CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -HOUSE December 201, 1974

Act which has a major aim of eliminating non-tariff trade barriers.

For the foregoing reasons, I am compelled to withhold my approval from

H.R. 2933. H.R. 11897

MEMORANDUM OF DISAPPROVAL

I have today vetoed H.R. 11897, a bill

which would name the United States

Courthouse and Federal Office Building

in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the "President Gerald R. Ford Federal Office Building."

Although I appreciate the honor expressed by the Congress in enacting this

legislation, I intend to continue the policy of past Administrations that the executive branch not endorse the naming

of Federal office buildings. Generally, the

executive branch has deferred to the

desires of the Congress on such matters.

However, I know of no Federal office

buildings that have been named for a

President while still in office. This legislation might begin a precedent I believe it best not to establish.

The proposed naming of this facility

for me in my home community is a great

honor, and one for which I am deeply

grateful; however, for the reasons I have

assigned above I feel I cannot sign H.R.

11897. H.R. 13296

MEMORANDUM OF DISAPPROVAL

I am withholding my approval from

H.R. 13296, a bill to authorize appropriations for the Maritime Administration.

This is the annual appropriations authorization bill for certain activities of

the Maritime Administration in the Department of Commerce. I would be

pleased to approve the measure if it

were limited to those authorizations.

Unfortunately, the Congress added an

unacceptable amendment which would

require the Federal Government to reimburse U.S. flag fishing vessel owners

for damage to their equipment by foreign flag ships.

The amendment would require the

Secretary of Commerce to provide interest free loans to fishermen to cover

the property and the value of produce

lost as a result of damage caused by foreign vessels operating in the area of the

U.S. Continental Shelf. If an ensuing investigation proved the loss was caused

solely by a foreign ship, the loan repayment would be canceled and the United

States would attempt to recover claims

from the government of the foreign na- tional involved. The program would be

retroactive to January 1, 1972, for claims

already filed.

This idemnity program would pose serious problems of administration because

it would be difficult to establish responsibility for any damage caused. Furthermore, since the bill provides no basis

for advance review of the recipient's

financial ability to repay a loan the Commerce Department could find itself in

the position of holding a group of bad

debts. At the same time, claims for damage would be difficult to validate and the

result would essentially be a grant program with few effective restraints.

Moreover, this program sets a precedent for the Federal relief of private

parties from the actions of foreign na- tionals. Currently, relief is extended only

to fishermen whose vessels are the victims of actions by foreign governments

beyond recognized territorial limits. International procedures now exist

through which claims against foreign nationals can be asserted and adjudicated

and these should be used in preference

to a Federal indemnity program.

I urge the Congress to pass once again

the appropriations authorizations provisions of the bill early in the next session. Meanwhile, the programs covered

by these authorizations and funded by

appropriations already enacted can be

continued under the continuing resolution which runs through February 28,

1975. S. 3943

MEMORANDUM OF DISAPPROVAL

I am withholding my approval from

S. 3943, a bill "to extend the time for

using funds appropriated to carry out

the 1973 Rural Environmental Assistance

Program and the 1974 Rural Environmental Conservation Program."

The bill would extend from December 31, 1974, to December 31, 1975, the

time within which farmers may request

and receive approval of cost-sharing assistance under the 1973 Rural Environmental Assistance Program (REAP) and

the 1974 Rural Environmental Conservation Program (RECP). In total, this bill

would make $125,000,000 available to

farmers for water and soil conservation

practices which would otherwise not be

available beyond December 31. 1974.

In my judgment, this bill is not necessary because sufficient cost-share funds

have been made available for producers

to finance sound conservation practices.

Those producers interested in these programs have had adequate time to request

and receive approval of these cost-share

funds by the end of December 1974. I

understand that those farmers, who have

started approved conservation practices

during the allotted time and were unable

to complete them because of weather or

other uncontrollable circumstances, will

be permitted to complete these practices

and receive cost-sharing assistance during 1975.

This Administration shares the view

that REAP and RECP have made important contributions to conservation and

the rural environment. However, the

programs have long ago achieved their

objectives. These programs were initiated

in the 1930's to supplement farmers' incomes and provide incentives to farmers

to install soil and water conservation

practices. They were successful in demonstrating the value of conservation as a

good farming practice. Many of the practices supported by the programs are

profitable without Federal assistance and

the supplementary income from this

source has diminished in importance at

a time when net farm income is near an

all-time high.

It is, therefore, my earnest opinion

that this bill is both unnecessary and unjustified, and on that basis I withhold my

approval.

S. 3341

MEMORANDUM OF DISAPPROVAL

I have withheld my approval from

S. 3341, the "Travel Expenses Amendments Act of 1974."

This bill would raise the maximum per

diem allowance and mileage rates for

civilian Government employees traveling on official business. I endorse this proposal. Unfortunately, a provision was added to the bill which would establish a rigid system of mileage reimbursement

to the disabled veteran-with no discretionary authority for payment of a lesser

amount where justified when the veteran was authorized to travel for treatment.

This provision assumes that there are great similarities in the travel situations

of Veterans Administration beneficiaries

and Federal employees who are away

from home on Government business.

This is not the case, however. Generally,

a short span of time and distance is involved in VA beneficiary travel to a facility for vocational rehabilitation, coun- seling and health care, while Government

employees may be traveling for days or weeks at a time. The employee per diem

is designed to pay for necessary living

expenses during this period, including

those of lodging and meals.

Under this bill, Government employees

using their privately owned vehicles may

be reimbursed at the minimum 15¢ per

mile, or at a rate comparable to the cost

to the Government if the employee used a Government-owned vehicle. This flexibility would be continued for Government employee travel under the bill

passed by the Congress. However, such

management flexibility would not be applicable to travel of VA beneficiaries.

The result would be the required payment of unwarranted mileage rates that

would add an estimated $25 million a year to the VA budget.

The Administration will ask the 94th

Congress for a new bill to raise the max- imum per diem and mileage rates for

Federal employees which have been inadequate for some time. Many Federal

employees who are required to travel in

connection with their work have suffered

considerable out-of-pocket expenses in

recent years. This should be rectified as soon as possible.

GERALD R. FORD.

THE WHITE HOUSE.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON PRIVATE BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of

committees were delivered to the Clerk

for printing and reference to the proper

calendar, as follows:

[Submitted Dec. 30, 1974]

Mr. EVINS of Tennessee: Select Committee on Small Business. Energy data requirements of the Federal Government (Rept. No. 93-

1648). Referred to the Committee of the

Whole House on the State of the Union.

Mr. HOLIPIELD: Committee on Government Operations. Reducing abuses in pro- prietary vocational education (Rept. No. 93-

1649). Referred to the Committee of the

Whole House on the State of the Union.

Mr. HOLFIELD: Committee on Government Operations, Impact of heroin addiction on the criminal Justice system (Rept. No.

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