Have you observed anything about the effect of such committees on stimulation of opinion that has come to this committee? Congressman BIEMILLER. Specifically, no, but I would certainly assume that as with any piece of important social legislation, that the friends of that legislation are going to let the other friends throughout the country know that such legislation is before the Congress and will attempt to get their people in. Just as for example, in the discussion of the USES bill, the National Manufacturers Association, the National Chamber of Commerce, saw to it that the State chambers of commerce and the State manufacturers' associations came in and testified. I think that the proponents of this legislation would be negligent in their duty if they were not making certain the opinion was presented from the various parts of the country. Senator DONNELL. And you do not think they have shown such negligence? Congressman BIEMILLER. No; not at all. I am glad they have not. Senator DONNELL. That is all. The CHAIRMAN. I think you have given the situation very fully, and we certainly appreciate your appearance here this morning. Do you intend to submit a more complete analysis later? Congressman BIEMILLER. Yes. Particularly of the Wisconsin sit uation. I will get that in for the record, that documented study. Congressman BIEMILLER. Senators, I appreciate your courtesy in permitting me to appear here today. Senator DONNELL. I would like to join in stating that I want to thank the Representative for appearing here this morning. Congressman BIEMILLER. Thank you, Senator. The CHAIRMAN. The other witnesses scheduled for this morning were unable to appear and will submit statements. Representative Charles La Follette and Representative Jerry Voorhis. The CHAIRMAN. I have no further hearings set at the present time. I will notify you of any further hearings. Senator DONNELL. I think the chairman probably knows in his absence I spoke to the clerk of the committee, Mr. Charles Murray, in regard to the desire of one or more parties from Utah to appear, and it might be that there would be some others, so I take it, at least before the hearings are closed, the committee will be advised so that we may have the opportunity to submit further names of witnesses. The CHAIRMAN. You will be in touch with me and you may be sure of my cooperation. Senator DONNELL. I am sure of that. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you. (Subsequently the following statement by Representative Charles M. La Follette was submitted for the record:) STATEMENT OF HON. CHARLES M. LAFOLLETTE ON S. 1606 Mr. Chairman, first, I want to express my appreciation to you and the members of your committee for the opportunity to submit this statement. In principle, I am in favor of S.. 1606, the bill to provide for a national health program. The program which would be authorized by this bill is clearly a form of insurance and, in my opinion, an insurance plan which should be available to all our people. We provide insurance against accident and disease resulting from industrial causes through the various workmen's compensation laws. I see no reason why we should not extend comparable insurance to every member of a family. I find no evidence to support the charge that this bill would interfere with the physician-patient relation as it presently exists. In fact, I believe a study of the bill will clearly reveal numerous precautions to protect this relationship, including, among others, freedom of choice of physicians; right of physicians to accept or reject patients. As I stated above, I am in favor of this bill in principle, reserving, however, the right to substitute the New Zealand plan of operation for the one now embodied in the bill if, after further study, I conclude the New Zealand plan is more democratic in its operation. With that single exception, I support the principle of S. 1606 and all of its other provisions. If we sincerely desire to make our capitalistic economy work, we must produce certain social benefits for all. I firmly believe a health program such as outlined in this pending legislation is one of the benefits which must be forthcoming from our economy. It is only by ever expanding the benefits from our democratic system that we can continue to maintain it, much less sell it to the world. The CHAIRMAN. We will adjourn at this time. (Thereupon, at 11:10 a. m., Wednesday, July 10, 1946, the committee recessed, to reconvene at the call of the Chair.) APPENDIX ANALYSIS OF FEDERAL AGENCY REPORTS ON S. 1606, THE WAGNER-MURRAY-DINGELL BILL FOR A NATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM (Prepared by the Bureau of the Budget) I. GENERAL COMMENTS OF FEDERAL AGENCIES In addition to stating their views with respect to the various parts of S. 1606 separately, many agencies took the opportunity to express general comments on the bill's basic objectives. There was widespread agreement with the principles of the proposed legislation. John W. Snyder, then Director of the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion, characterized the proposed legislation as "a sound and desirable extension of our present social insurance system, which now deals only with two of the major economic risks faced by all wage earners-unemployment and old age. The enactment of this bill," Mr. Snyder continues, "will round out our social insurance program by protecting Americans against much of the economic distress and human hardships which accompany illness and poor health." Pointing out that illness and disability are directly and indirectly, "prominent among the forces which diminish our Nation's strength in peace and in war," Mr. Snyder believes that, "If it is sound policy to conserve and to guard our natural resources, surely it is wise, from a purely materialistic viewpoint, to take practical measures to conserve such an important national resource as the health of our citizens." Moreover, Mr. Snyder asserts that the health program proposed in S. 1606 does more than conserve a resource. It relieves misery and discomfort for vast numbers of Americans, and for the first time makes proper medical care available to those who need that care, as well as to those who are fortunate enough to be able to afford it." Mr. Snyder concedes that measures to expedite hospital construction and to provide cash benefits to offset loss of income during temporary or permanent disability are required to complete the President's health program, but he feels that S. 1606 "is the keystone of the entire program." In his letter, Mr. Snyder states that he has given careful consideration to the facts that "a large part of the actual need for medical care is not met under existing arrangements" and that "wage earners, small businessmen, and selfemployed farmers" are unable "to purchase adequate medical care for themselves and their families." He also expresses his cognizance of the special health problems of rural areas and of the need of veterans "for adequate and complete medical care." These considerations plus his opinion that "a plan for systematic prepayment of medical costs" has many "practical advantages" lead him "to the conclusion that this program is absolutely essential to the well-being of the American people and to the strengthening of our Nation." In closing his letter, Mr. Snyder urges the "favorable consideration of the bill," stating that, "It will fill an obvious gap in the social insurance system which has become an accepted American institution. I believe that its passage will mark a tremendously important milestone on our road toward true equality of opportunity for all Americans. With national health insurance, we can help to build a stronger. and more effective Nation and can help to assure that all of our citizens contribute to the Nation's welfare, unencumbered by unnecessary financial burdens and debilitating illnesses and disease. To maintain the health of our citizens is to maintain the principal capital asset of our Nation." In response to a request for his views on the bill, Harold D. Smith, then Director of the Bureau of the Budget, expresses satisfaction with the objectives of the legislation as follows: "The measures proposed in this bill are specifically related to the recommendations contained in the President's health message of November 19, 1945, and should be considered as in full accord with the President's program." After citing passages from the annual reports of the Public Health Service and the Social Security Board for the past several years which recommend measures such as those proposed in S. 1606, Watson Miller, Administrator of the Federal Security Agency, writes that "The Federal Security Agency is in full accord with the objectives of S. 1606. The services authorized would contribute substantially toward improving the health and well-being of the American people. * * * It is the opinion of the Federal Security Agency that a national health program, such as that advocated by the President and implemented in part by S. 1606, is long overdue." The Secretary of the Treasury, Judge Vinson at that time, writes that he is "heartily in accord with the general objectives of the proposed legislation." Most of the other members of the Cabinet who submitted reports on S. 1606 expressed their strong approval. Henry A. Wallace, Secretary of Commerce, for instance, writes as follows: * “I am very glad to have this opportunity to express approval of the objectives and provisions of this bill. ** I have been concerned over the fact that in a nation with the economic resources of the United States- and in spite of the great improvements brought about in national health during the last decadesthere are still large groups of the population who are physically and economically handicapped due to lack or inadequacy of medical services. ** I was shocked by the statistics made available from selective service examinations, which have shown that fully 50 percent of American men in the age groups where physical fitness is presumably at its highest level were unfit for military service. There can be no question that steps must be taken to improve the health of large groups of our population and to assure to all Americans an opportunity to live in healthful surroundings and to achieve and enjoy good health. The measures authorized by S. 1606 would, I believe, go far toward achieving these goals * ** I endorse these provisions fully." The effect of the measures proposed by S. 1606 on the rural population represent the special concern of Secretary of Agriculture Clinton P. Anderson. He points out the "while this proposed legislation would benefit people of the Nation generally, it would probably have its most far-reaching effects in the benefits that would accrue to the more rural States and to the rural population in general. The economic factor has been basic in today's serious maldistribution of health personnel and medical facilities and in the generally disadvantaged position held by farm and other rural people with respect to obtaining essential health services. Under this bill the resources of the whole Nation could be drawn upon to aid in meeting the needs of every segment of our population.” Stressing the urgent need for speedy enactment of S. 1606, Mr. Anderson continues: "The need for the proposed legislation to be enacted on an early date is highlighted by the fact that we are already in a period where professional health personnel of all kinds are being rapidly demobilized from the armed forces. Unless measures are taken to attract physicians, dentists, and other health personnel to rural districts, we shall have lost an opportunity which may not recur. Our failure to take such steps, in fact, will have a tendency to set back the cause of better rural health for many years. Another cogent reason for early action * * * is the fact that war surplus hospital and medical equipment and supplies are becoming available in large quantities; the equitable distribution of such properties to rural and urban areas alike can only be assured through a national health program which will result in the establishment and maintenance of facilities in which the surplus materials can be utilized. These, and the daily unnecessary loss of thousands of lives, to say nothing of disability and reduced work capacity of our people, are among the reasons why the Department of Agriculture endorses the objectives of S. 1606." Both the Secretary of Labor, Lewis B. Schwellenbach, and the Attorney General, Tom Clark, similarly support the general objectives of the bill and recommend its enactment. * * Although Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson makes no comment on the provisions of S. 1606 as such, he observes that "* experience gained in the recruitment and administration of the wartime Army has clearly demonstrated the need for action to improve the general standards of health and physical fitness of our people, and the desirability of expansion of certain specific programs, such as those for control of venereal diseases and tuberculosis," and |