(7) It would be helpful if the catalog included a detachable piece on which users could request detailed publications on individual programs. Thank you again for giving us the opportunity to comment on the proposed bill. We will be pleased to discuss in detail any questions concerning our comments. Sincerely yours, THOMAS S. FRANCIS, Federal Cochairman. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, Hon. EDMUND S. MUSKIE, Chairman, Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR MUSKIE: This is in response to your letter of March 24, 1969, requesting the views of the Small Business Administration on S. 60, a bill "To create a catalog of Federal assistance programs, and for other purposes." The principal purpose of S. 60 is to provide for the publication of a catalog, a reliable cross-referenced source of information, which will assist potential beneficiaries in identifying all existing Federal asisstance programs wherever administered. The catalog would contain information for each program that a potential applicant would need. The catalog would also provide information as to who may be contacted, and where they may be contacted, if detailed information is desired as to a particular Federal assistance program. S. 60, as introduced, provides that the President shall send to Congress, at the beginning of each regular session, the aforementioned catalog together with a report setting fourth measures taken, in the year since last published, by each department, agency, etc., to simplify and consolidate the various application forms, program guidelines, etc., utilized in the Federal assistance programs. The bill also calls for the President to revise the catalog at monthly intervals and directs that it shall be the only compendium of programs published in the executive branch. Before stating our views on S. 60, it seems well to point out that there is a consistently strong demand for SBA management aid publications setting forth information relative to assistance and loan programs available in the Federal Government which affect small businesses. Presumably section 10 of S. 60 would permit SBA to reprint and make available such parts of the proposed catalog as would be of special interest to small businesses, thus permitting SBA to continue its important liaison function between Government and small business. We would have no objection to the enactment of a bill, along the lines of S. 60, assuming that such bill would continue to permit SBA, through its management assistance function as noted hereinabove, to keep small businesses fully informed of all Federal assistance programs that are available to them. The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report from the standpoint of the Administration's program. Sincerely, HILARY SANDOVAL, Jr., Hon. EDMUND S. MUSKIE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, D.C., July 18, 1969. Chairman, Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Secretary has asked me to reply to your letter of March 24, 1969, concerning S. 60, a bill to create a catalog of Federal assistance programs, and for other purposes. The Department considers that the purpose of the catalog, as stated in Section 5 of the proposed bill, would appear to be adequately served without the inclusion of detailed budgetary and funding information and believes that the inclusion of such information, together with the proposed monthly revisions, would add considerably to the preparation cost of contributing agencies without apparent corresponding benefits to potential beneficiaries. Also, under the language proposed in Section 2(c) of the bill, it might appear that programs of assistance conducted by the Agency for International Development with foreign governments and international organizations would be included in the catalog. It is suggested, therefore, that Section 2(c) which defines "beneficiary" might be revised to make it clear that this government's military and economic assistance programs overseas are not included and to emphasize the catalog's primary purpose of disseminating useful information to potential American citizen beneficiaries. The Bureau of the Budget advises that from the standpoint of the Administration's program there is no objection to the submission of this report. Sincerely yours, Hon. EDMUND S. MUSKIE, WILLIAM B. MACOMBER, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations. TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, Chairman, Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations, Committee on Government Operations, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR MUSKIE: This is in response to your letter of March 24 requesting our views with respect to S. 60, a bill to create a catalog of Federal assistance programs. We believe a catalog such as that proposed in the bill would have substantial value in providing information on Federal assistance programs to people and agencies that might benefit therefrom. Whether the particular arrangements specified in the bill for creation and maintenance of the catalog is the most appropriate for that purpose is a question which we feel can probably be best answered by the Executive Office of the President. The Bureau of the Budget advises that it has no objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the Administration's program. Sincerely yours, Aubrey J. WAGNER, Chairman. THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE TREASURY, Hon. EDMUND S. MUSKIE, Chairman, Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Reference is made to your request for the views of this Department on S. 60, "To create a catalog of Federal assistance programs, and for other purposes.' On August 23, 1968, the Bureau of the Budget issued Circular No. A-89 to establish policies for the development and annual issuance of a "Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance." The first issue of the catalog, compiled for the Executive Office of the President by the Office of Economic Opportunity, was published in January 1969. The catalog describes the nature and purpose of 581 domestic assistance programs, specifies major eligibility requirements, states where to apply, and lists printed materials available. Its major purpose is to aid potential beneficiaries in identifying types of assistance available and determining eligibility requirements, and to provide guidance in applying for specific types of assistance. The bill would create a catalog of Federal assistance programs. In addition to the information contained in the catalog published in January 1969, the bill would require detailed budgetary information for each Federal assistance program, including the level of funding and the costs to the recipient of receiving assistance. The bill would also require that the catalog be prepared in the Bureau of the Budget and be revised at no less than monthly intervals. The Department has no knowledge with regard to any need for the additional information which the bill would require or of the costs and other administrative requirements of providing the information. Accordingly, the Department has no comment to make with respect to the general merits of the bill. The Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objection from the standpoint of the Administration's program to the submission of this report to your Committee. Sincerely yours, S. 2035 PAUL W. EGGERS, [S. 2035, 91st Cong., 1st Sess.] A BILL To amend title 5, United States Code, to authorize consolidation of Federal assistance programs, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Grant Consolidation Act of 1969". SEC. 2. Title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting the following immediately after chapter 9 of said title 5: "Chapter 10.-FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONSOLIDATION "Sec. "1001. Purpose. "1002. Definitions. "1003. Federal assistance program consolidation plans. "1004. Limitations on powers. "1005. Effective date and publication of consolidation plans. "1006. Effect on other laws and regulations. "1007. Rules of Senate and House of Representatives on consolidation plans. "S 1001. Purpose "(a) The President shall from time to time examine the various Federal assistance programs provided by law and shall determine what consolidations of such programs are necessary or desirable to accomplish the following purposes: (1) any of the purposes set forth in section 901(a) of this title, or (2) the purpose of making the programs or aspects thereof more consistent. "(b) The Congress declares that the public interest demands the carrying out of the purposes of subsection (a) of this section and that the purposes may be accomplished in great measure by proceeding under this chapter, and can be accomplished more rapidly thereby than by the enactment of specific legislation. "Ş 1002. Definitions (B) an officer or officer in the executive branch; "(2) 'officer' is not limited by section 2104 of this title; "(3) Federal assistance' or 'Federal assistance program' means any assistance provided by an agency in the form of grants, loans, loan guarantees, property, shared revenues, payments of taxes, payments in lieu of taxes, repayable advances, contracts, or technical assistance, whether the recipients are a State or local government, their agencies, including school or other special districts created by or pursuant to State law, or public, quasi-public, or private institutions, associations, corporations, individuals, or other persons; and "(4) 'consolidation' means any action described in section 1003(b) of this title. "§ 1003. Federal assistance program consolidation plans “(a) When the President, after investigation, finds that a consolidation of Federal assistance programs is necessary or desirable to accomplish one or more of the purposes of section 1001(a) of this title, he shall prepare a Federal assistance program consolidation plan (hereafter in this chapter referred to as 'consolidation plan') for the making of the consolidations as to which he has made findings and which he includes in the plan, and transmit the plan (bearing an identification number) to Congress, together with a declaration that, with respect to each consolidation included in the consolidation plan, he has found that the consolidation is necessary to accomplish one or more of the purposes of section 1001(a) of this title, and a declaration as to how each program included in the plan is functionally related. "(b) Each consolidation plan so transmitted "(1) may include, with respect to the Federal assistance programs inIcluded in the consolidation plan and with respect to the affected agency or agencies, any reorganization or measure incidental thereto as provided for in chapter 9 of this title; "(2) may alter the terms and conditions provided by law under which the Federal assistance programs included in the consolidation plan shall be administered, including, but not limited to matching, apportionment and other formulas, interest rates, and planning, eligibility, and other requirements: Provided, however, That any changes in such terms and conditions shall be limited to those necessary to achieve the purposes of the plan: Provided further, That the President shall, in selecting applicable terms and conditions, be limited by the range of terms and conditions for the provision of Federal assistance already included in the Federal assistance programs included in the plan: And provided further, That the President shall set forth in his message transmitting the consolidation plan to the Congress his reasons for selecting the said terms and conditions; and "(3) may abolish any one or more of the terms and conditions of any Federal assistance program. "(c) The President shall have a consolidation plan delivered to both Houses on the same day and to each House while it is in session. "S 1004. Limitations on powers "(a) A consolidation plan may not provide for, and may not have the effect of: (1) continuing any Federal assistance program or part thereof beyond the period authorized by law for its existence or beyond the time when it would have terminated if the consolidation plan did not take effect; (2) consolidating any Federal assistance programs which are not in the same functional area or closely related functional areas; (3) providing any type of Federal assistance included in such a consolidation plan to any recipient who was not eligible for Federal assistance under any of the programs included in the consolidation plan; or (4) vesting responsibility for the administration of the program or programs contained in a consolidation plan in any agency, office, or officer who was not responsible for the administration of one or more such programs prior to the taking effect of the consolidation plan. "(b) A provision contained in a consolidation plan may take effect only if the plan is transmitted to Congress before April 1, 1971. Section 905(b) of this title shall not operate to limit any consolidation plan prepared under this chapter. " 1005. Effective date and publication of consolidation plans "(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), a grant consolidation plan shall become effective at the end of the first period of sixty calendar days of continuous session of the Congress after the date on which the plan is transmitted to it unless, between the date of transmittal and the end of the sixty day period, either House passes a resolution stating in substance that the House does not favor the consolidation plan. "(b) For purposes of subsection (a)— "(1) continuity of session is broken only by an adjournment of the Congress sine die, and "(2) the days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournament of more than three days to a day certain shall be excluded in the computation of the sixty day period. "(c) Under provisions contained in a grant consolidation plan, a provision of the plan may become effective at a time later than the date on which such plan otherwise is effective. "(d) A consolidation plan which becomes effective shall be printed (1) in the Statutes at Large in the same volume as the public laws and (2) in the Federal Register. "S 1006. Effect on other laws and regulations "(a) To the extent that any provision of a consolidation plan which becomes effective under this chapter is inconsistent with any provision of any statute enacted prior to the taking effect of the consolidation plan, the provision of the consolidation plan shall control.. "(b) Any regulation, rule, order, policy, determination, directive, authorization, permit, privilege, requirement, or other action made, prescribed, issued, granted, or performed in respect of any matter affected by a consolidation plan which becomes effective under this chapter shall be deemed to be modified to the extent of any inconsistency thereof with the consolidation plan but shall otherwise continue in effect. "(c) A suit, action, or other proceeding lawfully commenced by or against the head or any agency or other officer of the United States, in his official capacity or in relation to the discharge of his official duties, does not abate by reason of the taking effect of a consolidation plan under this chapter. On motion or supplemental petition filed at any time within twelve months after the consolidation plan takes effect, showing a necessity for a survival of the suit, action, or other proceeding to obtain a settlement of the questions involved, the court may allow the suit, action, or other proceeding to be maintained by or against the successor of the head or officer under the consolidation plan or, if there is no successor, against such agency or officer as the President designates. "(d) The appropriations or portions of appropriations unexpended by reason of the operation of this chapter may not be used for any purpose, but shall revert to the Treasury. "S 1007. Rules of Senate and House of Representatives on consolidation plans "(a) This section is enacted by the Congress "(1) as an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate and the House of Representatives, respectively, and as such it is deemed a part of the rules of each House, respectively, but applicable only with respect to the procedure to be followed in that House in the case of resolutions described in subsection (b); and it supersedes other rules only to the extent that it is inconsistent therewith; and "(2) with full recognition of the constitutional right of either House to change the rules (so far as relating to the procedure of that House) at any time, in the same manner, and to the same extent as in the case of any other rule of that House. "(b) The provisions of sections 910 through 913 of title 5 of the United States Code shall apply with respect to a consolidation plan and, for such purposes"(1) all references in such sections to a 'reorganization plan' shall be treated as referring to a 'Federal assistance program consolidation plan', and "(2) all references in such sections to 'resolution' shall be treated as referring to a resolution of either House of the Congress, the matter after the resolving clause of which is as follows: "That the does not favor transmitted 19', the first blank thereinbeing filled with the name of the resolving House and the other blank spaces therein being appropriately filled.". the Federal assistance program consolidation plan numbered to the Congress by the President on AGENCY REPORTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D.C., June 3, 1969. Hon. JOHN L. MCCLELLAN, Chairman, Committee on Government Operations, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in response to your letter of May 6 requesting the views of the Bureau of the Budget on S. 2035, the "Grant Consolidation Act of 1969." The bill was drafted by the Bureau and sent to the Congress following the transmittal, on April 30, of the President's message on improving administration of Federal programs. As the President indicated in his message, the problems of delivering Federal assistance to our States, local governments and other recipients have grown increasingly acute as aid programs have proliferated. Those being assisted now find themselves in a maze of programs, some overlapping, involving numerous agencies and diverse criteria and regulations. The result often is confusion, a waste of energies and resources and frustration. |