[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TRIBUTE TO THE OTA

                                 ______


                             HON. VIC FAZIO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 1996

  Mr. FAZIO of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
Institute for Technology Assessment.
  The Institute of Technology Assessment [ITI] was established as a 
nonprofit research group by former senior analysts of the Office of 
Technology Assessment [OTA]. In one of perhaps the most mindless acts 
committed by this Congress, OTA was eliminated last year. This House 
voted twice to continue funding for OTA, but the Republican 
congressional leadership prevailed in the end, and OTA went out of 
business.
  I fought hard for the continuation of OTA, because the objective 
analysis of issues related to science and technology that OTA provided 
was an invaluable resource to the public policy efforts of this 
Congress. So I am glad that this new institute has stepped up to take 
on OTA's crucial mission.
  ITA has just received funding and support from the New York Community 
Trust, the Garfield Foundation in Philadelphia, the George Mason 
University Foundation, and the Medical Technology and Practice Patterns 
Institute in Washington, DC.
  ITA will carry out multidisciplinary studies and analysis of the 
potential economic, social, legal, and environmental effects of 
technical developments and technology-related projects, programs, or 
policies.
  I am thrilled that the Institute of Technology Assessment has been 
established, and I am honored to begin my service on ITA's advisory 
panel.
  I ask that my fellow colleagues join me in a bipartisan effort to 
help ITA maintain the focus on public policy and legislative issues 
inherited from OTA.

                          ____________________