About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

36 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 1044 (1967-1968)
Technology Assessment--A Legislative View

handle is hein.journals/gwlr36 and id is 1046 raw text is: Technology Assessment-A Legislative View

EMILIO Q. DADDARIO'
A perceptive student of modem science and technology has observed that
every major advance in the technological competence of man has enforced
revolutionary changes in the economic and political structure of society.1
This is undoubtedly true, but it is my belief that technological changes have
become so extreme and occur so rapidly that it is incumbent upon us to reverse
the process. We must decide first what society wants and needs-then tailor
our technology to help where it can. We cannot any longer let technology run
rampant and structure our social environment because of a planning vacuum.
There is ample evidence that the legislative branch of the federal govern-
ment is already in action to strengthen its ability to deal with this difficulty.
Examples of the growing concern in the Senate include Senator Muskie's hear-
ings on the proposed Select Committee on Technology and the Human En-
vironment,2 the work of Senator Harris under the rubric of Research in the
Service of Man,3 the bill introduced by Senators Jackson and Kuchel con-
cerning environmental quality,4 and Senator Allott's bill for a joint congres-
sional committee on science and technology.5
In the House of Representatives, our Subcommittee on Science, Research and
Development is in the midst of a continuing series of related studies. Beginning
in c966 with the question of the adequacy of technology for pollution abate-
ment,6 we have broadened our public hearings and inquiries to include the In-
* Member, United States House of Representatives, Connecticut.
i. Commoner, Science and Survival (%966).
2. Hearings on S. Res. 68 to Establish a Select Comm. on Technology and the Human
Environment Before the Subcomm. on Intergovernmental Relations of the Senate Comm.
on Gov't Operations, 9oth Cong., %st Sess. (%967).
3. Conference on Research in the Service of Man, Oklahoma City, Okla., Oct., 1966;
Hearings Before the Subcomm. on Gov't Research of the Senate Comm. on Gov't Opera-
tions, 9oth Cong., 1st Sess. (967).
4. S. 2805, 9oth Cong., ist Sess. (1967).
5. S. 13o5, 9oth Cong., ist Sess. (%967).
6. House Comm. on Science and Astronautics, 89th Cong., 2d Sess., The Adequacy of
Technology for Pollution Abatement (Comm. Print %966).
July 1968 Vol. 36 No. 5
1044

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

profiles profiles most