Volume 82 · 879
Public Law 90–526
To provide that it be the sense of Congress that a White House Conference on Aging be called by the President of the United States in 1971, to be planned and conducted by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and for related purposes.
Approved September 28, 1968
Statutory text
JOINT RESOLUTION
To provide that it be the sense of Congress that a White House Conference on Aging be called by the President of the United States in 1971, to be planned and conducted by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, and for related purposes.
Whereas the primary responsibility for meeting the challenge and problems of aging is that, of the States and communities, all levels of government are involved and must necessarily share responsibility; and it is therefore the policy of the Congress that the Federal Government, shall work jointly with the States and their citizens, to develop recommendations and plans for action, consistent with the objectives of this joint resolution, which will serve the purposes of— (1) assuring middle-aged and older persons equal opportunity with others to engage in gainful employment which they are capable of performing; and (2) enabling retired persons to enjoy incomes sufficient for health and for participation in family and community life as self-respecting citizens; and (3) providing housing suited to the needs of older persons and at prices they can afford to pay; and (4) assisting middle-aged and older persons to make the preparation, develop skills and interests, and find social contacts which will make the gift of added years of life a period of reward and satisfaction; and (5) stepping up research designed to relieve old age of its burdens of sickness, mental breakdown, and social ostracism; and (6) evaluating progress made since the last White House Conference on Aging, and examining the changes which the next decade will bring in the character of the problems confronting older persons; and
Whereas it is essential that in all programs developed for the aging, emphasis should be upon the right and obligation of older persons to free choice and self-help in planning their own futures: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United A tales of America in Congress assembled,
That
the President of the United States is authorized to call a White House Conference on Aging in 1971 in order to develop recommendations for further research and action in the field of aging, which will further the policies set forth in the preamble of this joint resolution, shall be planned and conducted under the direction of the Secretary who shall have the cooperation and assistance of such other Federal departments and agencies, including the assignment of personnel, as may be appropriate.
For the purpose of arriving at facts and recommendations concerning the utilization of skills, experience, and energies and the improvement of the conditions of our older people, the conference shall bring together representatives of Federal, State, and local governments, professional and lay people who are working in the field of aging, and of the general public, including older persons themselves.
A final report of the White House Conference on Aging shall
Report to President.
be submitted to the President not later than one hundred and twenty days following the date on which the Conference is called and the findings and recommendations included therein shall be immediately made available to the public. The Secretary of Health, Education, and
Recommendations.
Welfare shall, within ninety days after the submission of such final report, transmit to the President and the Congress his recommendations for the administrative action and the legislation necessary to implement the recommendations contained in such report.
Sec. 2. administration
In administering this joint resolution, the Secretary shall—
request the cooperation and assistance of such other Federal departments and agencies as may be appropriate in carrying out the provisions of this joint resolution;
render all reasonable assistance, including financial assistance, to the States in enabling them to organize and conduct conferences on aging prior to the White House Conference on Aging;
prepare and make available background materials for the use of delegates to the White House Conference as he may deem necessary and shall prepare and distribute such report or reports of the Conference as may be indicated; and
in carrying out the provisions of this joint resolution, engage such additional personnel as may be necessary without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive civil service, and without regard to chapter 57 and subchapter 111 of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
Sec. 3. advisory committees
The Secretary is authorized and directed to establish an Advisory Committee to the White House Conference on Aging composed of not more than twenty-eight professional and public members, a substantial number of whom shall be fifty-five years of age or older, and, as necessary, to establish technical advisory committees to advise and assist in planning and conducting the Conference. The Secretary shall designate one of the appointed members as Chairman. Members of any committee appointed pursuant to this section, who are not officers or employees of the United States, while attending conferences or meetings of their committees or otherwise serving at the request of the Secretary, shall be entitled to receive compensation at a rate to
Compensation, travel expenses.
be fixed by the Secretary but not exceeding $75 per diem, including traveltime, and while away from their homes or regular places of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized under section 5703 of title 5 of the United States Code for persons in the Government service employed
intermittently. The Commissioner on Aging shall act as Executive Secretary of the Committee.
Sec. 4. definitions
For the purposes of this joint resolution—
the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; and
the term “State” includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
Sec. 5.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this joint resolution the sum of $1,900,000.
Approved September 28, 1968.