DRAFT OF PROPOSED PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO AN APPROPRIATION, FISCAL YEAR 1945, IN THE FORM OF AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, ETC. COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING A DRAFT OF PROPOSED PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1945, IN THE FORM OF AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR APRIL 1, 1944.—Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, March 31, 1944. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress a draft of proposed provisions pertaining to an appropriation for the fiscal year 1945, in the form of amendments to the Budget for the Department of Labor for said fiscal year. The details of these amendments, the necessity therefore, and the reasons for their transmission at this time are set forth in a letter of the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, transmitted herewith, in whose comments and observations thereon I concur. Respectfully, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, The PRESIDENT, The White House. BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D. C., March 30, 1944. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith for your consideration a draft of proposed provisions pertaining to an appropriation for the fiscal year 1945, in the form of amendments to the Budget for the Department of Labor for said fiscal year, as follows: DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CHILDREN'S BUREAU On page 584 of the Budget, column 1, under the head "Grants to States for Emergency Maternity and Infant Care, Children's Bureau (National Defense)" after the words "armed forces of the United States" in line 7 of the paragraph, add the following: "and of army aviation cadets"; and after the amount "$20,000,000" in line 13, add the following: "not more than 4 percent of which may be allotted to the States for administrative expenses from the date of this Act on the basis of need as determined by the Chief of the Children's Bureau: Provided, That the amount herein appropriated shall be immediately available and shall constitute one fund with the unexpended balance of amounts heretofore appropriated under this head." These items provide that the benefits of the program may be received also by the wives of Army aviation cadets, not heretofore eligible; that the administrative costs heretofore borne by the States may from now on be in part met out of the grants to an extent not exceeding 4 percent of the grants upon the basis of allotment by the Chief of the Children's Bureau to the various States on the basis of need; and lastly, because of an estimated deficiency in this fund for the fiscal year 1944, that funds appropriated for 1945 shall be available in the fiscal year 1944, and that their availability shall extend to the additional purposes provided herein. The foregoing amendments to the estimate of appropriation are made necessary because of a contingency which has arisen since the transmission of the budget for the fiscal year 1945. I recommend that they be transmitted to Congress. Very respectfully, HAROLD D. SMITH, Director of the Bureau of the Budget. O 2d Session No. 528 SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATE OF APPROPRIATION FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING SUPPLEMENTAL ESTIMATE OF APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,250,000, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1944, TO REMAIN AVAILABLE UNTIL EXPENDED, FOR THE WAR DEPARTMENT FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS APRIL 12, 1944.-Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, April 5, 1944. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith for the consideration of Congress a supplemental estimate of appropriation in the amount of $4,250,000, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1944, to remain available until expended, for the War Department for rivers and harbors. The details of this estimate, the necessity therefor, and the reasons for its transmission at this time are set forth in the letter of the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, transmitted herewith, in whose comments and observations thereon I concur. Respectfully, FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D. C., April 5, 1944. The PRESIDENT, SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith for your consideration a supplemental estimate of appropriation in the amount of $4,250,000, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1944, to remain available until expended, for the War Department for rivers and harbors, as follows: WAR DEPARTMENT CIVIL FUNCTIONS CORPS OF ENGINEERS-RIVERS AND HARBORS Rivers and Harbors: For an additional amount for rivers and harbors, fiscal year 1944, including the objects specified under this head in the War Depratment Civil Appropriation Act, 1944, to be available until expended.... $4,250,000 The purpose of this supplemental estimate of appropriation is to provide, in part, funds for the acquisition by the Engineer Department of three seagoing hopper dredges. As of August 1, 1939, the seaboard hopper dredge fleet numbered 23, whereas today the number available for regular river and harbor project work is 15. A replace ment program contemplated to be initiated in 1939 has been postponed because of the war and its demands upon materials and equipment. Of the 15 dredges now remaining for work on regular river and harbor projects, 11 range in age from 30 to 51 years, with an average age of 37 years. Two others are 27 and 29 years old. In accordance with your instructions, maintenance of waterways is being held to a minimum and is being deferred in those localities where it can be done without detriment to the war effort and without permanent damage to the civilian economy. Deferred maintenance will mean a heavy demand for seagoing hopper dredges as soon as normal coastal traffic is resumed. In the meantime the existing fleet of dredges is being heavily taxed in the work necessary to prosecute the war in connection with certain commercial harbors and in connection with work specifically required by the Military and Naval Establishments. As a matter of fact, sufficient plant is not available at this time to carry out all the work considered to be desirable by the military and naval authorities. Since approximately 15 months are required to construct a hopper dredge, work should be initiated as soon as possible, in conformity with war priorities, on a program to rebuild the hopper dredge fleet to a proper size. The Department estimates the cost of the new dredges at $3,500,000 each or a total of $10,500,000. However, I am advised that the rivers and harbors appropriations will be reimbursed approximately $6,250,000 for hopper dredges taken over by the Military Establishment. While funds approximating this sum may be needed at some later date to reacquire and rehabilitate this plant, now in the hands of the Army, there is no reason why these receipts cannot at this time be used to meet a part of the cost of the new plant. Accordingly, only $4,250,000 additional will be needed. This supplemental estimate of appropriation is made necessary by contingencies which have arisen since the transmission of the Budget for the fiscal year 1944. I recommend that it be transmitted to Congress. Very respectfully, HAROLD D. SMITH, Director of the Bureau of the Budget. о |