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Show 426 authorized, among other things, "with a view toward providing an adequate reservoir of useful and worthy public works for the post-war construction program."173 Furthermore, Congress in 1946 declared it to be the policy and responsibility of the Federal Government to utilize all its plans, functions, and resources for the purpose of creating and maintaining, in a manner calculated to promote the gen- eral welfare, conditions of maximum gainful employment.174 The Council of Economic Advisers has the duty of appraising the various federal programs in light of this policy in order to determine the degree of their conformity with this policy and to make recommendations to the President.175 But neither this agency nor the Bureau of the Budget has received appropria- tions for the purpose of enabling their participating directly in planning for comprehensive development, as such.176 Proposals for Regional Authorities.-As the develop- ment of larger and more extensive river-improvement projects was made possible in recent years by advances in engineering methods, as populations in river basins increased, as industry expanded, and as our economy grew more complex-the need for comprehensive development became increasingly apparent. As the scope of the activities of the special-purpose agencies 57 Stat. 169,170. The President then issued Ex. O. No. 9384, 8 F. R. 13782, which revoked Ex. O. No. 8455 and directed the federal construction agencies to submit long-range, advance programs to the Bureau of the Budget under regulations prescribed by it. The Bureau was directed to consolidate these programs and report to the President an over-all, advance program for the Executive Branch. Such programs are not the same as the six-year, river- basin programs prepared by the Field Committees of the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior. See infra, pp. 436-439. 178 Act of December 22,1944, §§ 10,13, 58 Stat. 887, 891, 905. 174 Act of February 20,1946, § 2, 60 Stat. 23,15 U. S. C. 1021. 178 § 4, 60 Stat. 24, 15 U. S. C. 1023(c). 176 However, the Council of Economic Advisers has. concluded cooperative agreements with the Department of the Interior whereby it has received funds from the latter Department which have enabled the Council to broaden its studies of the Southwest and New England economies to include re- source development. Letters from the Chairman of the Council of Eco- nomic Advisers to the Secretary of the Interior, dated June 22, 1950 and June 27, 1950, and letters from the Secretary of the Interior to Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, dated June 26, 1950 and June 28.1950. |