With less delay than could have been anticipated. the Senate started the legislative mill on the lengthy process of moving new bills through successive stages of introduction. referral to committees. committee hearings. reporting. and passage. Over the 4year period. Congress has also enacted two major farm bills to reduce farm surpluses and help solve persistent agricultural problems. enacted an emergency price support for feed grains which started the first upward climb of farm income and the first reduction of surpluses in 8 years. made possible more REA loans. more crop Insurance. expanded research and development program. increased credit. 75percent increase in small watershed projects. and increased agricultural research. extended and revised the Mexican farm labor program. correcting inequities where they existed and enhancing the dignity of the workers involved. liberalized farm credit laws to make credit resources more responsive to farmers needs. extended the school milk program for 5 years. authorized a 3year. $3 million program for migrant farmworker health clinics. extended the housing program to residents of rural areas. created an area redevelopment program for economically distressed areasa program which Congress had been attempting to establish since 1956 to combat the recesses of poverty and hopelessness where factories and mines stood idle. increased social security benefits and liberalized the disability provisions. initiated a program of aid to dependent children whose parents are unemployed. and provided similar benefits for unemployed railroad workers. increased the minimum wage to $1.25. and extended coverage to 3.4 million workers. abolished the poll tax by constitutional amendment after 20 years of congressional effort. repealed the nonCommunist affidavit for students. enacted three major housing bills liberalizing provisions for lowincome and elderly groups. enacted a 3year. $435 million manpower retraining program to retrain the unemployed in new skills. improved the Work Hours Act to provide a standard 40hour workweek. enacted a bill to provide for selfemployed voluntary pension plans. enacted the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. one of the most farreaching and modern trade expansion acts in history. initiated the Alliance for Progress. a new concept of social reform and selfhelp for Latin America. enacted the Communications Satellite Act of 1962. creating a private communications satellite corporation for profit but subject to Government regulation to operate a worldwide commercial satellite system. established a U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency to deal with the problem of reduction and control of armaments looking toward ultimate world disarmament. the first of its kind in the world. established a U.S. Travel Service to promote and encourage tourist travel from abroad. extended the Sugar Act in 1962. fixing quotas of domestic and foreign producers. extended the International Wheat Agreement. ratified the allimportant nuclear test ban treaty. banning nuclear weapon testing in the atmosphere. in outer space. and underwater. thus translating the dream of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy into reality. ratified the OECD Treaty. by which the United States joined in a 20nation organization of the Atlantic States to promote economic stability. provided equal pay for women. a bill which had been before Congress for 18 years. expanded and improved water pollution control and created a 4year program to combat air pollution. enacted new drugsafeguard legislation for the first time since 1938. enacted the Vaccination Assistance Act. the first Federal assistance to States and communities for immunizations against such diseases as diphtheria. smallpox. whooping cough. polio. and tetanus. enacted a teachers training program for exceptional and handicapped children. extended and improved the impacted areas program and included the District of Columbia within its framework. extended the improved saline water conversion program. established numerous seashore and national park recreational areas. coordinated the outdoor recreation development program between the Federal Government and the States. and passed 6 anticrime bills during the 87th Congress to combat organized crime.