Second Session During the second session of the 89th Congress, the Committee on Education and Labor had three standing subcommittees which considered legislation regarding labor-management relations, minimum wages and hours, manpower training, metallic and nonmetallic mineral industries, welfare and pension plans, the U.S. employment service, and the arts and humanities; and two ad hoc subcommittees which considered legislation dealing with the Nation's war on poverty program. The subcommittees held 140 days of hearings and 13 executive sessions on 26 bills which were referred to them by Chairman Powell. Following is a list of labor bills and related subjects which were approved by the committee. Five (5) bills dealing specifically with labor legislation became law, and one bill amending the Economic Opportunity Act (war on poverty) became law. One bill, although handled by a labor subcommittee, is concerned with the arts and humanities. One bill was passed by the House but not acted upon by the Senate, and one bill is still pending in the Rules Committee. 57 Bill No. and sponsor Labor bills enacted into law, 2d sess., 89th Cong. Title H.R. 3584 (Dent)____ To amend the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act so as to provide further for the prevention of accidents in coal mines. Public Law No. 89-376 (Mar. 26, 1966). 89-488 (July 4, 89-792 (Nov. 7, 1 Handled by Ad Hoc Subcommittee on the War on Poverty Program also listed under "Education." H.R. 10065 (Hawkins). To more effectively prohibit discrimination in employ ment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and for other purposes. Bills reported to the House Bill No. and sponsor H.R. 11778 (Olsen of Title To amend the Welfare and Pension Plans Disclosure Act to eliminate or modify certain requirements thereof with respect to the making of affidavits and the filing of copies of certain information. General Subcommittee on Labor The General Subcommittee on Labor considered three legislative proposals during the 2d session of the 89th Congress. Eleven days of hearings were devoted to the study of these proposals. Another bill which previously was considered during the 1st session of the 89th Congress, was passed by the House. Of the bills considered in this session, one was signed into law by the President; one is waiting for action by the House; one has not yet completed hearings. Welfare and Pension Plans Disclosure Act H.R. 11778 was introduced by Representative Olsen on October 22, 1965, after extensive hearings were held in 1964 by the Subcommittee on Census and Statistics, Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. The bill was then referred to this subcommittee. A public hearing was held on this bill on August 22, 1966, by the subcommittee. At the conclusion of the hearing, the subcommittee met in an executive session and unanimously ordered the bill reported favorably with amendments. The Committee on Education and Labor, meeting in executive session on August 25, 1966, approved this action and ordered the bill reported favorably with amendment. The bill has not yet received final consideration by the House. The primary purpose of the bill is to eliminate the necessity for those submitting welfare and pension plans to have the plans acknowledged by a notary, and also to reduce the number of copies of the descriptions which is necessary for those proposing the plans to submit. It is estimated that these changes will save the Government as much as $100,000. The subcommittee added an amendment which eliminates the 60-day period of changes made in plan descriptions to the following annual report. Impact of foreign imports on American industry and employment H.R. 16831 and H.R. 17248, were introduced by Representative Dent on August 4, 1966, and August 24, 1966, respectively. Both of these bills deal with legislation concerning the impact of foreign imports on domestic industry and employment. The subcommitte began a very extensive investigation into these bills with 10 days of hearings (August 29; September 19, 20, 21, 27, 28; October 3, 4, 5, and 12). The subcommittee plans to resume its hearings in February 1967. H.R. 16831 provides that the Secretary of Labor must investigate when a complaint is filed by an employer or labor organization in respect to imports affecting a domestic industry. H.R. 17248 provides the President with a standby power to require quotas, etc., when domestic industries in low-wage areas are being injured by foreign imports. Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1966 On March 16, 1966, Representative Dent introduced H.R. 13712, a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, to increase the minimum wage and extend coverage and overtime protection to additional workers. This bill was modified from earlier bills introduced in the first session. Extensive hearings were held on these bills, and they were the basis of the provisions of H.R. 13713. On March 7, 1966, the subcommittee ordered the bill reported faovrably to the full committee. On March 21, 1966, the bill was ordered reported favorably by the full committee, and was reported to the House (H. Rept. 1366) on March 29, 1966. The bill was considered by the House on May 24, 25, and 26, and was passed by a vote of 303 to 93 on May 26, 1966. On September 23, 1966, the bill was enacted into law (Public Law 89-601). The 1966 amendments will increase the minimum wage for already covered employees to $1.40 an hour beginning in February of 1967, and $1.60 in February of 1968. The bill also allows for an additional 8 million newly covered employees who will begin at $1 an hour on February 1, 1967, with $0.15 an hour increments each year up to 1971 when they will reach the $1.60 minimum wage. Coverage was extended for the first time to agricultural employees and workers in hotels, motels, and restaurants. 25. National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act-Amendment (Commission on the Capitol) (H.R. 16100; Special Subcommittee on Labor): 2 1966-July 26, 27, and Aug. 4. (143 pages.) 26. National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act (H.R. 6050 and identical bills; Special Subcommittee on Labor): 2 1965 March 22, 23, and 24. 27. National School Lunch Act amendments (H.R. 8481; General Subcommittee on Education): 1966-August 30. 28. National Teachers Corps (H.R. 9627; General Subcommittee on Education): 1965-July 7, 13, 14, 15, and August 17. (146 pages.) 29. National Technical Institute for the Deaf (H.R. 7031 and identical bills; Special Subcommittee on Labor): 2 1965-April 27. (56 pages.) 30. National Vocational Student Loan Insurance Act (H.R. 6468; Select Subcommittee on Education): 1965-April 5, 6, and 7. (187 pages.) 31. Salary Incentives for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers (H.R. 10590; General Subcommittee on Education): 1965-September 8 and 9. (84 pages.) 32. Special Summer School Lunch Program (H.R. 9339; Select Subcommittee on Education): 1966-March 9-Washington, D.C. March 18-New York, N. Y. (65 pages.) 33. Study of the U.S. Office of Education (No legislation; Special Subcommittee on Education): 1966 August 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10. (354 pages.) 34. Vocational Education Amendments, 1966 (H.R. 15444 and H.R. 15445; General Subcommittee on Education): 1966-June 9, 14, 15, 16; July 12, 13, 14; August 2, 3, 11, 16, 17, and 18. 35. Vocational Rehabilitation Act amendment (H.R. 6476 and similar bills; Special Subcommittee on Education): 1965-April 13 and 14. (168 pages.) 36. Vocational Rehabilitation Act amendment for the District of Columbia (H.R. 14323; Special Subcommittee on Education): 1966-June 7. B. Education Public Laws During the 89th Congress 1. Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: April 11, 1965, Public Law 89-10. 2. National Technical Institute for the Deaf Act:1 June 8, 1965, Public Law 89-36. 3. Extension of Juvenile Delinquency and Youth Offenses Control Act: July 8, 1965, Public Law 89-69. 4. Older Americans Act: July 14, 1965, Public Law 89-73. 1 Also listed under Labor Public Laws. 2 Hearings listed under both Education and Labor Activities. |