KIE: The Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) of the National Institutes of Health has encountered setbacks in its attempt to increase its regulatory authority over genetic engineering ventures. Competing claims by the Environmental Protection Agency have been supported in a congressional report authored by Rep. Albert Gore, Jr. (D-Tenn.) which is critical of RAC's actions in approving experimental release of genetically-modified organisms into the environment. During a 6 Feb 1984 public meeting, RAC faced a barrage of criticism led by activist Jeremy Rifkin, and learned of a U.S. Court of Appeals decision blocking its consideration of a proposed field test with engineered bacteria.