THIS is a progress report to the readers of Pediatrics on the status of Senator Lister Hill's "Health for Peace" bill (Senate Joint Resolution 41). This measure, which would have set up an international institute of medical research, passed the Senate May 20, 1959 with flying colors but finally was snagged in a House subcommittee through the summer of 1959.
The legislation received resounding approval by the Senate, with a vote of 63 to 17. The bill proposed to organize an Institute of International Medical Research within the framework of the National Institutes of Health. A $50,000,000 annual appropriation was planned. Evidence of widespread public support for the measure was observed in the statements of authorities who spoke at the Senate hearings concerning the bill. It is of interest that no one appeared to testify against S.J. Res. 41 during the 6 days of hearings.
At lease two persons participating in the hearings were members of the American Academy of Pediatrics: Dr. Martha M. Eliot, Head, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Harvard School of Public Health and Dr. Sidney Farber (Honorary Associate Member), Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School.
Many witnesses pointed out the importance of providing support for the research activities and the training of promising scholars in other lands. On this subject, Dr. Farber had this to say:
In many countries, such as Italy, the amount of research support available is so small that men of great skill and intellect are compelled to carry on only token research concerning problems which are selected because they do not require manpower, equipment, or modern research facilities.
