Steven Holt: “since September 11, Congress has been considering many issues related to terrorism and homeland security: detection of…”

“since September 11, Congress has been considering many issues related to terrorism and homeland security: detection of biological and chemical agents, development of new vaccines and therapeutic drugs, aviation security, biometric technologies for border security, communications systems for the public health system, the psychological effects of terrorism, and cybersecurity. I ask Members, particularly on the Republican side, do they feel confident in their ability to analyze these technical issues? Can they name anyone on their staff, on their committee staff or personal staff, who is capable of analyzing these issues? I can tell Members, the answer for these technical issues and other technical issues in transportation, health care, agriculture, energy is no. Congress used to have scientific expertise at its disposal. The Office of Technology Assessment was established in 1972 because lawmakers recognized a need for the legislative branch to have its own source of technical analysis. The OTA was defunded in 1995. During its existence, the OTA provided Congress with unbiased technical analysis.”