President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Commission on April 2, 1964, with Executive Order 11150. He later abolished the Commission on October 2, 1964, with Executive Order 11182, and replaced it with the President's Review Committee for Developmental Planning in Alaska.
Purpose
Officially known as the "Federal Reconstruction and Development Planning Commission for Alaska", it served as coordinator for existing federal programs' relief efforts in Alaska following the 1964 Alaska earthquake of March 27, 1964, which measured 9.2 on the moment magnitude scale (the largest by magnitude to hit American territory).
Specifically, the Commission
- Cooperated with Alaskan state representatives in creating surveys and scientific studies to determine what short-range and long-range government actions were needed
- Created and maintained field committees to carry out this work
- Planned federal programs in Alaska focusing on reconstruction, economic issues, and development of natural resources
- Recommended ways to carry out these proposed federal programs
- Reported its work to Congress
Members
- Senator Clinton Anderson (D-NM), Chair
- Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense
- Stewart L. Udall, Secretary of the Interior
- Orville L. Freeman, Secretary of Agriculture
- Luther H. Hodges, Secretary of Commerce
- W. Willard Wirtz, Secretary of Labor
- Anthony J. Celebrezze, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
- Edward A. McDermott, Director, Office of Emergency Planning
- Najeeb E. Halaby, Administrator, Federal Aviation Agency
- Joseph C. Swidler, chair, Federal Power Commission
- Robert C. Weaver, Administrator, Housing and Home Finance Agency
- Eugene P. Foley, Administrator, Small Business Administration
- Dwight A. Ink, Executive Director
- Frank C. Di Luzio, Asst. to the Chair
Accomplishments
The Commission recommended that Congress allocate large amounts of additional federal funds for needed reconstruction programs in Alaska. First-term Senator Bob Barlett (D-AK) introduced the commission's proposals as S. 2881 in the 88th congress (1964–1965). The resulting public law
- made $15,000,000 available for highway repair or reconstruction
- extended or forgave housing loans made through the Farmer's Home Administration
- made $25,000,000 available for urban renewal projects
- extended the term of home disaster loans made through the Small Business Administration to 30 years
- made $10,000,000 available for the Corps of Engineers to modify previously authorized civil works projects
- made $25,000,000 available to the Housing and Home Finance Administration to purchase Alaskan state bonds for capital improvements
- made $5,5000,000 available as matching funds enabling the state of Alaska to retire or adjust home mortgage loans.
Publications
Response to Disaster: Report of the Federal Reconstruction and Development Planning Commission for Alaska (1964) http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015046907385
References
- 29 FR 4789
- Johnson, Lyndon B. (April 2, 1964). Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. (eds.). "Executive Order 11150—Establishing the Federal Reconstruction and Development Planning Commission for Alaska". The American Presidency Project.
- Encyclopedia of Governmental Advisory Organizations, 1988-1989 entries 912, 913.
- Johnson, Lyndon B. (October 2, 1964). Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. (eds.). "Executive Order 11182—Establishing Federal Development Planning Committees for Alaska". The American Presidency Project.
- "BARTLETT, Edward Lewis (Bob)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: 1774-Present.
- Pub. L. 88–451, S. 2881, 78 Stat. 505, enacted August 19, 1964 "1964 Amendments to the Alaska Omnibus Act."