A bill to amend chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, to provide for a technology assessment capability within the General Accounting Office, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS.

    (a) Findings and Purposes.--
            (1) Findings.--Congress finds that--
                    (A) it is important for Congress to be better 
                informed regarding the impact of technology on matters 
                of public concern, including implications for economic, 
                national security, social, scientific, and other 
                national policies and programs;
                    (B) on a pilot basis, the General Accounting Office 
                has demonstrated a capacity to perform independent and 
                objective technology assessments for Congress; and
                    (C) the development of a cost-effective and 
                efficient capacity for timely and deliberate technology 
                assessments by the General Accounting Office requires 
                the commitment of additional resources and 
                administrative flexibility given the current resource 
                constraints of the General Accounting Office.
            (2) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
                    (A) direct the establishment of a technology 
                assessment capability in the General Accounting Office;
                    (B) ensure the quality of such technology 
                assessments in order to enhance the ability of Congress 
                to address complex technical issues in a more timely 
                and effective manner; and
                    (C) condition the development of a technology 
                assessment capability in the General Accounting Office 
                on the provision of adequate additional resources and 
                administrative flexibility.
    (b) Technology Assessments.--Chapter 7 of title 31, United States 
Code, is amended by inserting after section 720 the following:
``Sec. 721. Technology assessments
    ``(a) The General Accounting Office shall establish a technology 
assessment capability to coordinate and prepare information for 
Congress relating to the policy implications of applications of 
technology.
    ``(b) The Comptroller General may establish standards and 
procedures to govern technology assessments performed under this 
section as the Comptroller General determines necessary.
    ``(c) Technology assessments performed under this section shall--
            ``(1) provide Congress with timely and objective 
        information to contribute to legislative consideration of 
        technology applications and their policy implications, 
        including thorough reports, in-depth studies, and short-term 
        consultations;
            ``(2) be undertaken by the Comptroller General with special 
        attention to the technical expertise and policy analysis skills 
        needed to perform a prospective assessment of technology 
        applications and policy implications;
            ``(3) be designed, to the extent practicable, to review an 
        application of technology to an issue of public interest, 
        including consideration of benefits, cost, and risks from such 
        technology; and
            ``(4) include peer review by persons and organizations of 
        appropriate expertise.
    ``(d) In performing technology assessments, the Comptroller General 
shall be properly apprised of Federal and non-Federal entities 
providing information to Congress to--
            ``(1) enable effective coverage of critical issues; and
            ``(2) avoid duplication of effort.
    ``(e) Technology assessments performed under this section may be 
initiated as provided under section 717(b).
    ``(f)(1) In consultation with the National Academy of Sciences, the 
Comptroller General shall establish a technology assessment advisory 
panel to provide advice on technology assessments performed under this 
section, methodologies, possible subjects of study, and the means of 
improving the quality and timeliness of technology assessment services 
provided to Congress.
    ``(2) The advisory panel shall consist of 5 members, who by reason 
of professional background and experience, are specially qualified to 
advise on technology assessments.
    ``(3) Terms on the advisory panel shall--
            ``(A) be for a period of 2 years; and
            ``(B) begin on January 1, on each year in which a new 
        Congress is convened.
    ``(4) Notwithstanding section 1342, for the purposes of 
establishing a technology assessment advisory panel, the Comptroller 
General may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services (except 
for reimbursement of travel expenses). Individuals providing such 
voluntary and uncompensated services shall not be considered Federal 
employees, except for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5 and chapter 171 
of title 28.
    ``(g)(1) In order to gain access to technical knowledge, skills, 
and expertise necessary for a technology assessment performed under 
this section, the Comptroller General may utilize individuals and enter 
into contracts or other arrangements to acquire needed expertise with 
any agency or instrumentality of the United States, with any State, 
territory, or possession or any political subdivision thereof, or with 
any person, firm, association, corporation, or educational institution.
    ``(2) Contracts and other arrangements under this subsection may be 
entered into--
            ``(A) with or without reimbursement; and
            ``(B) without regard to section 3709 of the Revised 
        Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5) or section 3324 of this title.
    ``(h) The Comptroller General shall submit to Congress an annual 
report on technology assessment activities of the General Accounting 
Office.
    ``(i)(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to the General 
Accounting Office to carry out the activities described in this 
section, $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006.
    ``(2) Technology assessments under this section may not be 
performed during fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006, unless a sufficient 
annual appropriation is provided for such fiscal years.''.
    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for 
chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 720 the following:

``721. Technology assessments.''.

Summary: Requires the General Accounting Office (GAO) to establish a technology assessment capability to coordinate and prepare information for Congress relating to the policy implications of applications of technology. Provides for technology assessments performed under this Act to: (1) provide Congress with timely and objective information to contribute to legislative consideration of technology applications and their policy implications. (2) be undertaken by the Comptroller General with special attention to the technical expertise and policy analysis skills needed to perform a prospective assessment of technology applications and policy implications. (3) be designed to review an application of technology to an issue of public interest. And (4) include peer review by persons and organizations of appropriate expertise. Instructs the Comptroller General, in performing technology assessments, to be properly apprised of Federal and non-Federal entities providing information to Congress to: (1) enable effective coverage of critical issues. And (2) avoid duplication of effort. Directs the Comptroller General, in consultation with the National Academy of Sciences, to establish a technology assessment advisory panel to provide advice on such technology assessments, methodologies, possible subjects of study, and the means of improving the quality and timeliness of technology assessment services provided to Congress. Allows the Comptroller General to utilize individuals and enter into contracts or other arrangements to acquire needed expertise. Requires the Comptroller General to submit annual reports to Congress on GAO's technology assessment activities.