SECTION 5 ANALYSIS OF LEGISLATION RELATED TO IMPROVEMENT 79th Congress to 85th Congress, 1st Session 1945-57 PREPARED FOR THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS BY DOROTHY M. BATES ANALYST IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT SENIOR SPECIALISTS DIVISION LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CONTENTS Page 166 Appendix A: Digest of relevant bills, 79th to 85th Congresses (to March International Exchange Service of the Smithsonian Institution..... Legal bases for the international exchange of Government publications.__ ANALYSIS OF LEGISLATION RELATED TO IMPROVEMENT OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY, TEACHING, AND PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1945-57 INTRODUCTION The attached analysis of proposed legislation has been compiled from final issues of the Digest of Public General Bills for each session beginning with the 79th Congress, 1st session. It is presented in response to the request contained in your memorandum of November 25, 1957, for "an analysis of the provisions of bills previously introduced in the Congress on any aspect of the proposed program. * * *"' The index to the final issue of the bill digest for each session was carefully searched for references to proposals which dealt with the overall reorganization of governmental scientific activities, the training of scientists and engineers in particular, and aid to higher education in general. From the results of this search a listing has been made. of all relevant proposals found. Included are the author of the proposal, date of introduction, committee to which the proposal was referred, record of action taken, and, where the field of science and engineering was directly concerned, a digest of the bill was contained in the listing or attached. We are aware that a complete listing of all legislation in this field. would necessitate a considerably more extensive search than we have been able to make within the time available. However, when the cumulative record of legislation in the field of science is thus examined, certain facts become evident: 1. Prior to the covening of the 2d session of the 85th Congress, there was only one previous proposal to create a Department of Science and Research-that of Mrs. Luce, H. R. 5332, 79th Congress. 2. Similarly, there has been only one other proposal to establish a United States Science Academy-H. R. 6164, introduced by Mrs. St. George, 85th Congress. 3. Action was taken on only a small proportion of the dozens of proposals listed, and an even smaller number became public laws. These were: 79th Congress H. R. 6486; approved July 31, 1946 (Public Law 580). Authorizes $975,000 for a geophysical institute at the University of Alaska. Reorganization Plan No. III, part VIII, section 801 (1949). Transferred the Canal Zone Biological Area to the Smithsonian Institution. 81st Congress S. 247; approved May 10, 1950 (Public Law 507). Creates a National Science Foundation. S. 443; approved October 25, 1949 (Public Law 366). Authorizes construction and equipment of a radio laboratory building for the National Bureau of Standards. 1 Prepared by Legislative Reference Service, Library of Congress. S. 868; approved September 9, 1950 (Public Law 776). Establishes in the Department of Commerce a clearinghouse for the collection and dissemination of technological, scientific, and engineering information, useful to business and industry. H. R. 3417; approved August 22, 1949 (Public Law 259). Authorizes appropriations for the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution. 83d Congress H. R. 9040; approved July 26, 1954 (Public Law 531). Authorizes Commissioner of Education to enter into contracts with universities and state educational agencies for the conduct of research. H. R. 9936; approved August 26, 1954 (Public Law 663). Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1955-Initial appropriation to the National Science Foundation for the International Geophysical Year. 84th Congress H. R. 5240; approved June 30, 1955 (Public Law 112). Appropriation in Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1956, to National Science Foundation for the International Geophysical Year. S. 2379; approved August 8, 1956 (Public Law 1027). Makes an annual appropriation for vocational education in the fishery trades and industry. H. R. 10004; approved May 19, 1956 (Public Law 533). Appropriation in Second Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1956, to National Science Foundation for the International Geophysical Year. H. R. 10875; approved May 28, 1956 (Public Law 540). A bipartisan Commission on Increased Industrial Use of Agricultural Products established. 85th Congress 2 S. 1856; approved August 14, 1957 (Public Law 85-133). Responsibility defined for coordination of technical information concerning air traffic control and air defense systems applicable to civil and military aviation. LEGISLATION RELATED TO IMPROVEMENT OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY, TEACHING AND PROGRESS IN THE UNITED STATES, 79TH CONGRESS85TH CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION, 1945-57 79th Congress, 1st session Create within the Department of Commerce a Bureau of Scientific Research S. 1248. Mr. Fulbright July 9, 1945 (Commerce). Reported in Senate January 29, 1946. (See appendix, p. 166.) Establish a scientific and technological advisory committee H. R. 2937. Mr. Randolph; Apr. 18, 1945 (Interstate and Foreign Commerce). No action taken. Bill would establish a Scientific and Technological Advisory Committee of designated department heads to deal with the problem of reemployment and rehabilitation of workers displaced by technological changes. ? To February 6, 1958. See additional summary of bills introduced in 2d sess. of 85th Cong., to Mar. 1, 1958, p. 161-166. |