Federal-aid highways—Unliquidated obligations on projects underway as of Feb. $5,951,000 4,065, 000 1,747,000 2,130,000 4.637,000 9, 205, 000 3, 382, 000 621,000 2, 541, 000 20, 137,000 10, 331,000 1,085,000 10, 366,000 1,740,000 3,415,000 10, 342, 000 2,253,000 2,185,000 844,000 2,230,000 4,968,000 1,798,000 782,000 6,740, 000 2, 460,000 6,313,000 4, 142, 000 2,211,000 1,456, 000 1,372,000 2, 374,000 $12,520,000 961,000 4,687,000 2,486,000 6.624,000 3,680, 000 3.007, 000 2,997,000 11, 358,000 7.303,000 3,475,000 4. 659,000 15,028,000 5,651,000 2,743,000 1,350,000 817.000 5,462,000 2, 439,000 31,031,000 6,878,000 1, 336,000 21,885,000 3,285,000 3,030,000 21, 475,000 1, 192, 000 4, 141, 000 2,297, 000 10,020,000 15, 333,000 1,941, 000 1, 469, 000 9, 236,000 4,590,000 2,420,000 $18,471,000 2,522,000 4.573,000 28, 226,000 8, 269, 000 2, 984,000 2,711,000 8,065, 000 13. 147,000 4, 970,000 25, 497,000 7,431,000 7,617,000 4,503,000 9,997,000 9,493,000 4,754,000 5, 127.000 15,995,000 16,508,000 6,775,000 8,041,000 19,555, 000 9,855,000 4,731,000 1,971,000 2, 266, 000 9,837,000 4,980,000 51, 168,000 17, 209, 000 2,421,000 32, 251, 000 5,025, 000 6, 445,000 31, 817,000 3, 445,000 6, 326,000 3, 141, 000 12,250,000 20, 301, 000 3,739,000 2,251,000 15,976,000 7,050,000 8,733,000 9,776,000 3,003,000 2,814,000 6,087,000 5,901, 000 5,634,000 Mr. ROONEY. I think it might be well for the record if the Commissioner pointed out the action of the House of Representatives on the day before yesterday with regard to a substantial increase in funds for the Federal-aid highway program. Mr. Bow. He did mention that. Mr. ROONEY. And you described the exact amount involved? Mr. ROONEY. Thank you, I was reading at the time. CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION F. B. LEE, ADMINISTRATOR WITNESSES J. V. DOLAN, SPECIAL ASSISTANT OSCAR H. NIELSON, DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET OFFICER LAND ACQUISITION, ADDITIONAL WASHINGTON AIRPORT Mr. CLEVENGER. The next item is for the Civil Aeronautics Administration, land acquisition for what was to be an additional Washington airport. The request for $34,451, is contained in House Document 340. The appropriate portion of this document and the justifications will be placed in the record. (The material referred to is as follows:) HOUSE DOCUMENT 340 CIVIL AERONAUTICS ADMINISTRATION LAND ACQUISITION, ADDITIONAL WASHINGTON AIRPORT For an additional amount for "Land acquisition, additional Washington Airport", for payment of deficiency judgments rendered by United States District Courts, $34,541, together with such amounts as may be necessary to pay interest as specified in such judgments. Public Law 762, approved September 7, 1950, authorized the construction of a public airport in the vicinity of the District of Columbia. Under the provisions of this act, $1 million was appropriated for land acquisition, and related engineering and administrative expenses. Condemnation proceedings were initiated by the Government in June 1951 to acquire approximately 1,031 acres of land from 63 property owners at Burke, Va. Final settlement in payment of land acquired under initial condemnation proceedings has been made with 43 of the 63 landowners within appropriation availability. Judgments have been rendered by the United States District Court of Virginia in favor of 11 of the 20 other landowners. The estimate provides funds necessary for payment of amounts certified to specific individuals and authorizes the payment of interest at 6 percent per annum as specified in the judgments. (a) $34,541 for settlement of 11 claims in payment of land acquired under initial condemnation proceedings wherein the United States District Court of Virginia rendered judgments in favor of landowners for amounts in excess of funds deposited with the court by the Civil Aeronautics Administration. GENERAL JUSTIFICATION Public Law 762, 81st Congress, 2d session, authorized and directed the construction of an airport in the vicinity of the District of Columbia. After surveying 6 possible sites in Maryland and 6 in Virginia a site was selected in Fairfax County near Burke, Va. The Department of Commerce then petitioned the United States district court to condemn approximately 4,520 acres of land, 4,200 for the airport and 320 for an access road from Shirley Highway. On October 1, 1951, the Department of Commerce obtained title by Declaration of Taking to approximately 1,031 acres of the condemned area involving 63 owners. Based on the total of the average "fair value" evaluations set by the 5 appraisers appointed by the court and the Department of Justice, $818,050 was deposited into the registry of the court. Final settlement was made with some owners at these "fair value" appraisal amounts. Others elected to appeal through court trials and an additional $31,275 was paid owners from available funds on demand of the court, increasing obligation to $849,325 in final settlement. Approximately $149,050 was paid for physical survey of the sites and for administration which accounts for all but $1,625 of the $1,000,000 appropriation. The balance of $1,625 remains available and would be applied to the deficiency judgments. The court has continued to review appeals and it has rendered deficiency judgments in favor of 11 additional owners, totaling $36,166. Each of these deficiency judgments were submitted to the General Accounting Office. After review of the documents, the General Accounting Office issued certificates of settlement payable from the land-acquisition appropriation "when appropriation shall have been made by the Congress." This appropriation request is made by the CAA in accordance with GAO Circular No. 21, 4 Comptroller General 1082, which indicate that "one appropriation, segregated as to each department or independent establishment, be made covering all such claim settlements reported *** to each appropriation involved appearing on the books of the Government." Appropriation of the requested $34,541, plus interest, will permit settlements on all claims which have been certified by the courts. There remain a number of claims not yet settled by court action. Informal information received from the Department of Justice indicates that the special commission recently appointed by the court to conduct hearings leading to final settlement for all property involved in the Declaration of Taking has awarded the remaining former owners a total of $16,631 which upon approval of the court will become additional deficiency judgments for processing in the same manner as those in this request. When the total of $51,172 for deficiency claims has been appropriated full settlement with 63 landowners can be accomplished and to this action the Government is already committed. The amount requested for appropriation plus the balance remaining available will result in expenditure by object classification as follows: 10 Lands and structures: $36,166. Mr. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I am appearing in support of House Document No. 340, which was transmitted by the President in his message of March 2, 1954. Public Law 762 of the 81st Congress authorized the construction of an additional airport in the vicinity of Washington. One million dollars was appropriated in fiscal year 1951 for the acquisition of land for engineering studies and for administration of the project. The CAA proceeded with condemnation of 4,520 acres of land which consisted of 4,200 acres for the main airport area, and approximately 230 acres for an access road. On October 1, 1951, the Federal Government obtained title by a declaration of taking to 1,013.32 acres of this property. This involved 63 landowners. The Government proceeded with an appraisal of the property by 5 appraisers and negotiated settlements were achieved with 43 of the 63 landowners. The remaining 20 applied to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, appealing the amounts which had been offered them. We are now appearing in support of 11 of these landowners who have received judgments in their favor in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and have obtained a certification by the General Accounting Office in their favor. These 11 settlements involve the need for $36,166. Now, of the $1 million originally appropriated, $849,325 has already been spent for land purchase, $149,050 was spent for a survey of the 44098-54-17 site for administration and for other engineering costs, and there remains only $1,625 unspent. It is planned to use this $1,625 with the $34,541 which we are requesting here to complete settlement of the 11 owners' claims out of the 20 which are still outstanding. Mr. CLEVENGER. This is for settlement plus interest? Mr. LEE. Yes. Mr. Bow. These are 11 claims? Mr. LEE. Yes. Mr. Bow. No appeals were taken on these 11 from the district court? Mr. LEE. No, sir. AVIATION WAR RISK INSURANCE REVOLVING FUND WITNESSES DAVID W. BLUESTONE, ACTING ADMINISTRATOR, DEFENSE AIR TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATION OSCAR H. NIELSON, DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET OFFICER Mr. NIELSON. Mr. Bluestone, Acting Administrator for Defense Air Transportation Administration is here to discuss the "Aviation war risk insurance" item. Mr. CLEVENGER. We will put the appropriate portions of page 2 of House Document 332 in the record, and pages 10, 11, and 12, and 13 of the justification for the record. (The material referred to follows:) OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (Immediately preceding "Defense production guarantees", insert the following new item:) Aviation War Risk Insurance Revolving Fund The Secretary of Commerce is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds available pursuant to section 1306 of the Act of June 14, 1951 (49 U. S. C. 716), and in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth in the budget for the fiscal year 1955 for aviation war risk insurance activities under said Act (49 U. S. C. 711-722). AVIATION WAR RISK INSURANCE REVOLVING FUND PROGRAM AND PERFORMANCE The purpose of this fund is to provide aviation war risk insurance in the event of an outbreak of war since commercial war risk insurance covering such a contingency cannot be obtained on reasonable terms and conditions from companies authorized to do an insurance business in a State of the United States (title 13, Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, as amended (65 Stat. 65)). Under the proposed program, binders would be issued at a fee of $100 per aircraft to provide coverage of the aircraft and the operator's liability, other than liability to cargo; and $10 per aircraft to provide coverage for the operator's liability to cargo. These binders would become war-risk insurance automatically on the outbreak of war as defined in the binders. Administrative costs for preparing, printing and issuance of these binders will be paid out of fee receipts. A. Statement of sources and application of funds (for fiscal year ending June 30 1955) B. Statement of income and expenses (for fiscal year ending June 30, 1955) C. Statement of financial condition (as of June 30, 1955) Assets, cash with U. S. Treasury... 1953 actual 1954 estimate 1955 estimate $6,000 6,000 Mr. BLUESTONE. The purpose of the fund is to provide aviation war risk insurance in the event of outbreak of war, as authorized by the title 13 of the Civil Aeronautics Act. We are proposing to institute at this time just a binder program which in effect is a contract to write a contract in the event of war. The purpose is to give protection to essential services of the overseas airlines which are a public utility and operate in national interest in time of war. Mr. Bow. Are those our flag airlines? Mr. BLUESTONE. Our specific plan now is for American-flag airlines only. The law permits applications by foreign airlines, but we are not proposing anything now except to examine whatever applications come in and decide the policy after. Our specific estimates are based only on American-flag line aircraft. |