842 



HInIORY OF Till (OMMIT'Ill ON SC.1INCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



During February 1977, the Flowers subcommittee conducted 

 hearings on the new budget. There was the usual early confusion at 

 the start of the Carter administration over who was in charge of what 

 and which figures would be supported. The confusion was further 

 compounded by the sudden reincarnation of the ERDA authorization 

 bill which the House had approved in 1976, but the Senate had failed 

 to pass. To make everything legal, at the beginning of 1977 this bill 

 was also reintroduced and rushed through the House in April. In 

 calling the full committee together to act on April 20, Fuqua an- 

 nounced on behalf of the chairman: 



It is felt strongly by Chairman Teague and many of us on the committee that it 

 is imperative that we exercise our responsibility and pass an authorization bill for 

 ERDA. What is proposed and reports will be made by the chairman of the two 

 respective subcommittees is basically to pass the same bill agreed to in conference 

 and passed in the House last year 



Representative Walter Flowers (Democrat of Alabama), center, chairman of the Fossil 

 and Nuclear Energy Subcommittee. From left, Thomas N. Tate (staff counsel), Representative 

 Marilyn Lloyd (Democrat of Tennessee), Flowers, Robert C. Ketcham (staff counsel), Rep- 

 resentative John W. Wydler (Republican of New York). 



Fuqua and Wydler, members of the House Government Opera- 

 tions Committee, played active roles in helping to shape the legislation 

 recommended by President Carter for the establishment of a new De- 



