THE RECESSION AND THE OLDER WORKER HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT INCOMES OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING UNITED STATES SENATE NINETY-FOURTH CONGRESS For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING FRANK CHURCH, Idaho, Chairman HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, JR., New Jersey EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts HIRAM L. FONG, Hawaii DEWEY F. BARTLETT, Oklahoma WILLIAM E. ORIOL, Staff Director VAL J. HALAMANDARIS, Associate Counsel SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT INCOMES JENNINGS RANDOLPH, West Virginia, Chairman CONTENTS CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WITNESSES Daley, Hon. Richard J., mayor, city of Chicago___ Green, A. Rodger, volunteer, Service Corps of Retired Executives__- Hayes, Margaret, immediate past president, Retired Teachers Asso- Henry, Mary Alice, cochairperson, Social Services Committee for the Chicago Planning Council on Aging, Mayor's Office for Senior Appendix 1. Material submitted by Robert J. Ahrens: Item 1. Statement on the question of mandatory retirement-- Item 2. Report of the task force on older workers, Chicago Man- Appendix 2. Letters and statements from individuals and organizations: Item 1. Statement of Lou Jungheim, chairman, Chicago Metropolitan Area Senior Citizens Senate__. Item 2. Letter and statement from Mrs. Norma J. Wisor, assistant director/program, Chicago Community Trust. Item 3. Statement of Marshall M. Holleb, chairman, Illinois State Appendix 3. Statements submitted by the hearing audience : Cunningham, Mrs. L., Chicago, Ill Glover, Ellen E., Chicago, Ill. Holloway, Calvin and Vivian, Chicago, Ill. THE RECESSION AND THE OLDER WORKER THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 1975 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND RETIREMENT INCOMES OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING, Chicago, Ill. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in the council chambers, City Hall, Chicago, Ill., Hon. Jennings Randolph (chairman) presiding. Present: Senator Randolph. Also present: David A. Affeldt, chief counsel; John Guy Miller, minority staff director; and Kathryn Dann, assistant chief clerk. OPENING STATEMENT BY SENATOR JENNINGS RANDOLPH, CHAIRMAN Senator RANDOLPH. A pleasant good morning, ladies and gentlemen. We like to use the terminology "your subcommittee." The Congress of the United States does not belong to a party. It does not belong to an administration. It belongs to no single member. It is a Congress elected by the American people, and so today this is your hearing. It is part of our American system of going to the people, listening to the people, and working with the people. The Subcommittee on Employment and Retirement Incomes of the Senate Committee on Aging is now in the process of what we hope to be an in-depth study of the recession and the older worker. This day has a special symbolism. It indicates the dimension of timeliness. It is the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Federal Social Security Act. I hope it is not improper for me to say that it has a special personal significance for me. It was my privilege and responsibility 40 years ago to be a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation had my active support and my vote when the original measure was before us. Today, in the Congress of the United States, only four of us are left "hanging on the vine"-Representatives Wright Patman and George Mahon of Texas, Senator McClellan of Arkansas, and your chairman for today's hearing. I think if you would permit me especially to indicate to you that I believe that the law enacted then has, with modification and change, been the law that serves America well in 1975. Of course, there were improvements made through the years. We still must make these improvements. They are needed. I think we have |