forward to working with this committee in seeking solutions to problems in this area." It is my understanding that H.R. 7178, a bill which you are sponsoring, carries out the intent of this resolution. Very truly yours, HARRY R. BETTERS, Executive Director. STATEMENT OF RANDEL SHAKE, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CHILD WELFARE Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, the American Legion is grateful for the opportunity to present its views on proposed legislation, aimed at the prevention and control of juvenile delinquency. We refer specifically to H.R. 7178, the Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Offenses Control Act of 1961. For over 36 years the American Legion has been a national leader in the field of child welfare and through its broad membership in nearly 17,000 posts, has spent millions of dollars and many more millions of hours of personal services on program activities benefiting our Nation's children and youth. A considerable number of our child welfare functions throughout the country are concerned directly and others indirectly with preventing juvenile delinquency. In general our child welfare program is aimed at strengthening family life and the development of sound community services for children. We have, however, a long record of having initiated or supported State and Federal legislation relating to juvenile courts, probation services, detention home facilities, and improved standards for juvenile training schools. Although we have held the traditional position, that the prevention and control of juvenile delinquency is primarily a local responsibility, we recognize that there are some functions which can be most effectively performed at the national level. These are stimulation of research into new techniques and practices focused at the prevention and control of juvenile delinquency, establishing standards, and consolidation of national statistics. As "Report No. 169: Juvenile Delinquency," dated April 18, 1961, issued by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee To Investigate Juvenile Delinquency, clearly points out, the upward trend of juvenile crime in the United States has continued for the 11th consecutive year. We concur in the committee's conclusion that crime and delinquency is not just one minor social problem among others, but that it be considered a basic index or measure of the social and ideological healths of a nation or society. The official position of the American Legion is most concisely stated in Resolution No. 532, adopted at our 1960 national convention, reading as follows: "Whereas juvenile delinquency rates have continued to increase each year since 1949 and have reached a point of national concern; and "Whereas our traditional methods of prevention and control of juvenile delinquency apparently are not sufficiently effective to reduce delinquency and specialized research activities are indicated; and "Whereas one of the most serious hindrances to the control and treatment of juvenile delinquency is the lack of trained workers in this area; and "Whereas the American Legion recognizes that the control and treatment of juvenile delinquency is essentially a responsibility of parents and the local community but has reached a point that warrents leadership and assistance by the National Government: Now, therefore, be it "Resolved, That the American Legion, in national convention assembled in Miami Beach, Fla., October 17-20, 1960, urges the Congress to enact legislation which would provide Federal matching funds to the States to assist with the financing of demonstration projects and research activities in the area of juvenile delinquency and the training of personnel in methods more effective to its prevention and control." In conclusion it is our belief that H.R. 7178, the Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Offenses Control Act of 1961, supports the essential goals which the American Legion and its child welfare interest most strongly recommend. We therefore urge the enactment into law of H.R. 7178, as it would appear to offer a needed, substantial contribution to the prevention and control of juvenile delinquency and the training of personnel for this specialized field of interpersonal relations. STATEMENT BY ADA BARNETT STOUGH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AMERICAN PARENTS COMMITTEE, INC. (The American Parents Committee, Inc., is a small group of interested parents incorporated as a membership, nonprofit, nonpartisan public-service association working for Federal legislation on behalf of the Nation's children. Its chairman is George J. Hecht, publisher of Parents' Magazine.) The American Parents Committee wishes to express its full and unqualified support of H.R. 7178, the Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Offenses Control Act of 1961. Each year since 1955 the board of directors of this organization has voted that top priority be given to work for the passage of legislation to prevent and control juvenile delinquency. The failure of bills to pass the 84th, 85th, and 86th Congress, was a source of much disappointment. This year President Kennedy's new comprehensive proposal to combat juvenile delinquency on a wide front is gratifying indeed. A Federal program of such breadth and depth and scope is undoubtedly needed. We refer now to the package of which H.R. 7178 is only one part. This organization intends to help in every way possible to secure the enactment of both H.R. 7178 and other bills in the President's package. Among the other bills, we are especially interested in all of those dealing with education and those seeking to help solve the problem of youth employment. We hope that they may all be passed in this session. In listening to the testimony before the committee these past few days, and in glancing over the volumes of testimony for the past 6 years, one is struck by the fact that while we have all been talking society has been paying. The chart submitted by Secretary Ribicoff shows the increase in delinquency. Unfortunately, there is no data on which to base a chart showing the appalling cost of such delinquency either in dollars and cents or in the cost of thwarted, blemished youth. If such cost could be shown, the President's program might be regarded as a moneysaving device rather than a scheme for money spending. We were especially interested in Secretary Ribicoff's discussion of H.R. 7178 and his concept of how funds would be spent. If the House committee reports out this bill favorably, we hope that your report will emphasize some of the points the Secretary made. 1. Coordination.-Previous hearings before this committee reveal the lack of coordination of agencies and programs as a stumbling block in most local and State efforts to combat juvenile delinquency. Many projects and programs are being tried here and there but efforts are scattered like BB shots. I believe I am correct in saying that, in all the bulky hearings over the past 7 years, there can be found no one single example of a coordinated effort with all key public and voluntary agencies in one community working to make a dent on its juvenile delinquency program. The Secretary's intention of setting up in several communities a coordinated combination of programs, which would be carried out together, tested and evaluated, is to be commended. Such an effort should result in a plan or plans which would work in other communities. 2. Search for new methods and new techniques.-Perhaps this committee remembers the evidence brought out in previous hearings on the need for exploration and testing of new ideas and new approaches to the juvenile delinquency problem. I remember one witness who pointed out the desperate need for methods for identifying the one or two potentially dangerous criminals among the 1,200 young offenders who pass through his custody each year. Another suggested that perhaps the available accommodations in present custodial institutions might be doubled if new methods could be developed for rehabilitating youth in one-half the time now spent in the process. It would be our hope that some portion of both the project and training money authorized in H.R. 7178 might be spent to encourage the development and testing of new ways of dealing with this old problem. 3. Effective Federal leadership.-It has been evident for some time that with all the public concern over the juvenile delinquency problem, there has been a paucity of leadership in devising ways to meet it. The President's Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and the appointment of a competent staff to serve it constitute a big step forward. More encouraging still are the words of Secretary Ribicoff before this committee when he pledged ** more effective interdepartmental planning and coordination of Federal programs for delinquency preven tion. Such cooperative effort at Federal, State, and local levels of government is absolutely essential for successful preventive work." The leaders of the American Parents Committee realize, as do others, that no legislation will completely solve the problem of juvenile delinquency. It is complex, and it is so tied in with all the other ills of present-day society. However, the President's comprehensive plan, and the specific bill now before you, provide stimulation and Federal leadership which are badly needed. Moreover, they provide funds to make the leadership effective. We urge your support and favorable consideration of the bill before you. Mrs. GREEN. The committee will stand adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, at which time we will hear Secretary Goldberg. (Thereupon, the hearing was adjourned at 12:04 p.m.) JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CONTROL ACT TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1961 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE ON EDUCATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to recess, at 10 a.m., in room 429, Old House Office Building, Hon. Edith Green (chairman) presiding. Present: Representatives Green, Giaimo, Brademas and Smith. Mrs. GREEN. The special subcommittee will come to order to continue the hearings on H.R. 8028 and H.R. 7178, the administration bill for control and prevention of juvenile delinquency and youth offenses. So far, this committee has been very fortunate in hearing the testimony of two members of the Cabinet-the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Mr. Ribicoff, and the Attorney General, Mr. Kennedy. There are three departments which are involved in this legislation, or will be involved if we are successful in enacting it into law. We are pleased this morning to hear the third Cabinet member who will be concerned with it, the Secretary of Labor, Hon. Arthur J. Goldberg. Mr. Goldberg, we welcome you to this subcommittee. We are most anxious to hear your comments in this legislation. STATEMENT OF HON. ARTHUR J. GOLDBERG, SECRETARY OF LABOR Secretary GOLDBERG. Madam Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I appreciate very much the opportunity to be here today in support of the legislation which has been offered in this most important area of American life. I have a prepared statement I would like to offer for the record and with your permission I will not read it, but I will comment on the salient parts of this testimony. Mrs. GREEN. The complete statement will be made a part of the record at this point. (The statement follows:) STATEMENT OF ARTHUR J. GOLDBERG, SECRETARY OF LABOR I most appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today in support of HR. 7178, the Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Offense Control Act of 1961. This, as you know, is part of the broad program of domestic legislation which the President has submitted to Congress. The specifics of this program have ranged far and wide in areas such as education, employment, economic development, housing, and welfare. In its totality it constitutes a massive commitment by our new administration to sustain and to improve the quality of American life. |