So far as the Federal share of responsibility is concerned, I urge that the Congress move promptly to enact an effective program of Federal assistance to help erase the existing deficit of school classrooms.  Such a program, which should be limited to a five-year period, must operate to increase rather than decrease local and State support of schools and to give the greatest help to the States and localities with the least financial resources.  Federal aid should in no way jeopardize the freedom of local school systems.  There will be presented to the Congress a recommended program of Federal assistance for school construction.

Such a program should be accompanied by action to increase services to the nation’s schools by the Office of Education and by legislation to provide continuation of payments to school districts where Federal activities have impaired the ability of those districts to provide adequate schools.

Under the 1954 Amendments to the old-age and survivors’ insurance program, protection was extended to some 10 million additional workers and benefits were increased.  The system now helps protect 9 out of 10 American workers and their families against loss of income in old age or on the death of the breadwinner.  The system is sound.  It must be kept so.  In developing improvements in the system, we must give the most careful consideration to population and social trends, and to fiscal requirements.  With these considerations in mind, the Administration will present its recommendations for further expansion of coverage and other steps which can be taken wisely at this time.

Other needs in the area of social welfare include increased child welfare services, extension of the program of aid to dependent children, intensified attack on juvenile delinquency, and special attention to the problems of mentally retarded children.  The training of more skilled workers for these fields and the quest for new knowledge through research in social welfare are essential.  Similarly the problems of our aged people need our attention.

The nation has made dramatic progress in conquering disease—­progress of profound human significance which can be greatly accelerated by an intensified effort in medical research.  A well-supported, well-balanced program of research, including basic research, can open new frontiers of knowledge, prevent and relieve suffering, and prolong life.  Accordingly I shall recommend a substantial increase in Federal funds for the support of such a program.  As an integral part of this effort, I shall recommend a new plan to aid construction of non-Federal medical research and teaching facilities and to help provide more adequate support for the training of medical research manpower.

Finally, we must aid in cushioning the heavy and rising costs of illness and hospitalization to individuals and families.  Provision should be made, by Federal reinsurance or otherwise, to foster extension of voluntary health insurance coverage to many more persons, especially older persons and those in rural areas.  Plans should be evolved to improve protection against the costs of prolonged or severe illness.  These measures will help reduce the dollar barrier between many Americans and the benefits of modern medical care.