and the Corps of Engineers start 7 navigation projects, 13 floodprotection projects, 3 flood-control reservoirs, and a powerplant at an existing installation, as well as some small projects to be selected by the Secretary of the Army. Advance planning on these new projects has reached the stage where the design and scope of the major structure have been clearly determined and a sound estimate of cost has been prepared. First-year expenditures for these new starts are estimated at 12 million dollars. The total estimated cost to complete these projects is 300 million dollars.

Recommendations for related watershed and flood prevention activities of the Department of Agriculture were discussed in the section on agriculture and agricultural resources.

Work is underway on the comprehensive Upper Colorado River Basin development which the Congress authorized during the past session. Legislation is still needed, however, to permit the Fryingpan-Arkansas multiple-purpose project to proceed. Appropriations which will enable the Bureau of Reclamation to initiate this construction are included under proposed legislation for 1958.

This budget also includes 10 million dollars under proposed legislation to enable the Corps of Engineers to participate in 1958 with States, local governments, and private groups in the development of partnership water resources projects, such as the Bruces Eddy Reservoir in Idaho and the Oroville Reservoir in California, neither of which has yet been authorized. Also, where feasible and in the public interest, non-Federal interests will be encouraged to participate with the Federal Government in certain previously authorized projects now in various stages of planning or construction. Similar partnership arrangements are being considered by the Bureau of Reclamation.

In previous years this administration has recommended legislation to provide that the Federal Government make payments to owners of non-Federal water resources projects when Federal hydroelectric power developments benefit from these projects. In simple equity, the Government should pay for such benefits in the same way that licensees must pay for the benefits they derive from Federal or other projects. The Federal Power Act should be amended during this session to provide for such Federal payments.

The Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956 is a step forward in Federal, State, and local cooperation. Appropriations to permit the Bureau of Reclamation to proceed with the program will be requested as soon as the basic legislation is amended to correct deficiencies with respect to the responsibility for approval of project proposals by the executive branch, which were pointed out at the time the legislation was approved.

To assure efficient use of resources and to safeguard the public investment, the 1958 budget includes funds for the Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers to make general investigations and to prepare project designs that are needed prior to construction of water resources projects. Also, an appropriation of 1 million dollars is included under proposed legislation to permit immediate initiation of planning of the most urgently needed projects expected to be authorized in river and harbor and flood-control legislation early in this session of the Congress. Presidential approval of the measure enacted during the last session was withheld primarily because many of the

projects included had not been reviewed in accordance with established procedures.

As a further step in coping with the growing water scarcity, increased appropriations are recommended in the fiscal year 1958 for research and pilot-plant operations for converting saline water to fresh water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses. This research is undertaken by the Department of the Interior in cooperation with other public and private groups.

Construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway will go forward in the fiscal year 1958. To meet increased construction costs and provide for additional dredging work not originally contemplated, 35 million dollars of additional borrowing authority is recommended for 1958 under proposed legislation.

The Tennessee Valley Authority will continue construction in the fiscal year 1958 of the Wilson Lock started in 1957. Work on 7 steam-electric generating units at present plants was started in the fiscal years 1956 and 1957 with proceeds from the sale of power, as approved by the last Congress, and will be continued in 1958. Based on the best information now available, it appears that additional generating capacity will be needed to meet TVA power requirements by the end of the calendar year 1960. Legislation is recommended to authorize the TVA, subject to regular budgetary review, to finance new generating facilities by the sale of revenue bonds. After the Congress has acted upon this legislative proposal, the power requirements of the TVA will be reexamined. Pending this re-examination, an authorization of 30 million dollars for construction of a new unit of about 180,000 kilowatts at an existing steam plant is included in the budget under proposed revenue-bond legislation to meet power needs of the area.

Forest, fish and wildlife, and recreational resources.-This budget provides funds to increase soil-conservation work on the lands in the national forests, in the public domain under the Bureau of Land Management, in the national parks and wildlife refuges, and on Indian lands held in trust by the Government. The budget also provides for forestry research and reforestation, for leasing of mineral and grazing lands, and for necessary construction of schools for Indians. Consistent with the needs for expanded timber sales, provision is made for access roads.

Provision is made for carrying forward the 10-year development and improvement program of the National Park Service. This program is designed to provide the necessary facilities and personnel to accommodate an estimated 80 million visitors to the national parks in 1966.

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National forests also offer recreational opportunities for many millions of our citizens. The 1958 budget provides for an enlarged program to develop and improve campgrounds, picnic areas, and sanitation and other facilities to accommodate the recreational users of these forests.

A reorganization of the Federal programs for fish and wildlife resources has been effected in accordance with legislation enacted by the last Congress. To assist commercial fisheries in improving their competitive position, expenditures for fishery research will be increased in the fiscal years 1957 and 1958. It is estimated that loans of 12 million dollars over the 2-year period will be made from the newly established fisheries loan fund, and a program of vocational education grants for training fishery technicians will be inaugurated in 1958.

Our sport fishery and wildlife resources make a substantial contribution to meeting the recreational needs of our citizens. A study is underway to determine future needs for fish and wildlife programs.

Mineral resources.-The Secretary of the Interior is developing a minerals program to meet the long-range needs of the Nation, now that the defense minerals programs are nearing completion. In the meantime, a program authorized in the past session of the Congress will provide 91 million dollars of assistance to segments of the mining industry in adjusting from defense needs to normal market conditions. The Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines will also continue

their activities in support of exploration for new deposits, development of improved mining techniques, and effective utilization of mineral

resources.

LABOR AND WELFARE

The objective of the Government's labor and welfare programs is to further the well-being of the people by increasing individual opportunity, fostering self-reliance, and providing safeguards against economic hazards. These programs aid education and science, improve health, facilitate employment and increase labor productivity, while aiding the aged, disabled, and dependent to enjoy life free from want for its necessities.

Budget expenditures in the fiscal year 1958 for labor and welfare programs are estimated at 3.5 billion dollars. In addition, estimated benefit payments of more than 10 billion dollars will be paid by the Federal social insurance and retirement trust funds.

Primary reliance has been placed upon the States and local communities to organize and operate labor and welfare services, while the Federal Government has furnished financial and technical support. Four-fifths of the 3.5 billion dollars of estimated budget expenditures for labor and welfare services in 1958 is for grants-in-aid to State and local governments.

As science lengthens the span of life and the average age of the population increases, the problems of older people-there are now 15 million past the age of 65-assume increasing significance. The