Now, that sounds like a simple-enough and a sound-enough idea. At the core of it are millions of people-American citizens-who need help, many of them desperately-and other millions of people-also American citizens who want to help them. If there is anything that differentiates our system of government from others, it is our concept of Government of, by, and for the people. Unquestionably, the National Service Corps will serve the people. I believe in this legislation, because I am convinced it is good for all Americans-for the one in six who needs help, and for the other five who can give help. I believe in this legislation because it is truly American in spirit. It reflects our faith in our ability-with God's help-to build a better America for ourselves, our children, and our children's children. This faith has so often been justified by our subsequent history, that I am highly confident of its prospects today. Finally, I believe in this legislation because I know it will work. The 17 years of effective working relationship between VA hospitals and thousands of volunteers across this broad land of ours, which is a sample of what can be done, has been called "one of the best examples of our American democracy in action." This legislation would extend the benefits of democracy in action to millions of Americans who are in need. Senator WILLIAMS. Mr. Gleason, that is a magnificent statement. It is my mission to see that 98 other Senators read it. Mr. GLEASON. Thank you, sir. Senator WILLIAMS. I except Senator Burdick who is here now and who has heard it. Senator BURDICK. Mr. Chairman, I would like to amend the statement you just made. I consider it a powerful statement on behalf of the legislation. I commend Mr. Gleason for it. Mr. GLEASON. Thank you, Senator. Senator WILLIAMS. We are deeply grateful to have the Administrator of Veterans' Administration here in support of this legislation. In terms of governmental size, your Department of Government is one of the largest, isn't it? Mr. GLEASON. Probably the second largest in the Government. Mr. GLEASON. Next to Defense and Post Office, yes, sir. Senator WILLIAMS. You have 106 hospitals across the country? Mr. GLEASON. No, we have 169 hospitals and 93 clinics. Senator WILLIAMS. We could use another one in New Jersey, by the way. Mr. GLEASON. I hate to disillusion you, Senator. Senator WILLIAMS. Make it an even number, 170. I was really surprised to hear the hours of voluntary aid that is brought to your work. 72 million man-hours of voluntary service. Mr. GLEASON. That is correct, sir. Senator WILLIAMS. I don't think I will burden the record too much if I put in a little plug for my mother-in-law. She is a member of the Plainfield (N.J.) Symphony Orchestra and she and three others go to the Veterans' hospital and play classical music and to a packed house. I might say they use one of the smaller rooms. Mr. GLEASON. Senator, thank her for the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, will you, please? Senator WILLIAMS. You know, we are very proud of Tom Williams, who was recently the award winner of, I think, the most efficient local Veterans' Administration office in Newark. Mr. GLEASON. That is right. Senator BURDICK. I might say we have some very efficient Veterans' hospitals in North Dakota. Senator WILLIAMS. Hospitals plural. You have plural? Senator BURDICK. We have plural in North Dakota, one in Minot and one in North Fargo. Senator WILLIAMS. What is the population of North Dakota? Senator BURDICK. Of course we have a wide area. Our State is approximately 200 miles in width, 400 miles in length, and the hospitals are situated strategically for the best possible care. Not only that, the Minot hospital is now being operated by the Air Force so it has a dual purpose and it works out very well. Senator WILLIAMS. And the 200 by 400 mile State is ably represented by Senator Quentin Burdick, I might say. We have one somewhat technical question: The study group in its information booklet has described that the objective for health care of the volunteers in the National Service Corps-that the Public Health Service and Veterans' Administration facilities-will be used wherever possible for the health care of the volunteers. Mr. GLEASON. Yes, sir. Senator WILLIAMS. Will this be a burden to you? Mr. GLEASON. I would like to amplify that, Senator, if I might. We are happy to do this for the members of the Corps, providing it does not interfere with our primary responsibility of taking care of the veteran. With that exception, we are happy to do it. Senator WILLIAMS. You don't see this as a heavy burden. If it is a burden you would put it aside and deal with your first responsi bility to the veteran?" Mr. GLEASON. Yes, sir; that is correct. Senator WILLIAMS. Again, our deepest thanks to you, Mr. Gleason, for a magnificent statement as I described it and a powerful statement as Senator Burdick described it. Mr. GLEASON. Thank you. (Whereupon, at 11:30 a.m., the subcommittee recessed to reconvene at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 6, 1963.) NATIONAL SERVICE CORPS THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1963 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE NATIONAL SERVICE CORPS OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND PUBLIC WELFARE, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10:15 a.m., pursuant to recess, in room 4200, New Senate Office Building, Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr. (chairman of the subcommittee), presiding. Present: Senators Williams (presiding) and Tower. Subcommittee staff members present: Frederick R. Blackwell, counsel; Harry Wilkinson, associate counsel; George Denison, minority associate counsel; and Robert Locke, minority research assistant. Committee staff member present: Stewart E. McClure, chief clerk. Senator WILLIAMS. The subcommittee will come to order. My apologies for being a little late. We are very pleased to have now, at the witness table, William Anderson, who has been designated by the President as Consultant and Staff Director of the President's Study Group on the National Service Corps. I know Mr. Anderson has been very attentive at the hearings that we have had last week and this week. We have had many very fruitful informal discussions, and now are pleased to have your observations on record, Mr. Anderson. I have observed your work with interest and admiration. Mr. ANDERSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. STATEMENT OF WILLIAM R. ANDERSON, CONSULTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND STAFF DIRECTOR OF THE PRESIDENT'S STUDY GROUP ON A NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAM Mr. ANDERSON. Mr. Chairman, may I first introduce two of the staff members who are accompanying me here today: Mr. Richard W. Boone, who is consultant for program analysis, Mr. Boone is consultant to the President; and Mr. Stephen Pollack, on my right, is General Counsel to the Study Group. Mr. Pollack is on detail part time from the Department of Justice. PURPOSE OF TESTIMONY Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for this opportunity to testify in support of a National Service Corps. It has been my thought that the major purpose of my statement to the committee should be to present, as precisely as I can, just how a National Service Corps program would work as visualized by the President's Study Group. In so doing, I hope to convey my strong personal belief that there is a way to translate this frankly idealistic concept into practical achievement-realizing, of course, that to make this bridge will require a great amount of effort and probably no small amount of experimentation. THE NEED I believe we need this progrom and we need it now. I have always been impressed by the depth of our national conscience. It has been expressed, repeatedly, by our willingness to go anywhere at any time to help the victims of natural disasters and by our many programs of public assistance on a worldwide scale. Recently, we have seen this great national conscience demonstrated in another way. Consider Project Mercury where the attention of the entire Nation was focused not on the immense costs involved, not on how soon we could score a propaganda triumph, but upon the safety and well-being of one man. The worth of the individual is the prime concern of a free democracy, and we do well to emphasize this point to ourselves and to others. But while Gordon Cooper was so magnificently controlling the orbit of his capsule in space, millions in this country were and are left to orbit aimlessly in a vacuum of despair. A country which is technologically reaching for the moon cannot tolerate these conditions. The circumstances are as ironic as they are startling. In a nation known as the land of opportunity, 1 in 6 lack opportunity. In a country where, as we like to say, "any boy can grow up to be President," 11 million boys and girls have very little chance of being useful citizens, much less President. I do not believe that this means we have had a coronary of the American heart. But it does mean that the time has come for an EKG, a checkup, and perhaps some space age therapy right here at home. Mr. Chairman, may I present a photograph which we took over in West Virginia of a little boy 6 years old in the first grade, living under extreme depressed conditions, with a family that has really no hope, a family living in a complete depth of despair. This photograph is visual evidence of one of the youngsters I am talking about. We say we would like to think he can become President, but under the present circumstances he can't. And here, Mr. Chairman is his younger brother, 9 months old, the younger member of the family. This youngster is smart, he is bright, just as quick as he can be, but under these conditions, over a period of time, his hope will be lost. This picture shows the condition that this family is living in. Senator WILLIAMS. This was taken at their home? Mr. ANDERSON. At their home. Senator WILLIAMS. Where is this home? Mr. ANDERSON. In Calhoun County, W. Va. Senator WILLIAMS. This certainly does describe their total poverty. These pictures remind me of so many scenes I have seen around the country in migratory farmworker camps. This family is not a migratory worker family? Mr. ANDERSON. They are not migrants, no, Mr. Chairman. |