September 1974 Home   Newsletters

October 1974

November 1974

Candidates' Fair
Calendar
President's Notes (Diane Hastert)
Units
Voters' Guide
Action Alert
Workshop for Discussion Leaders and Recorders
Action Alley
Neighborhood Commission
Transportation
Report from the Hill
Convention '74 - Keynote Address (Lucy Wilson Benson)
Planning & Land Use - pull-and-save for Oct. Units

Report from the Hill

POSTAL SERVICE, need your help with regard to timing on League first class mail, using the R/H as an example. In the next first class mailing to state and local presidents from LWVUS we will enclose a memorandum form for presidents to complete and sand to the Subcommittee on Family Farms and Rural Development of the House Committee on Agriculture This committee has scheduled hearings Sept. 17-19 to evaluate postal service and the LWVUS wants to cooperate to this extent: the Memorandum will let you know exactly what date the R/H wont in the mail to state presidents, local presidents, League Action Service and DPM. PLEASE:

1. note down the date of the D.C. postmark and arrival date of this R/H; hold on to it;

2. complete the information requested in the Memorandum when it arrives;

3. mail the form to the Subcommittee on Family Farms and Rural Development.

FYI: First class mails of R/H and ACTION ALERT are sent directly from the LWVUS office to state presidents and national board members. All other copies are sent from a mailing house and the timing is sometimes beyond our control.

LEAGUE'S LOSS IS HUD'S GAIN. Fruzania Fedlam, LAD staff specialist on international relations and selected environmental program items is leaving our staff as of Sept. 11 to work as a member of the Personnel Exchange Program at HUD. Our regret at her departure is alleviated somewhat by our pride in this recognition for her. Fruzi will be working for one year as a member of the Presidential Interchange Executive Program in HUD Office of International Affairs, directly under Secretary James T. Lynn,

Air. The EQ reports are brief items on miscellaneous developments: NEPA exemptions in the new Housing wad Community Development Act; retention of NEPA requirements in the House- passed rapid transit bill; EPA's announcement of proposed regulations to permit "significant deterioration" of air in clean-air areas of the country; review of the fact-finding efforts to determine the relative costs of pollution control; and a reprint of a significant speech by an American Bar Association member on the roles of the legislative, executive and judicial branches in environmental policy making.

Strip Mining. The House finally passed HR 11500, the "Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1974" after strengthening the Interior Committee version by floor amendment. Conferees have started meetings to resolve the differences which are not too major now. The League wants this bill enacted before Congress adjourns. Check conferee list, EQ 2 for contacts to be made.

Housing and Community Development, The HR 1-HR 4 summary of the new law may be ordered from LWVUS, pub. No. 541, 25 per copy or 5/$1.00,

ESE and Busing. ESEA bill has now become Public law No. 93-380. Summary to come in next R/H. Long term action at local and state level is anticipated.

Miscellaneous. The Legal Services Corporation bill is now Public Law 93-355; 0E0 is still in the negotiating stage between the Senate Subcommittee on Manpower, Employment and Migratory Labor and the administration; social services legislation may be ready for introduction in September; two new welfare publications available for free order by League committees.

Another "Buy American" move. The House has passed a cargo preference bill entitled the "Energy Transportation Security act of l974"--HR8193. Mixing "energy" and "security" in the same title is a misleading "come on" to gain passage. The bill, in fact, requires that 20% initially and 30% by 6/30/77 of the oil imported into the U.S. be shipped in U.S. commercial flag vessels. We, and other liberal-trade groups oppose this bill: it would invite retaliation by other countries, set a precedent for other cargo preference legislation, and affect consumer oil prices. LET YOUR SENATORS KNOW THAT WE ARE WATCHING THEIR VOTE AND URGE THEM TO VOTE IT DOWN. It is expected to come up shortly after the recess.

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