Dr. WELCH. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee. We welcome the opportunity to discuss with you the 1962 budget estimates for the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture.

In commenting on these estimates I wish to highlight the results from our review of the budget submitted to Congress in January by the previous administration. During these deliberations at the departmental level, we were concerned with whether or not, in our judgment, sufficient consideration was being given to the important role that protection and development of our forestry resources must play in the future well-being of the Nation.

President Kennedy, in his message to the Congress on natural resources, stated:

Wise investment in a resource program today will return vast dividends tomorrow, and failures to act now may be opportunities lost forever. Our country has been generous with us in this regard-and we cannot now ignore her needs for future development.

AMENDMENTS TO 1962 FORESTRY BUDGET

After reviewing the program accomplishments contemplated under the January budget estimates, we concluded that it was essential to give greater attention to the forestry program for which the Department of Agriculture has responsibility. Accordingly, President Kennedy on March 20 submitted a request to Congress to amend the fiscal year 1962 budget, sent to Congress earlier, by providing an additional increase of $22 million for Forest Service programs. Including proposals in the previous budget, this provided a total appropriation increase of $38.1 million over the current fiscal year 1961.

The major part of this increase will be applied to Operation Multiple Use the program for the national forests. I have been particularly impressed with this program which Dr. McArdle and his staff prepared in 1959. Not only does this program provide clear-cut goals and objectives but it forms an instrument for presenting the fund requirements in a logical and orderly manner. This is an accelerated program designed to develop all national forest renewable resources to meet the increasing demands of an expanding population during the next 10 to 15 years. But, the funding part of the program has not accelerated at a rate we feel is necessary if the program is to advance in an orderly and progressive manner. The revised budget now provides a proposed increase over 1961 of $34.7 million for the program which is $20.5 million more than provided in the original budget. I should point out that this is still below the annual increment originally proposed and, consequently, we feel it represents the very minimum which should be provided in fiscal year 1962 if we are to adequately discharge our responsibilities for carrying the program forward.

PROVISION FOR WORK WITH STATES

The revised budget provides a total increase of $4.6 million for our forestry programs conducted in cooperation with the States. President Kennedy, in his agricultural message to Congress, called attention to the need to give greater financial assistance to the States in the cooperative assistance programs dealing with small forest owners, to expand tree planting and increase protection against losses caused by fire, forest insects, and tree diseases.

The revised budget provided an increase of $3 million over the original budget for the State cooperative programs so that a new start could be made toward achieving these essential objectives.

Dr. McArdle and his staff will be glad to give you details on the estimates and to explain the effects of changes made in the appropriation bill as passed by the House of Representatives.

AMOUNTS REQUESTED

Chairman HAYDEN. Dr. McArdle, before you begin your statement, I would like to place in the record the justifications for the budget estimate for "Forest protection and utilization" for fiscal year 1962 in the amount of $157,804,000. This is an increase of $29,627,500 over last year's figure. I am sure that you will discuss with the committee the desirability of this increase.

(The justifications referred to follow :)

Forest protection and utilization

1 In addition, $700,000 is available by transfer from "Cooperative range improvements."

1 Includes allocations to the Department of the Interior: 1961, $368,610; 1962. $368,700.

* Represents obligations. Applied costs for 1960 are $132,095,274.

The difference of

$3,100,674 reflects, primarily, contractual services and equipment used in 1960 over contracts made and orders placed in that year.

INCREASES, 1962

The increase of $29,627,500 in the Forest Protection and Utilization appropriation is distributed as follows:

Operation Multiple Use the program for the National Forests---- $26, 027, 300 State and Private Forestry Cooperation--

Total_---

3,600, 200

29, 627, 500

The increase of $26,027,300 plus the $12 million of new contract authorization shown under the appropriation Forest Roads and Trials, or a total increase of $38,027,300, is needed for the second increment necessary to the orderly fulfillment of Operation Multiple Use the program for the National Forests.

NOTE. When consideration is given to the estimated decrease of $2.8 million in 10 percent of national forest receipts for roads and trails and the decrease of $500,000 for acquisition of lands, Superior National Forest, then the net increase for the program is $34.7 million.

Despite substantial progress, management of the national forests is running behind public demands for use of its resources. There must be still more intensive development if the people of this country are to have full benefits of the nationalforest system.

Operation Multiple Use is the accelerated program already underway to develop all national forest renewable resources to meet the increasing demands of an expanding population during the next 10 to 15 years. This program carries out the charge of Public Law 86-517 directing that the national forests be administered for multiple use and sustained yield. It has been described as a race against time to make the potential yields of water, recreation, timber, forage, and wildlife from these public forests keep up with the Nation's growing needs. The goals of Operation Multiple Use are:

More and better water: Step up watershed management and protection to increase the quantity and improve the quality of water yields.

More wood for the Nation: Increase annual harvest through intensified sustained-yield management of present timber stands; growing more and better trees; reducing disease, insect and fire losses; and improving utilization.

More recreation for more millions to meet the needs of an expected 130 million visits by 1969.

Better hunting and fishing to accommodate the dramatically increasing number of Americans seeking outdoor sport on streams, lakes and trails in the national forests.

Better range, better grazing: Improve the range resource to achieve sustained high-level forage production and better watershed conditions through intensified management, better range practices, and more balanced use.

Intensified protection to safeguard present national-forest values as well as planned future investments. This calls for additional measures to prevent, detect, and control forest insects and disease, and improve equipment and techniques for fire control.

An expanded road system to aid protection, open up more timber for management, provide greater access for people visiting the forest for recreation, and aid in multiple-use administration.

Boundary adjustments and ownerships consolidation, where public and private lands are intermixed, are necessary for effective management.

Essential structures and equipment to keep pace with the resource development program. This includes operating bases, with headquarters and housing of personnel, new fire lookout stations, equipment warehouses and other service buildings.

Accelerated research on a broad scale to aid and support the resource management and development program. Research must show the way to new methods in the management of timber, soil and water, forage, wildlife habitat, and recre ation resources. To come up with quick results required during the short-term period will take additional laboratories, greenhouses, scientific equipment, and other facilities.

Operation Multiple Use will benefit every citizen. Whether it is wood obtained from these public properties, or water, recreation, wildlife or forage, or maintenance of jobs and creation of new jobs and payrolls, the utilization of national forest resources directly or indirectly enters into every American home. The