(4) The Atomic Energy Commission have the principal Federal (5) The training programs necessary for such transfer be (6) At the termination of this special training program, any training of State personnel be conducted within the continuing programs of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and other Federal agencies. (7) The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare continue Recommendations (4) through (7) are to be carried out upon enactment of proposed legislation along the lines of S. 1987 and H. R. 7214. Sincerely yours, /s/ Maurice H. Stans Honorable Clinton P. Anderson Chairman, Joint Committee on Atomic Energy United States Senate Washington 25, D. C. APPENDIX 3 PRESS STATEMENT OF HON. ARTHUR S. FLEMMING, AUGUST 26, 1959 FOR RELEASE AT CONCLUSION OF NEWS CONFERENCE Statement* Arthur S. Flemming Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare As most of you are probably aware, the President on August 14 issued an executive order establishing the Federal Radiation Council, and along with the order the White House issued a press release which elaborated upon the order. On August 22 the White House issued a second press release in which I had the honor of being designated by the President as the current chairman of the Federal Radiation Council. That press release also stated: "The President also directed that the Department of Health, The action of the President, as reflected in the three documents referred to above, constitutes, in my opinion, a constructive and effective method for dealing with the growing problems of radiological health protection. Under the President's directive, the existing work of this Department in the radiological health field will be intensified, and the Department will undertake the additional "primary responsibility within the executive branch for the collation, analysis, and interpretation of data on environmental radiation levels As a first step in organizing the Department for our expanding work, I have made specific delegations of responsibilities for radiological Released at News Conference, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, August 26, 1959. health activities. These responsibilities, which primarily concern the Public Health Service and the Food and Drug Administration, are spelled out in the attachment. The attachment is being made a part of the Department's internal manual in which general program policy is set forth. It should be noted that I have assigned to the Public Health Service the responsibility for "collation, analysis and interpretation of data on environmental radiation levels as a basis for the Secretary's advice to the President and the general public." Financial ability, of course, is always an important factor in undertaking new work. For the current fiscal year we have funds available as shown below. For comparison I have also listed the funds that were available in the preceding fiscal year. It will be noted that the 1960 funds are a substantial increase over the funds for 1959. In addition to the funds identified in the above table, the National Institutes of Health also expend funds for therapeutic and diagnostic services in the radiological field. For 1960 the funds available for this purpose total $3,000,000. *Represents costs of a special study of the effects of uranium radiation on uranium miners. In allocating the funds for 1960, careful consideration will be given to the new assignments given to the Department by the President. As soon as I know how far we can go in carrying out the President's assignments with available funds, I will give consideration to the question of requesting additional funds. It is not necessary for me to cross this bridge at the present time, because such a request cannot be adequately developed and considered until the Congress reconvenes in January. The Department approaches its expanding role in the radiological health field with the most serious determination to carry out the President's assignment. At the same time, we are sensitive to the complexities involved in the subject, and we have the utmost respect for the labors of the pioneers, both in and out of government, who have preceded us. 10-00-10 A. Part 10 sets forth the basic functions of the Department and the assignment of the responsibilities within the Department for activities related to radiation health. BASIC DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITIES Executive Order 10831 dated August 14, 1959, provides for membership of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare on the Federal Radiation Council, and requires the Department to furnish the Council necessary assistance, information, and reports. B. The President has approved a recommendation of the Bureau of the Budget that the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare intensify its radiological health efforts and have primary responsibility within the executive branch for the collation, analysis, and interpretation of data on environmental radiation levels such as natural background, radiography, medical and industrial use of isotopes and X-rays, and fall-out, so that the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare may advise the President and the general public. The Department's existia "radiological health efforts," which are being intensified in order to help fulfill this responsibility, include research, development, technical assistance, training, enforcement, and informational functions required for protection of the public health from damage by ionizing radiation. |