House Panel Approves Scaled-Back Version of Conservation Corps Bill Vetoed by Reagan

WASHINGTON —  The House Interior Committee on Wednesday approved legislation, similar to a bill vetoed by President Reagan last year, to create an American conservation corps to ease unemployment among young people.

The measure, endorsed 26 to 10, would authorize spending $75 million a year to create minimum-wage, public-works jobs and training at the federal and state levels for about 85,000 people between 15 and 25 years of age.

The bill, modeled after the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps program, is a scaled-back version of one that was passed last year by the Senate by unanimous consent and the House on a 296-75 roll call.

In rejecting the legislation, Reagan called it a “discredited approach to youth unemployment that relies on artificial public-sector employment.”

The 1984 bill would have increased funding for the program to $100 million in the third year and have required states to contribute 10% through matching funds. This year’s bill calls for a flat $75 million annual expenditure and calls for states to provide 25% in matching funds.