AGRICULTURE-ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1974 HEARINGS BEFORE A Linited States. SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE NINETY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION SUBCOMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE-ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Mississippi, Chairman Appropriations. I GEORGE E. SHIPLEY, Illinois FRANK E. EVANS, Colorado BILL D. BURLISON, Missouri WILLIAM H. NATCHER, Kentucky NEAL SMITH, Iowa BOB CASEY, Texas MARK ANDREWS, North Dakota J. KENNETH ROBINSON, Virginia GEORGE E. EVANS, ROBERT B. FOSTER, and CHARLES W. SNODGRASS, Staff Assistants COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Mississippi EDWARD P. BOLAND, Massachusetts ROBERT N. GIAIMO, Connecticut FRANK E. EVANS, Colorado EDWARD R. ROYBAL, California J. EDWARD ROUSH, Indiana GUNN MCKAY, Utah TOM BEVILL, Alabama EDITH GREEN, Oregon ROBERT O. TIERNAN, Rhode Island BILL CHAPPELL, JR., Florida BILL D. BURLISON, Missouri GEORGE E. EVANS F. MICHAEL HUGO KF27 A632 1973 ELFORD A. CEDERBERG, Michigan J. KENNETH ROBINSON, Virginia KEITH F. MAINLAND, Clerk and Staff Director LEROY R. KIRKPATRICK, First Assistant WILLIE C. LAW, Second Assistant NOTE. This Surveys and Investigations supervisory staff is supplemented by selected personnel borrowed on a reimbursable basis for varying lengths of time from various agencies to staff up specific studies and investigations. The current average annual fulltime personnel equivalent is approximately 42. AGRICULTURE-ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1974 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1973. > DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BUDGET OVERVIEW WITNESSES FRANK B. ELLIOTT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION JEROME A. MILES, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WARREN A. BLIGHT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CHARLES A. JEWELL, DIRECTOR, BUDGET DIVISION, OFFICE OF BUDGET AND FINANCE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Mr. WHITTEN. Gentlemen, the committee will come to order. I do not know whether we should open by saying grace or what, having looked at last year's appropriation bill, this year's expenditures, and the budget request for next year. We have with us the budget officer, Mr. Jerry Miles. Whatever faults we may find with the budget, Mr. Miles after all is the budget officer and only translates policy determinations into budget estimates. He does not formulate policy. The budget officer is not in a policymaking position. Whatever our own views may be about the various program reductions, they should be taken up with officials responsible for policy rather than with Mr. Miles. Today we have asked Mr. Miles to discuss with us just what is in the budget, what the effect is, the variances from present year funding as recommended and provided by the Congress, and also various impoundments imposed by the Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Miles, as you know from your appearances before this committee, we have always felt that the well-being of the Nation depends upon the well-being of all of its various components, and that all wealth comes from the land. The one thing we cannot neglect is the land and that which comes from it: food, clothing, and shelter. With time, it seems that many folks in our Government, in our Congress, and in our country, lose sight of that. NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS I want to open this hearing by saying that we welcome the new members to the subcommittee. I think, with all due deference to the very fine members that I have had the privilege of working with through (1) |