Exten.Sions of Remarks the 1930 Anniversary of the U.S
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July 1, 1968 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 19555 EXTEN.SIONS OF REMARKS THE 1930 ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. $100 million of its program represents of river waterways and canals. Virtually ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS about 10,000 jobs. Viewed from another all our major cities, and scores of mil angle, the $110 million already deducted lions of our people, stand in our river from the corps' program this year by our valleys secure from flood, thanks to the HON. MICHAEL J. KIRWAN oon1n1ittee because of the serious fiscal Corps of Engineers. Their hydroelectric OF OHIO situation represents the abolition of power generation facillties which will IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 11,000 job~uiva.lent to wiping out the pass the 10,000,000-kilowatt milestone Monday, July 1, 1968 economy of a medium -sized city. This is this year, have given rise to major indus something to think about at a time when trial centers in the Midwest, the North Mr. KmWAN. Mr. Speaker, last we are investing billions of dollars to re west, and the South. The recreation pro n1onth n1arked the 193d anr,Uversary of lieve unemployment and poverty and why vid~d at their lakes, pools, and beaches the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. we urged the House last week to make no amounts to the colossal total of some On June 16, 1775, Gen. George Wash further reductions in the public works half-billion visitor days each year-more ington appointed Col. Richard Gridley bill for water and power resources devel than double the attendance of all forms as the first Chief Engineer of the Army opment. of organized sport combined. and launched a n1ilitary and construc Every dollar invested in Corps of Engi In this elite corps we have a n11ghty tion organization that has performed a neers' construction for flood control so organization capable of mobi11zing the significant role in the defense of the far has returned about $4 in damage pre Nation's entire construction industry country and in the development and vented. Navigation projects return up to wi!thin a matter of hours, if need be, to management of the Nation's water re $12 per year in transportation savings n1eet any form of physical crisis or sources. for every dollar invested. Recreation de Those of u.s who are directly involved disaster. Its officers and civilian engi in the water resource development pro velopments yield benefits estimated at 50 neers have used their river-development gran1B are most concerned over the tend cents to $1.50 per visitor day. These gains skills to blast the way across the beaches ency of the press to headline any efforts too, are foregone in proportionate meas of Normandy and the Pacific, and their for the funding of projects as "pork ure when we cut back our water-resource organization commands skills to cope barrel." These critics fail to point out investments. with fires, floods, and earthquakes. In the value and urgency of these projects Meanwhile, the corps has participated this era when national defense, con which are authorized by Congress for in all our country's wars, playing an in struction, and industry are intimately funding only after a most extensive re creasingly important role as warfare has related, the military engineeer is the view process to assure that they are become more technological and more in key n1an. Much of our security and power econon1ically justified. After a thorough volved with large-scale movements of are due to the fact that America's Corps study by the responsible agency and men and material over all kinds of ter of Engineers are the best military engi clearance with all other agencies in rain. It is no coincidence that today there neers in the world. volved, they are carefully reviewed by are more engineer troops serving in the A couple of years ago President the legislative comn1ittees of Congress swamps and jungles of Vietnam than of Johnson called the Corps of Engineers 'before they are authorized by law. Each any other branch except the infantry. "one of the greatest organizations ever project must meet stringent criteria to For almost a century and a half, the known to man, one of the :finest orga assure benefits will fully justify the cost. corps has carried out the largest public nizations ever conceived and developed A large percentage of the projects also works construction program in the free by the U.S. Government, they represent require assurance of local cooperation, world. Yet it has never had a major strength, they represent resolution, they including repayment of the benefits de scandal. None of its major construction represent responsibility." To which we rived from water supply and irrigation, has ever failed. None of its projects has may add: "They represent integrity." before construction is initiated. proven an unworthy investment. On the What would our Nation do, what would The basic investigation of the projects contrary, the corps has victoriously it have been, what would it be, without in the field of fiood control, beach ero undertaken some of the most daring them? sion, navigation, and multiple purpose tasks with which man has ever chal So I am proud and glad today to have development are the responsibility of the lenged nature, and the undertakings it this opportunity to congratula.te the U.S. Arn1Y Corps of Engineers, which is has planned and recommended and car corps on its 193d anniversary, and to one of the most dedicated, talented, and ried out have contributed to the wealth wish them continued success in the years admired professional organizations in the and welfare of our people to a degree ahead. world. that dwarfs the investment involved. The corps is unique among the world's They spearheaded the expansion drive military organizations for its water re that opened the western frontier. They THE "PUEBLO" INCIDENT source and conservation mission. Other built many of the magnificent public nations have used our corps as a model buildings and parks of the Nation's HON. GORDON ALLOTT Capital city. They have conquered the in giving civilian missions to their dwn OF COLORADO military engineers; but none has come Arctic with its inconceivable problems of anywhere near duplicating its range of cold and ice and permafrost, and built IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES versatility, responsib11ity, and compe there n1ilitary establishments and scien Monday, July 1, 1968 tence. ti:fic institutions in places where previ Mr. ALLOTT. Mr. President, this is The corps' history shows how an ener ously it had been considered a triumph the 23d week that American boys have getic country can turn a liability into an just to stay alive. As the construction been in the hands of the North Koreans asset. When our Nation was formed, it agency for NASA, they are helping to because of the capture of the Pueblo. needed roads and harbors and bridges conquer space. They built the base in OVer the weekend we heard reports and waterways, but it had no engineers. stallations from which our n1issiles can that the boys may soon be released. Of It turned to the Army engineers recruited range over the entire planet. course we pray to God that this will be by George Washington, mostly in Our country could not exist in. its pres the case, but we also pray that their France, to serve our Nation in the Revo ent level of power and prosperity without mental and physical health still remains lutionary War. Thus was born the or the contributions of the Army's Corps strong and intact. ganization and traditions which today of Engineers. Our foreign commerce is Whether or not the Hanoi press re are unrivaled in all the arts and sciences absolutely dependent upon the 700-odd ports about the pending release of these associated with the conservation and use harbors they have built under all kinds boys is true, the fact remains that they of water and related land resources. of conditions. Our domestic commerce have been allowed to remain in enemy Today its programs provide about 100 was founded on, and still largely de hands for an intolerable length of time. man-years of employment for every $1 pends on, their developments in the Whatever has been done to free them million invested in construction. Each Great Lakes and along some 20,000 n1iles has obviously not been enough, As a re- 19556 J'itly· 1-, 19'68 minder to the President that this vital According to the Defense Department, the 27, a State Department spokesman again matter still remains unsolved, I aslL · :Pueblo ; ~~ ~l~ctrohi~ I?t~lligenc~ s~p - Qf ,90"$ ' . · ~ ~i~l, "there has been no breakthrough." unanimous consent that an excellent "tons, -was manned by six officers, 75 enlisted Meanwhile Defense Secretary Clark Clif summary Qf the Pueblo situation pub- me~ and two civilian hydrographers. One ford ~as ~ked congress for $3.9 billion in • • • L '. ,. -; b. · , • crewman has. since been. reported dead, leav- supplemental .'funds to run his Department, llshed m ,~ue ~~s~on G~o ~~ ?{ J.t\Ile .9., in.g 82 in . the hands. of th,e North . Koreans. namlp.g sei~ure of the 1Pueblo as a.: tactor in 19q8, be P,qpt~d m the ;EXtens1pns of Re- 'l:,he Un,ited states insi~ts . the 1ship "tV¥ .s.eized his rising expenses. , · .• . marks. r' 1 ~. 01,1tside the 12-mile territoria~ limit of North There being ':rio -objee,tioii ;the sum- Korea and is - tl,ler~fore ' oeing held n-· mary was' ordered to be printed in the' legally, I 1 \, , I RECORD as follows.