SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS.
UNITED STATES SENATE

EIGHTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

H.R. 11296

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR SUNDRY INDEPENDENT
EXECUTIVE BUREAUS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, CORPORA-
TIONS, AGENCIES, AND OFFICES, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING JUNE 30, 1965, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

31-706

PART I

Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1964

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

WARREN G. MAGNUSON, Washington, Chairman

ALSO ON AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE ACTIVITIES

OLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico
STUART SYMINGTON, Missouri

EARL W. COOPER, Clerk to Subcommittee
FRANKLIN B. DRYDEN, Assistant

INDEPENDENT OFFICES APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1965

MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1964

U.S. SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS,

Washington, D.C.

The subcommittee met at 8:30 a.m., pursuant to call, in room S-128, U.S. Capitol, Hon. Warren G. Magnuson (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Magnuson, Allott, Saltonstall, and Young.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE COUNCIL STATEMENT OF DR. EDWARD C. WELSH, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE COUNCIL

PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 1965

Senator MAGNUSON. The committee will come to order.

We have with us Dr. Welsh, from the Space Council. He has a short statement, which we will be glad to hear.

For the record, last year the appropriation was $525,000 and this year the budget proposes the same amount, as indicated in the justifications which will be placed in the record at this point. (The information referred to follows:)

1964 appropriation..

1965 estimate..

JUSTIFICATION STATEMENT

$525,000

525,000

The National Aeronautics and Space Council is responsible for advising and assisting the President on policies, plans, and programs of the United States in aeronautical and space activities. It is primarily concerned with a wide variety of new and complex problems associated with the expanding national effort in space.

The Vice President is Chairman of the Council and membership includes the Secretaries of State and Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. This appropriation provides salaries of the Council staff and expenses of Council operations.

The National Aeronautics and Space Council was activated in March 1961, when the President appointed with the advice and consent of the Senate an Executive Secretary. In April 1961, by amendment to the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, the Council was located in the Executive Office of the President.

Experience during fiscal year 1962 and 1963 was sufficient to indicate that the plans on which the initial budgets had been based were reasonable and sound. The major aspects of such plans were to develop and maintain a small staff of, highly competent personnel, to avoid duplication of staff and functions of other Government agencies, and to direct main attention upon the policy issues rather than upon the day-to-day operations of the national aeronautics and space programs.

Due primarily to the estimate that certain equipment costs would not recur, the budget request for fiscal year 1963 was $530,000, a reduction of $15,000 below

1

the 1962 appropriation. A reexamination of all supporting items permitted a reduction of $5,000 in the estimates for fiscal year 1964. The same budget request of $525,000 is made for fiscal year 1965 in spite of an increasing workload and an accelerated space program.

A total staff of approximately 32 is planned, including the Executive Secre, tary, aerospace assistants, other professionals, and clerical staff. Under the supervision of the Executive Secretary, the staff has the responsibility for preparing recommendations and taking other actions to advise and assist the President throughout the broad spectrum identified as "aeronautic and space activities." The Council meets at the call of the Chairman to take up major issues which require joint consideration by the members. The Executive Secretary is responsible for bringing such issues to the attention of the Chairman, and making the necessary preparations for constructive sessions. More frequent meetings briefings, and consultations are conducted or participated in by the staff, with policy-level members of other agencies engaged in the national space program. A continuing effort is made to clarify policies, eliminate duplication, foster interagency cooperation, and promote efficiency of operations.

In reference to the activities concerning which the Council is to advise and assist the President, the law specifies no limit to such activities, but does state that they will include the following:

"1. survey all significant aeronautical and space activities including the policies, plans, programs, and accomplishments of all departments and agencies of the United States engaged in such activities;

"2. develop a comprehensive program of aeronautical and space activities to be conducted by departments and agencies of the United States;

"3. designate and fix responsibility for the direction of major aeronautical and space activities;

"4. provide for effective cooperation among all departments and agencies of the United States engaged in aeronautical and space activities, and specify, in any case in which primary responsibility for any category of aeronautical and space activities has been assigned to any department or agency, which of those activities may be carried on concurrently by other departments or agencies; and

"5. resolve differences arising among departments and agencies of the United States with respect to aeronautical and space activities under this act, including differences as to whether a particular project is an aeronautical and space activity." In brief, the Council's functions include surveying policies, developing programs, designating responsibilities, providing cooperation, and resolving differences. Performance of these functions applies to all aeronautic and space activities and to all departments and agencies of the Government engaged in such activities. Some of the space areas in which staff members have responsibilities are communications, navigation, meteorology, manned military projects, manned nonmilitary projects, unmanned scientific explorations, booster and propulsion developments, employment of atomic energy, international relationships, legislative and budgetary changes, and Executive order preparation and modification. To supplement the full-time work of the staff, funds are included to provide consultant services which will be required from time to time on specific projects. Provision is made in the estimates for necessary travel and for rental of motor vehicles on an as-needed basis. Provision is also made for transportation of things; rent, communications, and utilities; printing and reproduction; supplies and materials; equipment; personnel benefits; and other services, as shown in the accompanying object classification schedules.

Personnel compensation and staffing. $412,800 for 32 permanent positions distributed as follows:

Summary statement on "Other objects": for 1965, $112,200

12 Personnel benefits, $29,700.-Includes contributions to retirement fund, $26,000; health benefits, $2,075; group insurance, $1,300; and Federal Insurance Contributions Act, $325.

21 Travel and transportation of persons, $35,000.-Includes funds for travel to space research and development sites for firsthand study by Council staff.