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(C) by striking out “304 (a) (1) (E)” and inserting in lieu thereof "312 (a) (1) (E)".

(8) Section 314(b)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3026(b) (1)), as so redesignated by subsection (a)(2), is amended by striking out "303" and inserting in lieu thereof "311".

(9) Section 315 (a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3027(a)), as so redesignated by subsection (a) (2), is amended

(A) by striking out “title” and inserting in lieu thereof "part";

(B) by striking out “306” and inserting in lieu thereof "314";

(C) by striking out “305” each place it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof "313"; and

(D) by striking out "303" each place it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof "311".

(10) Section 315 (b) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3027 (b)), as so redesignated by subsection (a) (2), is amended by striking out "303 (e)" and inserting in lieu thereof "311(e)".

(11) Section 315 (c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 3027 (c)), as so redesignated by subsection (a) (2), is amended

(A) by striking out “303" and inserting in lieu thereof "311"; and

(B) by striking out “305” and inserting in lieu thereof “313”.

(c) Title III of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3021 et seq.) is amended by striking out section 309.

(d) (1) Section 201 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5001) is amended by striking out "304 (a) (1)" each place it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof “312(a) (1)”.

(2) Section 212 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5012) is amended by striking out "304(a) (1)" each place it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof "312(a) (1)".

Hon. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,

Congress of the United States,
House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C.

OKLAHOMA PUBLIC WELFARE COMMISSION,
Oklahoma City, Okla., January 7, 1975.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN SEIBERLING: Home repairs for elderly Americans has been a continuing problem which has become acute in a period of inflation. There are two facets to this problem: (1) insufficient monies to purchase home repair materials by older Americans on fixed incomes, and (2) fees of skilled repairmen are often beyond the budgets of older Americans.

With the anticipated energy crisis, proper insulation of elderly persons' homes becomes a high priority. Insulation of homes would greatly enhance the health and safety of people over 65 who often must choose between eating nutritious meals or safely heating their homes.

It is praiseworthy to provide employment opportunities for workers 55 years of age and older. But, without some federal assistance in the purchase of repair materials, many low-income, minority, and disabled older Americans will not be able to participate or benefit from this program.

Three very strong components of the bill for trainees are: 1) development of practical skills by the repair trainees, 2) subsistence of trainees during training, and 3) transportation reimbursement of trained repairmen 55 years of age and older engaged in this project. It might be feasible for trained carpenters, electricians, and other repairmen to provide training as in-kind contributions to the project. Upgrading homes to a minimum standard of safety would enrich the lives and promote the security of Americans 65 years of age and older. Ideally, an expenditure of Federal funds to provide both materials and workmen would benefit the largest number of low-income minority and disabled home-owners 65 years of age and older, and unemployed low-income and minority individuals 55 years or older. If these funds are not available, then comprehensive cooperative linkages among other relevant Federal programs and this program are essential.

Thank you for the opportunity of making suggestions to the proposed Older Americans Home Repair Assistance Act of 1974.

Very truly yours,

L. E. RADER, Director of Institutions.

CENTRAL SENIOR CITIZENS ASSOCIATION, INC.,
Augusta, Maine, February 3, 1975.

Mr. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,
Longworth House Office Building,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN SEIBERLING: In reply to your letter of January 17, I am pleased to learn that you are planning to introduce in the 94th Congress a bill to establish a home repair project for Older Americans.

Our Association, the Central Senior Citizens Association, Inc., (an officially designated Area Aging Agency), has among other services, a "Handyman Service". We find that it has a high priority rating in the list of essential services for the elderly. We are pleased to help you in anyway possible in regard to establishing a nationwide service of this type.

The following are some of the statistics which you requested. I am submitting the figures from our Lincoln County Handyman Service.

HANDYMAN SERVICE APRIL 1, 1974 TO DECEMBER 31, 1974

1. Funded under Title III of the Older Americans Act.

2. Number of handymen employed, 3. We prefer their ages to be 55 or over. Employment is part-time @ $3.00 per hour.

3. Number of homes repaired, 40.

4. Cost of materials used are paid by recipient. We do not have figures on these costs.

5. Cost of labor per unit, average, 20 hours @ $3.00=$60.00

6. Level of repairs. These are the kind of repairs that can be done by a handyman. They do not include major repairs such as entire new roofs, sidewalls, etc. Winterization is of major importance.

Putting of banking boards.

Replacing and repairing storm windows, setting glass, puttying, etc.

Refitting ill-fitting doors.

Repairing doors, steps, and porches.

Repairing broken sections of sidewalls.

Repairing leaky roofs.

Cleaning and painting sections inside of homes.

Repairing broken floor boards inside of homes.

Construction of hand rails on steps, in bathrooms, etc.

Building of wheel-chair ramps.

The home repair service which you are proposing can result in lifting a substantial part of the tax burden from the shoulders of the American public. A small repair service to an elderly citizen's home can make the difference between that person being able to remain in his home or his having to be placed in an institution. I feel sure that when our tax weary public is made aware of the great savings to it in dollars, between a small repair service and expensive institutionalization, it will be glad to support your bill.

We, who are interested in helping the aging, are grateful to you for your efforts to assist them. I wish you success with this bill.

Sincerely,

MAUD H. BURNS, VISTA Volunteer, Handyman Coordinator.

STATE OF NEBRASKA, COMMISSION ON AGING, Lincoln, Nebr., November 13, 1974.

Hon. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,
Longworth House Office Bldg.,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN SEIBERLING: Thank you for your letter of October 29, 1974 addressed to Ronald L. Jensen, former Director of the Nebraska Commission on Aging. As his successor, I appreciate the opportunity to reply to your request for comments on H.R. 16570.

While I must congratulate your concern and foresight in the introduction of this Bill, as the head of a State Agency on Aging, I feel that I must caution its tie in with Title IX of the Older Americans Act. Presently, the theme of the entire act is toward coordinated Area Agency activity which, at least in Nebraska, has

never materialized under Green Thumb projects to date. Therefore, not only would I encourage you to place your proposed program under Area Agency on Aging purse-string control, but to further endeavor to bring Title IX under such planning control.

Thank you for this opportunity to comment and for your obvious concern. Best wishes.

Sincerely,

JOSEPH A. GAIDA,
Executive Director.

STATE OF INDIANA,

COMMISSION ON THE AGING AND AGED,
Indianapolis, Ind., November 20, 1974.

Mr. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,

Member of Congress,

Longworth House Office Bldg.,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. SEIBERLING: Thank you for the copy of House Bill 16570 on "Older Americans Home Repair Assistance Act" of 1974.

You are to be commended for your concern for both the employment of older Americans and the home repair and maintenance of the homes of the low income elderly.

The effort to have persons employed in the 55- and over bracket to assist home owners over 65 years is one realistic means toward providing services for older Americans.

It is hoped your Act will be passed by Congress and money appropriated so that funds might be available; particularly for projects on energy conservation and winterization as urged by the Administration on Aging in its Information Memorandum 75-16, dated October 24, 1974.

Thanks again for your interest and concern for the elderly.

Sincerely,

MAURICE E. ENDWRIGHT,

Executive Director.

STATE OF MARYLAND,

MARYLAND COMMISSION ON AGING,

Baltimore, Md., November 14, 1974.

Hon. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,
Congress of the United States,
Longworth House Office Building,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN SEIBERLING: Thank you for your letter inviting comments on the Older Americans Home Repair Assistance Act.

In Maryland we have been very concerned about the need to do what we could with Title III funds to alleviate the housing needs of the elderly. Presently, through one of our Area Agencies, some funds are being used for home repairs for older persons. Because the need is so great, the project is addressing itself to those homes found to be in violation of housing codes.

Resources for housing repair are quite inadequate and your bill does bring hope that this can be improved. We would make the following suggestions for your consideration: (1) add roofing as a specific item under "home repair project", (2) change "eligible homeowner" to begin at age 60 as recent information from Social Security shows a large number of elderly people becoming unemployed prior to age 65 (usually because of health problems); (3) find means to waiver licensing regulations and union rules regarding elderly working on the home repair projects, (4) many of our elderly homeowners are city residents who will generally need as much assistance as those in rural areas. We hope to add a housing specialist to the State staff in the near future which will enable us to generate more activity in this area of service for the elderly. In the meantime, we will examine your act further and will contact you if we have any additional comments to make.

Thank you for writing to us and I extend sincere congratulations for the initiative you have taken in this important area.

Sincerely yours,

48-087-75-23

HARRY F. WALKER,

Executive Director.

Hon. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HOMES FOR THE AGING,
Washington, D.C., November 18, 1975.

U.S. House of Representatives,

Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. SEIBERLING: Thank you for bringing H.R. 16570, the Older Americans Home Repair Assistance Act, which you introduced recently to my attention. The American Association of Homes for the Aging has a vital interest in legislation such as yours which seeks to alleviate the problems and concerns faced by the elderly in obtaining and maintaining adequate housing. Legislation such as H.R. 16570 which encourages the maintenance of such housing through the productivity of the older worker serves two worthwhile purposes. While enabling the older worker to contribute to his community, it also expands the options available to him for meeting his housing needs during his retirement years, particularly important since so many of the elderly are living on nearor below-poverty level incomes.

Our Association is happy to lend its support to this legislation.
Sincerely,

CONSTANCE BEAUMONT,
Director for Public Policy.

WEST VIRGINIA COMMISSION ON AGING,
Charleston, W. Va., November 1, 1974.

Hon. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,

Longworth House Office Building,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN SEIBERLING: I appreciate receiving your letter about the Older American Home Repair Assistance Act which you have recently introduced in the House of Representatives. We have been very active in the home repair field in West Virginia, and are particularly concerned about the program now. As you know, since aid to the aged has been federalized, the State Department of Welfare is no longer able to use Federal funds to continue its home repair program for the elderly. Yet in this year of high fuel costs, it is especially important to make certain that our low-income elderly are in safe, secure homes. You ask for reaction to your bill, and I would like to suggest that some provision be made for the person who rents his home. It has been our experience that some of our elderly live in small homes badly in need of repair, renting from people who are probably as poor as they are, or in a house which is involved in an heirship, with no clear title for the older person. In our programs, we ask the landlord to permit a three- or five-year lease if repairs are made, with no increase in rent. In this way, the landlord does not benefit from the repairs at the expense of the older tenant.

I hope that the criteria which are developed for assistance (Section 5) do, indeed, give a fair share to rural areas. So often we find that legislation intended for the country as a whole ends up being implemented only in the cities because of restrictive or unrealistic guidelines. I hesitate to ask that special consideration be given the rural elderly, but it is in our rural areas that you have a high proportion of elderly homeowners, and of older skilled workers who are unable to get employment.

I appreciate your initiative in this most important field, and would be pleased to hear from you again.

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DEAR MR. SEIBERLING: H.R. 16570 does have merit in attempting to meet some of the needs of our nation's older citizens.

Specifically in Wisconsin one method of implementation could be through the Wisconsin Farmers Union Green Thumb and Green Light on a statewide basis rather than a limited county basis as presently exists.

The Division on Aging in Wisconsin, as was required in other states also, conducted a statewide survey about two years ago. At that time, 77% of this state's elderly owned their homes. H.R. 16570 (and/or its new designated number in the up-coming congress) could assist these seniors in maintaining their independence through your proposal.

Sincerely,

DUANE WILLADSEN, Administrator, Division on Aging.

RURAL HOUSING ALLIANCE,

Washington, D.C., February 7, 1975.

Hon. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,

U.S. House of Representatives,

Longworth Building,

Washington, D.C.

DEAR REPRESENTATIVE SEIBERLING: The West Virginia Commission on Aging sent us a copy of their January 17, 1975 letter to you-on home repair for the aging.

1. Will you please send us a copy of your bill-new or old.

2. The grant provisions of Sec 504 (FmHA) have been suspended for over a decade by language in the annual appropriations act-Mr. Whitten. So even if funds were available they could not be used.

3. FmHA's administrative funds are so inadequate that all the programs are suffering.

Sincerely,

CLAY L. COCHRAN,

Executive Director.

STATE OF VERMONT,

AGENCY OF HUMAN RESOURCES,
Montpelier, Vt. November 13, 1974.

Hon. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,

Longworth House Office Building,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR SIR: This reply is in response to your letter of October 29, 1974 about the Older Americans Home Repair Assistance Act. I have read H.R. 16570 and heartily concur in the spirit and intent of the proposed legislation. Many Vermonters migrated to Ohio following the Revolutionary War in the early 1800's. I think the States of Ohio and Vermont have always had much in common, particularly in the stock and character of their early settlers.

Seventy-five percent of Vermont's elderly own their own homes. Many of the homes are in need of repair. The high cost of material and labor inhibits and defers much preventive maintenance and home repair. The cost of #2 fuel this winter is estimated at 38¢ a gallon. The consequence is already represented by last winter when many elderly had to seek emergency assistance in order to heat their home. The CAP agencies have some money for home repair in Vermont-but not enough. Insulation for example, is needed in many elderly homes to cut the cost of heating.

I hope that your repair bill will, in particular, emphasize the rural need for home repair. Sec. 5, therefore, is very important as to what criteria is used by the Secretary of Labor. I would be very interested, therefore, in helping develop such legislation.

In summary, we are very interested in the proposed legislation and request to be kept informal in all respects.

Very truly yours,

ROBERT H. HARRINGTON,
Director, Office on Aging.

STATE OF WASHINGTON,

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL & HEALTH SERVICES,
Olympia, Wash., December 3, 1974.

Hon. JOHN F. SEIBERLING,
Longworth House Office Building,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CONGRESSMAN SEIBERLING: Thank you for bringing the Older Americans Home Repair Assistance Act to our attention. This bill is most timely since the State Office on Aging has just funded two model home repair projects from model

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