Create a Commission on Metropolitan Problems

The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:30 a. m., in room 3302, New Senate Office Building, Senator Hubert H. Humphrey (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Present: Senators Humphrey and Gruening.

Also present: Walter L. Reynolds, chief clerk and staff director; Ann M. Grickis, assistant chief clerk; and Glenn K. Shriver, professional staff member.

Senator HUMPHREY. This is the meeting today of the Subcommittee on Reorganization and International Organizations of the Committee on Government Operations to take testimony on S. 1431, introduced by Senator Clark, a bill to provide for the establishment of a Commission on Metropolitan Problems, and also S. 2397, introduced by Senator Keating, a bill to provide for the establishment of a Department of Urbiculture.

Before the taking of testimony I should like to place in the record the text of the bills S. 1431 and S. 2397 and also a copy of staff memorandum No. 86-1-41, July 17, 1959.

(S. 1431, S. 2397, and staff memorandum No. 86-1-41 follow :)

[S. 1431, 86th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To provide for the establishment of a Commission on Metropolitan Problems Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION

SECTION 1. There is hereby established a Commission to be known as the Commission on Metropolitan Problems (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission").

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION

SEC. 2. (a) The Commission shall be composed of eighteen members as follows:

(1) Six appointed from the Senate by the President of the Senate, four from the majority party and two from the minority party;

(2) Six appointed from the House of Representatives by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, four from the majority party and two from the minority party; and

(3) Six appointed by the President of the United States as follows: (A) Two from among the heads of Federal departments and agencies; (B) Two from among the Governors of States having major urbanization problems, not more than one from the same political party; and

(b) The members of the Commission shall select a Chairman from among such members from the Congress, and a Vice Chairman from among such members from the House of Congress other than that of the Chairman.

(c) Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.

(d) Ten members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may conduct hearings.

(e) Service of an individual as a member of the Commission or employment of an individual by the Commission as an attorney or expert in any business or professional field, on a part-time or full-time basis, with or without compensation, shall not be considered as service or employment bringing such individual within the provisions of section 281, 283, 284, 434, or 1914 of title 18 of the United States Code, or section 190 of the Revised Statutes (5 U.S.C. 99).

DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION

SEC. 3. (a) The Commission shall make a full and complete investigation and study of Federal policies and programs relating to the needs and problems of the Nation's metropolitan areas for the purpose of determining—

(1) the present and prospective needs of the Nation's metropolitan areas for public services, including but not limited to planning, highways, mass transit facilities, water resources, elimination of air and water pollution, health and welfare services, schools, recreation facilities, urban renewal ad housing, ports, airports, and prevention of crime and delinquency; (2) capabilities of different levels of government to meet such needs; (3) the extent to which the Federal Government is assisting metropolitan areas in meeting such needs;

(4) means for improved coordination of Federal, State, and local policies and programs that affect metropolitan areas;

(5) such other matters as may be of assistance in solving the various problems of, and promoting the social and economic well-being of, the Nation's metropolitan areas.

(b) The Commission shall submit to the President and to the Congress on or before February 1, 1961, its findings and recommendations; and the Commission may also from time to time make to the President such interim reports as the President may request or as the Commission deems appropriate.

(c) The Commission shall cease to exist six months after submission to the President of its final report and recommendations.

POWERS OF THE COMMISSION

SEC. 4. (a). The Commission or, on the authorization of the Commission, any two or more members thereof, may, for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this Act, hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, administer such oaths, and require, by subpena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses, and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memorandums, papers, and documents as the Commission or such subcommittee may deem advisable. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the Chairman of the Commission, or any duly designated member and may be served by any person designated by such Chairman or member. The provisions of sections 102 to 104, inclusive, of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 192– 194), shall apply in the case of any failure of any witness to comply with any subpena or to testify when summoned under authority of this section.

(b) The Commission is authorized to secure from any department, agency, or independent instrumentality of the executive branch of the Government any information it deems necessary to carry out its functions under this Act; and each such department, agency, and instrumentality is authorized and directed to furnish such information to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman, or the Vice Chairman when acting as Chairman.

APPROPRIATIONS, EXPENSES, AND PERSONNEL

SEC. 5. (a). There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(b) Members of the Commission shall receive no compensation for their services as such, but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of duties vested in the Commission.

(c) The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such employees as it deems advisable without regard to the provisions of the civil service laws and the Classification Act of 1949, as amended.

(d) The Commission may procure, by contract or otherwise, the services of public or private organizations or institutions.

[S. 2397, 86th Cong., 1st sess.]{

A BILL To provide for the establishment of a Department of Urbiculture

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

SECTION 1. (a) The Congress finds and declares

(1) that most of the population growth of this country has occurred in the last two decades in urban areas;

(2) that many important Federal programs such as housing, urban renewal and slum clearance, pollution control, airport and highway construction, and defense activities have a primary impact on urban areas; and (3) that many pressing problems facing the people of the United States grow out of the lack of knowledge, understanding and coordination of proper techniques in the utilization of urban land.

(b) Recognizing the invaluable contribution made by the Department of Agriculture in correlating Federal activities relating to the Nation's farms, and in promoting efficient use of farmlands and rural areas, the Congress enacts this Act with the purpose of providing a corresponding executive department (1) to coordinate the various Federal activities having a primary impact on urban areas, (2) to insure equitable and reasonable distribution of Federal assistance to urban centers, (3) to foster high level consideration of the pressing social and economic problems growing out of the heavy concentration of the Nation's population in urban areas, and (4) to further knowledge of the principles of unified planning and of using efficiently urban lands.

CREATION OF DEPARTMENT

SEC. 2. (a) In order to accomplish the purposes set forth in section 1, there is hereby established an executive department to be known as the Department of Urbiculture (hereafter referred to in this Act as the "Department"), at the head of which shall be a Secretary of Urbiculture (hereafter referred to in this Act as the "Secretary") who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Under the Secretary shall be an Under Secretary and two Assistant Secretaries who shall perform such functions as the Secretary shall prescribe and who shall be appointed in the same manner as the Secretary.

(b) There is hereby created in the Department an Urban Advisory Council. The members of this Council shall be appointed by the President upon nomination by the Secretary and shall include persons outside the Federal service with broad experience and interest in urban and related problems. The following Federal officials are hereby designated as members ex officio of the Urban Advisory Council: Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. The President may designate other Federal officials as ex officio members of the Council. Members of the Council shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed for necessary travel and subsistence expenses as provided in the Travel Expense Act of 1949 as amended. The Council shall meet at the call of the Secretary, but not less than twice a year.

RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 3. (a) The Secretary shall (1) conduct a continuing study of problems peculiar to urban and metropolitan areas, including problems of coordinating Federal and Federal-State programs in such areas, and (2) provide technical as

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