SOCIAL SECURITY AND WELFARE PROPOSALS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1969 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C. The committee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to notice, in the committee room, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Wilbur D. Mills (chairman of the committee) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will please be in order. The Committee on Ways and Means today begins public hearings on the administration's proposals and other proposals to amend the Social Security Act, including not only the OASDI provisions, but also, of course, the welfare provisions and other medical provisions of the act. As will be recalled, we announced on September 18th that this hearing would begin not later than the 20th of October. Without objection, I would like to include at this point in the record the committee announcement of that date, as well as the committee announcement of October 6th setting today as the opening day of the hearing and giving the details for requests to be heard. Is there any objection? Also, without objection, we will include in the record at this point the messages of the President relating to these matters, the implementing bills which were transmitted from the Administration, and the accompanying documents. (The materials referred to follow :) [Press release of Sept. 18, 1969] CHAIRMAN WILBUR D. MILLS (D., ARK.), COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, ANNOUNCES FURTHER SCHEDULE OF THE COMMITTEE Chairman Wilbur D. Mills (D., Ark.), Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, today announced the forthcoming schedule of the Committee on Ways and Means for the next several weeks. The chairman stated that, following conclusion of the public hearings now in progress on the subject of airway user taxes and the establishment of an airway user trust fund, the committee would consider those matters in executive session beginning Monday, September 22. The chairman stated that also during the week of Monday, September 22, through Friday, September 26, after conclusion in executive session of the airway user proposals, the committee would review in executive session the interest rate on U.S. savings "E" and "H" bonds, and related interest rate subjects. The chairman further advised that beginning Wednesday, October 1, the committee would begin public hearings on the administration proposals with respect to changes in the unemployment compensation laws, to be followed at the conclusion of those public hearings by consideration in executive session of that subject. Finally, the chairman stated that the committee, upon the conclusion of its executive sessions on unemployment compensation, would begin extensive public hearings on the subject of proposals to amend the Social Security Act, including proposals with respect to Social Security benefit increases, other changes in the Old-Age, Survivors', and Disability Insurance Program, proposals for changes (1) in those titles of the Social Security Act relating to welfare (including the President's welfare proposals and proposed changes in the titles of the act relating to grants-in-aid for aid to dependent children, aid to the needy aged, aid to the blind, aid to the permanently and totally disabled, and so forth), and any proposals relating to the medical provisions of the Social Security Act, including both Medicaid and Medicare. The specific date on which this series of hearings will begin (not later than October 20, 1969) will be announced at a later date and will depend upon the length of time it takes the committee to complete its hearings and executive sessions on unemployment compensation. A press release will be issued today as to the details of the hearing on unemployment compensation which will begin on Wednesday, October 1. A press release relating to the date and the details of the hearing on Social Security and welfare matters will be issued at a later date. Interested witnesses prior to the release can, of course, request that they be advised as to the details when released. [Press release of Oct. 6, 1969] CHAIRMAN WILBUR D. MILLS (D., ARK.), COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HEARINGS ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND WELFARE PROPOSALS TO BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1969 Chairman Wilbur D. Mills (D., Ark.), Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives, today announced that at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 1969, the Committee on Ways and Means will begin extensive public hearings on the subject of proposals to amend the various titles of the Social Security Act. It will be recalled that Chairman Mills announced on September 18 that these hearings would begin not later than October 20, 1969. The chairman stated that on Wednesday and Thursday, October 15 and 16, officials of the administration will be heard and that beginning on Wednesday, October 22, witnesses from the general public will be heard. The hearings will include proposals by the administration and other pending proposals to amend (1) the old-age, survivors and disability insurance system; (2) proposals for changes in those titles of the Social Security Act relating to welfare, including not only the President's welfare proposals but other proposals relating to grants-in-aid for aid to dependent children, aid to the needy aged, aid to the blind, aid to the permanently and totally disabled, aid for crippled children, maternal and child health services; and (3) any proposals relating to the medical provisions of the Social Security Act, including both Medicaid and Medicare. As indicated, the hearing will be directed primarily to the proposals advanced by the administration, but will also include any other suggested changes to these titles of the Social Security Act. Leadoff witnesses.-The leadoff witnesses will be officials of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Social Security Administration, and representatives of other interested Government departments. The administration witnesses will be followed by witnesses from the general public. Cutoff date for requests to be heard.—The cutoff date for requests to be heard is not later than the close of business Friday, October 17, 1969. The requests should be submitted to John M. Martin, Jr., Chief Counsel, Committee on Ways and Means, 1102 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. Witnesses will be advised as promptly as possible after the cutoff date as to when they have been scheduled to appear. Coordination of testimony.-In view of the limited time available to the committee to conduct this hearing and the broad scope of the hearing, it is requested that all persons and organizations with the same general interest designate one spokesman to represent them so as to conserve the time of the committee and the other witnesses, prevent repetition and assure that all aspects of the proposals can be given appropriate attention. The committee will be pleased to receive from any interested organization or person a written statement for consideration for inclusion in the printed record of the hearing in lieu of a personal appearance. These statements will be given the same full consideration as though the statements had been presented in person. In such cases, a minimum of three (3) copies of the statement should be submitted by Friday, November 14, 1969. Contents of requests to be heard.-In order to eliminate repetitious testimony and to properly schedule witnesses, it will be necessary for the request to be heard to specify: (1) The name, address, and capacity in which the witness will appear; (2) The list of persons or organizations the witness represents and in the case of associations or organizations, their total membership and where possible a membership list; (3) The amount of time the witness desires in which to present his direct oral testimony (not including answers to questions of Committee Members); (4) An indication of whether or not the witness is supporting or opposing any specific proposal or proposals on which he desires to testify; and (5) A topical outline or summary of the comments and recommendations which the witness proposes to make. If the prospective witness has already in the past submitted a request to be heard on any of the subjects covered by this hearing, the request should be resubmitted furnishing the above information and otherwise conforming to the rules set forth for conducting this hearing. Written statements.—In the case of those persons who are scheduled to appear and testify, it is requested that 75 copies of their written statement be submited 24 hours in advance of their scheduled appearance, if possible. If it is desired, an additional 75 copies may be submitted for distribution to the press and the interested public on the witness' date of appearance. Persons submitting a minimum of three written statements in lieu of a personal appearance may also, if they desire, submit an additional 75 copies of their statement for distribution to the Committee Members and the interested departmental and legislative staffs, pending the printing of the public hearings, which will include such statements along with the oral testimony of those persons who appear in person. An additional 75 copies may be submitted for the press and the interested public, if it is desired. Format of all written statements.-Witnesses are requested to divide their statements into parts corresponding to the various subject matters involved in the hearing, to facilitate digesting the testimony and to facilitate indexing of the final published volumes. Also, to more usefully serve their purpose all written statements (those for the purpose of personal appearance and those submitted in lieu of a personal appearance) should contain : (1) A summary of comments and recommendations, and INCLUDING DRAFT BILLS, SUMMARIES, AND OTHER MATERIAL TRANSMITTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE OCTOBER 1969 NOTE: This document has been printed for information purposes only so as to make it generally available. It has not been considered by the Committee on Ways and Means. (5) |