March 9, 1972
Page 7811
SENATOR EDMUND MUSKIE: A FORCEFUL AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FOR OLDER AMERICANS
Mr. CHURCH. Mr. President, 1972 can be a banner year in terms of legislative achievements for older Americans. A White House Conference on Aging has already provided momentum for far reaching action on several key fronts, including–
A $100 million funding level for the Older Americans Act, the largest appropriation in its history; and
Approval of legislation to establish a national hot meals program for the elderly.
And now there is also new impetus in other major areas. For example, the Senate recently approved overwhelmingly the 1972 Housing Act, which would continue and expand the popular section 202 housing for the elderly program. Additionally, this measure would establish an Assistant Secretary for Housing for the Elderly to provide a high level spokesman for the aged at HUD.
In the very near future, the Senate will act on the social security-welfare reform measure, H.R. 1.
Several amendments – including a number which I have sponsored – have been introduced to perfect this much-needed measure.
There are also other key measures which call for early and favorable action, including:
Legislation to establish a national senior service corps for persons 55 and older;
The Middle-Aged and Older Workers Employment Act which would authorize training, counseling and special supportive services for unemployed or underemployed persons 45 and older; and
My Action on Aging Act which would establish a new and effective advocate to represent the elderly in the highest councils of Government.
In practically every case, the present administration has either resisted, blocked or opposed the passage of this urgently-needed legislation. Only because of congressional insistence has any progress been made in advancing the provisions in these bills.
One of the leading advocates for the Nation's aged and aging population is the Chairman of the Committee on Aging's Subcommittee on Health of the Elderly, the Senator from Maine (Mr. MUSKIE). As chairman of the full committee, I have had an opportunity to observe in a very personal way his deep and unstinting concern for older Americans.
When he became a member of the Committee in 1961, he said:
Our democracy may well be judged on the contributions it makes to those who have given so much during their active life in building the strength of our communities, States, and Nation.
Today that conviction is as firm as when he made those memorable remarks over a decade ago.
But even more important is Senator MUSKIE's strong and forceful leadership to make the later years a time for fulfillment, instead of despair. As a legislator he has been in the forefront on many key issues of direct concern to older Americans. He has, for example, sponsored legislation to eliminate poverty once and for all for the elderly. He is now calling for a 20 percent increase in social security benefits to provide greater economic security for the Nation's aged.
Equally important, Senator MUSKIE is a man who can get things done. His legislative achievements for the elderly can only be described as outstanding. He has sponsored proposals which helped pave the way for a 15-percent increase in social security benefits in 1970 and a 10percent raise in 1971. The administration, on the other hand, was first willing to settle for a 7-percent increase in 1970 and then a 5-percent raise for 1971. But because of men like ED MUSKIE, social security recipients now receive $4 billion more in benefits than if the administration had its way. And about 1 million fewer older Americans are on the poverty rolls than would be the case if the administration had prevailed.
Additionally, numerous provisions in H.R. 1 are either identical or similar to proposals he has advanced, including:
Substantial increases in minimum monthly benefits for persons with long periods of covered employment;
Cost-of-living adjustments to make social security benefits inflation proof for the aged,
One hundred percent benefits for widows, instead of only 82½ percent as under present law;
Liberalization of the retirement test;
An age-62 computation point for men to provide higher benefits for early retirees as well as their dependents; and
Coverage of the disabled under social security.
These are just a few of the concrete legislative achievements of ED MUSKIE. But they provide solid evidence of his magnificent record for older Americans.
Mr. President, for these reasons I wish to pay special tribute to Senator MUSKIE for his lengthy and impressive accomplishments for the elderly and as a Member of the Committee on Aging.