FEDERAL DNA LEGISLATION - 95th CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION 
H. Res. 131: 
S. 621: 
H.R. 4232: 
S. 945: 
H.R. 4759: 
H.R. 6158: 
Summary of Bills and Resolutions 
This resolution proposes that the Secretary of HEW 
regulate recombinant DNA activities through use of section 
361 of the PHS Act. Section 361 pertains to the prevention 
of the spread of communicable disease. 
This bill would require the Secretary of HEW to regulate 
recombinant DNA research. A license for each project, 
issued by the Secretary, would be mandatory. The penalty 
for a willful violation would be a fine of up to $10,000, 
imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Liability for 
harm would be imposed without regard to fault. No patents 
would be allowed unless the NIH Guidelines had been strict- 
ly adhered to and full disclosure of the process made. 
This bill would establish a temporary, one-year study 
commission to make a report on recombinant DNA issues. 
This bill would require the Secretary of HEW to regulate 
recombinant DNA research. The NIH Guidelines would serve 
as the scientific standards. The penalty for a violation 
would be a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment for up to 
one year, or both. The penalty for a willful violation 
would be a fine of not less than $10,000, Imprisonment for 
not less than one year, or both. The bill would also 
establish a temporary, 27-month study commission to make 
a report on recombinant DNA issues. 
This bill would require the Secretary of HEW to regulate 
recombinant DNA research. The NIH Guidelines would serve 
as the scientific standards. A license for each facility, 
issued by the Secretary, would be mandatory. The penalty 
for a violation would be a fine of up to $1,000. There 
would be a limit of ten P-4 centers. State/local govern- 
ments would be able to impose their own requirements if 
they were at least as strict as the comparable Federal 
standards . 
This is the Administration bill and was introduced in the 
Senate as S. 1217: The bill would require the Secretary 
of HEW to regulate recombinant DNA activities. The NIH 
Guidelines would serve as the scientific standards. A 
license for each facility, issued by the Secretary, would 
be mandatory. The penalty for a violation would be a fine 
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