ment to achieve lasting economic improvement through the establishment of stable, diversified and strengthened local economies. It does this in a number of ways:

(a) Making grants and loans to local communities, Indian tribes and public and private organizations for public works facilities and equipment in economically distressed areas;

(b) Making loans to businesses in distressed areas for the development of commercial or industrial land and facilities, and for working capital;

(c) Supporting various types of economic development planning organizations (most notably Economic Development Districts by providing a portion of their administrative expenses); (d) Providing technical assistance which would be of assistance in alleviating or preventing conditions of excessive unemployment or underemployment; and

(e) Underwriting the costs of research into the cause and methods of alleviating unemployment, underemployment and chronic depression.

I will attempt to answer your questionnaire in the context of these stated operations.

I. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE

A. Input from private citizens and citizen groups

In order to receive designation for eligibility for EDA public works grants and loans, and business loans, an area (usually a county, Indian reservation or Economic Development District) must prepare an Overall Economic Development Program (OEDP) approved by EDA indicating the extent of the area's economic problems and the steps that it intends to take in order to further its economic growth. Projects approved by EDA within that area will have to be consistent with the program (OEDP).

Preparing the OEDP is the responsibility of the local OEDP Committee (or District agency in the case of Economic Development Districts). EDA requires that both Area OEDP Committees and District agency goevrning boards be composed of individuals who are representative of the community at large.

In the case of areas, the Committee must, under our regulations, include representatives from "each major economic sector of the local economy, each principal political jurisdiction and each significant minority group" (See Guide for Area Overall Economic Development Programs, p. 4, available from the Government Printing Office.)

In the case of Economic Development Districts, the governing boards should include an elected public official from each county and maior city which joins the District, as well as those representative of principal economic interests, such as "business, labor, agriculture, minority groups and representatives of the unemployed and underemployed" (See Summary of the Economic Development District Program, p. 9, available from the agency.)

EDA recognizes that private citizens, often those whose views are not often heard, will be the ultimate beneficiaries of economic development investments. and it has expended considerable effort to see that the viewpoints of minority groups and the unemployed and under

employed are put forth when plans concerning an area's economic future are propounded.

It should be noted that EDA has participated with a number of other Federal agencies in the work of the Oakland Task Force of the San Francisco Federal Executive Board. As you may know, this task force attempted to mount an integrated Federal approach to many of the urban problems of the City of Oakland, California. The work of the Task Force has been documented in two volumes. It deals almost exclusively with the entire issue of citizen participation in the Federal programs in Oakland.

B. Citizen or industry advisory groups

Section 602 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 calls for the establishment of a National Public Advisory Committee on Regional Economic Development. It consists of 25 members representing labor, management, agriculture, State and local governments and the public in general. Its charge is broad, stating that it shall from time to time make recommendations to the Secretary of Commerce regarding his responsibilities under the Act. By law, it must hold at least two meetings each calendar year.

The Office of Economic Research of EDA has a Research Advisory Committee, consisting of 10-12 scholars, mostly regional economists from leading universities. In general, they have been requested to review the agency's research program plans, but individual members of the Committee are available for consultation on specific matters.

EDA maintains a special program designed to focus on the unique problems of economic development on Indian reservations. A number of tribes and reservations have established advisory committees (exclusive of the OEDP Committees) usually to deal with specific projects or problems. In addition, we have frequent contact with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

On an ad hoc basis, EDA solicits the views of various foundations and trade associations when considering various applications for technical assistance.

C. View of the poor

In addition to the requirements concerning representation of the unemployed and underemployed (who were almost always the poor) for OEDP Committees and District boards, we also stipulate that during the preapplication conference for public works assistance the applicant must be able to identify the local community's poor, minority and unemployed groups, and specify their plans for these individuals. Also, those applications submitted pursuant to Section 101 (a) (1) (A) (iii) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act (that is, those "furthering the objectives of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964"), must include evidence of the applicants involvement with the local Community Action Program, if one exists.

D. Complaints to the agency

Complaints are received by the agency from a variety of sources: project applicants, members of Congress, Governors, etc. They are directed usually to the office of the Assistant Secretary, but also to the EDA office directly concerned, or to the field offices. Individual offices

within EDA generally find that specific complaints can be placed in a relatively small number of categories-e.g., length of application processing time; denial of application; equal opportunity wage disputes; construction matters, fears of business competitors. In general, there are specific procedures that each of these offices will take depending upon the category of the complaint. For example, disputes surrounding the application of the Davis-Bacon Act are handled jointly by EDA's Public Works Office and the Department of Labor. We usually attempt to foresee, if possible, potential areas of misunderstanding or basic difference of opinion. Thus, we have adopted the use of the "pre-application conference," so that before an application is filed with the agency, we can make the ground rules quite clear to the applicant. We have found that this has eliminated a number of problems, particularly in the case of patently ineligible projects. E. Information to those requiring assistance

Keeping in mind that the initial recipients of EDA benefits are institutions rather than individuals, the task of assuring that the agency's programs are well-known is somewhat simpler than if the opposite were the case. EDA maintains a series of Area Offices throughout the country, and has Economic Development Specialists in virtually each state assigned to assisting local governments and organizations to devise economic development programs and projects and coincidently, to make localities aware of the availability of EDA assistance. In addition, we have a number of publications regarding the programs and activities of the agency which are widely distributed throughou: the country.

F. Better access to information outside of Washington

Aside from the procedures outlined above, it should be noted that EDA has, within the past month, established a State Desk intended to maintain a program of greater liaison with the State Governments regarding economic development activities.

We foresce this as not only a means of expediting matters of State concern, but as a method of greater dissemination of information about EDA.

II. PROCEDURES FOR PROMOTING MORE RESPONSIVE AGENCY

A. Reasonable speed

DECISION MAKING

The length of time required to process an application through the agency is a matter of concern to the applicants, and accounts for a substantial percentage of complaints to the agency. Applications to the various operating offices of EDA require different lengths of time for processing, depending upon the complexity of the projects involved. We are attempting to reduce this time, particularly in public works and business loans, although I doubt that once these efforts are complete that any further reduction in time can be expected. B. Special human and mechanical resources

EDA has a computer system in operation designed to provide project reporting services. Part of the system is the "Quick Query Program' which permits the manipulation of a great deal of backgroun information on each county in the country. QQP is designed in such

a manner that EDA staff members may, following a brief training session, write programs of their own to obtain desired data. No extensive computer skills are required.

C. Interagency coordination

EDA participates in a number of interagency committees and working groups. It is an active member of the Planning Assistance and Requirements Coordinating Committee, convened by HUD, and intended to investigate means of establishing common planning requirements and jurisdictions for a number of Federal agencies. In addition, we have participated in an Interagency Committee on Technical Assistance intended for community development which is administered through State government.

The Bureau of the Budget has convened an interagency committee on coordinating sewer and water programs and EDA participates here. This committee has determined common application procedures and jurisdictions, and is now working on standard engineering procedures.

EDA, whenever it processes an application involving a project in which some Federal agency has a particular expertise, will directly consult with counterparts in that agency. In many cases this relationship has been formalized through Memoranda of Agreement.

D. Self-evaluation

The system of computer reporting, as well as the adoption of an agency management and reporting system, has given EDA the embryo of a PPB system. While certainly not complete, the agency is fully committed to establishing such a system. I do not believe that any legislative changes are required to accomplish it.

The review of the mission, objectives, priorities and structure are the continuing responsibilities of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Coordination.

E. Staff capacity; industry connections

I suppose that, as in almost any organization of about 1000 individuals, there will be a wide variety in the level of staff capacities. In general, I have been quite happy with the quality of staff within the stream of agency decision-making. On the whole, they are people dedicated to the agency's objectives.

There is no clear opinion within EDA over the virtues of attempting to rotate personnel among other government agencies. Some contend that it would be harmful to the day-to-day operations of a particular division, while others feel that some "cross-fertilization" would permit different perspectives on EDA programs. I think the benefits would have to be identified almost on a case-by-case basis. It is certain, however, that the agency would benefit over the long run, if we were able to maintain a better level of intercommunication with our own field and area personnel.

There have been a few hirings by EDA of personnel from EDAassisted state and local agencies. In some cases, persons who have had EDA research contracts have later been hired by EDA. To my knowledge, however, there is no significant problem in EDA resulting from staff employment in related agencies or firms prior or subsequent to employment by EDA.

III. THIS QUESTIONNAIRE

Sections I and II took approximately two man-days to prepare. The questions certainly raised issues important to the objectives, mission and operations of the agency.

Were the replies to have been anonymous, I presume that a few questions would be answered in somewhat greater detail, but not

many.

I hope that this response will be of assistance to the Subcommittee. Sincerely yours,

Ross D. DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary for Economic Development.

B. Bureau of the Census

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS, Washington, D.C., March 13, 1969. DEAR SENATOR KENNEDY: This is in reply to your letter and questionnaire of Feburary 24. My comments, enclosed, follow the numbering and broad topics of the questionnaire but, as you suggested, I have made them in the context of the work of the Census Bureau and thus have expanded on some and have not answered some portions of the questions which are not applicable to this agency.

I will be very interested in learning the results of your inquiry. This is a matter to which the Census Bureau has given a good deal of thought, and I am sure we will benefit from the new light which your Subcommittee's deliberations will bring to this subject.

Sincerely yours,

A. Ross ECKLER, Director, Bureau of the Census.

REPLY TO QUESTIONNAIRE OF SUBCOMMITTEE ON ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE, COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, UNITED STATES SENATE

I. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS

A. Because the Census Bureau's principal function is to collect information from private citizens which will be useful not only to government agencies and programs but also to a broad range of private citizens and citizen groups, we do encourage an input from such persons and groups into our decision-making process. For example, the Bureau has held 25 open meetings at the national and regional levels to obtain public opinion about the plans for the 1970 census of population and housing, with attendance representing many civic, community, religious and ethnic groups. In addition, in the more than 20 cities and other areas in which test censuses have been conducted in preparation for 1970, local groups were actively involved. One of the major purposes of the test censuses has been to determine whether citizens were willing and able to respond easily to the proposed census questions.