WSP10485

• File Number: 8027
• Description: Section D General Correspondence-Federal Agencies
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 4/21/1952
• Author: Clifford H Stone
• Title: Clifford H Stone - Statement Concerning Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1953 to Carry On Surveys and Investigations by the BOR
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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ST^T~,ffiNT CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1953 TO CARRY ON
SURVEYS AND INVESTIGATIONS BY THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

by

Clifford H. Stone, Director

Colorado Water Conservation Boarq

This statemer.t is submitted in support of an adequate appropriation
for the fiscal year 1953 (July 1, 1952 to June 30, 1953), so that the
Bureau of Reclamation may be able to carry on a reasonable survey and in-
vestigational program during that period. The bill passed by the House of
Representatives makes available to the Bureau of Reclamation, for surveys
and investigations during the next fiscal year, $3,115,700. For the present
fiscal year the Congress appropriated for the use of the Bureau of Reclama-
tion for this purpose, $5,034,835; and the President's budget recommended
for the next fiscal year $5,115,700,

With respect to the appropriation made by the House, the report of the
House Committee (Report No. 1628, House of Representatives, 82d Congress,
2d Session), contained the follo1ving language;

"The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,000,000, a
reduction of $2,000,000 belmv the budget estimate. In applying
this cut, it is the Committee's desire that no reduction be made
in those investigations scheduled for completion in 1953. Further,
the full amounts programmed for investigations of existing projects
and for Alaskan investigations are to be expended for these
purposes."

It is noted that the amount made available for surveys and investigations
under the House-passed bill is slightly in excess of the ~~3,000,000 mentioned
in the above quotation, namely, :~3,115,700. The reduction under the amount
recommendeq by thy Budget is approximately 40%.

Although the directives containeq in the report of the House Committee
theoretical~y may nO~ be binding upon the Bureau of Reclamation, it is
assumed that agency should, and no doubt would, make every effort to follow
them as nearly as possible. However, the combination of a 40% reduction in
the amount appropriated and the effect of such directives will have a very
undesirable result on the existing Federal Reclamation investigational
program in many parts of the West. '

There are three limitations contained in the report of the House
Appropriations Committee, namely:

(a) No reduction can be made in those investigations scheduled for
completion in 1953.