CONGRESSIONAL RECORD reHOUSE October 1, 1976

I believe that this procedure is contrary to the Constitution, and that my

approval of it would threaten an erosion

of the constitutional powers and responsibilities of the President. I have already

directed the Attorney General to become

a party plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging

the constitutionality of a similar provision in the Federal Election Campaign

Act.

In addition, this provision would allow

the House of Representatives to block

adoption of what is essentially an amendment to a treaty, a responsibility which

is reserved by the Constitution to the

Senate.

This legislation would forge impermissible shackles on the President's ability

to carry out the laws and conduct the

foreign relations of the United States.

The President cannot function effectively in domestic matters, and speak

for the Nation authoritatively in foreign

affairs, if his decisions under authority

previously conferred can be reversed by

a bare majority of one House of the

Congress.

The Convention-which has already

been approved by the Senate-makes important changes in the international

rules for safe navigation. It will enter

into force in July 1977. The United States

should become a party to it. If the United

States does not implement the Convention before it enters into force, there will

be major differences between the navigational rules followed by U.S. ships and

by the ships of many other countries.

These differences will increase the danger of collisions at sea and create hazards to life and property at sea.

I strongly urge the 95th Congress to

pass legislation early next year that will

be consistent with our Constitution, so

that the United States can implement the

Convention before it enters into force.

H.R. 10073

MEMORANDUM OF DISAPPROVAL

I have withheld my approval from H.R.

10073, "An Act to provide for the mandatory inspection of domesticated rabbits

slaughtered for human food, and for

other purposes."

This bill would make applicable to domesticated rabbits, with minor exceptions, the provisions of the Poultry Products Inspection Act. It would require the

Secretary of Agriculture to implement a

mandatory inspection program for all domesticated rabbit meat sold in commerce, with certain exemptions related

to type and volume of operations.

It should be noted that the Food and

Drug Administration now inspects rabbit

meat to ensure that it complies with Federal pure food laws. Thus, there is no

health protection reason for requiring

mandatory Agriculture Department inspection of rabbit meat.

The effect of this act would be to substitute a mandatory taxpayer-financed

Agriculture Department inspection program for a voluntary one that is now

provided under another law and paid for

by the processors and consumers of rabbit meat. Since the voluntary program

already provides a means for certifying

wholesomeness to those consumers who

demand such protection for this specialty food and are willing to pay for the

protection, I do not believe that a mandatory program is wise public policy.

In addition, it is estimated that the

cost to the taxpayer of gove'nment inspection provided by this Act could be

more than ten cents per pound.

The limited benefit to be derived by

a relative few consumers of rabbit meat

cannot be justified in terms of the cost

to the taxpayer. I am therefore not approving H.R. 10073.

GERALD R. FORD

THE WHITE HOUSE.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, ETC.

Under clause 2 of rule XXIV, executive

communications were taken from the

Speaker's table and referred as follows:

4112. A letter from the General Counsel,

U.S. General Accounting Office, transmitting a report on the release of budget authority

required to be made available for obligation

pursuant to section 1013 (b) of the Impoundment Control Act of 1974; to the Committee on Appropriations.

4113. A letter from the Secretary of the

Army, transmitting the annual report of the

U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home for fiscal

year 1975, and the report of the annual general inspection of the home for 1976 by the

Inspector General, pursuant to the act of

March 3, 1883, as amended [24 U.S.C. 59, 601;

to the Committee on Armed Services.

4114. A letter from the Deputy Director,

Office of Management and Budget, Executive

Office of the President, transmitting a report on actions taken on recommendations con- tained in the annual report for fiscal year

1975 of the President's Council on Physical

Fitness and Sports, dated July 25, 1975, pursuant to section 6(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act; to the Committee on Government Operations.

4115. A letter from the Deputy Secretary

of Defense, transmitting the annual report

and audit of the American National Red

Cross for the year ended June 30, 1975, pursuant to section 6 of the act of January 5,

1905, as amended; to the Committee on International Relations.

4116. A letter from the General Counsel,

U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency,

transmitting an interim report on progress

in the study of the impact on military ex- penditures of arms control measures mutually agreed to by the United States and the

Soviet Union, pursuant to section 142 of Public Law 94-141; to the Committee on International Relations.

4117. A letter from the Assistant Legal

Adviser for Treaty Affairs, Department of

State. transmitting copies of international

agreements, other than treaties, entered into

by the United States, pursuant to section 112

(b) of Public Law 92-403; to the Committee on International Relations.

4118. A letter from the Chairman, U.S.

Consumer Safety Commission, transmitting

the fourth annual report of the Commission,

covering fiscal year 1976. pursuant to section

27(j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act;

to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign

Commerce.

4119. A letter from the Administrator, Federal Energy Administration, transmitting a

report on changes in market shares of retail

gasoline marketers during May and June

1976, pursuant to section 4(c) (2) (A) of the

Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1970;

to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign

Commerce.

4120. A letter from the Director, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, transmitting

his initial report on the operation of the

speedy trial plans adopted by the U.S. district courts under title I of the Speedy Trial

Act, and the operation of pretrial services

agencies established in 10 district courts on

a demonstration basis under title II of the

act, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3155 and 3167; to

the Committee on the Judiciary.

4121. A letter from the Vice Chairman,

Father Marquette Tercentenary Commission,

transmitting the final report of the Commission, pursuant to section 2 of Public Law

89-187; to the Committee on Post Office

and Civil Service.

4122. A letter from the Assistant Secretary

of the Army (Civil Works), transmitting a

supplement to the first annual report recommending deauthorization of certain projects, pursuant to section 12 of Public Law 93-

251; (H.Doc. No. 94-654) to the Committee

on Public Works and Transportation and ordered to be printed.

4123. A letter from the district engineer,

Tulsa District, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army, transmitting a draft plan

of study of the water and related land resources of the Canadian River basin downstream of the Texas-New Mexico State line;

to the Committee on Public Works and

Transportation.

4124. A letter from the Chairman, Joint

Committee on Congressional Operations,

transmitting a draft of a proposed resolution

to amend the House rules for the purpose of

assisting in the reduction of the number of

committees meeting on certain days of each

month, pursuant to section 206 of the Committee Reform Amendments of 1974 (H.

Res. 988); to the Committee on Rules.

4125. A letter from the Vice Chairman,

U.S. International Trade Commission, transmitting the seventh quarterly report on

trade between the United States and nonmarket economy countries, pursuant to section 410 of the Trade Act of 1974; to the

Committee on Ways and Means.

RECEIVED FROM THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL

4126. A letter from the Comptroller General of the United States, transmitting a

report on "buy-national" practices of the

United States and some of its major trading

partners; to the Committee on Government

Operations.

4127. A letter from the Comptroller General of the United States, transmitting a report on the effectiveness of the Army's direct

supply support system; jointly, to the Committees on Government Operations, and

Armed Services.

4128. A letter from the Comptroller General of the United States, transmitting a report evaluating actions taken by the Energy

Research and Development Administration

in publishing and distributing copies of a

pamphlet entitled "Shedding Light on Facts

About Nuclear Energy" before the referendum on nuclear energy in California; jointly,

to the Committee on Government Operations, and the Joint Committee on Atomic

Energy.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON PUBLIC 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:

Mr. ULLMAN: Committee of conference.

Conference report on H.R. 10210 (Rept. No.

94-1745). Ordered to be printed.

Mr. BROOKS: Committee on Government

Operations. Administration of Public Law

89-306, procurement of ADP resources by

the Federal Government (Rept. No. 94-1746).

Referred to the Committee of the Whole

House on the State of the Union.

Mr. FOLEY: Committee on Agriculture.

H. Res. 1399. Resolution expressing the sense

of the House relative to foreign palm oil development loans (Rept. No. 94-1747, pt. I)

Ordered to be printed.

Mr. FOLEY: Committee on Agriculture.

H. Res. 1400. Resolution expressing the sense

of the House relative to a study by the Sec35384