Bennett, Jr., of the Office of Science and Technology, the Panel ** established 13 subpanels and called on more than 100 scientists and other experts for detailed analysis and advice. The Panel's detailed analysis of the world food problem led to four basic conclusions: 1. The scale, severity, and duration of the world food problem are so great that a massive, long-range, innovative effort unprecedented in human history will be required to master it. 2. The solution of the problem that will exist after about 1985 demands that programs of population control be initiated now. For the immediate future, the food supply is critical. 3. Food supply is directly related to agricultural development and, in turn, agricultural development and overall economic development are critically interdependent in the hungry countries. 4. A strategy for attacking the world food problem will, of necessity, encompass the entire foreign economic assistance effort of the United States in concert with other developed countries, voluntary institutions, and international organizations. Its 46 specific recommendations covered 13 subjects: 1. Population and family planning; 2. Food production and nutrition; 3. Increasing agricultural productivity; 4. Food aid; 5. Production incentives; 6. Transportation; 7. Marketing, processing, and distribution of farm products; 8. The role of private industry; 9. Agricultural and trade policies; 10. Research and education; 12. Economic implications; and (b) Fish Protein Concentrate The 89th Congress in Public Law 89-701 authorized construction of an experimental and demonstration plant for fish protein concentrate and the leasing of another, but not until the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare had certified that the product complied with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act. On February 1, 1967, the Food and Drug Administration, DHEW, announced the use of whole fish protein concentrate as a food additive was approved. The approval was limited to concentrates made from hake or hake-like fish. 34 Membership of the Panel on the World Food Supply included : Ivan L. Bennett, Jr., Chairman, Office of Science and Technology. H. F. Robinson, Executive Director, North Carolina State University. Nyle C. Brady, New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University. Milton S. Eisenhower, president, Johns Hopkins University. Grace A. Goldsmith. Tulane University School of Medicine. Lowell S. Hardin, Ford Foundation. J. George Harrar, president, Rockefeller Foundation. James G. Horsfall, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. A. T. Mosher, Agricultural Development Council. L. Dale Newsom, Louisiana State University. William R. Pritchard, University of California. Roger Revelle, Harvard University. Thomas M. Ware, International Minerals & Chemical Corp 85 The text of the 46 recommendations appears in app. VII. Bulk sales of the product for use as an additive by food processors were not to be authorized unless "* * * data is provided demonstrating that the proposed use will not be deceptive to the consumer." Under the regulation, this new technological product may be manufactured from whole fish, including heads, fins, tails, viscera, and intestinal contents. Part of the bone is to be removed in processing, however, in order to reduce residues of fluorides to a level well below that which could discolor the teeth of children.36 Demonstration for fish protein concentrates was also featured in foreign aid legislation in 1967, discussed in chapter VI. 8. HEALTH A Presidential message on health in America, hearings on biomedical research and its applications, and mental health legislation were among health public policy landmarks of the 90th Congress, first session. House and Senate hearings on comprehensive health planning and later enactment of the Public Health Service Act, or Partnership for Health Amendments of 1967 represented further accomplishment. Finally, a bill passed during the first session authorized research, development, and training for older Americans. (a) The President's Message on Health Research and Develop ment One theme of the President's message of February 28, 1967, on education and health in America was health research and development. He recommended in the fiscal year 1968 budget an increase of $65 million-to an annual total of almost $1.5 billion-to support biomedical research. He proposed an International Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences and Federal funding of scholarships and fellowships in the Center. In addition, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare was to appoint immediately a lung cancer task force. The message also stressed application of health research and development as a means to reduce the costs of health services. But, said the President, the Government-wide total investment in health service research amounts to less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the total annual investment in health care. We have done very little to mobilize American universities, industry, private practitioners, and research institutions to seek new ways of providing medical services. There have been few experiments in applying advanced methods-systems analysis and automation, for example to problems of health care. These same techniques must now be put to work in the effort to bring low cost, quality health care to our citizens. To begin these efforts, the President directed the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish a National Center for Health Services Research and Development. He also recommended legislation to expand health services research and make possible the fullest use of Federal hospitals as research centers to improve health care, together with an appropriation of $20 million for fiscal year 1968 for research and development in health services, nearly double that for 1967.37 33 Food and Drug Administration release 67-21, Feb. 1, 1967. "Education and Health in America." Weekly compilation of Presidential Documents. Vol. 3, No. 9, Mar. 6, 1967, pp. 345-6. (b) Biomedical Research and its Application In June 1966 President Johnson had expressed concern that insufficient attention was being given to the application of results of biomedical research to national health problems.38 His emphasis upon application caused some uneasiness in the basic science community. As reported by the Subcommittee on Government Research of the Senate Committee on Government Operations, this concern was founded on an expected shift in policy which would emphasize applied research at the expense of basic or fundamental research. The science community reaction as seen by the subcommittee emphasized two points: 1. Basic research is essential to and underlies all practical applications. Interfering with the development of fundamental knowledge will damage our ability to continue contributing to the welfare of man. In other words, biomedical applications imply a sufficiently developed science base. 2. Federal sponsorship and support for science is essential to our universities. They have become dependent on Government funds for support of basic science research on which modern academic science is built. Interfering with the continuity and flow of that support would threaten universities and academic environment. And would, as well, discharge students from making science a career.” In February and March 1967, the Subcommittee on Government Research held 5 days of hearings on biomedical research and its application. Senator Harris, chairman of the subcommittee, sought information on the following: 40 1. Is there a need for additional attention for Federal agencies in the field of biomedical development? 2. An evaluation of existing Federal procedures for the establishment of research priorities and long-range plans in the field of biomedicine. 3. Are existing techniques for implementing plans and priorities adequate? If not, what is needed for improvement? 4. An evaluation of existing means of communications between the scientific community (research scientists, engineers, medical practitioners, and hospitals) and federal agencies concerned with biomedical research. 5. Are new, or additional, Federal institutions needed to further development and applications of biomedical knowledge? 6. What further steps might be taken by Government agencies to bring about more biomedical development without diminishing basic research and without disorienting institutions involved in basic research? (c) Research for Mental Retardation Approximately 126,000 children born each year in the United States will be considered mentally retarded at some point in their lives. Because of advances in medical care more of them are surviving so that the number of mentally retarded is increasing both in absolute size and as a proportion of the population. The Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963, Public Law 88-164, authorized assistance to construction of research centers for mental retardation. In the Mental Retardation Amendments of 1967 (Public Law 90170, 81 Stat. 527), Congress extended for 1 additional year the existing research and training for the education of handicapped children, and authorized appropriations of $1 million for fiscal year 1968 and $1.5 38 Weekly compilation of Presidential Documents. Vol. 2, No. 24, June 20, 1966, p. 779. 39 "Research in the Service of Man." Hearings before the Subcommittee on Government Research of the Senate Committee on Government Operations. 90th Cong., 1st sess., 1967. p. 4. 40 Ibid., 273 pp. million for each of the 2 next fiscal years for grants for research or demonstration projects relating to physical education or recreation for mentally retarded and other handicapped children. In addition, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare is to appoint panels of experts who are competent to evaluate the various types of research or demonstration projects and is to secure the advice and recommendations of one such panel before making any such grant. (d) Mental Illness Research Part of the Community Mental Health Centers Act authorized appropriations to build community mental health centers and grants to help staff them. The centers are expected to serve, along with other functions, as a base for research in mental illness, for epidemiological studies of incidence and distribution of mental illness in the community, and for evaluation of treatment and the programing of such centers. Public Law 90-31, the Mental Health Amendments of 1967, authorized a 3-year extension of the authorization for appropriations for the construction grants and a 2-year extension of the authorization to assist in the staffing of the centers. For construction of community health centers, the act authorizes $50 million for fiscal year 1968, $60 million for fiscal year 1969, and $70 million for fiscal year 1970. For assistance in staffing, the act authorizes appropriations of $26 million for fiscal year 1969 and $32 million for fiscal year 1970. How much of this relates to research is not clear. (e) Public Health Service Research 42 Hearings before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce in May and June 1 and before the Subcommittee on Health of the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare in September led to passage of H.R. 6418 as the Partnership for Health Amendments of 1967 (Public Law 90-174, 81 Stat. 533). In the amendments to the Public Health Service Act, the Congress broadened and improved existing authorization for research and demonstrations for health services, provided for licensing of clinical laboratories, authorized interchange or cooperative use of Public Health Service facilities and services with other organizations, and authorized the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to survey serious hunger, malnutrition, and health problems in the United States. (1) Health services research.-Section 304 of the Public Health Service Act is revised by Public Law 90-174 to authorize the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to make grants and contracts for research, experiments or demonstrations, and related training, related to development, utilization, quality, organization, and financing or services, facilities, and resources of hospitals, facilities for long-term care or other medical facilities and to the delivery or "Partnership for Health Amendments of 1967." Hearings before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 90th Cong., 1st sess., 1967, 371 pp. 42 "Partnership for Health Amendments of 1967." Hearings before the Subcommittee on Health, Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, 90th Cong., 1st sess., 1967, 225 pp. 43 financing of health services. Except where the Secretary determines that unusual circumstances make a larger percentage necessary, such a grant or contract for construction of facilities or purchase of equipment may not pay for more than half of the cost as the Secretary determines is reasonably attributable to research, experimental, or demonstration purposes. (2) Sharing of services and research facilities.-A new section 328 is added by Public Law 90-174 to title III of the Public Health Act. It provides for sharing of medical care facilities and resources. The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare is authorized to enter into agreements or arrangements with schools of medicine and with other health schools, agencies, or institutions for such interchange or cooperative use of facilities and services on a reciprocal or reimbursable basis as will be of benefit to the training or research programs of the participating agencies. Any reimbursement shall be based on charges covering the reasonable costs including normal depreciation and amortization costs of equipment. (f) Research For Older Americans In Public Law 89-73 (79 Stat. 218), Congress authorized research and development and training to help improve the quality of living for older Americans. The authorization extended for 2 years. Public Law 90-42 (81 Stat. 106), extended this authority and authorized appropriations for research, development, and training of $6.4 million for fiscal year 1968 and $10 million each for fiscal years 1969 and 1970. 9. NATIONAL DEFENSE: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR VIETNAM A request for a supplemental appropriation of $135 million for additional research and development in support of the war in Vietnam during fiscal year 1967 was authorized at $109.5 million in Public Law 90-8 (81 Stat. 10), approved April 4, 1967. The funds were justified as an increment to current programs for efforts to improve the ability of the Nation's forces to fight at night, reduce aircraft combat losses, and counter infiltration. The sum authorized included $40 million for the Army, $35.4 million for the Navy, $17 million for the Air Force and $17 million for Defense agencies. 10. THE MARINE SCIENCES In March, 1967 President Johnson sent to Congress his first report on the marine sciences activities of the Federal Government. Later, the Congress held hearings on the recently established Marine Sciences Council, which prepared the Presidents' report, and on the companion Marine Sciences Commission. (a) The Marine Sciences Council and Commission In drafting the Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 1966, Public Law 89-454, Congress took the initiative to im 43 Public Law 90-174 specifically includes the following subjects for this authority: "Projects for the construction of units of hospitals, facilities for long-term care, or other medical facilities which involve experimental architectural designs or functional layout or use of new materials or new methods of construction, the efficiency of which can be tested and evaluated, or which involve the demonstration of such efficiency, particularly projects which also involve research, experiments, or demonstrations relating to delivery of health services; and "Projects for development and testing of new equipment and systems, including automated equipment, and other new technology systems or concepts for the delivery of health services, and "Projects for research and demonstration in new careers in health manpower and new ways of educating and utilizing health manpower." |