The Economic Opportunity Act
August 1964
AN ACT
To mobilize the human and financial resources of the Nation to
combat poverty in the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That this
Act may be cited as the "Economic Opportunity Act of 1964."
FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE SEC. 2. Although the economic
well-being and prosperity of the United States have progressed to a level
surpassing any achieved in world history, and although these benefits are widely
shared throughout the Nation, poverty continues to be the lot of a substantial
number of our people. The United States can achieve its full economic and social
potential as a nation only if every individual has the opportunity to contribute
to the full extent of his capabilities and to participate in the workings of our
society. It is, therefore, the policy of the United States to eliminate the
paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty in this Nation by opening to everyone
the opportunity for education and training, the opportunity to work, and the
opportunity to live in decency and dignity. It is the purpose of this Act to
strengthen, supplement, and coordinate efforts in furtherance of that policy.
TITLE I--YOUTH PROGRAMS
PART A--JOB CORPS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
SEC. 101. The purpose of this part is to prepare for the
responsibilities of citizenship and to increase the employability of young men
and young women aged sixteen through twenty-one by providing them in rural and
urban residential centers with education, vocational training, useful work
experience, including work directed toward the conservation of natural
resources, and other appropriate activities.
ESTABLISHMENT OF JOB CORPS
SEC. 102. In order to carry out the purposes of this part, there is
hereby established within the Office of Economic Opportunity (hereinafter
referred to as the "Office"), established by title VI, a Job Corps (herinafter
referred to as the "Corps").
JOB CORPS PROGRAM
SEC. 103. The Director of the Office (herinafter referred to as the
"Director") is authorized to--
(a) enter into agreements with any Federal, State, or local agency or
private organization for the establishment and operation, in rural and urban
areas, of conservation camps and training centers and for the provision of such
facilities and services as in his judgment are needed to carry out the purposes
of this part,. . . .
PART B--WORK-TRAINING PROGRAMS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
SEC. 111. The purpose of this part is to provide useful work
experience opportunities for unemployed young men and young women, through
participation in State and community work-training programs, so that their
employability may be increased or their education resumed or continued and so
that public agencies and private nonprofit organizations (other than political
parties) will be enabled to carry out programs which will permit or contribute
to an undertaking or service in the public interest that would not otherwise be
provided, or will contribute to the conservation and development of natural
resources and recreational areas. . . .
PART C--WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The purpose of this part is to stimulate and promote the part-time
employment of students in institutions of higher education who are from
low-income families and are in need of the earnings from such employment to
pursue courses of study at such institutions. . . .
TITLE II--URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS
PART A--GENERAL COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
SEC. 201. The purpose of this part is to provide stimulation and
incentive for urban and rural communities to mobilize their resources to combat
poverty through community action programs.
COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMS
SEC. 202. (a) The term "community action program" means a program-- .
. . .
(2) which provides services, assistance, and other activities of
sufficient scope and size to give promise of progress toward elimination of
poverty or a cause or causes of poverty through developing employment
opportunities, improving human performance, motivation, and productivity, or
bettering the conditions under which people live, learn, and work;
(3) which is developed, conducted, and administered with the maximum
feasible participation of residents of the areas and members of the groups
served; and
(4) which is conducted, administered, or coordinated by a public or
private nonprofit agency (other than a political party), or a combination
thereof.