STATEMENT OF HON. WILLIAM C. CRAMER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3739, which I introduced last year and in the 85th and 86th sessions, would provide for the establishment of a Bureau of Senior Citizens within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare; would provide for an Assistant Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to direct said Bureau; would authorize Federal funds to conduct and encourage research and studies into the fields of gerontology, geriatrics, and allied problems of senior citizens; would assist in the operation of projects to help senior citizens; and would serve other purposes.

Such legislation is, of course, of particular interest to the residents of my district, since it contains more senior citizens, percentagewise, than does any other congressional district. I have thus had an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of what some of the problems of our senior citizens are, and I have devoted many hours of my tenure in office to an effort to meet the challenge offered by some of these problems.

And, in my travels throughout my district and my State, I have been convinced of the sentiment in favor of a more effective program to deal with the special problem of the aging. My mail has contained more than a normal amount of letters favoring the passage of my bill, and such mail has come from those of all ages, for the problem is not confined merely to those in the twilight of life, but is a problem shared by their families, by social welfare and governmental agencies, and by the communities themselves.

Since the turn of the century, our population has more than doubled, but in the same period the number of senior citizens increased 312-fold, and today there are an estimated nearly 18 million people above the age of 65 in this country.

The tremendous increase in the total population in itself has brought about profound changes in the age structure of the population, particularly in the sharply increased life expectancy of the individual and the resulting increase in the number of senior citizens.

It is now apparent that the fastest-growing segment of our population consists of persons 65 years of age and over, the number of whom totaled approximately 3 million in 1900 and whose number increased to 15 million in 1956, a growth which is expected to continue and to reach approximately 21 million in 1975.

During the last 50 years, our economy has moved from one based primarily upon agriculture to one of huge industrialization, creating many problems with respect to our senior citizens. The procedure generally followed over the past several years dictates that a man be retired from his employment at the age of 65, or thereabout, regardless of his mental and/or physical health and notwithstanding the fact that he may desire to continue working. Unless he has managed to lay away retirement funds or can look forward to a pension, he suddenly finds himself retired with time on his hands and either completely shut off from a chance to earn additional income, or has only a social security check on which to care for himself and his wife. Worse yet, he learns that neither Washington nor the State capitol has shown much interest in proper medical, recreational, or adjust

ment problems, and thus we find some 10 percent of our total population within the category we are discussing.

As a result, many of our senior citizens have inadequate financial resources to maintain themselves and their families as independent and self-respecting members of their communities, are unable to find adequate housing and healthful recreational activities for themselves and their families, are confronted with disabling health and medical problems, are sometimes driven by frustation and despair to private and public mental institutions and general hospitals, are often forced into positions of isolation and loneliness, and are placed in increasing numbers on old-age assistance rolls.

Industrial surveys have proven over and over again that the conviction that a man's usefulness ends at age 65, or thereabout, is false, and there are in this country a growing number of employment agencies devoted solely to finding jobs for our elder workers. The medical profession knows the therapeutic value in keeping a sound man working rather than idle. And there seems to be small argument with the fact that an occupied person is happier than one with time on his hands.

In my travels throughout Florida, especially in my district, I have found that our senior citizens fall into two groups: those who have made the transition from employment to retirement with ease and those who have been unable to adjust. The first group has been able and eager to take advantage of the many recreational and community living features that a State such as mine offers, and for these retirees we have less concern. But for those who go from employment to a retirement of lonesomeness, inactivity, financial difficulty, and poor health, we have provided poorly, and it is with such a large segment of our population that we are primarily concerned.

My bill, H.R. 3739, would formulate, and put into operation, programs that would permit our older people to continue to lead productive, proud, and independent lives, which will restore and rehabilitate them to useful, happy, and dignified positions among their neighbors; which will enhance the vigor and vitality of the communities; and with resulting increased social, financial, and medical burdens. Coordination of existing Federal programs, and a study of their interrelationship as well as new planning is essential, and an authority to accomplish this is needed.

H.R. 3739 does not attempt to take from the States the responsibilities which are rightfully theirs, but merely attempts to provide an incentive and encouragement agency to come up with programs to assist the States in performing more adequate services to this growing segment of the population, as well as to determine the proper Federal function.

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3739 would deal with ways and means to guarantee the following advantages to our senior citizens:

First, to assure to senior citizens an equal opportunity with others to engage in gainful employment which they are physically and mentally able to perform;

Second, to enable senior citizens to achieve a retirement income sufficient for healthful living on a reasonable standard and for participation in community life as happy, self-respecting citizens;

Third, to provide senior citizens, so far as possible, with the opportunity of living in a community of their own choosing in their own

homes or, when this is not feasible, in suitable substitute private homes; and in the case of such persons who need care that cannot be given them in their own or other private homes, to provide them with the opportunity to live in cooperative service projects or institutions that are as homelike as possible and have high standards of care;

Fourth, senior citizens to receive adequate nutrition, preventive medicine and medical care adapted to the conditions and economic ability of their years;

Fifth, to rehabilitate and to restore to independent, useful lives in their homes, to the fullest extent possible, senior citizens who are chronically ill, physically disabled, mentally disturbed, or incapacitated for other reasons;

Sixth, to assist senior citizens to have access to social groups and to participate with those of other ages in recreational, educational, cultural, religious, and civic activities;

Seventh, to assure that senior citizens, in planning for retirement and in meeting the crises of their later years, will have the benefits of such services as counseling, information, vocational retaining, and social casework; and

Eighth, to relieve the problems of senior citizens through an increase of research on the various aspects of aging and the development of special courses in schools and departments of medicine, nursing, clinical psychology, and social work to train professional workers in the field of aging, geriatrics, and gerontology.

I feel so strongly about this problem that I cannot emphasize too greatly the need for legislation in this field, and I urge that this bill be favorably acted upon by this committee.

Mr. BAILEY. Thank you, Mr. Cramer.

Apparently that will conclude the hearings for this morning.

We still have here Mr. Addonizio, Mr. Libonati, and Mr. Fogarty to be heard from. So it will be necessary for the subcommittee to set a date to offer an opportunity for the other Members of Congress who have introduced legislation in this field to come in and make a presentation of their approach to the solution of this problem.

The committee will stand adjourned, subject to the call of the Chair for future meetings.

(Whereupon, at 10:50 a.m., the subcommittee adjourned, subject to the call of the Chair.)

(The following was submitted for the record :)

STATEMENT OF HON. SEYMOUR HALPERN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Mr. Chairman, it is a distinct pleasure to appear before you and the distinguished members of your committee on behalf of my bill, H.R. 2764, which would establish a U.S. Commission on the Aged and Aging.

I wish to commend this committee for its demonstration of interest in the nature of the problems facing our aged and aging and in the necessity of taking constructive steps to solve these problems.

It is admittedly difficult to define exactly at what point a person can be known as aged. If we go by customary retirement age, it is 65. If we go by the age where, regrettably often, discrimination in jobs is based on age, it is often 40. If we go by individual ability and outlook, it is impossible to decide. Some people are "aged" at 35. Others, like your distinguished chairman, my colleague from West Virginia, never seem to grow old.

Unfortunately, however, the problem of "age" does exist, and a large proportion of our population suffers for no other reason than their birthdate. They often find it difficult if not impossible to find employment; reduced economic

conditions often force them to live in substandard housing; they often have difficulty receiving proper health care. And, perhaps most important of all, they often find themselves alone in a world that no longer understands them-and often seems no longer to want them.

These problems are not based on ability, education, geographic location, or ethnic background. They are a problem based solely-and tragically-on age. Part of the problem is in the nature of our own society which tends to equate age with obsolescence, youth with vitality. Too often we tend to forget that virtually every civilization has honored its aged for their experience, their wisdom, their contribution to growth, the great advantage of the years. We recognize that the worth of intangibles increase with age, but we too often forget that human beings also increase in their value through maturity.

We must not only explore the ways to help our aged-we must explore ways to let our aged help us.

If we take the arbitrary year of 45 as the division between youth and aging, we find that the number of persons under 45 has doubled since 1900-but that the number from 45 to 64 has tripled and those 65 and over quadrupled.

This is of course due to many factors, including curtailed immigration, low birth rates, remarkable advances in medical science, and the like.

By 1970, our population will total almost 220 million, of which a significant number will be 45 and over. We are informed that we will need 16 million new workers during the intervening period to keep the national economy in step with our population's needs.

Because of the birth rate of the 1930's, those 25 to 44, the so-called preferred labor status, will not provide enough people for these needs. The workers, then, will come from 45 and over. But this designation does not solve the problem of

those who are now 45 or over.

The U.S. Commission on the Aged and Aging would fill a vital need for permanent activity in the field of solving the problems of our senior citizens. Not only would the studies carried out by this Commission be invaluable in defining the scope of the problem, but the existence of such a Government activity would focus attention on the existence of this problem and could bring better public understanding of the aged and aging.

As envisioned in this legislation, the Commission would be composed of two Members of the House of Representatives, two Senators, and six members appointed by the President-three from the executive branch and three from private life. There is provision for a per diem allowance for the private citizens who are selected as members and there is provision for a staff and a budget allocation.

The Commission would study, investigate, analyze, and assess existing knowledge and programs relating to the problems of the aged and aging. Their work would be directed toward a successful integration of this group into American life. The Commission would utilize the services of various arms of the Government and would seek additional cooperation from various professional, business, and labor groups.

There are many ways in which information thus gathered and analyzed can be of great help. First, it should serve as a clearinghouse for suggested programs for this age group. Secondly, and perhaps most important, it is specifically directed to study discrimination because of age in employment. In so doing, the Commission will be able to evaluate existing financial security arrangements and the effect they may have in inhibiting the employment of these citizens. We all realize that the arbitrary cut-off date of 40, or 50, or 60 is certainly not universally applicable. A woman who was a good secretary at 39 is most probably an excellent secretary at 41. A man who was a competent executive at 64 doesn't suddenly lose his value merely because he turns 65.

Reluctance or refusal of employers to hire older workers is a national condition. A few years ago, the U.S. Department of Labor made public the results of a special study conducted in seven representative areas of the Nation. This report indicated that well over half (58 percent) of job openings had some upper age restrictions. More than half of job orders (52 percent) barred workers 55 and over; 41 percent barred those 45 and over, and 20 percent those 35 and over.

In still another study, we find that, while jobseekers 45 and over represented 29 percent of all whose applications represented only 18 percent of total placements, indicating the greater difficulty experienced by older workers in obtaining employment.

And yet this is totally unnecessary. The cost in terms of productivity is high. The cost in terms of human emotions and know-how is staggering. The cost in

terms of the burden in unemployment insurance and such programs is appalling. The irrational discrimination because of age kills pride, dignity, individuality, and robs the Nation and the world of the time-tested, proven ability of many hundreds of men and women.

Not only is such discrimination unnecessary, but it is fallacious assumption that the older worker is slow, less skilled or in other ways inefficient.

Mr. Chairman, may I point out at this time a few statistics from studies by the U.S. Department of Labor and by the Commerce and Industry Association of New York which prove that these assumptions are myths?

1. Of 3,000 employers polled in 1951, the work of older employees was rated as equal to or superior to younger workers by 93 percent of the respondents; 2. Older workers have a 20 percent better attendance record.

3. Employees 45 and over had 2.5 percent fewer disabiling injuries and 25 percent fewer nondisabiling injuries than those under 45, in 1956.

4. Voluntary turnover rates are lower among older employees.

5. The older worker is more likely to possess more skills, training, and job know-how than younger employees.

6. A distinguished group of experts reports that under pension and insurance plans most prevalent today there is no significant increase in cost for new hires of older workers.

I cite these figures, Mr. Chairman, to show that the problems of the older citizen arise out of misunderstanding, unfairness and unconcern. These could be alleviated by the creation of the U.S. Commission on the Aged and Aging.

We are also concerned with the retired individuals as well as the older worker. Such a Commission will also be able to conduct research into our medical care problems, into our existing social security regulations, into housing facilities for the aged, into nursing home conditions, into charitable institutions. These findings will be of immeasurable help in developing future legislative programs to eliminate all inequities in philosophy as well as in practice. This Commission will also make a great contribution to the solving of what is perhaps the greatest problem of the aged and aging; the intangible known as morale. Younger people, even members of the family, are often ignorant of the problems, fears, and needs of the older person. They often either do not recognize these needs or are insensible to the problem. The Commission will be able to explain to all people the status of the senior citizen-their need for acceptance, for accomplishment, for a useful place in family and community life.

Advancing age should mean advancing prestige—not retreating pride.

Mr. Chairman, this Commission is vitally needed. For thousands of American citizens it will be the beginning of the realistic approach to the problem of age. It will prove that they are not the forgotten people of our civilization-that we recognize them as a tremendous asset to this Nation, that we know they have a right to lead a proud, productive, and independent life.

We need to assemble in one place all information which will help the aged and aging improve their social standing, augment their talents, and solve the problems of housing, recreation, employment, and morale.

May I urge you to look with favor upon this proposal. The contribution to be made by this Commission is an invaluable one.

Again, may I thank this subcommittee and its distinguished chairman for the opportunity to appear before you today. I hope that out of these hearings will come the long needed beginning of a constructive program to aid our aged and aging.

Thank you.

SEYMOUR HALPERN, Member of Congress.

STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH M. MONTOYA, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

Mr. Chairman, I would like to begin my remarks in favor of the enactment of H.R. 10014, which would establish an independent U.S. Commission on Aging. with a paragraph from the fact-finding report of New Mexico's White House Conference on Aging. I believe this excerpt illustrates why, at this point of time in our history, such a Commission is necessary. The paragraph reads:

"The problem of employment and retirement security in New Mexico has become a serious problem only with the past 30 years. Up to the late 1930's, the