13 
risks and benefits posed by use of recombinant DNA techniques without 
Government regulation." 
The Department is now drafting legislation in the light of the 
recommendations made by the Committee. This legislation should be 
ready soon. 
Mr. Chairman, I would like to submit for the record the Federal 
Interagency Committee’s "Interim Report on Suggested Elements for 
Legislation," along with a copy of the Secretary’s press release. 
With your permission, I would like to review briefly some of the 
major elements addressed by the Committee. The Committee determined that 
the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare is the appropriate locus 
in the Government for the regulation of the use and production of 
recombinant DNA molecules. In reaching this determination, the Committee 
took into account existing roles of certain agencies within DHEW — for 
example, that of the NIH in developing the Guidelines, and of the Center 
for Disease Control and Bureau of Biologies (FDA) in regulating infectious 
agents and biological products. The Committee also had before it the 
petition by the Environmental Defense Fund, requesting DHEW to issue 
regulations for recombinant DNA research. 
The Committee reviewed at great length the nature and scope of 
regulation. Consideration was given to regulation of all laboratory 
research where hazardous or potentially hazardous substances were 
employed. There was general Committee agreement that present legisla- 
tion should be restricted to recombinant DNA techniques. 
[ 854 ] 
