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Show 455 Power Commission, other appropriate Federal agen- cies and with the States, as required by existing law * * *. The provision also contains language designed to prevent al- teration, hindrance or delay of projects theretofore authorized, or therafter authorized, if in compliance with section one of the Flood Control Act of 1944. In signing the bill, the President expressed dissatisfaction with it.281 He pointed out that since important phases of the development work would be carried out by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior and other federal agencies, these agencies should participate in the making of the plans in the first place, as should the states which also have im- portant responsibilities in resource-development work. Refer- ring to the provision for coordination of the Department of the Army's plans with other federal agencies and the states, "as required by existing law," the President said: 282 All that is required by existing law, however, is that cer- tain Federal agencies and the States concerned be given an opportunity to comment on the plans prepared by the Department of the Army, before they are submitted to the President and the Congress. This is plainly no sub- stitute for participation in the original preparation of the plans. ***** In the absence of such legislation, [as proposed in the Senate version of the bill] I shall attempt to assure con- certed action and effective planning, so far as that may be accomplished under existing laws. I am therefore issuing instructions to the appropriate Federal agencies to work together in preparing comprehensive plans for these basins, insofar as their existing authority permits, and to invite participation by the States concerned. This should remedy, to some extent, the inadequacy of 281 H. Doc. No. 597, 81st Cong., 2d sess., p. 2 (1950). ™IMd. |