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1676394
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Older Americans
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id
1676394
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document
title
Older Americans
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collections
President Ford Committee Records
Answer Desk Coordinator's Subject Files
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Old age
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1676394
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1975-12-31
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12
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1975
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1975-12-01
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12
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box H40, folder "Older Americans" of the President
Ford Committee Campaign Records at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the
United States of America her copyrights in all of her husband's unpublished writings in National
Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official
duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or
organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed
in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential
Library.
December 6, 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Bo CALLAWAY
FROM:
FRED SLIGHT, 30K
SUBJECT:
Issues Concerning Senior
Citizens
LIBRARY GERALD R. FORD
Older Americans Amendments
The President signed on November 28, 1975, the Older Americans
Amendments of 1975. As amended, the Older Americans Act provides
certain principles to guide government in dealing with the problems
of the senior citizen:
a. Emphasis will be placed on making services available
which will enable older persons to live at home as long
as possible.
b. Community leaders who best know the needs of their own
areas will determine the services for older persons to
be started or strengthened.
C. The needs of low income, older persons, including mino-
rities, will be given priority in use of Federal funds.
d. Efforts will be made to enlist volunteers from all age
groups to assist in serving older persons.
e. The resources now available to meet the needs of older
persons will continue to be coordinated through programs
administered by a number of Federal departments and
agencies.
f. Emphasis will be placed on opening opportunities for
older persons to continue to participate constructively
in the life of our nation.
As a historical matter, the President supported the Older Americans
Act when first enacted by Congress ten years ago, and voted for
subsequent amendments to the Act.
Inflation
One of the groups most ravaged by the problems of inflation are
our senior citizens. The President's effective leadership in dealing
with the problems of the economy has been of a significant benefit
to these senior individuals of limited income, particularly in regard
-2-
to the reductions that have taken place in the cost of living (from
12.2% in 1974 to an annualized rate of 6% in 1975).
Crime
The President's great concern on the increase in crime was reflected
in his message to Congress last June wherein he called for:
a. An end to "Saturday Night Specials" that have no use
other than against human beings.
b. The establishement of mandatory sentencing for persons
convicted of violent Federal crimes.
C. An extension of the Law Enforcement Assistance Adminis-
tration authorizing up to $6.8 billion of Federal aid,
to assist State and local authorities in fighting crime.
d. An increase of more than fifty new Federal judges in
order to better insure that criminals may be more rapidly
brought to trial.
Perhaps most importantly, the President firmly believes that it is
time for the law to concern itself with the rights of the very persons
for whom they were designed to protect.
Health
The President recognizes the rapid increases in the cost of medical
care for the elderly and has directed that a careful re-examination
of the potential of National Health Insurance be made to assure
both access to quality care, and to better contain the total cost
of health care.
FORD & LIBRARY GERALD