EDUCATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL Page American Association for the Advancement of Science__. 20, 32, 46, 108 Rockefeller Foundations___. University of Minnesota... American Chemical Society.. American Institute of Biological Sciences.... Associated Universities, Inc___ Basic Research Institute___ Brookhaven National Laboratory California Institute of Technology. Carnegie Corporation of New York. Chemical Abstracts Service ___ Institute for advanced study, Princeton University International Council of Scientific Unions... Joint Crerar Library Massachusetts Institute of Technology National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council National Association of Manufacturers__ National Science Foundation___. National Military Industrial Conference.... Saturday Review... Southern Illinois University. Stanford Research Institute.. University of Chicago... Western Reserve University. NAME INDEX Page Page LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MARCH 26, 1958. Hon. JOHN L. MCCLELLAN, Chairman, Committee on Government Operations, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: As directed by the committee in executive session on February 7, 1958, there is submitted herewith a detailed staff analysis of the proposed Science and Technology Act of 1958 (S. 3126). Included are summaries of the objectives of each of the provisions contained in the bill, and points which have been raised in opposition to certain sections of the bill. The staff memorandum also contains explanatory information and supporting material relating to its provisions as drafted and submitted to the committee. Suggestions for amendments and certain revisions of the original bill are included in a redraft of S. 3126, at page 59. In a joint press release issued by you, as chairman of the committee, and by Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, chairman of the Subcommittee on Reorganization,' it was made clear that the bill in the form in which it was filed in the Senate, as well as the proposed revision thereof, was prepared by the staff following a concentrated study of the need for reorganization of Federal science functions, initiated in August of 1957, under your joint direction. As stated in the release its provisions are tentative, since they have not been fully considered by members of the Committee on Government Operations and, following hearings, are subject to action by the committee, in the form of amendments, deletions, or the addition of new provisions or titles. As originally drafted, the bill contained a title Il which provided for the creation of standing committees on science and technology in the Senate and the House of Representatives. For reasons which are set forth on page 34, this title was omitted from S. 3126. It is contained, however, in committee print No. 2, dated January 17, 1958, and is also included in the staff draft of a proposed substitute for S. 3126, set forth on pages 63-66. Since the bill was introduced, the Senate has adopted S. Res. 256, establishing a special committee which is authorized and directed to conduct a thorough and complete study and investigation with respect to all aspects and problems relating to the exploration of outer space and the control, development, and use of astronautical resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities. Under the provisions of this resolution all bills and resolutions introduced in the Senate proposing legislation in the field of astronautics and space exploration are to be referred to the special committee. A similar resolution, H. Res. 496, was adopted in the House of Representatives. 1 Congressional Record, January 27, 1958, p. 851. In the view of the staff, S. 3126, particularly title I and title II of the revised bill, relating to the creation of a department and standing committees on science and technology, as well as other provisions of the bill, would have a direct impact on the development of the program assigned to the special committees. The question has, therefore, been raised as to whether or not this committee can act on S. 3126, or whether it should be referred, in both its original and revised form, to the special committees for consideration and recommendations. The special committee on astronautics and outer space programs in the Senate is composed of the chairmen and ranking minority members of six standing committees which deal with some aspects of science and technology. The staff believes that it would undoubtedly be helpful to the Senate leadership if that committee considered the problem of creating a Department of Science and Technology as well as the proposed creation of standing committees on science and technology. As pointed out in the accompanying memorandum, information developed by the staff indicates that, in order that civilian science functions of the Federal Government may be administered properly in the manner in which Congress may determine, it is essential that there be a central agency designated to bring about the full coordination of all such programs. The staff also suggests that there is an equal responsibility on the part of the Congress to effect such reorganizations as may be necessary to study and develop the scientific programs of the Federal Government so that the functions of the various agencies engaged in activities relating to science and technology, or to astronautics and outer space exploration, may be considered in relation to one another and coordinated by legislative actions. In the section of the staff memorandum dealing with areas of controversy over the proposed establishment of a Department of Science and Technology, it is emphasized that many scientists are opposed to such a proposal because of so-called political aspects. Although a number of conferences of scientists have been held recently under the auspices of various groups interested in studying the formulation of an adequate program for Federal support of science and technology, only negative discussions have resulted, and no specific remedial measures to correct existing deficiencies in Federal operations or constructive programs have evolved from any of these meetings insofar as the staff has been able to determine. Although the free peoples of the world have never placed so much reliance on so few individuals, a majority of the scientists have so far resolutely refused to recognize their responsibilities and recommend appropriate remedial legislative action. Instead they have been content to retreat behind a screen of fear of our democratic processes. This memorandum, after developing the prevailing attitudes of scientists, endeavors to place emphasis on the responsibility of the Congress and the need for it to take the initiative in developing its own legislative program in the general public interest. As it becomes more and more evident that proposals which scientists may advocate will be based upon knowledge of their special fields of science and the limited areas of their personal activity and the mainte nance of the status quo, in complete distrust of our system of government and without apparent regard for the need for an overall coordination of science programs under responsible administrative authority, it will become more imperative that the Congress act in the best interests of all the people. The staff is aware that coordination of science cannot be accomplished by decree or fiat; that it should be effected by mutual understanding and exchange of ideas through a united and cooperative effort designed to develop the necessary administrative tools to get the job done. The negative attitude and lack of cooperation by the scientists, may compel the Congress to act on its own. To emphasize this point, the following extract from an editorial which appeared in Life Magazine on March 10, 1958, relating to party responsibility in the Space Age, is cited: *** The biggest The Space frontier is pressing at our door insistently. issue we have is the problem of assimilating the pace of scientific discovery into our social and governmental processes. The parties have barely nibbled at this. * * * Many of these issues sound technical, and they are. Scientists and technical experts proliferate around Congress these days like psychiatrists at a juvenile delinquency court. But the fact that a problem needs an expert's help is no reason to abandon it completely to him. On the contrary, it is the party's function in the democratic system to dramatize matters of national concern, to act as the bridge between the expert and the voter who is supposed to be running the country. The legislation as proposed and submitted herewith is designed to provide the needed mechanism under normal executive branch controls. It would establish a focal point through which the scientific agencies of the Government would be afforded a medium for the coordination of their efforts into an intelligent and cohesive scientific program. Where exchange of information and mutual discussion does reveal the need for modification by administrative or legislative action, these can be achieved later by action on the part of the agencies involved or through the use of mechanisms provided in the proposed bill: the Department of Science and Technology, and the standing committees to be established in the Congress. The proposed revision of S. 3126 is submitted so that all aspects of this legislative proposal may be considered by the Special Committee on Astronautical and Outer Space Exploration, as well as by the Committee on Government Operations. It incorporates the following major changes: (a) The original title II in committee print No. 2, creating standing committees on science and technology in the House and the Senate, as proposed to be amended, would be restored, as title II of the revised bill. (b) A revision of title I, to provide for the transfer of the functions of the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics to the proposed new department, as an important aspect of the outer space control program. (c) A revision and extension of the provisions of the original title V of committee print No. 2 (title IV of S. 3126) relating to overseas programs. Title III of the revised version of S. 3126 deals with another highly significant aspect of the science needs of the Nation-the urgent need for adequate facilities and financial support for basic research. This would be accomplished by providing authority for the establishment or support by the Federal Government of research institutes or centers in the physical and biological sciences, mathematics, engineering and the social sciences, to be operated largely by private, nongovernmental institutions, on a nonprofit basis with financial support from the Federal Government, or by the Government itself, under certain circumstances. Title IV of the revised bill provides for the establishment of an educational loan program under which qualified students would be able to pursue studies in the physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Adequate funds to carry on the program would be authorized, and provisions made that students who complete their prescribed courses of study may qualify for cancellation of their loans by accepting full-time employment in the fields mentioned above, either in any agency of the Federal Government or on any project or program designated by the Secretary of the proposed Department of Science and Technology. Remission would be at the same annual rate as the amount of the loan authorized. Title V of the bill, as revised, would authorize the Secretary to utilize counterpart funds wherever available, for assembling, collating, translating, abstracting and dissemination of scientific data originating overseas. It would also authorize the use of such funds by other Federal agencies in the development of science and technology abroad, without reimbursement of such funds from appropriations. The title provides further that when agreements between the United States Government and foreign countries in which such funds are located are entered into by the Secretary of State, cooperative scientific projects may be financed through the use of such funds. In addition to the staff material outlined above, there is also included in this committee print, as authorized by the committee in executive session, certain supporting data developed at the request of the committee by the Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress and other sources. These data are outlined at the beginning of the staff memorandum, in the accompanying table of contents, and in the introduction to those sections of the committee print.2 Respectfully submitted. WALTER L. REYNOLDS, 2 See pp. V, 1, and 81-175. |