IMPOUNDMENT REPORTING AND REVIEW HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON RULES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H.R. 5193 and Related Bills (With Appendix, TO REQUIRE THE PRESIDENT TO NOTIFY CONGRESS MARCH 28, 29; APRIL 4, 5; MAY 7, 8, 14, AND 21, 1973 Anderson, Hon. John B., a Representative in Congress from the State Cederberg, Hon. Elford A., a Representative in Congress from the State Conte, Hon. Silvio O., a Representative in Congress from the State of Culver, Hon. John C., a Representative in Congress from the State of Iowa- Eckhardt, Hon. Bob, a Representative in Congress from the State of Ervin, Hon. Sam J. Jr., a U.S. Senator from the State of North Carolina__ Esch, Hon. Marvin L., a Representative in Congress from the State of 171 48 147 339 156 139 Pickle, Hon. J. J. (Jake), a Representative in Congress from the State of Pepper, Hon. Claude, a Representative in Congress from the State of 319 87 Rhodes. Hon. John J., a Representative in Congress from the State of 122 Maass, Arthur, Frank B. Thompson professor of government, Harvard Pollak, Louis H., professor of law, Yale University. Sneed, Hon. Joseph T., Deputy Attorney General, statement__ CONGRESSIONAL WITNESSES 380 253 Abzug, Hon. Bella S., a Representative in Congress from the State of New 499 Alexander, Hon. Bill, a Representative in Congress from the State of Ar- 493 Evans, Hon. Frank E., a Representative in Congress from the State of Colo- 491 Ford, Hon. William D., a Representative in Congress from the State of 491 Hungate, Hon. William L., a Representative in Congress from the State of 489 IMPOUNDMENT REPORTING AND REVIEW WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1973 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The committee met at 10:30 a.m., pursuant to notice, in room 2154, Rayburn Office Building, Hon. Ray J. Madden (chairman of the committee) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. I might say that the reason why the Rules Committee is holding hearings in this room, the Government Operations Committee room, instead of our regular room over in the Capitol is because of the interest not only locally but over the Nation in the impounding legislation now pending in Congress. In these hearings we will proceed with the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, who is one of, I think, 34 Members who have filed bills on this subject. He will be followed by other witnesses today, including Mr. Cederberg, the ranking minority member of the Appropriations Committee. Tomorrow, on account of Chairman Holifield using this committee room, we will proceed with the hearings down the hall in the Foreign Affairs Committee room. I wish to thank the Foreign Affairs Committee and also Chairman Holifield for allowing us to use their rooms. The hearings tomorrow will be in room 2172, on this floor. I might state that today we start hearings on one of the most serious constitutional challenges ever to confront Congress. The legislative impoundment crisis brought on by the Nixon administration demands firm and prompt exposure not only to the Members of Congress but to the Nation. Members of Congress and the Senate have been deluged with mail and telephone calls in protest from their constituents against President Nixon's impounding of numerous domestic programs passed by the Congress in recent years, and this legislation is for the benefit of millions of American citizens, mostly in the middle lower income brackets of the Nation. These impoundments include legislation pertaining to our elder citizens, unemployed, handicapped, veterans, and those needing Government assistance. The American public should know that since President Nixon was inaugurated over 4 years ago approximately $11.1 billion of funds have been impounded which cover legislation on housing, education, health, transportation, antipollution, hospital construction, veterans hospitals, small business loans, watershed and flood prevention, help (1) |