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{
    "localId": "1676394",
    "label": "Older Americans",
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{
    "id": "1676394",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1676394",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Older Americans",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1676394",
    "collections": [
        "President Ford Committee Records",
        "Answer Desk Coordinator's Subject Files"
    ],
    "subjects": [
        "Old age"
    ],
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    "naId": 1676394,
    "coverageEndDate": {
        "logicalDate": "1975-12-31",
        "month": 12,
        "year": 1975
    },
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        "logicalDate": "1975-12-01",
        "month": 12,
        "year": 1975
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{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "document",
    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/ford/grf-0034/609331/1676394.pdf",
    "mediaId": "0a035deeb890ae66",
    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box H40, folder \"Older Americans\" of the President\nFord Committee Campaign Records at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the\nUnited States of America her copyrights in all of her husband's unpublished writings in National\nArchives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official\nduties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or\norganizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed\nin the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential\nLibrary.\nDecember 6, 1975\nMEMORANDUM FOR:\nBo CALLAWAY\nFROM:\nFRED SLIGHT, 30K\nSUBJECT:\nIssues Concerning Senior\nCitizens\nLIBRARY GERALD R. FORD\nOlder Americans Amendments\nThe President signed on November 28, 1975, the Older Americans\nAmendments of 1975. As amended, the Older Americans Act provides\ncertain principles to guide government in dealing with the problems\nof the senior citizen:\na. Emphasis will be placed on making services available\nwhich will enable older persons to live at home as long\nas possible.\nb. Community leaders who best know the needs of their own\nareas will determine the services for older persons to\nbe started or strengthened.\nC. The needs of low income, older persons, including mino-\nrities, will be given priority in use of Federal funds.\nd. Efforts will be made to enlist volunteers from all age\ngroups to assist in serving older persons.\ne. The resources now available to meet the needs of older\npersons will continue to be coordinated through programs\nadministered by a number of Federal departments and\nagencies.\nf. Emphasis will be placed on opening opportunities for\nolder persons to continue to participate constructively\nin the life of our nation.\nAs a historical matter, the President supported the Older Americans\nAct when first enacted by Congress ten years ago, and voted for\nsubsequent amendments to the Act.\nInflation\nOne of the groups most ravaged by the problems of inflation are\nour senior citizens. The President's effective leadership in dealing\nwith the problems of the economy has been of a significant benefit\nto these senior individuals of limited income, particularly in regard\n-2-\nto the reductions that have taken place in the cost of living (from\n12.2% in 1974 to an annualized rate of 6% in 1975).\nCrime\nThe President's great concern on the increase in crime was reflected\nin his message to Congress last June wherein he called for:\na. An end to \"Saturday Night Specials\" that have no use\nother than against human beings.\nb. The establishement of mandatory sentencing for persons\nconvicted of violent Federal crimes.\nC. An extension of the Law Enforcement Assistance Adminis-\ntration authorizing up to $6.8 billion of Federal aid,\nto assist State and local authorities in fighting crime.\nd. An increase of more than fifty new Federal judges in\norder to better insure that criminals may be more rapidly\nbrought to trial.\nPerhaps most importantly, the President firmly believes that it is\ntime for the law to concern itself with the rights of the very persons\nfor whom they were designed to protect.\nHealth\nThe President recognizes the rapid increases in the cost of medical\ncare for the elderly and has directed that a careful re-examination\nof the potential of National Health Insurance be made to assure\nboth access to quality care, and to better contain the total cost\nof health care.\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD"
}