88 STAT. 1631 White House Individuals Act, 29 USC 701 note. 29 USC 701 note. 29 USC 701 note. National Planning and Advisory Council. Establishment. such rules and regulations as he may prescribe. In the conduct of such audits he and his duly authorized representatives shall have access to any relevant books, documents, papers, accounts, and records of such activities as he deems necessary. TITLE III-WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS SHORT TITLE SEC. 300. This title may be cited as the "White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals Act" FINDINGS AND POLICY SEC. 301. The Congress finds that— (1) the United States has achieved great and satisfying success in making possible a better quality of life for a large and increasing percentage of our population; (2) the benefits and fundamental rights of this society are often denied those individuals with mental and physical handicaps; (3) there are seven million children and at least twenty-eight million adults with mental or physical handicaps; (4) it is of critical importance to this Nation that equality of opportunity, equal access to all aspects of society and equal rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States be provided to all individuals with handicaps; (5) the primary responsibility for meeting the challenge and problems of individuals with handicaps has often fallen on the individual or his family; (6) it is essential that recommendations be made to assure that all individuals with handicaps are able to live their lives independently and with dignity, and that the complete integration of all individuals with handicaps into normal community living, working, and service patterns be held as the final objective; and (7) all levels of Government must necessarily share responsibility for developing opportunities for individuals with handicaps; and it is therefore the policy or the Congress that the Federal Government work jointly with the States and their citizens to develop recommendations and plans for action in solving the multifold problems facing individuals with handicaps. AUTHORITY OF PRESIDENT, COUNCIL. AND SECRETARY SEC. 302. (a) The President is authorized to call a White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals not later than two years after the date of enactment of this title in order to develop recommendations and stimulate a national assessment of problems, and solutions to such problems, facing individuals with handicaps. Such a conference shall be planned and conducted under the direction of the National Planning and Advisory Council, established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") and each Federal department and agency shall provide such cooperation and assistance to the Council, including the assignment of personnel, as may reasonably be required by the Secretary. (b) (1) There is established a National Planning and Advisory Council (in this title referred to as the "Council"), appointed by the 88 STAT. 1632 Secretary, composed of twenty-eight members of whom not less than Membership. (2) Any member of the Council who is otherwise employed by the Federal Government shall serve without compensation in addition to that received in his regular employment. (3) Members of the Council, other than those referred to in para- Compensation. graph (1), shall receive compensation at rates not to exceed the daily rate prescribed for GS-18 under section 5332, title 5, United States Code, for each day they are engaged in the performance of their duties 5 USC 5332 note. (including traveltime); and, while so serving away from their homes or regular places of business, they shall be allowed travel expenses, Travel expenses. including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as the expenses authorized by section 5703, title 5, United States Code, for persons in Government service employed intermittently. (4) Such Council shall cease to exist one-hundred and twenty days Termination date. after the submission of the final report required by section 302(e). (c) For the purpose of ascertaining facts and making recommendations concerning the utilization of skills, experience, and energies, and the improvement of the conditions of individuals with handicaps, the Conference shall bring together individuals with handicaps and members of their families and representatives of Federal, State, and local governments, professional experts, and members of the general public recognized by individuals with handicaps as being knowledgeable about problems affecting their lives. (d) Participants in the White House Conference, and in conferences and other activities leading up to the White House Conference at the local and State level are authorized to consider all matters related to the purposes of the Conference set forth in subsection (a), but shall give special consideration to recommendations for: (1) providing education, health, and diagnostic services for all children early in life so that handicapping conditions may be discovered and treated; (2) assuring that every individual with a handicap receives appropriately designed benefits of the educational system; (3) assuring that individuals with handicaps have available to them all special services and assistance which will enable them to live their lives as fully and independently as possible; (4) enabling individuals with handicaps to have access to usable communication services and devices at costs comparable to other members of the population; (5) assuring that individuals with handicaps will have maximum mobility to participate in all aspects of society, including access to all publicly-assisted transportation services and, when necessary, alternative means of transportation at comparable cost; (6) improving utilization and adaptation of modern engineering and other technology to ameliorate the impact of handicapping conditions on the lives of individuals and especially on their access to housing and other structures; (7) assuring individuals with handicaps of equal opportunity with others to engage in gainful employment; (8) enabling individuals with handicaps to have incomes sufficient for health and for participation in family and community life as self-respecting citizens; Recommendations. 88 STAT, 1633 29 USC 730. 29 USC 787. Report to (9) increasing research relating to all aspects of handicapping conditions, stressing the elimination of causes of handicapping conditions and the amelioration of the effects of such conditions; (10) assuring close attention and assessment of all aspects of diagnosis and evaluation of individuals with handicaps; (11) assuring review and evaluation of all governmental programs in areas affecting individuals with handicaps, and a close examination of the public role in order to plan for the future; (12) resolving the special problems of veterans with handicaps; (13) resolving the problems of public awareness and attitudes that restrict individuals with handicaps from participating in society to their fullest extent; (14) resolving the special problems of individuals with handicaps who are homebound or institutionalized; (15) resolving the special problems of individuals with handicaps who have limited English-speaking ability; (16) alloting funds for basic vocational rehabilitation services under part B of title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in a fair and equitable manner in consideration of the factors set forth in section 407 (a) of such Act; and (17) promoting other related matters for individuals with handicaps. (e) A final report of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals shall be submitted by the Council to the President not later than one hundred and twenty days following the date on which the conference is called, and the findings and recommendations Availability included therein shall be immediately made available to the public. The to public. Council and the Secretary shall, within ninety days after the submisRecommendations, sion of such final report, transmit to the President and the Congress their recommendations for administrative action and legislation necessary to implement the recommendations contained in such report. transmittal to President and Congress. 29 USC 701 note. 5 USC 101 et seq. 5 USC 5701, 5331. 5 USC 5332 note. RESPONSIBILITIES OF COUNCIL AND SECRETARY SEC. 303. (a) In carrying out the provisions of this title, the Council and the Secretary shall (1) request the cooperation and assistance of such other Federal departments and agencies as may be appropriate, including Federal advisory bodies having responsibilities in areas affecting individuals with handicaps; (2) render all reasonable assistance, including financial assistance, to the States in enabling them to organize and conduct conferences on handicapped individuals prior to the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals; (3) prepare and make available necessary background materials for the use of delegates to the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals; (4) prepare and distribute such interim reports of the White House Conference on Handicapped Individuals as may be appropriate; and (5) engage such individuals with handicaps and additional personnel as may be necessary without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive civil service, and without regard to chapter 57 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but at rates of pay not to exceed the rate prescribed for GS-18 under section 5332 of such title. (b) In carrying out the provisions of this title, the Secretary shall employ individuals with handicaps. DEFINITION 88 STAT. 1634 SEC. 304. For the purpose of this title, the term "State" includes 29 USC 701 note. the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the STATE PARTICIPATION SEC. 305. (a) From the sums appropriated pursuant to section 306 29 USC 701 note. the Secretary is authorized to make a grant to each State, upon Infra. application of the chief executive thereof, in order to assist in meeting the costs of that State's participation in the Conference program, including the conduct of at least one conference within each such State. (b) Grants made pursuant to subsection (a) shall be made only with the approval of the Council. (c) Funds appropriated for the purposes of this subsection shall State apportionbe apportioned among the States by the Secretary in accordance with ment. their respective needs for assistance under this subsection, except that no State shall be apportioned more than $25,000 nor less than $10,000. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS SEC. 306. There are authorized to be appropriated, without fiscal 29 USC 701 note. year limitations, $2,000,000 to carry out the provisions of this title and such additional sums as may be necessary to carry out section 305. Sums so appropriated shall remain available for expenditure Supre. until June 30, 1977. Approved December 7, 1974. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: SENATE REPORT No. 93-1297 accompanying S. 4194 (Comm. on Labor and Public Welfare). CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 120 (1974): Nov. 26, considered and passed House. and Senate. 93rd Congress, S. 3548 January 4, 1975 An Act To establish the Harry S Truman memorial scholarships, and for other purposes. 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 "Harry S Truman Memorial Scholarship Act". STATEMENT OF FINDINGS SEC. 2. The Congress finds that— because a high regard for the public trust and a lively exercise of political talents were outstanding characteristics of the thirtythird President of the United States; because a special interest of the man from Independence in American history and a broad knowledge and understanding of the American political and economic system gained by study and experience in county and National Government culminated in the leadership of America remembered for the quality of his character, courage, and commonsense; because of the desirability of encouraging young people to recognize and provide service in the highest and best traditions of the American political system at all levels of government, it is especially appropriate to honor former President Harry S Truman through the creation of a perpetual education scholarship program to develop increased opportunities for young Americans to prepare and pursue careers in public service. DEFINITIONS SEC. 3. As used in this Act, the term— (1) "Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship Foundation; Harry S Aot. 20 USC 2001 note. 20 USC 2001. 20 USC 2002. 88 STAT. 2276 (2) "Foundation" means the Harry S Truman Scholarship 88 STAT. 2277 Foundation; (3) "fund" means the Harry S Truman Memorial Scholarship Fund; (4) "institution of higher education" means any such institution as defined by section 1201 (a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965; (5) "State" means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and, considered as a single entity, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; and (6) "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Treasury.". SEC. 4. The Harry S Truman Scholarship Program as authorized by this Act shall be the sole Federal memorial to President Harry S Truman. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HARRY S TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 20 USC 1141. 20 5 2003. SEC. 5. (a) There is established, as an independent establishment of Establishment. the executive branch of the United States Government, the Harry S 20 USC 2004. Truman Scholarship Foundation. (b) (1) The Foundation shall be subject to the supervision and Membership. direction of a Board of Trustees. The Board shall be composed of thirteen members, as follows: (A) two Members of the Senate, one from each political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; |