Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 84 Part 2.djvu/462

 1792

PUBLIC LAW 91-609-DEC. 31, 1970

[84 STAT.

of the Nation, the proper conservation of our natural resources, and the achievement of satisfactory living standards depend upon the sound, orderly, and more balanced development of all areas of the Nation. (b) The Congress further finds that Federal programs affect the location of population, economic growth, and the character of urban development; that such programs frequently conflict and result in undesirable and costly patterns of urban development which adversely affect the environment and wastefully use our natural resources; and that existing and future programs must be interrelated and coordinated within a system of orderly development and established priorities consistent with a national urban growth policy. (c) To promote the general welfare and properly apply the resources of the Federal Government in strengthening the economic and social health of all areas of the Nation and more adequately protect the physical environment and conserve natural resources, the Congress declares that the Federal Government, consistent with the responsibilities of State and local government and the private sector, must assume responsibility for the development of a national urban growth policy which shall incorporate social, economic, and other appropriate factors. Such policy shall serv© as a guide in making specific decisions at the national level which affect the pattern of urban growth and shall provide a framework for development of interstate. State, and local growth and stabilization policy. (d) The Congress further declares that the national urban growth policy should— (1) favor patterns of urbanization and economic development and stabilization which offer a range of alternative locations and encourage the wise and balanced use of physical and human resources in metropolitan and urban regions as well as in smaller urban places which have a potential for accelerated growth; (2) foster the continued economic strength of all parts of the United States, including central cities, suburbs, smaller communities, local neighborhoods, and rural areas; (3) help reverse trends of migration and physical growth which reinforce disparities among States, regions, and cities; (4) treat comprehensively the problems of poverty and employment (including the erosion of tax bases, and the need for better community services and job opportunities) which are associated with disorderly urbanization and rural decline; (5) develop means to encourage good housing for all Americans without regard to race or creed; (6) refine the role of the Federal Government in revitalizing existing communities and encouraging planned, large-scale urban and new community development; (7) strengthen the capacity of general governmental institutions to contribute to balanced urban growth and stabilization; and (8) facilitate increased coordination in the administration of Federal programs so as to encourage desirable patterns of urban growth and stabilization, the prudent use of natural resources, and the protection of the physical environment. U R B A N GROWTH REPORT

SEC. 703. (a) I n order to assist in the development of a national urban growth policy, the President shall utilize the capacity of his office, adequately organized and staffed for the purpose, through an identified unit of the Domestic Council, and of the departments and agencies within the executive branch to collect, analyze, and evaluate such statistics, data, and other information (including demographic,

�