Kennedy domestic policies - new frontier

The area redevelopment act

1961

• Created 26,000 jobs and training programs that helped 15,000 people in impoverished states (west Virginia)

• 5 mil Americans still unemployed, congress underfunded and refused to renew the act in 1963

Manpower development and training act

1962

• aimed to adress job displacement and skill shortages by providing education and training programs

• 351 programs for 12,600 trainees in 40 states set up ($394 mil)

The social security amendments act

1961

• expanded elderly and disabled benefits

• However Medicare/ medicare were never able to be passed

Food and agricultural act

1962

• gave federal subsidies to farmers (1 billion)

• However rural poverty was still an issue

The omnibus housing act

1961

• granted 5 mil for public housing and urban renewal

• However helped the developers/ construction industry more than the poor

Food stamp program

1961

• Fed 240,000 people however only a pilot program, expanded under Johnson

Minimum wage

JFK increased this from $1 to $1.25 per hour