THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 
WASHINGTON. O C 20201 
MV 25 1964 
The Honorable Albert Gore, Jr. 
Chairman, Subcommittee on 
Investigations and Oversight 
Committee on Science and Technology 
House of Representatives 
Washington, D. C. 20515 
Dear Mr. Gore: 
Thank you for your letter enclosing a copy of the February 
1984 staff report "The Environmental Implications of Genetic 
Engineering," printed by the Committee on Science and 
Technology. The fact that you acknowledged "the invaluable 
role played by the NIH Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) 
in assuring public safety, together with research progress in 
genetic engineering" is greatly appreciated. 
As you know, in February, the RAC discussed four questions 
regarding its role. These questions were stimulated by the 
same concern that led to your report: releases into the environ- 
ment of genetically engineered organisms. A Working Group of 
the RAC is now looking into this and other issues and will 
report back to the full committee at its next meeting on June 1. 
We have asked that Working Group also to consider carefully your 
February 1984 staff report in its deliberations. Although the 
report was distributed at the last RAC meeting, there was not 
adequate time for study and discussion. In addition, NIH will 
publish the recommendations of your staff report in the Federal 
Register for public comment. 
Until the RAC has had a full discussion of your report, and 
until we have had a chance to analyze both the RAC recommenda- 
tions and comments from the public, we shall reserve the right 
to respond to the recommendations made in your staff report. 
Moreover, as you know, NIH is reviewing its future role in 
regard to non-NIH-f unded projects, including those of commercial 
firms. With these points in mind, we would like to respond to 
the questions posed in your letter: 
1. The Department intends to continue to make decisions 
concerning field tests ("releases into the environment") 
of genetically modified organisms for NIH-funded 
research . 
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