HARRISON A. WILLIAMS, JR., N.J., CHAIRMAN MAY 2 ? 1971

JENNINGS RANDOLPH, W. VA, JACOB K. JAVITS, N.Y.

CLAIBORNE PELL, R.1. WINSTON L. PROUTY, VT.

EDWARD M. KENNEDY, MASS. PETER H. DOMINICK, COLO.

GAYLORD NELSON, WIS. RICHARD S. SCHWEIKER, PA.

WALTER F. MONDALE, MINN. ROBERT W. PACKWOOD, OREG. °

THOMAS F. EAGLETON, MO. ROBERT TAFT, JR., OHIO IC { ° Dt f

ALAN CRANSTON, CALIF. J. GLENN BEALL, IR. MD. TY ¢ Oo es eng é€
HAROLD E. HUGHES, [OWA

ADLAI E. STEVENSON III, ILL. COMMITTEE ON

STEWART E. MCCLURE, STAFF DIRECTOR EASES ANS PUBLIG WELFARE
ROBERT E. NAGLE, GENERAL COUNSEL WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510

May 25, 1971

Dr. Joshua Lederberg

Professor of Genetics

Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, California 94305

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

Recent hearings conducted by the Senate Health Subcommittee demonstrated
the great concern and broad based support across the country for develop-
ing a special research program aimed at conquering cancer. There is no
question in our minds that the Congress and the country are prepared to
give extensive support to expanding the effort to conquer this disease,

The only remaining question is, what is the best approach to accomplish
this end, The National Panel of Consultants on the Conquest of Cancer
recommended this effort be carried out through a separate cancer agency
removed from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Senator
Kennedy moved to implement the recommendations by introducing S.34, the
proposed Conquest of Cancer Act.

The hearings indicated sharp disagreement over the separate cancer agency
approach recommended by the Panel. As co-sponsors of S. 34, we agree
wholeheartedly with the bill's objective. However, after reviewing the
testimony, and having extensive conversations with interested scientists,
health educators and others in the medical community, we find that a worthy
compromise would be to modify the Panel's proposal by establishing the National
Institutes of Health as an independent agency.

On May 21, we (along with Senator Schweiker) announced our intention to
propose such an amendment (No. 109) to create a separate NIH and within

it, a National Cancer Authority. The autonomous NIH would be comparable

to the Atomic Energy Commission, the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration and the National Science Foundation. We believe this proposal
would accomplish all the objectives of the Panel's recommendations and also
meet the serious objections of the research community to a separate

cancer effort outside of NIH.

Under the proposal, only one administrative post (the Director of NIH) would
separate the Cancer Authority Administrator from the President. At present,
with NIH as part of HEW, there are six bureaucratic layers between the
National Cancer Institute and the President.
May 25, 1971
Page 2

The Health Subcommittee is conducting another hearing June 10 on the
cancer proposals. It would be valuabie for the Committee to have
your Views on the proposal we have described. Enclosed is a copy of
the floor statement describing the amendment in detail and containing
its text. If you have any questions, please contact Judith Robinson
(Senator Nelson, 225-8658), or Jon Steinberg (Senator Cranston,
225-7651 or 52).

Wotan -_ 4a baw

ae NELSON wa CRANS TON
U. S. Senator U. S&S. Senator

Enclosure