[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2556 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2556
To amend chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, to provide for a
technology assessment capability within the General Accounting Office,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 22, 2004
Mr. Bingaman (for himself and Mr. Lieberman) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, to provide for a
technology assessment capability within the General Accounting Office,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS.
(a) Findings and Purposes.--
(1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(A) it is important for Congress to be better
informed regarding the impact of technology on matters
of public concern, including implications for economic,
national security, social, scientific, and other
national policies and programs;
(B) on a pilot basis, the General Accounting Office
has demonstrated a capacity to perform independent and
objective technology assessments for Congress; and
(C) the development of a cost-effective and
efficient capacity for timely and deliberate technology
assessments by the General Accounting Office requires
the commitment of additional resources and
administrative flexibility given the current resource
constraints of the General Accounting Office.
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
(A) direct the establishment of a technology
assessment capability in the General Accounting Office;
(B) ensure the quality of such technology
assessments in order to enhance the ability of Congress
to address complex technical issues in a more timely
and effective manner; and
(C) condition the development of a technology
assessment capability in the General Accounting Office
on the provision of adequate additional resources and
administrative flexibility.
(b) Technology Assessments.--Chapter 7 of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 720 the following:
``Sec. 721. Technology assessments
``(a) The General Accounting Office shall establish a technology
assessment capability to coordinate and prepare information for
Congress relating to the policy implications of applications of
technology.
``(b) The Comptroller General may establish standards and
procedures to govern technology assessments performed under this
section as the Comptroller General determines necessary.
``(c) Technology assessments performed under this section shall--
``(1) provide Congress with timely and objective
information to contribute to legislative consideration of
technology applications and their policy implications,
including thorough reports, in-depth studies, and short-term
consultations;
``(2) be undertaken by the Comptroller General with special
attention to the technical expertise and policy analysis skills
needed to perform a prospective assessment of technology
applications and policy implications;
``(3) be designed, to the extent practicable, to review an
application of technology to an issue of public interest,
including consideration of benefits, cost, and risks from such
technology; and
``(4) include peer review by persons and organizations of
appropriate expertise.
``(d) In performing technology assessments, the Comptroller General
shall be properly apprised of Federal and non-Federal entities
providing information to Congress to--
``(1) enable effective coverage of critical issues; and
``(2) avoid duplication of effort.
``(e) Technology assessments performed under this section may be
initiated as provided under section 717(b).
``(f)(1) In consultation with the National Academy of Sciences, the
Comptroller General shall establish a technology assessment advisory
panel to provide advice on technology assessments performed under this
section, methodologies, possible subjects of study, and the means of
improving the quality and timeliness of technology assessment services
provided to Congress.
``(2) The advisory panel shall consist of 5 members, who by reason
of professional background and experience, are specially qualified to
advise on technology assessments.
``(3) Terms on the advisory panel shall--
``(A) be for a period of 2 years; and
``(B) begin on January 1, on each year in which a new
Congress is convened.
``(4) Notwithstanding section 1342, for the purposes of
establishing a technology assessment advisory panel, the Comptroller
General may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services (except
for reimbursement of travel expenses). Individuals providing such
voluntary and uncompensated services shall not be considered Federal
employees, except for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171
of title 28.
``(g)(1) In order to gain access to technical knowledge, skills,
and expertise necessary for a technology assessment performed under
this section, the Comptroller General may utilize individuals and enter
into contracts or other arrangements to acquire needed expertise with
any agency or instrumentality of the United States, with any State,
territory, or possession or any political subdivision thereof, or with
any person, firm, association, corporation, or educational institution.
``(2) Contracts and other arrangements under this subsection may be
entered into--
``(A) with or without reimbursement; and
``(B) without regard to section 3709 of the Revised
Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5) or section 3324 of this title.
``(h) The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress an annual
report on technology assessment activities of the General Accounting
Office.
``(i)(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to the General
Accounting Office to carry out the activities described in this
section, $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006.
``(2) Technology assessments under this section may not be
performed during fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006, unless a sufficient
annual appropriation is provided for such fiscal years.''.
(c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for
chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 720 the following:
``721. Technology assessments.''.
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