Kennedy domestic policies - new frontier

The area redevelopment act

1961

• put 394 mil into poorer states

• 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

New frontier

Term used by JFK to describe his vision for America, included

• education

• Economic growth

• Civil rights

• Space exploration

• Social wealthfare

• Forign policy

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

• Created 420,000 construction jobs

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

Women

presidential committee for the status of women, chaired by Elanor roosavelt

• recommended paid maternity leave

• Affordable childcare

• Equality in hiring practices

Equal pay act

1963 - prohibited wage discrimination based on gender

School lunch act

Free school meals and milk for poor children

Social security act 1963

Mass vaccination of children

Education

Vocational act 1963

Educational TV facilities act 1962

Trying to make use of TV medium for education

How many of Kennedys bills were passed

35 of his 58 bills were passed through Congress