From the Offices of FOR RELEASE SENATOR PAT, McNAMARA Tuesday Room 255, Senate Office Building August 6, 1963 CApitol 4-3121, Ext. 6221 and CONGRESSMAN JOHN E, FOGARTY Room 1235, House Office Building CApitol 4~-3121, Ext. 2735 Senator Pat. McNamara, D.-Mich., and Representative John E, Fogarty, D.-R.I., today jointly introduced a bill to establish an Administration of Aging within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, The bill, entitled "The Older Americans Act of 1963" also would authorize a five-year program of Federal grants to the states for research, training, community planning and demonstration projects relating to aging. The grants would total $70 million over the five~year period. The bill would create a new position of Commissioner of Aging, appointed by the President and subject to confirmation by the Senate, to be head of the Administration of Aging. It also provides for a 16-member Advisory Committee on Older Americans, with the Secretary of H,E,W. as chairman. Under the bill, a total of $50.5 millions would be authorized over a five- year period for grants to States for community planning, demonstration projects, training of personnel and other programs, An additional $19,5 millions would be authorized during the same five-year period for grants to public or non-profit private agencies, organizations or institutions for research, training and demonstration projects in the field of aging, In introducing their identical bills, Senator McNamara and Representative Fogarty both stressed the "need for a high-level agency that will command the respect and pay full attention to the needs of our elderly, so that the social and economic problems of the Nation's 18 million senior citizens receive the attention they deserve,’ "This legislation," they said, "implements the findings of the almost 3,000 delegates who participated in the 1961 White House Conference on Aging. In addition, it represents the considered judgment of informed leaders in the field of aging throughout the country." A summary of the major provisions of the bill is attached. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS CF "OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1963" The bill provides for the creation of an operating agency known as the "Administration of Aging'' within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and headed by a Commissioner of Aging, The bill authorizes, over a period of five years, a total of $50, 5 million in grants to the States for community planning and coordination, demon- stration programs and training of special personnel, it further authorizes, over a period of five years, a total of $19.5 million in grants by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to public or nonprofit private agencies, organizations, and institutions, for study, development, demonstration and evaluation projects relating to the needs of older persons, and for the specialized training of individuals in carrying out such projects, The bill provides for the establishment of a 16-member Advisory Com- mittee on Older Americans with the Secretary of H. E,W. as Chairman, A DECLARATION OF OBJECTIVES FOR OLDER AMERICANS In keeping with the traditional American concept of the inherent dignity of the individual in our democratic society, the bill sets forth a 10~point declaration of objectives for older Americans, These objectives are: 1, An adequate income, 2. The best possible physical and mental health, 3, Suitable housing, 4, Full restorative services, 5. Opportunity for employment without age discrimination, 6. Retirement in health, honor, and dignity. 7 Pursuit of meaningful activity. 8 Efficient community services when needed, 9. Immediate benefit from proven research knowledge. 10, Freedom, independence, and the free exercise of individual initiative, ADMINISTRATION OF AGING 1, The act establishes the Administration of Aging in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. 2 It creates a new position of Commissioner of Aging to be head of the Administration of Aging who will be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, 3» Function of the Administration: (a) serve as a clearing house of information on problems of the aged and aging; (b) assist the Secretary in all matters pertaining to the aging; (c) administer grants provided by the Act; (d) develop, conduct and arrange for research and demon- stration programs in the field of aging; (e) provide technical assistance and consultation to State and local governments; (f) prepare and publish educational materials dealing with welfare of older persons; (g) gather statistics in the field of aging; (h) stimulate more effective use of existing resources and available services, “more - GRANT PROGRAMS The act provides for three types of grant programs to be administered by the Administration of Aging. They are: 1, Authorizing grants to the States by the Secretary, amounting to $5 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1963, $8 million in fiscal year 1965, and $12-1/2 million for each of the next three fiscal years, for projects for : (a) community planning and coordination of programs for colder citizens; (b) demonstration programs or activities relating to aging; (c) specialized training of personnel needed to carry out such programs and activities; (d) other programs to carry out the purposes of the Act, including centers for older persons, exclusive of construction costs, Funds to be allocated to States on a formula based on each State's population aged 65 and over, State plans for project grants shall be approved by the Secretary, 2. The act authorizes grants by the Secretary to public or non- profit private agencies, organization, institutions, or individuals, for stucy, development, demonstration and evaluation projects relating to the needs of older persons, 3. Grants by theSecretary may be made to organizations and individuals for the specialized training of personnel. For purposes of carrying out the functions in items two and three above, the act authorizes the appropriation of $1.5 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1964, $3 million for fiscal 1965, and $5 million for each of the next three fiscal years. . ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON OLDER AMERICANS The act provides for the establishment of an Advisory Gommittee on Older Americans consisting of the Secretary as Chairman, with 15 citizen members who are experienced in or who have demonstrated particular interest in special problems of the aging, itt