who devoted their time and talent to this bill. I wish also to thank the members of the Committee on Publicly Supported Higher Education in the District of Columbia, whose report to me provided the groundwork essential for this legislation. MANPOWER Development anD TRAINING ACT AMENDMENTS Statement by the President on Signing the Bill Into Law. November 7, 1966 The reshaping by the 89th Congress of the Manpower Development and Training Act is an example of the highest form of legislative and executive cooperation in the pursuit of human and economic welfare. This great 89th Congress has twice once in its first session and again in its second-made significant improvements in this legislation. These changes reflect the lessons of experience in the administration of a program, started in 1962, that has already become a key tool in our Nation's development of its human resources. The program serves two purposes: To provide the opportunity for disadvantaged men and women and boys and girls to develop to the fullest of their capacity. To meet the manpower needs of a rapidly expanding economy. Today, over 150,000 people are receiving training in MDTA pro grams. More than twice that number have already had this training-in more than 1,300 different occupations. The 1966 amendments, which I sign into law today, are marked especially by their attention to particular human needs, to cases of remaining disadvantage that emerge in sharper and sharper contrast as economic conditions continue to improve: They give special attention to the long negelected problem of people who are 45 years of age or older, when a machine comes along to take the job for which they have been trained. They authorize training programs for men and women in correctional institutions, to insure their chances to become fruitful citizens. They provide medical treatment for the handicapped to put them back on their feet economically, as well as physically. They extend the pilot program designed to meet the problem faced by a person whose previous record prevents his getting employment because he cannot supply a bond. The new amendments permit increasing concentration on the "hard core" unemployment cases in our society: Where the individual needs "basic education and communication and employment skills" to prepare him for occupational training. Where he is so destitute that advance payment of part of his training allowance is necessary to meet immediate family needs while he starts his training. Where he has had little previous employment experience, or needs a second training period. Two years ago when the unemployment rate was 512 percent-we concentrated our efforts on stimulating the economy so that it would produce the large number of additional jobs which were needed. His toric decisions were taken to make the economy a better servant of human purpose through bold fiscal and monetary policies. At the same time, we began revolutionary manpower programs to upgrade workers' skills and improve the matching of workers to jobs. As a result of this total attack, unemployment is now below 4 percent. Manpower policy is equally as important in periods of high employment. It is a flexible instrument which must be directed continually toward the changing manpower problems that attend changing economic conditions. In the present period of rising employment and tight job markets, measures to improve manpower development and utilization become steadily more important in easing and preventing labor shortages with consequent production bottlenecks and inflationary pressures. At the same time, manpower policy must be concentrated on the residual pockets of hard-core unemployment even at low overall unemployment levels. Today an increasing percentage of the trainees are from particularly disadvantaged groups the non-white, those with little education, those who have been out of work a long time. More and more of the MDTA programs involve on-the-job training. It costs less, helps employers as well as trainees, and provides immediate employment after the training. Over 94 percent of the on-the-job trainees are now getting regular employment when their training is completed. The cost of the training is repaid in taxes within an average of 2 years' time. The Manpower Development and Training Act is a living lawalways responsive to the Nation's changing manpower problems. It serves our Nation's economy. It serves our Nation's people. It serves the purpose Thomas Carlyle recognized when he said that "the soul of man is composed of real harmony the instant he sets himself to work." I take special pride in signing this act which reflects the common executive and congressional purpose to make even better something already very good. * INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION The President's Letter to Dr. James Perkins With Regard to Dear Dr. Perkins: As you know, we are deeply concerned about the role of education in fostering social and economic development throughout the world. That concern underlies the new International Education Act of 1966. It is the reason for the Center for Educational Cooperation which we are planning to establish in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. I believe it is highly important to stimulate deeper mutual understanding among nations of the major education problems facing the world. For this reason, I have asked you and Secretary Gardner to serve as hosts to an International Conference on Education to be held in 1967. It should provide a forum for lively discussion of future goals of educational policy in the participating countries. Prior to this conference, I hope you will bring together the most knowledgeable educators and administrators from the United States and from other nations to develop a meaningful agenda. I am grateful to you for undertaking this important project. Sincerely, LYNDON B. JOHNSON. EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION IN THE LESS-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES Memorandum From the President to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Director, United States Information Agency, the Administrator, Agency for International Development, and the Director, Peace Corps. November 26, 1966 During my recent trip to the Far East, I visited the educational television station in Pago Pago, American Samoa, and saw how television is being used to improve the level of learning in elementary and secondary schools. I believe that educational television can play a vital role in assisting less-developed countries in their educational effort. These stations can be used for adult education and information programs during evening hours. Community leaders can use these channels for discussion of important public issues. For these reasons, I am appointing a task force with the following assignment: 1. Assess the value of educational television broadcasting for primary and secondary schools in less-developed countries. 2. Report on plans being made for educational television outside the United States and how the United States may participate most effectively in this effort. 3. Advise whether AID education programs and other foreign assistance can be better concentrated on this effort within their present limits. Representatives of the Agency for International_Development, the Department of State, U.S. Information Agency, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Peace Corps are designated as members of the task force. Leonard H. Marks, Director of the U.S. Information Agency, is to act as Chairman of the task force and Douglass Cater of my staff as liaison with the various departments or governmental agencies involved. This task force should commence its work immediately and submit a preliminary report within 90 days and a final report on or before July 1, 1967. LYNDON B. JOHNSON. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE VOCATIONAL STUDENT GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM Announcement of Appointment of Eleven Members to the Committee. December 19, 1966 The program was authorized by the National Vocational Student Loan Insurance Act of 1965, signed by the President on October 22, "This act will help young people enter business, trade and technical schools-institutions which play a vital role in providing the skills our citizens must have to compete and contribute in our society," the President stated at that time. "We must be sure that there will be no gap between the number of jobs available and the ability of our people to perform those jobs," he added. |