Science and Technical Advice for Congress

(Adopted by Council on April 15, 2005)

Science, engineering and technology are increasingly important components of the issues that come before the U.S. Congress. From long-term energy security to decisions about nuclear weapons policy and the exploration of space, it is imperative that congressional decision-makers have access to good technical advice. However, members of Congress and their staff report gaps in the advice currently available to them. They have identified a need for advice that:

(a) addresses problems that require significant study but must be acted on within a matter of months; and
(b) effectively supports policy development with expert technical assessment.

Therefore, the APS encourages Congress to enhance the capabilities of its support organizations or create other mechanisms to carry out timely technical analyses of policy options.