts of the State of Washington. This series of natural disasters was but the culmination of a year which will be long remembered for its almost unequaled destruction. Some 12 months earlier the State of Alaska suffered tremendous loss from a severe earthquake. Last winter flooding in our Western States exacted a very heavy toll. These recent outbursts of nature, unexpected and tragic as they are, are neither isolated nor unique events. Similar disasters have occurred before and will, no doubt, continue to plague our fellow citizens in the future. It is not only proper but also essential that the Nation come to the aid of the unfortunate victims of these major calamities. Mr. Chairman, shortly after tornadoes ravaged my home State 3 weeks ago, I had the opportunity to tour in person those sections which had been most seriously affected. It is difficult to imagine, without first viewing it, the devilish destruction which these storms had wrought. Homes, schools, churches, hospitals, and other bu ings were smashed flat, splintered in small pieces, and widely scatter No scene from "Dante's Inferno" could be much worse. After a series of conferences with colleagues from the Midwest States, it was agreed that new legislation would be needed to br substantial relief in the wake of the disastrous floods and tornad Consequently, with the cosponsorship of 27 other Senators, I int duced S. 1861 last Friday, April 30, for this purpose. Our investigations had revealed that, despite the fact that Fede law does permit some Federal assistance to be rendered to scho following major disasters, additional legislation would be desiral A careful examination of the provisions of S. 289, and of its predecess S. 2725 of the 88th Congress, both of which were authored by distinguished chairman of this subcommittee, led us to believe t these features should be incorporated in any comprehensive meas for assistance in disaster areas. After consulting staff counsel, s tion 10 of S. 1861 was framed in terms very similar to and basica adapted from these two earlier bills introduced by the chairm Let me at this point commend the chairman for his pioneering effo in this field and pay tribute to his long leadership in educational m By including his principles in the comprehensive disaster re bill, we hopefully will rally support for both measures. S. 289 would provide assistance for school construction and rep and for current school operations in major disaster areas. This wo be accomplished by amendments to the basic law vesting power the Commissioner of Education to make grants to schools for th purposes. To be eligible for such assistance, however, a local edu tional agency must not only suffer severe damage in a declared ma disaster area, the Governor of the State in which it is located m also certify that reasonable efforts have been made to provide the restoration of minimum school facilities through local, State, a other available funds or tax resources. Additional safeguards which circumscribe these grants are provid in the bill. No grant for facilities may be in excess of the cost construction or restoration, less any amount which may be realiz from insurance or be received from other sources. Applications aid must be submitted through the proper State educational agen and projects cannot be approved unless they are consistent with ov all State educational plans. Assistance to schools for current ope tional expenses, which is limited to a 5-year period, cannot be grea than necessary to provide a level of education equivalent to th which prevailed before the disaster. These latter grants, if continu for the third, fourth, and fifth years, would be limited to 75, 50, a 25 percent, respectively, of the amount contributed during the first ye There can be no doubt that S. 289, if adopted, would be helpful to the ma schools which suffer losses in national disasters. Although the total record not yet in, it would appear that educational facilities have been hard hit in ma places by recent tornadoes and floods. For instance, yesterday the India State superintendent of public instruction reported to me the following estima of school damage in my State: Kokomo, approximately $1 million; Greentov over $1 million; Marion, approximately $250,000; Russiaville, total destructi of an older 12-room school; Rossville, $60,000; Elkhart (Concord Townshi $10,000; Lakeville, new school under construction demolished; Alto, 8-ro school destroyed. Fortunately, in some of these cases insurance will cover sizable portion of the loss, but others will require outside assistance. Mr. Chairman, permanent legislation of the type proposed by S. 289 is necessary to assure prompt, effective aid to schools which may be damaged or destroyed in major disaster areas. Although the Office of Emergency Planning now has some responsibility in providing such assistance, it seems more logical and consistent to assign this task to the U.S. Office of Education. More than temporary, emergency action is required in restoring educational facilities. I believe that S. 289 would establish sound guidelines for long-range rehabilitation of schools in disaster areas and urge favorable consideration be given this bill. STATEMENT OF HON. WARREN G. MAGNUSON, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON Mr. Chairman, after your hearing on the above bill on May 4, I contacted Mr. Louis Bruno, State superintendent of public instruction, Olympia, Wash., in regard to damage caused to Washington State schools by the earthquake which occurred on April 29 in the Pacific Northwest. Damage in western Washington, where the earthquake was most severe has been estimated to amount to between $5 and $7 million. Many school buildings suffered damage and will require extensive repairs some must be entirely rebuilt." The attached report was prepared for the Washington State Legislature and for the Governor. Our situation in Washington State emphasizes the great and continuing need for the enactment of S. 289, the bill which is presently before your subcommittee for action. PRELIMINARY REPORT ON EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE TO SCHOOLS, STATE OF WASHINGTON, MAY 3, 1965 A very quick and incomplete survey of earthquake damage has brought forth the following information: Pierce County White River Junior High School will require extensive repairs. No cost estimate available. In addition, we have had reports on damage in Puyallup and Tacoma. We believe that as our survey continues and school districts complete inspections that the amount in Pierce County would be higher. Snohomish County Monroe Elementary School, estimated loss is $200,000; Edmonds Junior High School, estimated loss is $5,000; Marysville, large building, extensive repairs needed, estimated cost is $490,000; Sultan High School, estimated repairs, $20,000; Monroe High School: It is possible that this building may have to be abandoned. However, estimated cost of repairs is $400,000. There was extensive damage to this building. We do not have a complete survey for Snohomish County. King County Issaquah: Three-story junior high and two-story senior high both have extensive damage. Major repairs will be needed. No estimated cost figure yet available. Seattle: Estimate total loss somewhere between $1,250,000 and $1,500,000. List follows: West Seattle High School, estimated repairs $600,000. Alki Elementary School must be replaced. Queen Anne High School, damage at $50,000 to $75,000. There are other losses in elementary schools involving badly cracked walls and chimney replacements: Broadview Elementary School, Coleman Elementary School, Gatewood Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School, and Leschi Elementary School. The total cost estimate of the above repairs as a result of earthquake damage totals approximately $1,115,000 for Snohomish County. Total figures are not yet available for Pierce County, but an estimate of $500,000 would be on the conservative side. King County, including Seattle and Issaquah, a figure of approximately $4 million would be on the conservative side. Our estimate of earthquake damage will total approximately $5 million. is a conservative figure and the final tally may bring it closer to $7 million. Respectfully submitted. LOUIS BRUNO, This State Superintendent of Public Instruction. STATEMENT OF HON. THOMAS H. KUCHEL, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA I am grateful for the opportunity to express my support of S. 289, which would add standby disaster authority to the powers exercised by the commissioner of education under Public Law 815 and Public Law 874, the impacted areas program. At the outset, I wish to say that I believe this measure is carefully drafted, containing safeguards against abuse. It is wholly in the tradition of a Government which is designed to aid the people when the people cannot provide such aid themselves as individuals or in local groups. Highly destructive floods in the Pacific Northwest in December of 1964 and January of 1965 prompted me to call for a National Disaster Act so that the resources of the Federal Government could be efficiently and rapidly utilized to cope with the chaos resulting from floods, fires, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, or any other national disaster. A number of Senators joined with me in urging the President to study the possibility of such legislation. Since that time, a bill providing for a National Disaster Act has been introduced in the Senate. Our experience in the Pacific Northwest this winter, like the aftermath of the Alaskan earthquake last spring, and the floods in the Mississippi River Valley in recent weeks, demonstrated the grave need for both the authority and the machinery for rapid relief. The Nation has met the demands of housing and feeding homeless families, restoring roads and communications networks and other public utilities, in a remarkable way. Senator Morse, you have proposed in S. 289 that we face a further responsibility. Our responsibility to the Nation's boys and girls is a serious one which has sometimes been sadly overlooked. What more important investment do we make that in the time, quality, and temper of our education? The educational foundations of our society must not be impaired or retarded, for a loss in education is the most crucial and costly loss a man and his society can suffer. If textbooks have been swirled away by flood waters, if laboratory facilities have been demolished by upheavals in the earth, or if entire schools and commumunities have been engulfed by fire, the educational loss to individuals and in turn to the Nation is a staggering loss. The legislation now being considered seeks to provide for the resumption of normal educational activity in localities where the world of family, community, and school have been temporarily and suddenly turned upside down or wiped out altogether. As one who has seen the ravages of natural disaster, I want government, at all levels, to seek ways to rapidly ease the restoration process. The importance of this bill is that it seeks to minimize the break in educational activity in communities hit by natural disaster. This bill encourages rapid action in situations where time is of the essence. Thus, I sincerely endorse S. 289 as an extension of Federal service where Federal service is needed most, and at a time when localities are least able to confront grave difficulties. PREPARED STATEMENT OF FRANCIS KEPPEL, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee on Education, may I first express my appreciation to you for the efficient manner in which you proceeded in your consideration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The excellent committee report on that bill, which was the product of the deliberations of this subcommittee and the full committee, is a highly important part of the legislative history of this new legislation. The Senate report is a classic example of how legislative proposals can be improved in committee. I wish to thank you for the opportunity to appear here today and discuss with you the legislation introduced by the distinguished chairman of this subcommittee to assist schools destroyed or damaged by disasters. Unfortunately the rampages of nature have been much in evidence lately, and schools have not been exempt from destruction. S. 289 would amend Public Laws 815 and 874 to give permanent standby authority to the Commissioner of Education to provide Federal assistance to public school systems in disaster areas. Under this bill the Commissioner would be empowered, upon a finding by the President that a major disaster has occurred, immediately to make available funds which have been previously appropriated in order to repair, restore, or rebuild public elementary and secondary schools seriously damaged by a major disaster. In addition, the legislation would authorize grants for current operating expenses of such schools on a reducing basis over a 5-year period to enable the affected school district to continue its educational program. Grants could also be made for the purchase of supplies, instructional materials, and equipment so that normal school operations can be resumed. The amount of any Federal grant for school construction could not exceed the difference between the amount of funds reasonably available to the local educational agency from all other sources and the full cost of restoring or replacing the damaged facilities. The amount of any grant for operating expenses could not exceed the difference between the amount of funds reasonably available to the local educational agency from other sources and the cost of providing a level of education equal to that maintained in the schools during the last full year prior to the disaster. Amounts provided during the last 3 years of the 5-year period for operating expenses would be 75, 50, and 25 percent, respectively, of the amount provided during the first fiscal year following the disaster. The authority to provide funds immediately after a disaster to replace supplies, equipment, and materials that were destroyed, including cafeteria facilities, will make it possible to begin school in areas affected by major disasters with a minimum of delay. The bill authorizes the Commissioner to use funds from appropriations previously made to carry out the purposes of Public Laws 815 and 874 for disaster relief and to request replacement of those funds through supplemental appropriations. This provision will expedite the availability of funds urgently needed for disaster relief. Almost every year some type of major disaster strikes some area in the United States. Several years ago there was major earthquake damage in Montana. Last year, as you all recall, there was a major catastrophe in Alaska caused by earthquakes. Currently, we are hearing of the extensive damage caused by flooding of areas in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri. Several weeks ago major disasters by hurricanes and wind damage caused severe damage in Indiana and other areas in the Midwest. Every year some areas in the country are damaged by flooding of some of our major rivers. Just recently a severe earthquake caused extensive damage in Seattle, Wash., Oregon, and other areas of the Northwest. In most of these natural disasters there is damage to public schools requiring rebuilding or extensive repairs. In addition, these disasters-particularly flooding and hurricanes--often destroy the supplies, equipment, and teaching materials |