FOR RELEASE AT 1:00 P.M. EST National Institutes of Health 
Wednesday, March 16, 1977 Storm Whaley (301) 496-4461 
New legislation is necessary to regulate the use and production of 
recombinant DNA molecules, according to a report transmitted today to 
the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. 
In accepting the report from the Federal Interagency Committee on 
Recombinant DNA Research, Secretary Joseph A. Calif ano, Jr., said that 
the Department will immediately begin drafting legislation in the light 
of the recommendations made by the Committee. 
Califano noted that he had been closely monitoring the recombinant 
DNA issue since his confirmation and that he had been in continuous 
communication with Dr, Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D., Director, National 
Institutes of Health and Chairman of the Interagency Committee. 
"I recognize that legislation in this area would represent an unusual 
regulation of activities affecting basic science but the potential hazards 
posed by recombinant DNA techniques warrant such a step at this time," 
Califano stated. 
"But I believe that such a measure is necessary not just to safeguard 
the public but also to assure the continuation of basic research in this 
vital scientific area. 
(more) 
[276] 
