Congress: What's Ahead

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HEALTH
• Henry A. Waxman, a Democrat from California, has submitted a bill (HR 5238) that would promote the development of "orphan drugs" . . . effective medications that are so costly—or used to treat such rare illnesses—that drug companies find them too unprofitable to market.

• Another California Democrat, George Miller, has introduced a bill to set up a national compensation standard for asbestos workers suffering from job-related illnesses, textile workers afflicted with diseases caused by cotton dust, and uranium miners who contract radiation sickness. In addition Senator Orrin G. Hatch (a Utah Republican) will continue his campaign to provide federal payments to individuals whose diseases are attributed to radiation exposure from atomic weapons testing in the West during the 1950's and 60's.

• The National Institutes of Health—including the much criticized National Cancer Institute—are up for reauthorization this year. Also scheduled to expire is the Health Planning System, whose purpose is to equalize distribution of health care resources such as clinics and specialized equipment. The Reagan administration attempted to kill the latter measure in '81, and lobbyists look forward to a heated debate this year.

• The food processing industry is urging Congress to hold hearings on the possibility of changing current food safety laws. In particular, the processors seek a relaxation of the Delaney Clause, which bars the use of cancer-causing additives in food.

• Finally, the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee has completed work on a bill (S 234) that would encourage home care for the elderly through tax credits and adjustments in Medicare and Medicaid payments.

ENERGY
• The proposed dismantling of the Department of Energy (DOE) tops Congress's energy agenda this year. President Reagan would like to see most DOE programs transferred to the Commerce Department, while advocates of conservation and renewable energy sources fear they'd lose out completely if the rapidly shrinking energy budget were placed in the hands of another agency.

• Several bills have been introduced to amend or repeal the 1935 law that prevents utilities from diversifying. This action comes at a time of increased financial problems for the U.S. utility industry. Some legislators believe that quick relief could be brought about by allowing the utilities to acquire other businesses.

• The Senate is working on a bill (S 1662) to provide a comprehensive plan for disposing of nuclear waste. This one is likely to cause huge fights between supporters of nuclear power who seek a solution to the waste problem and those who don't want radioactive trash dumped in their own states. Details such as public safety, environmental restrictions, and the question of whether the bill applies to wastes generated by the manufacture of military weapons are expected to be hotly contested.

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