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I The Urban Coalition I Federal Bar Building West/ 1819 H Street, N. w. Washington, D. C. / 20006 Steering <;ommittee Co-chairmen: Andrew Heiskell/ A. Philip Randolph November 15, 1967 Dear Steering Committee Member: At the last meeting of the Steering Committee, it was suggested that the Coalition should seriously consider taking a position in opposition to several of the Social Security Amendments already approved by the House of Representatives and now being considered by the Senate. It was suggested that the House Amendments were not only contrary to general and accepted standards of welfare aid and the trend toward raising those standards; but the Amendments, if passed, would result in local governments having to assume an increased share of the costs of the total welfare load. The Steering Committee decided that an analysis should be made of the problem and the House's position and distributed to the members. This has been accomplished and a Fact Sheet and an analysis are enclosed. We have reviewed the Fact Sheet and analysis and concur with the Legislative Committee's estimate of the House amendments as being essentially negative in nature. Testimony before the Hous e Ways and Means Committee makes it clear that segments of the Nation are anxious to reverse the increase in the number of children receiving aid. However, this concern dealt with approaching the problem at the cause s rather than limiting the aid. The main ob jective of Social Security Amendments as o r iginally introduced was to move families toward financial inde p e ndence. The Aid to Familie s with Dependent Chi l dren Program was designe d to k e ep families toge ther . We b e lie v e the r e s trictions impos e d by the House bill a re directly contrary to these two goals. N ational Coordinators : John Feil d / Ron M. Linton Telephone 293 -1530 �Steering Committee - November 15, 1967 Page Two We recommend that the Coalition oppose the House Amendments. Until the Coalition can take formal action on our recommendations, we urge you as an individual to take whatever steps you can to oppose the House Amendments. The Senate Finance Committee has ordered reported its version of the Social Security Bill, an analysis of which will be sent to you as soon as it can be made available. Sincerely, Richard J. Daley John V. Lindsay A. Philip Randolph �