Federal Alert— new legislation This C&EN report lists new legislation introduced between April 1 and May 5, 1976. Senate and House bills are listed under areas of interest by bill number, primary sponsor, and the committee to which the bill has been referred. SENATE Energy. S. 3339—Ribicoff (D.-Conn.). Consolidates all federal agencies with responsibilities in the energy area, including the Federal Energy Administration and the Energy Research & Development Administration, into a single Cabinet-level Department of Energy & Natural Resources; referred to Government Operations. Nuclear. S. 3286—Pasture (D.-R.l.). Gives the Nuclear Regulatory Commission new authority to approve sites for nuclear facilities in advance of filing of a construction application, permits the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to review only those applications it chooses instead of all of them as is now required; referred to Atomic Energy. R&D. S. 3350—Tunney (D.-Calif.). Authorizes $30 million in fiscal 1977 and 1978 for materials R&D to, among other things, develop substitutes for materials whose continued supply is in doubt and increase efficiency of materials processing; referred to Commerce. Safety. S. 3285—Schweiker (R.-Pa.). Requires the Secretary of Labor to warn employers as to possible hazard of death or serious injury posed by substances used or manufactured in their workplaces as soon as the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health makes a determination of serious danger, requires posting of warning notices in workplaces; referred to Labor & Public Welfare. HOUSE Business. H.R. 13131—Rodino (D.-N.J.). Provides for Justice Department notification prior to a merger's taking place and for stay agreement pending a decision on the merger's legality; referred to Judiciary. Chemicals. H.R. 13124—Jones (D.-Ala.). Requires registration with the Secretary of Transportation when transporting "hazardous" as well as "extremely hazardous" materials; referred to Interstate & Foreign Commerce, Public Works & Transportation. H.R. 13396—Green (D.-Pa.). Requires that the International Trade Commission continue publishing production reports on synthetic organic chemicals; referred to Ways & Means. Energy. H.R. 13156—Price (D.-lll.). Authorizes NRC to prescribe and collect fees for services rendered or licenses issued; referred to Atomic Energy. Health. H.R. 13103—Jones (D.-Okla.). Requires that the name of a prescription drug's manufacturer appear on the label of the package from which the drug is dispensed; referred to Interstate & Foreign Commerce.
Yet another call for more spending on R&D Changes in federal funding strategy, an "enlightened" patent policy, and increased government procurement have been backed by witnesses at House hearings on "R&D and the Economy" as ways of stimulating R&D in the private sector. And this increased R&D would in turn benefit the U.S. economy. Several days of hearings on this issue were concluded earlier this month by the House Subcommittee on Domestic & International Scientific Planning & Analysis, which is chaired by Rep. Ray Thornton (D.-Ark.) and oversees scientific planning and analysis in the nondefense sector. William N. Hubbard Jr., M.D., president of Upjohn Co., believes that future government strategies should involve companies that are not now investing in R&D and also should enhance the efforts of those companies that are already investing intensively in R&D. An example, he says, is the chemicals and allied products industry, which spent $1.87 billion of its own money on R&D in 1973. This compares with $1.11 billion for the aircraft and missiles industry, and $2.66 billion for electrical and communications. And yet, he adds, the chemicals and allied products industry received the least help from federal sources. Only 10% of its R&D funds were from the government, compared with 78% for aircraft and missiles, 50% for electrical and communications. Further, Hubbard believes that federal governmental policies should enhance industrial R&D on problems that are of great importance to developing nations but that would otherwise be neglected because they are not economically attractive. This would create job opportunities for young scientists, "the most important single resource for science." The government also should concentrate on improving the antitrust laws, Hubbard goes on to say. Inhibiting cooperative research by companies would, among other things, lead to unnecessary duplication of efforts. And he believes that the tax laws should be changed so that R&D would be treated as an investment and not as an expense. R&D, he explains, never results in any technology, much less technology that has a market. Dr. Jordon Lewis, director of the Experimental Technology Incentives Program at the National Bureau of Standards, suggests that government procurement can have a powerful influence on technological change by providing an early market for innovative products, thereby reducing market entry risks for suppliers. And U.S. Comptroller General Elmer B. Staats believes that an "enlightened" patent policy is in order. Instead of letting the government control entirely the patent derived from federally funded R&D, Staats says, "public interest may best be served when private industrial contractors are granted exclusive licenses for commercial development." D I
WHITE HOUSE FELLOWSHIPS TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER, 1977 The President's Commission on White House Fellows selects fifteen to twenty Fellows each year to gain firsthand experience in the nation's governing process through assignment to White House staff members, the Vice President, members of the Cabinet, and other top level officials.
The ACS is encouraging outstanding chemists and chemical engineers to apply for the Fellowships and will consider Society endorsement of their candidacy. An ACS Task Force is carrying out this charge.
To receive consideration for ACS endorsement of your candidacy, send by October 1, 1976, a duplicate of your White House Fellowship application, including recommendations, to: Dr. Robert W. Cairns Executive Director American Chemical Society 1155 16th St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036 Applications will be available on August 2, 1976, from: The President's Commission on White House Fellows Washington, D.C. 20415 Applicants must be citizens of the U.S. and at least 23 years old but not 36 by September 1, 1977. No employees of the Executive Office of the Federal Government are eligible except career military personnel of the Armed Services.
May 17, 1976 C&EN
21
