and talented and this, coupled with heretofore under-representation of their community, makes the matter of greatest importance. As to Martin Castillo, who appears before you today, I cannot strongly enough endorse his selection to be Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People. As you know, he has held this position in an acting capacity since May 28, 1969. I have worked with Mr. Castillo in the past and know his abilities well. He will acquit himself with efficiency and dignity in the post for which he has been selected. Therefore, I wish to take this opportunity to respectfully request the committee's favorable consideration and his early confirmation. Best regards. Sincerely, GEORGE MURPHY. The CHAIRMAN. I also have a telegram and a resolution from the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County supporting the nomination. They will be inserted in the record at this point. (The telegram and the resolution follow:) Hon. JOHN L. MCCLELLAN, Chairman, Senate Government Operations Committee, Los ANGELES, CALIF. On behalf of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, I urge you to support President Nixon's nomination of Martin Castillo as the new chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for the Spanish-Speaking People. Mr. Castillo was an outstanding citizen of the county of Los Angeles, and his nomination to this office was well deserved. ERNEST E. DEBS, Chairman, Board of Supervisors. APRIL 28, 1970. CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER: At its meeting held on April 28, 1970, at the suggestion of Chairman Ernest E. Debs, the Board of Supervisors adopted the suggestion as outlined in the attached. JAMES S. MIZE, APRIL 28, 1970. MOTION BY SUPERVISOR ERNEST E. DEBS On May 28, 1969, President Nixon appointed Mr. Martin Castillo as chairman of the Interagency Committee on Mexican-American Affairs. On December 30, 1969, Public Law 91-181 elevated that committee to Cabinet-level status as the new Committee on Opportunities for the Spanish-Speaking People. The Senate Committee on Government Operations will consider the confirmation of Mr. Castillo as chairman of the new Cabinet committee sometime this week. Martin Castillo has been an outstanding citizen of Los Angeles County for several years. He is a native of Santa Fe, N. Mex. and attended the University of Heidelberg, Germany and Loyola Law School, where he received his doctorate degree. Mr. Castillo has practiced law in Los Angeles since 1962. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953-1958 and is currently a captain in the Air Force Reserve. Therefore, I would like to move: (1) That the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors support President Nixon's nomination of Martin Castillo as the new Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for the Spanish Speaking People; and (2) That the Chief Administrative officer be instructed to so notify the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Chairman John L. McClellan, Senator George Murphy and Senator Alan Cranston through the County Legislative Consultant, Mr. Joseph Pollard. The CHAIRMAN. I only have one or two questions: How many members are on this Cabinet committee? Mr. CASTILLO. Eleven members, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Eleven members, is that correct? The CHAIRMAN. It is a bipartisan committee? Mr. CASTILLO. Well, the committee itself, Mr. Chairman, is composed of department heads, either Secretaries or Administrators of the various Federal agencies. The CHAIRMAN. In other words, it is bringing together a group of agencies and establishing a kind of Cabinet group for all those agencies? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. And the purpose generally-the general objective is to try to coordinate the assistance given to this particular group of American citizens; is that right? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. And also to be alert, to see that they know about whatever programs and benefits are provided for them, and that they are given the opportunity to qualify for participation. Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Is that the general purpose of it? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Can you state any other function that it will have? Mr. CASTILLO. Well, according to the legislative intent of the bill, the basic purpose is to see that existing Federal programs in fact reach the Spanish-speaking, and in the conceptualization and design of any new programs that the unique needs of the Spanish-speaking be taken into consideration. The CHAIRMAN. In other words, you could also initiate by resolution and recommendation other programs that you thought were needed to meet any problems that are common to this group of American citizens, is that correct? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Is this a permanent committee? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes; Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. It is established as a permanent agency of government? Mr. CASTILLO. With 5 years of longevity at this point. The CHAIRMAN. Sir? Mr. CASTILLO. Permanent, but limited, in that it is limited to 5 years, according to the terms of the bill. The CHAIRMAN. I assume, as in most bodies of this type, that if it is successful or if it can justify its existence by that time, then it will be continued? That bridge we cannot cross until we come to it. Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Very few of these committees or commissions ever expire, once they get started, and, in many instances, their continuation is justified. I would regard this somewhat as a trial run, but with ample time to demonstrate not only the need for the services this committee will perform, but also the justification for the cost of this operation. Another thing, I am advised that for fiscal year 1969, the predecessor agency had a budget of $485,000. Is that correct? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. With 29 permanent positions? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. That was for the fiscal year 1969? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. That is prior to fiscal year 1970, that is for 1969; am I right? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. For fiscal year 1970, that is the present fiscal year, you have $510,000 as a budget and employ a staff of 30 people? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. The budget which the Congress is now considering, the 1971 budget, increases that amount to $675,000 to cover 35 positions? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. Well, now, let me ask you something. You have been on the committee for a few months, since the first of the year, have you not, as acting chairman? Mr. CASTILLO. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. And you have had fully 4 months to observe and to become familiar with the work of the committee, and to make an evaluation of it. Do you anticipate that this number of employees and the cost of operating this small committee is going to continue to increase, other than normal increases due to increases in salaries and other normal costs of operating the Government? Mr. CASTILLO. I would hope not, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. I do not know whether it takes 20 25, 30, or 35, or more, competent personnel to carry out the function of this committee, but I cannot conceive that it is one of these committees that will grow into large numbers and get overstocked with personnel, and become an expensive experiment. It would be my hope, and I express this to you in all sincerity, because I will be looking possibly at the budget from year to year, and I would urge you most respectfully to do an efficient job and a thorough job, and to organize it so that it can do that kind of a job. Keep it efficient and hold the expenditures down. I can well foresee, as I have indicated, at the end of the 5 years, they will probably want to continue it. Therefore, it is important to demonstrate not only the usefulness and the need for this agency, but also that it can be operated efficiently and economically. Personally I wish you well. I have nothing else to say at the moment. Senator Javits, I understand, had intended to be here this morning, but was unable to because of a temporary illness. He has requested that this question be asked, and had he been here, he would have asked you either this question or something comparable. During the consideration of the bill which established the Cabinet committee for which you have been nominated chairman, the Government Operations Committee specifically included in the bill provisions that the Cabinet committee cover all Spanish-speaking minorities, including Puerto Ricans. In the consideration of recruiting your staff, and in the overall operation of the Cabinet committee, can you assure our committee that you will make every effort to consider the needs of each Spanish-speaking minority? In other words, what he is asking here is, can you, without prejudice, openmindedly and fairly consider the needs of all Spanish-speaking minorities? Mr. CASTILLO. Unequivocally, yes, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. In other words, maybe there is a little rivalry between some of them, and if so, that is what I am sure Senator Javits is concerned about. He wants to make certain that you are going to be an impartial chairman seeking to treat all segments of this class of our American citizens with equality and with justice. Mr. CASTILLO. I think it is a legitimate question, Senator, and I want to assure the Senator, through his representative, that this is my intent, that every effort we make will include all segments of our Spanish-speaking people. The Puerto Ricans will not only be included, but will be sought out. The CHAIRMAN. Well, thank you very much. I think that should be a satisfactory answer. I have no further questions. I am advised that Senator Montoya who had hoped to be here expressed his regrets and submitted, in support of the nominee, a statement for the record, which will be placed in the record at this point. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH M. MONTOYA, Aa U.S. Senator FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO Mr. Chairman, I come here today to offer my testimony on behalf of an individual with whom I have had the privilege of working in the past year on the many special problems which confront the Spanish-speaking Americans of this nation. I find it particularly gratifying to have this opportunity to say a few words in support of the nomination of Mr. Martin G. Castillo to be Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People because it was almost a year ago that I came before this committee to speak on behalf of the legislation which created this agency. As you know, Mr. Chairman, last year I introduced together with 24 cosponsors the bill, S. 740, to establish the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People. This measure was signed into law as P.L. 91-181 on December 30, 1969. Prior to that time we had the Inter-Agency Committee on Mexican American Affairs, created on a temporary basis by President Johnson in 1967. Both President Johnson and President Nixon recognized the wisdom of creating a permanent agency to permit an orderly, concerted effort on the part of the Spanish-speaking American to work within existing institutions to resolve the troubling social and economic problems facing him. President Johnson, before his departure from the White House, submitted legislation to Congress to establish the Inter-Agency Committee on a permanent basis. During the hearings on Senate bill 740, which I sponsored, before this committee last June, we heard from various officials that the Nixon Administration, too, was wholeheartedly in support of giving statutory authority to an agency which would assist in overcoming the special problems facing the Spanish-speaking Americans of this country. One of those officials who came before this committee last year to urge the passage of S. 740 was Mr. Martin G. Castillo, designated by President Nixon in May of 1969, as Chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Mexican American Affairs. In his testimony Mr. Castillo asked Congress to "begin today to expand into reality for millions of Spanish-speaking Americans that dream which for most men in the most free society on this planet has already become a way of life. Mr. Castillo served with distinction in his position as Chairman of the InterAgency Committee and later as Acting Chairman of the newly-established Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People. Because Mr. Castillo was originally a native of my own State of New Mexico, I feel especially proud that he was nominated to be chairman of this important agency. Since President Johnson first created the Inter-Agency Committee on Mexican American Affairs, I have enjoyed what I believe to be a close and highly productive relationship with that agency and its members. Mr. Vincente Ximenes, Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, who held the post of Chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee before Mr. Castillo, performed his job in an extremely able manner, and I have paid tribute to him many times in the past. Mr. Castillo has followed the pattern set by Commissioner Ximenes, and I have only praise for the work he has done. As the only Spanish-speaking Member of the United States Senate, not surprisingly, many of the special problems facing the Spanish-speaking community and individual Spanish-speaking Americans are brought to my personal attention. The Cabinet committee, and formerly the inter-agency committee, under the leadership of Mr. Castillo, have been consistently helpful in taking up these problems, many of which I myself have referred to them, and ensuring that governmental assistance is provided wherever possible. Many individual and community problems and needs peculiar to Spanish-speaking Americans in areas of employment, education, housing, and civil rights have been met and resolved under the leadership of Mr. Castillo. In the past, the Spanish-speaking American has been largely ignored by the Federal agencies and departments. There has been a great deal of misunderstanding and lack of knowledge within the Federal government of the particular problems of the Spanish-speaking American. Although we still have a long way to go, I believe the Cabinet committee has done much to correct this situation, and I feel Mr. Castillo is to be commended for guiding the Cabinet committee in its liaison between the various Federal agencies and departments and the Americans of Spanish descent. One of the principal objects set forth in Public Law 91-181 is that of insuring Federal programs are reaching and providing the necessary assistance for all Spanish-speaking Americans. Mr. Castillo has played a critical role in seeing that this objective is being met. Mr. Chairman, I do not think it is necessary to go on at great length about this nomination. I think the evidence is clear that Martin G. Castillo has served well as acting chairman of the new Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for SpanishSpeaking People, and before that, as chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Mexican American Affairs. He has compiled a worthy record, and I strongly endorse his nomination to be chairman of the Cabinet committee. The swift approval of the nomination by this committee and the speedy confirmation by the Senate will be proper tribute to Mr. Castillo's past record and well-deserved recognition of the need for his continued leadership of this important agency. (The following letter was subsequently received by the committee for insertion into the record:) Hon. JOHN MCCLELLAN, U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, Chairman, Committee on Government Operations, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I endorse the nomination of Martin G. Castillo as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Opportunities for Spanish-Speaking People. I have had several occasions to work with him, and I have found him to be highly capable and, in my opinion, well qualified to assist the President in carrying out his policy for the Mexican- American people. Mr. Castillo, a native of New Mexico, graduated from Loyola University of Los Angeles in 1953 and received his law degree from that same institution in 1961. He had previously studied at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. From 1953 to 1958, he served as a fighter pilot in the Air Force, attaining the rank of Captain, a rank that he still maintains as a member of the Air Force Reserve. Mr. Castillo is a sensitive man who is able to bring to his new position the insight that is necessary to provide solutions to the hard problems that daily confront us. As a Senator who is dedicated to improving the opportunities for achievement by Mexican-Americans and who knows the industry of these people, I am looking forward to a continued close working relationship with him. I urge the Committee to quickly confirm him. I am certain that he will perform with dedication and diligence. The President has made a wise choice in Mr. Castillo, and the Senate will do well to give its consent to this nomination. |