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<br />-. <br /> <br />preparation of detailed plans and specifications for individual projects, <br />and the construction and operation of works of improvement will <br />continue to be the responsibility of appropriate Federal agencies, <br />States, or local groups. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />"Another important feature of the bill is the establishment of an <br />interdepartmental group in the Executive Branch for co-ordinating <br />river basin plans and for maintaining a continuing study of water <br />supply, requirements, and management. The Water Resources <br />Council will be composed of the Secretary of the Interior, the <br />Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Army, and the <br />Se~retary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Other departments <br />and agencies with interest in the Water Resources field, will <br />participate in the work of the Council on an ad hoc basis. The <br />draft legislation provides that the chairman of the Council shall be <br />designated by the President. I propose to designate the Secretary <br />of the I nterior as the first chairman of the Council. <br /> <br />I . <br />I <br /> <br />"The fi rst major task of the Water Resou rces Cou ncil wi II be to <br />establish, subject to my approval, standards for formulating and <br />evaluating water resources projects. These standards will replace <br />those currently in effect. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />"Finally, the proposed legislation would authorize financial assis- <br />tance to the States enabling them to playa more effective role in <br />planning for the development and conservation of water and <br />related land resources, This is an essential element in promoting <br />sound, comprehensive water resources planning. <br /> <br />"We have a national obligation to manage our basic water supply <br />so it will be available when and where needed and in acceptable <br />quality and quantity--and we have no time to loose. The planning <br />authorized by this legislation will provide a vital tool for achieving <br />effective water resources management." <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The President also submitted to the Congress a section-by-section analysis of the bill. <br />Th is analysis is attached to my statement. <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />Earlier in the 1st session of the 87th Congress, Senator Anderson, together with 15 <br />members of the Senate, introduced S. 1629 and shortly thereafter Senators Kerr and Case <br />introduced S. 1778, which were somewhat similar bills and were intended to implement one <br />of the recommendations of the Senate Select Committee on Water Resources. Both of these <br />bills would authorize the Secretary of the I nterior to grant $5million of Federal funds each <br />year for 10 years on a matching basis with the States to assist them in developing <br /> <br />- 7 - <br /> <br />