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Read. Follow. Verify.Congressional Hearing on Improving Science and Technology Advice for Congress
Record date · January 1, 2020
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What This Bill Does
The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to discuss how Congress can better access expert scientific and technical advice. The discussion focused on the historical role of the Office of (OTA) and current methods for providing technical expertise to lawmakers.
This hearing explores potential changes to how Congress acquires scientific expertise, which directly impacts the quality of information available to lawmakers when drafting legislation on complex technical issues.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Members of Congress
Lawmakers rely on the information provided by expert staff and external agencies to inform legislative decisions.
Congressional Staff
Staff members are responsible for navigating complex technical issues and utilizing available expert resources.
Key Facts
- The hearing took place on December 5, 2019, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
- The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) was created by the Technology Assessment Act of 1972.
- The OTA produced 700 reports on science and technology issues during its 20 years of operation.
- The OTA was defunded and disbanded by Congress in 1995.
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- The Committee currently relies on internal expert staff with Ph.D.s to provide technical advice.
- The hearing included testimony from representatives of the Stennis Center, Harvard Kennedy School, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the National Academies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Office of Technology Assessment?
How does Congress currently get scientific advice?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Historical Re-evaluation
The hearing indicates a formal legislative interest in revisiting the 1995 decision to disband the Office of Technology Assessment.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance40How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
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