(The statement follows:)

STATEMENT OF HON. BIRCH BAYH, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA

Mr. Chairman, 2 nights ago the President of the United States asked all Americans to examine their consciences with respect to their attitudes on race relations. Quite properly, recent events, in both North and South have moved many of us to focus our social concern on the plight of our Negro citizens. I for one am giving full support to civil rights legislation presently before the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights, of which I am a member. And I shall continue to support efforts to erase racial discrimination from the face of our land.

It is for this reason that the response to the idea embodied in the President's proposals for a National Service Corps has been very encouraging. It has shown that while we are in the midst of great concern over our racial problems, we are at the same time capable of responding positively to other grave social problems. In a survey conducted by the President's Study Group on a National State Program, 70 percent of 10,216 students questioned felt the program was important enough to consider joining if it were instituted. The response from social service organizations according to the study group was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Similar responses came from newspapers, magazines and current Peace Corps members. Of 4,130 senior citizens questioned, 82 percent felt the National Service Corps was a desirable project, and 57 percent felt they might enter the program themselves.

The concern of our people reflects an understanding that we are not only dealing with the problem of a large number of less fortunate citizens but we are also in the midst of an acute shortage of personnel adequately trained to help them. And this must be emphasized-only about 2,000 trained social workers are being graduated every year. Yet, in 7 years it is estimated we will need an additional 5,000 people a year.

Authorities feel that while there will be a less acute shortage of nurses, the shortage will still be significant. To meet our physical therapy needs, it is estimated that an additional 3,000 physical therapists will be needed yearly. This is not to mention our deficiencies in persons trained to help the exceptional child, the illiterate or other unfortunate persons in our society.

The needs of our Nation in this area are obviously immense. Problems will continue to plague us as long as no action is taken. It is my view that the National Service Corps program is a creative and responsible approach to these very problems, one which I will fully support and will encourage others to support.

Senator WILLIAMS. We certainly appreciate your interest not only in sending a statement on another occasion but in coming here personally to the subcommittee. We want to express our appreciation for your sponsorship of this bill with your colleague from Indiana, Senator Hartke. Both of you have sponsored this bill. As a matter of fact, the sponsorship runs from coast to coast and almost border to border.

The broad sponsorship of this bill is a response to the conditions of poverty and neglect that are nationwide in scope and occur in the big cities, in small towns, in rural America, in State hospitals, and on the Indian reservations and many other areas which you so eloquently described.

We have received eloquent testimony that the 5,000 volunteers can be the stimulant to a broad-gaged response to human need and to volunteer effort to try to meet those needs.

Senator BAYH. Contrary to what some people may think, Mr. Chairman, if I may add one additional word, I feel that most of the young Americans, particularly those whom I have had a chance to visit and talk with, are not ready to rest on their oars. They are anxious to have some calling. They are anxious to feel that their country needs them.

Senator WILLIAMS. Thank you very much. Your statement will appear in the record in full at this point.

Senator BAYH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator WILLIAMS. As our next witness we are pleased to have from the National Urban League, Mrs. Cenoria Johnson.

You have a lot of competing demands on you in your private and public positions, Mrs. Johnson, and we are very grateful that you could be with us this afternoon.

STATEMENT OF CENORIA D. JOHNSON, WASHINGTON BUREAU REPRESENTATIVE OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE

Mrs. JOHNSON. We thank you, Senator, and the members of the committee for affording us this opportunity to give our testimony concerning Senate bill 1321.

My name is Cenoria Johnson. I am employed as Washington bureau representative of the National Urban League.

Our agency appreciates your invitation to present testimony before the committee. The information and evidence we offer has been accumulated over the years by experts in social welfare and intergroup relations.

The National Urban League has affiliates in 65 cities and 30 States and the District of Columbia. It has been computed that 70 percent of the Negroes who live in urban communities are located in urban league cities. In each of these industrial areas, a trained staff of more than 500 paid employees conducts the day-to-day activities of the urban league. Significantly, their efforts are reinforced by 6,000 volunteers who bring their knowledge, leadership, and experience to the task.

Raising the standards of living for the Negro-and thus for the total community-has been high among urban league objectives since the movement began five decades ago. The urban league's meager resources have been directed toward digging out the facts, developing demonstration programs, and dramatically interpreting them to those who can help.

In this task, the utilization of volunteers for the purpose of establishing communication with the masses of Negro citizens has proved to be one of the urban league's greatest assets. From experience, the agency can verify that the volunteer has served as a connecting link between the urban league and all of the other resources for help in the communities where there are affiliates. The manner in which these communities have utilized and valued the urban league volunteer is a silent testimony to the continuing need and acceptance of their services.

The National Urban League, through its board of trustees, expressed confidence in the National Service Corps as early as February 1963. (Its resolution is as follows:)

RESOLUTION TO NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE BOARD ON NATIONAL SERVICE CORPS:

The National Urban League endorses in principle the establishment of a national service program by the President of the United States.

We believe that this program could enhance immeasurably the efforts of the urban league in obtaining adequate services for the Nation's nonwhite population. As the gap in services to the nonwhite population closes, the total American community is vastly strengthened.

The National Urban League has had long experience in cooperating with Federal agency programs. The National Urban League was one of the voluntary agencies involved in a planning session on a national service program called by the national social welfare assembly, and helped draft the assembly position paper.

We heartily endorse the national social welfare statement that participation in the service program should be available to all those who are qualified without reference to race or creed, and that service program projects should be available to all people who need service and to all communities without discrimination or segregation.

Properly established and administered, we believe that a national service program will extend health, welfare, and educational services in our Nation.

At that time, the Corps was only a concept, an idea-not yet drafted into legislation-an American ideal, a belief, as enunciated by the President's Study Committee:

Millions of Americans are willing to serve their less fortunate countrymen but have no national rallying force to challenge them. These citizens are an untapped resource, awaiting discovery by thousands of private, municipal, and State agencies whose greatest need is for volunteers.

The committee acknowledged that the United States is the richest and most powerful nation in the world, yet within it there live millions of its citizens who desperately need help. They range from Indians on remote reservations to groups who live in the largest cities only blocks away from vast opulence and wealth.

The sponsorship of a national service program could aid immeasurably in helping community agencies to better meet and alleviate the sufferings of those less privileged.

Recently, Toynbee, an eminent historian and philosopher, while speaking at the World Food Congress, stated that "we are highly competent in the sciences and technology; but are less competent in human relations". Seemingly, the enactment of S. 1321 would be but one more evidence of this generation's struggle to become more "competent' in the area of human relations.

Right there, I would like to state that the growing depersonalization of our society, which has been brought about by urbanization and the vast, fast moving communication network, all mitigate against the little people, destroying the person-to-person touch that is so essential in helping people to lift their sights in community life. Seemingly, the National Service Corps would encourage the growth of this opportunity.

Not only that, if our Government launches this program, this would seem to be a signal to the country and to the world that it is giving sanction and support to this concept of personal and volunteer service. Seemingly, the National Service Corps could serve a useful role in helping to carry the responsibility in a personal way for those less able to help themselves.

The Urban League is one of the unprecedented number of volunteer agencies engaged in helping to improve living and working conditions throughout America.

We come serving as a voice of one of the largest segments of our country's population, many of whom find need of these services. Primary emphasis is placed upon work with the Negro and his unique problems that arise from discrimination and segregation. However, the agency's concern encompasses all who are underprivileged, mal

adjusted, less well-educated—the entire needy segment of our population.

Hence, the Urban League's appearance today is another manifestation of its belief that the lives of many can be dramatically touched and tremendously influenced through the sponsorship of a national service program.

For those who would criticize the limited number of volunteers (5,000) designated for involvement in the initial program, professional agencies would doubtless cite the value of beginning small in such a new understaking. The experimental and demonstration value of this program would likely emerge, if opportunity for evaluation were built into the project from the beginning.

For those who express fear of the impact the program may have upon the voluntary movement in America, we point to the numerous volunteers who wish to serve their community, but are unable to accept such tasks as a lifetime career.

We remember a highly motivated and skillful woman who wanted to be more involved in her community-not necessarily for a salarybut she could ill afford the expenses entailed in the undertaking. The National Service Corps, through its small stipend, would underwrite her minor expenses and free her to serve others. This experience could be multiplied many times over.

Volumes could be written about the potential contribution this program could bring to the minority group member, particularly the Negro, who suffers greatly in America from society's failure to fully include him, both those who need supportive services and those who possess leadership skills with which they can serve others.

This portion of our presentation sounds somewhat like a broken record. The Urban League reiterates it again and again. If this minority group member were really free to participate fully in society, he would not always be the larger recipient-percentagewise of welfare services. He could, himself, draw upon his leadership ability and help to build a stronger community.

A fuller utilization of the trained Negro would increase this awareness of our Nation's human problems, while creating for the majority group a new image of the Negro, the talents and enthusiasm he possesses.

The Urban League is prepared to fully endorse the National Service Corps with the understanding that participation in the service program, as corpsmen and as clients, shall be available to all those who qualify without reference to race or creed. Further, the agency's endorsement is based upon an agreement that service will be provided by agencies and communities without discrimination or segregation.

Hopefully, the National Service program will become a reality in America. As it moves forth with a dynamic thrust seeking to serve those in direst need, acting only upon invitation from local agencies and communities, the Urban League willingly accepts the responsibility of becoming a partner in this challenging undertaking. It can bring hope to many whose lives are untouched today-both the volunteer and the needy. It can serve as a catalyst and a direction setting force in community life.

Therefore, we urge a vote of approval from this committee in order that we may move forward dynamically with the task of becoming more competent in human relations.

Senator WILLIAMS. That is a magnificent statement of support for this truly noble legislation, Mrs. Johnson.

What is your title?

Mrs. JOHNSON. Director of the Washington Bureau for the National Urban League.

As you know, we have a Washington Urban League. We, however, are the arm that extends from the New York office.

Mr. Whitney M. Young, our national executive director, had intended to present this testimony. He might be able to appear at a later time in the interest of the House bill.

I am the Washington representative.

Senator WILLIAMS. Your organization has chapters in 55 cities? Mrs. JOHNSON. Sixty-five in 30 States and the District of Columbia, with approximately 20 to 30 other cities in varying stages of organization or expressing desire for the establishment of an urban league. Senator WILLIAMS. How many members does the National Urban League have?

Mrs. JOHNSON. I wouldn't be able to say. It would number many, many thousands. We know that we have on boards and committees more than the 6,000 volunteers who have definite assignments. For every one of them, there are hundreds of others who are dues-paying members, attend annual meetings, read the material, and participate in public and private efforts sponsored by the league and cooperating social welfare agencies.

Senator WILLIAMS. We all have the greatest admiration of the work of the urban league. I know time and time again I have called on the league for thought, counsel, and, in some cases, for action, and you have always responded magnificently.

You speak with great conviction about this program from a life of closely observing hardship and working toward easing that hardship. The urban league is in the forefront of volunteer organizations that are making lives better for thousands of people.

Mrs. JOHNSON. Sir, I would like to thank you for that.

I would like to point out that I did not read the resolution passed by the board of trustees, but the staff of the President's Study Committee can verify the fact that we have given fully of our staff time, on a voluntary basis, from the very beginning.

I mentioned earlier that long before this was legislation, we expressed belief in this dream because it is basically concerned with America's freedom. We did it not just because of the Negro, but because of the many needy persons in our society.

Our giving of service freely from both the New York and Washinton offices extends from the early stages when the committee was busy evolving statements of principle and program; the studying of committee's plans by the National Social Welfare Assembly; to this day when the national and local affiliates offer supportive testimony. Senator WILLIAMS. We have had very little opposition to this bill in the hearings we have had, but one recurring criticism is that the program is too small when compared with the immensity of need in social service. This is a little surprising in a way because those who have said that the program is too small are generally the same ones who say the program is too big.

Mrs. JOHNSON. From the brief experience we have had here in the bureau with such programs as the manpower retraining and others,