"(2) direct expenditures by the Secretary for agricultural commodities and other foods to be distributed among the States and such public or private nonprofit institutions or organizations, agencies, or political subdivisions of a State, participating in the nutrition program under this title.

"RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS

"SEC. 710. No part of the cost of any program under this title may be treated as income or benefits to any eligible individual for the purpose of any other program or provision of State or Federal law.

"MISCELLANEOUS

"SEC. 711. None of the provisions of this title shall be construed to prevent a recipient of a grant or a contract from entering into an agreement with a profitmaking organization to carry out the provisions and purposes of this title."

Mr. BRADEMAS. The Select Subcommittee on Education of the House Committee on Education and Labor will come to order.

The members of our subcommittee are most pleased to be here in Miami, Fla., for the opening session of the hearings on H.R. 17763, a bill to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965, to provide nutritional programs for the elderly.

The Miami area has one of the Nation's heaviest concentrations of senior citizens and for some years has been the site of various experimental programs designed to enable older Americans to live out the balance of their years in dignity and comfort. It is, therefore, fitting that a subcommittee of Congress open its hearings on this important legislation here at the Metropolitan Senior Center.

We are pleased also to be in the home district of our distinguished colleague in Congress and good friend, Congressman Claude Pepper, who has been an imaginative and resourceful legislator for 28 years, and who has actively championed the wide range of social legislation from Federal support for education to the present bill which is directed at some of the needs of our older citizens. His colleagues and constituents in Congress know Claude Pepper as a man of vision and of compassion who has a particular concern for some of the less fortunate citizens in our country. The 11th District of Florida is fortunate, indeed, to have Claude Pepper as its representative in Congress. And the American people, I think, as they're represented by Members of the House from other parts of the United States, share my pride in his accomplishments.

The bill, which Congressman Pepper has introduced and which is the subject of our hearings today, would add a new title to the Older Americans Act of 1965 to cover Federal contributions to States for the purpose of providing nutritional programs for the elderly. Last year's White House Conference on Nutrition and the yearly report to the President on the problems of aging both pointed to the need for more adequate nutritional programs for older Americans. The problem of providing an adequate diet for senior citizens has a number of root causes. As the bill notes, some of the problems are caused by inadequate income; others, perhaps, by the older citizen's absence of skills to choose and prepare well balanced meals; still others, by the limited mobility or absence of incentive to eat properly because of feelings of loneliness. Whatever the cause, however, the effects frequently are an accelerating feebleness, a sense of despair, and an old age devoid of joy and dignity.

Congressman Pepper's bill would seek to improve the nutrition programs for older Americans by providing up to $300 million over the next 3 years to be designated to State agencies for several purposes which, I am sure, Congressman Pepper will detail in his opening statement.

The bill before us, then, is addressed to one of our most profound social concerns the attention and care we, as a Nation, demonstrate for our older citizens.

At this time, I should like to introduce as our first witness. Before I do so, I should perhaps introduce the members of the subcommittee who are present. I am John Brademas, Representative from the Third District of Indiana, and chairman of this subcommittee. And on my left is my distinguished colleague, Congressman Orval Hansen of Idaho.

At this time, I am pleased to introduce as our first witness, the father of the bill, the Honorable Claude Pepper, who will outline his provisions and give the members of our subcommittee the benefit of his views on the need for its enactment.

Congressman Pepper, we're very honored to be here with you today, sir.

STATEMENT OF HON. CLAUDE PEPPER, MEMBER OF CONGRESS, 11TH DISTRICT, FLORIDA

Mr. PEPPER. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am most grateful for your generous references to our area, our people and, of course, to our need. My distinguished colleague is the Honorable Dante Fascell who shares the representation of this general area with me. We're very proud, indeed, to have this very distinguished committee come to the Greater Miami area today to give its attention. to the important legislation which is the subject of this hearing. Mr. BRADEMAS. Congressman Pepper, if you will allow me to interrupt, following your own statement I should like to ask unanimous consent that there be included a statement by Congressman Dante Fascell who, shortly before I left Washington, called to tell me how very pleased he was that you were holding hearings here and to indicate his strong support for your bill.

Mr. PEPPER. Thank you very much.

It gives me a great deal of pleasure, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, to have the opportunity to appear here in behalf of the bill which I introduced, H.R. 17763. I am very proud to say that it is cosponsored by the distinguished chairman of this subcommittee, the Honorable John Brademas of Indiana, and the other distinguished member of the subcommittee who honored us with his presence today, the Honorable Orval H. Hansen of Idaho, by my colleague, the Honorable Dante Fascell, and 95 other members of the House of Representatives. This bill would establish a nationwide program to meet the nutritional needs of our citizens, 65 years of age and older.

We have an opportunity in this area, we feel, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, where we have wealth blended with poverty, to exhibit to the Nation that the lives of senior citizens may be rich and happy, and that we may accept the implication of Browning, "some grow old as yet the best to be." This bill would initially contribute to that happy end.

The fact that you have given this matter such prompt and serious attention by holding these hearings, which open here today, is recognition of your deep concern and great compassion for those whom this bill would aid.

I am pleased to tell you that since the introduction of the bill 8 weeks ago during Senior Citizens Month, H.R. 17763 has already received the support, as I said, of 95 Members of Congress of both parties. This is a sign of a wide and deep-seated desire on the part of Congress to remedy injustices to our senior citizens through a practical and self-respecting program.

Speaking personally, although I have been associated throughout my career with a number of pieces of legislation to improve the standard of life of large numbers of our citizens, none gives me more real pleasure than I feel today in urging upon you, as I hope you will upon the Congress, the provisions of this measure.

I believe that as a Nation, we are deeply concerned to wipe out injustice, to lift the standards of those who through no fault of their own have too little for a decent living, and to make sure that our great strength in technology and our material resources are directed toward humanitarian ends.

In my opinion, all the American people require is that a demonstrated need be presented to them, with supporting evidence, and that a sound program be offered, and it will receive their support.

The improvements in medicine and better living conditions have resulted in a lengthened life span for Americans during the last 50 years. Whereas, there were 3 million Americans over 65 in 1900, there are over 20 million today and we are told that by 1985, there will be more than 25 million of our citizens in this age group.

This situation, which speaks well for medical efforts, has created new and challenging problems. Extra years of life are only meaningful if they can be passed in dignity, in self-respect, and to the greatest extent possible, in good physical and mental health.

The trend toward urbanization and the desire for independent living among both the young and the old is erasing the former pattern of interdependence of generations. The elderly can no longer look forward to spending their later years with their children but must accept that for many their last years will be spent in loneliness.

Let us also keep in mind several salient facts:

1. It is generally agreed that even with recent increases voted by Congress, the maximum social security benefits do not provide an income sufficient for a minimum of decency for our senior citizens.

And I must tell you with regret, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, that the State of Florida reduces $7 of the $11 extra dollars that we provide on the average of increased social security benefits for senior citizens, and they only allowed $4 of those dollars to go to the individuals whose social security benefits we raised, stating the position that the need was not demonstrated to be enough to require all of the $11 that we added. So when we give $11 a month. more from Washington to our senior citizens, those who are on welfare in Florida don't get but $4 of it. I regret it and I hope that policy on the part of our State will be changed.

2. Millions of those who receive old age income benefits retired. years ago, when incomes and benefit payments were much lower than

they are today. However, these retired people must still cope with today's high and rising costs for food, housing, medical care, clothing, and so on. Many receive benefits as low as $64 a month.

3. Large numbers do not qualify for social security and, therefore, get no benefits.

At the ninth annual convention of the National Council of Senior Citizens which I attended in Washington last month, some crucial facts were presented:

Some 53 percent of all elderly single individuals and 10 percent of all families of senior citizens have an income of less than $30 a week. One-third of America's poor are actually to be found among our senior citizens. Because of their age, this group must spend proportionately three times as much of their income on medical care as younger persons. It is natural then, that the rates of malnutrition and illness which confine the victims primarily to their homes are extremely high among those 65 years of age and older.

And I have seen, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, and seen in this area, not very far from areas of great affluence, scenes out there that make the heart cry; that Americans have to live in that manner.

Many elderly persons are experiencing alienation, complicated by low income and loneliness. This often results in a lack of ability or motivation to prepare nutritionally sound meals for themselves. Many elderly persons do not know the importance of adequate nutrition or how to select and prepare balanced meals on their limited budgets. It is clearly evident that a lack of nourishing and adequate foods can result not only in physical deterioration, but also in serious mental and emotional difficulties.

The Congress has learned, through a series of 3-year research and demonstration programs carried out under title IV of the Older Americans Act that adequate nutrition programs are instrumental in offering senior citizens the means to a dignified and healthy life. Twentyseven of the projects placed particular emphasis on overcoming the social problems underlying inadequate diets among older people, testing techniques for nutrition programs not only to improve diet but to enhance self-esteem and self-sufficiency. The need for increased social relations was found great among those 69 years of age and older.

Based on data for 2,064 participants in these programs, it was found that the average age was 72, and the total annual income including public assistance was $1,200 a year or about $23 a week.

Broken down into various living costs, it provided only $7.60 a week for all food needs; $7.60 a week for housing; $3.80 for medical and dental care; less than $2 for utilities and less than $2 a week for all other living expenses.

If time permitted, I could draw from my experiences heart-rendering pictures of the personal tragedies that lie behind these figures. But I am sure that the witnesses who follow me, and who have been working with the senior citizens and, in fact, the people themselves will deal more eloquently with the personal aspects.

Mr. Chairman, it is no accident that the opening of these hearings on H.R. 17763 are being held here in Dade County. It was actually the success of this pilot program in revealing the need and offering

solutions which provided much of the impetus for the creation of the bill we are now discussing.

The Research and Development projects here enriched the lives of some 500 senior citizens each day for 3 years. They were delightful meals and very happily presented social occasions, as well, for those who attended. The use of senior aides drawn from the senior citizens themselves in a program of mutual self-help not only made the hot meal program a success but also assisted in assuring many elderly citizens the delivery of the surplus Government foods. It is a fact that without that aid many would not have been able to get to the home the monthly surplus food allowance. In 1 month, a single senior aide delivered 155 meals to the homes of those who were too ill to go to the senior center.

Every study of the problem of senior citizens only adds evidence to the pressing need for adequate nutrition and adequate social relationships. I refer, for example, to the conclusions of the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health; the hearings of the Special Committee on Aging in 1963, chaired by the Honorable Harrison Williams, U.S. Senator from New Jersey; the work of the Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs in 1969, chaired by the Honorable George S. McGovern, U.S. Senator from South Dakota. Accordingly, I am proposing legislation to authorize the establishment of a nationwide low-cost meal program for elderly persons in strategically located centers which would provide an atmosphere allowing opportunity for social contacts and providing activities and referral services. This legislation would seek to approach the broad scope of the problems of the aged and as such I am using the concept of "program" to include not only the distribution of meals, but also transportation, food purchase and preparation, staffing, outreach, and evaluation.

As this program would seek to approach the two-fold problem of providing both proper nutrition and social contacts, it is our belief that the only criteria necessary to be eligible to participate should be the age of 65 or over which have been delineated in the bill. No other distinction is made, as demonstration projects have shown that persons financially and physically able to provide themselves with nutritious meals would not use this program; however, the small percentage who would participate would be doing so for the social and ancillary benefits and those should not be denied to anyone.

Despite the financial benefits which would be derived by participation in this program, we have included a provision in the bill preventing any Federal or State government to treat the benefits of this program as income for the purpose of denying full retirement or welfare benefits to the elderly participant. The intent of this legislation would be defeated if a person were denied social security or public assistance because he chose to use the opportunities afforded him under the bill.

Today, I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the application of the bill at the local level. Although details of the program are left to the discretion of State agencies and local recipients of a grant or contract, certain standards and essential requirements vital to the purpose of the bill are included.