Over the past 12 years we have erected a sound framework of social security legislation.  Many millions of our citizens are now protected against the loss of income which can come with unemployment, old age, or the death of wage earners.  Yet our system has gaps and inconsistencies; it is only half finished.

We should now extend unemployment compensation, old age benefits, and survivors’ benefits to millions who are not now protected.  We should also raise the level of benefits.

The greatest gap in our social security structure is the lack of adequate provision for the Nation’s health.  We are rightly proud of the high standards of medical care we know how to provide in the United States.  The fact is, however, that most of our people cannot afford to pay for the care they need.

I have often and strongly urged that this condition demands a national health program.  The heart of the program must be a national system of payment for medical care based on well-tried insurance principles.  This great Nation cannot afford to allow its citizens to suffer needlessly from the lack of proper medical care.

Our ultimate aim must be a comprehensive insurance system to protect all our people equally against insecurity and ill health.

Another fundamental aim of our democracy is to provide an adequate education for every person.

Our educational systems face a financial crisis.  It is deplorable that in a Nation as rich as ours there are millions of children who do not have adequate schoolhouses or enough teachers for a good elementary or secondary education.  If there are educational inadequacies in any State, the whole Nation suffers.  The Federal Government has a responsibility for providing financial aid to meet this crisis.

In addition, we must make possible greater equality of opportunity to all our citizens for education.  Only by so doing can we insure that our citizens will be capable of understanding and sharing the responsibilities of democracy.

The Government’s programs for health, education, and security are of such great importance to our democracy that we should now establish an executive department for their administration.

Health and education have their beginning in the home.  No matter what our hospitals or schools are like, the youth of our Nation are handicapped when millions of them live in city slums and country shacks.  Within the next decade, we must see that every American family has a decent home.  As an immediate step we need the long-range housing program which I have recommended on many occasions to this Congress.  This should include financial aids designed to yield more housing at lower prices.  It should provide public housing for low-income families, and vigorous development of new techniques to lower the cost of building.

Until we can overcome the present drastic housing shortage, we must extend and strengthen rent control.