Mr. ROONEY. It appears that this request is divided into two parts One, regional planning assistance in the amount $8,400,000, and program administration in the amount $900,000. This is one in which there is no proposed limitation on the amount for administrative expenses; is that right? Mr. IMHOFF. That is correct. Mr. ROONEY. You are asking for how many additional positions? Mr. IMHOFF. A total of 150 positions is contained in this estimate. Mr. ROONEY. If I understand this correctly from the insertion we just made in the record, you are asking for eight people at $26,250 per annum and eight more people at $24,500 per annum each? Mr. FOLEY. Each one of these regional commissions, Mr. Chairman, is expected to have a Federal cochairman at the salary level of an assistant secretary, just as the Federal cochairman for the Appalachia Commission is at the level of an assistant secretary. That was specifically provided for by the act. REGIONAL COMMISSIONS Mr. ROONEY. You are requesting regional action planning commissioners for how many such commissions? Mr. FOLEY. Eight. Mr. ROONEY. Where are these going to be located? Mr. FOLEY. We can't tell exactly what regions would seek to organize under the act, and would be qualified under the provisions of title V: but we expect expression of interest from at least the following: The New England area, the Upper Great Lakes, some part of the Southern United States, the Ozark area, the upper middle plains (that is the Dakotas and Montana), the lower Rocky Mountains, an area on the west coast, and Alaska. Mr. ROONEY. According to my calculation that is eight. It might be noted, gentlemen, that at page RED-9 there is a statement of the tentative estimate of cost components of one of these regional commissions with 20 positions in each. Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Chairman, the estimate here is for one of what is expected to be two of the larger regional commissions. The other six are expected to be smaller. This is the anticipated staffing for one of the two larger regional commissions. Mr. ROONEY. It should also be noted that at page RED-9, $75,000 is included for contracts with consulting firms for each and every one of these commissions. Mr. IMHOFF. That is correct, Mr. Chairman. Mr. ROONEY. The proposed other expenses for each and every one would be in the amount of $60,000? Mr. IMHOFF. That is the total, Mr. Chairman, for one of the larger regional commissions. That would be on an annual basis. I should like to point out, Mr. Chairman, that those employees shown on that particular table, page RED-9, are non-Federal employees. They are as such not reflected in these estimates. Mr. ROONEY. These examples of technical and planning assistance projects and studies set forth at pages 10 and 11 of this set of justifications seem to me to be studies which must have already been made by old established departments of the Government, such as the Department of Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and others. What is meant at page 12 in connection with the request for $0.9 million for program administration? Mr. FOLEY. It is expected STAFF SERVICES Mr. ROONEY. By the statement that the Office of Regional Economic Development will perform staff services for the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development; what is meant by that? Mr. FOLEY. The authority of the Secretary of Commerce in this field of regional development will be delegated to the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development. Under the term "staff services" is included the work in the designation of these regions and precise geographical areas to be included within them, the setting up of staffs in each commission, the working out with them of their plans and just generally coordinating the whole area of regional economic planning. Mr. ROONEY. Streamlining and coordinating. What is the average grade requested for these staff services? Mr. IMHOFF. The average GS grade, Mr. Chairman, for the 150 positions included in this budget is 10.4. I do not have it broken down separately for the 60 positions shown here. CONSULTANTS Mr. ROONEY. How much is included in this request for consultants? Mr. ROONEY. That would be $75,000 for consultants and include $5,000 for temporary employment? Mr. IMHOFF. Yes, sir; I stand corrected, it is $5,000 for temporary employment. Mr. ROONEY. When we inquired as to how much was in this budget for consultants, did you tell us about the item of $220,000 at page RED-15 for consulting support by non-Federal organizations or the $98,000 for consulting support by non-Federal organizations to Federal cochairmen ? Mr. IMHOFF. Mr. Chairman, that consult Mr. ROONEY. Did you or did you not? Mr. IMHOFF. No; I did not. That would be under contract. Mr. ROONEY. I think you told us something like $75,000 total, did you not? Mr. IMHOFF. Yes, sir. OTHER SERVICES Mr. ROONEY. Is there any explanation for this $4,718,000 in other services, part of which I have just referred to other than the statements at page RED-15? In other words, is there any further explanation beyond about four lines shown at that page for a request of $4,718,000? Mr. IMHOFF. I think not, Mr. Chairman. Mr. ROONEY. With regard to page Mr. IMHOFF. Except that on page RED-7, the first paragraph, "Such assistance may include studies and plans evaluating the needs of, and developing," and so forth and so on. Mr. ROONEY. That is just script writing. There is no appropriation detail there; is there? Of course not. Mr. IMHOFF. There are examples on pages 10 and 11. Mr. ROONEY. Where is there a dollar figure on page 10 or 11? SERVICES OF OTHER AGENCIES Mr. ROONEY. Let us get to page 16. We have here a request for $1,234,000. What details do you have with regard to this? Mr. IмHOFF. We do not have detailed figures to show how that would break down, Mr. Chairman. Except that we anticipate approximately $1.1 million in services will be provided by other Federal agencies, such as the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture. The balance would cover administrative services both for the Office of Regional Economic Development and for the Federal cochairmen. GRANTS, SUBSIDIES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS Mr. ROONEY. Also at page 16 we find an item of $1,800,000 entitled "Grants, subsidies, and contributions." What detail do you have on that other than the statement, "The entire amount is to grants to regional commissions for their administrative expenses"? Mr. IмHOFF. On page RED-9, which was referred to at an earlier point, Mr. Chairman, is shown what we think might be the typical costs of one of the larger regional commissions. We anticipate there would be two larger and six smaller regions. The $1,800,000 would cover administrative costs of these commissions. Mr. ROONEY. The administrative costs of these commissions, a typical one of which would have 20 employees and cost $350,000? Mr. IмHOFF. Yes, sir; on an annual basis. Mr. ROONEY. Which would include in addition to these 20 positions, contracts with consulting firms, travel, rental of space, equipment and supplies, and another item entitled "Other," $15,000; is that right? Mr. IMHOFF. That is correct, Mr. Chairman. Mr. ROONEY. How do you jibe the fact that on page 9, to which you have just made reference, we find an item of equipment and supplies for one of these eight larger regional commissions and the item at page 16 which would include $108,000 for equipment? Mr. IMHOFF. Mr. Chairman, the $15,000 shown on page RED-9 would be related to the 20 non-Federal employees and included as a part of the $1,800,000. Therefore, the costs which relate to other positions, which were shown on this staffing chart, are shown on page RED-16. Mr. ROONEY. Would they not also be included in the $1.8 million for administrative expenses? Mr. IMHOFF. No, sir; they are not, Mr. Chairman. Mr. ROONEY. Are you sure? Mr. IMHOFF. Yes, sir. Reference back to this spread sheet we supplied, I think, will show that, Mr. Chairman. Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Bow? SALARIES OF COCHAIRMAN AND GOVERNORS Mr. Bow. In these Federal regions for planning assistance, you have given us areas where they are going to be set up. Do you know pretty well what States are going to be included in those regions? Mr. FOLEY. As a rough idea, Mr. Bow, of what States would be included; yes. Mr. Bow. Can you tell me in the States that are roughly set up what you expect to have there, what the salary is for the Governor of each one of those States? Mr. FOLEY. We can provide that for the record. I do not have that material with me right now. Mr. Bow. I wish you would set them up by State and show_the salary of the Lieutenant Governor in each State as well as the salary of the Governor. Mr. FOLEY. Yes, sir. (The information follows:) Federal Cochairman (Comparison of salaries with Governors and Lieutenant Governors in States that might be included a s regional commissions for which some evidences of interest have been shown) Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Bow, you surely do not expect that the Governor of a State would get as much salary as one of these people, do you. under this budget? Mr. Bow. I should think maybe the cochairman could be reduced a little bit under this budget. There is no requirement that he has to be paid the full amount set forth in here. Mr. ROONEY. I only know one way to reduce it. Mr. Bow. Is it your intention to in each case have the Federal alternate paid the full amount of $24,500? Mr. FOLEY. That is correct. Mr. Bow. What is the maximum rate of a grade GS-18 in the Classification Act of 1949, as amended? |