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. 598 RADIATION PROTECTION 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 thạt 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. B. Part 10 sets forth the basic functions of the Department and the 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. 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 existi "radiological health efforts," which are being intensified in order t◊ 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. RADIATION PROTECTION 601 10-00-20 RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT The following paragraphs state the assignment of responsibilities within the Department related to radiation health. These responsibilities, with the exception of B. 6 and 7 below, were already being carried on prior to the issuance of Executive Order 10831. A. Office of the Secretary. The Office of the Secretary is responsible for general policy leadership; for final decision on the Department's legislative and budget position; for coordination of radiation health matters affecting more than one operating agency; and for public information matters related to the responsibilities of the Office of the Secretary. B. Public Health Service. The Public Health Service is responsible for: 1. Research and epidemiology on radiation exposure and its effects on man, including prevention, treatment, and control of excessive exposure; 2. Research related to the establishment of biological and physical 3. standards, and instrumentation, and methodology related to human exposure; Technical assistance to States in the development and conduct of their radiation health programs; 4. Development of methodology of detection and measurement of radioactivity levels for use by State and local agencies in their programs for control of environmental health hazards; 5. Operation of monitoring and sampling networks to determine the degree of radioactivity present in air, water, and milk; 6. Arranging for receipt on a regular basis of date on enviromental radiation levels gathered by other departments and agencies; |