the Congress. So while we try to keep abreast of ongoing technological problems, our main mission is to support the committees, support the members of Congress. We have had some overruns in the past. We have probably made some mistakes. It took us 5 or 6 years with the new organization to get some procedures established, learn from our mistakes, and so on, but I would take sharp issue with the quotation you referred to. Some of the members of our board in the other body have not been happy with everything the OTA has done, and some of them, frankly, have not been happy with everything the Director has done; but we had a good meeting last month. We aired all of these difficulties and problems. I thought the Director was very frank in responding to some of the criticisms that have been made and I thought he allayed the fears of those who felt that we were not on the right course. I think we are, and I intend to keep it that way. Mr. BENJAMIN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Rudd. Mr. RUDD. I have no questions for the distinguished, very persuasive chairman. Mr. UDALL. From one of the great States in the Union, where it never snows. Mr. RUDD. Only in St. Johns. Mr. UDALL. We are thinking of a technological assessment of snow removal this week. We haven't had any requests on that yet. Mr. BENJAMIN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. UDALL. All right, sir. Thank you. We appreciate your kindness, and I am sorry to keep you waiting. That will not happen again. Mr. BENJAMIN. No, we appreciate your being back up here as promptly as you were. DIRECTOR PETERSON'S STATEMENT We will insert the statement of Dr. Peterson in the record at this time. Mr. DE SIMONE. Certainly, Mr. Chairman. As you know, due to weather conditions, he is unable to be with us today, but I am prepared to highlight his formal statement. Mr. BENJAMIN. I am going to submit his full statement dated February 21, 1979. STATEMENT OF RUSSELL W. PETERSON, DIRECTOR OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT BEFORE THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 21, 1979 MR. CHAIRMAN, I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE TO PRESENT THE FISCAL YEAR 1980 BUDGET REQUEST OF THE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT (OTA). THE INITIAL SUBMISSION OF OTA REQUESTED $12.5 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 1980, PLUS TWENTY ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME STAFF PERSONNEL. AS THE CHAIRMAN STATED, OTA'S BOARD, AT ITS MEETING OF JANUARY 31, 1979, REVIEWED THIS REQUEST WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE OFFICE AND THE DESIRE OF CONGRESS TO REDUCE THE GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT, AND VOTED TO REDUCE OTA's REQUEST TO $11.2 MILLION AND NO ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL. THIS KEEPS OTA AT THE SAME OPERATING LEVEL AS THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. MR. CHAIRMAN, I THEREFORE REQUEST THAT THESE REVISED PAGES FOR OUR BUDGET SUBMISSION, REFLECTING THE REDUCED BUDGET REQUEST, BE INCLUDED IN THE RECORD. BEFORE DISCUSSING THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 1980 REQUEST, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES ON THE CHANGES TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT CONTROL, WE HAVE CONSOLIDATED TWELVE REPORTING UNITS INTO THREE DIVISIONS, TO ASSURE THAT PROJECTS APPROVED BY OTA'S BOARD ARE DELIVERED ON TIME, WITHIN COST AND WITH HIGH QUALITY AND IN ADDITION TO ACQUIRING TWO ADDITIONAL HIGHLY EXPERIENCED ASSISTANT DIRECTORS, TALENTED NEW STAFF PERSONS HAVE BEEN RECRUITED TO GIVE A NEW DIMENSION OF MANAGERIAL, TECHNICAL AND INTELLECTUAL SKILLS ACROSS THE BOARD AT OTA, AND TO PROVIDE THE HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, OTA HAS LEARNED HOW TO EFFECTIVELY CARRY OUT ITS ASSIGN MENT AND IS NOW WELL EQUIPPED TO BE OF INCREASING VALUE TO THE CONGRESS. THE GROWING NEEDS TO RESTRAIN THE GROWTH OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET CALLS FOR INCREASED ATTENTION TO IMPROVED DECISION-MAKING SO THAT THE DOLLARS ARE EXPENDED MORE EFFECTIVELY. OTA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A VALUABLE TOOL IN HELPING CONGRESS IN ITS CHOICE OF GOALS AND PROGRAMS FOR MOST EFFECTIVELY SPENDING ITS HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IN MY VIEW, THE INVESTMENT IN OTA WILL PROVIDE A VERY HIGH RETURN TO OUR COUNTRY NOT ONLY FOR THE PRESENT BUT ESPECIALLY TO OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. IN DECEMBER 1978 THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE HOUSE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE ISSUED ITS REPORT COVERING ITS EXTENSIVE 1977-78 OVERSIGHT HEARINGS ON OTA. THE REPORT CONCLUDED: "OTA HAS BEEN SET UP TO DO A JOB FOR THE CONGRESS PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE IN PERFORMING ITS ASSESSMENTS. CONTINUED CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR OTA IS WARRANTED." THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, REPRESENTATIVE RAY THORNTON, STATED THAT THE SURVEY "DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH DOUBT THAT THE OFFICE IS A VALUABLE ASSET TO THE CONGRESS." TO IMPROVE OTA'S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES, WE HAVE INAUGURATED THE PROCEDURE OF MEETING WITH THE STAFFS OF ALL COMMITTEES, BY YEAR END WE HAD PRETTY MUCH COMPLETED THE FIRST ROUND OF SUCH MEETINGS. IN AN EFFORT TO FULFILL TO A LARGER EXTENT OUR MANDATE TO PROVIDE THE CONGRESS WITH "EARLY INDICATIONS" OF IT |