Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding. I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting this en bloc, which includes a symbolic amendment in support of the Office of Technology Assessment, otherwise known as OTA.

The reestablishment of OTA has been a top priority of mine since I first came to Congress in 2013. Since then, debates around emerging technologies and concepts have caught this Congress by surprise as we struggle to legislate on complex issues of technological and societal importance.

Before OTA was defunded in 1995, the office served a critical role in providing Members of Congress and staff with nonpartisan and expert advice on complex scientific and technical issues. OTA served as a model of good governance and innovation in government, and believe me, we could use OTA now in this environment of dissembling and shading of the truth around vaccines.

Today, OTA would be invaluable as we debate issues related to cryptocurrencies; nonfungible tokens, or NTFs; cybersecurity; artificial intelligence; and other developing technologies throughout our society.

We understand the importance and value of CRS and GAO when it comes to researching and understanding complex issues. That is not up for debate. Yet, OTA is necessary to ensure Congress is informed and knowledgeable on some of the most complex issues facing our society today.

Staff who will work alongside CRS and GAO to provide this expertise will help this legislature not only catch up with the rest of our economy but truly understand how these new forms of technology affect our economy in everyday life.

The foundation of good policy is accurate and objective analysis, and the reestablishment of the Office Technology Assessment is how we will pass new and forward-thinking laws for our country.

Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER.

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