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Presidential transmission of Annual Report of the Federal Council on Aging [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7345197
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Presidential transmission of Annual Report of the Federal Council on Aging [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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1976
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Digitized from Box 29 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 3, 1976
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
I am transmitting herewith the Annual Report of the
Federal Council on Aging, together with two studies
undertaken by the Council as required by sections (f-h)
of the Older Americans Act (P.L. 93-29).
Last year I indicated that I was looking forward to
receiving then two studies from the Federal Council on
Aging. The Council recognized its responsibilities and
undertook the task in a forthright manner. I appreciate
the fine work that the Council has done, particularly
with the severe time constraints imposed upon it.
The Council's report and studies provide documentation,
from the viewpoint of our elderly citizens, which support
the need for legislation along the lines of my proposed
Financial Assistance for Health Care Act and the Income
Assistance Simplification Act which I will be proposing
shortly. My proposals would permit both Federal and State
programs to be simplified and integrated into a coordinated
system that would best meet the needs of our citizens.
Council Recommendations
With respect to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
program, the Council has recommended in its program report
that legislation be passed that mandates continuance of a
specific State supplementation for certain recipients. The
Federal Government took over this program from the States on
January 1, 1974, and provided a basic payment level to
recipients. For those individuals who received benefits
under the State programs in December 1973 that were larger
than the basic Federal payment level, and who continue to
be eligible for SSI, States are required to supplement the
basic Federal payment up to the level of the December 1973
payment to such recipients. The requirement does not apply
to new recipients who became eligible after December 1973.
The Council's legislative proposal would require that the
size of the State supplementation to recipients carried
over from the State programs on January 1, 1974, could not
be reduced. Thus, whenever the basic Federal payment level
is increased, this proposal would allow States to continue
to maintain a disparity in the benefits for the carried-over
recipients versus those recipients who came on the rolls
after December 1973 a disparity equal to the amount of
the original State supplementation.
Adoption of this recommendation would have two effects.
First, it would dictate to the States how they should spend
the taxes they assess on their residents. Such action would
distort the original concept of the program of separate but
complementary roles of the States and the Federal Government.
more
2
Second, it would require the States to maintain payments to
people based on the date they started receiving assistance,
even though other residents of the States may have equivalent
needs and incomes.
The Council also recommends that the Veterans' Administration
(VA) be directed to study the problem of benefit reduction
rates caused by simultaneous receipt of benefits from pensions
for veterans with nonservice-connected disabilities and other
Federal programs. We share the concern of the Council. This
problem is being studied by the Veterans' Administration within
the context of total reform of the veterans' pension program.
The Agency has discussed pension reform with both the House
and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees, and is committed to
continuing these discussions with Congress this year. The
relationship of veterans' pensions to other Federal benefits
can best be addressed in the course of these discussions.
To assess the tax burden on the elderly, the Older
Americans Act also required the Council to undertake a study
of the combined impact of all taxes on the elderly. Since
many of the tax recommendations of the Council are directed
towards State and local government, consistent with the en-
abling authority I am also transmitting this study to the
Governors and legislatures of the States for their
consideration.
In recognition of the Bicentennial and the many
contributions made by older Americans to the welfare of the
nation, the Council's annual report requests the promulga.-
tion of a Bicentennial Charter for Older Americans. I have
asked Secretary Mathews of the Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare, in consultation with the Administration on
Aging, to promote discussion of these vital matters at forums
of older persons organized by Advisory Committees to the
Area Agencies on Aging.
The Federal Council on Aging Annual Report and attendant
studies reflect an earnest effort to deal with the lack of
equity and efficiency in the present patchwork of income
security programs. This unfortunate situation, which has
developed over the years, presents problems not only to the
elderly and other population groups, but to the taxpayer
who must pay the added costs resulting from such inefficiency.
My legislative proposals reflect careful consideration of how
best to resolve these issues, and I urge prompt action on
them by the Congress.
Additional mention should be made of the substantial
contribution of the two studies undertaken by the Federal
Council on Aging. The efforts of those that participated in
the studies will contribute to our effort to provide
necessary income and services to our less fortunate elderly
citizens in an efficient manner.
These reports will be sent for review and analysis to
those Federal agencies serving older persons. After this
review, decisions on the recommendations contained in the
Council's report will be reflected in future legislative
proposals and administrative actions of this Administration.
GERALD R. FORD
THE WHITE HOUSE,
AUGUST 3, 1976
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