3 
Legislative activity 
James Watson, eo-reeipient of the Xobel prize for characterizing 
the structure of the DXA molecule, first called the attention of Con- 
gress to the likely development of new techniques in genetic research 
during a 1971 hearing before the House Committee on Science and 
Technology. Four years later the Health Subcommittee of the Senate 
Committee on Human Resources held hearings on genetic engineer- 
ing. During the past 3 years, nine separate sets of hearings have been 
held by committees of the House and Senate. 
The Carter administration sent draft legislation to Congress in 
early 1977. Several Senators and House Members introduced their 
own bills, and it seemed all but certain that Congress would com- 
plete action on recombinant DXA legislation prior to the July 4 
recess. The Human Resources Committee reported S. 1217, intro- 
duced by Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, in July 1977, 
In early August, Senator Gaylord Xelson of Wisconsin intro- 
duced to S. 1217 an amendment in the nature of a substitute which 
followed, the basic regulatory approach contained in the legislation 
developed by Representative Paul Rogers of Florida, chairman of the 
Health and Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on 
Interstate and Foreign Commerce. In September, Senator Adlai 
Stevenson of Illinois, chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Tech- 
nology, and Space, suggested in a Senate speech that the recent scien- 
tific developments and the reassessments then being conducted by the 
Xational Intitutes of Health and the Carter administration made it 
desirable to postpone final legislative action until 1978. In the mean- 
time Senator Harrison Schmitt of Xew Mexico, ranking minority 
member, requested that the subcommittee hold hearings on the issue. 
In these circumstances, the subcommittee conducted 3 days of 
hearings on November 2, 8, and 10. 1977. Twenty-seven witnesses 
(listed in the appendix) testified. Among the questions discussed at 
these hearings were the following : 
What are the actual and potential benefits of recombinant DXA 
research and technology ? How long will it take for the potential 
benefits t-o be realized ? 
What hazards must be taken into account in devising regula- 
tions for recombinant DXA research and technology? What has 
scientific investigation disclosed concerning the hypothetical 
risks that initially concerned many scientists? 
What approach should underlie regulation of recombinant 
DXA research in the public and private sectors ? Should there be 
common regulatory procedures covering both publicly funded and 
privately funded research ? Do the XIH guidelines provide a basis 
for regulation of the private sector ? 
Do existing Federal statutes provide a basis for regulating re- 
combinant DXA research and technology conducted with private 
funds ? 
Should there be uniform standards for research in all localities 
of the country? How can the concerns of State and local popula- 
tions for public health and environmental protection be accommo- 
dated ? 
[Appendix B — 263] 
