744 



HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



In its report in 1977, the panel concluded that a ridiculously low 

 amount — $31 million annually — was allocated for Federal R. & D. 

 for the handicapped. This amounted to $2.92 per disabled person in 

 1976. Whereas all Federal health R. & D. amounted to 3.7 percent of 

 the total public and private health expenditures, Federal rehabilita- 

 tion R. & D. was only 0.026 percent of such health expenditures. 



The panel also concluded that there was a serious lack of coordi- 

 nation and communication among Federal agencies, private organiza- 

 tions, and handicapped consumers concerning R. & D. for the handi- 

 capped. As a result, there was recommended a National Council for 

 Research and the Handicapped, including two bodies under one Di- 

 rector — a Government organization and a non-Government group. 



Chairman Teague plugs International Disabled Expo. At an April 7, 1977 news confer- 

 ence, Chairman Teague (standing, center rear) helps publicize new technologies to aid the 

 handicapped. Seated at podium are Max Cleland, Veterans Administrator, Senator Harrison 

 H. Schmitt (Republican of New Mexico) and Representative George E. Brown, Jr. (Demo, 

 crat of California). 



Teague called a news conference on April 7, 1977 not only to re- 

 lease the panel report, but also to focus attention on the upcoming 

 International Disabled Expo, to be held in Chicago in August. Max 

 Cleland, Administrator of the Veterans' Administration and a triple 

 amputee, joined Teague in the news conference. Teague stated: 



I trust that this committee activity will spark a greater national commitment 

 to effectively utilize the scientific and technological resources at our disposal in attack- 

 ing the problems of the handicapped, thus allowing all handicapped individuals, 

 both in this great Nation and around the world, to enjoy fuller, more complete lives. 



