Appropriators. DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND HEALTH, EDUCATION, HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE NINETY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H.R. 8877 AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1974 TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1973 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10:10 a.m., in room S-128, the Capitol, Hon. Hiram L. Fong presiding. Present: Senators Magnuson and Fong. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE NONDEPARTMENTAL WITNESSES STATEMENT OF HON. PETE V. DOMENICI, U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO PREPARED STATEMENT Senator FONG. The subcommittee will come to order. We have heard testimony from more than 100 witnesses representing the departments and agencies on the Labor-HEW bill. These people were here for the most part to defend the President's budget, submitted to Congress on January 29. That was one side of the story. Now the subcommittee has the opportunity to hear testimony from those interested individuals who wish to present their side of the issue. The subcommittee will hear and welcome Senator Domenici, Pete Domenici, who is here to speak to the issue of funding for library programs in fiscal year 1974. Would you please proceed with your statement? Senator DOMENICI. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to speak and I know how busy you are. I have a prepared statement, but to the extent that I depart from it, I would ask that it be made a part of the record. Senator FONG. It will be made a part of the record at this point. [The statement follows:] (4239) Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, I wish to express my appreciation for this opportun ity to comment on the proposed appropriations for the Departments of Laber and Health, Education and Welfare for fiscal year 1974. As you know, the Administration has requested no funding for the major library programs this fiscal year, basing this decision primarily on the belief that general revenue sharing and special education revenue sharing would provide sufficient funds to the States for use in many social programs. Testimony during hearings on the appropriations for both fiscal years 1973 and 1974 for Office of Education programs have indicated that a significant need currently exists in the library and information science area. Public libraries, although serving a great proportion of the public, still have not been able to reach approximately 12%, or 20 million Americans. Many people living in rural areas, people with physical handicaps, economically disadvantaged, institutionalized, and the elderly are just beginning to receive some of the benefits of the Federally-sponsored Library Services program enacted in 1956. In my own State of New Mexico, for example, the Library Services and Construction Act has been responsible for bookmobile service for 370,000 rural citizens. There are 752,000 books circulating at 250 monthly community stops. This is the only service for 19 Indian groups in the State and hundreds of rural low-income areas. In addition, a free hotline service, handling 12,600 inquires annually, connects public, special, and academic libraries throughout the State with funds from the Library Services and Construction Act. Further services facing curtailment or elimination formerly supported by this Act are talking books and tapes for the blind and physically handicapped citizens, workshops for librarians, magazine the Nemisys/information service, and matching funds to build public library buildings throughout the State. Reports on the success of the Library Services and Construction Act have been overwhelmingly favorable States have matched the Federal dollar at a ratio of 3 to - 1, and small libraries have been able to set up programs to reach people who have not usually had access to a public library before. It is true that public libraries would be eligible for assistance under the general revenue sharing program, however, State librarians, public library administrators, and other professionals in the field have stated that it is doubtful that they will be able to compete successfully for funds with such other needed social services as police and firemén. Mr. Stevens of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science has stated that public libraries have applied for about $8 million in revenuesharing funds and a little more than $4 million has been granted. It is possible that given more time and additional funds, public libraries might thrive under revenue sharing. However, as the current fiscal year is already under way, the termination of these programs at this time is going to seriously affect the quality and the distribution of their services. |