By special message on January 24, I shall propose a coordinated program to strengthen and improve existing health services.  This program will continue to reject socialized medicine.  It will emphasize individual and local responsibility.  Under it the Federal Government will neither dominate nor direct, but serve as a helpful partner.  Within this framework, the program can be broad in scope.

My recommendations will include a Federal health reinsurance service to encourage the development of more and better voluntary health insurance coverage by private organizations.  I shall also recommend measures to improve the medical care of that group of our citizens who, because of need, receive Federal-State public assistance.  These two proposals will help more of our people to meet the costs of health services.

To reduce the gaps in these services, I shall propose: 

New measures to facilitate construction of needed health facilities and help reduce shortages of trained health personnel;

Vigorous steps to combat the misery and national loss involved in mental illness;

Improved services for crippled children and for maternal and child health;

Better consumer protection under our existing pure food and drug laws; and, finally,

Strengthened programs to combat the increasingly serious pollution of our rivers and streams and the growing problem of air pollution.

These measures together constitute a comprehensive program holding rich promise for better health for all of our people.

Last year’s expansion of social security coverage and our new program of improved medical care for public assistance recipients together suggest modification of the formula for Federal sharing in old age assistance payments.  I recommend modification of the formula where such payments will, in the future, supplement benefits received under the old age and survivors insurance system.

It is the inalienable right of every person, from childhood on, to have access to knowledge.  In our form of society, this right of the individual takes on a special meaning, for the education of all our citizens is imperative to the maintenance and invigoration of America’s free institutions.

Today, we face grave educational problems.  Effective and up-to-date analyses of these problems and their solutions are being carried forward through the individual State conferences and the White House Conference to be completed this year.

However, such factors as population growth, additional responsibilities of schools, and increased and longer school attendance have produced an unprecedented classroom shortage.  This shortage is of immediate concern to all of our people.  Positive, affirmative action must be taken now.

Without impairing in any way the responsibilities of our States, localities, communities, or families, the Federal government can and should serve as an effective-catalyst in dealing with this problem.  I shall forward a special message to the Congress on February 15, presenting an affirmative program dealing with this shortage.