President Lyndon Johnson created the Commission on April 2, 1964, with Executive Order 11150. He later abolished the Commission on October 2, 1964, with Executive Order 11182, and replaced it with the President's Review Committee for Developmental Planning in Alaska.
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 neededCreated and maintained field committees to carry out this workPlanned federal programs in Alaska focusing on reconstruction, economic issues, and development of natural resourcesRecommended ways to carry out these proposed federal programsReported its work to CongressSenator Clinton Anderson (D-NM), ChairRobert S. McNamara, Secretary of DefenseStewart L. Udall, Secretary of the InteriorOrville L. Freeman, Secretary of AgricultureLuther H. Hodges, Secretary of CommerceW. Willard Wirtz, Secretary of LaborAnthony J. Celebrezze, Secretary of Health, Education, and WelfareEdward A. McDermott, Director, Office of Emergency PlanningNajeeb E. Halaby, Administrator, Federal Aviation AgencyJoseph C. Swidler, Chair, Federal Power CommissionRobert C. Weaver, Administrator, Housing and Home Finance AgencyEugene P. Foley, Administrator, Small Business AdministrationDwight A. Ink, Executive DirectorFrank C. Di Luzio, Asst. to the ChairThe 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 S. 2881 in the 88th congress (1964–1965). The resulting public law
made $15,000,000 available for highway repair or reconstructionextended or forgave housing loans made through the Farmer's Home Administrationmade $25,000,000 available for urban renewal projectsextended the term of home disaster loans made through the Small Business Administration to 30 yearsmade $10,000,000 available for the Corps of Engineers to modify previously authorized civil works projectsmade $25,000,000 available to the Housing and Home Finance Administration to purchase Alaskan state bonds for capital improvementsmade $5,5000,000 available as matching funds enabling the state of Alaska to retire or adjust home mortgage loans.Response to Disaster: Report of the Federal Reconstruction and Development Planning Commission for Alaska (1964) http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015046907385
