Tennessee, State of, Hon. Winfield Dunn, Governor, statement. Hon. Frank C. Gorrell (former Lieutenant Governor) cochairman_ Thomson, Hon. Vernon W., a Representative in Congress from the State Page 864 1303 1303 1312 United Automobile Workers of America, Jack Beidler, legislaive director, 1399 1047 U.S. Catholic Conference, Bishop Joseph Bernardin, general secretary, statement.. 1416 U.S. Conference of Mayors, Hon. James H. J. Tate, president (Mayor of 663 Venema, Maynard P., cochairman, Illinois Citizens Committee for Revenue 1051 Vermont Citizens Committee for Revenue Sharing: Consuelo N. Bailey, cochairman, letter to Chairman Mills 1103 Hon. Thomas H. Candon (Minority Leader, Vermont House of Representatives) cochairman, letter dated June 10, 1971, to Chairman Mills.... 1103 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Francis W. Stover, director, national legislative 1426 386 Weems, Lawrence D., cochairman, Alabama Citizens Committee for Rev- 1046 Hon. Robert E. Hinerman (Mayor, Huntington, W. Va.), cochairman_ 1103 1103 1348 848 Wisconsin, State of, Hon. Patrick J. Lucey, Governor, letter dated June 15, 1971, to Chairman Mills, with enclosure- 865 Wisconsin Citizens Committee for Revenue Sharing, letter to Chairman Carl E. Steiger, cochairman_. 1104 John Kannenberg, cochairman. 1104 Zeo, Frank J., chairman, National Taxpayers Conference, letter dated 1411 GENERAL REVENUE SHARING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1971 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, Washington, D.C. The committee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to notice, in the committee room, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Wilbur D. Mills (chairman of the committee) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will please be in order. The purpose of this hearing this morning is to receive testimony on the administration proposal on general revenue sharing and on any alternative proposals which witnesses may care to bring to our attention. Without objection, a copy of the Committee on Ways and Means press release dated May 11, 1971, announcing this hearing will be made a part of the record of these proceedings at this point. Also, at this point, without objection, a copy of the President's message on general revenue sharing and the text of H.R. 4187, which embodies the administration proposal will be made a part of the record. No objection is heard. (The documents referred to follow :) [Press Release of Tuesday, May 11, 1971] CHAIRMAN WILBUR D. MILLS (D., ARK.), COMMITTEE ON Ways and Means, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HEARINGS ON GENERAL REVENUE SHARING TO BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1971 Chairman Wilbur D. Mills, Democrat of Arkansas, Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, today announced that on Wednesday, June 2, 1971, the Committee on Ways and Means will begin public hearings on the subject of the Administration proposal on general revenue sharing and any alternative proposals on which witnesses may care to testify. The Chairman stated that officials of the Administration will be the first witnesses, beginning Wednesday, June 2. Testimony from the general public will begin on Monday, June 7. Requests to be heard must be received by the Committee by the close of business Tuesday, May 25, 1971, addressed to John M. Martin, Jr., Chief Counsel, Committee on Ways and Means, Room 1102 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 (telephone: area code 202 225-3625). Notification will be made as promptly as possible after this cutoff date as to when witnesses have been scheduled to appear. If any prior request for an appearance has been filed with the Committee on this subject, it is necessary at this time to re-submit such a request, furnishing the information indicated below and otherwise conforming to the rules set forth in conducting this hearing. In view of the heavy schedule of the Committee and the limited time available to devote to the conduct of this hearing, it will be absolutely necessary that all persons and organizations with the same general interest designate one spokesman to represent them so as to conserve the time of the Committee and the other (1) witnesses, prevent repetition and assure that all aspects of the proposals can be given appropriate attention. After requests have been submitted, witnesses may feel free to contact the Chief Counsel who will assist in consolidating the requests of groups with a similar interest. The request to be heard must contain the following information, otherwise delay may result in the proper processing of a request: (1) The name, address and capicity in which the witness will appear; (2) The list of persons or organizations the witness represents and in the cast of associations or organizations their total membership and where possible a membership list; (3) The amount of time the witness desires in which to present his directoral testimony (not including answers to questions of Committee Members); (4) An indication of whether or not the witness is supporting or opposing any specific proposal or proposals on which he desires to testify; and (5) A topical outline or summary of the comments and recommendations which the witness proposes to make. With respect to oral testimony, the rules of the Committee require that prepared statements be submitted to the Committee office not later than 48 hours prior to the scheduled appearance of the witness. Seventy-five (75) copies of the prepared statement would be required in this instance; an additional 75 copies may be submitted, if the witness desires to do so, for distribution to the press and the interested public on the witness' date of appearance. Any interested organization or person may submit a written statement in lieu of a personal appearance for consideration for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing. Such statements should be submitted by June 18, 1971, in triplicate. An additional 75 copies of written statements for the printed record will be accepted for distribution to the press and interested public if submitted before the final day of the public hearing. It would be most helpful for all prepared written statements to contain a summary of testimony and recommendations and that throughout the statement itself pertinent subject headings be used. A DRAFT OF PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO RESTORE BALANCE IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED STATES; TO PROVIDE BOTH THE FLEXIBILITY AND RESOURCES FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO EXERCISE LEADERSHIP IN SOLVING THEIR OWN PROBLEMS; TO ACHIEVE A BETTER ALLOCATION OF TOTAL PUBLIC RESOURCES; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE SHARING WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF A PORTION OF THE TAX REVENUE RECEIVED BY THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 9, 1971.-Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, February 9, 1971. Hon. CARL ALBERT, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I am transmitting herewith a draft bill to carry out the program of general revenue sharing as explained in my message to the Congress of February 4, 1971. This general revenue sharing bill is one of the twin pillars of the total $16 billion revenue sharing proposal, representing a new and dramatic reorientation of our Federal system by strengthening State and local governments. It would provide to those governments $5 billion during its first full year of operation and would be based each year on a designated percentage of the Nation's taxable personal income-thus representing new funds without requiring new taxes or transfers of funds from existing Federal programs. No program or project restrictions would be placed on general revenue sharing funds. The details of this proposal have been developed in close consultation with city, county, and State officials from across the country and 63-829 0-71-pt. 1 in discussions with members of Congress. They are explained in the enclosed description and section-by-section analysis of the bill. As I said in my recent State of the Union message: The time has come for a new partnership between the Federal Government and the States and localities-a partnership in which we entrust States and localities with a larger share of the Nation's responsibilities and in which we share our Federal revenues with them so they can meet those responsibilities. I strongly urge prompt and favorable action by the Congress on the General Revenue Sharing Act of 1971. Sincerely, RICHARD NIXON. A BILL To restore balance in the Federal system of government in the United States; to provide both the flexibility and resources for State and local government officials to exercise leadership in solving their own problems; to achieve a better allocation of total public resources; and to provide for the sharing with State and local governments of a portion of the tax revenue received by the United States Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SHORT TITLE SEC. 101. This Act may be cited as the "General Revenue Sharing Act of 1971". DEFINITIONS SEC. 201. (a) For purposes of this Act (1) except where otherwise indicated, the term "fiscal year" means the fiscal year of the Government of the United States; (2) the term "general revenue" means general revenue from own sources, as defined and used by the Bureau of the Census, provided that in the case of the District of Columbia it shall include the Federal payment authorized under 47 D.C. Code § 2501 (a) (81 Stat. 339); (3) the term "Governor" means the chief executive officer of cach State or his delegate; (4) the term "individual income tax returns" means the returns of tax required to be filed on the income of individuals under the internal revenue laws of the United States; (5) the term "local government" means a municipality, county, or township, (but does not include independent school districts or special districts) as such terms are defined and used by the Bureau of the Census; (6) the term "personal income" means personal income as defined and used by the Office of Business Economics of the Department of Commerce; (7) the term "population" means total resident population as defined and used by the Bureau of the Census; (8) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate; (9) the term "Attorney General" means the Attorney General of the United States or his delegate; (10) the term "State" means the several States of the United States and the District of Columbia; |