
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 40USC71b]

 
             TITLE 40--PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS
 
CHAPTER 1--PUBLIC BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, PARKS, AND WHARVES IN DISTRICT OF 
                                COLUMBIA
 
Sec. 71b. Omitted


                          Codification

    Section, act June 6, 1924, ch. 270, Sec. 3, as added July 19, 1952, 
ch. 949, Sec. 1, 66 Stat. 783, which established the National Capital 
Regional Planning Council, and set forth the composition and powers and 
functions of the Council, was omitted in view of the abolition of the 
Council by Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1966, eff. Sept. 8, 1966, 31 F.R. 11857, 
80 Stat. 1611, set out as a note below.

                REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 5 OF 1966

        Eff. Sept. 8, 1966, 31 F.R. 11857, 80 Stat. 1611

Prepared by the President and transmitted to the Senate and the House of 
    Representatives in Congress assembled, June 29, 1966, pursuant to 
    the provisions of the Reorganization Act of 1949, 63 Stat. 203, as 
    amended [see 5 U.S.C. 901 et. seq.].

           NATIONAL CAPITAL REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL


                          Section 1. Abolition

    The National Capital Regional Planning Council (66 Stat. 783), 
together with all of its functions, is hereby abolished.


                           Sec. 2. Liquidation

    The National Capital Planning Commission shall make such provisions 
as it shall deem necessary respecting the winding up of the outstanding 
affairs of the National Capital Regional Planning Council.


                        Message of the President

To the Congress of the United States:
    I am transmitting Reorganization Plan No. 5 of 1966, prepared in 
accordance with the Reorganization Act of 1949, as amended.
    The time has come to recognize the readiness of local governments in 
the Washington area to undertake a role which is properly and rightfully 
theirs. To that end, I am submitting a reorganization plan to abolish 
the National Capital Regional Planning Council.
    Comprehensive regional planning is vital to the orderly development 
of our metropolitan areas. Nowhere is it more important than in the 
National Capital region.
    To be most effective, regional planning must be a responsibility of 
the area's State and local governments acting together to solve mutual 
problems of growth and change. It should not be a Federal function, 
although the Federal Government should support and advance it.
    The need for cooperative planning was recognized years ago in the 
National Capital region. The establishment of the National Capital 
Regional Planning Council in 1952 to prepare a comprehensive development 
plan was a major step in meeting that need.
    However, the Council was designed for conditions which no longer 
exist. It was established by Federal law as a Federal agency financed by 
Federal funds because the various local jurisdictions then felt they 
were not in a position to provide the financing necessary for areawide 
comprehensive planning.
    The situation that existed in 1952 has been changed by two major 
developments--
        The founding of the Metropolitan Washington Council of 
    Governments; and
        The inauguration of a nationwide urban planning assistance 
    program, commonly referred to as the ``701 Program.''

    The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, established in 
1957, is a voluntary association of elected officials of local 
governments in the area. It has a competent professional staff and has 
done constructive work on areawide development matters. It had a budget 
of nearly a quarter of a million dollars for fiscal year 1965, mostly 
derived from local government contributions, and has developed to the 
point where it can fully carry out the State and local aspects of 
regional planning.
    The urban planning assistance program provides for Federal financing 
of two-thirds of the cost of metropolitan planning. The National Capital 
Regional Planning Council, as a Federal agency, is not eligible for 
assistance under this program. The Metropolitan Washington Council of 
Governments, however, became eligible for that assistance under the 
terms of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965. Accordingly, the 
elected local governments of the National Capital region have declared 
their intention of undertaking the responsibility for areawide 
comprehensive planning through the Council of Governments.
    The reorganization plan will not alter the basic responsibilities of 
the National Capital Planning Commission. That Commission will continue 
to represent the Federal interest in the planning and development of the 
region. Indeed, its work should increase as comprehensive regional 
planning by the Council of Governments is accelerated. In accord with 
the reorganization plan, the Commission will work closely with the 
Council of Governments in regional planning. The Commission will also 
deal directly with the suburban jurisdictions and assume the liaison 
functions now exercised by the National Capital Regional Planning 
Council.
    The reorganization plan will improve existing organizational 
arrangements of and promote more effective and efficient planning for 
the National Capital region.
    It will also result in long-range savings to the Federal Government. 
The regional planning effort of the Council of Governments is supported 
in part by local contributions. The same work done by the National 
Capital Regional Planning Council has been supported totally with 
Federal funds. The plan will eliminate this overlapping effort.
    Annual savings of at least $25,000 should result from the 
reorganization plan.
    The functions to be abolished by the reorganization plan are 
provided for in sections 2(e), 3, 4, 5(d), and 6(b) of the act approved 
June 6, 1924, entitled ``An Act providing for a comprehensive 
development of the park and playground system of the National Capital'' 
(43 Stat. 463), as amended (66 Stat. 783, 40 U.S.C. 71a(e), 71b, 71c, 
71d(d), and 71E(b)).
    I have found, after investigation, that each reorganization included 
in the accompanying reorganization plan is necessary to accomplish one 
or more of the purposes set forth in section 2(a) of the Reorganization 
Act of 1949, as amended.
    I recommend that the Congress allow the reorganization plan to 
become effective.

                                                      Lyndon B. Johnson.

    The White House, June 29, 1966.
