pe Lewis Arrnur McGowan

RANCHO SANTA FE
CALIFORNIA

January 6, 1959

Hon, John E, Fogarty
House Office Building
Washington, D. C,

Dear John:

Supplementing my letter of December 3, 1958 with respect
to expanding the Hill-Burton Act (The Hospital Survey and Construction
Act) to provide grants to assist American Missionaries in meeting
the costs of their public health services in foreign countries and in
initiating projects for the extension and improvements of their
public health services especially with regards to hospitals and train-
ing schools for nurses, I respectfully submit for your consideration
the enclosed extract from the current issue of Newsweek dated
January 5, 1959 which reads as follows:

"The 86th Congress is likely to write more inter-
national health legislation than any other session
in Congressional history.

"The Administration is certain to ask more money
to spend in underdeveloped countries on public
sanitation, nursing, and midwifery.

‘In addition, the government may propose a new
U.S. institute for international medical research,

"Money appropriated for this would be used to
bring research scientists from both sides of the
Iron Curtain to this country. It would also be
used to pay for grants to foreign institutes, hos-
pitals, and universities."

I believe that the United States Public Health Service that administers
the provisions of the Hill-Burton Act is the best qualified agency of our gov-
ernment to administer the international health legislation mentioned in the
above excerpt from Newsweek, and spend whatever money that may be
appropriated, The most practical way to achieve the purpose of such inter-
national health legislation is to extend the provisions of the Hill-Burton Act
because of the experience the Public Health Service has had in carrying out
the purposes of that Act.

The best qualified American organizations and personnel in foreign
countries to promote and assist in the extension and improvement of public
health services and to provide for a more effective use of available Federal
~2Q-

funds are American Missionaries. In making American Missionaries
elgible to receive Federal Grant-In-Aid it would help solve a big.
problem relative to what organizations and personnel are entitled to
obtain grants under international health legislation.

The Hill-Burton Act has been effective in securing for our country
additional public health facilities such as hospitals and training schools
for nurses. The Act constitutes a good foundation for extending its benefits
to foreign countries to meet some of their needs for public health services.
A critical shortage of nurses as well as hospitals and infirmies exist
abroad where American Missionaries carry on their work of administering
to the health of the people.

I notice in the Hearings before the Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce House of Representatives, June 9, 1953 on H.R. 3171
and H.R, 5419 to extend the duration of the Hospital Survey and Construction
Act, (Hill-Burton Act) reference on page 10 of your amendment to raise the
amount recommended by the committee for construction of hospitals from
$50 million to $75 million for the fiscal year 1945, The amendment was
adopted by the House. On pages 28-29 of the hearings there is a long list
of the values of the Hill-Burton Act.

It is very evident from a study of the Committee hearings that many
of the Hill-Burton Act benefits can be attributed to the $25 million increase
in the appropriation that you secured in the House. I know that you will
continue your interest in the subject matter of the Act and trust that you
will favorably consider an extension of its benefits to American Missionaries,
[assure you-that Catholic American Missionaries are most grateful to you.

I represent some of them who are located in the Far East and Africa en-
gaged in medical activities.

With every good wish, I am

Sin erely “ae oe,

 

LAMc/ba

' Ene,