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that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs will arrive at the conclusion that has been arrived at by every major veterans' organization; namely, that the VA medical program is a needed service that has been provided by a grateful nation to care for its war disabled, that nonservice-connected disabled needy veterans must have medical care, that the people of the Nation demand the maintenance of this program, and that this program can be operated within the Nation's

economy.

For our part, AMVETS feel that the Congress should declare a public policy that the VA medical program must be strengthened, maintained, expanded, and perfected. A clear-cut policy statement in this vein would do much to repair the deplorable damage already made manifest. We are extremely hopeful that you will see fit to take this action as a priority course of business.

I think that concludes my report at this time.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you for a very interesting statement. I am particularly interested in your findings regarding the hospitals. I think it is very unfortunate that the Appropriations Committee finds it necessary to cut the authorizations, and I think in the last appropriation bills certain Members of the House voted for cuts without realizing it would hurt the hospital program.

Mr. MILLER. I think that is true.

The CHAIRMAN. I am very sure Members voted in error. I think you will agree with me that some of the people previously in the Veterans' Administration seemed to take great delight in hurting Veterans' Administration programs now that they are out of the VA. Mr. MILLER. We have noticed that.

The CHAIRMAN. That has happened in at least two instances.
Mr. MILLER. It is a great disservice to veterans.

The CHAIRMAN. That is right; it is a great disservice to veterans. Instead of building up, they are trying to tear down services to the veterans in every way possible, and I am very sure you do not want to turn over the hospitalization of veterans to the department of public health or to civilian hospitals. Is that right?

Mr. MILLER. That is right.

The CHAIRMAN. And you are fighting against this program of turning VA hospitals over to other agencies that are glad to take them I think other committees are anxious to take over many of our prerogatives and duties.

over.

Mr. MILLER. We oppose it, as do other veterans' organizations. The CHAIRMAN. I think, if we fight together, we will win.

Mr. MILLER. I would like to introduce to the committee Dave Schlothauer, our executive director, and Rufus Wilson, who is in charge of our service department.

The CHAIRMAN. We bother them a lot. They are very fine, we know.

Mr. ADAIR. Madam Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Adair.

Mr. ADAIR. I might simply say, having an eye on the clock that I wanted to point out that earlier in your statement you came out for a one year guarantee on homes built under the GI loan program. Mr. MILLER. Yes, sir.

Mr. ADAIR. As you are aware, that has been a matter under discussion in this committee. A major problem in that connection is the

question of enforcement. How are you going to protect the rights not only of the veterans but of the builders and the financial institutions?

Mr. MILLER. I thought the most expedient way would be to have the Administrattor of the Veterans' Administration enpowered to pass on contracts. If there were any breach of contract, you would have the facilities of the civil courts in actions for breach of contract or declaratory judgement.

Mr. ADAIR. Then, if a veteran considered himself aggrieved, he would go into a court of his community and say, "Here is a contract"? Mr. MILLER. Yes, "Here is a contract that has been violated." And he would ask the jury for damages, and I believe he would get a verdict.

Mr. ADAIR. He would employ his own counsel at his own expense? Mr. MILLER. Yes; on a contingent-fee basis, I hope. I think counsel in most parts of the country are considerate of the needs of veterans.

Mr. ADAIR. A man could consider himself aggrieved, but counsel might entertain some doubt on the question and might not feel enough assurance as to the result to take the case on a contingent-fee basis. You might ask your staff to let us have your thinking on that.

The CHAIRMAN. Judge Mack.

Mr. MACK. You are not asking for medical care in the supplemental appropriation?

Mr. MILLER. The budget has asked for $5,000,000 to finish the construction of new hospitals and to staff them.

The CHAIRMAN. My understanding was the Veterans' Administration was going to ask for a supplemental appropriation but perhaps was stopped by the budget.

Mr. MILLER. We think an independent bill will be necessary for restoration of the cut last year.

The CHAIRMAN. I put in a bill, H. R. 28, for additional money for hospitals, and I have appointed a Hospitals Subcommittee with General Kearney as chairman of it.

Perhaps you would like to know the chairmen of our various subcommittees?

Mr. MILLER. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Adair is chairman of our Subcommittee on Administration and Finance in the Veterans' Administration.

Mr. Radwan, of New York, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Compensation and Pension.

Mr. Springer, of Illinois, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Education and Training,

General Kearney is chairman of the Subcommittee on Hospitals. Mr. Ayres, of Ohio, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Housing. Mr. Prouty, of Vermont, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Insurance.

And Judge Mack, of Washington, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Spanish War.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Madam Chairman.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Frelinghuysen.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I Would like to ask a few questions on the importance of eliminating inferior medical care to veterans.

Is it your belief that it is solely the cut in appropriations which has resulted in the specific cases of inferior medical care to veterans? Connected with that question, was the survey your organization made solely to determine whether the cut in appropriations had resulted in damaging the service to veterans, or was it an overall survey of the functioning of the services?

Mr. MILLER. It was actually both, but we wanted to see primarily if there was any deterioration in service because of the cut. We found the dire results were due largely to the cut and due to the feeling of insecurity, because these people can make more money in private life.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. It works both ways. I understand private hospitals feel the Veterans' Administration hospitals are drawing their personnel away. It is your feeling that the cut in appropriations has resulted in inferior care?

Mr. MILLER. Yes. I understand private hospitals can furnish housing for doctors and nurses, which the Veterans' Administration

cannot.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. But the cut was not the reason they do not furnish housing?

Mr. MILLER, No.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Your survey was broader than simply an examination of what has happened due to the cut in appropriations? Mr. MILLER. That is correct.

The CHAIRMAN. It seems to me Admiral Boone is a very fine medical director, and he has dedicated the balance of his life to the Veterans' Administration. I am receiving hundreds of letters from veterans in hospitals speaking of the kind of care they get. They are not criticizing the doctors' care.

Mr. MILLER. No. The doctors are doing a fine job, long hours and inadequate money. I do not say, given sufficient funds, they are not the finest in the world.

The CHAIRMAN. And they are constantly trying to take away doctors from the Veterans' Administration. I think that is being done to hurt the veterans' care in order to get them in civilian hospitals, which is a dastardly thing to do, in my opinion.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. The impression I got from Commander Miller's statement was that there may be problems other than those resulting from the cut in appropriations. All the problems he mentioned could not have resulted simply from a cut in appropriations unless it was a question of morale.

The CHAIRMAN. I think the cuts might affect the morale. I think the doctors are fine.

Mr. MILLER. They are.

The CHAIRMAN. And I do not believe Commander Miller intended to create the impression they are not.

Mr. MILLER. That is right. They are very fine. Some of the cuts have caused them to look for security elsewhere. It is a morale question in part, too.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Do you know what percentage reduction the last cut represented in total funds available for hospital services? Mr. MILLER. Mr. Wilson, can you answer that?

Mr. WILSON. I do not know the exact percentage, but I know they appropriated a great deal for construction and the opening of new

hospitals. I think the House cut was greater than when it came out of the Senate, and when it came out of conference there was still a $31 million cut. This cut kept the Veterans' Administration from getting new equipment, opening new wards, and in some instances they had to cut their home-care program by 30 percent. In 27 States we found a backlog of from 6 or 8 to 12 months on the dental care program. So the whole program, as a result of this cut in appropriations, which has followed other cuts, has directly resulted in a cut in veterans' care.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Some of the illustrations you furnished us are so drastic it almost seems as if most of the money needed to properly operate the hospitals had been taken from them. You do not have percentage figures?

Mr. WILSON. No.

The CHAIRMAN. Later on Admiral Boone will appear before us. Mr. HAGEN. Have you made any comparison of mental or psychiatric hospitals of the Veterans' Administration with psychiatric State institutions?

Mr. MILLER. I believe both are doing a good job. There were some equipment shortages in VA hospitals resulting in a reduction of shock treatments and other treatments that were valuable in research work and treatments.

Mr. HAGEN. The American Psychiatrics Society or association has certain standards as to the number of patients per institution, and I was wondering if you had made any comparison between the veterans' facilities and those standards in private State institutions?

Mr. MILLER. I was told they were making a study of the Illinois hospitals and were trying to do what they could to study and recommend approved technical assistance.

The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much.

Mr. MILLER. Thank you.

DIGEST OF RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY AMVETS EIGHTH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., AUGUST 28-31, 1952

1. Resolved, That the AMVET aviation policy as approved at the seventh annual national convention, which called for a continued policy on a national level of keeping America supreme in the air, be reestablished by the eighth annual national convention convened in Grand Rapids, Mich.

2. Be it resolved, That AMVETS go on record as not only favoring supremacy in military aviation but also call upon the aviation committees of the Government to cooperate with the aviation industry to achieve and maintain leadership in civil aviation.

3. Be it resolved, That we AMVETS call upon the Government of the United States to establish programs which will educate the youth of America regarding the various fields and opportunities in aviation so that we will accumulate a vast reserve of young men and women with primary knowledge of aviation. 4. Be it resolved, That the Congress be urged to reconsider Public Law 550 of the 82d Congress and establish flight training on an equal basis with other educational training programs.

5. Resolved, That AMVETS expresses its complete opposition to the CAA to changing the phonetic alphabet, to changing from the statute mile to the nautical mile, to changing temperature readings from Fahrenheit to centigrade, and to changing altimeter readings from inches of mercury to millibars, and requests the CAA and CAB to question all of the various legitimate aviation organizations representing airlines, pilots, and fixed-base operators on the merits of recommendations for proposed changes suggested by the ICAO rather than adopt such changes without reference to the wishes of these groups, or against their wishes.

6. Be it resolved, That the Congress of the United States recognize that civil defense must be considered a permanent part of the governmental structure, constituting the fourth arm of defense of our country, bearing equal importance to the Army, Navy, and Air Force, for the express purpose of planning and coordinating civil-defense programs of the various States.

7. Be it resolved, That the Congress of the United States immediately initiate legislation to create a permanent office of Secretary of Civil Defense which shall operate as an independent civilian agency with rank equal to the offices of Secretary of Army, Navy, and Air Force.

8. Be it resolved, That the Congress of the United States immediately make available the funds necessary to carry out the program of civil defense, including the cost of training and the purchase of equipment necessary to support the civil defense program at the State and local level, with the same urgency as the military program.

9. Be it resolved, That AMVETS urge all AMVET posts to assist in recruiting blood donors in cooperation with their local Red Cross chapters.

10. Resolved, That AMVETS oppose the passage of Senate bill 1140 of the 82d Congress which is concerned with the establishment of a proposed Federal Department of Health.

11. Resolved, That VA mental hospitals be enlarged, or if necessary new ones established, in order to give necessary care and treatment to all veterans who become mentally ill.

12. Resolved, That domiciliary care centers be established and located at medical centers near large metropolitan areas and furnished with the proper appliances and conveniences for paraplegic, blind, and other complicated disability cases.

13. Resolved, That counseling service be extended to the paraplegics, blind, and other complicated disability cases with the view of obtaining job placement. 14. Resolved, That AMVETS urge the National Research Council to evaluate therapeutic methods and results of treatments of Dr. Robert E. Lincoln.

15. Be it resolved, That we continue to urge adequate appropriations for veterans' hospitalization program.

16. Be it resolved, That the Congress should pass legislation appropriating funds to the several States for aid in training of medical, dental, nursing, and technical personnel.

17. Be it resolved, That a Federal Board of Hospitalization should not be established.

18. Be it resolved, That AMVETS should closely study the forthcoming report of the Magnuson committee and take any appropriate action.

19. Be it resolved, That we strongly urge the continuation of the Deans committee on Veterans' Administration Medicine.

20. Be it resolved, That we reaffirm the necessity for the continuation of refresher courses for doctors who are acting on adjudication boards of the Veterans' Administration.

21. Resolved, That Veterans' Administration hospitals reserve a greater percentage of existing bed space exclusively for the use of service-connected cases. 22. Be it resolved, That AMVETS urge Congress to provide the necessary funds to properly staff the Veterans' Employment Service of the Department of Labor and, further, that additional personnel be added to the Veterans' Employment Service to take care of the large number of veterans now entering the labor market as well as those seeking the services of this agency.

23. Be it resolved, That, in view of the fact that 1.2 million veterans have been discharged since July 1, 1950, and another million will be released during each of the next several years, AMVETS recommend that the Congress of the United States appropriate the necessary funds so that the United States Employment Service and its affiliated State employment services can provide effective job counseling and employment placement services for veterans.

24. Be it resolved, That AMVETS recommend a program of joint veterans' group committees in each community and on the State level so that there will be a job searching and reporting committee to increase the number of job openings that can be assembled and reported to the public employment offices where veteran job applicants can get priority in referral.

25. Be it resolved, That AMVETS recommend the continuance of the observance of the National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week and urge all departments and posts to actively support this program.

26. Be it resolved, That, in view of the return of approximately 1 million veterans each year to the labor market, a substantial number of whom have statu

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