trated on the overall economic development objectives of the region. A new system of allocations for nonhighway programs will allow the Appalachian States themselves to choose activities that best meet the changing needs of the region. The highway program will continue to emphasize construction that contributes to overall economic development within the region. Outlays for Appalachian development will total $340 million in 1976. Disaster relief and insurance.-Although private insurance and affected State and local governments are primarily responsible for financing recovery from natural disasters, Federal aid is available. to supplement these resources when they are insufficient. The Disaster Relief Act of 1974 broadened the relief that the Federal Government may provide to include grants to persons unable to meet serious needs arising from disasters, and bloc grants for restoration of public facilities. Outlays depend upon the incidence and severity of uninsured losses from natural disasters occurring during the year, and are estimated to be $250 million in 1976. The $150 million of additional budget authority proposed for 1976 is sufficient to meet disaster requirements in an average year. The national flood insurance program is designed to reduce the impact of floods on life and property. Under the program, flood insurance on structures in participating localities is provided at rates that are subsidized by the Federal Government, thus protecting against losses far more effectively than disaster assistance. At the same time, the program discourages unwise development in floodprone areas by requiring communities to adopt flood protection controls in order to qualify their citizens for the insurance premium subsidy. Most of the $128 million in outlays under the program will result from this subsidy. EDUCATION, MANPOWER, AND SOCIAL SERVICES Education, manpower, and social services programs are designed to help individuals participate as fully as possible in the Nation's social and economic opportunities. Outlays for these programs totaled $11.6 billion in 1974, and are expected to increase to $14.7 billion in 1975, and $14.6 billion in 1976. Program Highlights • Consolidate certain categorical educational programs and continue to provide advanced funding for most elementary and secondary education programs. • Provide special aid to school districts facing problems of desegregation. Propose legislation to restructure vocational education support and to give State agencies more flexibility. • Improve access to postsecondary education by funding basic educational opportunity grants of up to $1,400 for all eligible students. Fund about 636,000 training and employment opportunities under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act in 1976. • Provide $2 billion for temporary public service employment during 1975 and 1976. • Find 140,000 unsubsidized jobs for welfare recipients through the work incentive program. Implement new pension reform act and improve en forcement of minimum wage and related laws. Propose legislation to raise the State share of financing social services consistent with general realignment of Federal-State cost sharing. • Propose legislation to encourage coordination of human service delivery programs at the State and local level. EDUCATION The primary responsibility for public education rests with State and local governments. Federal assistance is focused on equalizing educational opportunity for disadvantaged students and improving the programs of local and State educational agencies to provide better educational services. Outlays for education programs are estimated to be $7.3 billion in 1975 and $7.4 billion in 1976. Elementary, secondary and vocational education.-Elementary and secondary education programs include aid to State and local educational agencies through formula grants and discretionary project grants. The bulk of Federal aid provides both special compensatory assistance to disadvantaged students and assistance to develop better programs for students with special needs and handicaps. Aid to education agencies.-The Education Amendments of 1974 provide for several areas of reform requested by the Administration. Among the more significant changes are: • Revision of the formula for allocation of funds for education of disadvantaged children to reflect more accurately the distribution of disadvantaged children within the population; • Establishment of two new consolidated grant programs for educational support and innovation, and libraries and instructional resources to provide more authority for State and local agencies to plan programs tailored to local needs. Special Federal aid will be continued to help overcome special problems in those school districts in the process of desegregation. |