Tennessee: #The University of Tennessee, School of Social Work, 810 Broadway, Texas: #Our Lady of the Lake College, Worden School of Social Service, San University of Texas, School of Social Work, Austin, Tex. Lora Lee Peder- Utah: #University of Utah, Graduate School of Social Work, Salt Lake City, Utah. Virginia: College of William and Mary, School of Social Work, Richmond Professional Institute, 800 West Franklin Street, Richmond, Va. George T. Kalif, director. (1919.) Washington: #University of Washington, School of Social Work, Seattle, Wash. Victor West Virginia : West Virginia University, Department of Social Work, Morgantown, W. Va. Wisconsin: #University of Wisconsin, School of Social Work, Madison, Wis. Ersel COUNCIL ON SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION Ruth E. Smalley, president. Felix P. Biestek, S.J., chairman, commission on accreditation. Katherine A. Kendall, associate director. Mildred Sikkema, consultant on educational standards. The CHAIRMAN. Does that conclude your statement, Mr. Sachs? Mr. SACHS. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. We thank you, sir, for bringing these views and suggestions to the committee. Are there any questions of Mr Sachs? Thank you, sir, very much. Mr. SACHS. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Mrs. Simons? Mrs. Simons, we will ask you to identify yourself. STATEMENT OF MRS. SAVILLA MILLIS SIMONS, CHAIRMAN, AD HOC COMMITTEE ON RESIDENCE LAWS, NATIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE ASSEMBLY; GENERAL DIRECTOR, NATIONAL TRAVELERS AID ASSOCIATION Mrs. SIMONS. I am Savilla Simons, and I am speaking in two capacities, as the general director of the National Travelers Aid Association, and also as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Residence Laws of the National Social Welfare Assembly. The CHAIRMAN. You are recognized, Mrs. Simons, and have a seat, if you desire. Mrs. SIMONS. Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee, I am here, as you see, to speak particularly on these rather controversial questions of the residence requirements. The Travelers Aid as a voluntary agency serving people who are on the move observes in its daily operations both the human and the administrative problems that result from residence requirements for public assistance and frequently these are really appalling. Sometimes they are fantastic because of the way people are moved from State to State and denied assistance when they are very much in need. As a result of this the National Travelers Aid Association committed itself in 1958 by official action, both the National Association and its local affiliates, to provide information about what happens as a result of these requirements, and to work for the reduction or the removal of such requirements as a condition for public assistance. The subcommittee on residence laws in the assembly was organized in 1957 by some 30 national health and welfare organizations which were increasingly concerned about the denial of assistance to needy people who were eligible except for the length of time they had lived in a particular place, and these organizations include such agencies as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the AFL-CIO Community Services, and so on. The subcommittee has devoted itself particularly to providing information about the effects of residence requirements and if it is agreeable I should like to insert for the record one of the assembly's publications, "What They Say About Residence Laws.” This contains the views of leaders in many organizations such as the Child Welfare Department of the American Legion, the United Community Funds and Councils, the National Council of Churches, and so on. Mr. KING (presiding). Without objection, that will be made a part of the record. (The statement referred to follows:) NATIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE ASSEMBLY, 345 EAST 46TH STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT RESIDENCE LAWS Statements of National Organizations and Leaders, Third Edition, May 1959 Ad Hoc Committee on Residence Laws, Mrs. Savilla Millis Simons, Chairman FOREWORD In our increasingly mobile society, in which people frequently move back and forth across State and county boundaries, residence requirements for essential public services are a source of increasing confusion, inefficiency, and hardship. A growing interest has been evidenced in the removal of such requirements. Many organization and groups are working to modify State and local residence restrictions. The ad hoc committee on residence law of the National Social Welfare Assembly, organized first in 1957 and reconstituted in 1958, includes in its membership representatives of 38 national organization. Modification of existing provisions, either through Federal or State legislation, or some combination of the two, can be obtained only through the efforts of groups to promote understanding by the local communiy, by citizen leaders. public officials, and representatives in the Congress and State legislatures, of the effects of these restrictions on the administration of health and welfare services and how they deprive American citizens of public benefits to which they are otherwise entitled. This revision of "What They Say About Residence Laws." issued first in 1957 and again in 1958, contains an impressive body of testimony in support of action to change or remove residence requirements. The ad hoc committee on residence laws is issuing this revision in the belief that it will be helpful to national and local groups working to remove outmoded limitations on the provision of essential public services to people who need and are otherwise eligible for them. SAVILLA MILLIS SIMONS, Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee on Residence Laws, National Social Welfare Assembly; General Director, National Travelers Aid Association. STATEMENTS BY The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Governors' Conference Resolution. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations. The American Legion. The American Red Cross. American Public Welfare Association. The Association of American Indian Affairs. The Bureau of Public Assistance. Children's Bureau. Child Welfare League of America. Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. Family Service Association of America. International Social Service. The National Association for Mental Health. National Association of Social Workers. National Child Labor Committee. National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. National Council of Jewish Women. National Council on Alcoholism. National Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers. National Travelers Aid Association. National Tuberculosis Association. The Salvation Army. United Hias Service. Young Women's Christian Association. United Seamen's Service. American Foundation for the Blind. American Council for Nationalities Service. WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT RESIDENCE LAWS The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare "The purpose of the social security programs is the prevention of destitution. This is a nationwide goal. To this end the Federal Government administers the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program and provides grants-in-aid to States to help support additional programs, including public assistance. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 1958, the Federal Government supplied 56.4 percent of the funds expended for assistance payments to needy people. "Residence requirements reflect a concern of the States, especially of those which anticipate heavy in-migration and consequent disproportionate cost if they cared for nonresidents for whom they traditionally have assumed no responsibility. Where the Federal Government finances a substantial part of the cost, I do not believe that services should be limited to State residents. Unless public assistance can be effective when needs cannot be met in some other way, the objectives of the public assistance programs cannot be met. "Nevertheless, residence requirements exclude people who otherwise would be eligible for help and should have help before their situation becomes worse." Source: Statement from Arthur Flemming, Secretary of Health, Education. and Welfare, Washington, May 11, 1959. The President's Committee on Migratory Labor1 "The volume of migration in the United States is large and during a single year more than 10 million persons move to a different county. Most of these are seeking better employment opportunities and such is the case of the migrant farmworker. "The migratory farmworker and his family perhaps have a greater need for community services than any other segment of our moving population. At the same time it should be recognized that these persons be they employed for a few short weeks or a few months do contribute greatly to the economy of the various States and communities. Yet in many areas migrants are looked upon as liabilities, rather than as assets. "At its May 1958 meeting the President's Committee on Migratory Labor agreed that migrants should be given access to community services but realized that most of such services were denied migrants, generally because of State residence requirements. The Committee therefore requested that the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare encourage States to review their residence laws with a view to their removal and the assumption of responsibility for migrants while they are in the respective States." Source: Statement prepared by Frank A. Potter, Executive Director, President's Committee on Migratory Labor, April 28, 1959. National Governors' Conference "RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE "Whereas the economic and industrial development of our Nation depends upon and has resulted in the constant migration from one State to another of a substantial segment of our population which, according to latest available reliable figures, involves at least 6 million persons per year; and "Whereas these persons because of their frequent movement from State to State have lost their eligibility for public assistance in the State of their origin and have at the same time failed to establish in any other State residence of sufficient duration to qualify for public assistance; and "Whereas, although these persons are bona fide citizens of the United States, they become, in effect, "stateless" persons when they are in need of public assistance because they are unable to meet the residence requirements in the State in which they are currently located; and "Whereas all the States of the Nation with the exception of the State of New York have laws which specify varying periods of residence as a condition precedent to the granting of public assistance; and "Whereas this situation creates an acute social welfare problem of human hardship that must not be tolerated in a nation of plenty which prides itself upon its sincere concern for human needs and suffering: Now, therefore, be it "Resolved by this 50th annual meeting of the Governors' conference, That the chairman be instructed to appoint a committee to study alternative means for solving the problem of granting and paying of public assistance to stateless persons including: "(1) Reciprocal agreements or compacts among the States whereby the State in which the residence requirement for public assistance was last established by the now stateless person will assume the cost of public assistance to the State wherein such assistance is granted, until such time as new residence is established; or "(2) Legislation by the Congress of the United States whereby the Federal Government will assume the cost of public assistance to these stateless persons; and be it further Resolved, That the committee appointed by the chairman of the Governors' conference for this purpose be instructed to make its recommendations to the Governors and to the Congress of the United States." Resolution adopted at 50th annual meeting, Governors' conference, May 21, 1958. 1 Secretary of Labor. Chairman; Secretary of Agriculture; Secretary of the Interior: Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; and Administrator of Housing and Home Finance Agency. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations "RESOLUTION NO. 86 ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE "Federal grants have greatly improved State public assistance programs for four categories of needy people: the aged, the blind, the permanently and totally disabled, and dependent children. But even after the amendments we helped obtain in 1956, payments to recipients are often too small and hedged around with harsh requirements in regard to residence and property. "No Federal grants are provided for general assistance, and too many States and localities do not aid employable workers who cannot find jobs and are not receiving unemployment insurance benefits. 串 "Resolved, That in accordance with labor's traditional support of an adequate public assistance program to supplement social insurance, we favor far-reaching improvements in the public assistance provisions of the Social Security Act. We believe the Forand bill' presents a sound approach, through providing more liberal Federal matching grants related to State per capita income, extending them to general assistance and eliminating residence requirements." AFL-CIO Community Service Activities "Residence laws are unrealistic, undignified, and un-American. They are unrealistic because they deny the mobility of our population. They are undignified because they deny public responsibility to our unfortunate fellow citizens. They are un-American because they deny the fact that, say a Kansan or Virginian or Oregonian are Americans, too." Source: Statement of Leo Perlis, director, AFL-CIO community service activities, May 6, 1959. The American Legion "Whereas the development of our present economy is dependent upon the mobility of people; and "Whereas the trend in our country's economic growth has required mobility and apparently will do so in the years ahead; and "Whereas each year since 1950 some 5 million Americans have moved from one State to another, with about 10 million moving each year from county to county; and "Whereas these people move largely to fulfill the demands for labor, thereby contributing to the development of communities and the strengthening of our economy and national security; and "Whereas a substantial percent of persons who move represent veterans and their dependents; and "Whereas in many instances these people earn money, pay taxes, and own property; however, due to existing laws often are deprived of benefits available to others living in the State or locality; Now, therefore, be it "Resolved by the American Legion in national convention assembled in Atlantic City, N.J., September 16-19, 1957, That it support studies to evaluate all residence laws to determine whether they assure adequate protection and benefits to persons living in any community; and be it further "Resolved, That the Child Welfare Division of the American Legion be instructed to contact all departments for the purpose of securing information concerning the residence laws of the respective States for the purpose of discussing said laws, to the extent possible, at the various area child welfare conferences to be held throughout the country during this coming year." Source: Resolution, American Legion National Convention, September 1957. "RESOLUTION NO. 22-RESIDENCE LAWS "Whereas mobility of people is essential to our present economy and national security; and "Whereas since 1950, 10 million Americans move each year either from State to State or one county to another, and there is no reason to believe this trend will not continue through some time to come; and 1 H.R. 6422. Source: Resolution adopted at second constitutional convention, December 1957. 80118-62- -26 |