Excerpt from Social Security in America: The Factual Background of the Social Security Act as Summarized From Staff Reports to the Committee on Economic Security

The Social Security Act became law on August 14, 1935. This act was a final development from the work of the Committee on Economic Security, the report of which the President transmitted to Congress in a special message on January 17, 1935, with recommendations for the passage of legislation to carry out the Committee's suggestions. This message and report represented the fulfillment of a promise made by the President in a special message on June 8, 1934, to the effect that he expected to make recommendations at the beginning of the next session of Congress for additional measures of protection against the major vicissitudes of life which result in destitution and dependency for many individuals.

The Committee on Economic Security was a temporary agency created by the President in Executive Order no. 6757, on June 29, 1934, as a first step in the fulfillment of this promise. This Com mittee consisted of the Secretary of Labor as chairman, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Federal Emergency Relief Administrator. Its function was to study the problems relating to economic security and to make recommendations, both for a long-time and an immediate program of legislation which would promote economic security for the individual. This Committee completed the major part of its task when it filed its report with the President, which he transmitted to Congress in the special message of January 17 1935. It was continued in existence however, with a small staff throughout the consideration of the social security bill in Congress, to give such assistance to the congressional committees as they might request. Its existence terminated October 1, 1935, when the Social Security Board came into operation as the permanent agency to administer this legislation.

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