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personal property by sale. We are also concerned with the possible ill will and delays in warehouse clearance that will arise out of the settlement of competing claims between various recreational agencies and between recreational agencies and agencies demanding property for educational, public-health, and civil-defense purposes.

Some of the objections stated above will be applicable in part to the difficulties that may be expected in our disposal of surplus real property. In addition the bill will amend materially the specific provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act pertaining to conveyances of real property for recreational purposes. Section 602 (a) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, continues in effect section 13 (h) of the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended. Section 13 (h) (2) thereof provides as follows:

"Conveyances for park or recreational purposes made pursuant to the authority contained in this subsection shall be made at a price equal to 50 per centum of the fair value of the property conveyed, based on the highest and best use of the property at the time it is offered for disposal, regardless of the former character or use, as determined by the Administrator. Conveyances of property for historic monument purposes under this subsection shall be made without monetary consideration: Provided, That no property shall be determined under this paragraph to be suitable or desirable for use as an historic monument except in conformity with the recommendation of the Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings, and Monuments established by section 3 of the Act entitled 'An Act for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes,' approved August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666), and no property shall be so determined to be suitable or desirable for such use if (A) its area exceeds that necessary for the preservation and proper observation of the historic monument situated thereon, or (B) it was acquired by the United States at any time subsequent to January 1, 1900."

Subject bill if enacted will, in effect, eliminate the requirement for the payment of 50 percent of the fair value of the real property conveyed for recreational areas as required by section 13 (h) (2) and substitute the public benefit allowance provision now provided in section 203 (k) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended.

In this connection the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, contains broad authority for the disposition of surplus real property to States and local governments and institutions for specific public uses either without consideration or under significantly favorable pricing formulas. While disposals for these purposes serve useful purposes they (1) frequently entail delays in the disposal of surplus real property by sale to the general public, (2) prevent the return of surplus real property to the local tax rolls, and (3) substantially reduce the monetary return to the Federal Government. Enactment of this measure would enlarge the scope of such disposals. With the increasing demands on available financial resources of the Federal Government to support and maintain the desired level of Federal governmental activities, any action which would result in the depletion of sources of revenue at this time is of doubtful wisdom.

For these reasons, GSA is opposed to the enactment of H. R. 7067.

The fiscal effects of the enactment of this measure on the returns that might be realized from the disposal of surplus property, as presently authorized, cannot be evaluated.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your committee.

Sincerely yours,

FRANKLIN G. FLOETE, Administrator.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,

Washington, D. C., January 10, 1958.

Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON,

Chairman, Committee on Government Operations,
House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your letter of September 10, 1957, requested a report by General Services Administration on H. R. 9522, to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize the disposal of surplus property to certain welfare agencies.

This bill is one of a number of bills which have been introduced for the purpose of extending the existing authorization for donation of surplus personal property (which is limited to the purposes of education, public health, and civil defense) to cover various other special activities and organizations.

In the case of H. R. 9522 the proposed extension is especially comprehensive. The welfare and recreation agencies which would be made eligble for donations of surplus personal property are defined in very inclusive terms by section 4 of the bill, the purpose of the measure evidently being to cover agencies such as the Salvation Army, YMCA, YWCA, Travelers Aid, and a number of other organizations (103 Congressional Record A7205, Aug. 29, 1957).

Notwithstanding how worthy may be the objectives of these welfare and recreation agencies, GSA objects to H. R. 9522 for the reasons hereinafter set forth.

The enactment of this legislative proposal would impede the handling of surplus property by the Government and introduce new elements of costs for the Government to pay. Specifically, it would:

(a) Delay the disposal of unneeded Government property while competing claims of individual welfare and recreation agencies are being considered with additional costs accruing to the Government for maintenance and storage of the property and attendant administrative tasks.

(b) Complicate the disposal of surplus property by introducing competition for available property between individual welfare and recreation agencies and other claimants on behalf of education, public health, and civil defense activities. This will present a recurring problem, likely to engender ill will and create still further delays in warehouse clearance. To broaden the surplus property donation authority of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to cover this comprehensive new group would operate as an invitation to present still more proposals for inclusion of further organizations. Enactment of H. R. 9522, or adoption of such additional proposals, would inevitably result not only in increased administrative costs and complication of disposal operations, but also in jeopardizing the orderly procedures for surplus disposal now being carried out under the direction of GSA pursuant to the provisions of that act.

The nature of this legislative proposal is such as to make impossible any firm estimate by us of the probable cost attributable thereto.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your committee.

Sincerely yours,

FRANKLIN G. FLOETE, Administrator.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,

Washington, D. C., March 14, 1958.

Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON,

Chairman, Committee on Government Operations,
House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your letter of February 5, 1958, requested a report by General Services Administration on H. R. 10377, to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to permit the donation of surplus property to volunteer fire-fighting organizations.

This bill is one of a number of bills which have been introduced for the purpose of extending the existing authorization for donation of surplus personal property (which is limited to the purposes of eduction, public health, and civil defense) to cover various other special activities and organizations.

Initially, we wish to point out that, in the drafting of H. R. 10377, there has been a failure to reflect the amendments made in section 203 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 by Public Law 200 of the 84th Congress, approved August 1, 1955 (69 Stat. 430), and Public Law 655 of the 84th Congress, approved July 3, 1956 (70 Stat. 493).

Notwithstanding how worthy may be the objectives of these volunteer firefighting organizations, GSA objects to H. R. 10377 for the reasons hereinafter set forth.

The enactment of this legislative proposal would impede the handling of surplus property by the Government and introduce new elements of costs for the Government to pay. Specifically, it would—

(a) Delay the disposal of unneeded Government property while competing claims of individual volunteer fire-fighting organizations are being

considered, with additional costs accruing to the Government for mainteance and storage of the property and attendant administrative tasks.

(b) Complicate the disposal of surplus property by introducing competition for available property between individual volunteer fire-fighting organizations and other claimants on behalf of education, public-health, and civil-defense activities. This will present a recurring problem, likely to engender ill will and create still further delays in warehouse clearance. To broaden the surplus-property donation authority of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to cover this comprehensive new group would operate as an invitation to present still more proposals for inclusion of further organizations. Enactment of H. R. 10377, or adoption of such additional proposals, would inevitably result not only in increased administrative costs and complication of disposal operations, but also in jeopardizing the orderly procedures for surplus disposal now being carried out under the direction of GSA pursuant to the provisions of that act.

The nature of this legislative proposal is such as to make impossible any firm estimate by us of the probable cost attributable thereto.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objective to the submission of this report to your committee.

Sincerely yours,

FRANKLIN FLOETE, Administrator.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,

Washington, D. C.

Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON,

Chairman, Committee on Government Operations,
House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your letter of February 21, 1958, requested the views of the General Services Administration on H. R. 10789, 85th Congress, a bill to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to permit the donation and other disposal of property to tax-supported public recreation agencies.

The purpose of the bill is to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, to include public recreation as an additional purpose for which the Administrator of General Services is authorized to donate surplus property, and to include tax-supported public recreational agencies among the institutions authorized to receive surplus property. The bill places responsibility for determining whether surplus property is usable and necessary for public recreation purposes on the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. The bill also authorizes the Administrator of General Services and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to dispose of surplus real property to taxsupported public recreation agencies for public recreation the same as presently provided in the act for properties to be used for health and education purposes. The provision authorizing the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to take into consideration any public benefit which has accrued or may accrue to the United States from the use of such real property by the grantees is also applicable to transfers or conveyances for public recreation purposes. This bill is one of a number of bills which have been introduced for the purpose of extending the existing authorization for the donation or conveyance of surplus real and personal property to cover various special activities and organizations. The enactment of this legislative proposal would necessarily increase the operating costs and impede the personal property disposal operations of General Services Administration. Handling the numerous inquiries that may be expected, and reviewing the records of stocks and the screening of available surplus against the competitive requests of various recreation agencies to determine the usability and need for such property, will be laborious. In addition, such reviews will seriously interfere with regular operations for utilization of excess, and delay the disposal of surplus personal property by sale. We are also concerned with the possible ill will and delays in warehouse clearance that will arise out of the settlement of competing claims between various recreational agencies and between recreational agencies and agencies demanding property for educational, public-health, and civil-defense purposes.

Some of the objections stated above will be applicable, in part, to the difficulties that may be expected in our disposal of surplus real property. In addition, the bill will amend materially the specific provisions of the Federal Property

and Administrative Services Act pertaining to conveyances of real property for recreational purposes. Section 602 (a) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, continues in effect section 13 (h) of the Surplus Property Act of 1944, as amended. Section 13 (h) (2) thereof provides as follows:

"Conveyances for park or recreational purposes made pursuant to the authority contained in this subsection shall be made at a price equal to 50 per centum of the fair value of the property conveyed, based on the highest and best use of the property at the time it is offered for disposal, regardless of the former character or use, as determined by the Administrator. Conveyances of property for historic monument purposes under this subsection shall be made without monetary consideration: Provided, That no property shall be determined under this paragraph to be suitable or desirable for use as an historic monument except in conformity with the recommendation of the Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic Sites, Buildings, and Monuments established by section 3 of the Act entitled 'An act for the preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of national significance, and for other purposes,' approved August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666), and no property shall be so determined to be suitable or desirable for such use if (A) its area exceeds that necessary for the preservation and proper observation of the historic monument situated thereon, or (B) it was acquired by the United States at any time subsequent to January 1, 1900."

This bill, if enacted, will, in effect, eliminate the requirement for the payment of 50 percent of the fair value of the real property conveyed for recreational areas as required by section 13 (h) (2) and substitute the public-benefit allowance provision now provided in section 203 (k) of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended. In this connection, the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, contains broad authority for the disposition of surplus real property to States and local governments and institutions for specific public uses, either without consideration or under significantly favorable pricing formulas. While disposals for these purposes serve useful purposes, they (1) frequently entail delays in the disposal of surplus real property by sale to the general public, (2) prevent the return of surplus real property to the local tax rolls, and (3) substantially reduce the monetary return to the Federal Government. Enactment of this measure would enlarge the scope of such disposals. With the increasing demands on available financial resources of the Federal Government to support and maintain the desired level of Federal governmental activities, any action which would result in the depletion of sources of revenue at this time is of doubtful wisdom.

For these reasons, GSA is opposed to the enactment of H. R. 10789. The fiscal effects of the enactment of this measure on the returns that might be realized from the disposal of surplus property, as presently authorized, cannot be evaluated.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your committee. Sincerely yours,

FRANKLIN FLOETE, Administrator.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,
Washington, D. C., April 4, 1958.

Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON,

Chairman, Committee on Government Operations,
House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your letters of March 6 and 12, 1958, requested reports by General Services Administration on identical bills H. R. 11115 and H. R. 11324, to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to permit the donation of surplus property to volunteer fire-fighting organizations. These bills are similar to a number of bills which have been introduced for the purpose of extending the existing authorization for donation of surplus personal property (which is limited to the purposes of education, public health, and civil defense) to cover various other special activities and organizations.

Initially, we wish to point out that in the drafting of H. R. 11115 and H. R. 11324 there has been a failure to reflect the amendments made in section 203 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 by Public Law

200 of the 84th Congress, approved August 1, 1955 (69 Stat. 430), and Public Law 655 of the 84th Congress, approved July 3, 1956 (70 Stat. 493).

Notwithstanding how worthy may be the objectives of these volunteer firefighting organizations, GSA objects to H. R. 11115 and H. R. 11324 for the reasons hereinafter set forth.

The enactment of these legislative proposals would impede the handling of surplus property by the Government and introduce new elements of costs for the Government to pay. Specifically, it would:

(a) Delay the disposal of unneeded Government property while competing claims of individual volunteer fire-fighting organizations are being considered with additional costs accruing to the Government for maintenance and storage of the property and attendant administrative tasks.

(b) Complicate the disposal of surplus property by introducing competition for available property between individual volunteer fire-fighting organizations and other claimants on behalf of education, public health, and civil defense activities. This will present a recurring problem, likely to engender ill will and create still further delays in warehouse clearance. To broaden the surplus property donation authority of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to cover this comprehensive new group would operate as an invitation to present still more proposals for inclusion of further organizations. Enactment of H. R. 11115 and H. R. 11324, or adoption of such additional proposals would inevitably result not only in increased administrative costs and complication of disposal operations, but also in jeopardizing the orderly procedures for surplus disposal now being carried out under the direction of GSA pursuant to the provisions of that act.

The nature of these legislative proposals is such as to make impossible any firm estimate by us of the probable cost attributable thereto.

The Bureau of the Budget has advised that there is no objection to the submission of this report to your committee. Sincerely yours,

FRANKLIN FLOETE, Administrator.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION,

Washington, D. C., April 16, 1958.

Hon. WILLIAM L. DAWSON,

Chairman, Committee on Government Operations,
House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Your letter of March 21, 1958, requested a report by General Services Administration on H. R. 11516, to amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to permit the donation of surplus property to volunteer fire-fighting organizations.

This bill is one of a number of bills which have been introduced for the purpose of extending the existing authorization for donation of surplus personal property (which is limited to the purposes of education, public health, and civil defense) to cover various other special activities and organizations.

Initially, we wish to point out that in the drafting of H. R. 11516 there has been a failure to reflect the amendments made in section 203 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 by Public Law 200 of the 84th Congress, approved August 1, 1955 (69 Stat. 430), and Public Law 655 of the 84th Congress, approved July 3, 1956 (70 Stat. 493).

Notwithstanding how worthy may be the objectives of these volunteer firefighting organizations, GSA objects to H. R. 11516 for the reasons hereinafter set forth.

The enactment of this legislative proposal would impede the handling of surplus property by the Government and introduce new elements of costs for the Government to pay. Specifically, it would:

(a) Delay the disposal of unneeded Government property while competing claims of individual volunteer fire-fighting organizations are being considered with additional costs accruing to the Government for maintenance and storage of the property and attendant administrative tasks.

(b) Complicate the disposal of surplus property by introducing competition for available property between individual volunteer fire-fighting organizations and other claimants on behalf of education, public health, and civil

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