Joint resolution providing for an objective, thorough, and nationwide analysis and reevaluation of the human and economic problems of mental illness, and for other purposes
PL 84-182 (H.J.Res.256), enacted 07/28/1955

69 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 182--JULY 28, 1955 
381 
by or on behalf of an insured during his lifetime, for waiver of premi-
ums on account of total disability, the court, as part of its judgment 
or decree, shall determine and allow a reasonable fee to be paid by 
the insured to his attorney." 
Approved July 26, 1955. 
Public Law 182 
CHAPTER 417 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
July 28^ 19SS 
Providing for an objective, thorough, and nationwide analysis and reevaluation of 
[H. J. Res. 256] 
the human and economic problems of mental illness, and for other purposes. 
Whereas some seven hundred and fifty thousand mentally ill and study'AcVof^f^s^ 
retarded patients are now being hospitalized on any given day; 
and 
Whereas 47 per centum of the hospital beds in the Nation are occupied 
by mental patients; and 
Whereas the direct economic cost of mental illness to the taxpayers of 
the Nation, including pensions to veterans with psychiatric dis-
abilities, is over $1,000,000,000 a year and has been increasing at a 
rate of $100,000,000 a >^ear; and 
Whereas the emotional impact and distress suffered by millions of 
our people anxiously and justifiably concerned about the welfare, 
treatment, and prospects of mentally afflicted relatives is incalcu-
lable and is one of the most urgent concerns of our people; and 
Whereas the Governors of the several States, through national and 
regional Governors Conferences and through the publications of 
the Council of State Governments, have shown great initiative in 
their cooperative attempts to develop better methods of meeting the 
challenge of mental illness in their States; and 
Whereas there is strong justification for believing that this constantly 
growing burden may well be due primarily to an outmoded reliance 
on simple custodial care in mental hospitals as the chief method of 
dealing with mental illness; and 
Whereas there is strong reason to believe that lack of early intensive 
treatment facilities has created such a backlog of mentally deterio-
rated patients that it has become virtually impossible for the States 
to meet the need for mental hospital facilities; and 
Whereas there is strong reason to believe that one of the greatest im-
pediments to more rapid progress in the field of mental health is 
a definite shortage of professional personnel in all categories; and 
Whereas there seems to be a discouraging lag between the discovery 
of new knowledge and skills in treating mental illness and their 
widespread application, as is evidenced by the fact that whereas 
only about one-third of newiy admitted mental patients are dis-
charged from State hospitals in the course of a year, in a few out-
standing institutions the recovery rate is 75 per centum or more; and 
Whereas experience with certain community out-patient clinics and 
rehabilitation centers would seem to indicate that many mental 
patients could be better treated on an out-patient basis at much lower 
cost than by a hospital; and 
Whereas there is strong reason to believe that a substantial propor-
tion of public mental hospital facilities are being utilized for the 
care of elderly persons who could be better cared for and receive 
better treatment in modified facilities at lower cost; and 
Whereas there is reason to believe that many emotionally disturbed 
children are being placed in mental hospitals, which have no proper 
facilities to administer to their needs; and 
882 
PUBLIC LAW 182-JULY 28, 1955 
[69 STAT. 
Whereas mental illness is frequently a component of sucii nationwide 
problems as alcoholism, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, broken 
homes, school failures, absenteeism, and job maladjustment in 
industry, suicide, and similar problems; and 
Whereas there seems to be no overall integrated body of knowledge 
concerning all aspects of the present status of our resources, meth-
ods, and practices for diagnosing, treating, caring for, and rehabil-
itating the mentally ill, although only through the development of 
such a body of knowledge can the people of the United States ascer-
tain the true nature of this staggering problem and develop more 
effective plans to meet it: Therefore be it 
Resolved hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
Short title. 
States of America in Congress assembled^ That this joint resolution 
may be cited as the "Mental Health Study Act of 1955". 
STATEMENT OF PURPOSES AND POLICY 
SEC. 2. (a) It is the sense of the Congress that there exists a critical 
need for such, an objective, thorough, and nationwide analysis and 
reevaluation of the human and economic problems of mental illness 
and of the resources, methods, and practices currently utilized in 
diagnosing, treating, caring for, and rehabilitating the mentally ill, 
both within and outside of institutions, as may lead to the develop-
ment of comprehensive and realistic recommendations for such better 
utilization of those resources or such improvements on and new 
developments in methods of diagnosis, treatment, care, and rehabilita-
tion as give promise of resulting in a marked reduction in the inci-
dence or duration of mental illness and, in consequence, a lessening of 
the appalling emotional and financial drain on the families of those 
afflicted or on the economic resources of the States and of the Nation. 
(b) It is declared to be the policy of the Congress to promote 
mental health and to help solve the complex and the interrelated 
problems posed by mental illness by encouraging the undertaking of 
nongovernmental, multidisciplinary research into and reevaluation 
of all aspects of our resources, methods, and practices for diagnosing, 
treating, caring for, and rehabilitating the mentally ill, including 
research aimed at the prevention of mental illness. It is the purpose 
of this joint resolution to implement that policy. 
SPECIAL PROJECT GRANTS FOR COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL H E A L T H 
STUDY 
JO stau ^lli 
SEC. 3. Part A of title I I I of the Public Health Service Act is 
amended by adding after section 303 the following new section : 
" G R A N T S 
F O R SPECIAL PROJECTS I N MENTAL 
H E A L T H 
"SEC. 304. (a) (1) The Surgeon General is authorized, upon the 
recommendation of the National Advisory Mental Health Council, to 
make grants for the carrying out of a program of research into and 
study of our resources, methods, and practices for diagnosing, treat-
ing, caring for, and rehabilitating the mentally ill, such program to 
be on a scale commensurate with the problem. 
"(2) Such grants may be made to one or more organizations, but 
only on condition that the organization will undertake and conduct, 
or if more than one organization is to receive such grants, only on 
condition that such organizations have agreed among themselves to 
undertake and conduct, a coordinated program of research into and 
study of all aspects of the resources, methods, and practices referred 
to in paragraph (1). 
69 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 183-JULY 28, 1955 
383 
"(3) As used in paragraph (2), the term 'organization' means a 
nongovernmental agency, organization, or commission, composed of 
representatives of leading national medical and other professional 
associations, organizations, or agencies active in the field of mental 
health. 
"(b) For such purpose there is hereby authorized to be appropri-
ated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1956, the sum of $250,000 to 
be used for a grant or grants to help initiate the research and study 
provided for in this section; and the sum of $500,000 for each of the 
two succeeding fiscal years for the making of such grants as may be 
needed to carry the research and study to completion. The terms of 
any such grant shall provide that the research and study shall be com-
pleted not later than three years from the date it is inaugurated; that 
the grantee shall file annual reports with the Congress, the Surgeon 
General, and the Governors of the several States, among others that 
the grantee may select; and that the final report shall be similarly 
filed. 
"(c) Nothing in this section shall in any way affect the availability 
of amounts otherwise appropriated for work in the field of mental 
health; nor be construed to interfere with or diminish the more limited 
and specific programs of research and study being carried on through 
or under the auspices of the National Institute of Mental Health. 
"(d) Any grantee agency, organization, or commission is author-
ized to accept additional financial support from private or other 
public sources to assist in carrying on the project authorized by this 
section." 
Approved July 28, 1955. 
^propriations. 
Public Law 183 
CHAPTER 418 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
j ^ ^ 28.1955^ 
To establish a commission for ttie celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary 
[H. J. Re a. 273] 
of the birth of Theodore Koosevelt. 
Resolved 
hy the Senate 
and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That there is hereby 
established a commission to be known as the Theodore Roosevelt Cen-
tennial Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission'*) 
which shall be composed of fifteen (vOnnnissioners as follows: The 
President of the United States, the President of the Senate, and the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, all ex officio, and eight per-
sons to be appointed by the President of the United States, two Sena-
tors to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and two Repre-
sentatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives. 
SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the Commission, after announcement 
to the American people of its creation and purpose, to prepare plans 
and a program for signalizing the one hundredth anniversary of the 
birth of Theodore Roosevelt in the year 1958, including plans for the 
completion of the development of Theodore Roosevelt Island in the 
Potomac River in accordance with the Act entitled "An Act to estab-
lish a memorial to Theodore Roosevelt in the National Capital", 
approved May 21,1932 (47 Stat. 163) as amended by the Act approved 
February 11,1933 (47 Stat. 799), and including the completion of the 
development of Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park in North 
Dakota, created by the Act of April 25,1947 (61 Stat. 52), as amended. 
In preparing such plans and program, the Commission shall give due 
consideration to any plan which may be submitted to it,, and shall take 
Theodore Roose-
velt C e n t e n n i a l 
Commission. 
Establishment,, 
40 u s e 124-126. 
16 u s e 241-247.