CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE

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CIA-RDP77M00144R001100190007-6
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May 15, 1975
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Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77M00144R001100190007-6 16 May 1975 George-- Several items of interest regarding legislation from Thursday's RECORD. The Senate passed S. 200, which establishes a nonregulatory agency for consumer advocacy to represent the interests of consumers in Federal agency and court proceedings. Section 16(a) of the bill exempts CIA and other intelligence agencies. The bill is attached. The House began debate on H. R. 6674, Fiscal 1976 Defense Authorization bill. The committee bill has no sections restricting CIA and so far no amendments to that effect have been offered on the floor. The RECORD also indicates the House will recess Thursday, May 22nd, and return Monday, June 2nd. { ~~ Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77M1 !4101100190007-6 S 8422 Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77M00144RO01100190007-6 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE May 15, 1975 The result was announced-yeas 61, nays 28, as follows: [Rolicall Vote No. 184 Leg.] YEAS-61 Abourezk Hart, Gary W. Moss Beall Hart, Philip A. Muskie Bentsen Hartke Nelson Biden Haskell Packwood Brock Hatfield Pastore Brooke Hathaway Pearson Bumpers Hollings Pell Burdick Huddleston Percy Cannon Humphrey Proxmire Case Inouye Randolph Chiles Jackson Ribicoff Church Javits Roth Clark Kennedy Schweiker Cranston Leahy . Scott, Hugh Culver Magnuson Stafford Dole Mathias Stevens Domenici McGovern Stone Eagleton McIntyre Weicker Fong Mondale Williams Ford Montoya Glenn Morgan NAYS-28 Allen Garn Nunn Bartlett Goldwater Scott, Bellmon Griffin William L. Buckley Hansen Sparkman Byrd, Helms Stennis Harry F., Jr. Hruska Symington - Byrd, Robert C. Laxalt Taft Curtis Long Talmadge Eastland McClellan Tower Fannin McClure Young PRESENT AND GIVING A LIVE PAIR, AS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED- Mansfield, for. NOT VOTING-9 Baker Johnston Stevenson Bayh McGee Thurmond ee bill (S. 200) was passed., as fol- S.200 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Consumer Protec- tion Act of 1975". STATEMENT OF FINDINGS AND PURPOSES SEc. 2. (a) The Congress finds that the in- terests of consumers are inadequately repre- sented and protected within the Federal Government; that regulations have been adopted and statutes have been enact- ed by the Federal Government without first securing available information as to the estimated costs and benefits of such regula- tions and statutes; and that vigorous repre- sentation and protection of the interests of consumers are essential to the fair and ef- ficient functioning of a free market economy. Each year, as a result of this lack of effective representation before Federal agencies and courts, consumers suffer personal injury, economic harm, and other adverse conse- quences in the course of acquiring and using goods and services available in the market- place. Federal programs which fail to provide benefits that are commensurate with the costs thereof may be a factor in the economic problems of the United States. (b) The Congress therefore declares that- (1) A governmental organization to rep- resent the interests of consumers before Federal agencies and courts could help the agencies in the exercise of their statutory re- sponsibilities in a manner consistent with the public interest and with effective and re- sponsive government. It is the purpose of this Act to protect and promote the interests of the people of the United States as con- sumers of goods and services which are made available to them through commerce or which affect commerce by so establishing an independent Agency for Consumer Ad- vocacy. (2) It is the purpose of the Agency for Consumer Advocacy to represent the inter- ests of consumers before Federal agencies and courts, receive and transmit consumer complaints, develop and disseminate infor- mation of interest to consumers, and per- form other functions to protect and promote the interests of consumers. The authority of the Agency to carry out this purpose shall not be construed to supersede, supplant, or replace the jurisdiction, functions, or powers of any other agency to discharge its own stat- utory responsibilities according to law. (3) It is the purpose of this Act to pro mote protection of consumers with respect to the- (A) safety, quality, purity, potency, health- fulness; durability, preference, reparability, effectiveness, dependability, availability, and cost of any real or personal property or tang- ible or intangible goods, services, or credit; (B) preservation of consumer choice and a competitive market; (C) price, and adequacy of supply of goods and services; (D) prevention of unfair or deceptive trade practices; (E) maintenance of truthfulness and fair- ness in the. advertising, promotion, and sale by a producer, distributor, lender, retailer, or other supplier of such property, goods, services, and credit; (F) furnishing of full, accurate, and clear instructions, warnings, and other informa- tion by any such supplier concerning such property, goods, services, and credit; (G) protection of the legal rights and remedies of consumers; and (H) providing of estimates of the costs and benefits of programs and activities estab- lished by Federal Government regulations and legislation. (4) It is the purpose of section 24 of this Act to establish a means for estimating in advance the costs and benefits of Federal leg- islation or rules that have substantial eco- nomic, Impact, and to prevent the adoption of Government programs which entail un- reasonable or excessive costs, (5) This Act should be so interpreted by the executive branch and the courts so as to implement the intent of Congress to pro- tect and promote the interests of consumers, and to achieve the foregoing purposes. ESTABLISHMENT SEC. c. (a) There is hereby established as an independent agency of the United States within the executive branch of the Govern- ment the Agency for Consumer Advocacy. The Agency shall be directed and adminis- tered by an Administrator who shall be ap- pointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term coterminous with the term of the President, not to exceed four years. The Administrator shall be an individual who by reason of training, experience, and attainments is ex- ceptionally qualified to represent the inter- ests of consumers. There shall be in the Agency a Deputy Administrator who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Dep- uty Administrator shall perform such func- tions, powers, and duties as may be pre- scribed from time to time by the Adminis- trator and shall act for, and exercise the powers of, the Administrator during the ab- sence or disability of, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of, the Administrator. scribed from time to time by the Adminis- trator shall continue in office until he is re- appointed or his successor is appointed and qualifies. The Administrator may be removed by the President for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance. in office. (b) No employee of the Agency while serv- ing in such. position may engage in any busi- ness, vocation, other employment, or have other interests, inconsistent with his official responsibilities. (c) There shall be in the Agency a General Counsel who shall be appointed by the Administrator (d) The Administrator is authorized to appoint within the Agency not to exceed five Assistant Administrators. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR SEc. 4. (a) The Administrator shall be re- sponsible for the exercise of the powers and the discharge of the duties of the Agency, and shall have the authority to direct and supervise all personnel and activities thereof. (b) In addition to any other authority conferred upon him by this Act, the Admin- istrator is authorized, in carrying out his functions under this Act, to- (1) subject to the civil service and classi- fication laws, select, appoint, employ, and fix the compensation of such officers and em- ployees as are necessary to carry out the pro- visions of this Act and to prescribe their authority and duties; (2) employ experts and consultants in ac- cordance with section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, and compensate individuals so employed for each day (including traveltime) at rates not in excess of the maximum rate of pay for Grade GS-18 as provided in section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, and while such experts and consultants are so serving away from their homes or regular place of business, pay such employees travel expenses and per diem in lieu of subsistence at rates authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons in Government serv- ice employed intermittently; (3) appoint advisory committees composed of such private citizens, including consum- ers and business representatives, and officials of the Federal, State, and local governments as he deems desirable to advise him with re- spect to his functions under this Act, and pay such members (other than those regularly employed by the Federal Government) while attending meetings of such committees or otherwise serving at the request of the Ad- ministrator compensation and travel expenses at the rate provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection with respect to experts and consultants: Provided, That all meetings of such committees shall be open to the public and interested persons shall be permitted to attend, appear before, or file statements with any advisory committee, subject to such rea- sonable rules or regulations as the Adminis- trator may prescribe; (4) promulgate, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, title 5, United States Code, such rules, regulations, and procedures as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, and assure fairness to all persons affected by the Agency's actions, and to dele- gate authority for the performance of any function to any officer or employee under his direction and supervision; (5) utilize, with their consent, the services, personnel, and facilities of other Federal agencies and of State, regional, local, and pri- vate agencies and instrumentalities, with or without reimbursement therefor, and to transfer funds made available under this Act to Federal, State, regional, local, and private agencies and instrumentalities as reimburse- ment for utilization of such services, person- nel, and facilities; (6) enter into and perform such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, on such terms as the Administrator may deem appropriate, with any agency or instrumentality of the United States, with any State, or any politi- cal subdivision thereof, or with any person; (7) accept voluntary and uncompensated services, notwithstanding the provisions of Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77MOOl 44RO01 100190007-6 Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77M00144RO01100190007-6 May 5, 1975 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE mulgate any binding regulations, but '9ixxnply s ould be allowed to intervene as of,advo ,,ate before other Federal agen- ciesa#pnd departments in support of con- sumeii Lterests. In ad.tion, there are two features of S. 200 tl-A have helped me quiet misgiv- from section which gives the Agency power tc, direct`- terrogatories to busi- nesses a.;out acti 'es that affect the in- terest o consumer mall business, in my view should be fred and encour- upon th larger conglome dustrial power. - went. 'I he purpose of this statement would bo to make explicit consideration by the a ency of costs and benefits that would big occasioned by the issuance of its prop )sed rule, as opposed to those costs and benefits that would accrue if the rule were not issued. Industry, labor, and the ?eneral public alike in this coun- try have long suffered from an excess of duplicat ve and suffocating economic regulations. Section 24 of this bill would be a warn- ing signi,l to all Federal agencies not to issue new rules and regulations without first carefully considering the costs and benefits that such rules and regulations would produce. This approach, I trust, will caul. the Federal Government to be much mre careful in the future about increasix. g the level of regulation of pri- vate and business' activity. Mr. President, I point out also that the ACA. under S. 200, would be a tem- porary agency only. Funds are authorized to be appropriated for its operation for a period of only 3 fiscal years. I am by no meats committed to vote to renew the life of this Agency at the expiration of this i itial term, and if the Agency's contribu ton to the welfare of consumers is not substantial, I would find it impos- sible to d o so. Mr. G ~,ENN. M'r. President, when we vote on anal passage of S. 200, I intend to vote tar the bill. The legislation is an importat t consumer protection measure. I view e itablishment of the Agency for Consumer Advocacy, however, as merely part of a larger effort toward the reform of Feder it regulatory agencies which, in my opit ion, in many instances have failed to carry out the functions assigned to them. In fact, if the regulatory agen- cies had been properly doing the con- sumer r -presentation job that is their mandate it is questionable whether the ACA would be necessary today. This un- settled s tuation has had an adverse ef- fect on he businesses which are regu- lated ana upon the American public. We ne rd to take a hard look at our reg- ulatory c ystem, a look which already has bipartisan support - emphasizing how itnportaiti it has become. The President has pros used a "regulatory summit" to consider problems in this area, and re cently I reported to the Senate on behalf of the Senate Committee on Governmen Operations a resolution which provider for an in-depth study of our whole regu- latory system by the Senate Committe, on Government Operations and the Sen ate Commerce Committee. This reassess ment is vital, for it strikes at the roo: problem. I think it would be wrong to look upoi the establishment of an Agency for Con Sumer Advocacy as a final solution to thr problems in this area. Indeed, the pas - sage of S. 200 must not permit us to tak= our eye off the real problem, the reform of the regulatory agencies themselves The bill provides a 3-year life for the ACA during which time the other pro- posed legislation should provide ai ample look at the basic regulatory prob- lem, with an evaluation of the ACA a the end of that time. The Agency now appears to be essential for adequats n light of this overall reassessment. found work able to su S. I wish to engage this resources in the marketplace more affluent fellow citizens. S 8421 marketing and distribution system, that the poor lack the necessary cash with which to make quantity purchases of food; that the low-income consumer. by virtue of being poor, does not have access to credit under the standards imposed by most reputable businesses:: that the poor pay more for lower quality produce; and if they can buy furniture or hard goods at all, that these purchases are usually at exorbitant prices on credit terms which leave then even deeper in debt, does the floor manager expect that the proposed ACA, particularly, under sections 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the bill shall devote special attention to the needs and interests of the low-income consumer? Mr. RIBICOFF. I most certainly do. Mr. MATHIAS. I anticipated receiving the answers which the distinguished manager has given. For the purpose of establishing legislative history, however, I did wish to have this exchange with the managers to make it clear that the ACA Is being established for all con- sumers and will not become an agency to represent the needs and interests of solely the middle class and more affluent citizenry. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill is open to further amendment. If there be no further amendment to be proposed, the question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, and was read the third time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ques- tion is, Shall the bill pass? The yeas and nays have been ordered, and the clerk will call the roll. Mr. MANSFIELD (after having voted in the affirmative). On this vote I have a pair with the distinguished Senator from South Carolina (Mr. THURMOND). If he were present and voting, he would vote "nay." If I were permitted to vote, I would vote "yea." Therefore, I with- American consumer are inadequate) mat the senator iron inauana uvir. represented and protected within th,;~ k BAYH), the Senator from Alaska (Mr. to the fair and efficient functioning of ;-6 ut uvir. MvxcGEE), the senator from free-market economy. As a result of thi= Mo ana (Mr_ METCAL:?), and the Sen_ sh s an independent necess ily absent. Consumer Advocacy acy e as fore Federal agencies and courts, re- on official b iness. ceive and transmit consumer com- On this vo the Senator from Cali- plaints, develop and disseminate infor- fornia (Mr. T" EY) is paired with the mation of interest to consumers, and Senator from Lo Tana (Mr. JOHNSTON). perform other functions to protect an' If present and Noting, the Senator promote the interests of consumers. from California wo d vote "yea" and My question is this: Is it the expecta the Senator from Lo 'siana would vote sors of S. 200 that the Agency for I further announce tha if present and Consumer Advocacy will vigorously rep- voting, the Senator from llinois (Mr. resent the interests of low-income con- STEVENSON) and the Senator om Alaska sumers to at least the same extent tha: the ACA will represent more aifluen: consumers? Mr. RIBICOFF. The Senator from Maryland is absolutely correct. Mr. MATHIAS. Given the fact tha the low-income consumer's needs are no being adequately met by the present be unnecessary or does no- during the 3-year life spar (Mr. GRAVEL) would each vote?iyea." Mr. GRIFFIN. I announce that the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. BAKER) and the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. THURMOND) are necessarily absent. I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. BAKER) would vote "yea." Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77MOOl 44RO01 100190007-6 Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77M00144RO01100190007-6 .May . 15, 1975 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE section 3679(b) of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. (b)) ; (8) adopt an -official seal, which shall be judicially noticed; (9) establish such regional offices as the Administrator determines to be necessary to serve the interests of consumers; (10) conduct conferences and hearings and otherwise secure data and expression of. opinion; (11) accept unconditional gifts or dona- tions of services, money or property, real, per- sonal, or mixed, tangible or intangible; (12) designate representatives to serve or assist on such committees as he may deter- mine to be necessary to maintain effective liaison with Federal agencies and with State and local agencies carrying out programs and activities related to the interests of con- sumers; and (13) perform such other administrative ac- tivities as may be necessary for the effective fulfillment of his-duties and functions. (c) Upon request made by the Adminis- trator, each Federal agency is authorized and directed to make its services, personnel, and facilities available to the greatest practicable extent within its capability to the Agency in the performance of its functions. An agency shall not be required to provide such serv- ices, personnel,- or 'facilities to the Adminis- trator where to do so would seriously affect in an adverse manner the agency's ability to carry out its responsibilities, including any responsibility the agency has to protect the public health or safety. (d) The Administrator shall prepare and submit simultaneously to the Congress and the President, not later than April 1 of each year beginning April 1, 1976, an annual re- port, which shall include a description and analysis of- (1) the activities of the Agency, including its representation of the interests of con- sumers before Federal agencies and Federal courts; (2) the major Federal agency actions and Federal court decisions affecting the interests of consumers; (3) the assistance given the Agency by other Federal agencies in carrying out the purposes-of this Act. (4) the performance of Federal agencies and the adequacy of their resources in en- forcing consumer protection laws and in otherwise protecting the interests of con- sumers, and the prospective results of alter- native consumer protection programs; (5) the appropriation by Congress for the Agency, the distribution of appropriated funds for the current fiscal year, and a gener- al estimate of the resource requirements of the Agency for each of the next three fiscal years; and (6) the extent of participation by consum- ers in Federal agency activities, and the ef- fectiveness of the- representation of consum- ers before Federal agencies, together. with recommendations for new legislation, new budget authority for the Agency, and admin- istrative actions to deal with problems dis- cussed in the report, to protect and repre- sent the interests of consumers more effec- tively, and to carry out the purposes of this Act. FUNCTIONS OF THE AGENCY SEC. 5. (a) The Agency shall, in the per- formance of its functions, advise the Con- gress and the President as to matters affect- ing the interests of consumers; and shall protect and promote the interests of the people of the United States as consumers of goods and services made available to them through the trade and commerce of the United States. (b) The functions of the Administrator shall be to- (1) represent the interests of consumers before Federal agencies and courts to the extent authorized by this Act; (2) conduct and support research, studies, and testing to the extent authorized in sec- tion. 9 of this Act; (3) submit recommendations annually to the Congress and the President on measures to improve the operation of the Federal Gov- ernment in the protection and promotion of the interests of consumers; (4) obtain information and publish and distribute material developed in carrying out his responsibilities under this Act in order to inform consumers of matters of interest to them, to the extent authorized in this Act; (5) receive, transmit to the appropriate agencies and persons, and make publicly available consumer complaints to the extent authorized in section 7 of this Act. (6) conduct conferences, surveys, and in- vestigations, including economic surveys, concerning the needs, interests, and problems of consumers: Provided, That such confer- ences, surveys, or investigations are not du- plicative in significant degree of similar ac- tivities conducted by other Federal agencies; (7) cooperate with State and local govern- ments and encourage private enterprise in the. promotion and protection of the interests of consumers; (8) keep the appropriate committees of Congress fully and currently informed of all the Agency's activities, when asked or on his own initiative; (9) publish, in language readily under- standable by consumers, a consumer register which shall set forth the time, place, and subject matters of actions by Congress, Fed- eral agencies, and Federal courts, and other information useful to consumers; (10) encourage the adoption and expansion of effective consumer education programs; (11) encourage the application and use of new technology, including patents and in- ventions, for the promotion and protection of the interests of consumers; (12) encourage the development of in- formal dispute settlement procedures in- volving consumers; (13) encourage meaningful participation by consumers in the activities of the Agency; (14) promote the consumer interests of farmers in obtaining a full supply of goods and services at a fair and equitable price; . (15) coordinate its activities with the ac- tivities of other executive departments and agencies with respect to consumers; and (16) perform such other related activities as he deems necessary for the effective ful- fillment of his duties and functions. REPRESENTATION OF CONSUMERS SEC. 6. (a) (1) Whenever the Administra- tor determines that the result of any Fed- eral agency proceeding or activity may sub- sta vtially affect an interest of consumers, he may as of right intervene as a party or other- wise participate for the purpose of represent- ing an interest of consumers, as provided in paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection. In any proceeding, the Administrator shall re- frain from intervening as a party, unless he determines that such intervention is neces- sary to represent adequately an interest of consumers. The Administrator shall comply with Federal agency statutes and rules of procedure of general applicability governing the timing of intervention or participation in such proceeding or activity and, upon inter.. verdng or participating therein, shall com- ply with laws and agency rules of procedure of general applicability governing the con?? duct thereof. The intervention or participa.? tion of the Administrator in any Federal agency proceeding or activity shall not affect the obligation of the Federal agency conduct- ing such proceeding or activity to assure pro.. cedural fairness to all participants. (2) Whenever the Administrator deter- mines that the result of any Federal agency proceeding which is subject to the provisions of section 553, 554, 556, or 557 of title 5, United States Code, relating to administra?. S8423 tive procedure, or which involves a hearing pursuant to the administrative procedural requirements of any other statute, regula- tion, or practice, or which is conducted on the record after opportunity for any agency hearing, or which provides for public notice and opportunity for comment, may substan- tially affect an interest of consumers, he may as of right intervene as a party or otherwise participate for the purpose of representing an interest of consumers in such proceeding. (3) With respect to any Federal agency proceeding not covered by paragraph (2) of this subsection, or any other Federal agency activity, which the Administrator determines may substantially affect an interest of con- sumers, the Administrator may participate by presenting written or oral submissions, and the Federal agency shall give full con- sideration to such submissions of the Ad- ministrator. Such submissions shall be pre- sented in an orderly manner and without causing undue delay. Such submission need not be simultaneous with that of any other person. (b) At such time as the Administrator de- termines to intervene or participate in a Federal agency proceeding under subsection (a) (2) of this section, he shall issue publicly a written statement setting forth his find- ings under subsection (a) (1), stating con- cisely the specific interest of consumers to be protected. Upon intervening or participat- ing he shall file a copy of his statement in the proceeding. (c) To the extent that any person, if ag- grieved, would by law have such right, the Administrator shall have the right, in ac- cordance with the following provisions of this subsection, to initiate or participate in any Federal court proceeding -involving a Federal agency action- (1) The Administrator may, as ? of right, and in the manner prescribed bylaw, initiate any civil proceeding in a Federal court which involves the review of a Federal agency ac- tion that the Administrator determines may substantially affect an interest of consumers. If the Administrator did not intervene or otherwise participate in the Federal agency proceeding or activity out of which such agency action arose, the Administrator, be- fore initiating a proceeding to obtain judicial review; shall petition such agency for rehear- ing or reconsideration thereof, if the statutes or rules governing such agency specifically authorize rehearing or reconsideration. Such petition shall be filed within sixty days after the Federal agency action involved, or within such longer period as may be allowed by ap- plicable procedures. The Administrator may immediately initiate a judicial review pro- ceeding if the Federal agency does not finally act upon such petition within sixty days after the filing thereof, or at such earlier time as may be necessary to preserve the Administrator's right to obtain effective judi- cial review of the Federal agency action. Where the Administrator did not intervene or otherwise participate in a Federal agency proceeding or activity, the Administrator shall not be permitted to initiate a judicial proceeding with respect to such agency pro- ceeding or activity unless the court shall first have determined that initiation of such a proceeding by the Administrator would ad- vance the interests of justice. In advance of the initiation of such a proceeding by the Administrator, he shall file a statement setting forth the reasons why he did not intervene or otherwise participate in the Fed- eral agency proceeding or activity out of which the contemplated judicial proceeding arises, for the court's consideration in con- nection with its determination whether the initiation of such judicial proceeding would advance the interests of justice. (2) The Administrator may, as of right, and in the manner prescribed by law, inter- vene or otherwise participate in any civil Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77MOO144RO01100190007-6 S 8424 Approved For Release 2005/12/14: CIA-RDP77M00144RO01100190007-6 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -SENATE May 15, 19 75 proceec ing in a Federal court which Involves the re ;few or enforcement of a Federal a+;eaicy action that the Administrator deter- ntines ,ray substantially affect-an interest of , onsun ers. 9:i) '1 he initiation or other participation of the Administrator in a judicial proceeding pursua it to this subsection shall not alter or :affect Ilie scope of review otherwise applic- able to the agency action involved. ri) when the Administrator determines it Lo he i the interest of consumers, he may rr guest the Federal agency concerned to ini- ti:are sich proceeding, or to take such other :is tion, as may be authorized by law with r,s ect ro such agency. If the Federal agency ,oils tc take the action requested, it shall prompt v notify the Administrator of the rc-a.ons therefor and such notification shall ho a m r,ter of public record. (c) ? ,,pearances by the Agency under this 4..b h It be in its own name and shall be side b i qualified representatives designated irv the Administrator. any Federal agency proceeding in wbutS .he Administrator is intervening or participating pursuant to subsection (a) (2) of Lois ;ection, the Administrator is author- is.od to request the Federal agency to issue, ;end the Federal agency shall,, on a statement oir shoving (if such statement or showing is required by the Federal agency's rules of procedure) of general relevance and reason- adle sec.ne of the evidence sought, issue such orders, as are authorized by the Federal ageocy'r statutory powers, for the copying of uocu vents, papers, and records, summon- ing of witnesses, production of books and pacers, and submission of information in ^,ri,,i ng i:) i ue Administrator is not authorized 5 , r: ter ene or participate in proceedings or t:=!rti, a of State or local agencies and State W11.14, sr to engage directly or indirectly in inobyin1. activities before State or local agen- or the Congress, in the manner pro- hibited by section 1913 of title 18, United 5t