Second, the Federal Government and local and private organizations have been encouraged to coordinate their developments.  This is important because Federal hydroelectric developments supply but a small fraction of the nation’s power needs.  Such partnership projects as Priest Rapids in Washington, the Coosa River development in Alabama, and Markham Ferry in Oklahoma already have the approval of the Congress.  This year justifiable projects of a similar nature will again have Administration support.

Third, the Federal Government must shoulder its own partnership obligations by undertaking projects of such complexity and size that their success requires Federal development.  In keeping with this principle, I again urge the Congress to approve the development of the Upper Colorado River Basin to conserve and assure better use of precious water essential to the future of the West.

In addition, the 1956 budget will recommend appropriations to start six new reclamation and more than thirty new Corps of Engineers projects of varying size.  Going projects and investigations of potential new resource developments will be continued.

Although this partnership approach is producing encouraging results, its full success requires a nation-wide comprehensive water resources policy firmly based in law.  Such a policy is under preparation and when completed will be submitted to the Congress.

In the interest of their proper conservation, development and use, continued vigilance will be maintained over our fisheries, wildlife resources, the national parks and forests, and the public lands; and we shall continue to encourage an orderly development of the nation’s mineral resources.

A modern, efficient highway system is essential to meet the needs of our growing population, our expanding economy, and our national security.  We are accelerating our highway improvement program as rapidly as possible under existing State and Federal laws and authorizations.  However, this effort will not in itself assure our people of an adequate highway system.  On my recommendation, this problem has been carefully considered by the Conference of State Governors and by a special Advisory Committee on a National Highway Program, composed of leading private citizens.  I have received the recommendations of the Governors’ Conference and will shortly receive the views of the special Advisory Committee.  Aided by their findings, I shall submit on January 27th detailed recommendations which will meet our most pressing national highway needs.

In further recognition of the importance of transportation to our economic strength and security, the Administration, through a Cabinet committee, is thoroughly examining existing Federal transportation policies to determine their effect on the adequacy of transportation services.  This is the first such comprehensive review directly undertaken by the Executive Branch of the government in modern times.  We are not only examining major problems facing the various modes of transport; we are also studying closely the inter-relationships of civilian and government requirements for transportation.  Legislation will be recommended to correct policy deficiencies which we may find.