---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 274a"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "274a"
heading: "International biological program"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/274a"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — International Bureaus, Congresses, Etc."
---

# §274a. International biological program

- (a) **Congressional findings—** The Congress hereby finds and declares that the international biological [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6), which was established under the auspices of the International Council of Scientific Unions and the International Union of Biological Sciences and is sponsored in the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, deals with one of the most crucial situations to face this or any other civilization—the immediate or near potential of mankind to damage, possibly beyond repair, the earth’s ecological system on which all life depends. The Congress further finds and declares that the international biological [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) provides an immediate and effective means available of meeting this situation, through its stated objectives of increased study and research related to biological productivity and human welfare in a changing world environment.
- (b) **Congressional support—** The Congress therefore commends and endorses the international biological [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) and expresses its support of the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) National Committee and the Interagency Coordinating Committee, which together have the responsibility for planning, coordinating, and carrying out the [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) in the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1).
- (c) **Priority—** In view of the urgency of the problem, the Congress finds and declares that the provision by the [United States](/usc/22/1395.md?p=a-1) of adequate financial and other support for the international biological [program](/usc/22/3383.md?p=6) is a matter of first priority.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–438, § 1, Oct. 7, 1970, 84 Stat. 889.)