1 Prior to 1955, 34 cities except that indexes for food are based on prices in 51 cities in 1940
and 56 cities in 1950. Separate city indexes not compiled for 26 medium- and small-sized
cities included in the national average.

2 As of November.

As of October.

4 Includes restaurant meals and other food bought and eaten away from home.

Includes home purchase and other homeowner costs.

6 Comprises tobacco, alcoholic beverages, and miscellaneous services such as legal services, banking fees, and burial services.

Source: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Monthly Labor Review, and unpublished data.

Senator JAVITS. Mr. Chairman, I wish to emphasize I don't know how this reevaluation will work out, but I think it will work out better in terms of the present social organization of the United States.

MENTALLY RETARDED STAFFING AMENDMENT

I have just one last question, Mr. Secretary. You have been very kind and courteous.

And that is to ask you about this amendment, which I intend to propose, to provide for personnel, staffing of personnel in the retardation field. Does the department have any opinion on that? It is the substance of S. 2836, which I introduced on January 26, 1966. Mr. COHEN. Does that include any extension of the existing legislation?

Senator JAVITS. No, this is just staffing for mental retardation which was omitted when we dealt with mental health staffing last year.

Mr. COHEN. We gave a good deal of thought to that this year, Senator Javits. After considering the various problems in connection with it, the President, as you know, in his health message, decided to recommend a committee on mental retardation, to make recommendations to him for legislation next year on the whole mental retardation field, because this issue, as well as three or four others, are involved. There is the question of the extension of two other pieces of mental retardation legislation which terminate next year. There were some proposals for broadening the program. And the President, in his health message, suggested that a distinguished advisory committee be appointed. I will just read you the pertinent sentence:

Therefore I intend to appoint a committee on mental retardation to assess our progress, to seek out new and better ways to cope with this terrible disability, and to recommend a long-range and comprehensive plan of action.

Senator JAVITS. Well, has he appointed such a committee?

Mr. COHEN. No, the committee is not yet appointed. I would hope it would be appointed shortly.

Senator JAVITS. Our feeling is that this has been studied to death. We had a study in 1961 by President Kennedy's Panel on Mental Retardation. We have had State studies which were completed by 1965. We have an Interdepartmental Committee on Retardation in the Executive Department.

All of these things are actually in being. Now, we have another study-just another way of putting it off for a year.

Mr. COHEN. Well, let me say this, Senator. There is no question in my mind that staffing of mental retardation centers is a desirable objective. We have done it already, as you indicated, in connection with staffing in community mental health services. So I think the issue is not so much the basic question, it is a matter of timing and its relationship to the other proposals in the mental retardation field.

I would like to put into the record, if you would permit, the total amount of obligations on mental retardation that we have undertaken since the so-called Mayo report that was filed under appointment by

President Kennedy, which would indicate to you what progress has been made. As of the moment, I am not prepared to say that that legislation should be enacted this year with 1967 appropriation authority.

Senator JAVITS. I ask unanimous consent that the table be inserted in the record.

The CHAIRMAN. Without objection. (The table referred to follows:)

60-955-66-6

TABLE 9.-Department of Health, Education, and Welfare obligations for programs on mental retardation 1