Mr. BUSH. Mr. Speaker, during the past 2 weeks the House Republican research committee task force on earth resources and population, of which I am chairman, has heard from Gen. William H. Draper, Jr., national chairman, Population Crisis Committee, Mr. J. Steele Culbertson, director, National Fishmeal and Oil Association, and Dr. William Moran, president, Population Reference Bureau.
In order to keep the Members informed of the program of the task force activities, I offer the highlights of these hearings for the RECORD:
Gen. William H. Draper, Jr., National Chairman, Population Crisis Committee.
Members Present: Bush, Gubser, Horton, McCloskey, MacGregor, Henry Smith, Taft, Wold.
Special Guest: Frank Borman.
General Draper claimed that because decisions on the population problem do not face federal officials every day, the problem is like a rising tide. We don't realize the full implications until we are up to our necks.
Despite political promises of prosperity, economic growth in the underdeveloped nations has been neutralized by the population explosion. In India and Pakistan, public frustration is beginning to show in political, economic and social breakdowns.
General Draper stated, "Our strivings for the individual good will become a scourge to the community unless we use our God-given brain power to bring back a balance between the birth rate and the death rate."
The governments of Latin American countries realize the significance of their own population growth rates, but cannot politically support family planning programs due to the opposition of the Roman Catholic Church.
General Draper stated that he would like to see the number of people assigned to population control in AID increased from the present 67 to approxamately 400.
General Draper pointed to three areas which are related to population control, which have not been adequately covered:
Referring to a possible trend to liberalize abortion laws, General Draper pointed out that the Executive Committee of Planned Parenthood World Population has adopted a policy resolution claiming that abortion is not a legal matter, but rather one for the husband, wife and doctor to decide without the help of the state.
Col. Frank Borman added that he personally couldn't see any hope for a meaningful life on earth, "living in a cubical apartment with a bowling alley in the basement."
Mr. J. Steele Culbertson, Director, National Fishmeal and Oil Association.
Members Present: Bush, Frey, Horton, Lukens, McCloskey, Pettis.
In order to negotiate beneficial fishing treaties with the Russians, we need an expanded research program in the United States. Mr. Culbertson explained that very little is known about the migratory patterns of our Atlantic specie and that by negotiating we are "taking a broad step in the dark."
According to Mr. Culbertson, the death of the California sardine fisheries can be attributed to a lack of research. In the 1930's those fisheries were producing 1.5 billion pounds of fish annually, until the fish began to inexplicably disappear. Research projects were begun too late to save the industry.
The meat-feed ratio for poultry is approximately 1 pound of meat for 2 pounds of feed. Producing 1 pound of catfish meat requires only 1.6 pounds of feed. Ten pounds of catfish can be produced on 17 cents of fishmeal feed.
Mr. Culbertson claimed that harmful marine pollution can be prevented by careful plant processes analysis. In Alaska pulp mills are allowed only if they use a magnesium process which does not endanger the salmon industry.
Our national fish production has decreased from 23 pounds per person to 10 pounds per person in the last 10 years. Mr. Culbertson predicted that without federal action that in five years we would be producing only 5 pounds per person.
Dr. William Moran, President, Population Reference Bureau.
Members present: Bush, Horton, McCloskey, Pollock, Smith, Taft, Wold.
Dr. Moran, President of the Population Reference Bureau expressed considerable concern over projected resource consumption rates. In 190O the United States used 40.9 billion gallons of water. In 1960 that amount had increased to 322 billion gallons of water annually. Furthermore, these growing consumption rates apply to almost all of our resources.
One of the major problems the United States has in resource management is attitudinal. Dr. Moran feels that we have adopted a "frontiersman" attitude and seem to believe that there will always be new resources available. The fact is that we are already failing to replenish some of our most essential resources. For instance, in the Southwestern United States we are tapping fossil water, or water left from the last ice age.
In this country today we produce only 60% of the oxygen we consume. We have introduced into our atmosphere more carbon dioxide than our plants can absorb and convert to meet our oxygen requirements.
We have in the United States, 6% of the world's population, but we are presently using 1/4 to 1/2 of the world's resources. If the world is to someday manage its resources better, the U.S. must assume an important leadership role.
Dr. Morau believes that our efforts should be spent convincing young couples that their family will be happier and that their children wiil have a better chance for an education if family planning is practiced. Finding a way to convince and motivate the general public should be our first priority.
The Population Reference Bureau concentrates a great deal of its resources in both Latin and South America. Dr. Morau explained that the influence Catholicism has over national family planning programs varies with each country. Nationalism in countries like Brazil also limits the extent to which family planning services may be introduced. Brazil allows only 15% of those women who are considered fertile to receive any family planning services or information.
Mr. BUSH. Mr. Speaker, the House Republican task force on earth resources and population, of which I am chairman, is continuing its efforts to learn what is going on in Government and private organization to combat our pressing population growth and its future social consequences, as well as the rapid utilization of our resources and our concern for an environment of quality.
I offer for the record the highlights of our most recent hearings:
Dr. William Moran, President, Population Reference Bureau. Members Present: Bush, Horton, McCloskey, Pollock, Smith, Taft, Wold. Staff From: Vander Jagt.
Dr. Moran, President of the Population Reference Bureau expressed considerable concern over projected resource consumption rates. In 1900 the United States used 40.9 billion gallons of water. In 1960 that amount had increased to 322 billion gallons of water annually. Furthermore, these growing consumption rates apply to almost all of our resources.
One of the major problems the United States has in resource management is attitudinal. Dr. Moran feels that we have adopted a "frontiersman" attitude and seem to believe that there will always be new resources available. The fact is that we are already failing to replenish some of our most essential resources. For instance, in the Southwestern United States we are tapping fossil water, or water left from the last ice age.
In this country today we produce only 60% of the oxygen we consume. We have introduced into our atmosphere more carbon dioxide than our plants can absorb and convert to meet our oxygen requirements.
We have in the United States, 6% of the world's population, but we are presently using 1/4 to 1/2 of the world's resources. If the world is to someday manage its resources better, the U.S. must assume an important leadership role.
Dr. Moran believes that our efforts should be spent convincing young couples that their family will be happier and that their children will have a better chance for an education if family planning is practiced. Finding a way to convince and motivate the general public should be our first priority.
The Population Reference Bureau concentrates a great deal of its resources in both Latin and South America. Dr. Moran explained that the influence Catholicism has over national family planning programs varies with each country. Nationalism in countries like Brazil also limits the extent to which family planning services may be introduced. Brazil allows only 15% of those women who are considered fertile to receive any family planning services or information.
Mr. Oscar Harkavy, Program Officer in Charge.
Members Present: Bush, McCloskey, Mosher, Wold.
Staff From: Anderson, Taft, Vander Jagt.
Current research in reproductive biology has given us many new ideas as to how the fertility cycle can be controlled. Mr. Harkavy explained that if mankind hopes to some day control the world's population, we must continue to develop new methods of contraception and to extensively examine these new research areas. $30 million will be spent this year on specific contraceptive research. Mr. Harkavy stated that we should increase these efforts to a $150 million level of expenditure over the next several years.
The population explosion is commonly recognized as one of the most serious problems now facing the nation and the world. Mr. Harkavy suggested, therefore, that we more adequately fund population research. It seems inconsistent that cancer research funds total $250-275 million annually, more than 8 times the amount spent on reproductive biology research.
Mr. Harkavy explained that finding solutions to the population problem is a long-term project. Grants given on an annual basis allow only short-term research plans. If these grants were distributed over a period of there years, it would be possible to thoroughly staff the projects and to plan the necessary long-term research programs.
Mr. Harkavy stated that often U.S. motives are questioned when foreign countries receive AID funds for family planning. It does not seem to matter how humanitarian our own motives may be. Mr. Harkavy agreed with the Presidential statement emphasizing the importance of unilateral funding through the United Nations.
By the year 2000, experts have predicted that we will have a population of 7 billion. Even more astounding is the fact that by 2025 that figure will have doubled to 14 billion.
Dr. William D. McElroy, Director; Dr. Louis Levin, Executive Associate Director.
Members Present: Bush, Fulton, Horton, Mosher, Pettis, Pollock, Buppe, Wold.
Staff From: McCloskey, Taft, Vander Jagt.
Dr. McElroy explained that in order to return an ecological system to its original condition, the ecologlst must enlist the assistance of experts in almost every science. No mechanism presently exists to coordinate these individual efforts. The National Science Foundation is funding an ecological analysis project in Jamaica which involves a complete examination of the food chain in bays and estuaries. It is hoped that from this study scientists will learn more about how to manage estuary resources.
Scientists are now learning to use waste heat from energy plants to actually Improve ecological systems. Organisms have a faster growth rate in warm weather, and if properly planned, an energy plant can actually speed the recovery process of a polluted area.
Dr. McElroy suggested that family planning projects rely more heavily upon paramedical personnel, particularly in foreign countries. In India an expenditure of $700 million to train midwives and to make family planning services available would result in the direct contact of 25 million Indian women. Dr. McElroy considers this personal contact during periods of pregnancy to be vastly more effective than national information programs.
One of the crises the world will face as a result of present population growth rate is that assuming the world population increases 2% annually, urban population will increase by 6% and ghetto population will increase by 12%.
Dr. McElroy acknowledged the national population problem but urged that we not forget our neighbors. In a country like Jamaica which is "heading for trouble" in terms of population and available living space, Dr. McElroy feels that a modest investment of $2 million would significantly affect the future of Jamaica.