Approved For Release 2004/01/1.6 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000100110002-1
January 18, 1967 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE 11381
uiar, comprehensive dental care to fami-
lies. The uniformed dental services to-
day, although exerting themselves to the
fullest, are admittedly just meeting their
prime mission, which is to care for the
active duty personnel. To triple their
workload would be to cripple them com-
pletely in relation to this primary
mission.
Some, I am aware, would suggest that
the services expand the "space available"
concept that is in effect in a limited way
at present. The fact is, however, that
this stopgap solution founders on the
fact that the present size of the dental
corps and number of care facilities make
it unreasonable to expect that there
could be any significant amount of care
given through this mechanism. In addi-
tion, as the chief dental officer of the Air
Force, Brig. Gen. Lee M. Lightner, has
pointed out, it would endanger the pri-
mary mission of the dental corps since
many men on active duty would rather,
their own visits in an effort to accom-
plish this. And finally, in seeking equity
for the military, we would not wish to
do something that creates an inequitable
situation for someone else. And it would
clearly be inequitable to draft dentists
into the Armed Forces so that there
would be sufficient professional people
available to treat women and children
who are, essentially, civilian.
The program contains deductibles, as
I have already noted, to assure prudent
use of the program and help maintain
fiscal soundness. With the deductibles,
first-year costs to the Government are
estimated to be on the order of $130
million. The deductible differs, it
should be noted, between adults, for
whom it is $25, and children, for whom
it is $10. This distinction is drawn in
accordance with expert professional
opinion; voiced frequently by the Amer-
ican Dental Association, that children
deserve special attention since, if we can
succeed in developing sound oral health
and good oral hygiene habits in the
young, it will pay lifelong dividends.
There is another aspect of the amend-
ment that reflects the professional judg-
ment of the American Dental Associa-
tion. It is that section that provides that
the program enacted will be reasonably
comprehensive in nature, covering
dental disease in all of its manifesta-
tions. I think we can agree with the
dental profession that artifical limita-
tions in types of care covered makes no
better sense in dentistry than it would
in any other kind of health care cover-
age. The only exclusion is for dentistry
of the purely cosmetic kind.
Since I have now referred to the
American Dental Association twice, this
would be an appropriate moment to note
that while I am introducing this legisla-
tion on my own initiative, that organiza-
tion testified in support of an effort I
made in late 1966 similar to the one I
am making here today. Such support
is, naturally, important to the measure
and I am grateful for it.
Mr. Speaker, I believe I am introduc-
ing here today a measure that deserves
and will receive unanimous support from
all those acquainted with the facts of the
case. The only possible difference that
might exist between us is on the question
of timing, of urgency. My study of the
situation has convinced me that the
matter is urgent indeed and that is why
I have worked toward introducing the
measure this early in the life of the 90th
Congress. The evidence is overwhelm-
ing, the testimony of servicemen them-
selves documents the need, report after
report of the surgeons general of the
uniformed services confirm the need. It
is time for Congress to act, to redress an
inequity by enacting a comprehensive
dental care program for military
dependents.
(Mr. ANNUNZIO (at the request of Mr.
ST GERMAIN) was granted permission to
extend 4s arks at this point in the
RECORD,4 minclude extraneous mat-
TO AMEND IMMIGRATION ACT
Mr. ANNUNZIO. Mr. Speaker, I am
introducing a measure today, which I
had introduced in the 89th Congress, to
amend section 212(a) (14) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act in order that
the former labor provisions of the immi-
gration laws may be restored.
Under the old law, the Secretary of
Labor, from time to time, if the need
arose, would sign a certification disap-
proving the admission of certain workers
because their admission would adversely
affect the labor market in the United
States.
Under the new law, the exact oposite
As true. With only a few exceptions, all
intending immigrants must first secure
approval, or labor certification, from the
Secretary of Labor, stating that their
admission will not adversely affect U.S.
citizens similarly employed, before their
application for immigration will receive
even initial consderation.
This harassing requirement has given
the Labor Department almost complete
control over the ebb and flow of our im-
migration. We have been told that the
purpose for this requirement is to help
ease unemployment in the United States.
Yet, not too long ago, the Attorney Gen-
eral said in San Francisco that immi-
grants add but a tiny fraction to our total
labor force.
In addition, immigrants are not all
workers, but include wives and families,
who become consumers and add to the
demand for goods and services. This is
actually a helpful force for expanding
our economy and creating new jobs.
The new procedure has also bogged
down our Labor Department with thou-
sands of applications for labor clearance
and has multiplied the paperwork of
Government agencies throughout the
country. Applications are now required
to be processed through local, city, State,
and regional offices of the Labor Depart-
ment. The time lag in processing these
applications strains the patience and en-
durance of employers. The employ-
ment offices throughout the country are
cluttered with alien clearance forms
which sometimes take up to 6 months to
process. Instead of devoting themselves
to actual employment of persons needing
jobs, these agencies are weighted down
with forms and procedures which may
never result in bringing jobs and appli-
cants together.
The labor certification requirement
has not only increased Government
paperwork, without benefiting our im-
migration or labor practices, but over a
period of time, will actually restrict im-
migration to a mere trickle.
. Already, statistics compiled by the
visa office show that the flow of immi-
grants, who are not related to American
citizens, has dropped sharply since the
labor certification requirement went into
effect. Of 278,538 visas issued under the
new law' from December 1965 to July
1966, only 4,145 went to workers. The
rest went almost entirely to relatives.
Our country's greatness has been built
on the contributions of our immigrants,
and halting the flow of immigration in
this manner could only result in restrict-
ing the growth and prosperity of our
Nation.
My measure would reinstate the labor
requirements as they appeared in the old
immigration law. This provision of the
old law has survived the test of time and
use-it has worked, and worked well-
and only by returning to it can we fur-
ther strengthen our new immigration
law.
AN INCREASE IN OUR SERVICE-
MEN'S GROUP LIFE INSURANCE
LONG OVERDUE
(Mr. I1'IILTON of Tennessee (at the re-
quest of Mr. ST GERMAIN) was granted
permission to extend his remarks at this
point in the RECORD and to include ex-
traneous matter.)
Mr. FULTON of Tennesse. Mr.
Speaker, today I have introduced legisla-
tion to increase to $25,000 the amount of
Government insurance which may be
carried by the members of our Armed
Forces.
At present, as is generally known, the
maximum amount of insurance provided
by the Government for our servicemen
is $10,000. What is not generally known,
and this is a disturbing fact, is that this
sum has not been increased 1 cent over
the half century which the program has
been operating since enactment in 1917.
In the year 1917, $10,000 represented
a far greater sum in purchasing power
than it does today. In fact, today it re-
quires $25,615 in current dollars to equal
the purchasing power of $10,000 in 1917.
This figure is based on the Consumer
Price Index as of October 1966 and was
provided by the Department of Com-
merce. The figure is strong evidence in
the lack of equity provided by the exist-
ing maximum.
In addition, I feel that some provision
should be made to make available to all
veterans the insurance which would be
afforded by the increased maximum and
am having a study made as to the fea-
sibility and practicality of additional leg-
islation in this area.
WHAT ARE THE LIMITS OF DIS-
REGARD FOR PUBLIC OPINION?
(Mr. RESNICK (at the request of Mr.
ST GERMAIN) was granted permission to
extend his remarks at this point in the
Approved For Release 2004/.J16 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000100110002-1
H 382
Approved For Release 2004/01/16 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000100110002-1
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE January 18, 1967
RECORD and to include extraneous mat-
ter.)
Mr. RESNICK. Mr. Speaker, what are
the limits of disregard for public opinion?
Probably the main reason that ADAM
CLAYTON POWELL does not have his seat
in Congress today is because of the pres-
sure of outraged public opinion. I doubt
that there is one Member of this House
who has not been deluged with mail from
angry constituents demanding that ac-
tion be taken against the flamboyant
Representative.
But there are still some areas of this
country where not only is public opinion
ignored, but where incompetence and in-
sensitivity to public pressure are, in fact,
rewarded.
Three months ago, I brought to the at-
tention of the public the Liuni adoption
case, in which the welfare commissioner
of Ulster County denied the adoption of
a blue-eyed, blond-haired foster daugh-
ter by her brunnet, Italian foster parents
on the basis that the ethnic backgrounds
of the child and the prospective parents
did not match.
The only weapon the Liuni family had
in its fight against the incompetence of
the welfare commissioner was public
opinion. Fortunately for them and their
daughter, public opinion came to their
rescue and the Liuni case had a happy
ending.
The behavior of the welfare commis-
sioner throughout the entire case dem-
onstrated his total lack of qualification
for the position that he holds. Under
the new standards established for wel-
fare commissioners in New York State
he only holds his present position as a
result of a grandfather clause contained
in the law.
During the proceedings, the Ulster
County Board of Supervisors demon-
strated its contempt for public opinion
by reappointing Mr. Fitzsimmons to his
position, after it was pointed out that
he had not been legally appointed in the
first place. At that time a proper con-
cern for the public interest should have
caused the board of supervisors to at
least defer their decision until the Liuni
case was settled and a full debate could
take place on his qualifications. Ignor-
ing the protestations of the press and the
public, the board of supervisors reap-
pointed Mr. Fitzsimmons.
This is an example of the product of
an entrenched power structure which for
years has been able to trample upon pub-
lic opinion and get away with it.
This was bad enough, but imagine the
incredulity with which I discovered this
week that, in the midst of the Liuni pro-
ceedings, the board of supervisors voted
their welfare commissioner a $3,100 in-
crease in salary. And they did not even
have the nerve to publicize this fact. Mr.
Fitzsimmons' salary increase was a part
of the budget, and when the budget was
passed, so was the welfare commissioner's
salary increase.
I bring this to the attention of the Con-
gress and the American people to em-
phasize the importance of maintaining a
constant vigilance over the behavior and
conduct of all public officials, Whether
they serve in the Halls of Congress or in
the county courthouse.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF UNION
COUNTY, N.J.-OPERATION NOVA
SCOTIA-AREA OF ACHIEVEMENT
(Mr. GALLAGHER (at the request of
Mr. ST GERMAIN) was granted permission
to extend his remarks at this point in
the RECORD and to include extraneous
matter.)
Mr. GALLAGHER. Mr. Speaker,
Union County, N.J., which I am privi-
leged to represent part of in the House of
Representatives, has among its many dis-
tinctions one of the finest, most effective
junior achievement programs in the
country. As Vice President H. H.
HUMPHREY has said of it:
Junior Achievement brings young talent to
our Free Enterprise System . (it) is a
dynamic project perfecting the talents and
sharpening the abilities of our young peo-
ple ... (it is) a job well done.
Its goal is to inspire our young people
to rededicate themselves to the principles
of free enterprise, and to effectively
teach and demonstrate that our Ameri-
can free enterprise system is not just a
system for carrying on business, but
much more: The best system promoting
human progress while preserving indi-
vidual liberty-a system which leads the
world in industrial growth and high
standards of living.
By providing the necessary guidance
and facilities to hundreds of dynamic
and bright young men and women of
high school age, Junior Achievement
makes possible a unique opportunity for
young people to obtain a direct and per-
sonal understanding of the problems,
procedures and rewards of business under
the American free enterprise system.
The fact that these young people are
given the full responsibilities involved in
the running of a small company, under
the auspices of a parent company, is an
experience which can never be equaled
at their age. These young people are
introduced early to the problems of mod-
em competitive industry. They learn
what the responsibilities involved in run-
ning a business are. As it is a veritable
company they run, they must accept all
aspects of management, cost accounting,
sales, distribution and so forth. They
get a chance, early in life, to know what
teamwork is, and how to react in a com-
petitive, exciting, challenging situation.
And while this is undoubtedly a great
deal of fun for the participants, we, on
the national level, must recognize that
the young people who participate in
these programs are individuals who will
hold responsible, leadership roles in the
America of the future. We can do no
less than to thank the community and
the business leaders of Union County,
N.J., for helping America to help and
perpetuate herself.
In recognition of this, I call on the
full House of Representatives to unani-
mously support the inclusion of the fol-
lowing remarks in the CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD :
[From the Elizabeth (N.J.) Daily Journal]
VALUABLE LESSONS WELL LEARNED: "WELL
DONE" FOR JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT DESERVED
Vice President Humphrey's "well done"
commendation of Junior Achievement in the
Union County-Carteret area was fully merited
by the industrial sponsors, the advisers and
the boys and girls participating in this valu-
able exercise in free enterprise.
Learning by doing, with its immeasurably
good impact, 800 high school students have
been operating junior companies at the JA
center in Elizabeth since last September.
Visitors observing them at their work are
impressed by the serious intent of these
young people in absorbing the principles of
America's private enterprise system.
Some of the operations are more profitable
than others, as in the adult trade world, but
all of them teach worth-while lessons about
business practices and the economy of the
U.S.
As a deserved reward for outstanding work,
28 of the Junior Achievers will be going to
Ireland soon for a week's visit combining
tours of industrial, educational and cultural
sites. Previous trips have taken JA groups to
California, Canada, Puerto Rico and West
Germany, where in Berlin they saw the wall
which demarcates the freedom of personal
initiative and communism's state-controlled
way of doing things.
The Union County-Carteret area is in-
debted to the industries which sponsor these
junior companies and to the adult advisers
who devote many hours to guiding and en-
couraging young people in constructive and
productive endeavors.
Activities such as these help to counter the
aimlessness which is all too apparent among
boys and girls in America today.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF UNION
COUNTY, INC.,
Elizabeth, N.J., October 10, 1966.
To: Junior Achievement Advisers.
From: J. Kenneth Roden, Executive Vice
President.
Subject: Operation Nova Scotia.
AWARD WINNING JUNIOR ACHIEVERS To VISIT
NOVA SCOTIA-THE AREA OF ACHIEVEMENT
There is a definite need for all of us who
are associated with Junior Achievement to
inspire our young people to rededicate them-
selves to the principles of Free Enterprise,
and to effectively teach and demonstrate
that our American Free Enterprise System is
not just a system for carrying on business,
but much more: The best system for pro-
moting human progress while preserving in-
dividual freedom-a system which leads the
world in industrial growth and high stand-
ards of living.
Nationwide surveys of high school students
confirm the need for dynamic, positive pro-
grams to create better understanding of
how business operates, its problems, its in-
valuable contributions to the American way
of life.
Operation Nova Scotia will be a three-
pronged youth incentive, economic educa-
tion, and public relations project. It will
commence in October 1966 and continue
throughout the Junior Achievement program
year. It will be climaxed with a week-long
visit to Nova Scotia in May 1967 by about
28 Junior Achievers, and adult advisers from
industry. There the Junior Achievers will
have an opportunity to develop personal
knowledge of the industrial educational, sci-
entific and cultural growth resulting from
Nova Scotia's Voluntary Economic Plan
(VEP). They will return better prepared to
assume their future responsibilities as voters,
community leaders, employees and managers
in a world where international relationships
are becoming increasingly more important.
The group will meet with American and
Nova Scotian government leaders and edu-
cators here and abroad. Arrangements for
these meetings are being worked out in co-
operation with the Nova Scotia Department
of Trade and Industry and the Development
Counsellors International, Ltd.
Extensive press, radio and television cov-
erage, locally and in Nova Scoti, will be
planned throughout the 1966-1967- program
Approved For Release 2004/01/16 CIA-RDP69B00369R000100110002-1