Before you begin, Mr. Stirling, the Chair appears to have a letter from General Bradley to Senator Taft which will be inserted, I think, just ahead of Mr. Stirling's testimony in the record. (The document referred to is as follows:) Hon. ROBERT A. TAFT, Chairman, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, MAY 5, 1947. DEAR SENATOR TAFT: Further reference is made to your letter of March 27, 1947, requesting a report on S. 971, Eightieth Congress, a bill to amend title V of the act entitled "An act to expedite the provision of housing in connection with the national defense, and for other purposes", approved October 14, 1940, as amended, to authorize the Federal Works Administrator to make grants to institutions of higher learning for the construction of educational facilities required in the education and training of war veterans. The The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Federal Works Administrator to make grants to institutions of higher learning, upon the finding of the United States Commissioner of Education that an acute shortage of educational facilities required for war veterans engaged in courses of education or training under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, exists or impends. grant would be made to aid the institution in financing the cost of educational facilities necessary to relieve the shortage. The bill would authorize an appropriation of $250,000,000 to carry out its provisions and for administrative expenses in connection therewith. Funds so appropriated would not be available for new projects after June 30, 1948. Projects would have to be commenced before December 31, 1948, and be capable of being completed in time to make the facilities available for use in the education and training of veterans. Approximately 1,200,000 veterans are now enrolled in institutions of higher learning under the provisions of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act. There will probably be some increase in enrollment during the next scholastic year, but it is anticipated that the peak enrollment of veterans will have passed by the time buildings constructed under the proposed grants could be completed. However, substantially all institutions are now seriously overcrowded and present facilities are not adequate to provide proper instructional and housing facilities for the veterans now enrolled. Many veterans now enrolled are receiving their education in temporary facilities, such as army camps, where only nonlaboratory courses can be offered. It is expected that they will later be transferred to the permanent facilities of existing institutions. In the case of practically all publicly supported institutions, the Veterans' Administration is paying, on behalf of the veterans, tuition charges over and above that paid by nonveterans in order to equip such institutions to provide the additional instructional facilities required to accommodate veterans. However, it is probable that even this additional compensation is inadequate to supply all the additional facilities required. Consideration must be given to the possible impact of this bill upon the hospital construction program of the Veterans' Administration and to the possible effect diversion of materials for this purpose will have upon the Veterans Housing Program. There are still some shortages of skilled labor and first grade materials in items which are common to residential and heavy construction. To the extent that the proposed program will divert materials and labor, both of these programs may suffer in areas where they compete with the proposed construction of educational facilities. As the bill would be administered by the Federal Works Administrator no comments are submitted with respect to its technical aspects. In this connection, it may be noted that under Public Law 697, Seventy-ninth Congress, approved August 8, 1946, the Federal Works Administrator was authorized upon a finding by the Commisioner of Education of an actual or impending acute shortage of educational facilities to provide educational facilities, other than housing, required for the education and training of veterans under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, by transfer to educational institutions of structures and facilities no longer required by Federal Agencies. It is believed that the experience gained by the United States Commissioner of Education and the Federal Works Administrator under this law will enable those officials to furnish to your committee more definitive information concerning the need for the authority contained in the pending bill. Subject to the foregoing observations, the Veterans' Administration makes no recommendation on the merits of S. 971. There has been insufficient time to clear this report with the Bureau of the Budget. When advice is received from that Bureau as to the relationship of these bills to the program of the President, the committee will be advised. Sincerely yours, OMAR N. BRADLEY, Administrator. (A supplemental report from General Bradley follows:) Hon. ROBERT A. TAFT, Chairman, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, United States Senate, Washington 25, D. Č. MAY 8, 1947. DEAR SENATOR TAFT: Reference is made to the report of the Veterans' Administration, dated May 5, 1947, on S. 971. Eightieth Congress, A bill to amend title V of the act entitled “An act to expedite the provision of housing in connection with the national defense, and for other purposes," approved October 14, 1940, as amended, to authorize the Federal Works Administrator to make grants to institutions of higher learning for the construction of educational facilities required in the education and training of war veterans. During the course of the aforesaid report, the following information was set forth in the third paragraph thereof: "Approximately 1,200,000 veterans are now enrolled in institutions of higher learning under the provisions of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act. There will probably be some increase in enrollment during the next scholastic year, but it is anticipated that the peak enrollment of veterans will have passed by the time buildings constructed under the proposed grants could be completed. However, substantially all institutions are now seriously overcrowded and present facilities are not adequate to provide proper instructional and housing facilities for the veterans now enrolled." It is desired at this time to explain and supplement the above paragraph and also to amplify the statement by the Assistant Administrator for Vocational Rehabilitation and Education, Veterans' Administration, upon the occasion of the hearing on S. 971 before the Subcommittee on Education and the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare of May 6, 1947. The supplemental statement is given below: It is extremely difficult to estimate the continuing enrollment of veterans in colleges and universities, but it seems evident that there will continue to be a large number of veterans in our colleges and universities for the next several years and there will be some at least through the entire life of the bill, which will be a minimum of 9 years, beyond the time when the Congress or the President declare the termination of the war. The Veterans' Administration understands that there is unanimous agreement among the educational groups that the peak enrollment of veterans will not be reached until 1949-50 or 1950-51. Our own estimates are not quite as high as those of educators, but our previous estimates have been considerably below actual developments. There is a second factor that is of importance. It is understood that between 35 and 40 percent of the veterans in college this year are freshmen. Very few relatively are dropping out. While veterans can be taught in large classes during their freshman and sophomore years they cannot be taught in large classes in their junior and senior years since these classes include considerable proportion of laboratory work. Consequently, even if no new veterans were admitted, based upon the educational groups' estimates, the heaviest demand for instructional space for the veterans would come during the school years 1949-50 and 1950-51. We believe that many additional veterans will enroll in the years immediately ahead, and that these will remain for the full 4 years of college. There are still more than 3,000,000 veterans who have taken out their certificates of eligibility and entitlement. Applications are still being received by the Veterans' Administration at the rate of 200,000 a month. We estimate that 70 percent of these will enter education and training. Since approximately 40 percent of all veterans in training and education are in colleges and universities the load that the colleges must still carry will be heavy. A third factor in relation to S. 971 is that the construction must be actually under way by December 30, 1948. The Veterans' Administration is deeply interested in the best possible education of the veteransphysical facilities are a very important factor in contributing to this educational effectiveness. Sincerely yours, OMAR N. BRADLEY, General, United States Army, Administrator. STATEMENT OF HAROLD V. STIRLING, ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION, VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION, WASHINGTON, D. C. Mr. STIRLING. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, the legislation proposed in S. 971 does not contain any provision affecting the legal responsibilities of the Veterans' Administration. Under current laws which the Veterans' Administration administers, it has no authority to spend money for renting or constructing educational facilities. It does pay tuition and fees to the institution in which veterans under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act pursue courses of education or training. As of March 31, 1947, 5,371,945 applications had been received; 5,278,104 had been certified as eligible; 2,383,296 were in training1,760,033 in institutions and 623,263 in training on the job. Approximately 65 percent of those in training in institutions, or 1,144,021, were in training in institutions of higher learning. The Veterans' Administration forecast for the fiscal year 1948 shows a steady climb in this number with a gradual tapering off the last several months of the fiscal year. However, the current figure for March 31, 1947, is ahead of our estimate. During the fiscal year 1945 the Veterans' Administration paid to institutions for tuition $1,480,265; during the fiscal year 1946, $27,579,327; and for the fiscal year 1947 through the month of February, $223,691,389, or a total of $252,750,981. The current official budget estimates show that we will pay institutions during the fiscal year 1947 $502,200,000 and for 1948, $551,250,000. The Veterans' Administration believes that the experience gained by the United States Commissioner of Education and the Federal Works Administrator should enable those officials to furnish to your committee more definite information concerning the need for the authority contained in the proposed legislation. The Veterans' Administration knows that the institutions of higher learning have made unusual efforts to accommodate the veterans who have elected courses of education in their institutions and that many of these do not have adequate physical facilities to accommodate the present. enrollment of both veteran and nonveteran students. Of course, the Veterans' Administration would be very much concerned if institutions of higher learning are unable to take more trainees in their institutions because of inadequate facilities. Senator DONNELL. Mr. Stirling, in General Bradley's letter which was filed a few moments ago, the next to the closing sentence reads: Subject to the foregoing observations, the Veterans' Administration makes no recommendation on the merits of S. 971. I take it that you are likewise subject to the observation you made in making no recommendations on the merits of this particular bill? Mr. STIRLING. That is right; I have no authority to commit the Veterans' Administration to the bill. Senator DONNELL. I call your attention also to these two sentences in General Bradley's letter and I will ask if you concur in them: There will probably be some increase in enrollment during the next scholastic year, but it is anticipated that the peak enrollment of veterans will have passed by the time buildings constructed under the proposed grants could be completed. However, substantially all institutions are now seriously overcrowded and present facilities are not adequate to provide proper instructional and housing facilities for the veterans now enrolled. Mr. STIRLING. Senator, that statement is based upon forecasts which are made by our own statisticians; whether it is right or wrong is purely a guess; but based upon it, be believe the peak will be reached in the latter part of 1948. However, that is merely a guess and we have in our possession several estimates from experts in the education field who honestly and sincerely believe that the peak will come sometime in 1950–51. I might say in passing, Senator, that our forecasts-five of them so far-have been way behind actual reality. Senator DONNELL. The official opinion of the Veterans' Administration, however, is as I have quoted from General Bradley's letter? Mr. STIRLING. On the basis of our current experience. Senator DONNELL. This letter is dated May 5, 1947. Mr. STIRLING. Based on figures of March 31, sir. Senator AIKEN. If any Federal aid were given for the purposes contemplated by this bill, would you put on a time limit during which the buildings must be constructed in order to qualify for Federal aid? Mr. STIRLING. I do not believe, Mr. Chairman, that I am authorized to answer that question. Senator AIKEN. That, however, would meet the question which evidently has been raised. Mr. STIRLING. As I understand it, the proposed bill does require certain limitations, requiring the project to be approved by a certain date and be commenced before a certain date. Senator AIKEN. I think I can agree that we would not be justified in granting aids for the construction of facilities to educate veterans unless such aid was to be made available before the veteran finished school. I agree with you on that. Thank you, Mr. Stirling. Now, the Chair has a letter from Mayor O'Dwyer, of New York, which, without objection, will be incorporated in the record. There is also a letter from Omar B. Ketchum, director, Veterans of Foreign Wars, approving the bill. Here is the letter from General Bradley to Senator Taft which has already been ordered printed. Here is a letter from Msgr. Frederick G. Hochwalt stating his inability to get here this morning. He was scheduled to testify, and he asks that his statement be incorporated in the record, which will be done evidently in support of the bill. (The documents referred to are as follows:) Hon. ROBERT A. TAFT, CITY OF NEW YORK, OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, Chairman, Labor and Public Welfare Committee, The Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR: Senate bill 971, providing Federal grants to aid in financing the construction of educational facilities required for the education of veterans, is pending in your committee. The three municipally operated colleges in the city of New York are severely overburdened because of veterans' registration. They have been unable to accommodate the normal group of secondary school graduates. This condition will unquestionably continue throughout the next 3 to 4 years. Demands upon the city's finances are such that construction to relieve the higher education situation will not be possible. If Federal funds were available, the city could carry out the following programcomplete plans are ready-which would improve educational conditions for veterans considerably: College Queens College science and recitation building I ask that you advance and support this measure. Current cost $3, 000, 000 2,750,000 1, 500, 000 WILLIAM O'Dwyer, Mayor, the City of New York. Re S. 971. VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES, Hon. ROBERT A. TAFT, Chairman, Senate Committee on Labor and Welfare, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR TAFT: This is to express the interest and endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States with respect to a bill identified as S. 971, by Mr. Aiken, to amend title 5 of the act entitled, "An act to expedite the provision of housing in connection with the national defense, and for other purposes," approved October 14, 1940, as amended, to authorize the Federal Works Administrator to make grants to institutions of higher learning for the construction of educational facilities required in the education and training of war veterans. The objectives and purposes of S. 971 were carefully considered by the national legislative committee of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and it was the unanimous opinion of this committee that the bill should be approved by the Congress and the President. The committee is thoroughly conversant with the problems of educational institutions in attempting to provide the necessary facilities to care for the tremendous influx of veteran students and believes that unless veterans who have been certified as eligible for educational aid are given the opportunity of enrolling in the educational institutions, the clear intention of the Congress, as contained in Public Law 346, as amended, will be thwarted. I should like to have this endorsement made a part of the hearing records in reference to S. 971. Respectfully yours, OMAR B. KETCHUM, Director. |