5 1 ing the agreement will make an annual report to the Secretary, which the Secretary in turn shall transmit to 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 the Congress with such comments and recommendations as he may deem appropriate; "(3) provide that any laborer or mechanic em ployed by any contractor or subcontractor in the performance of work on any construction aided by Federal funds under this section will be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended (40 12 U.S.C. 276a-276a-5); with the Secretary of Labor 13 having, with respect to the labor standards specified in 34 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 this paragraph, the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (15 F.R. 3176) and section 2 of the Act of June 13, 1934, as amended (40 U.S.C. 276c); and "(4) include such other conditions as the Secretary deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. "(d) If within twenty years after the completion of any 21 construction (except minor remodeling or alteration) for 22 which funds have been paid pursuant to an agreement under 23 this section the facility constructed ceases to be used for the 24 purposes for which it was constructed or the agreement is 6 1 terminated, the United States, unless the Secretary deter2 mines that there is good cause for releasing the recipient of 3 the funds from its obligation, shall be entitled to recover from 4 the applicant or other owner of the facility an amount which 5 bears the same ratio to the then value of the facility as the 6 amount of such Federal funds bore to the cost of the portion 7 of the facility financed with such funds. Such value shall be 8 determined by agreement of the parties or by action brought 9 in the United States district court for the district in which 10 the facility is situated. 11 "(e) The Secretary is also authorized, directly or by 12 grant or contract, to plan for one or more additional centers 13 of this kind. In doing such planning, the Secretary shall be 14 guided by experience with the Center established pursuant 15 to the preceding subsections and such other information and 16 experience as he may find relevant. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "(f) For purposes of this section "(1) the term 'construction' means construction of new buildings, acquisition of existing buildings, and expansion, remodeling, alteration, and renovation of existing buildings, and initial equipment of such new, newly acquired, expanded, remodeled, altered, or renovated buildings; and includes the cost of architects' fees and acquisition of land in connection with any of the fore 7 1 going, but does not include the cost of off-site improve 2 3 4 5 ments; "(2) the determination of who are both deaf and blind shall be made in accordance with regulations of the Secretary." 6 SERVICES FOR MIGRATORY AGRICULTURAL WORKERS 7 SEC. 5. The Vocational Rehabilitation Act is further 8 amended by inserting after section 17 (added by section 4 9 of this Act) the following new section: 10 11 12 "PROJECT GRANTS FOR SERVICES FOR MIGRATORY AGRICULTURAL WORKERS "SEC. 18. (a) The Secretary is authorized to make 13 grants to any State agency designated pursuant to a State 14 plan approved under section 5, or to any local agency par15 ticipating in the administration of such a plan, for not to 16 exceed 90 per centum of the cost of pilot or demonstration 17 projects for the provision of vocational rehabilitation services 18 to handicapped individuals who, as determined in accordance with rules prescribed by the Secretary of Labor, are 20 migratory agricultural workers, and to the members of their 21 families who are with them, including maintenance and 22 transportation of such individuals and members of their 23 families where necessary to their rehabilitation." 19 2 SEC. 6. Section 5 (a) of the Vocational Rehabilitation "(12) effective July 1, 1969, provide that no residence requirement will be imposed which excludes from services under the plan any individual who is present in the State." Hon. LISTER HILL, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, Chairman, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, June 5, 1967. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This letter is in response to your request of April 27, 1967, for a report on S. 1618, a bill to amend the Vocational Rehabilitation Act to extend and expand the authorization of grants to States for rehabilitation services, to authorize assistance in establishment and operation of a National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, and to provide assistance for migrants. This bill, identical to bills H.R. 8981 and H.R. 9683, would help carry out the recommendations contained in the President's Messages of February 29 and March 14, 1967, by authorizing the development and operation of a National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults and the establishment of a new system of grants to States for rehabilitating disabled migrant workers. In addition, the proposal would extend the present authority for appropriating Federal funds for the basic State rehabilitation program for another two years, to include fiscal years 1969 and 1970, though limiting Federal commitment to actual appropriations; would authorize one additional year (through June 30, 1968) of the present Federally-supported program of State-wide planning for rehabilitation services, facilities and other resources; and would eliminate residence as a requirement for receiving vocational rehabilitation services. We urge that favorable action be taken on this bill. The Bureau of the Budget advises that enactment of this proposed legislation would be in accord with the program of the President. Sincerely, WILBUR J. COHEN, Acting Secretary. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D.C., June 12, 1967. Hon. LISTER HILL, Chairman, Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: This is in response to your request for the views of the Bureau of the Budget on S. 1618, a bill to amend the Vocational Rehabilitation Act to extend and expand the authorization of grants to States for rehabilitation services, to authorize assistance in establishment and operation of a National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, and to provide assistance for migrants. The Bureau of the Budget recommends enactment of S. 1618, which is in accord with the President's program. Sincerely yours, WILFRED H. ROMMEL, Assistant Director for Legislative Reference. The CHAIRMAN. This legislation would increase and extend for 2 additional years the authorization for appropriation to finance matching grants allocated to the States for vocational rehabilitation services. A total of $500 million would be authorized for the fiscal year 1969, and a total of $600 million would be authorized for the fiscal year 1970. The bill would extend for 1 additional year the authority of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for matching grants to the States for financing plans for vocational rehabilitation programs. The bill would also provide for the establishment and operation of a National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. The Center would provide service for the deaf-blind, offer training for professional and allied personnel, and conduct research. The Secretary would also be authorized to plan for one or more additional centers for deaf-blind youths and adults. The bill would also authorize grants to States or local agencies for pilot demonstration projects for the visual rehabilitation services, for migratory agricultural workers, and their families. In addition, effective July 1, 1969, approved State plans for rehabilitation services would have to eliminate any residence requirements. We are very happy to have with us this morning Miss Mary Switzer, who is that great Commissioner of the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration. Miss Switzer, we would be delighted now to hear from you. STATEMENT OF MARY E. SWITZER, COMMISSIONER OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, ACCOMPANIED BY JOSEPH HUNT, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION; DR. JAMES GARRETT, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION; RUSSELL J. N. DEAN, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION; DR. DOUGLAS FARLAND, CHIEF, DIVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE Miss SWITZER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. We appreciate your having this hearing here today with all of the pressures that are |