Speech #940022580

President. I am introducing at the request of the administration on behalf of myself and Senator JAVITs a bill to consolidate separate project grant programs containing separate appropriations authorizations and extend them through 1978. The activities are those designed. first. to assist in the prevention and treatment of alcoholismparts C and E of the Community Mental Health Centers Act. and drug abusesection 410 of the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972. second. to provide health services for domestic agricultural migrantssection 310 of the Public Health Service Act. third. to render services. disseminate information. and promote research in the field of family planningtitle X of the Public Health Service Act. and fourth. to develop and support selected health services programssection 3149eof the Public Health Service Act. The consolidated provision would also authorize the use of project grants for amortization of principal. and payment of interest. on loans for facilities or to centers in existence prior to calendar year 1975 for the construction or acquisition of facilities used for program purposes. and for the payment of costs of minor remodeling. In addition the bill would establish a single advisory committee. the "National Advisory Council on Health Services." to advise on the administration of health services programs and to perform the functions now performed by the National Advisory Mental Health Council. and the National Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The new council would also replace the National Migrant Health Advisory Committee and the Secretarys Advisory Committee on Population Affairs. both of which the Secretary created administratively. Finally. the bill would repeal a requirement enacted by the Health Services Research and Evaluation and Health Statistics Act of 1974. over the Departments objections at the time. to require that not less than 25 percent of the annual appropriation for health service research. evaluation. and demonstration activities under section 304 or 305 of the Public Health Service Act be for activities directly undertaken by the Secretary. A separate title 1I of the bill would extend for fiscal years 1977 and 1978 the program of formula grants under the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention.