For those who have retired from professional or business positions, there is no end to the contribution which they could make in the field of consumer education. In our League, we already use a few retired men and women for the compilation of educational material, such as our summary of the "New Jersey Consumer Protection Laws", talks with civic groups and high school classes, and participation in conferences and meetings. This program could be greatly expanded were we able to offer to pay the expenses of the retired persons; but this we are unable to do. Another need is to provide information on visual aids and other "down to earth" material being developed in the field of consumer education. We have started a library of material which we collect from all parts of the country; we need a retired librarian to head up this project but few have the income to do such volunteer jobs. We believe that the administration of the program by the State Division on Aging would give the needed impetus to the use of volunteers and would tap the reservoir of talent among the retired persons in New Jersey. On behalf of the Consumers League of New Jersey, I thank you for the opportunity of filing a Statement in support of Senate Bill 2877, The National Senior Community Service Corps Act of 1966. FEDERATION OF PROTESTANT WELFARE AGENCIES, INC. Re S. 2877 and S. 3049. Hon. HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. JUNE 8, 1966. DEAR SENATOR WILLIAMS: The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, among whose 235 member agencies there are 61 homes, hospitals or centers for the aged, commends the objectives of these proposals to establish a Senior Service Corps. We are very much in favor of providing opportunities for able older persons to work, both for the benefits which the workers themselves derive and also for the benefits which accrue to the community. To fail to provide such opportunities is wasteful of talent and knowledge which the nation can ill afford to squander. We welcome this opportunity to make our views known to your Special Subcommittee on Aging. Sincerely yours, THEODORE PEARSON, President. GENERAL BOARD OF CHRISTIAN SOCIAL CONCERNS OF THE METHODIST CHURCH JUNE 9, 1966. Hon. HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., DEAR SENATOR WILLLIAMS: We were glad to learn of the hearings you held on Senate Bills 2877 and 3049. We appreciate the invitation to comment on these prior to June 10 for the hearing record. We support the basic concept of the Senior Community Service Corps. While we are not competent to comment on many of the details, we do feel that this addition to the Older Americans Act of 1965 would be a real asset. It would stimulate the development of service opportunities for older people who have been "put on the shelf." Almost two million Methodist women will be studying a program in the next few months on this very topic. The program is titled, "Rediscovered Manpower" and is written with the purpose of helping Methodist women recognize the great potential resource of the aging in our society today, to become aware of suc cessful programs utilizing these resources, and to develop action plans for similar programs in their communities. A bill to develop a Senior Community Service Corps would add to the impetus of this program. The General Conference of the Methodist Church recognized this need by stating at its 1964 Quadrennial meeting; 64-951-66-13 "All aging persons should be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor and to contribute to society according to their abilities . . . Public and private efforts must be stimulated to meet the needs of the aging for social, medical, housing, employment and personal services. Care must be taken to help the aging to remain involved in the life of the community and to retain their self-respect. Programs should provide for continuing growth of the mind, the spirit, and service opportunities." The "Statement of Purpose" proposed in S. 2877 might be restated to include more of the idea given in your introduction to the bill: "The new program would give national impetus, technical assistance, and funds to private organizations, municipalities, counties, and even to states for local programs that would channel the abilities and energies of men and women past 60 into worthwhile projects of benefit not only to the elderly but to their neighbors and their communities . "Each sponsoring agency would decide whether compensation to participants merely should cover expenses, or whether small salaries should be provided." Both the "Statement of Purpose" and the balance of the text makes the bill appear to deal primarily with part-time employment and not to lift up the voluntary service potential as developed so well by the National Council of Jewish Women. I would prefer to see the voluntary service part given prominence in the bill with employment being secondary. A corollary to this would be support for increasing the minimums of the OASDI programs as proposed by President Johnson so that basic needs could be met for all older Americans. They would then find it possible to move into areas of service according to their interest and ability with compensation not being as important (other than reimbursement for expenses). We are delighted to see the Senate considering this important matter under your leadership and appreciate this opportunity to give our comments. DEAR SENATOR WILLIAMS: Thank you very much for sending us the Bills on Senior Service Corps. I am very much interested in this, for we have been thinking ourselves of establishing a Senior Service Corps to provide additional services. Mr. John C. Pixley, the Acting Executive Director of the Welfare Planning Council, Los Angeles Region, has written the enclosed letter which probably will carry more weight than one by me. Sincerely yours, Dr. ELISABETH R. FRANK, Director, Senior Citizens Planning Project. LOS ANGELES REGION WELFARE PLANNING COUNCIL, Senator HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., U.S. Senate, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, DEAR SENATOR WILLIAMS: The Welfare Planning Council, Los Angeles Region, is very much interested in your Bills S. 2877 and 3049. We look on retired Americans as an important source of manpower for the expansion of voluntary services. Many qualified retired social workers and executives can provide expert community planning services if they can afford to take the time to volunteer their services without fear of jeopardizing their fu ture, either as a result of health problems or lack additional income needed on the volunteer assignment. The Welfare Planning Council has employed a Special Consultant on an Office of Economic Opportunity funded Senior Citizens Planning Grant, to review existing services, resources, and plans for aged poor in Los Angeles County, and to develop program priorities of services to the aged poor. Some preliminary returns from our study show that there is a dearth of services, especially for the older group, 75 years and up, among the aged poor. Many of this group now fall into the "poor" category through no lack of planning of their own but due to inflation, depression aftermath, and poor health. We find that many of the younger group of the aged, those below 75 years of age, could very well provide needed services to the older group. They could serve as indigenous non-professionals in a number of ways; for instance, as friendly visitors, helpers in shopping, and transportation, as Family Aides, Home Helpers, repairmen, and many other functions; thus, expanding the services of social agencies. Some compensation for part-time work will be a powerful incentive. We foresee training courses and supervision of the "Senior Service Corps" members as one of the most important ingredients. Our committees, who have not yet completed their deliberations, thought that the term "Senior Service Corps", which was used in some New Jersey Senate hearings, is an excellent one and planned to use it in our recommendations to Economic Youth Opportunity Administration. We believe that the passage of the Bills will be important to the aged and to community agencies such as ours who need expansion. Sincerely yours, JOHN C. PIXLEY, Acting Executive Director. NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE DAY CARE OF CHILDREN, INC. Senator HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., Washington, D.C. MARCH 9, 1966. DEAR SENATOR WILLIAMS: Thank you for your letter with the copy of your bill calling for establishment of a National Senior Community Service Corps. Our organization wholeheartedly supports the use of this kind of personnel in day care centers under the supervision of trained qualified teachers. The growing need for day care programs is reflected in the applications to Office of Economic Opportunity for Head Start programs, estimated at $650 million where there is only $150 million to spend. Please let us know how we can support your bill. MARIANA JESSEN, Executive Director. NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES Hon. HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., JUNE 11, 1966. DEAR SENATOR WILLIAMS: Several weeks ago you addressed a letter to the Right Rev. Msgr. Raymond J. Gallagher, as Secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Charities, suggesting that he might like to express his opinion on Senate Bill 2877, which you introduced, and Senate Bill 3049, introduced by Senator George A. Smathers. Msgr. Gallagher is now Bishop Gallagher of Lafayette, Indiana, and I have succeeded him as Secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Charities. I am taking the liberty of replying to your kind request, following the thought that you would be interested in the opinion of the person in this position. Even though the individual is different, I believe that there is unity and continuity of thinking in the position of Secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Charities. I regret that frequent absences from the city have prevented me from responding earlier, and am hopeful that my comments are still in time to be considered. I am presenting these comments on the separate enclosure. With very best wishes, STATEMENT PRESENTED BY VERY REV. MSGR. LAWRENCE J. CORCORAN, SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC CHARITIES, RE SENATE BILL 2877 AND SENATE BILL 3049 June 10, 1966 The National Conference of Catholic Charities has been interested in the problems of the aging for more than 30 years, and has constantly developed and encouraged programs to cope with these problems. We proceed with the conviction that the senior citizen posseses the same dignity and inherent worth as every other human being, which is derived from the fact that every person is created by and is a child of Almighty God. It must be possible for him always to live in accord with this nobility, in decent surroundings, in peace and relative comfort. This is the minimum which can be expected for those whose lives have made possible our present advanced state of society. It is also important that the lives of our aged be meaningful, that the valuable contributions which they can still make to community living be accepted and encouraged. Their role in society must be recognized. Methods must be found to facilitate this role. Further, we must have a particular concern for those elderly persons whose earning power has been reduced. Msgr. Raymond J. Gallagher, formerly Secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Charities and now Bishop of Lafayette, Indiana, testified to this point before the Senate Special Committee on Aging, June 16, 1965. He urged that the same efforts which were being directed toward the problems of youth by the program of the Office of Economic Opportunity, be We comalso directed toward the problems of the aging, including the aged poor. mend Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. for introducing Senate Bill 2877, and Senator George A. Smathers for introducing Senate Bill 3049. These bills would effect partially the suggestions of Bishop Gallagher. It is commendable that these measures provide for continued occupation and income for the person whose age limits his ability to continue or to obtain employment on the open market. If enacted, they would contribute greatly toward helping the older person maintain his sense of dignity and usefulness, and would help him in his efforts to be self-supporting. All this, in turn, will continue in society the influence of the senior citizen's experience and wisdom. While commending the objectives of the bills submitted by the esteemed Senators, I would add some suggestions. 1. There should be particular emphasis on providing work that is meaningful. I am sure that this is the intent of both S. 2877 and S. 3049, but it might be well to emphasize this in the wording of the proposed legislation. If the elderly person sees that he is engaged in a "make-work" program. he will be demoralized rather than enobled. 2. Among the various occupations which are mentioned in the proposed legislation, it would be well to emphasize cultural pursuits. As a nation we need a greater development of our sense of beauty as expressed in art, literature, music, etc. Many of our senior citizens have developed this and can communicate it to others-others whose lives are devoid of it because of the material demands of their daily experiences. 3. It is conceivable that senior citizens might become more highly skilled or develop new skills as they participate in the types of occupations envisioned by a National Senior Service Corps or Talented American Senior Corps. This might make it possible for them to enter into the regular labor market. Or it might make it possible at least to transfer into a manpower re-training program, and later into the regular labor market. Provisions should be included in the proposed legislation to accommodate these possibilities. 4. Sections 2003 (b) of S. 3049 speaks of senior citizens not providing services which are being provided or can "reasonably" be expected to be provided by a private organization. In order to realize the maximum potential of this program, the word "reasonably" should be interpreted broadly. A strict interpretation of this word would eliminate many possible services which actually will not be provided under regular service programs, even though someone decides that they can "reasonably" be expected to be provided. Under a broad interpretation the Senior Service Corps could provide them. This word is a subjective one and guidelines should be provided for its interpretation. 5. I recommend the use of Advisory Committees to assist in the administration of this program. Such Committees have proven valuable when used in other programs, and would be helpful with this one. They could advise on policy, offer suggestions on budgeting, finances and personnel, help in interpreting the program to the public, assist in the evaluation of the program, and help in many other ways. An advisory Committee could be established on the national level, and one appointed in each community where a Senior Service Corps program is established. The Advisory Committees, both nationally anl locally, should be broadly representative and include senior citizens. In this manner, the program could be kept in tune with public thinking. Such committees also would continue, and make more visible, the intent implied in the bills that both public and private sectors of the nation be involved in this program. I appreciate the opportunity to present these comments to the Committee, and urge serious consideration to the above recommendations. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN Hon. HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, Jr., Special Committee on Aging, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. JUNE 8, 1966, DEAR SENATOR WILLIAMS: Attached is the statement of the National Council of Catholic Women in support of Senate Bills 2877 and 3326 establishing the "National Senior Service Corp Act of 1966." We are most anxious that it be included in the record and considered by the members of the Subcommittee on Aging relative to the hearings now being held on the bill. Sincerely, ROSEMARY KILCH STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN ON S. 2877 AND S. 3326 The welfare of the elderly in our society has been of deep concern to all affiliated units which make up the nation-wide federation of the National Council of Catholic Women. Programs of assistance and constant study of developments beneficial to the aging have had an important place in the total work of our Council. Our position is reflected in this recommendation from the Work Group on Aging at one of the seven Regional Institutes held by the National Council of Catholic Women in 1959: "Recognition of the basic philosophy that in each individual is an inherent growth potential regardless of his age. This will lead to support of the older person's strengths in active participation in life within the scope of his capabilities. Old age is then viewed as a period of continued self-fulfillment." Certainly we are in accord with the concept of a second career program which would benefit both the senior citizens and the communities in which they serve. The establishment of a National Senior Community Service Corps as proposed in your Bill S 2877 would greatly benefit all of the work in this field now being carried on throughout the country. Increasing the opportunity for some degree of paid employment would be a great boon to many older Americans. That the National Council of Catholic Women has supported this position is shown by the following excerpt from the Resolution on Aging adopted by our 1962 National Convention: "We need to help the aging to stay in employment so long as it is possible, even part-time employment; to adjust to retirement; to seek outside interests and recreation so that they may lead as full a life as their waning years and strength will permit." |