I've signed up for both parts of the Medicare program because I
know that everyone 65 or older needs this protection badly. I've seen
too many instances where a man's life savings have gone down the
drain because of a major illness in old age. Medicare will help pay
much of these costs. That's why I urge everyone 65 or older... take
advantage of Medicare. Sign up by March 31st. I'm glad I have this
protection even though I hope I never will have to use it.

STATEMENT ON SIGNING SENATE BILL 12
ANNAPOLIS

April 13, 1966

This bill which we are now signing provides for an administrative
structure and a program to make available community mental health
services to all citizens of Maryland. This places our State in the posi-
tion of moving forward in the new concept of prevention, treatment
and rehabilitation of the mentally ill in the local community.

I would point out here that the budget which was adopted at the
recent session of the General Assembly contained the funds for the
preparation of detailed plans for Maryland's first comprehensive Com-
munity Mental Health Center, which will be situated adjacent to the
Medical School of the University of Maryland in Baltimore. The
importance of this bill, and the significance of this day, is that it marks
a new era and a new approach to mental health and mental illness.
It is the hope of those who are acquainted with the problems of mental
illness that we may be on the verge of moving away from the treatment
of large numbers of mentally ill persons in large hospitals, removed
from their community, their family and their friends.

But this bill, like other legislation, is not self-executing and self-
implementing. On the contrary, it will require the continuing interest
and support of the dedicated citizens who have worked hard for the
passage of this legislation if the dream of community mental health
care in all sections of our State is to become a reality.

In signing this bill, I feel certain that we have taken another step
forward in providing better care and better treatment for the mentally
ill of our State.

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