An Act to establish a National Commission on Technology, Automation, and Economic Progress
PL 88-444 (H.R.11611), enacted 08/19/1964

462 
PUBLIC LAW 88-444-AUG. 19, 1964 
[78 STAT. 
(1) all applications approved by the Surgeon General under 
title VI of the Public Health Service Act prior to such date, and 
allotments of sums appropriated prior to such date, shall be 
68^st^t^*46\°^^' 
governed by the provisions of such title VI in effect prior to such 
72 Stat. 489! 
date; 
42 use 291- 
(2) allotment percentages promulgated by the Surgeon Gen-
eral under such title VI during 1962 shall continue to be effective 
for purposes of such title as amended by this Act for the fiscal 
year ending June 30,1965; 
(3) the terms of members of the Federal Hospital Council who 
are serving on such Council prior to such date shall expire on the 
date they would have expired had this Act not been enacted; 
(4) the provisions of the fourth sentence of section 636(a) of 
42 us^c a
^
Q
^
^
n 
^^^^ Public Health Service Act, as in effect prior to the enactment 
of this Act, shall apply in lieu of the fourth sentence of section 
Ante, p. 459. 
624(a) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended by this Act, 
in the case of any project for construction of a facility or for 
acquisition of equipment with respect to which a grant for any 
part thereof or for planning such construction or equipment was 
made prior to the enactment of this Act; 
(5) no application with respect to a project for modernization 
of any facility in any State may be approved by the Surgeon Gen-
eral, for purposes of receiving funds from an allotment under 
Ante, p. 448. 
section 602(a) (2) of the Public Health Service Act, as amended 
by this Act, before July 1, 1965, or before such State has had a 
State plan approved by the Surgeon General as meeting the 
Ante, p. 452. 
requirements of section 604(a) (4) (E) as well as the other require-
ments of section 604 of such Act as so amended. 
Approved August 18, 1964. 
Public Law88-444 
August 19, 1964 
^'^ ACT 
[ • R- 11611] 
ijiQ establish a National Commission on Technology, Automation, and Economic 
Progress. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
^ National^com-^ 
UfiH^d States of America in Congress assembled^ That Congress finds 
^'log'yrAutoma- 
it imperative to accelerate the national effort to— 
tion, and Eco- 
(a) identify and assess the past effects and the current and 
nomic rogress. 
prospcctivc rolc and pacc of teclinological-cliange; 
(b) identify and describe the impact of technological and 
economic change on production and emplovment, including new 
job requirements and the major types of worker displacement, both 
technological and economic, which are likely to occur during the 
next ten years; the specific industries, occupations, and geographic 
areas which are most likely to be involved; and the social and eco-
nomic effects of these developments on the Nation's economy, man-
power, communities, families, social structure, and human values; 
(c) define those areas of unmet community and human needs 
toward which application of new technologies might most effec-
tively be directed, encompassing an examination of technological 
developments that have occurred in recent years, including those 
resulting from the Federal Government's research and develop-
ment programs; 
(d) assess the most effective means for channeling new^ tech-
nologies into promising directions, including civilian industries 
78 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 88-444-AUG. 19, 1964 
463 
where accelerated technological advancements will yield general 
benefits, and assess the proper relationship between governmental 
and private investment in the application of new technologies to 
large-scale human and community needs; 
(e) recommend, in addition to those actions which are the 
responsibility of management and labor, specific administrative 
and legislative steps which it believes should be taken by the 
Federal, State, and local governments in meeting their responsi-
bilities (1) to support and promote technological change m the 
interest of continued economic growth and improved well-being of 
our people, (2) to continue and adopt measures which will facili-
tate occupational adjustment and geographical mobility, and 
(3) to sliare the costs and help prevent and alleviate the adverse 
impact of change on displaced workers. 
SEC. 2. In order to carry out the objectives of this Act there is 
hereby established the National Commission on Technologj', Auto-
mation, and Economic Progress, hereinafter referred to as the 
"Commission". 
SEC. 3. The Commission shall be composed of fourteen members 
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, from among persons outside the Government with a compe-
tency in the areas to be dealt with by the Commission. 
The Com-
mission shall be broadly representative and shall include not less than 
four members drawn equally from labor and management. 
One of 
the members shall be designated by the President as Chairman of the 
Commission. 
Eight members of the Commission shall constitute 
a quorum. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its power, 
but shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made. 
SEC. 4. The Commission shall make a comprehensive and impartial 
study and make recommendations from time to time as needed for 
constructive action in the areas designated in section 1 of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Membei*s of the Commission appointed from outside Gov-
ernment shall each receive $100 per diem when engaged in the actual 
performance of duties of the Commission. 
SEC, 6. There is hereby established a Federal Interagency Commit-
tee consisting of the heads of the Departments of Agriculture, Labor, mitte 
Commerce, Defense, Health, Education, and Welfare, and the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Chairman of the 
Council of Economic Advisers, and the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Com-
mission, and the Director of the United States Arms Control and 
Disarmament Agency, or their designees, to advise the Commission 
and to maintain effective liaison with the resources of such depart-
ments and agencies. The Secretaries of Labor and of Commerce shall 
serve as Cochairmen of the Committee. 
SEC. 7. 
(a) The Commission shall have power to appoint and fix 
the compensation of such personnel as it deems advisable, without 
regard to the provision of the civil service laws and the Classification 
Act of 1949, as amended. 
In addition, the Commission may procure 
temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized 
for the departments by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (60 
Stat. 810), but at rates not to exceed $75 per diem for individuals. 
(b) The President is authorized to appoint by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate and, without regard to the provisions of 
the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, to fix the compensation of. 
Establishment. 
Membership. 
Duties. 
Pay. 
Federal Intei^ 
agency Corn-
Personnel. 
63 Stat. 954. 
5 use 1071 
note. 
Ante, p. 400. 
5 use 55a. 
464 
PUBLIC LAW 88-445-AUG. 19, 1964 
[78 STAT. 
Travel expen-
es, etc. 
A'dministrative 
services. 
Hearings. 
Contracts. 
Information from 
other agencies. 
Report to Pres-
ident and Conr 
gress. 
Appropriation. 
an executive secretary to oversee the work of the staff under the general 
direction of the Commission. 
SEC. 8. All members and other personnel of the Commission shall 
be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and necessary expenses in 
accordance with law. 
SEC. 9. The Department of Labor shall provide the Commission 
necessary administrative services (including those related to budget-
ing, accounting, financial reporting, personnel, and procurement) for 
which payment shall be made in advance, or by reimbursement, from 
funds of the Commission in such amounts as may be agreed upon by 
the Commission and the Secretary of Labor. 
SEC. 10. The Commission, or on the authorization of the Commis-
sion, any subcommittee or panel thereof, may, for the purpose of 
carrying out its functions and duties, hold such hearings and sit and 
act at such times and places as the Commission or such subcommittee 
or panel may deem advisable. 
SEC. 11. The Commission is authorized to negotiate and enter into 
contracts with private organizations to carry out such studies and to 
prepare such reports as the Commission determines to be necessary 
in order to carry out its duties. 
SEC. 12. The Commission is authorized to secure directly from any 
executive department, agency, or independent instrumentality of the 
Government any information it deems necessary to carry out its func-
tions under this Act; and each such department, agency, and instru-
mentality is authorized and directed to cooperate with the Commission 
and, to the extent permitted by law, to furnish such information to 
the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman. 
SEC. 13. The Commission shall submit a final report of its findings 
and recommendations to the President and the Congress by January 
1, 1966. The Commission shall cease to exist thirty days after sub-
mitting its final report. 
SEC. 14. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 
Commission, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appro-
priated, such sums not in excess of $1,000,000, as may be necessary to 
carry out the provisions of this Act. 
Approved August 19, 1964. 
August 19, 1964 
[H. R. 8925] 
Public Law 88-445 
AN ACT 
To amend title 38 of the I'nited States Code in order to provide that a disability 
which has been rated at or above a certain percentage for twenty or more years 
may not thereafter be reduced below such percentage. 
76 Stat. 950. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and Houne of Re^jrenentathes 
of the 
^ii'T^la^ui^'^^^ t''/j/^<^c? States of America In (-ongrefiH astietnbled, That (a) section 
'Wstat!"fn3: 
110 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting im-
mediately after the first sentence thereof the following new sentence: 
"A disability which has been continuously rated at or above any 
percentage for twenty or more years for compensation purposes under 
laws administered by the Veterans' Administration shall not there-
after be rated at less than such percentage, except upon a showing that 
such rating was based on fraud." 
(b) The side heading of such section 110 is amended by striking 
out "total". 
(c) The table of sections of chapter 1 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by striking out "Preservation of total" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "Preservation of". 
Approved August 19, 1964.