Mr. THOMAS. Let's look at the Forest Service forest protection and utilization. A good record has already been made but we will insert pages 1 and 2. (The pages follow:) FOREST SERVICE [H. Doc. 61] Forest protection and utilization, 1963 Request: $18,800,000 (including $3,800,000 for Pay Act costs). "For additional amounts for 'Forest protection and utilization', as follows: "Forest land management,' $17,982,000, of which $3,000,000 for Forest insect control shall remain available until June 30,1964; "Forest research', $770,000; and "State and private forestry cooperation', $48,000." EXPLANATION OF LANGUAGE This proposed supplemental appropriation of $18.8 million includes $12 million for fighting forest fires, $3 million for control of serious infestations of forest insects which threaten substantial forest areas, and $3.8 million for pay increase costs under Public Law 87-793. The language would also make the $3 million for control of forest insects available until June 30, 1964, so that in the event control measures begun in fiscal year 1963 could not be completed by June 30, the unobligated balance would remain available for continuation of the control work without interruption, into fiscal year 1964. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDS (1) Fighting forest fires, $12 million. This increase is to reimburse the national forest protection and management activity in the amount which was borrowed from it for fighting forest fires during the period July 1962 to December 1962, and to provide for emergency firefighting expenses during the last half of fiscal year 1963. (2) Insect and disease control, $3 million. This increase is to provide additional financing for control of new and expanded forest insect epidemics that are causing critical and widespread damage to forest resources. The additional funds are needed because the extent, severity, and “explosive" rate of spread of these epidemic outbreaks could not be foreseen at the time the 1963 appropriation estimates were prepared. Currently available funds are inadequate to cope with the most urgent projects that must receive control treatment in 1963 if severe losses are to be avoided. (3) Pay Act costs, Public Law 89–793, $3,800,000.-This increase is to provide an additional amount for Pay Act costs which cannot be absorbed within presently available funds. 96409-63-5 Justification for supplemental estimate, fiscal year 1963, for “Forest protection and utilization, Forest Service" Mr. THOMAS. You are seeking $18 million for three programs. You have $3 million for insect control. You have $3.8 million for the pay increase costs. In that item can you stand a 10-percent decrease without hurting you? Mr. HENDEE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to point out that we already absorbed over $1 million Mr. THOMAS. What did you absorb? Mr. HENDEE. We absorbed over $1 million. Mr. THOMAS. Your total cost was what? Mr. HENDEE. The total cost for regular funds is $4.8 million. Mr. HENDEE. Twenty-one percent. Mr. THOMAS. Can you stand 10 percent more without hurting you? Mr. HENDEE. I wanted to mention, Mr. Chairman, we had about a $3 million windstorm damage last fall in the States of Washington, Oregon, and California, and we have reprogramed to absorb that cost. In addition to this we have had about $2 million additional storm damage in northern California which we are also handling from currently available funds. So I would say the only way we could absorb 10 percent would be to cut out some projects. Mr. THOMAS. We will let you write your own ticket. Can you absorb 7 percent without hurting you? We do not want to slow down your program. Mr. HENDEE. We will try, sir. Mr. THOMAS. And be happy about it? Mr. HENDEE. I think we would have to point out, Mr. Chairman, we have already absorbed quite a bit and I am not trying to Mr. THOMAS. How many filled jobs do you have now as of today or the 1st of March against your appropriated jobs? You have tremendous employment over there. Mr. HENDEE. That is right. As of the end of December—— Mr. THOMAS. "Average employment, December 31, 15,850." How many filled jobs do you have there? I will bet you don't have 13,000 on board. Mr. HENDEE. Yes; we do, sir. Mr. THOMAS. This is not the busy season with you. Mr. HENDEE. The figure you are referring to is only the employment under the "Forest protection and utilization" appropriation. Our total employment as of December 31 was 25,608. The 15,850 is the employment under this specific appropriation. Mr. THOMAS. So you are 2,000 short as of December 31 in your appropriated personnel? Mr. HENDEE. Our employment now is about the same as it was in December. Of course, we employ a lot of seasonal people, particularly during the late spring and summer months. Mr. THOMAS. You won't be hurt, then, will you? We don't want to hurt you. You do too good a job. Mr. HENDEE. We appreciate that, Mr. Chairman. FOREST ROADS AND TRAILS ? Selected resources as of June 30 are as follows: Unpaid undelivered orders, 1962, none; 1963, $1,860,000 1964, none. Status of unfunded contract authorization Mг. THOMAS. Let's take Forest Roads and Trails. Mr. Reporter, put pages 1 and 2 in the record. (The pages follow :) FOREST SERVICE [H. Doc. 61] Forest roads and trails (liquidation of contract authorization), 1963 "For an additional amount for 'Forest roads and trials (liquidation of contract authorization)', $7,000,000, to remain available until expended." EXPLANATION OF LANGUAGE The Federal Highway Act of 1962 (Public Law 87-866) provided $10 million of additional contract authority for forest development roads and trails in 1963. It is anticipated that this $10 million of additional authority will be obligated by June 30, 1963, and that $7 million will be required to liquidate obligations falling due for payments in 1963. |