Cook, Miss Lorraine, commissioner, State of Utah Department of 252 Donahue, Dr. Wilma, chairman of the division of gerontology, Insti- tute for Human Adjustment, the University of Michigan, member of Michigan Commission on Aging, prepared statement by------ Edelman, John W., acting president, National Council of Senior Gallagher, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Raymond J., secretary, National Con- ference of Catholic Charities, statement of Harger, Mrs. Eone, director, New Jersey Division on Aging, testi- 260 Lazenby, Rev. Canon Herbert C., president, American Association of Homes for the Aging, letter to Chairman Dent, dated September 12, Mulvey, Dr. Mary C., honorary president and board member of "Our Life Span Increases and With It Our Problems," editorial in the Woolf, Hayvis, O.D., American Optometric Association, statement of 259 251 186 ----- 191 ADMINISTRATION OF AGING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1963 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to notice, in room 429, Cannon Building, Hon. John H. Dent (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Representatives Dent, Daniels, Carey, Hawkins, Bruce, and Martin. Also present: Dr. John C. Muntone, director, Select Subcommittee on Education. Mr. DENT. The hearings of the Select Committee on Education will come to order. The hearings this morning are on H.R. 7957, introduced by the gentleman from Rhode Island, Mr. Fogarty; a bill to provide assistance in the development of new or improved programs to help older persons, for grants to the States, for community planning and services through research and development or training project grants, and to establish within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare an operating agency, et cetera. In May of 1962, there was established, by Executive order, the President's Council on Aging. The Council was charged with the task of reporting annually to the President and of making available information of interest to private and public organizations which are concerned primarily with the problems of the aging. In transmitting its first report in May of this year the Council called attention to the situation of some 18 million Americans who collectively share the problems of "the older American." It would appear that the figure "18 million" is of special significance when one realizes that included in this group areThree ex-Presidents. Nearly 10 percent of the Nation's population. Nearly 112 million people living on farms. More than 3 million people who migrated from Europe to the Surely, there must be many among this vast segment of our citizens who have contributed significantly to the position we now enjoy in the family of nations. And, yet, we learn from the work of private and public agencies that the older American, who has given so much of himself in the development of this great country, may not be sharing proportionately in the very greatness he has passed on to us. 1 It was the purpose of these hearings to gather all possible information relating to the problems of the aging so that we of the Select Subcommittee on Education, and subsequently, the Committee on Education and Labor, may present to the House such legislation as is necessary and appropriate to aiding this vast number of older Americans in their quest to lead a more active, functional, and independent life. At the same time, we hope to look closely at the needs for special assistance for those in this group who are dependent or otherwise at a disadvantage. To aid us in our task we have called upon a number of highly qualified witnesses representing a variety of groups having particular interest in the issue before us. This bill, H.R. 7957, is accompanied by 13 other bills on the same subject and almost identical in nature and content. (The bill follows:) [H.R. 7957, 88th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To provide assistance in the development of new or improved programs to help older persons through grants to the States for community planning and services and for training, through research, development, or training project grants, and to establish within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare an operating agency to be designated as the "Administration of Aging" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Older Americans Act of 1963". TITLE I-DECLARATION OF OBJECTIVES: DEFINITIONS DECLARATION OF OBJECTIVES FOR OLDER AMERICANS SEC. 101. The Congress hereby finds and declares that, in keeping with the traditional American concept of the inherent dignity of the individual in our democratic society, the older people of our Nation are entitled to, and it is the joint and several duty and responsibility of the Governments of the United States and of the several States and their political subdivisions to enable our older people to secure equal opportunity to the full and free enjoyment of the following objectives: (1) An adequate income in retirement in accordance with the American standard of living. (2) The best possible physical and mental health which medical science can make available and without regard to economic status. (3) Suitable housing, independently selected, designed, and located with reference to special needs and available at costs which older citizens can afford. (4) Full restorative services for those who require institutional care. (5) Opportunity for employment with no discriminatory personnel practices because of age. (6) Retirement in health, honor, dignity-after years of contribution to the economy. (7) Pursuit of meaningful activity within the widest range of civic, cultural, and recreational opportunities. (8) Efficient community services which provide social assistance in a coordinated manner and which are readily available when needed. (9) Immediate benefit from proven research knowledge which can sustain and improve health and happiness. (10) Freedom, independence, and the free exercise of individual initiative in planning and managing their own lives. DEFINITIONS SEC. 102. For the purposes of this Act(1) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; (2) The term "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Administration of Aging. (3) The term "State" includes the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico; and (4) The term "nonprofit institution or organization" means an institution or organization which is owned and operated by one or more corporations or associations no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. TITLE II-ADMINISTRATION OF AGING ESTABLISHMENT OF ADMINISTRATION SEC. 201. (a) There is hereby established within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare an Administration to be known as the Administration of Aging (hereinafter referred to as the "Administration"). (b) The Administration shall be under the direction of a Commissioner of Aging to be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE SEC. 202. It shall be the duty and function of the Administration to (1) serve as a clearinghouse for information related to problems of the aged and aging; (2) assist the Secretary in all matters pertaining to problems of the aged and aging; (3) administer the grants provided by this Act; (4) develop plans, conduct and arrange for research and demonstration programs in the field of aging; (5) provide technical assistance and consultation to States and political subdivisions thereof with respect to programs for the aged and aging; (6) prepare, publish, and disseminate educational materials dealing with the welfare of older persons; (7) gather statistics in the field of aging which other Federal agencies are not collecting; and (8) stimulate more effective use of existing resources and available services. TITLE III-GRANTS FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING, SERVICES, AND TRAINING AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS SEC. 301. There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1964, $8,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1965, and $12,500,000 for each of the next three fiscal years, for grants by the Secretary to States for projects for (1) community planning and coordination of programs for carrying out the purposes of this title; (2) demonstrations of programs or activities which are particularly valuable in carrying out such purposes; (3) training of special personnel needed to carry out such programs and activities; and (4) establishment of new or expansion of existing programs to carry out such purposes, including establishment of new or expansion of existing centers providing recreational and other leisure time activities, and informational, health, welfare, counseling, and referral services for older persons and assisting such persons in providing volunteer community or civic services; except that no costs of construction, other than for minor alterations and repairs, shall be included in such establishment or expansion. ALLOTMENTS SEC. 302. (a) (1) From the sum appropriated for a fiscal year under section 301 (A) the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa shall be allotted an amount equal to one-half of 1 per centum of such sum and (B) each other State shall be allotted an amount equal to 1 per centum of such sum. (2) From the remainder of the sum so appropriated for a fiscal year each State shall be allotted an additional amount which bears the same ratio to such remainder as the population aged sixty-five or over in such State bears to the population aged sixty-five or over in all of the States, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most recent information available to him, including any relevant data furnished to him by the Department of Commerce. (3) A State's allotment for a fiscal year under this part shall be equal to the sum of the amounts allotted to it under paragraphs (1) and (2). (b) The amount of any allotment to a State under subsection (a) for any fiscal year which the State notifies the Secretary will not be required for carrying out the State plan (if any) approved under this part shall be available for reallotment from time to time, on such dates as the Secretary may fix, to other States which the Secretary determines (1) have need in carrying out their State plans so approved for sums in excess of those previously allotted to them under subsection (a), and (2) will be able to use such excess amounts for projects approved by the State during the period for which the original allotment was available. Such reallotments shall be made on the basis of the State plans so approved, after taking into consideration the population aged sixty-five or over. Any amount so reallotted to a State shall be deemed part of its allotment under subsection (a). (c) The allotment of any State under subsection (a) for any fiscal year shall be available for grants to pay part of the cost of projects in such State described in section 1701 and approved by such State (in accordance with its State plan approved under section 303) prior to the end of such year or, in the case of allotments for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1964, prior to July 1, 1965. Το the extent permitted by the State's allotment under this section such payments with respect to any project shall equal 75 per centum of the cost of such project for the first year of the duration of such project, 60 per centum of such cost for the second year of such project, and 50 per centum of such cost for the third year of such project; except that (1) at the request of the State, such payments shall be less (to the extent requested) than such percentage of the cost of such project, and (2) grants may not be made under this part for any such project for more than three years or for any period after June 30, 1970. STATE PLANS SEC. 303. (a) The Secretary shall approve a State plan for purposes of this part which (1) establishes or designates a single State agency as the sole agency for administering or supervising the administration of the plan, which agency shall be the agency primarily responsible for coordination of State programs and activities related to the purposes of this title; (2) provides for such financial participation by the State or communities with respect to activities and projects under the plan as the Secretary may by regulation prescribe in order to assure continuation of desirable activities and projects after termination of Federal financial support under this part; (3) provides for development of programs and activities for carrying out the purposes of this title, including the furnishing of consultative, technical, or information services to public or nonprofit private agencies and organizations engaged in activities relating to the special problems or welfare of older persons, and for cordinating the activities of such agencies and organizations to the extent feasible; (4) provides for consultation with and utilization, pursuant to agreement with the head thereof, of the services and facilities of appropriate State or local public or nonprofit private agencies and organizations in the administration of the plan and in the development of such programs and activities; (5) provides such methods of administration (including methods relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis, except that the Secretary shall exercise no authority with respect to the selection, tenure of office, and compensation of any individual employed in accordance with such methods) as are necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the plan; (6) sets forth principles for determining the priority of projects in the State, and provides for approval of such projects in the order determined by application of such principles; |