up bills. Senator Robertson would like the record of this committee to show he is very much interested in supporting legislation which will continue without interruption adequate Federal assistance to schools in federally impacted areas, particularly those in nearby Virginia. The first witness today is Senator Burke, of Ohio. We are glad to have you here, Senator. STATEMENT OF HON. THOMAS A. BURKE, A UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF OHIO Senator BURKE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. In the interest of saving time, I would like to make a brief oral statement, and if I may, submit a written statement for the record. I am sure the members of the committee are all familiar with the problem where a Federal project goes into a certain area and thousands of people move into that district or county, that necessarily there are hundreds of children attending the schools that had not been prepared for and the local communities are just simply unable to handle that problem. The Congress 2 or 3 years ago passed a bill which recognized the obligation of the Federal Government and authorized a program under which the Federal Government accepts its responsibility and participates to a substantial degree in financing the construction of school facilities necessary to house this, what might properly be termed Federal impact upon these local areas. Now, I think it is immaterial which bill is approved, whether it be the bill that I introduced or any other, as long as some emergency relief is given. In my own State a tremendous atomic energy plant is being built, and as a result of that the schools in 3 or 4 counties nearby simply can't handle the load without Federal assistance. S. 3450 doesn't seek a permanent solution to the problem, but simply seeks to extend the existing law for 2 years. I have here this morning three witnesses which I would appreciate having the committee hear. I have Mr. John Teichert, the superintendent of schools from Waverly, Ohio, and if I may, I would like to insert my written statement in the record. (Senator Burke's written statement is as follows:) STATEMENT BY HON. THOMAS A. BURKE, UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM OHIO, ON NEED FOR ENACTMENT OF S. 3450 Now (AMENDING PUBLIC LAW 815, 81st CONG.) One of the most important laws enacted by the 81st Congress was Public Law 815, approved September 23, 1950. This law was important in several respects, but was particularly so in that it expressly set forth a policy of the Federal Government based upon fairness and justice. Public Law 815 is based upon the recognition of a fact. The fact is that activities of the Federal Government and Federal acquisition of property have created or aggravated (and may be expected to continue to create or aggravate) the problems of providing public-school facilities in some localities. It follows that the Federal Government should assist these federally affected communities in the solution of these problems. Public Law 815 declares it to be a policy of the United States to bear the cost of constructing school buildings in the affected areas in the manner and to the extent prescribed in the act. The basic reasons for which the Congress recognized, in this law, a Federal responsibility for assistance to these communities are (1) that Federal ownership of property (which is tax-exempt) reduces the local tax base for financing the construction of schools; (2) that the Federal Government has a particular obligation respecting the provision of school facilities for children whose parents live and/or work on Federal property; and (3) that Federal activity in a community may cause a sudden influx of population including children for whom the community may be financially unable to provide adequate public school facilities. This legislation has provided merely for the payment, at least in part, of a Federal obligation. It should not be regarded as "Federal aid to education"a frequently used misnomer, which improperly implies that the Federal Government is giving away something. The Federal Government has not been giving away a penny under the provisions of Public Law 815. It has only been bearing at least a part of its just share of a financial burden, the rest of which has been borne by the State and local governments. Public Law 815 originally provided a Federal contribution toward the construction of school facilities for increased school enrollments due to Federal activities which occurred from 1939 to June 30, 1952. Public Law 248, 83d Congress, approved August 8, 1953, amended and extended this legislation. The amendment provided for continued Federal contribution of funds for school construction in local school districts in which increases in school enrollments due to Federal activity occurred between June 1952 and June 1954. The new legislation provided more stringent formula provisions for eligibility of the districts to receive Federal funds. Public Law 815, 81st Congress, as amended by Public Law 246, 83d Congress, authorized Federal payments as follows: (1) 95 percent of the cost of providing minimum school facilities needed because of increases in enrollment of children whose parents live and work on Federal property; (2) 50 percent of such cost because of children whose parents either live or work on Federal property; (3) 45 percent of such cost because of increases of enrollment of children whose parents have migrated to a locality because of Federal activity but who neither live nor work on Federal property. In S. 3450 I propose simply to extend the time from June 30, 1954, to June 30, 1956, during which school districts may count federally caused enrollment increases and make application for Federal assistance. I also propose that Congress authorize the appropriation of such funds as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this extension. It was not because of any objection to Public Law 815 that last year the Congress extended for only 2 years (from June 30, 1952) the time allowed for counting enrollment increases. It was mainly for two other reasons that the extension was so limited. One of the reasons was that the impact caused by defense activities could not be foreseen after June 30, 1954. The Government was then considering substantial changes in our defense structure and in our foreign commitments. Another reason was that by March 1, 1954, the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations was expected to make recommendations concerning the whole matter of Federal, State, and local fiscal relations. The need for extension of the provisions of Public Law 815 for at least 2 years beyond June 30, 1954, is now apparent. It is now expected that the recommendations, if any, made by the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations bearing on this program will not be known before March 1, 1955. In the meantime the needs for school housing in some federally affected communities are growing worse. The Air Force is reactivating a number of its bases and constructing new ones. The return of many of our troops from certain stations abroad is increasing the school housing problem near certain military bases in the United States. Personnel expansion plus normal birth rate increases will cause additional school housing problems at some other military bases. Many letters have arrived in the United States Office of Education from officials of various school districts saying they expect substantial increases in school enrollments due to Federal activities after June 30, 1954. On account of activities of the Air Force alone the following communities have already advised the United States Office of Education that they will have an influx of federally connected children during the 1954-55 and 1955–56 school years. Blytheville, Ark.: Pulaski County, Ark.; Mountain Home, Idaho; Lincoln, Nebr.; Portsmouth, N. H.; Pemberton, N. J.; and Moses Lake, Wash. The Atomic Energy Commission's project at Portsmouth, Ohio, is expected to reach a peak of impact in the fall of 1954, with a total of about 7,000 additional children in the 4 counties affected since the project started. Construction of about 12,000 housing units for military personnel on or near military bases, approved under the Wherry housing program, will not be completed until after June 30, 1954. The children who will come into these new housing areas cannot be counted under Public Law 246, and may be lacking school facilities unless the Congress enacts S. 3450 or a similar measure. In some other localities enrollment increases may be expected due to the development of reclamation and flood-control projects. The Department of Defense is requesting authority to build 25,000 family housing units in the coming fiscal year out of funds to be appropriated. The Department is also requesting extension of the Wherry Act, which would result in additional construction of housing on or near military bases. Altogether there are many indications of grave need for enactment of S. 3450 providing for a continuation of this program. Pursuant to recommendations by President Eisenhower, some Federal and State officials are making plans for State and National conferences to consider the crucial problems of public education. It is apparent that the State and National conferences on educational problems, if held at all, will not convene until sometime in 1955 or 1956, or even later. If we delay the provision of adequate school facilities until several years from now, how can we hope to cope with our growing problem of juvenile delinquency and other problems arising from inadequate education of these children "à few years from now." The education of a child is an inevitable process-whether it be good or bad. It may be an unfortunate education leading to the life of an undesirable citizen, or a good education leading to the life of a useful and respectable citizen. What kind of education the child receives may depend largely upon the existence or lack of adequate public-school facilities. The school housing needs of our Nation's children residing in certain federally affected localities are particularly serious and urgent. The Federal responsibility in these localities is clear. We should enact S. 3450 without delay. Mr. Chairman, in order to complete the record, I would like to have incorporated a copy of my letter to you of June 16 as well as the letter from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare dated July 1, and copy of my letter which was directed to the Senators of the various States listed in the statement submitted by the Department to me. Because of your intimacy and firsthand knowledge of conditions created by the locating of Federal activities in the smaller areas, I feel sure that no further urging is necessary to insure your sympathetic and considerate approach to the necessity for expeditious action in this particular instance. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and the members of the committee, for your kindness and courtesy. UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS, July 7, 1954. Hon. H. ALEXANDER SMITH, Senate Office Building, Washington 25, D. C. DEAR SENATOR: Because of the direct effect that S. 3450 would have on certain communities in your State, I am taking the liberty of transmitting to you copy of my letter of June 15 to Senator Cooper, chairman of the Subcommittee on Education, and copy of letter dated July 1, 1954, from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Education, which are self-explanatory. S. 3450 calls for a simple extension of title III of Public Law 815, which expired June 30, 1954. This provided for substantial Federal assistance in school construction necessary to properly house the increase in school population resulting entirely from Federal activities in the area. It provides for the housing of unhoused federally connected children. S. 3450 can be truly looked upon as the "cleanup" phase of this program. I especially emphasize the estimated cost, $9,900,000, that would be incurred through the enactment of this extension. Time is running out and, from observation, it occurs to me that other programs are going to be confronted with insurmountable barriers insofar as enactment during this session is concerned. Failure to provide for an extension of title III of Public Law 815, whether it be that called for in S. 3450 or otherwise, will mean an unwarranted and unimaginable crowding of children, or a year's deferment in their educational progress. I bring this to your attention, first, because communities in your State are directly affected and, secondly, because I am somewhat familiar with your deep interest in the field of public education. I am sure that you will be pleased to participate in insuring that the necessary authorization and appropriations are provided for during this session. Cordially, DEAR SENATOR BURKE: This is in further reference to Commissioner Brownell's letter to you of June 26, 1954, giving information relative to school districts likely to have a large impact in the coming year and will answer the telephone request made today by Mr. Kelly of your office for a list of the school districts mentioned in that letter and the probable estimated cost. Enclosed is a list of the school districts which estimated that during the 1954-55 school year they will have an increase in federally connected children of 10 percent or more of the 1954 total average daily attendance. The letter of June 26 indicated that there were 64 such districts out of the total of 1,466 districts replying to the post card survey. These 1,466 districts represent 54 percent of last year's applicants under Public Law 874. The enclosed list contains only 63 districts because an error was discovered in the reported data for one of the districts included in the earlier list. We do not have adequate information on which to base estimates of the cost of a bill which would provide facilities for all unhoused children. The terms of the act under which we are operating at present and the terms of the proposal introduced by you limit construction of school facilities to unhoused children. The post card survey from which the enclosed list was taken gives no information regarding the number of unhoused children and the data regarding estimated increases in federally connected children are estimates. The order of the costs involved can be shown by stating that, based on an estimated average cost per child of $640 under the Public Law 815 program, and if the estimated 15,500 federally connected children were in fact all unhoused children, the total amount would be $9,900,000 for the children in these 63 districts. I trust that this information will be helpful to you. I shall be glad to provide further information if you desire. Sincerely yours, J. KENNETH LITTLE, List of school districts which estimate an increase of 5 percent or more in average daily attendance of all children from the 1953-55 school year which estimate an increase in section 3 federally connected children of 10 percent or more of the total 1954 daily attendance as reported to the United States Office of Education June 1954. Arkansas: Pulaski County special school district Hueneme Elementary School District Morongo School District, Twentynine Palms Lancaster School District of Los Angeles County San Clemente Elementary School District San Joaquin School District of Orange County Folsom Unified School District of Sacramento County Class C School District No. 92 of Bonneville County Independent Class A School District No. 6, Mountain Home Illinois: Common Consolidated School District 70-C, Joliet Board of Education School District No. 111, Highwood Common Consolidated School District No. 10, Mascoutah Indiana: Lawrence Township School Corp. Kansas: Indian Springs School District Mineral County High School New Hampshire: Newcastle School District, Rockingham County Board of Education of Township of New Hanover, Wrightstown New Mexico: Farmington Municipal School District No. 5 Dona Ana County Board of Education Alamogordo Municipal Board of Education New York: Central School District No. 2, Towns of Guilderland, Bethlehem, and New Scotland Ohio: Clay Local School District Piketon Local School District Waverly Local School District Hamilton Local Board of Education Oklahoma: Berwyn Dependent No. 71 Oregon: Wasco County School District No. 9 School Commission of Town of Middletown Town of North Kingston, School Department, Wickford Tennessee: Rogersville City Board of Education White Settlement County School District No. 37 Connally Consolidated Independent School District Virginia: County of Fairfax Wisconsin: Att School District No. 2, Town of Washington, Ironton, Lime Ridge Washington: Moses Lake Consolidated School District No. 161 Lower Crab Creek District No. 160, Smyrna Medical Lake School District No. 326 Consolidated School District No. 201, Oak Harbor |