presented in H.R. 4222 or any similar legislation be adopted. These dangers are inherent and apparent in all free programs and would greatly reduce our ability to provide adequate care for all who truly have such a need. For these reasons, the Texas Hospital Association vigorously opposes passage of H.R. 4222 or any similar legislation. Thank you. TENNESSEE NURSING HOME ASSOCIATION, June 23, 1961. Congressman WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, DEAR CONGRESSMAN MILLS: As a component of the American Nursing Home Association, and acting on its own behalf, this association has consistently opposed health care legislation tied to the national social security system. Presently before your committee is H.R. 4222, the Health Insurance Benefits Act of 1961, which incorporates some of the objectionable features of previous such measures, notably, the Forand bill. Accordingly, the executive committee of this association has instructed me to convey this view to you and your committee. Permit me to make three points: 1. The King bill would provide care to all those eligible for social security benefits, regardless of individual financial circumstances. 2. It would not provide for those persons in need of medical care, but ineligible under the social security system, yet without sufficient resources to provide for their own medical care needs. 3. U.S. Public Law 86-778 which is just now becoming effective in several of the States has not had sufficient trial at the present time to warrant consideration of additional legislation for medical assistance to the aged. Until 86-778 has been thoroughly tested by experience in the several States, other plans should be held in abeyance. One final thought Mr. Mills: Medical care legislation, we believe, should be on the basis of need rather than age, and our first attention should be to those without sufficient resources. Public Law 86-778 will provide for their need. It is our view, therefore, that the King bill should be laid aside, at least until the present law has been thoroughly tested. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation has forwarded me the attached statement in opposition to H.R. 4222. I would appreciate your having this statement included in the record of hear ings on this legislation. Thanking you, I am, Sincerely yours, JOHN BELL WILLIAMS. MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION, Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This letter is a formal expression of the views of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation with respect to H.R. 4222, which we understand is before your committee for formal hearings beginning July 24, 1961. It is respectfully requested that this statement be considered by your committee and included in the printed record of the hearings. The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, representing approximately 50,000 farm family memberships in Mississippi, expresses its opposition to H.R. 4222, a proposal to amend the Social Security Act to provide payment of the costs of hospital care, nursing home care, certain diagnostic outpatient care, and some home health care services for those persons 65 years and older eligible to receive old-age and survivors benefits. We are keenly interested in rural health. In the late 1940's our federation worked in concert with others to organize the Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan in Mississippi. We are conscious of the costs and necessity for the services which H.R. 4222 proposes to cover not only for the aged but for all citizens as well. Our experience convinces us that an understanding of and solution to health care problems can be reached through conferences between those who provide the services and those who use them without Government intervention. This bill proposes a radical departure from the original intent and philosophy of the Social Security Act. Under the program as it now exists, a beneficiary may use the income derived from taxes on his wages during his working years in any manner he chooses. H.R. 4222 proposes to place new and additional taxes upon the individual and to designate use of this revenue for health care approved by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. We believe this paternalistic approach is foreign to a society which counts among its basie freedoms the freedom of choice. The present rate of social security tax on income of the self-employed is 4% percent on a $4,800 income base, with scheduled increases of three-quarters of i percent in 1963, 1966, and 1969. The increasing costs of liberalized benefits now in the law are a serious financial burden on the self-employed. H.R. 4222 would further increase these costs by three-quarters of 1 percent and raise the income base to $5,000. We believe these increasing costs result from using the Social Security Act to replace individual thrift and personal responsibility rather than supplement them as intended by the sponsors of the act. H.R. 4222 has in it the element of Government determination of the costs of hospital care, nursing home care, diagnostic outpatient services, home health care services, certain physicians' services, and Government determination of reasonable standards of medical care. For some years, we have been having very unsatisfactory experiences with Government determination of certain aspects of our individual farming operations. Based on these experiences, we have serious doubts and misgivings about a proposal which would give the Federal Government power to buy and control certain aspects of our individual medical and surgical needs. The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation respectfully requests your committee not to give favorable action on H.R. 4222. In behalf of our federation, permit me to thank you for your consideration of this statement. Sincerely, BOSWELL STEVENS, President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. STATEMENT OF THE GEORGIA FARM BUREAU FEDERATION RELATIVE TO H.R. 42, MEDICAL CARE FOR THE AGED, PRESENTED BY HARRY L. BROWN, PRESIDENT The Georgia Farm Bureau is a federation of 157 county farm bureaus with a voluntary membership of 36,451 farm families. We appreciate the opportunity of presenting our members' views in opposition to H.R. 4222. The voting delegates, at our last annual meeting, had this to say about social security: "We are strongly opposed to any further legislation which would increase the social security taxes beyond that now outlined in the present law. We further oppose liberalization of benefits which would require any extra or additional taxes." The Georgia Farm Bureau certainly recognizes that medical care for the aged is a serious problem, and we have worked at the problem for the past 15 years. We do not believe the answer or solution rests with the Federal Government. We submit the following reasons for our opposition to H.R. 4222: 1. The vast majority of Georgia farmers are self-employed and the increase in proposed social security taxes to finance this program would create a hardship on farmers as it relates to employed persons. 2. Net farm income is already at a very low level and any increase in taxes of any kind would put farmers in a weaker position in providing food and fiber for our people and providing medical care for themselves. 3. Young farmers desiring to farm are finding it very difficult now to enter the farming profession because of the tremendous investment, and to increase social security taxes would make this problem more acute. 4. Farmers, through their own farm organization, have made available to themselves and others voluntary prepaid health programs of hospital and medical care, including a program for senior citizens. For the Federal Government to enter this field would for all practical purposes eliminate such programs. Also many of our people have private or commercial protection. 5. Provisions of H.R. 4222 would tend to eliminate private or commercial health programs because people would sit back and wait for the Federal Government to move in. America did not become great with this type of philosophy. 6. Farm Bureau believes that children of parents should assume some responsibility in seeing to it that their parents are properly cared for. In the event an elderly person has no children to lean on, private organizations, such as churches, can render a service in this area. 7. If the Federal Government enters this field for a certain age group, the tendency would be to lower the age from time to time and include other persons. We would appreciate very much the members of the House Ways and Means Committee giving our views serious thought and reject H.R. 4222. STANDING COMMITTEE ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY, Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, Columbus, Ohio, June 30, 1961. Chairman of Ways and Means Committee, DEAR CONGRESSMAN MILLS: At its annual meeting in August 1959, the American Bar Association went on record as opposing the Forand bill (H.R. 4700) and substantially similar legislation. This action was communicated to your committee shortly thereafter. We understand that hearings have been tentatively scheduled before your committee on the King-Anderson bill (H.R. 4222). Since this bill is subtantially similar to the Forand bill, it is desired to record the opposition of the American Bar Association to H.R. 4222 and that this letter be made a part of the record of any hearings on this legislation. Respectfully yours, EARL F. MORRIS, Chairman. ILLINOIS STATE BAB ASSOCIATION, Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE MILLS: The Illinois State Bar Association opposes enactment by the Congress of H.R. 4222, the Health Insurance Benefits Act of 1961, introduced by Representative King of California. This association favors an approach to this problem through the legislation enacted at the last session of the Congress which was implemented in Illinois by appropriate acts in the 72d general assembly this year. I will appreciate your making this statement of the position of the Illinois State Bar Association a matter of record before the House Ways and Means Committee when the hearings on H.R. 4222 are held. Sincerely yours, OWEN RALL, President. DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Hon. WILBUR MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: I have been directed by the board of directors of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce to transmit to you the enclosed resolution, with the request that it be incorporated at an appropriate place in the hearings. Sincerely, DALE MILLER. RESOLUTION OF THE DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPPOSING COMPULSORY HEALTH INSURANCE Whereas legislative proposals are pending in the Congress to establish compulsory health insurance under the Social Security Act, namely, H.R. 4222 and S. 909; and Whereas some of the opponents of such legislation advocate instead that Federal grants-in-aid be made to the States to provide health insurance for the aged; and Whereas medical care for the needy aged (currently provided under the Kerr-Mills law), and for blind, dependent children, and the permanent and totally disabled is already provided through Federal-State programs; and Whereas the proposals for compulsory health insurance are not based on need but would force the wealthy and the low-wage earner, the young and the old alike, whenever they perform labor covered by the act, to contribute a portion of thir earnings, in the form of social security taxes, to a compulsory health plan; and Whereas any such program might be changed, at the will of the Congress, many times before the contributors attain the age which would make them eligible for the compulsory health insurance program's benefits; and Whereas at present the State governments, through licensing and other regulation, prescribe minimum standards which must be met by physicians, dentists, hospitals, and others who offer health-care services to the public competitively; and Whereas compulsory health insurance under the Social Security Act would (1) involve determination by Federal agencies of criteria for medical-dentalhospital services which could be used, and (2) control, directly or indirectly, the payments for such services; and Whereas, if governmental authority is to make the rules and also control payment for services, the danger of socialized medicine becomes real: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the board of directors of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce express opposition to H.R. 4222 and S. 909, now pending in the Congress, and to any other bill which may be introduced or substituted for them, to establish a compulsory health insurance program under the Social Security Act, and to proposed substitute programs of Federal grants-in-aid to the States. HAVRE, MONT., June 26, 1961. Hon. WILBUR D. MILLS, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: Enclosed you will find a copy of the resolution pased by the Montana Junior Chamber of Commerce at their State convention in Great Falls, Mont., on May 26, 1961. Please enter this resolution in the record of committee hearings. We, of the Montana Junior Chamber of Commerce, still believe that laissezfaire type government is the best type of government. We also feel that your committee should know that Montanans can look after themselves, particularly our older citizens. My personal feeling is that the Kerr-Mills bill is also usurping the Constitution but so many bills of this type have been passed in the past that the populace is completely numb to their ultimate consequence. Sincerely, W. A. RADER. RESOLUTION No. 9 OF THE MONTANA JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Whereas we the Montana Junior Chamber of Commerce have adopted the Jaycee creed as our firm belief and purpose; and Whereas a line in this creed states that "we believe that economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise"; and Whereas it is not only a right but it is our duty to support, practice, and promote the ideals laid down in this creed; and Whereas the King bill is the beginning of socialized medicine and means additional taxation for all; and Whereas the King bill (H.R. 4222), if enacted, would inevitably and admittedly further control men and further control enterprise: Therefore be it Resolved, That we oppose the enactment of this bill or any like bill which will lead to further control of our free enterprise system, and also tend to kill pride of profession, skill, and intellectual initiative in medicine; be it further Resolved, That we request by letter, to the members of the Montana congressional delegation to actively support our cause; and be it further Resolved, That the Montana Junior Chamber of Commerce present this resolution at the next national junior chamber convention for their consideration and adoption. Hon. WILBUR MILLS, CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Mr. J. D. Henderson, national managing director, American Association of Small Business, Inc., of New Orleans, La., has asked that I forward his enclosed statement on H.R. 4222 for inclusion in the record of hearings on this legislation. Sincerely, HALE BOGGS, Member of Congress. TESTIMONY OF J. D. HENDERSON, NATIONAL MANAGING DIRECTOR, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION of Small BUSINESS, INC., WASHINGTON, D.C. My name is Joseph D. Henderson. I am the national managing director of the American Association of Small Business, Inc., a national organization which had its inception during 1941 and received its charter February 20, 1942. We were organized in New Orleans, La., and our membership has spread throughout the country. At this time we are working in all States of the Union, including the District of Columbia. We send our material to newspapers throughout the country, each U.S. Senator and Members of the House of Representatives in Washington. We also contact State Governors, State legislatures, municipal councils, and other public bodies. We have made many statements in testifying before committees of the Congress, departments or agencies of the Federal Government, State legislatures, public boards, and city councils. We support legislation beneficial to all small businesses and our members in particular, and we likewise oppose legislation which is detrimental. We render services to small businesses and individuals, helping them to go into business, stay in business, secure sources of supplies and material, funds to operate the business and for expansion purposes. There is no service too large or small for the American Association of Small Business, Inc., to undertake for one of its members. All a member has to do is to tell us about his problem and we do our utmost to help solve it. We are a service organization and we endeavor to encourage small businesses to patronize each other, work together so that they may expand, and become as big as their initiative, ability, and energy will permit. We are now working in a field of over 45 million individuals engaged in small businesses and professions. We are conducting a public relations service dedicated to keeping small business in business. H.R. 4222 is a bad bill and should not be approved by the members of the House Ways and Means Committee. One of the objectives of the American Association of Small Business, Inc., is "stopping inflation, socialism, and communism in the United States." |