The subcommittee met at 9:40 a.m., in room 4232, New Senate Office Building, Senator Thomas F. Eagleton (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Present: Senator Eagleton (presiding).

Committee staff members present: James J. Murphy, counsel to the subcommittee; and Michael S. Gordon, minority counsel to the subcommittee.

Senator EAGLETON. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The Subcommittee on Aging of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare is now in session to begin its hearings on research in aging, specifically directing attention to S. 887 and S. 1925.

The bills we are considering today, the two I previously mentioned, relate to research in the aging process and the diseases and other special problems and needs of the aged.

Today, about 10 percent of our population-20 million Americans— is 65 years of age or over. Within the next 30 years an additional 45 to 50 million Americans will have passed their 65th birthday and this group will represent an even greater proportion of the population.

Yet federally supported research into phenomena associated with aging is both incredibly small and fragmented among the departments of the Federal Government. This diffusion of responsibility has resulted in duplication of efforts, lack of coordination and gaps in our overall approach. Most importantly, the result has been lack of systematic research in aging.

This allocation of resources is not only inequitable, it is shortsighted. Persons over 65 account for an inordinately large share of the total health care expenses in the United States; by some estimates, as much as two-thirds of our total expenditures for health care can be attributed to treating elderly persons. This tremendous expenditure of funds for the care of the aged is ironic when, according to recognized medical authorities, medical knowledge regarding aging and degenerative diseases has reached the point where a major breakthrough could be made.

(1)

S. 887, which I introduced with the cosponsorship of 18 Senators, would create a National Institute of Gerontology as part of the Na'tional Institutes of Health. The purpose of the proposed National Institute of Gerontology is to conduct and support biomedical, social, and behavioral research and training related to the aging process and the diseases and other special health problems and needs of the aged. It would fill a gap in our research efforts of long standing.

The work done by this Institute would have a very substantial effect on the quality of life of the aged. It could lead to an extension of the healthy middle years of life. The contributions each individual might make to society would be increased. And, by improving our knowledge of the aging process, we can hope to develop a greater proficiency in preventive medicine for the diseases of the aged, thus reducing the annual cost of health care now attributable to treatment of the aged.

S. 1925, the Research on Aging Act, was introduced by Senator Williams, the chairman of the full Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, who has also served in the past as the chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. His experience in this field has earned him an expertise which I know will be of great value to the subcommittee. His concern for the conditions under which millions of elderly Americans live has been amply demonstrated by the investigations he has conducted and the legislation he has sponsored.

The Research on Aging Act would establish an Aging Research Commission to develop a comprehensive plan for intensive and coordinated research into the biological, medical, psychological, social, and economic aspects of aging. The Commission would be composed of seven members to be appointed by the President, with the advice. and consent of the Senate, with at least one member from each of the following disciplines: biological science, clinical medicine, the behavioral, and social sciences, and economics.

Both of these bills have the same goal: To coordinate and greatly increase research in aging. The governmental mechanisms proposed by each to achieve this goal vary somewhat, but I am confident we can work together to reconcile such differences as may exist in the two

bills.

(A copy of S. 887 and S. 1925 follows:)

92D CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

S. 887

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

FEBRUARY 19 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 17), 1971

Mr. EAGLETON (for himself, Mr. BAYH, Mr. BIBLE, Mr. DOLE, Mr. HARRIS, Mr. HART, Mr. HUMPHREY, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. JACKSON, Mr. McGOVERN, Mr. MONTOYA, Mr. NELSON, Mr. PELL, Mr. SPONG, and Mr. TUNNEY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare

A BILL

To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a National Institute of Gerontology.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 4 ch. 6A, subch. III) is amended by adding at the end thereof 5 the following new part:

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"PART G-NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GERONTOLOGY

"ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

GERONTOLOGY

"SEC. 461. The Secretary shall establish in the Public

10 Health Service an institute to be known as the National

II

2

1 Institute of Gerontology (hereinafter in this part referred 2 to as the Institute') for the conduct and support of bio3 medical, social, and behavioral research and training relat4 ing to the aging process and the diseases and other special 5 health problems and needs of the aged.

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"ESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL

7 "SEC. 462. (a) The Secretary shall establish an ad

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visory council to advise, consult with, and make recommen9 dations to him on matters relating to the Institute.

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"(b) The provisions relating to the composition, terms

of office of members, and reappointment of members of ad12 visory councils under section 432 (a) shall be applicable to

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the advisory council established under this section, except 14 that the Secretary may include on such advisory council

such additional ex officio members as he deems necessary.

"(c) Upon appointment of such advisory council, it shall assume all, or such part as the Secretary may specify, of the duties, functions, and powers of the National Advisory

Health Council relating to the research or training projects

with which the advisory council established under this part

is concerned and such portion as the Secretary may specify

of the duties, functions, and powers of any other advisory

council established under this Act relating to such projects.

"FUNCTIONS

"SEC. 463. The Secretary shall, through the Institute,

carry out the purposes of section 301 with respect to research,