R Street Institute

Policy Studies Federal Government Affairs

Rebuilding a technology assessment office in Congress: Frequently asked questions

by Zach Graves
Sept 25, 2018
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Key Points

Congress’s capacity to understand science and technology has drastically declined in recent decades.
Congress faces an increasing array of high-tech policy challenges, such as infrastructure cybersecurity, election hacking, artificial intelligence regulation, CRSPR, etc.
It’s essential that Congress rebuild its capacity to understand technical issues, so it can do a better job at oversight, not screw up major tech regulatory policies, and clear the way for America’s leadership in innovation.

“Unfortunately, rather than adapting to the increased demands of the 21st century, Congress’s internal staffing and support has significantly declined in recent decades, leaving our elected representatives woefully underprepared for contemporary policy challenges”

Image credit: Denis Kuvaev

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