(db THE WHITE HOUSE
\ \ WASHINGTON

August 10, 1961

Dear Congressman:

The President has asked that 1 reply to your letter of August 2, 1961,
requesting his views on H,R, 7035, the LaboreHealth, Education,
and Welfare appropriation bill.

‘In acting on this measure the House provided a total of some $45
million over the President's budget estimates, The Senate action
on the measure included a substantial portion of a supplementary
request made necessary by subsequent Congressional action, and in
addition provided increases over the estimates for other items for a
total net increase of $157 million over the President's budget recom-+

The present grave international situation which requires additional
substantial outlays and sacrifices on the part of the American people
does not lessen our responsibility to meet the urgent needs of our
own people. On the contrary, adequate provision for many of these
needs «+ especially the health and education of our citizenry «+ takes
on even greater significance as we seek to improve our national
defense posture.

It is the President's belief that the budgetary recommendations which
he has made to the Congress for programe in the J] abor-Health,
Education, and Welfare appropriation bill provide a sound and
seme" mia daa ge cman enaala ti soy ome in

The Congress must, of course, exercise its wise judgment in
acting on these recommendations, To the extent that the House of
Representatives or the Senate has significantly increased particular
appropriations above the President's requests, such action is of
course within their province, and the President would not wish to
prejudge a matter which presently involves a difference between
the two Houses on an appropriation bill, At the same time, the
President is confident that the conferees who are appointed to work
eut the differences on this bill will give weight to the priorities
and needs which were reflected in his budgetary recormmendations.
The Congress and the President share the exceedingly difficult
responsibility for deciding on the wise and prudent use of the
Government's resources and their balanced allocation among
alternative needs.

 

Honorable Melvin R. Laird
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.