One other activity in the field of craft art must be mentioned: that of exhibitions. The impressive list of these and the great number of those who attend them are indicative of the importance this work is assuming in our daily life. Not only are these exhibitions making fine work known to our people, but the United States Information Agency has sent quite a number of important exhibitions of American craft work abroad. These shows have been developed by the Smithsonian Institution and private organizations for the United States Information Agency. Early in June, craftsmen, educators, and other leaders in this field from all over the country attended the First Annual Conference of American Craftsmen, in Asilomar, Calif. The conference was held under the sponsorship of the American Craftsmen's Council which last year opened a great Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York City at 29 West 53d Street. This is a permanent year-round museum devoted solely to the craft arts. It seems evident to me, therefore, that this extraordinary growth of interest in this form of art calls for the recognition and encouragement that a Federal commission could give. Such an agency would not only strengthen this ground swell of interest, but provide a foundation for a tremendous renascence and flowering of the craft arts in our country. I thank you for the courtesy you have shown me in hearing my statement. Mr. ELLIOTT. We thank you very much, Mrs. Amram, for your very fine statement. It will be given every consideration by the subcommittee in its deliberations on this proposed legislation. The committee will stand adjourned until further call. (Whereupon, at 12 noon, the committee adjourned.) X COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. FIRST SESSION ON H. R. 1955 and H. R. 8427 BILLS PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 95440 HEARING HELD IN WASHINGTON, D. C., JULY 31, 1957 Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1958 COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR GRAHAM A. BARDEN, North Carolina, Chairman AUGUSTINE B. KELLEY, Pennsylvania CARL ELLIOTT, Alabama PHIL M. LANDRUM, Georgia LEE METCALF, Montana JAMES ROOSEVELT, California GEORGE S. MCGOVERN, South Dakota SAMUEL K. MCCONNELL, JR., Pennsylvania FRED G. HUSSEY, Chief Clerk KENNEDY W. WARD, Assistant General Counsel SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION EDITH GREEN, Oregon STUYVESANT WAINWRIGHT, New York DONALD W. NICHOLSON, Massachusetts MARY P. ALLEN, Subcommittee Clerk II tatement of: Aycock, Bert, chief, Division of Services for the Blind, Office of Beckworth, Hon. Lindley, a Representative in Congress from the Matthews, Hon. D. R. (Billy), a Representative in Congress from the Federal activities which assist the blind: I. State-Federal aid to the blind program_. II. Old-age, survivors, and disability insurance program_. III. Veterans' Administration programs__. IV. Vocational rehabilitation program_. V. Employment of the blind-Department of Labor. VI. Vending stands for the blind. VII. National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness__ Ferebee, E. E., acting director, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Folsom, Hon. M. B., Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, let- Shannon, James A., director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Switzer, Mary E., director, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, HEW, |