Another significant aspect of this bill is that it could be construed as being a prosthetic appliance or device which is just as necessary as any other mechanical device to help rehabilitate these seriously disabled service-connected veterans. World War II and Korean veterans who received this assistance have related how beneficial these automobiles were from a practical standpoint. Additionally, they were a tremendous psychological lift and helped speed the painful recovery and rehabilitation of many of these veterans. The VFW urges your favorable consideration of this bill.

With respect to S. 412, waiver of indebtedness arising out of default on loans guaranteed or made by the VA, the VFW supported similar legislation in the last Congress. This would be one more tool for the Veterans' Administrator to waive indebtedness under certain circumstances for those unfortunate veterans who have defaulted and lost their homes for compelling reasons which are in no way the fault of the veteran. While default on VA loans has risen slightly, it is hoped they will decrease. There nevertheless will continue to be some veterans who, through no fault of their own, will default on VA guaranteed or direct loans. The VFW associates itself with this bill and urges your favorable consideration of S. 412 by the subcommittee and ultimately the full Senate.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars has no position with respect to S. 331, which would extend the period during which the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may contract for hospital and medical care for certain veterans in the Philippines nor S. 384 which relates to the Soldiers' and Sailor's Relief Act and S. 330 which relates to the approval of courses under the war orphans' educational assistance program similar to S. 330 during the last Congress on the basis that courses for training under the War Orphans' Educational Assistance Act must continue to be approved under the Korean GI bill expires. (The resolutions referred to previously follow :)

RESOLUTION No. 4, VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL PROGRAM Be it resolved, by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That we seek approval of the following recommendations, by administrative changes or legislation, as applicable:

1. Authorization of distinct priority, by statute if necessary, for admission of veterans of combat and wartime oversea service to VA hospitals for required treatment of any disability.

2. Establishment of eligibility of veterans of campaign and expeditionary service for VA hospitalization and domiciliary care.

3. Authorization of treatment of peacetime veterans in VA facilities or outpatient treatment for service-connected disabilities, notwithstanding a current rating of less than 10 percent.

4. Authorization of outpatient treatment, including hometown care, for required treatment of non-service-connected conditions for all war veterans in receipt of disability pension payments, or who are entitled to receive disability compensation.

5. Authorization of an increase in the number of VA hospital beds from 125,000 to not less than 150,000.

6. Authorization and expeditious construction of VA hospitals sufficient to care for all eligible veterans, with special consideration accorded known areas of concentrated veteran population.

7. Authorization and construction of an adequate number of proper facilities for long-term care of aged, chronically ill, and financially distressed war veterans adjacent to selected VA hospitals where adequate building areas and other facilities are available.

8. Continuance of the contract burial program authorized by section 903 (c), title 38, United States Code.

9. Reliance by the VA on the statement under oath of inability to defray necessary expenses of hospital treatment as directed by section 622, title 38, United States Code, without imposition of any arbitrary mathematical computation of ability to pay and any deferment formula.

RESOLUTION No. 39, ABOLISH 10-P-10a, ADMISSION POLICY AT VA HOSPITALS

Whereas form 10-P-10a is now required in connection with every application for hospital treatment of a non-service-connected disability; and

Whereas this form may be used only to determine the ability of the claimant to pay for such hospitalization; and

Whereas in the case of United States of America, Appellant v. James Howard Borth, Appellee in the U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit, No. 6037, March term, 1959, the United States concedes that the Veterans' Administration has no power of determination of the applicant's ability to pay his hospitalization, but must conclusively accept his sworn statement as sufficient evidence of that fact; and Whereas on form 10-P-10 the veteran clearly states under oath his ability to pay; and

Whereas continued printing, distribution and utilization of form 10-P-10a serves no useful purpose and constitutes only needless waste of money; and Whereas there is a move underway to incorporate the information presently required for form 10-P-10a into a new form 10-P-10 whereon the claimant would be required to state his entire financial status under oath ; and

Whereas medical treatment was accorded the wartime veteran for non-serviceconnected disability because he had defended the United States in time of war against her enemies; and

Whereas we feel that each such veteran should be treated as an honorable gentleman, at least until he has proven himself to be other than honorable; now, therefore be it

Resolved, by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That all reference to his financial status other than his statement that he is unable to defray the expenses of needed hospitalization, be removed from his application for hospitalization; and be it further

Resolved, That if this purpose is not accomplished administratively within a reasonable time, our national legislative service introduce and press enactment legislation to accomplish this purpose.

RESOLUTION No. 49, OPPOSING TRANSFER OF SAN FRANCISCO VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC

Whereas the Veterans' Administration hospital, more commonly known as Fort Miley Hospital, is located at 42d Avenue and Clement Street in San Francisco; and

Whereas plans were made to expand this hospital because of the need for better clinical laboratories and better X-ray facilities; and

Whereas in order to acquire and justify the construction of this new wing, the Veterans' Administration felt that economy could be shown by combining the out-patient clinic facilities and moving the present facilities from 49 Fourth Street in downtown San Francisco to Fort Miley Hospital; and

Whereas only a small increase in hospital beds is include and a total of only 50 additional automobile parking spaces is included in the plans; and

Whereas the out-patient clinic is conducted for the benefit of the veterans, many of whom come from out of San Francisco in the area from Fresno north to the Oregon State line; and

Whereas the clinic is now located downtown within easy access of the Bay Bridge Terminal, the Third and Townsend Southern Pacific Depot, the bus depots and the freeways; and

Whereas the move to Fort Miley Hospital will take this out-patient clinic to an area served by one bus line with no convenient restaurants or hotels as is now the case; and

Whereas approximately 1,500 patients per month are now examined in the present location and moving them out to the 42d and Clement Street area, where Fort Miley Hospital is located, would create a tremendous burden upon the veterans who are now being served by this out-patient clinic; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That every effort possible be made to prevent the transfer of the out-patient clinic from 49 Fourth Street in downtown San Francisco to Fort Miley Hospital, when, if and as the additional wing is built at that location.

RESOLUTION No. 53, HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME CARE FOR VETERANS IN STATE VETERANS HOMES

Whereas the average age of veterans of the Indian wars is 91 years; the average age of veterans of the Spanish-American War is 83 years; and the average age of veterans of World War I is 66 years; and

Whereas the medical problems facing elderly veterans become of ever-increasing severity, as advances in medicine and public health, through increasing life. spans, impose larger burdens on facilities for the care of the chronically ill; and Whereas the number of aged veterans in need of care is expected to double by the year 1970; and

Whereas there are presently 33 State veterans homes in the Nation whose existing hospital and nursing home facilities for the care of the chronically ill are inadequate to care for the ever-increasing number of older veterans; and Whereas the per diem rate of $2.50 per diem, presently received by the State veterans homes from the Veterans' Administration should be increased to de fray, in part, the per diem cost of veterans receiving hospital or nursing home care: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That financial assistance to State veterans homes be granted: (1) To provide funds on a State-Federal matching basis, for new construction, modernization, additions and improvements of hospital and nursing home care facilities to enable State veterans homes to meet minimum property standard requirements;

(2) To increase the per diem rate of $2.50 per diem for the care of veterans requiring hospitalization or nursing home care to enable State veterans homes to meet minimum standards prescribed for such care.

RESOLUTION No. 78, HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIC BEDS FOR NEW MEXICO

Whereas New Mexico does not have psychiatric beds with which to treat veterans; and

Whereas a minimum of at least 100 beds is needed: Now, therefore be it Resolved, by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That we go on record seeking adequate funds toward setting up a minimum of 100 beds for psychiatric staffing and servicing.

RESOLUTION No. 88, VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL IN QUEENS OR NASSAU COUNTIES

Whereas the Veterans of Foreign Wars works day in and day out for the welfare of the disabled veterans-a nationwide program second to none in service and rehabilitation; and

Whereas the Veterans of Foreign Wars believes all veterans are entitled to equal treatment in the application of policies dealing with readjustment benefits; and

Whereas the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Queens County and Nassau County Councils have been waging a campaign for over 15 years with the Congress, and the Veterans' Administration to erect a veterans' hospital to care for the needs of its 500,000 veteran population in the above two counties, whose veterans and dependents spend hours traveling to VA hospitals in New York City, which hospitals can just about take care of the veterans in the city of New

York, imposing hardships and inequities to all concerned: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That the Veterans of Foreign Wars give special consideration to this resolution which has been submitted year after year to the hospital committee for action, by urging the Congress to provide the veterans of Nassau and Queens Counties (1) Adequate hospital beds and outpatient treatment for eligible veterans; (2) Provide funds to erect a Veterans' Administration hospital in these areas; (3) Provide the necessary funds to utilize all existing available VA facilities and utilize additional funds to care for the increasing number of veterans in need of hospital care and outpatient treatment, including intermediate care for the aged and chronically ill; (4) Provide the necessary funds to pay for care of veterans who in an emergency must enter private hospitals in these areas.

RESOLUTION No. 97, STRENGTHEN VA HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL PROGRAM

Be it Resolved, by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That we seek approval of the following recommendations by administrative changes or legislation, as applicable:

1. Veterans of combat and wartime overseas should be accorded district priority, by statute if necessary, for admission to VA hospitals for required treatment of any disability.

2. Eligibility of veterans of campaign and expeditionary service involving hostilities for VA hospitalization and domiciliary care should be established by legislation.

3. Peacetime veterans should be authorized care in VA facilities or outpatient treatment for service-connected disabilities notwithstanding a current rating of less than 10 percent.

4. Outpatient treatment, including hometown care, should be authorized for all non-service-connected war veterans in receipt of pension payments.

5. The number of authorized VA hospital beds should be increased from 125,000 to not less than 150,000 with an adequate number of beds reserved for long-term medical care.

6. Additional VA hospitals sufficient to care for all eligible veterans should be authorized and expeditiously constructed, with special consideration accorded know areas of concentrated veteran population.

7. An adequate number of proper facilities for long-term care of aged, chronically ill, and financially distressed war veterans should be constructed. 8. The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should be required to annually report direct to the Congress the estimated number of hospital, long-term care, and domiciliary beds needed to provide necessary care for eligible veterans during the succeeding 5-year period.

9. Restrictive recommendations pertaining to hospitalization of veterans in VA facilities proposed by the American Medical Association or any other group should be vigorously opposed.

RESOLUTION No. 98, ELIMINATING DEANS COMMITTEES

Whereas under existing policies of the Veterans' Administration, deans committees of medical schools affiliated with VA hospitals have the power to nominate for appointment certain full-time and part-time employees, residents, and consultants for employment in such hospitals; and

Whereas the deans committees supervise and direct the work of the consultants and the training of residents; and

Wheares deans committees are not responsible to the Veterans' Administration for their actions, and officials of the VA are thereby deprived of control over certain activities of the VA hospitals to an extent that is detrimental to the patients of such hospitals; and

Whereas employment of deans committees has resulted in increased personnel over and above that necessary for the proper treatment of patients thus excessively increasing the cost of such treatment; and

Whereas deans committees are not required for supervising the training of residents in specialities of medicine where the chiefs of service are diplomats of their respective specialty boards, as is now the case in many of the VA hospitals: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That deans committees should be abolished; that no agency not under the direct control of the VA should be permitted to nominate full-time or part-time doctors, residents, or consultants for appointment as employees in a VA hospital; that the training of residents should be conducted by full-time staff members of VA hospitals or by part-time members or consultants employed by the VA for that purpose who will be responsible only to the proper officials of the VA hospital concerned; and that managers of VA hospitals be authorized, in accordance with policies and regulations to be promulgated by the Veterans' Administration, to appoint and employ such medical consultants or specialists as may be necessary for the proper treatment of the patients and/or the training of residents without prior nomination or selection of such consultants or specialists by any committee, group, or person that is not under the jurisdiction of the Veterans' Administration.

RESOLUTION No. 101, VA FACILITY, WHITE CITY, OREG.

Whereas the VA facility located at White City, Oreg., now occupied as a veterans' domiciliary center, was originally erected as a station hospital during World War II and was built to accommodate 1,600 beds for medical and surgical purposes, and was later enlarged to a capacity of approximately 2,000 beds; and Whereas the present number of beds in use in the domiciliary is not in excess of 1,100, which number leaves a capacity of approximately half of the area available. This available portion of the institution could and should be utilized by the VA for badly needed hospiatlization facilities for veterans of the adjacent areas in southern Oregon and northern California; and

Whereas veterans of this community when requiring medical or surgical attention must in emergencies travel 300 miles north to the VA hospital at Portland, Oreg., 400 miles south to the Oakland, Calif., hospital. While some buildings especially built for the purpose with some of the necessary equipment already installed, stand idle at White City, with from 80 to 100 physicians and surgeons, specialists in all branches of the medical profession, in private practice in Medford and other towns adjacent to the facility, standing ready as consultants or for call in special cases, we consider denial by the VA of this medical and surgical installation ill advised: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the 63d National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That we go on record as favoring and urging installation by the VA of beds for medical and surgical uses at the VA domiciliary, to be used for, and occupied by, veterans, whether or not members of the VA domiciliary, to the number of at least 100 for acute or emergencies, and 100 beds for convalescing use.

RESOLUTION No. 222, PROTEST CLOSING WARDS VA HOSPITAL, HOUSTON, TEX. Whereas the Veterans' Administration has closed down 5 wards accommodating some 200 beds at the Veterans' Administration hospital at Houston, Tex.; and

Whereas the need for hospitalization for veterans in the Houston and Sabine area is becoming greater and the current facilities at the Houston VA hospital do not meet this need: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the 63d National Convention of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, That we urge upon Congress that future appropriations for veteran facilities should be raised and include funds to meet these needs and to reopen the closed wards in the VA hospital in Houston, Tex.

Senator YARBOROUGH. Thank you, Mr. Stover, for your concise statement. Are there any questions, Senator Burdick?

Senator BURDICK. I have no questions, but I want to thank Mr. Stover for coming forward this morning, because he is always helpful in presenting the views of the veterans themselves.

Mr. STOVER. Thank you.

Senator YARBOROUGH. Any questions, Senator Jordan?