An Act to expand the war on poverty and enhance the effectiveness of programs under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
PL 89-253 (H.R.8283), enacted 10/09/1965

79 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-253-OCT. 9, 1965 
973 
Public Law 89-253 
AN A C T 
October 9, 1965 
To expand the war on poverty and enhance the effectiveness of programs under 
[H. R. 8283] 
the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
Economic oppor-
be cited as the "Economic Opportunity Amendments of 1965". 
t^unuy Amendments 
AMENDMENTS TO TITLE I—YOUTH PROGRAMS 
JOB CORPS—DISPLACEMENT OF WORKERS 
SEC. 2. Section 103 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
^s stat. ^sos. 
amended by inserting after "SEC. 103." the following new sentence: 
"The Director of the Office shall prescribe regulations to prevent pro-
grams under this part from displacing presently employed workers or 
the impairment of existing contracts for services." 
JOB CORPS—PAYMENT TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS OR ORGANIZATIONS 
PROHIBITED 
SEC. 3. Subsection (e) of section 103 of the Economic Opportunity 
Act of 1964 is amended by striking out the period and adding after the 
word "terminated" the following: ": Provided, however, That the 
Director shall make no payments to any individual or to any organiza-
tion solely as compensation for the service of referring the names of 
candidates for enrollment in the Corps." 
JOB CORPS—CUBAN REFUGEES 
SEC. 4. Section 104(a) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 
^2 use 2714. 
is amended by adding at the end thereof' the following: "For purposes 
of this subsection, any native and citizen of Cuba who arrived in the 
United States from Cuba as a nonimmigrant or as a parolee subsequent 
to January 1, 1959, under the provisions of section 214(a) or 212(d) 
(5), respectively, of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall be 
66 stat. i89. 
considered a permanent resident of the United States." 
a'use 1134, 
1182. 
JOB CORPS—ENROLLEE AFFIDAVITS 
SEC. 5. Section 104(d) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 
is amended to read as follows: "(d) Each enrollee (other than an 
enrollee who is a native and citizen of Cuba described in section 104 
(a) of this Act) must take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation 
in the following form: 'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I bear 
true faith and allegiance to the United States of America and will 
support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States 
against all its enemies foreign and domestic'. The provisions of sec-
tion 1001 of title 18, United States Code, shall be applicable to the 
^2 stat. 749. 
oath or affirmation required under this subsection." 
JOB CORPS—APPLICATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ACT 
SEC. 6. Section 106(c) (2) (A) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 
1964 is amended retroactive to January 1, 1965, to read as follows: 
^^ ^^0.21x6 
"(A) The term 'performance of duty' in the Federal Employees' 
Compensation Act shall not include any act of an enrollee while absent 63^stat.^*8 54^^' 
from his or her assigned post of duty, except while participating in an 
5 use 751 
activity (including an activity while on pass or during travel to or from "°*''' 
974 
PUBLIC LAW 89-253-OCT. 9, 1965 
[79 STAT. 
such post of duty) authorized by or und6r the direction and super-
vision of the Corps." 
JOB CORPS—ENROLLEE WORK 
ACTIVITIES 
42 use 2
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7
2
0 
^^^^ ^' ^^^^iou 110 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
amended by inserting the word "male" before the word "enroUees" in 
the first sentence. 
WORK TRAINING PROGRAMS 
CUBAN 
REFUGEES 
42 use 2734. 
gj,^. g Sectiou 114(a) of the Economic Opportunity Act is amended 
by adding at the end thereof the following new sentence: "For pur-
poses of this subsection, any native and citizen of Cuba who arrived in 
the United States from Cuba as a nonimmigrant or as a parolee sub-
sequent to January 1, 1959, under the provisions of section 214(a) or 
66 Stat. 189, 
212(d) (5), respectively, of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall 
8'use 1184. 
be considered a permanent resident of the United States." 
1182. 
42 u s e 2782. 
WORK 
TRAINING 
PROGRAMS—LIMITATIONS ON FEDERAL 
ASSISTANCE 
SEC. 9. The first sentence of section 115 of the Economic Opportunity 
42 use 2735. 
.^^.^ ^f ^QQ^ jg amended by striking out "two" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "three", and by striking out ", or June 30, 1966, whichever is 
later,". 
WORK-STUDY 
PROGRAMS—LIMITATIONS ON FEDERAL 
ASSISTANCE 
42 use 2754. 
§^0. 10. Sectlou 124(f) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 
is amended by striking out "two" and inserting in lieu thereof "three", 
and by striking out "or June 30, 1966, whichever is later,". 
AMENDMENTS TO TITLE II—URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITY ACTION 
PROGRAMS 
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS-—PUBLIC INFORMATION 
SEC. 11. Section 202(a) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
amended by striking out "and" at the end of paragraph (3), by striking 
out the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting in lieu thereof 
"; and", and by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: 
"(5) which includes provision for reasonable access of the 
public to information including, but not limited to, reasonable 
opportunity for public hearings at the request of appropriate local 
community groups, and reasonable public access to books and 
records of the agency or agencies engaged in the development, 
conduct, and administration of the program, in accordance with 
procedures approved by the Director." 
TYPES O F PROGRAMS 
SEC. 12. The last sentence of section 205(a) of the Economic Op-
42 use 2785. 
portuuity Act of 1964 is amended by inserting after "including" the 
following: ", but not limited to,". 
SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR THE CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED POOR 
SEC. 13. Section 205 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
amended by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e) and adding 
after subsection (c) a new subsection (d) as follows: 
79 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-253-OCT. 9, 1965 
975 
"(d) The Director is authorized to make grants under this section 
for special programs (1) which involve activities directed to the needs 
of those chronically unemployed poor who have poor employment 
prospects and are unable, because of age or otherwise, to secure appro-
priate employment or training assistance under other programs, (2) 
which, in addition to other services provided, will enable such persons 
to participate in projects for the betterment or beautification of the 
community or area served by the program, including without limita-
tion activities which will contribute to the management, conservation, 
or development of natural resources, recreational areas. Federal, State, 
and local government parks, highways, and other lands, and (3) which 
are conducted in accordance with standards adequate to assure that 
the program is in the public interest and otherwise consistent with 
policies applicable under this Act for the protection of employed 
workers and the maintenance of basic rates of pay and other suitable 
conditions of employment." 
GENERAL 
COMMUNITY 
ACTION 
PROGRAMS—LIMITATIONS 
ON 
FEDERAL 
ASSISTANCE 
78 Stat. 519. 
42 u s e :>788. 
SEC 14. (a) The first sentence of section 208(a) of the Economic 
Opportunity Act of 1964 is amended by striking out "two" and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "three", and by striking out ", or June 30, 1966j 
whichever is later,". 
(b) Section 208 of such Act is amended by redesignating subsection 
(b) as subsection (c) and inserting a new subsection (b) as follows: 
"(b) The Director is authorized to prescribe regulations estab-
lishing objective criteria pursuant to which assistance may be reduced 
below 90 per centum for such community action programs or com-
ponents as have received assistance under section 205 for a period 
prescribed in such regulations." 
(c) Section 208(c) of such Act (as so redesignated by subsection 
(b) of this section) is amended by adding at the end thereof a new 
sentence as follows: "The requirement imposed by the preceding sen-
tence shall be subject to such regulations as the Director may adopt 
and promulgate establishing objective criteria for determinations cov-
ering situations where a literal application of such requirement would 
result in unnecessary hardship or otherwise be inconsistent with the 
purposes sought to be achieved." 
PARTICIPATION OF STATE AGENCIES 
SEC. 15. Section 209(a) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 
^2 use 2739. 
is amended by inserting before the period the following: "including, 
but not limited to, consultation with appropriate State agencies on 
the development, conduct, and administration of such programs". 
DISAPPROVAL OF PLANS 
SEC. 16. Section 209(c) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 
is amended by (1) inserting "of part B " before "of title I" and (2) 
striking out "and such plan has not been disapproved by him within 
thirty days of such submission" and inserting in lieu thereof "and 
such plan has not been disapproved by the Governor within thirty 
days of such submission, or, if so disapproved, has been reconsidered 
by the Director and found by him to be fully consistent with the pro-
visions and in furtherance of the purposes of this part". 
976 
PUBLIC LAW 89-253-OCT. 9, 1965 
[79 STAT. 
NOTICES 
42 us^c 2^89 
^^^- ^'^- Section 209 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
amended by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e) and by 
inserting after subsection (c) the following new subsection: 
"(d) When the Director receives an application from a private non-
profit agency for a community action program to be carried on in a 
community in which there is a community action agency carrying on 
a number of component programs, he shall, within five-days, give 
notice to such community action agency and the Governor of the State 
in which the community is located of the receipt of such application. 
When the Director determines that a separate contract or grant is 
desirable and practical and that good cause has been shown, he is 
authorized to make a grant directly to, or to contract directly with, 
such agency." 
42 
use 
2805. 
42 
use 
2802. 
ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS—PAYMENTS; FEDERAL SHARE 
SEC. 18. Section 216(b) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
amended by striking out "and the fiscal year ending June 30, 1966," 
and inserting in lieu thereof "and each of the two succeeding fiscal 
years,". 
ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS—TEACHER TRAINING 
SEC. 19. Part B of title I I of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 
is amended— 
(1) by striking out "From the sums appropriated to carry 
out this title" in section 213(a) and inserting in lieu thereof 
"From so much of the sums appropriated or allocated to carry out 
this part as is not reserved pursuant to section 218"; and 
42 use 2807. 
^2) by redesignating section 218 as section 219 and inserting 
immediately after section 217 the following new section 218: 
"TEACHER TRAINING PROJECTS 
"SEC. 218. Not to exceed 5 per centum of the sums appropriated or 
allocated to carry out this part for any fiscal year may be reserved 
and used by the Director to provide (directly or by contract), or to 
make grants to colleges and universities. State or local educational 
agencies, or other appropriate public or private nonprofit agencies 
or organizations to provide, training to persons engaged or preparing 
42 use 2801. 
to engage as instructors for individuals described in section 212, with 
such stipends and allowances, if any (including traveling and sub-
sistence expenses), for persons undergoing such training and their 
dependents as the Director may by or pursuant to regulation 
determine." 
VOLUNTARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR NEEDY CHILDREN 
SEC. 20. Title I I of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
amended by striking out the second sentence of section 220(a) of 
42 use 2822. 
p^rt C thereof. 
AMENDMENTS TO TITLE III—SPECIAL PROGRAMS TO COMBAT POVERTY 
IN RURAL AREAS 
42 use 2841- 
SEC. 21. Title I I I of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
amended by striking out "Grants and" in the heading, and by striking 
out the dash after the word "make" in the first subsequent sentence 
and the subsequent number " (1)". 
2881 
79 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-253-OCT. 9, 1965 
977 
COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION—PROHIBITION OF LOANS TO ASSIST 
MANUFACTURING 
SEC. 22. Section 305(f) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 l\ ^*|^- ^^-^ 
is amended by inserting immediately before the period at the end 
thereof the following proviso: ": Provided^ That packing, canning, 
cooking, freezing, or other processing used in preparing or marketing 
edible farm products, including dairy products, shall not be regarded 
as manufacturing merely by reason of the fact that it results in the 
creation of a new or different substance". 
ASSISTANCE FOR MIGRANT AND SEASONALLY EMPLOYED AGRICULTURAL 
EMPLOYEES 
SEC. 23. Section 311 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
^2 use 286i. 
amended to read as follows: 
" M I G R A N T S AND SEASONALLY EMPLOYED AGRICULITJRAL EMPLOYEES 
"SEC. 311. The Director is authorized to develop and implement a 
program of loans, loan guarantees, and grants to assist State and local 
agencies, private nonprofit institutions, and cooperatives in establish-
ing, administering, and operating programs which will meet, or sub-
stantially and primarily contribute to meeting, the special needs of 
migratory workers and seasonal farm laborers and their families in 
the fields of housing, sanitation, education, and day care of children." 
I N D E M N I T Y 
PAYMENTS TO DAIRY 
FARMERS 
SEC. 24. Section 331(c) of the Economic Opportunity Act is 
42 use 2881. 
amended by striking the words "January 31,1965" and inserting in lieu 
thereof the words "June 30,1966". 
AMENDMENT TO TITLE V—WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM 
SEC. 25. Section 502 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
42 use 2922. 
amended (1) by inserting after the first sentence thereof the following 
new sentence: "Workers in farm families with less than $1,200 net 
family income shall be considered unemployed for the purposes of 
this title.", and (2) by striking out of the last sentence the following: 
"for the fiscal year ending June 30,1965,". 
AMENDMENTS TO TITLE VI—ADMINISTRATION AND COORDINATION 
VISTA VOLUNTEERS—ASSIGNMENT ; APPLICATION OF OTHER PROVISIONS AND 
FEDERAL LAWS 
SEC. 26. (a) Subsection (a) of section 603 of the Economic Oppor-
tunity Act of 1964 is amended by striking out everything in paragraph 
^2 use 2943. 
(2) following the clause designation " ( C ) " and inserting in lieu 
thereof "in connection with programs or activities authorized, sup-
ported, or of a character eligible for assistance under this Act." 
(b) Subsection (d) of such section is amended to read as follows: 
"(d) (1) Each volunteer shall take and subscribe to an oath or affir-
mation in the form prescribed by section 104(d) of this Act, and the 
^"^'^' P- ''^3. 
provisions of section 1001 of title 18, United States Code, shall be 
^^ ^*^*- "^^-
978 
PUBLIC LAW 89-253-OCT. 9, 1965 
[79 STAT. 
applicable with respect to such oath or affirmation; but, except as 
E
rovided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, volunteers shall not 
e deemed to be Federal employees and shall not be subject to the 
provisions of laws relating to Federal employment, including those 
relating to hours of work, rates of compensation, and Federal employee 
benefits. 
"(2) All volunteers during training and such volunteers as are 
assigned pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (a) shall be deemed 
Federal employees to the same extent as enrollees of the Job Corps 
42 use 2Vi°6, 
binder section 106 (b), (c), and (d) of this Act, except that for pur-
poses of the computation described in paragraph (2) (B) of section 
106(c) the monthly pay of a volunteer shall be deemed to be that 
received under the entrance salary for GS-7 under the Classification 
Post, p. nil. 
Act of 1949." 
NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL 
42 u s e 2945. 
SEC. 27. Section 605 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
amended by striking "fourteen" in the second sentence and inserting 
in lieu thereof "twenty". 
PROGRAMS 
FOR 
THE 
ELDERLY 
POOR 
SEC. 28. Part A of title VI of the Economic Opportunity Act of 
42 use 2941- 
1964 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
2040 
, • 
*
^ 
** 
® 
^^^- 
section: 
'PROGRAMS FOR T H E ELDERLY POOR 
"SEC. 610. It is the intention of Congress that whenever feasible the 
special problems of the elderly poor shall be considered in the develop-
ment, conduct, and administration of programs under this Act." 
AFFIDAVITS 
SEC. 29. Title VI of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is 
42 use 2966. 
amended by striking out section 616 thereof and substituting a new 
section 616, as follows: 
"TRANSFER OF FUNDS 
"SEC. 616. Notwithstanding any limitation on appropriations under 
any title of this Act, not to exceed 10 per centum of the amount appro-
priated or allocated from any appropriation for the purpose of ena-
bling the Director to carry out programs or activities under any such 
title may be transferred and used by the Director for the purpose of 
carrying out programs or activities under any other such title; but no 
such transfer shall result in increasing the amounts otherwise avail-
able under any title by more than 10 per centum." 
AUTHORIZATION or APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 30. (a) (1) The first sentence of section 131 of the Economic 
42 use 2761. 
Opportunity Act of 1964 is amended by striking out "two" and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "three". 
(2) The second sentence of such section is amended to read as 
follows: "For the purpose of carrying out this title, there is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated the sum of $412,500,000 for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1965, and the sum of $700,000,000 for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1966; and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
79 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 89-253-OCT. 9, 1965 
979 
1967, and the succeeding fiscal year, such sums may be appropriated 
as the Congress may hereafter authorize by law." 
(b) (1) The first sentence of section 221 of such Act is amended by 
^^ ^^^ ^^^-^ 
striking out "two" and inserting in lieu thereof "three". 
(2) The second sentence of sucli section is amended to read as fol-
lows: "For the purpose of carrying out this title, there is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated the sum of $340,000,000 for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1965, and the sum of $850,000,000 for the fiscal 
year ending June 30,1966; and for the fiscal year ending June 30,1967, 
and the succeeding fiscal year, such sums may be appropriated as the 
Congress may hereafter authorize by law." 
(c) (1) The first sentence of section 321 is amended by striking out 
'^^ ^^^ ^^^^" 
"two" and inserting in lieu thereof "three". 
(2) The second sentence of such section is amended to read as fol-
lows: "For the purpose of carrying out this title, there is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated the sum of $35,000,000 for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1965, and the sum of $55,000,000 for the fiscal year 
ending June 30, 1966; and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1967, 
and the succeeding fiscal year, such sums may be appropriated as the 
Congress may hereafter authorize by law." 
(d) (1) The first sentence of section 503 of such Act is amended by 
"^^ ^^^ ''^^^• 
striking out "two" and inserting in lieu thereof "three". 
(2) The second sentence of such section is amended to read as fol-
lows: "For the purpose of carrying out this title, there is hereby 
authorized to be appropriated the sum of $150,000,000 for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1965, and the sum of $150,000,000 for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1966; and for the fiscal year ending June 30, 
1967, and the succeeding fiscal year, such sums may be appropriated 
as the Congress may hereafter authorize by law." 
(e) (1) The first sentence of section 615 of such Act is amended by 
'*2 use 2965. 
striking out "two" and inserting in lieu thereof "three". 
(2) The second sentence of such section is amended to read as fol-
lows : "For the purpose of carrying out this title (other than for pur-
poses of making credits to the revolving fund established by section 
606(a)), there is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of 
$10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1965, and the sum of 
$30,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1966; and for the fiscal 
year ending June 30, 1967, and the succeeding fiscal year, such sums 
may be appropriated as the Congress may hereafter authorize by law." 
(f) Title VI of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 is further ^gM^^^ ^^'^^' 
amended by inserting at the end thereof a new section as follows: 
a 
DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN 
AREAS 
"SEC. 617. The Director shall adopt appropriate administrative 
measures to assure that benefits of this Act will be distributed equi-
tably between residents of rural and urban areas." 
AMENDMENT TO NATIONAL, DEFENSE EDUCATION ACT—MORATORIUM 
O
N STUDENT LOANS TO VISTA VOLUNTEERS 
SEC. 31. (a) Paragraph (2) (A) of section 205(b) of the National 
Defense Education Act of 1958 (20 U.S.C. 425 (b) (2) (A)) is amended 
75 stat. 623. 
by striking out "or" JDefore "(iii)" and by inserting before the proviso 
and after "Peace Corps Act" the following: ", or (iv) not in excess of 
^5 stat. 612. 
three years during which the borrower is in service as a volunteer under note, 
'° 
section 603 of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964". 
I^ f
*
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A
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(b) The amendments made by this section shall not apply to any loan 
"^'""" "^^ 
outstanding on the effective date of this Act without the consent of the 
then obligee institution. 
Approved October 9, 1965, 8:30 p.m. 
42 u s e 2943.