months later funding may be possible, but by then it is too late, the plan is already set. On the other hand, a program which appears replete with funds when planning is begun may be empty 4 months later when application is made. General information on the current status of programs is usually available only through informal contacts or through a barrage of pamphlets, newsletters, flyers, etc. from each individual agency. Often even these communications are not timely and do not reflect adequately the changes of policy which expand or limit available assistance through a particular program. For example, it was learned that funds for rat control were available as part of urban renewal assistance only through discovering that a specific project grant had been awarded to a city which had successfully applied for such a use. Finally, even when adequate information on a program is available, it may be impossible to identify the program with the particular needs of the intended beneficiary. Although the FAIR system, through its computerized, word-byword search ability specifically avoids such oversights, many State and local planners who do not currently have such a service available to them have serious difficulties. For instance, one State planner came to us asking for information on "open space" assistance to be included as part of a comprehensive plan. He was only able to identify two standard programs supporting such efforts, neither of which had adequate funds available. The FAIR search located two additional programs which normally he would not have considered. The difficulties we have cited in using Federal information are not speculative, but very real experiences. These are also not isolated instances, but daily difficulties faced by State and local government officials in handling the Federal information gap. Minimum information requirements Obviously, the burden for adequate project planning and operation at the State and local levels ultimately rests with officials and planners at these levels. What should also be obvious is that such planning and development cannot be successfully undertaken when Federal assistance is involved without adequate Federal "tools" of information. The minimum information requirements must include: (1) An official, accurate, and complete determination of each basic Federal assistance program available; (2) An official, accurate, and complete description of the elements of each basic program, including the program purposes, eligibility requirements, application process, available benefits, and requirements; (3) Án official, accurate, and complete record of the financial status of each federal assistance program available; (4) An official, accurate and regular updating procedure to show the current requirements and financial status of each Federal assistance program available. 5. An index which cross-relates programs by function to assist the user in identifying all Federal domestic assistance programs which relate to his particular needs. The importance to local planning of such a minimum "baseline" of official information on assistance programs cannot be overstated. Without it, efficient and realistic program planning and operation simply are not possible. The cost of needlessly unfulfilled program plans, needlessly misapplied funds and needlessly inefficient utilization of Federal aid to help those who most need help should be sufficient testimony of the need for minimum reform in this area. Equally clear as the need for such information should be the fact that this information must come from the Federal Government, the dispensers of these programs. It is simply not possible for non-Federal governmental officials and public and private concerns to obtain such an information base from Federal agencies under present procedures. Furthermore, such individual gathering would continue to promote useless duplication of effort many times over, continue the failure to distribute aid to those who most need aid, and continue the failure to provide a trustworthy base of accurate information. H.R. 17112 H.R. 17112, the Program Information Act, provides for these minimum information requirements. We believe it is a significant measure which draws upon the best experience of the two milestone efforts toward reform in this area. The Listing of Operating Federal Assistance Programs Compiled During the Roth Study produced by Congressman Roth and his staff was the first prodigious achievement in developing program information criteria. A measure of the significance of this compilation from a user-oriented concern is the fact that we felt it neces sary to redesign the entire FAIR file format to comply with this new program data. The recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance produced by the Office for Economic Opportunity has had similar, if less dramatic, impact. Again we are revising the FAIR format. Despite the significant steps made by both of these catalogs towards providing local planners and officials with the tools to match available Federal assistance to local needs, we still feel compelled to testify today that from a user-oriented concern they are inadequate. They do not yet meet the minimal needs we outlined earlier: 1. They do not provide either an official or a complete determination of basic Federal assistance programs; 2. They do not provide an official or at all times a complete description of the elements of each basic program; 3. They do not provide an official or at all times a complete record of the financial status of each basic program; 4. They do not provide for a regular updating procedure; 5. They do not provide an adequate index which cross-relates programs by function. H.R. 17112 does provide for these minimum information requirements. This bill does not guarantee that State and local government agencies will always use program funds wisely, that Federal assistance will always be used as it was intended to be used, that those who most need help will always receive that help. But it does guarantee for the first time that the Federal Government will provide that minimum information necessary to give State and local government and other users of Federal assistance programs the potential to realize these goals as best they are able. Thus we believe H.R. 17112 is an important investment toward making Federal assistance programs more responsive to the needs of the people served by all levels of government. PREPARED STATEMENT OF W. J. PIERCE, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, THE DEVELOPING URBAN DETROIT ÁREA RESEARCH PROJECT The developing urban Detroit area research project has for 5 years been engaged in a comprehensive urban study of southeastern Michigan, southwestern Canada and northern Ohio. The purpose of the project was to analyze a defined area and to review alternative courses of development the area might undergo between now and the year 2000. The project further sought to develop, through a methodology devised by Doxiadis Associates, technical consultants to this project, an alternative growth pattern which would provide the most in human satisfaction for the doubled population which is projected for the area. Having completed the research phases, we are initiating steps to determine which agencies at the Federal level would be most concerned with the various aspects of the study and which Federal programs should be solicited for their interest in the study findings. It has been our experience that it is almost impossible for the layman, and various legislative units in Washington have indicated that they do not have much more success, in trying to determine which Federal agencies are responsible for what programs. Also, we found that very similar programs may be the responsibility of more than one Federal agency. To put it briefly, what is needed is a centralized information agency in Washington where information concerning various Federal programs can be gotten very readily, and a well documented listing of these programs and agencies. Accordingly, we submit this statement in support of H.R. 17112. There being no further witnesses the hearing for today is adjourned. (Whereupon, at 11:55 a.m. the hearing was adjourned.) 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