~ .

*
JOHN L. MCCLELLAN, ARK,, CHAIRMAN SUBCOMMITTEE:

ae M. JACKSON, WASH. KARL E. MUNDT, S. DAK, EDMUND 8S. MUSKIE, MAINE, CHAIRMAN

|» ERVIN, JR., N.C. CARL T. CURTIS, NEBR. KARL INDT, DAK.
ERNEST GRUENING, ALASKA JACOB K. JAVITS, N.Y. ABRAHAM RIBICOFT, CONN CLIFFORD P. HANSEN, WYO.
EDMUND S&S. MUSKIE, MAINE CLIFFORD P. HANSEN, WYO. ROBERT F. KENNEDY N.Y, . HOWARD H. BAK: } gr TENN,
ABRAHAM RIBICOFF, CONN. HOWARD H. BAKER, JR., TENN. LEE METCALF, MONT. + BAKER, Jv

FRED R. HARRIS, OKLA. EPH on TO" ;

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, N.Y. 308 “eM ———_

JOSEPH M. MONTOYA, N. MEX. 5 Me SMITH, 8 pin

LEE METCALF, MONT.

JAMES R, CALLOWAY

CHIEF CLERK AND STAFF DIRECTOR 2 Crit ed Plate ss Senate

COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
(PURSUANT TO 5. RES, 55, 90TH CONGRESS)

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510

August 12, 1967

Re: S. Res. 68 "To Establish a Select Senate Committee
on Technology and the Human Environment"

Senate Resolution 68 which was introduced earlier this
year in the Senate, would establish a Select Senate
Committee on Technology and the Human Environment. The
purpose of this legislation would be to provide the
Senate with a special committee for inquiring into the
broad impact of science and technology on man's thinking,
health, work, living habits, and individual security
over the next fifty years.

The Select Committee would be—and this is to be empha-
sized—a study committee concerned with obtaining infor-
mation about man's future, and evaluating that information
in the light of technological benefits to be derived, and
hazards to be encountered. It would be a forum where
scientists and legislators can come together and discuss
the critical environmental problems to be faced in the
years ahead, and what science and government working to-
gether must do to meet these problems.

Hearings were completed on the resolution in April, and
the Subcommittee on Intergovernmental Relations, to which
the resolution was referred, recently reported it favor-
ably to the full Committee on Government Operations of
the Senate.

We feel that the establishment of such a Select Committee
would make an immeasurable contribution by developing a
closer relationship between the Senate and the scientific
and technological community in a joint effort to solve
critical environmental problems. In addition, we feel
a

Page Two

that a study group of this nature would provide a very
useful source of information and recommendations for
Congress as a whole, for the Executive Branch, for aca-
demic institutions and scholars, and for the public at
large, as we face the twenty-first century.

Because of your special interest in science and tech-
nology, we thought you would be interested in learning
that the resolution is now moving toward a very impor-
tant stage in its Senate consideration. A number of
scientists have made comments on the proposal and have
helped us in shaping the legislation.

We would appreciate any comments or suggestions which
you may wish to express in connection with this legis-
lation.

Sincerely,