STATEMENT OF HON. HOMER E. ABELE, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF OHIO

Mr. ABELE. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I would like to express my views on H.R. 2332 which is now pending before this committee. I ask that the members of this committee keep in mind the many individuals who served our cause so well during World War I. This group of men and their dependents are now approaching their "golden years" of retirement. Many of them have answered their last rollcall and they are becoming a vanishing breed. As they increase in years many of them are faced with the problem of age, illness, disease, and very limited incomes.

They are caught in a web of high prices and inflation, rising medical costs while their incomes remain the same. We in America have a reputation of taking care of our own. The victims of every major conflict have had some general sort of pension until the veterans of World War I. If we are to continue to spend billions abroad to aid foreign countries, then it is imperative that we aid those who helped keep this country a bulwark of democracy. Let them live in dignity and respect of that they so richly deserve. Let it not be said that this country which is the land of the free and home of the brave could not support those who help win this cherished freedom.

I urge the committee to think not only of the money involved in this bill, but also the human beings involved.

Mr. KORNEGAY. Thank you, Mr. Abele.

We will now hear Congressman Bennett of Michigan. You may proceed, sir.

STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN B. BENNETT, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 5599

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. Chairman, as sponsor of a bill to establish a separate pension system for veterans of the First World War and their widows, I strongly believe that we should enact such legislation as a matter of economic justice.

I appreciate the fact that more than a million World War I veterans already are on the pension rolls and that Congress has voted impressive sums for this purpose in the last 45 years.

Nevertheless, the present non-service-connected pensions are woefully inadequate to meet the need of this group of veterans, many of whom are over 70 years of age. The pensions they receive from the Veterans' Administration often amount to less than is paid to aged and indigent citizens under the old-age assistance program.

With its strict limit on allowable income and savings, our present non-service-connected pension program is, in fact, nothing more than a welfare program. Surely, our World War I veterans are deserving of better than that. Pensions should not be paid to any group of veterans on a welfare basis. They are paid in recognition of an obligation owed by a grateful nation and, accordingly, should be bestowed on a more generous basis than must be the case with welfare assistance. Opponents of this and similar legislation seem, in my judgment, to overlook the fact that World War I veterans are a special group with

a special set of problems that set them apart from those who served during World War II and the Korean war.

There was no GI bill of rights to help the heroes of 1917-18 to climb the ladder of economic self-sufficiency. There were no low-interest loans for them to buy homes or start a business. There were no free college educations, nor even any protection for the jobs they left to fight for their country. Many soldiers came home from the trenches of France to find their jobs taken by others. Thousands of World War I veterans finally achieved a measure of financial stability, only to be struck down again by the depression of the 1930's.

My bill, H.R. 5599, would pay a pension of $100 a month to any World War I veteran whose income falls within the limits fixed in the bill. If a veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance, he would receive $170 a month. Widows would receive $75 a month.

A pension would not be paid to any unmarried veteran, or any widow without a child, whose annual income exceeds $2,400, or to any married veteran, or any veteran or widow with one or more children, whose annual income exceeds $3,600. In determining annual income, the first $1,200 received by any veteran or widow from payments under any public or private retirement program would be disregarded.

Compared with the vast handouts this Government has lavished on foreign countries, the cost of the benefits proposed for this group of deserving veterans in my bill is modest indeed. I respectfully urge you to recommend enactment of this legislation.

Mr. KORNEGAY. Thank you, Mr. Bennett.

We will next hear Congressman Cramer, of Florida. You may proceed, Mr. Cramer.

STATEMENT OF HON. WILLIAM C. CRAMER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IN BEHALF OF H.R. 3057 AND H.R. 7944

Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Chairman, I am here today to testify in behalf of two bills I have introduced which I believe deserve the serious consideration of this committee.

The first is H.R. 3057 which would amend section 545 of title 38, United States Code, to increase the income limitations on the payment of pensions to widows of World War I veterans.

I have also introduced H.R. 7944, the World War I Pension Act of 1963, which also amends title 38 and which would provide for a monthly pension at the rate of $100 per month for veterans of World War I, and $75 per month for the widows of World War I veterans, subject to income limitations of $2,400 if single and $3,600 if married with dependents.

The veterans of World War I, like the veterans of the SpanishAmerican War who already receive pension benefits similar to those provided in my bill, have reached or are rapidly reaching that age where the increased cost of living has made it impossible for them to live on their present retirement incomes they may be receiving from other sources.

They can no longer increase their incomes in other ways as can a younger person whose wages increase with the cost of living.

I am hopeful that, as a Nation, we will not fail in our responsibilities to those men who have given many of the best and most productive years of their lives in defense of our country.

Mr. KORNEGAY. Thank you very much, Congressman Cramer.

We will now hear Congressman Cunningham, of Nebraska. You may proceed, sir.

STATEMENT OF HON. GLENN CUNNINGHAM, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, IN REGARD TO H.R. 2332

Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that your committee has scheduled H.R. 2332 for hearings, as I sincerely believe that the full membership of the Congress should be given the opportunity to discuss this legislation. It is for that reason that I signed the discharge petition to bring this bill to the floor of the House.

We are all aware of the tremendous sacrifices made by our World War I heroes, many of whom returned with shattered health to a postwar economy that offered little opportunity for profitable employment and a secure future.

I think that in all justice H.R. 2332 or similar legislation should be brought before the House of Representatives so that it can be fully debated and voted upon by the entire House membership.

Mr. KORNEGAY. Thank you, sir.

We will next hear Congressman Philbin, of Massachusetts. Go right ahead, Congressman.

STATEMENT OF HON. PHILIP J. PHILBIN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

Mr. PHILBIN. Mr. Chairman and members, I am very thankful to you for the opportunity to present my views at this hearing on H.R. 2332, the World War I pension bill. I have every confidence that this very able and distinguished committee will very carefully consider this bill with a view to reporting it to the House for final passage.

World War I veterans are about the only veterans' group of our American wars that have not received automatic pensions in their latter years. Many of these heroic veterans are now in advanced years and urgently need the help that this measure would provide. Many of them are already receiving non-service-connected pensions from the Veterans' Administration, and this bill would serve only to make a moderate increase in the monthly income of these veterans. from the Government.

To my mind, this bill is of great importance, not only to the veterans, but to the Nation itself, because its passage would reaffirm our time-honored policy of providing every fair decent treatment of all veterans who have made tremendous sacrifices to preserve the values, security, and institutions of this country. We made pension provisions for veterans of the Revolutionary War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and on that principle and by that token, we would be amply justified now in providing similar benefits for World War I veterans.

If there are technical differences involved concerning the practicability of any phase of this bill, I hope that they will be resolved by the committee, so that the pension relief sought by these veterans may be provided.

I hope and urge that you will give every possible favorable consideration to this meritorious measure and do everything in your power to work out a suitable fair bill that will do justice to World War I veterans.

Thank you very much.

Mr. KORNEGAY. Thank you so much, Mr. Philbin.

We will next hear Congressman John J. McFall, of the State of California. You may proceed, Mr. McFall.

STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN J. McFALL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Mr. McFALL. Mr. Chairman, I am glad to have this opportunity to testify in support of my bill, H.R. 3093, which would provide a pension of $100 a month for veterans of World War I, with certain limitations on income.

In previous Congresses I have introduced similar legislation, along with many other Members who believe that a modest increase in pension benefits for World War I veterans should be enacted. My proposal is identical to that of Congressman Denton, of Indiana, which has been endorsed by the leadership of the Veterans of World War I organization and many legislative bodies, including California's State Legislature.

While our Nation has been generous in providing rehabilitation, education, and other assistance for the valiant veterans of World War II and the Korean war, men who responded to the call to duty in 1917 and 1918 have received comparatively limited benefits. If this legislation is enacted, it would only partly compensate for the incalculable contributions made by those brave men who preserved freedom two generations ago.

There were 4,734,991 men engaged in World War I, 2,300,000 of whom served on active duty overseas, and 320,418 were casualties. These numbers have dwindled until there are now less than 2 million remaining. By 1976 it is estimated only 4 of each 100 will be living.

The bill will grant an increase to 1,001,833 veterans now on the pension rolls, and provide annuities to 126,333 not presently receiving benefits. Total cost of the bill if enacted into law July 1, 1964, would be an additional $774,169,000 for the first year. The cost would decline steadily.

The pension program would provide $100 a month for veterans with more than 90 days of honorable service during World War I. Widows would receive $75 a month, adding about 7,000 to the rolls in 1964. An extra $70 a month would be awarded to veterans who are blind and in need of aid and attendance. The income limitations are $2,400 per year for single veterans or $3,600 per year for those who are married. An additional $1,200 exemption would be granted for retirement income, either public or private.

The increase in cost for the first year of the program can be broken down as follows:

A total of 1,001,833 veterans now on rolls receive $770,652,848. Cost of H.R. 3093 would be $1,202,199,600. Increase would amount to $431,546,742.

A total of 502,242 widows now on rolls receive $288,294,552. Cost of H.R. 3093 would be $452,017,800. Increase would be $163,723,248. Total cost of increase for both categories would be $595,270,000 or about 35 percent above present compensation.

Additional costs would be: 126,333 veterans, $151,599,600; 25.000 aid and attendance cases, $21 million; 7,000 additional widows, $6,300,000.

The bulk of the veterans who saw service in 1917-18 and who are not now receiving the small pensions available would be excluded under H.R. 3093 because they have been able to provide adequately for themselves and their families. It is for those who have not been so fortunate that sponsors of this legislation are asking compassion.

Many World War I veterans suffered disabilities traceable to service which cannot be proved. This came about because medical records were badly kept and a large number of the young men were too independent and self-reliant to care about establishing the causes of what seemed to them at the time to be minor disabilities. These disabilities now have been magnified by old age.

Time has nearly runout for most of them. Their average age is

70.5.

I feel certain this committee will give sympathetic consideration to their needs and will take action in recognition thereof.

Mr. KORNEGAY. Thank you very much, Mr. McFall.

Our next witness will be Congressman Thomas E. Morgan, of the State of Pennsylvania. You may proceed, Mr. Morgan.

STATEMENT OF HON. THOMAS E. MORGAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, REGARDING H.R. 6150 AND H.R. 5440

Mr. MORGAN. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to present this statement in support of H.R. 6150. The principle of this bill is quite simple. It amends section 503, of title 38, United State Code, to provide an exclusion from annual income for amounts paid by a veteran for the last illness, burial, and just debts of the veteran's deceased spouse or child.

Under present legislation in computing the countable income of a widow or child for death pension purposes, amounts equal to amounts paid by such claimant for the veteran's just debts, the expenses of his last illness, and the expenses of his burial, to the extent that such burial expenses are not reimbursed by the Veterans' Administration, are excluded.

It is manifestly unfair not to permit exclusion of amounts paid by the veteran for similar expenses for a wife or child.

Very often a veterans with a limited income is required to spend a large part of his available income for the purposes of his wife's or children's illness or death.

H.R. 6150 would correct this condition and would be helpful to many veterans in their time of greatest need.