Friday, 22 May 1987 Washington, DC
1.
THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
would be transformed into
the "National Institute of Technology" by the Technology
Competitiveness Act (S. 907), introduced by Senators Hollings
(D-SC) and Riegle (D-MI). The Bureau would retain its historic
role in setting standards, but would also assume responsibility
for new Manufacturing Research Centers. (There we go with
"centers" again!) The bill would reorganize the Department of
Commerce by merging NBS, the National Technical Information
Service, and a new Office of Productivity, Technology and
Innovation into the Productivity and Technology Administration.
2
. REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
is popular in
the flood of competitiveness legislation. Under the Economic
Competitiveness, International Trade and Technology Development
Act (S. 1233), introduced by Sen. Glenn (D-OH), it would be
transmogrified into a new "Department of Industry and Trade." A
civilian counterpart to DARPA, called the "Advanced Civilian
Technology Agency" would be a part of the new department. The
role of NBS would apparently be unchanged.
3. SUPERCONDUCTING SUPER COLLIDER SITE SELECTION
cannot take
into account cost-sharing offers by the States under a Senate
amendment to the FY 87 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. Its
author, Sen. Domenici (R-NM), argued that what he called "the
largest public works project" in history should be located solely
on the basis of technical considerations. The amendment carried
in the Senate by voice vote, but more affluent contenders for the
SSC have large populations and it may not fly in the House.
4. THE NSF AUTHORIZATION BILL
picked up a curiously Xenophobic
amendment during mark-up by the House Science, Space and
Technology Committee requiring the NSF Director to submit a
report to Congress detailing Soviet efforts "to penetrate and
compromise the science research programs of the US." The
amendment was introduced by Rep. Walker (R-PA) at the end of the
day when everyone was tired. Astonished observers predicted it
will be deleted in conference.
5. THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL WAS PASSED BY THE HOUSE,
but Republicans are predicting a Presidential veto because of arms
control amendments attached by the Democrats. These include a
ban on nuclear tests of more than one kiloton, assuming like
restraint by the Soviets. According to the Washington Post, the
DoE awarded a $550,000 contract to a Washington firm to lobby
Congress to drop the test ban. In a separate effort, employees
of DoE weapons laboratories coordinated congressional lobbying
efforts. Federal regulations prohibit the use of government
funds by contractors to influence legislation. Congress is
investigating. Senate passage of a Defense Authorization Bill is
meanwhile frustrated by a Republican filibuster.
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