Greetings, I am writing today to ask you to join thousands of your colleagues on a scientist letter supporting the restoration of funding for the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). You can find the letter, organized by the Union of Concerned Scientists, here: https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2361
For 23 years, the OTA provided independent scientific and technological guidance to Congress on issues from Alzheimer’s disease to acid rain. OTA helped Congress to assess complex issues and make wiser legislative choices. OTA reports addressed issues before almost every Congressional committee, and through those reports, legislators could better understand new technologies and their policy implications. The reports helped set the terms of debate and increased understanding of the risks and implications of policy options. Because these reports were designed to frame issues and assess multiple policy alternatives, they were often cited by both sides during the same Congressional debate. The OTA was the victim of budget cuts in 1995, a move that saved the federal government a little more than $20 million annually. Since then, the government has spent billions on new technologies that have not worked as promised, ranging from real and virtual fences on the U.S.-Mexico border to flawed baggage screening equipment. Attempts to quietly revive the OTA in the past have been unsuccessful, mainly because of a lack of grassroots pressure. Our allies in Congress tell us that a strong showing from the scientific community will greatly increase the odds that Congress will decide to bring back this essential resource. You can find more background information here: http://www.ucsusa.org/ota The OTA represents a small investment with a guaranteed payoff: less government waste and a more responsible Congress. Please sign on to the letter today: https://secure3.convio.net/ucs/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2361 Michael Halpern Scientific Integrity Program Manager Union of Concerned Scientists 1825 K Street, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20006 phone: (202) 331-5452 www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity --------------------------------------------- The Union of Concerned Scientists -- celebrating 40 years of working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Sign up ( http://ucs.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=sign_up&s_src=subscribe&s_subsrc=tasknav )today to receive email updates, news, event information, and urgent action alerts. Please print this only if you need to print this.
