President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Commission on April 2, 1964, with . He later abolished the Commission on October 2, 1964, with , and replaced it with the President's Review Committee for Developmental Planning in Alaska.Encyclopedia of Governmental Advisory Organizations, 1988-1989 entries 912, 913.
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 in the 88th congress (1964–1965). The resulting public law "1964 Amendments to the Alaska Omnibus Act." 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
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