"Whereas Pennsylvania is a State which may lose Federal installations, has heavy unemployment and many families receiving 'aid for dependent children' : Therefore be it "Resolved, That the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO be directed to work with the AFLCIO to see what Federal program can be adopted to ease problems of school financing in economically disadvantaged areas. "Submitted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Local 3; referred to legislation committee." Mr. MORSE. Mr. President, I am pressing the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare for a report on S. 2528 so that it will be available for our July hearings. It is my hope that the report will contain as an appendix a table similar to that which I have already introduced into the Record and which will contain more current data as to the extent of aid to dependent children impact. At the time the report is received, I shall be happy to share it with Senators who desire additional information. 8. 2725 Mr. President, I turn now to the consideration of S. 2725 which, if enacted, would add standby disaster authority to the authorities exercised by the Commissioner of Education. Specifically, the Commissioner would be empowered upon a finding by the President that a disaster had occurred, to immediately make funds in his possession previously appropriated under Public Law 815 available for use in the repairing and renovation or restoration of the schools in the disaster area. The amount of the grant which he would make would not exceed the difference between the amounts reasonably available to the local educational agency from other sources and the full cost of restoring or replacing the damaged facility. The Commissioner would also be authorized under the authorities of Public Law 874 to make disaster grants for current operating expenses to the school districts in the disaster area for a 5-fiscal-year period beginning with the fiscal year in which the disaster occurred. Here again, however, the amount of the grant could not exceed the difference between that which was reasonably available to the local educational agency from other sources and the cost of providing a level of education equivalent to that maintained in the schools during the last full fiscal year prior to the disaster. Amounts provided during the last 3 years of the 5-year period could not exceed 75, 50, and 25 percent, respectively, of the amount provided during the first fiscal year following the disaster. In addition, however, the Commissioner could provide funds to replace destroyed supplies, equipment, and materials and to provide school and cafeteria facilities. Senators will recall that the occasion of the introduction of this legislation was the disastrous consequences suffered by our friends and neighbors in the great State of Alaska. Subsequent to that time, there have been other areas, such as those in Montana, in which much damage was suffered, by reason of floods. Truly, as set forth in the publication of the Alaska Education Association, such a tragedy could strike any community or State in our Nation. The advantage of having standby legislation for disasters, to restore as soon as possible educational opportunities to the youngsters in the community, is that within a matter of hours after the determinations were made by the President, help would be on its way. Reconstruction could take place far more quickly, and most importantly, the communities would not be faced, in nearly the same degree of difficulty, with making agonizing choices between equally important public functions, all of which had been damaged by the disaster. The safeguards in the bill, in my judgment, are sufficient to make sure that the State and the community will bear their full share of the burden while also making sure that the education of the children will not suffer because of the financial stringencies on local governmental units which occur through the almost complete erosion of proceeds from the tax rolls in the first years immediately following a major disaster. At this point in my remarks, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that communications I have received from the Honorable William A. Egan, Governor of the State of Alaska, Resolution No. 37 of 36-177 0-64 the State Senate and Resolution No. 16 of the State House of Representatives of Alaska, together with the text of an article which was prepared by the Alaska Education Association and which I understand will be given wide distribution at the national convention of the National Education Association in Seattle, be inserted at this point in my remarks. (There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows :) STATE OF ALASKA, Hon. WAYNE MORSE, DEAR SENATOR MORSE: This letter is written to express my full support for provisions of S. 2725, introduced by you, to authorize the U.S. Commissioner of Education to extend grants to local public educational agencies for reconstruction, rehabilitation and/or operation of school facilities in a major disaster area. As Governor of the State of Alaska, which is now engaged in a major effort to recover from the devastating effects of earthquake and seismic seas, I have particular reason to be aware of the desirability for automatic standby authority of the nature proposed by S. 2725. Its enactment-particularly as regards the authority provided in section 2 of the bill relating to grants for school operation-would fill a gap now existing among the statutory remedies available to areas of our Nation in the wake of disaster. Essential and badly needed assistance could be extended promptlyat a time when urgency of action is most vital to mitigate against unnecessary delay or interruption in the provision of vital educational services. The March 27 disaster in Alaska caused in excess of $10 million damage and destruction to school buildings and related educational facilities. Funds for reconstruction and rehabilitation of these facilities have been forthcoming from President Johnson and the Office of Emergency Planning under the provisions of Public Law 875. Of even greater magnitude than that inflicted upon these physical properties, however, is the serious financial blow struck at the future operation of these facilities through the destruction of land values, loss of employment and other factors directly affecting the tax base providing the revenues needed by the State and local school entities for school support. The State of Alaska has estimated that it will suffer, together with individual school districts, a shortfall of approximately $12 million during the remainder of this fiscal year and fiscal years 1965 and 1966 in school support revenues. This need too has been recognized in part in the enactment of legislation to amend the Alaksa Omnibus Act and extend for 2 years the program of transitional grants to Alaska. While Alaskans shall forever be grateful for the prompt and ready manner in which the President and Congress of the United States have responded to the needs arising from the March 27 disaster, it is pertinent to note that had the provisions of S. 2725 been in effect it would not be necessary that the State seek special legislation to meet this disaster-caused need. Additionally, it should be noted that the Bureau of the Budget, in preparing its estimate of revenue shortfalls in connection with the Alaska disaster, did so on the basis of an 18-month recovery. The estimate of the State of Alaska was based on a 30-month recovery which it believes is a more reasonable period over which rehabilitation and economic recovery will occur. This uncertainty would be resolved under the provisions of section 2 of S. 2725 which would permit the Commissioner of Education, where justified by circumstances, to make grants for operation of schools suffering the impact of disaster over a 5-year period with appropriate reductions in amount in each of the last 3 fiscal years. The Office of Emergency Planning has done an outstanding job in assisting Alaska's recovery. Of necessity, however, it must give priority to those responsibilities involving the emergency needs of human beings. It cannot give immediate attention to those other equally essential but less urgent tasks of reconstruction. Assignment of responsibility for reconstruction, rehabilitation, and operation of disaster-affected educational facilities to the U.S. Commissioner of Education not only would relieve the Office of Emergency Planning from this responsibility at a time when it is hard pressed to meet other more urgent needs but would also place the responsibility in an agency particularly adapted by its day-to-day program to know the nature and extent of the need which exists. The State of Alaska strongly supports the provisions of S. 2725. WILLIAM A. EAGAN, Governor. RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE EXPANSION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO MEET THE EFFECTS OF THE NATURAL DISASTER ON THE STATE SCHOOL SYSTEM Be it resolved by the senate: Whereas the earthquake disaster has had a grave impact on the public education program and system of the State through the destruction of school facilities and the loss of revenues vital to the existence of education; and Whereas the Federal support for the State's education program emanating from Public Laws 815 and 874 for matching money for school buildings and facilities and for grants to schools affected by Federal activities in the area could be expanded to meet the unprecedented situation facing the school system in Alaska; and Whereas U.S. Senator Wayne Morse has introduced S. 2725 to amend Public Law 815 to release funds to replace the schools lost or ravaged in Alaska; and Whereas the magnitude of the disaster in Alaska strongly suggests the need for making Public Law 874 funds available on the basis of total enrollment at the discretion of the President and for a period of need to be determined by the President: Be it Resolved, That, the President and the Congress are most earnestly and urgently requested to give early and favorable attention to S. 2725 and to make Public Law 874 funds available to Alaska on the basis of total school enrollment in order that the public education program of the State of Alaska may be sustained during the period in which the State is striving to rebuild its economy and overcome the disastrous effects of the earthquake on its economy and vital programs; and be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Honorable Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States; the Honorable Carl Hayden, President pro tempore of the Senate; the Honorable John W. McCormack, Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Honorable Anthony J. Celebrezze, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; the Honorable Wayne Morse, U.S. Senator; and the members of the Alaska delegation in Congress. Passed by the senate April 10, 1964. DEAR SENATOR MORSE: At the request of the House of Representatives of the State of Alaska, I have the honor of transmitting to you a certified copy of House Resolution 16, requesting the expansion of Federal programs to meet the effects of the natural disaster on the State school system. Sincerely yours, HUGH J. WADE, HOUSE RESOLUTION 16 Resolution requesting the expansion of Federal programs to meet the effects of the natural disaster on the State school system Be it resolved by the house of representatives: Whereas the earthquake disaster has had a grave impact on the public education program and system of the State through the destruction of school facilities and the loss of revenues vital to the existence of education; and Whereas the Federal support for the State's education program emanating from Public Laws 815 and 874 for matching money for school buildings and facilities and for grants to schools affected by Federal activities in the area could be expanded to meet the unprecedented situation facing the school systems in Alaska; and Whereas U.S. Senator Wayne Morse has introduced S. 2725 to amend Public Law 815 to release funds to replace the schools lost or ravaged in Alaska; and Whereas the magnitude of the disaster in Alaska strongly suggests the need for making Public Law 874 funds available on the basis of total enrollment at the discretion of the President and for a period of need to be determined by the President: Be it Resolved, That the President and the Congress are most earnestly and urgently requested to give early and favorable attention to S. 2725 and to make Public Law 874 funds available to Alaska on the basis of total school enrollment in order that the public education program of the State of Alaska may be sustained during the period in which the State is striving to rebuild its economy and overcome the disastrous effects of the earthquake on its economy and vital programs; and be it further Resolved, That copies of this resolution be sent to the Honorable Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States; the Honorable Carl Hayden, President pro tempore of the Senate; the Honorable John W. McCormack, Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Honorable Anthony J. Celebrezze, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; the Honorable Wayne Morse, U.S. Senator; and the members of the Alaska delegation in Congress. Passed by the house April 12, 1964. Senator From the State of Oregon, New Senate Office Building, MY DEAR SENATOR MORSE: We are sending you a copy of a leaflet that has been prepared by us for general distribution at the National Education Association Representative Assembly at Seattle later this month. We are hoping that we can aid in garnering widespread individual and collective support from teachers and educators across the Nation. The enclosed leaflet and other material will be distributed in Seattle prior to the presentation of a resolution on the floor of the assembly calling for NEA support. Senator Morse, know that we in Alaska are most appreciative of all of your efforts in behalf of education, and particularly, we are grateful for your efforts in this most recent instance. With friends like you "in the garrison," certainly the future for public education in this Nation is much brighter. Sincerely yours, HAZE J. BERGERON, Executive Secretary. IT HAPPENED IN ALASKA-BUT IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU FEDERAL AID TO SCHOOLS IN DISASTER STRUCK AREAS Mr. MORSE. Mr. President, I know you share with me the heartfelt sympathy that all Americans extended immediately to our brothers in Alaska and on the sea-ravaged portions of the west coast as a result of the earthquake and the tidal wave which followed. I shall, of course, support every effort to provide financial assistance to the State of Alaska and the affected communities. This terrible news caused me to think, however, that perhaps we should explore the utility of an automatic standby authority which would release Federal funds for the replacement of schools damaged by such acts of God. Three to four schools a week in this country, I am advised, burn or are destroyed. Flood, windstorm, tornadoes and hurricanes all take their toll of our schools, and as importantly, the local tax base which supports the school. The replacement of these schools in a great many cases, where tragedy has also wiped from the tax rolls the land values in the community, poses a terribly difficult financial problems to the affected local communities. I send to the desk for appropriate reference a bill designed to meet these contingencies which we all hope will never strike our own home States. It is a standby authority bill which, if enacted, would go far in restoring the damage to the school plant, thus permitting an early resumption of the school operations. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be printed at this point in my remarks the text of the bill together with a short section-by-section analysis of the major provisions. There being no objection, the bill and section-by-section analysis was ordered to be printed in the Record. "SENATOR MORSE PROPOSES FEDERAL AID TO SCHOOLS IN DISASTER "Senator Wayne Morse, Democrat, of Oregon, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Education, on April 9 proposed major disaster amendments to Public Laws 815 and 874. Senator Morse pointed out that 'as a result of the [Alaskan] earthquake and tidal wave, perhaps we should explore the utility of an automatic standby authority which would release Federal funds for the replacement of schools damaged by such acts of God.' "The new Morse bill, S. 2725, would amend Public Law 815 to permit the Commissioner to make school construction and rehabilitation grants to a local public educational agency located in whole or in part in an area which, in the determination of the President, has suffered a major disaster. The grants would be in such amounts as the Commissioner determines to be in the public interest, but they could not exceed the difference between the amounts reasonably available to the local educational agency from other sources and the cost of restoring or replacing the public school facilities destroyed or damaged as a result of the disaster. Assurances would be required that the appropriate State and local governments would also make reasonable expenditures for these purposes. Appropriations would be authorized in such amounts as would be necessary to carry out this provision, and pending such appropriations the Commissioner could use funds appropriated for other sections of Public Law 815. "S. 2725 would also amend Public Law 874 to permit the Commissioner to make grants for current operating expenses to a local public educational agency located in whole or in part in an area which, in the determination of the President, has suffered a major disaster. The grants, which could be made for the 5-fiscal-year period beginning with the fiscal year in which the disaster occurred, could not exceed the difference between the amounts reasonably available to the local educational agency from other sources and the cost of providing a level of education equivalent to that maintained in the agency's schools during the last full fiscal year prior to the disaster. Amounts provided during the last 3 years of the 5-fiscal-year period could not exceed 75, 60, and 25 percent, respectively, of the amount provided during the first fiscal year following the disaster. In addi |