3G6 



hitiire generations of Americans to enjoy? That is the real question 

 iind we must face it today. 



Mr. Chairman, I feel that a delicate but practical balance can be 

 nchieved. I believe it is possible to find a rational middle ground, 

 where the forces of industry and ecology can live and work together, 

 and I believe the solution to this dilemma can be found in H.R. 14146, 

 the coastal zone management bill. I want to make it crystal clear that 

 I do not claim — nor do I believe — that this legislation is the panacea 

 to the manifold problems I have touched upon in my remarks here 

 today. But I do sincerely believe this legislation can be the founda- 

 tion — the touchstone, if you will — ^to a more sensible, happier, health- 

 ier America of tomorrow; it may represent nothing more than the 

 opening wedge, but it is an intelligent approach to an extremely com- 

 plex problem, and I am convinced that it will provide an emergency 

 bastion in our fight to defend and preserve our vital coastal zones from 

 increased pollution and eventual destruction. 



Mr. Chairman, I think the $145 million called for in this legislation 

 is a small price to pay to preserve and properly utilize these invalu- 

 able areas. The first installment of these funds would be made avail- 

 able in grants to the States, on a matching- fund basis, to encourage 

 them to initiate the planning phase of the program, which would be 

 developed in the first 3 years. 



All progra,ms — I repeat, all programs would require the approval of 

 the Secretary of Commerce, who would have the responsibility for 

 this program, and the national program would be administered, ap- 

 propriately, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- 

 tion. 



I digress from my prepared remarks to say that this House, this 

 'Congress, brought the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- 

 tion into being by a vote of this House in 1970, by about 99 to 1 or 

 less. 



Even though the matter was considered by the Committee on Gov- 

 ernment Operations, some Members introduced a resolution to kill the 

 so-called Keorganization Plan No. 4, but the Committee on Govern- 

 ment Operations after hearings brought a favorable report to this 

 Taody, and this body overwhelmingly, almost unanimously, on a rollcall 

 vote, adopted it. 



All other Federal agencies which would be involved or affected by 

 proposed programs would also actively participate in the approval 

 process. 



No existing laws would be amended by the coastal zone manage- 

 ment legislation, and Federal agencies would be required to conform — 

 to the maximum extent practicable — with the programs submitted by 

 the individual States; additionally, I call attention to the fact that 

 the States would be required to consider the views and concerns of the 

 local governments and ajjencies, and all these concerned entities would 

 be encouraged to participate in the development and implementation 

 of State programs. 



Mr. Chairman, I must also reiterate the sense of urgency which I 

 expressed in my opening remarks today. I cannot impress upon my 

 colleasrues too strongly the urgent need to take action now, today, and 

 pass this legislation. It is already very late in the game, and we have 



