technical aspects is vital and we trust that it will be supported so as to better do its job.

I would be indeed remiss if I did not pay particular tribute to the overwhelming number of Federal agencies that have cooperated with the President's Committee. You all know about the fine job done by the United States Civil Service Commission in increasing job opportunities in the Federal service and in setting an outstanding example to private employers. Not so well known is the fine work done by the Veterans' Administration Informational Service in backstopping our work with radio and television network support that resulted in more than $1 million of donated time and talent during NEPH Week alone last year, and the excellent services rendered by the Veterans' Employment Service both in Washington and throughout the country. There are many others, but these three are particularly outstanding in their support of our work and their cooperation with the rehabilitation and employment services.

Since passage of Public Law 565, I have appointed all chairmen of governors' committees as my personal representative in their respective States and Territories. I have written all governors, urging their support of the new rehabilitation program both officially and financially. I have visited a large number of States and will visit many more in the months ahead. I have made every effort to fill requests of governors and State chairmen for staff assistance by more and more staff visits, made possible, incidentally, by increased appropriations voted last year.

I am happy to report the formation of a new employer committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Arde Bulova, chairman of the Bulova Watch Co., and the successful completion of the committee's first meeting at the New York plant of the Bulova company where Gen. Omar Bradley and others met with us to plan a concerted effort to increase employer interest. You'll be pleased to know that more than 75 of our Nation's leading employers from all major areas of employment have accepted membership on this committee.

It is also a pleasure to inform you that the President has named Mr. Earl Bunting, former managing director of the National Association of Manufacturers for many years, as our committee vice chairman and chairman of our executive committee. The NAM under Mr. Bunting's leadership has rendered great service to the handicapped and only last year formed a special committee on this problem.

Both Mr. Bunting and I intend to travel a great deal int he months ahead in our voluntary work for the committee. I can assure you that the recent action of Congress has fired the imagination not only of the professional workers in the rehabilitation and employment fields, but, even more importantly, has greatly increased the opportunity of voluntary groups of citizens at State and local level to better help the handicapped to help themselves. The funds you make available to the Committee we in turn use to better serve the States while at the same time asking governors and legislatures to increase funds voted for rehabilitation and for governors' committees. A recent informal survey we took with State chairmen revealed a great and growing reliance upon the President's Committee for promotional material and staff-planning assistance. I can foresee no real diminution of this need for the next few years.

Should the time come when it appears that the handicapped are receiving an equal or better chance, I shall be the first to come before you and ask that this Committee be discharged. I would like to believe that this would be possible in my lifetime, but, certainly under the dynamic expanded program envisaged for the next 5 years we shall have to increase and multiply what the President has referred to as the "dedicated work" of our volunteers. The funds we request, including those for a few more willing professional staff workers, will better assist us to supplement the fine work of the people in the rehabilitation and employment services through State and local committees.

HOUSE ACTION

Senator HILL. How did the House treat you?

General MAAS. They gave us $130,000 with the protective language. What happened a year ago is that we lost a very substantial portion of our appropriations. I am not criticizing anybody for it, but the Congress did not intend the funds for this committee to be a part of

any departmental funds. Last year you made that quite clear, and I request you continue the same language.

Senator HILL. You want the language as the House put it in and also the amount of $130,000?

General MAAS. Yes, sir. That will be agreeable to us to keep pace with the rehabilitation program. Of course, the success of your rehabilitation program depends upon the ultimate rehabilitation, which is a job for the person after training for it. We have a substantial increased obligation this year, put on by the Congress. I believe with the $130,000 we can meet that challenge.

Senator POTTER. General, I would like to say you have a good right hand man in Bill McCahill. Bill and I are old colleagues. The two of you make a fine team to carry on this worthwhile program.

General MAAS. I would like to say, Senator, that under Bill McCahill's directorship-I have had a good many years in Government, principally in Congress, observing all departments I have never seen as small a group-there are only eight members of the staff-turn out such an enormous volume of work. I pay full tribute to Bill McCahill and his staff.

Senator HILL. General, we are very honored to have you come before us, sir.

General MAAS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

BUREAU OF LABOR STANDARDS

STATEMENTS OF PAUL E. GURSKE, DIRECTOR; ROBERT P. van ZANT, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER; AND JAMES E. DODSON, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF

LABOR

APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE

BUREAU OF LABOR STANDARDS

Salaries and expenses: For expenses necessary for the promotion of industrial safety, employment stabilization, and amicable industrial relations for labor and industry; performance of safety functions of the Secretary under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, as amended (5 U. S. C. 784 (c); performance of the functions vested in the Secretary by title I of the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947 (29 U. S. C. 159 (f) and (g)); not to exceed $50,000 for improving the conditions of migratory labor; and not less than [$75,000] $130,000 for the work of the President's Committee on National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week, as authorized by the Act of July 11, 1949 (63 Stat. 409) and provided further that no part of the appropriation for the President's Committee shall be subject to reduction or transfer to any other department or agency under the provisions of any existing law; including purchase of reports and of material for informational exhibits and expenses of attendance of cooperating officials and consultants at conferences concerned with the work of the Bureau of Labor Standards; [$722,500] $860,000.

[For an additional amount for "Salaries and expenses", $12,500; and the amount made available under this head in the Department of Labor Appropriation Act, 1955, for the work of the President's Committee on National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week, is increased from $75,000 to $87,500.7

To step-up program for improvement of workmen's compensation

To expand program for promoting and coordinating safety activities in the Federal Government:

To accelerate program for employment of the physically handicapped:

4 permanent positions..

Deduct lapses_

To keep current registration of labor unions as required by sections

9 (f) and (g) of the Labor-Management Relations Act, 1947:

1 permanent position...

Deduct lapses__.

Summary of new positions

Title

1. Development and promotion of sound labor laws and labor practices:

(a) Legislative standards and State services:

Senator HILL. We now have with us the Bureau of Labor Standards. Mr. Gurske, I understand you have a prepared statement. We will put your statement into the record at this point and you mav make any comments you see fit.

Mr. GURSKE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (The statement referred to follows:)

STATEMENT OF PAUL E. GURSKE, DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF LABOR STANDARDS

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am glad of this opportunity to appear before you and discuss the work of the Bureau of Labor Standards. While I served as chairman of the Oregon State Industrial Accident Commission, I had many occasions to use the services of the Bureau and know from experience the valuable help it gives to the State labor departments.

The Bureau's appropriation for 1955 is $735,000. The request for 1956 is $860,000, an increase of $125,000. Of the 1955 appropriation, $87,653 is for