Mr. CANNON. We take up this morning consideration of the estimates for the public works appropriation bill. We are glad to have with us General Graham.

It is interesting to note in this connection total appropriations in this bill for the fiscal year 1963 were $5,071,416,000, in round figures; for the fiscal year 1964, the amount was $4,405,303,000; and the estimate for fiscal year 1965 is $4,369,585,000. It is gratifying to note that each year a smaller amount has been requested and that each year we have appropriated a smaller amount than was appropriated for the previous year.

Now, on the corps, itself, which is immediately before us, the trend is in the other direction. For the fiscal year 1963, we appropriated $1,044,633,800.

For the fiscal year 1964, we increased that to $1,093,133,500 and now we have before us a request for a still larger amount in the sum of $1,150,164,000.

I might say by way of explanation that we have reorganized our hearing process this year, in order to save time because time is of the essence. We must complete this session earlier than we have com

pleted sessions for sometime back, and we will have consolidated in this one book you have before you, all new starts and those estimates for going projects about which there is some problem to be considered. Now, if any member of the committee desires to see the rest of the project justifications which are ordinarily included in the six separate books, they are available here in the room, at any time.

In a further effort to save time, we will dispense this year with instructions to insert justifications in the record. We will ask the Corps of Engineers to make such insertions at the proper place for all projects, when they receive their transcript for review.

General Graham, we are pleased to have you with us this morning. We shall be glad to have any general statement you care to make.

GENERAL STATEMENT

General GRAHAM. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is a privilege to be here.

At the table with me this morning are General Penney, deputy director of Civil Works for Comprehensive Planning; and Mr. Tofani, our chief programer who has appeared before the committee many times. Our assistant directors are here.

Also present is Mr. Freed from the Army Comptroller's Office and Mr. Howes from the Engineer Comptroller's Office.

My staff and I are pleased to present the budget estimates for fiscal year 1965 for the civil functions activities of the Corps of Engineers. As in the past, the Division Engineers will follow me to answer questions of the committee relating to the projects and programs in their areas of responsibility.

The budget request of $1,151.4 million compares with an appropriation of $1,095.1 million for fiscal year 1964, an increase of $56.3 million. The 5-percent increase over last year is essentially due to the advanced stage of construction on many projects and programs. To minimize this increase, completion, power-on-line, and closure dates have been extended on a number of projects. To allow for continuing progress in the Nation's water resources development, the budget provides for limited numbers of new starts on surveys and planning and construction projects.

The amount requested for general investigations is $19,760,000 as compared to the fiscal year 1964 appropriation of $19,115,000. The increase is primarily in the survey program. The request provides for continuation of 187 navigation, flood control, and beach erosion studies, and for the initiation of 20 new studies. Of the total of 207 studies, 86 will be completed with the funds provided in fiscal year 1965.

Included in the general investigations request are funds to continue the comprehensive basin surveys. I would like to bring you up-todate on this program.

The program of comprehensive river basin planning contemplated by the four departments last year was then tentatively estimated to cost on the order of $400 million. The Appropriations Committees expressed concern with the cost and questioned the coordination between Departments.

In the light of these comments and budgetary limitations, the four Departments in cooperation with the Bureau of the Budget have substantially modified the approach to the comprehensive planning