THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON Honorable Spiro T. Agnew Honorable Carl Albert February 15, 1973 Speaker of the House of Representatives Dear Mr. [President/Speaker] : As mentioned in the President's Message to the Congress on the Environment, there is transmitted herewith a draft of a proposed act, "To provide for the participation of the United States in the United Nations Environment Program." The proposed act would authorize the appropriation of amounts for United States voluntary contributions to a United Nations Environment Fund. The creation of this Fund was recommended by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm June 5-16, 1972. The Conference recommendation has been implemented by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/2997 (XXVII). The creation of a United Nations Environment Fund was largely the result of United States efforts. In his Message to the Congress of February 8, 1972, President Nixon proposed that such a Fund be established, subject to Congressional approval, the United States fair share of the Fund, up to $40 million on a 40-60 matching basis. As of the close of the UN General Assembly in December 1972, a number of governments had made public their intention to contribute specific amounts (Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom) which, when added to the proposed United States contribution, totals $81.5 million. Several other governments have indicated their intention to contribute amounts which would bring the total of the Fund to the $100 million goal. The purpose of the Fund is to coordinate and support international environmental programs, particularly in the fields of identification and control of pollutants, monitoring, conservation, human settlements, information exchange, education, training and research. The Fund would employ the facilities of existing organizations wherever possible. The administration of the Fund is committed to the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program under the policy guidance of a Governing Council of 58 member countries. Costs of servicing the Secretariat and the Governing Council are to be borne by the UN regular budget. Operational program costs, program support and administrative costs of the Fund are to be borne by the Fund. Members of the Governing Council are elected for threeyear terms on the basis of equitable geographic distribution by the UN General Assembly. In addition to providing policy guidance to the Executive Director, the Governing Council will decide upon environmental programs to be supported by the Fund. In view of the role of the United States in proposing and securing the creation of the Fund, prompt consideration and early enactment of this legislation are respectfully urged. The Office of Management and Budget has advised that the enactment of this legislation is in accord with the President's program. Sincerely yours, /s/ Marshall Wright Acting Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations S. 1155 H.R. 5696 AN ACT To provide for participation by the United States in the United National Environment Program. Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that this Act may be cited as the "United Nations Environment Program Participation Act of 1973." Sec. 2. It is the policy of the United States to participate in coordinated international efforts to solve environmental problems of global and international concern, and in order to assist the implementation of this policy, to contribute funds to the United Nations Environment Fund for the support of international measures to protect and improve the environment. Sec. 3. There are authorized to be appropriated such amounts as may be necessary for contributions to the United Nations Environment Fund, which amounts are authorized to remain available until expended, and which may be used upon such terms and conditions as the President may specify. 153 Act. Sec. 1. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1 contains a "short title" for the Sec. 2. Section 2 states the policy upon which United States support for and participation in the United Nations Environment Fund is based. It endorses the creation of the Fund as a means to commence the amelioration and solution of environmental problems of global and international concern. Sec. 3. Section 3 contains the authorization for appropriations for voluntary United States contributions to the United Nations Environment Fund. |