TASK FORM \\l> si BCOMMITTHI ON IMROY, 1971-74 679 



and Cooling Demonstration Program to ERDA or a similar agency when such agency 

 is created. Wc have gone 99 percent of the way in meeting your position and 1 object 

 to your further holding of this bill as hostage awaiting the enactment of ERDA 

 1 do not think the American people or the Congress will find your position to be a 

 responsible one. 



In response to the second objection, I cannot disagree with the OMB position 

 ili.it funding for solar energy research and technology should be centralized. However, 

 the lead agency for solar energy R&D has its expertise in basic research, and does not 

 have the experience and success in technology development, and hardware demonstra- 

 tions that other agencies have — particularly NASA. NSF has never managed a 

 demonstration program and, furthermore, the NSF Director testified before this com- 

 mittee that this basic science agency should not be in charge of such a hardware 

 demonstration. I agree with this position. * * * 



This demonstration program must be implemented now. I hope you will recon- 

 sider the OMB position on H.R. 11864. 



ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT TOR MCCORMACK BILL 



When the bill reached the floor on February 13, 1974, Members 

 jammed up the aisles near the microphones to register their support for 

 the bill. It was a demonstration of genuine enthusiasm as Democrats 

 and Republicans alike praised the bill and the work of the committee 

 which produced it. Mosher, after recording his strong support for 

 the bill, stated: 



As ranking minority member of the Science Committee, for the record and for 

 purposes of accuracy and fairness, I believe I have an obligation to point out that the 

 administration is officially opposed to this bill. * * * OMB has urged that we delay 

 action on this bill until ERDA comes into being. Frankly, Mr. Chairman, I do not 

 consider that a convincing argument for delay. I believe our plan in this bill can easily 

 and effectively be coordinated into any future ERDA or other possible reorganization 

 plan for energy-related R. & D. 



In addition to congratulating Teague, Mosher, and Goldwater for 

 their teamwork in putting the bill together, McCormack also praised 

 Dr. Harry E. Thomason, a resident of Washington, D.C., who had 

 been operating a solar home for a number of years. The committee 

 visited the Thomason home during the development of the legislation 

 to gain insight into how the solar heating and cooling system actually 

 operated. It was a proud day for Dr. and Mrs. Thomason to be in the 

 gallery to witness the passage of the legislation. 



During the amending process, Representative William A. Barrett 

 (Democrat of Pennsylvania), chairman of the Housing Subcommittee 

 of the Banking and Currency Committee, offered an amendment 

 striking out one section of the bill relating to the mortgage authority 

 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Barrett argued 

 that this belonged in his committee's jurisdiction, and he promised to 

 include it when marking up the general housing bill a week hence. To 



