Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-13
KennedyGets
Bill toAssist
Medical Pupils
By the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
Congress has sent to the
White House the first major
administration bill to be cleared
this session-President Ken.
nedy's medical education pro-
gram.
Democratic congressional
leaders expressed hope today
that the strategy which won
easy passage for the measure
will work with other sections of
Mr.. Kennedy's school program.
The Senate approved the
1884 million medical bill by
an overwhelming 71-9 vote. The
House passed it in April, 288-
1872.
1t establishes the first broad
Federal aid program in educa.
ton since passage of the 1858
National Defense Education
Act.
House Acts First
After years of Illustration on
school bills, the leadership
strategy since 1862 has been to
let the House act first with the
Senate, traditionally more
friendly to such legislation,
following. ,
The theory is that the size
of the bills originating in the
Senate has scared off the
House in the past.
The House this year chopped
down the 10-year medical edu-
cation program submitted by
Mr.. Kennedy to a three-year
bill. The Senate accepted this
without change yesterday, al
though sponsors made 1t clear
they expected 1t to be extended
in 1866.
The leaders say the strategy
may well pay off in adoption
of two more key parts of the
administrators education
package-an expanded voca-
tional education program and
a college construction aid bill.
Final passage of the medical
bill capped a .12-year fight to
get such legislation on the
statute books.
The bill contains a $6l.4
million student loan author
ization and authorization for
SITS million in grants to help
build new schools or rehahili-
tate old ones to train doctors.
dentists and public health
personnel.
Administration forces yes
terday beat back several Re-
publican efforts to amend the
measure.
The closest squeak came on
a 1897 vote rejecting an anti
discrimination rider offered by
Senator JAWS. Republican Of
New York.
Also defeated, 63-1e, was an
attempt by Senator Goldwater,
Republican of Arizona, TO
knock out the S61.4-million
authorization for student loans.
Senator Goldwater said the
American Medical Association
already has a student loan
program.
Sure the A. M. A. has a
student loan program" said
Senator Pastore, Democrat of
Rhode Island, but they charge
I612 per cent. That's how gen.
erouS they are"
The bill authorizes loans of
up to $4,000 a year at slightly
more than 3 per cent interest.
They would be repay able over
10 years starting three years
after graduation.
The schools, which would
administer the loans, would
have to put UP 81 for each SO
of Federal loan money.
Vital TO His Area .
Mr.. Kennedy said the program
would make 1t possible for many
students to get a medical edu-
cation who otherwise could not
afford it. The President said
the Nation faces a particularly
serious shortage of physicians
and dentists and the bill should
help relieve the shortage.
Senator Cotton, Republican
of New Hampshire, moved UNI
successfully to write into the
student loan section a provision
permitting forgiveness of UP to
half the loan If the recipient
agreed to practice for five years
in an area having a shortage
Of doctors or dentists.
Senator Cotton termed this
a matter Of life and death to
is State. where he said there
is a shortage Of medical services
in many sections.
The Senate defeated his
amendment 1880.
Five Democrats and four Re-
publicans voted against the bill
on final passage. The Demo-
Gratis were Senators Byrd and
Robertson of Virginia, Ellender
of Louisiana, Stennis of Missis-
sippi, and Thurmond of South
Carolina. Republicans opposed
were Senators Curtis of Ne
braska, Dominick Of Colorado,
Simpson Of Wyoming, and
Tower Of Texas. Senator Gold
water was paired against the
bill with Republican Leader
nirkcan Ynairad Cos. a.