THE WHITE HOUSE 
WASHINGTON 
September 22, 1976 
Dear Mr. Chaiman: 
I am writing in response to your and Senator Javits* 
letter of July 19 concerning the National Institutes 
of Health (NIH) Guidelines on Recombinant Deoxyri- 
bonucleic Acid (DNA) Research. As you note in your 
letter, the Guidelines were developed over an 18- 
month period and involved the participation not only 
of the scientific community but of the public as 
well. 
I am advised by the Secretary of Health, Education, 
and Welfare that the potential scientific and medi- 
cal benefits in this research area are promising 
and that support for the research is merited with 
appropriate safeguards against possible hazards. 
The material accompanying the release of the 
Guidelines explained in great detail the care and 
consideration given stated public concerns for 
safety. 
The application of these Guidelines beyond the NIH 
to the public and private sectors merits further 
consideration. To consider this and other issues 
further Secretary Mathews has proposed that an inter- 
agency committee be created to review -the activities 
of all Government agencies conducting or supporting 
recombinant DNA research or having regulatory 
authority relevant to this scientific field. The 
committee could also coordinate activities with non- 
Federal institutions . I have written to all 
Department Secretaries urging their cooperation and 
participation in naming representatives to serve 
on this proposed committee. 
[ 163 ] 
