Speech; Friendship between United States and Israel; America's Middle East policy; Arab-Israel peace; Need for defensible borders; Terrorists; PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization]; Yassir Arafat; Carter Administration.

Speech given to the Texas Association of Rural Water Cooperatives on February 1, 1974 by Senator John Tower. Tower describes how the Administration and Congress are working to facilitate growth in rural areas, but they face several obstacles. There is disagreement about the goals of rural development and how they should be implemented, and even where legislators do agree, there are practical obstacles to implementation. Yet, there is a consensus that rural areas need more job opportunities, increased income levels, improved housing, and higher quality community services. The members of the Texas Association of Rural Water Cooperatives play a key role in improving quality of life by providing and improving water and sewage facilities.