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TOSHUA LEDERBERG

PRESIDENT

29 April 1980

The Honorable William S. Green L

The United States House of Jee”
Representatives

1118 Dirksen New Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Green:

We are writing to recommend that you support the re-
guest of AID to reprogram $2,000,000 into the World Health
Organization's "Special Programme of Research in Human Re-
production." We understand that this proposal will be
considered shortly, but that Senator Inouye has had reser-
vations about the action.

Both of us have had substantial opportunities to
evaluate the WHO's overall program and its new initiatives
to stimulate research pertinent to improving means for
control of population growth. We are convinced that the
WHO is making a highly professional effort to increase the
scale, quality, and visibility of research on what is
surely a critical international goal.

One of us (JL) has been involved actively as a scien-
tific advisor to the WHO and, in that capacity, has ob-
served at first-hand the operation of this program. It is
an excellent effort, which appears to be coordinated well
with the international research community concerned with
population research. Moreover, the WHO in this case has
sought good scientific advice from the United States.

One of us (RWN) has been a member of US delegations
to United Nations conferences on "science and technology
for development." In this context, it has become clear
that unless the US takes even more vigorous leadership in
assessing population issues--and pursuing the biomedical
and social research pertinent to reproduction--the world-
wide effort will continue to be miniscule in relation to
the enormous stakes.
The Honorable William S. Green
29 April 1980
-~ 2? -

We have enclosed certain background materials that
may be useful in your review of this subject. We would be
glad to discuss the matter with you or your staff at any
mutually convenient time. You can reach Joshua Lederberg
at 212-360-1234 and Rodney W. Nichols at 212-360-1163.

Sincerely,

  
 

(obey WLU saab

Joshua Lederbe Rodney W. Nichols
President Executive Vice President