Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 101 Part 1.djvu/998

 101 STAT. 968

PUBLIC LAW 100-175—NOV. 29, 1987

(2) more than 1 of every 6 persons 55 years of age or older will be hospitalized during the next year, (3) persons 55 years of age or older have a higher average outof-pocket medical cost burden than younger persons; approximately 17 percent of individuals age 55 to 64 experience out-ofb pocket costs in excess of 20 percent of their family income and the average per capita out-of-pocket cost of persons 65 years of y age or older is expected to equal 18.5 percent of income by 1991, (4) there is a great need to ensure access and the quality of •jj affordable health care to all older individuals, (5) the need for a comprehensive and responsive long-term care delivery system is great, 11 (6) the availability and cost of suitable housing, together with ft, suitable services needed for independent or semi-independent living, still cause concern to older individuals, gi (7) the ability to lead an independent or semi-independent life is contingent, in many cases, upon the availability of a comprehensive and effective social service system for older 4 individuals, n (8) the availability and access to opportunities for continued productivity and employment is of great importance to middleaged and older individuals who want or need to work, T. (9) the fulfillment, dignity, and satisfaction of retirees still depend on the continuing development of a consistent national retirement policy, (10) there is a continuing need to maintain and preserve the national policy with respect to increasing, coordinating, and expediting biomedical and other appropriate research directed "ti. at determining the causes and effects of the aging process, (11) false stereotypes about aging and the process of aging continue to be prevalent throughout the United States and policies should be nurtured to overcome such stereotypes, and (12) the talents and experience of older individuals represent ?io - 5 -a j >i a valuable community resource which should be developed and more widely shared within the local community. j (b) POLICY.—It is the policy of the Congress that— (1) the Federal Government should work jointly with the J* States and their citizens to develop recommendations and plans for action to meet the challenges and needs of older individuals, r consistent with the objectives of this section, and (2) in developing programs for the aging pursuant to this Ij section emphasis should be directed toward individual, private, \^- and public initiatives and resources intended to enhance the economic security and self-sufficiency of elder Americans. 42 USC 3001

SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE.

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(a) AUTHORITY TO CALL CONFERENCE.—The President may call a White House Conference on Aging in 1991 in order to develop recommendations for additional research and action in the field of aging which will further the policy set forth in subsection (b). (b) PLANNING AND DIRECTION.—The Conference shall be planned and conducted under the direction of the Secretary in cooperation with the Commissioner on Aging and the Director of the National Institute on Aging, and the heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as are appropriate. Such assistance may include the assignment of personnel.

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