LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE UNITED STATES SENATE NINETY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ALVIN J. ARNETT, OF MARYLAND, TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE 20-597 JULY 20, 1973 Printed for the use of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, JR., New Jersey, Chairman JENNINGS RANDOLPH, West Virginia JACOB K. JAVITS, New York J. GLENN BEALL, JR., Maryland STEWART E. MCCLURE, Chief Clerk (II) CONTENTS Beall, Hon. J. Glenn, a U.S. Senator from the State of Maryland--- Hughes, Ms. Casey, Maryland Coordinator for the National Organization Arnett, Alvin J., Director-Designate, Office of Economic Opportunity. Hughes, Ms. Casey, Maryland Coordinator for the National Organization Randolph, Hon. Jennings, a U.S. Senator from the State of West Virginia_ Articles, publications, etc. : Appalachian Regional Commission between November 15, 1971, and Consultants and temporary employees employed by OEO, list of (with OEO disaster relief efforts in Vermont__ OEO policy regarding carry-over balance_- Office of Economic Opportunity, creation and authority---- Office of Economic Opportunity delegation of authorities to: Senior opportunities and service programs.... Vermont legal aid funding-- Cranston, Hon. Alan, a U.S. Senator from the State of California, Gonzales, Eugene, Acting Regional Director, Office of Economic Opportunity, Executive office of the President, region IX, San Cranston, Hon. Alan, a U.S. Senator from the State of California, from Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General of the United States, Wash- Staats, Hon. Elmer B., Comptroller General of the United States, General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C., from Hon. Alan Cran- Arnett, Alvin J., Acting Director, Office of Economic Opportunity from Robert J. McConnon, Director, Office of National Projects Admin- istration, U.S. Department of Labor, Manpower Administration, Arnett, Alvin J., Director-Designate, OEO, from Alan Freeman, Dep- EOE Employees, from Alvin J. Arnett, Director-Designate, June 30, 72 NOMINATION FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1973 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, Washington, D.C. The committee, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m. in room 4232, Dirksen Office Building, Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Williams, Kennedy, Mondale, Cranston, Hathaway, Schweiker, Taft, and Beall. The CHAIRMAN. This is a full Labor and Public Welfare Committee hearing considering the nomination of Mr. Arnett to be Director of the Office of Economic Opportunity. Before we begin, I think that because of recent history it would be appropriate to start with a statement from the chairman. Nearly 200 years ago, the framers of our Constitution recognized the importance of a government whose power was not concentrated in the hands of one man-but rather one where power would be divided between an elected Congress, an appointed judiciary, and an executive branch whose duty it would be to implement the laws made by the legislative representatives of the people. Article II of the Constitution clearly states that all Presidential appointments shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, unless the Congress provides otherwise. In creating the top positions of the Office of Economic Opportunity, the Congress explicitly provided that the Agency's Director, Deputy Director, and Assistant Directors would be subject to such advice and consent. This committee meets today as a result of an unusual juxtaposition of events involving all three branches of Government. In January of this year, the President appointed an individual to be the Director of OEO without sending that person's name to the Senate for confirmation. Shortly thereafter, despite the clear abuse of constitutional process and lack of regard for statutory intent, this appointee set out to accomplish his declared goal of dismantling the Agency and gutting its programs-programs specifically designed by the Congress to help the poor and disadvantaged of this country. As if these blatant illegalities alone would have not been enough to trigger extraordinary action, it was in fact the results—the disruption brought to hundreds of worthwhile programs and to thousands of innocent lives, which prompted me to seek redress through the judicial arm of Government. Joined by three of my committee colleagues, Senators Pell, Mondale, and Hathaway, legal proceedings were initiated in the U.S. district court to stop the dismantling and to remove the "Acting Director" from office. |