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<br />LVV.L <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />very distinct difference between the author- <br />ization in an Act and the appropriations for <br />moneys to construct matters that had been <br />authorized. I think Mr. Sparks is confusing <br />you, if I may say that, by saying that the Bill <br />specifically directs that the Secretary of the <br />Interior build these transmission lines, there- <br />fore there is no problem today because the Act <br />directs that the Secretary build these lines. <br />This is not the case. Actually the Act author- <br />izes the Secretary to construct the transmission <br />lines. There is no question about that. But <br />there has always been a difference in Congress <br />between the authorization for a project and <br />the appropriations for the funds to undertake <br />construction of those projects. The matter <br />before Congress today is, should Congress <br />appropriate money now for the government to <br />build these transmission systems or is there <br />an alternative? And so the fact that the Act <br />authorizes the Secretary to build the trans- <br />mission system does not bind the Appropriations <br />Committee to make appropriations. Certainly <br />the fact that the Colorado River Storage Proj- <br />ect Act where the Secretary is authorized to <br />construct that project, does not bind the <br />Appropriations Committee to make appropriations <br />for that project. Otherwise why would we all <br />go gack and work so hard for the appropriations <br />that we all work so hard for, for the continua- <br />tion of that project? There is a very distinct <br />difference between the authorization and the <br />appropriations, and at issue today is, should <br />Congress appropriate funds for the construction <br />of an all-federal system or is there an alter- <br />native way where it can be done better and <br />still in the best interests of the project? <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I would also like to say this. That I do <br />not know what the purpose of this meeting of <br />the Board is today except perhaps to find out <br />the facts. I would like this Board to know <br />that I am available; Mr. Patterson is avail- <br />able; to answer any questions that this Board <br />may have as to any participation that our com- <br />pany may have had in this matter. Actually we <br />are at a critical point in this thing. The <br />