Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 | |
Longtitle: | An Act to mobilize the human and financial resources of the Nation to combat poverty in the United States. |
Enacted By: | 88th |
Effective Date: | August 20, 1964 |
Introducedin: | Senate |
Introducedbill: | S. 2642 |
Introducedby: | Patrick V. McNamara (D–MI) |
Introduceddate: | March 1964 |
Passedbody1: | Senate |
Passeddate1: | July 23, 1964 |
Passedvote1: | 61–34 |
Passedbody2: | House |
Passeddate2: | August 8, 1964 |
Passedvote2: | 226–185 |
Agreedbody3: | Senate |
Agreeddate3: | August 8, 1964 |
Signedpresident: | Lyndon B. Johnson |
Signeddate: | August 20, 1964 |
The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 authorized the formation of local Community Action Agencies as part of the War on Poverty. These agencies are directly regulated by the federal government.[1] "It is the purpose of The Economic Opportunity Act to strengthen, supplement, and coordinate efforts in furtherance of that policy".[2]
The War on Poverty was declared by President Lyndon B. Johnson in his State of the Union Address on January 8, 1964: