The President’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for Congress
Released: 2014-02-07T00:00:00

The National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 ( P.L. 94-282 ) established the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), including the position of its Director, within the Executive Office of the President (EOP) to provide scientific and technological analysis and advice to the President. This codified and institutionalized a presidential science advice function that previously existed at each President's discretion.

This report provides an overview of the history of science and technology (S&T) advice to the President and discusses selected issues and options for Congress regarding OSTP's Director, OSTP management and operations, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).

History of Science and Technology Advice to the President

Science and technology policy issues tend to reach the presidential level if they involve multiple agencies; have substantial budgetary, economic, national security, or foreign policy dimensions; are highly controversial (especially when science and technology intersect with values, ethics, and morality); or are highly visible to the public. When these matters reach the Oval Office, Presidents generally seek information and advice from trusted sources as to the options available and their implications.

Throughout U.S. history, Presidents have obtained S&T advice from federal scientists and engineers and informal personal contacts. Since the early 1930s, Presidents have attempted to expand their sources of S&T advice through advisory boards and committees. Lacking a statutory foundation, these boards and committees tended to lack permanency, as successive Presidents often disbanded them. When again faced with the need for S&T advice, Presidents would form new advisory boards or committees, sometimes reconstituted from previously disbanded ones.

In the years leading up to World War II, the importance of research and development (R&D) to the nation's economic and military strength became increasingly evident. As a result, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) in 1941. Historians widely credit the federal R&D enterprise with contributing substantially to the Allied victory in World War II, as well as to the development of subsequent U.S. industrial strength. In November 1944, President Roosevelt wrote a letter to OSRD Director Vannevar Bush seeking recommendations on how research and the research infrastructure established to support America's war effort could be "profitably employed in times of peace." OSRD Director Bush's response, Science: The Endless Frontier , laid out a framework that asserted the essential role of scientific progress in meeting the nation's economic, national security, and social needs. Experts widely view the Bush report as foundational to today's U.S. science and technology policy. Among its recommendations, the report asserted:

The Federal Government should accept new responsibilities for promoting the creation of new scientific knowledge and the development of scientific talent in our youth.

The next several Presidents used a variety of mechanisms to obtain S&T advice within the EOP, to enhance interagency coordination, and to receive counsel from outside advisors. Organizations within the EOP included the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (Eisenhower) and the Office of Science and Technology (OST; Kennedy, Johnson). Organizations focused on interagency coordination included the President's Scientific Research Board (Truman), the Federal Council for Science and Technology (FCST; Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon), and the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET; Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush). External advisory committees included the Science Advisory Committee (Truman, Eisenhower), and the President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC; Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson).

President Nixon abolished the Office of Science and Technology—the S&T policy office then extant in the Executive Office of the President (EOP). The National Science Foundation (NSF) assumed its civilian functions and the National Security Council (NSC) its security functions. In addition, President Nixon opted not to appoint new members to PSAC after accepting the pro forma resignation of its members. President Ford supported the return of a science advisory mechanism to the White House, but he wished to establish it through legislation, not executive order. He signed the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 ( P.L. 94-282 ) into law on May 11, 1976. This act established OSTP and the position of OSTP Director.

Policy tensions and power struggles between OSTP and other EOP offices and between presidential Administrations and the science community are not new. Carter Administration OSTP Director Frank Press, for example, battled the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), opposing the CEQ-advocated use of federal subsidies to the then-infant solar power industry and instead supporting a balanced pace between market demand and scientific discovery. In July 1981, George Keyworth, Reagan Administration OSTP Director, stirred controversy in the science community on his first speech to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) by asserting "Nowhere is it indicated that the OSTP or its director is to represent the interests of the scientific community as a constituency." Further, he added that serving as an "inside lobbyist" for the science community would work against the community's interest by reducing his influence within the White House. Keyworth's view of the role of the President's science advisor was at odds with many in the science community at that time. During the George H. W. Bush Administration, tension existed between OSTP Director D. Allan Bromley and other high-ranking White House officials over the extent of Administration support for federal funding of commercial technology development. These tensions became public when the Wall Street Journal published articles asserting Bromley's success in advancing an industrial policy in the Administration, including "picking technological winners and losers." Following criticism from Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) Michael Boskin, White House Chief of Staff John Sununu, and OMB Director Richard Darman, Bromley issued a statement clarifying that the Administration's "principles are inconsistent with an industrial policy of targeting particular industries for support or particular technologies for commercialization."

Appendix A provides a historical compilation of presidential S&T policy advisors with their titles, EOP S&T agencies/offices, interagency coordination organizations, and advisory committees. As illustrated in Table A-1 , the Presidents subsequent to President Ford continued to adapt OSTP and related organizations to suit their needs. For example, P.L. 94-282 established a President's Committee on Science and Technology (PCST) with the OSTP Director as a member. PCAST largely assumed the role of PCST with the OSTP Director serving as a co-chair along with one or two nonfederal PCAST members. More recently, P.L. 112-282 included provisions for the OSTP Director to chair an Intergovernmental Science, Engineering, and Technology Advisory Panel (ISETAP). An executive branch, Cabinet-level council established by presidential Executive Order, the National Science and Technology Council, which is chaired by the President and managed by the OSTP Director, has subsumed ISETAP's responsibilities.

Overview of OSTP

Congress established the Office of Science and Technology Policy as an office within the EOP to, among other things, "serve as a source of scientific and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government." Within the context of its organic statute, OSTP currently defines its mission as having three components:

Provide the President and his senior staff with accurate, relevant, and timely scientific and technical advice on all matters of consequence.

Ensure that the policies of the Executive Branch are informed by sound science.

Ensure that the scientific and technical work of the Executive Branch is properly coordinated so as to provide the greatest benefit to society.

To this end, OSTP has established the following strategic goals and objectives:

Ensure that federal investments in science and technology are making the greatest possible contribution to economic prosperity, public health, environmental quality, and national security.

Energize and nurture the processes by which government programs in science and technology are resourced, evaluated, and coordinated.

Sustain the core professional and scientific relationships with government officials, academics, and industry representatives that are required to understand the depth and breadth of the Nation's scientific and technical enterprise, evaluate scientific advances, and identify potential policy proposals.

Generate a core workforce of world-class expertise capable of providing policy-relevant advice, analysis, and judgment for the President and his senior staff regarding the scientific and technical aspects of the major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal government.

The OSTP also has several roles not articulated in these formal statements. These include serving as a sounding board and conduit of information for agency executives seeking to understand, clarify, and help shape science and technology-related policy objectives and priorities; helping agencies to coordinate and integrate their S&T strategies and activities; and helping to resolve interagency conflicts over areas of S&T responsibility and leadership.

The role and influence of OSTP, NSTC, PCAST, and their predecessor organizations have varied among Administrations, depending on the President, the individual serving as OSTP Director, and the rapport between them. The following sections provide an overview of the current responsibilities and roles of the OSTP Director and Associate Directors, NSTC, and PCAST, followed by information on OSTP's budget and staffing.

Roles of the OSTP Director/APST and Associate Directors

P.L. 94-282 establishes the position of OSTP Director, whose primary function is "to provide, within the Executive Office of the President, advice on the scientific, engineering, and technological aspects of issues that require attention at the highest level of Government." In addition, the OSTP Director is to:

advise the President of scientific and technological considerations involved in areas of national concern including, but not limited to, the economy, national security, homeland security, health, foreign relations, the environment, and the technological recovery and use of resources;

evaluate the scale, quality, and effectiveness of the federal effort in science and technology and advise on appropriate actions;

advise the President on scientific and technological considerations with regard to federal budgets, assist the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with an annual review and analysis of funding proposed for research and development in budgets of all federal agencies, and aid [OMB] and the agencies throughout the budget development process; and

assist the President in providing general leadership and coordination of the research and development programs of the Federal Government.

By statute, the President appoints the OSTP Director, who is sometimes referred to colloquially as the President's science advisor. The OSTP Director is subject to Senate confirmation and receives compensation at the rate provided for level II of the Executive Schedule. The OSTP Director has never been a member of the President's Cabinet or a Cabinet-level official.

In addition to establishing the position of OSTP Director, P.L. 94-282 authorizes the President to appoint not more than four OSTP Associate Directors, subject to Senate confirmation, who are compensated at a rate not to exceed that provided for level III of the Executive Schedule. The number of Associate Director positions has varied under different Presidents. For example, under President George W. Bush there were two OSTP Associate Directors—one focused on science and the other on technology—each with a Deputy Director. During the Clinton Administration, four Associate Directors focused on science; technology; environment; and national security and international affairs. President Obama has established four OSTP Associate Director positions with discrete areas of responsibility: environment and energy; national security and international affairs; science; and technology. See Figure 1 . The section below, " Number and Policy Foci of OSTP Associate Directors ," provides a more detailed discussion of the role of OSTP Associate Directors.

Presidential Appointment Status and Congress

The formal positions held by the President's science advisor may affect his or her degree of access to the President and other EOP decision makers. Although Presidents have differed in their management of EOP staff, Cabinet members and assistants to the President generally have greater access to the President than other White House staff.

Some members of the S&T policy community question the degree of presidential access available to the OSTP Director. The OSTP Director is not a Cabinet-level official. Some Presidents have appointed their science advisors, however, not only to the Senate-confirmed position of OSTP Director, but also as Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST). The APST position does not require Senate confirmation and may confer additional status and access to the President. President Obama appointed John Holdren to serve as both Director of OSTP and APST. In contrast, President George W. Bush appointed John Marburger only to the position of OSTP Director and did not appoint an APST during his two terms.

The relationship between Congress and the individual serving as the President's science advisor varies depending on whether the individual serves as OSTP Director, APST, or both. Congress can require the OSTP Director to testify before Congress. In contrast, APSTs may assert the right not to testify before Congress in accordance with the principles of separation of powers and/or executive privilege. There may be ambiguity about Congress's authority to require testimony from an individual who holds both the Director of OSTP and APST title, depending on the capacity in which the individual would testify and the subject matter of the testimony.

Roles and Responsibilities

Historically, the OSTP Director advises the President on policy formulation; presidential appointments; S&T-related budget issues, including budgets for R&D; the policy significance of scientific and technical developments; and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. OSTP Directors historically have also served as communication conduits between the EOP and the federal and non-federal S&T community. Some OSTP Directors have emphasized communicating the views of the S&T community to the EOP, while others have focused on communicating the views of the EOP to the S&T community.

The OSTP Director (when serving as APST) manages the National Science and Technology Council, established by Executive Order 12881, which is charged with coordinating S&T policy across the federal government, establishing national goals for federal S&T investments, and preparing coordinated R&D strategies. As NSTC manager, the APST can provide federal agency coordination, information, and guidance when special events occur, such as national emergencies, disasters, or S&T-related international negotiations.

In addition, the APST co-chairs the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, established by Executive Order 13226. As co-chair of PCAST, the APST can ascertain the consensus of the S&T community on issues of interest to the Administration.

The OSTP Director performs special roles with respect to National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) communications policies, programs, and capabilities. Under Executive Order 13618, "Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions," the OSTP Director advises the President on the prioritization of radio spectrum and wired communications that support NS/EP communications functions, and provides selected evaluation of appropriate information related to the test, exercise, evaluation, and readiness of the capabilities of existing and planned NS/EP communications. In addition, the OSTP Director issues annually priorities for NS/EP Executive Committee analyses, studies, research, and development regarding NS/EP communications.

Relationship with the Office of Management and Budget

The OSTP Director does not have direct authority over federal agencies or the Office of Management and Budget. Its participation with OMB in the budget process involves four steps: (1) overall priority setting by OSTP and OMB, (2) agency preparation of budget proposals to the OMB, (3) agency negotiations with OMB, and (4) final budget decisions by the President and the OMB Director.

1. Priority setting. A key activity in the first step is OSTP's request to federal agencies for their recommendations on R&D priorities. In addition, interagency working groups meet to determine individual agency responsibilities for specific activities when multiple agencies share responsibility for broad issue areas. The OSTP and OMB use this information in their development of a joint memorandum that articulates the Administration's R&D priorities and R&D investment criteria. Agencies are to use this memorandum as an aid in the second step, preparation of their budgets. 2. Agency budget preparation. In the second step, OSTP continually interacts with agencies as they develop their budgets, providing advice and working with them on their priorities. In general, OSTP provides more guidance to agencies with large R&D budgets and to programs that cross agency boundaries. Federal agencies submit their completed budget proposals to OMB. The OSTP does not review proposed agency budgets before they are sent to OMB. 3. Agency negotiations with OMB. In the third step, OSTP works with OMB to review proposed agency budgets to ensure they reflect Administration plans and priorities. The OSTP also participates in OMB budget examiner presentations to the OMB Director and provides advice on priorities at that time. In addition, OSTP provides direct feedback to agencies as they negotiate with OMB over funding levels and the programs on which that funding is to be spent. 4. Final budget decisions. OSTP's primary role in the fourth step in the budget process is to advise on the quality of the proposals and alignment with the President's established priorities. The President, the OMB Director, and the Cabinet, however, make the ultimate choices.

National Science and Technology Council

On November 23, 1993, President Clinton established the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) by Executive Order 12881. The NSTC is a council composed of department and agency heads, as well as selected assistants and advisors to the President. Executive Order 12881 specifies that the APST is a member of the NSTC; the OSTP Director is not. The NSTC aims to coordinate science and technology policy across the federal government. According to the executive order, the NSTC has the following principal functions:

Coordinate the S&T policymaking process. Ensure S&T policy decisions and programs are consistent with the President's stated goals. Help integrate the President's S&T policy agenda across the federal government. Ensure science and technology are considered in development and implementation of federal policies and programs. Further international cooperation in science and technology.

In addition to these principal functions, the NSTC assists the OMB Director by recommending R&D budgets that reflect national goals and advising on agency R&D submissions.

The President chairs the NSTC; in the President's absence, the Vice President or the APST serves as chair. In practice, the NSTC rarely meets with the President or Cabinet-level officials present. Rather, OSTP staff and detailees manage NSTC activities in conjunction with federal agency staff.

The NSTC has five committees: Science; Technology; Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability; Homeland and National Security; and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education. As shown in Table 1 , each NSTC committee has subcommittees, interagency working groups, and/or taskforces focused on specialized topics. The members of these committees and subcommittees are generally not Cabinet officials, but instead lower-ranking staff.

In some cases, Congress has charged the NSTC with specific statutory responsibilities. Congress mandated the NSTC to coordinate federal activities on ocean acidification and develop an implementation plan for a coordinated national research program on the role of the oceans in human health and to annually report on these activities. Congress also directed the NSTC to oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the National Nanotechnology Program and annually report on these activities. In addition, Congress directed the OSTP Director to establish an NSTC committee responsible for coordinating federal programs and activities in support of STEM education, to establish a committee responsible for planning and coordinating federal programs and activities in advanced manufacturing research and development, to establish a working group responsible for coordinating federal science agency research and policies related to the dissemination and long-term stewardship of the results of unclassified research, and to use the NSTC to annually identify and prioritize deficiencies in federal research facilities and major instrumentation.

In other cases, the NSTC may be assigned responsibilities to meet non-specific congressional mandates. For example, the America COMPETES Act ( P.L. 110-69 ) directs the establishment of a President's Council on Innovation and Competitiveness. The act states that the council is to include the Secretary or head of a number of federal agencies, OSTP, and OMB. Congress provided the President with the option of establishing a new organization to service as the Council on Innovation and Competitiveness or to designate an existing council to carry out the requirement. Rather than establish a new, independent council, President George W. Bush assigned this responsibility to the NSTC Committee on Technology.

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is an advisory board composed of individuals and representatives from outside the federal government with diverse perspectives and expertise. PCAST advises the President, both directly and through the APST, on science, technology, and innovation policy. In addition, PCAST responds to requests for advice from the National Science and Technology Council. President George H. W. Bush created PCAST in 1990. Presidents Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama reestablished slightly different versions of PCAST during their Administrations.

The current executive order gives PCAST a broad remit, stating that its advice "shall include, but not be limited to, policy that affects science, technology, and innovation, as well as scientific and technical information that is needed to inform public policy relating to the economy, energy, environment, public health, national and homeland security, and other topics." PCAST also serves as two other statutorily created advisory committees: the President's Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee created by the High Performance Computing Act of 1991 ( P.L. 102-194 as amended) and the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel created by the 21 st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act ( P.L. 108-153 ).

PCAST's members include approximately 20-25 distinguished individuals from industry, education and research institutions, and other organizations outside the federal government. The APST co-chairs PCAST along with one or two other council members.

Until recently, OSTP provided funding and support for PCAST. In 2011, President Obama directed the Department of Energy to provide PCAST with funding and administrative and technical support. Though these functions were transferred to DOE, OSTP asserts that it continues to exercise policy and programmatic oversight of PCAST through co-chair John Holdren and PCAST's staff, whose physical office location remains at OSTP. OSTP further asserts that it expects that PCAST's funding level at DOE will be comparable to PCAST's historic funding levels at OSTP, noting that Congress has not provided additional appropriations to DOE specifically to support PCAST.

OSTP Budget and Staffing

OTSP's budget and staffing affect the degree to which OSTP can provide advice to the President and respond to congressional direction and mandates. Figure 2 shows OSTP's budget from FY1990 to FY2014, and Figure 3 shows OSTP's staffing level from FY1990 to FY2013. For FY2014, P.L. 113-76 funds OSTP at $5.6 million, $0.1 million more than in FY2013. The Administration had requested $5.7 million for FY2014. The OSTP is also supported by a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI; see box below).

As illustrated in Figure 2 and Figure 3 , OSTP funding and staffing levels have varied considerably over time. In constant dollars, OSTP funding was at its highest at the end of the George H. W. Bush Administration and at its lowest during the Reagan Administration. OSTP's staffing has also fluctuated. Some analysts have expressed concern that the uneven funding and staffing of OSTP may result in inconsistent provision of S&T advice within the EOP over time.

The OSTP has 40 full-time equivalent staff positions. As of February 2012, OSTP had a total of 93 staff members, detailees, fellows, and individuals working under an Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement (IPAs). According to OSTP, this total includes 11 political staff, 20 career staff, 3 consultants, 41 detailees, 10 IPAs, and 8 fellows. Political staff, career staff, and two of the consultants are funded by OSTP (the third consultant serves on a voluntary basis); detailees are funded by their home agencies; fellows are funded by a variety of organizations; and IPAs may be funded by OSTP, their home agencies/organizations, or a combination of the two.

The Clinton, G.W. Bush, and Obama Administrations have all relied on detailees and fellows to conduct much of OSTP's activities. The OSTP does not include information on detailees and fellows in its annual budget requests to Congress, so their number is harder to track than other staff. Toward the end of the Clinton Administration, OSTP had approximately 60 detailees and fellows. During the G.W. Bush Administration, OSTP had approximately 30-40 detailees per year. Approximately 60 detailees and fellows support the current OSTP. In contrast, 11 detailees worked at OSTP in FY1992.

Issues and Options for Congress

Congress may opt to consider a variety of issues and legislative options related to OSTP. These include:

the need for science advice within the Executive Office of the President; the title, rank, roles, and responsibilities of the OSTP Director; the number and policy foci of OSTP Associate Directors; the funding and staffing levels provided for OSTP; the compliance of OSTP with statutory restrictions on the use of appropriated funds; the participation of OSTP and NSTC in federal agency coordination, priority-setting, and budget allocation; the role of OSTP in ensuring scientific integrity in federally funded and supported research, including the communication of scientific and technical information by federal agency scientists and engineers; the efforts by OSTP to effect change in federal policies regarding public access to the results of federally funded research and development; the attempt by OSTP to consolidate federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education programs; and the stature and influence of PCAST.

The following sections address each of these issues, along with Obama Administration efforts and policy options for Congress.

Need for Science Advice within the Executive Office of the President

One fundamental question is whether the President requires high-level S&T advice, and, if so, whether this advice should take the form of a full-time advisor or presidential advisory committee. Further, if the President does require such advice, should part of the EOP, part of a federal department or agency, or an independent agency perform these roles and functions.

Presidents and their senior advisors may believe that they base most of their decisions on factors other than detailed scientific knowledge, such that they perceive a need for only very general S&T knowledge. They may consider opinions from an S&T advisor or a related presidential advisory committee unnecessary and observe no need for such entities to build support for White House decisions. Even when Presidents and their senior advisors rely on high-level S&T advice, certain tensions permeate this process.

A President may believe that high-level S&T advice will do more harm than good if the S&T advisor or presidential advisory committee does not commit to the President's agenda or represent the Administration's perspective. Conversely, the S&T community may fear that a close relationship between the S&T advisor and the President could lead to the politicization of S&T advice and subvert the S&T advisor's independence and objectivity. A historical review of presidential S&T activities since the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration illustrates that differences in opinion between the President and the majority of the S&T community place a presidential S&T advisor or advisory committee in a challenging position. Dismissal or marginalization of S&T consideration from the White House inner circle may result.

On the other hand, an Administration may benefit from an S&T advisor who understands these sensitivities, as the S&T advisor may provide confidential advice privately and speak authoritatively on S&T-related issues for the Administration publicly. The S&T advisor can help assess S&T-related departments and agencies, resolve competing claims among these agencies, coordinate the efforts of R&D agencies and the external S&T community in national emergencies, and anticipate new and emerging S&T issues. In addition, presidential advisory committees provide an ongoing ability to engage the S&T community when the President feels the need for external advice.

Consider OSTP Organizational Position

Congress formalized a mechanism for EOP S&T advice when it created OSTP. After assessing the success of OSTP in providing the type of S&T advice envisioned by Congress, Congress may choose to alter the formal mechanisms for EOP S&T advice by changing OSTP's authorization and organizational location.

Some have recommended the elimination of OSTP, characterizing its role as duplicative and ambiguous. Doing so would effectively remove the formal S&T advice mechanism from the EOP. This might lead the EOP to rely on outside groups for S&T advice and lower the overall consideration given to S&T during the policy-making process. If Congress opted to eliminate OSTP, a President might opt to rely on Cabinet Secretaries and other federal agency officials for S&T advice in their agencies' field(s) of expertise; Congress might opt to formalize the provision of such advice by agency heads by making it a statutory responsibility. In assessing whether to eliminate OSTP, Congress may wish to note that it has eliminated other legislative and executive branch agencies engaged in S&T policy, notably Congress's Office of Technology Assessment in 1995 and the Department of Commerce's Technology Administration and its Office of Technology Policy in 2007. Currently, the Office of Science and Technology Policy is the only federal agency whose principal responsibility is the broad tableau of federal S&T policy. Some S&T policy experts assert that the elimination of other S&T policy agencies has made consideration of broad S&T policies more challenging for both the executive branch and Congress.

Another alternative is to move OSTP out of the EOP. Congress might establish OSTP as part of an existing department or agency or as a new independent agency. Removing OSTP from the EOP might increase OSTP independence. If OSTP became a separate agency, Congress might also benefit from having more control over OSTP's interagency coordination and other activities. If Congress removed OSTP from the EOP, however, OSTP's greater distance from presidential decisions might mean that neither the Administration nor federal agencies would respond sufficiently to its advice or requests. The S&T community objected when President Nixon moved the precursor to OSTP from the EOP to NSF; they might launch a similar objection now.

If Congress elects to maintain the OSTP function and keep it within the EOP, it might instead consider OSTP's autonomy. Congressional options regarding OSTP autonomy include continuing to provide OSTP with legislative guidance, increasing the intensity with which it provides such guidance, and increasing presidential authority over OSTP. These options are discussed in more depth below.

Continue Current OSTP Legislative Guidance Mechanisms

Some Members of Congress may believe that no changes need to be made in OSTP operations. Others may believe that taking legislative action regarding OSTP would be neither efficient nor effective given its presence in the EOP, the nature of its activities, and its ability to make operational changes on its own. As described in this report, OSTP and its affiliated organizations have continually evolved, responding to the changing needs of the Administration and society, as well as to new scientific and technical challenges and opportunities.

Currently, the President has discretion over the policies, structure, and personnel of OSTP, NSTC, and PCAST. Congress oversees OSTP through the annual regular authorization and appropriation processes and introduces issue-specific bills that identify issues, actions, and functions on which Members of Congress believe OSTP should focus. This approach may be appropriate given the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches inherent in the U.S. Constitution.

Congress currently holds hearings as part of the presidential appointee confirmation process, part of the appropriation process, and on issues of interest to a given committee. Through the hearing process and other legislative actions, such as introducing bills, passing laws, and writing related report language, Congress provides direction and guidance to OSTP. Congress may also mandate specific activities or priorities. In such cases, OSTP might need to choose between prioritizing its general statutory roles and responsibilities and specific activities and priorities mandated by Congress.

Another issue for the current mechanisms for legislative guidance is that congressional language, either in statute or report, may sometimes conflict with presidential activities. For example, a constitutional issue related to executive branch authority is OSTP's use of appropriated funds for international activities that Congress has proscribed. This issue is discussed in detail in the section, " OSTP Compliance with Statutory Restrictions on the Use of Appropriated Funds ."

Increase Intensity of OSTP Oversight Mechanisms

Should Congress wish to take a greater role in directing the activities of OSTP, it might consider holding additional specific oversight hearings on OSTP or amending OSTP's organic legislation to reflect current congressional priorities. For example, Congress might legislatively direct OSTP to designate staff or undertake activities focused on an issue of concern. Such legislative language might lead to investment of effort more appropriate to congressional priorities. Establishing such specific priorities and personnel in statute could limit agency discretion, potentially reducing its ability to address other parts of its statutory mission, while securing a focus on specified topics. In addition, this approach could largely consume OSTP's staff and budget, inhibiting its ability to respond to new and emerging S&T topics.

Allow President Autonomy over OSTP

Given OSTP's presence within the EOP, Congress might opt to allow the President to manage OSTP as he or she wishes. In this case, Congress might reduce the amount of direction provided to OSTP through oversight hearings, legislation, and report language. The President, with Senate confirmation, would continue to appoint the OSTP Director and Associate Directors; determine OSTP's policy agenda; and organize the management of the office. The President could also continue to use executive orders to manage other activities, such as the formation of NSTC and PCAST.

General Considerations

The personal relationship between a President and the OSTP director/APST/science advisor, together with the President's perspective on the role of science and technology advice in the development and selection of policy options, may have a significant effect on the provision and effectiveness of S&T policy advice. For example, a President who places a high premium on objective, independent advice might seek out the counsel of his S&T advisor and rely heavily upon it in making a policy decision. This approach might be further strengthened if the President and S&T advisor have a long-term collegial relationship based on mutual trust and respect. A different President may see S&T advice as important, but not controlling; such a President might seek S&T advice and incorporate it with other factors in decision making. Yet another President might place a premium on factors other than science and technology (e.g., economic interests, foreign policy objectives, domestic political considerations). Rather than seeking S&T advice to guide decision making, such a President might instead look to the S&T advisor to explain and advocate the position of the Administration, particularly to the S&T community. A President who does not consider science and technology important may not solicit input from an S&T advisor, regardless of the title or position the S&T advisor holds.

Title, Rank, Roles, and Responsibilities

Under President Obama, John Holdren serves as both OSTP Director and APST. In contrast, under George W. Bush, John Marburger was given only the title of OSTP Director. Some experts in the S&T community have proposed that the OSTP Director also be given the title of APST or Cabinet rank. A related issue is whether the roles and responsibilities of the OSTP Director should be undertaken by several appointees rather than one. To a large extent, the appointment of an advisor to a particular position or title arises from presidential discretion. This presidential discretion may limit the ability of Congress to require greater or lesser degrees of access to the President and other key Administration decision makers.

Title and Rank

As shown in the Appendix A , presidential science advisors have held a variety of titles since the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration. Of the 13 Administrations reviewed, the most common title has been some variation of Science Advisor to the President (five Administrations), followed by Special Assistant to the President (four Administrations). The OSTP Director held the title of APST in the George H. W. Bush and Clinton Administrations but not in the George W. Bush Administration. President Obama appointed John Holdren as APST and OSTP Director; the Senate subsequently confirmed Dr. Holdren's nomination as OSTP Director.

The difference between an individual being the OSTP Director and the APST is more than semantic. This section outlines some of the policy issues related to whether the OSTP Director is also the APST or has Cabinet rank.

Congressional Testimony

Some Members of Congress may wish to oversee who is appointed as the president's science advisor and to have the option of hearing testimony from the individual serving in that role. Others may not place great emphasis on overseeing the role of OSTP Director or APST and may have other sources from which they can obtain S&T analysis and information.

Congress expects that an executive branch official who administers a department or agency established by law will testify before it. This contrasts with an individual whose sole responsibility is to advise the President. Some presidential advisors, such as the Director of OSTP, are in units of the EOP established by law and are also subject to confirmation by the Senate. Accordingly, Congress often asks OSTP Directors to testify before it, and may, if necessary, compel them to do so. However, an APST may assert the right to not testify before Congress in accordance with the principles of separation of powers and/or executive privilege. Some members of the S&T community contend that Congress should permit an individual serving as APST to discriminate between privileged advice to the President that should not be disclosed to Congress and information appropriate to disclose to Congress. If Congress desires to ensure the availability of the APST for testimony, it might opt to establish the position of APST by statute and require Senate confirmation. Some experts have expressed concern regarding confusion that might arise if Congress could require some Administration staff with "Assistant to the President" titles to testify, but not others. Others have suggested that this might not be an effective approach since, even if such a position were established by statute, a President might opt not to nominate someone for that position or possibly even appoint someone to a similarly titled position that does not exist in statute.

Cabinet Rank

Some members of the S&T community have expressed their desire for the OSTP Director to have a greater role and influence in the development of Administration policy. They assert that statutorily designating the OSTP Director as a Cabinet-level position would provide such an enhanced role and influence. In their view, the President would identify an individual nominated for the Cabinet-level OSTP Director position at the same time as other Cabinet members, shortly after the election of a new Administration. If also appointed to serve as APST, the individual could begin work immediately, though exercise of the duties of OSTP Director, with its enhanced stature, would have to await formal nomination and Senate confirmation. If appointed early in a new Administration, some experts in the S&T community contend, the individual filling the APST position could help identify and recruit the best scientists, engineers, health professionals, and other public policy professionals for the approximately 100 S&T policy-related presidential appointments.

Additionally, some contend that an APST/OSTP Director with Cabinet rank would have greater access to the President and other senior Administration staff. They assert that Cabinet rank would enhance the OSTP Director's authority and influence in incorporating scientific and technical viewpoints into Administration decision-making. Others contend that the issue of Cabinet rank for the APST/OSTP Director status is trivial and would be unlikely to substantially improve the APST/OSTP Director's role and influence in EOP activities, including Cabinet meetings.

From a historical perspective, some experts believe that Presidents and their science advisors have unique and idiosyncratic relationships. To these experts, a more important question is how an Administration manages and uses the extensive infrastructure of expert S&T advice that that supports all aspects of federal decision making. Scientists, engineers, and S&T policy professionals—both within and outside of the federal government—play a substantial role in providing S&T input to federal policy decision making in areas such as R&D, regulation, procurement, and standards development.

Other experts assert that the organization of the White House determines the S&T advisor's status and access. According to this perspective, if the President relies primarily on a group of White House staff members for advice, the advisor should be the APST. Conversely, if the Cabinet is the primary source of advice, than the science advisor should be made a member of the Cabinet. From this perspective, the title itself is less important than the access to the President that it provides. Other critics contend that rather than focusing on the title, the S&T community should instead focus on the degree to which a presidential Administration is transparent about its operations.

Roles and Responsibilities

As discussed above, historically OSTP Directors have advised presidents on S&T policy formulation, R&D budget issues, the policy significance of scientific and technical developments, and STEM education, among other things. When holding the APST title, the OSTP Director manages the NSTC and co-chairs PCAST. In addition, OSTP Directors can serve as a communication conduit between the EOP and the federal and non-federal S&T community.

The Obama Administration has opted to consolidate all of these functions under a single individual, John Holdren, who has the dual roles of OSTP Director and APST. Under the Obama Administration, the OSTP Director:

Works with OMB in the development of the President's R&D budget request. Provides advice to the President and senior Administration officials on policies for science and technology (including R&D and STEM education). Provides advice to the President and senior Administration officials on the application of science and technology in support of a wide range of national policies (e.g., economic, military, space, health, environmental, and agricultural policies). Represents the United States in international S&T policy related meetings. Manages the NSTC and co-chairs PCAST in his capacity as APST. Is responsible for performing functions related to disaster communications as assigned in Executive Order 12472, Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Telecommunications Functions.

One alternative for Congress is to change the current statutory structure and duties of OSTP, separating the various OSTP roles and responsibilities and establishing separate positions and/or organizations for each. For example, the S&T community has debated the utility of having two different individuals serve as APST and OSTP Director. While some believe having two people serve in these roles might enhance the ability and potential of an APST to be part of the President's inner circle, others believe the potential for conflict between the two is high. Similarly, some members of the S&T community have suggested that the President appoint co-equal officials, one responsible for science policy and the other for technology policy. Shortly after assuming office, President Obama created the new title of Chief Technology Officer within the EOP, but assigned it to his choice for Associate Director of OSTP for Technology. While signaling that this appointee is the Administration's point person for technology issues, the individual holding the title is in a position subordinate to the OSTP Director. Some S&T policy experts have expressed concerns that bifurcation of authorities and responsibilities might create conflicts and a lack of integration.

Another challenge in splitting the functions of OSTP and assigning them to separate individuals or organizations is the size of OSTP's budget and staff. For example, current resources might not effectively support two senior officials and their associated staffs. Congress might opt to increase funding and authorized staffing levels to support such a reorganization.

Number and Policy Foci of OSTP Associate Directors

Current statutory authority provides flexibility to the President with respect to the number of OSTP Associate Directors (up to four) and the scope of their areas of responsibility (entirely at the discretion of the President). Under President George W. Bush there were two: an Associate Director for Science and an Associate Director for Technology. President Obama has established four Associate Directors with responsibility for discrete policy areas: Science, Technology, Environment and Energy, and National Security and International Affairs.

Congress could opt to specify a fixed number of Associate Directors, and could assign some or all of them specific policy foci. Some Members of Congress have undertaken efforts in this regard. For example, in its report ( S.Rept. 110-124 ) on the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 ( S. 1745 , 110 th Congress), the Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended that OSTP create the position of Associate Director for Earth Science and Applications to coordinate all federal efforts to better understand and predict changes in the Earth's climate and oceans. Another bill ( H.R. 5116 , 111 th Congress) would have required the OSTP Director to appoint an Associate Director to serve as the Coordinator for Societal Dimensions of Nanotechnology.

In addition, some members of the S&T community have proposed that one or more of the OSTP Associate Director positions should be a joint appointment to the National Economic Council (NEC), National Security Council (NSC), Domestic Policy Council (DPC), or Office of Management and Budget. In this vein, President Obama appointed the OSTP Director and the CTO to the DPC; made Dr. Holdren a member of the NEC by providing him with the APST title; added the Chief Technology Officer (who currently also holds the position of OSTP Associate Director for Technology) as a member of the NEC; and issued Presidential Policy Directive 1 (PPD-1) stating that "When science and technology related issues are on the agenda, the NSC's regular attendees will include the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy." Shortly after his appointment Dr. Holdren stated that he expected that the OSTP associate director for national security would "be dual-hatted" in the National Security Council. According to OSTP, the Associate Director for National Security and International Affairs "necessarily works in close collaboration with the National Security Staff on a wide variety of issues, though the position has not been officially 'dual-hatted' during the Obama Administration."

OSTP Budget and Staffing

The ability of OSTP to perform its statutory duties depends, in part, on the size of its budget and staff. Figure 2 and Figure 3 , above, illustrate OSTP's historical budget and staffing. Between FY1996 and FY2013, the budgets of Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama included requests for the authorization of 35-40 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions while the actual number of OSTP-funded staff ranged from 23 to 31. The OSTP has used detailees and fellows to supplement its core staffing. During the George W. Bush Administration, detailees and fellows provided approximately half of OSTP's total staff; during the Clinton Administration, as many as 61 detailees and fellows accounted for approximately two-thirds of total OSTP staff.

Some in the S&T community have expressed concerns that OSTP needs to have more career civil service professional staff and a larger budget. In their view, additional career staff, who would continue to serve from one presidential Administration to the next, would help maintain institutional knowledge and provide a solid understanding of government operations. More career staff might also enable a new Administration to move more quickly on S&T policy issues and provide enhanced support to political appointees during presidential transitions. Reports expressing these views assert that this change would make OSTP staff similar to other EOP expert staff, such as those employed at OMB.

Additional funding, these reports assert, would also provide OSTP with sufficient staff to conduct special analyses on emerging issues. Currently, such analyses are generally provided by OSTP's federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI). (See "Science and Technology Policy Institute" box, above, for more information.)

Congress may wish to maintain the current staffing approach. Should Congress wish to enhance the funding and staffing of OSTP, it can do so through the appropriations process. The OSTP received $5.6 million for FY2014 ( P.L. 113-76 ). For comparison, Congress provided $6.6 million for OSTP in FY2011, but cut OSTP funding to $4.5 million in FY2012 amid concerns over OSTP's use of funds for activities proscribed in report language accompanying its FY2011 appropriations (see next section). Congress restored OSTP funding to $5.7 million in FY2013.

OSTP Compliance with Statutory Restrictions on the Use of Appropriated Funds

Congress has sought to restrict OSTP from engaging in certain activities by prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for those activities. The FY2014, FY2013, FY2012, and FY2011 appropriations acts that funded OSTP all included such restrictions.

Section 1340(a) of the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 ( P.L. 112-10 ) prohibited OSTP from expending funds made available under Division B of the act

to develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company unless such activities are specifically authorized by a law enacted after the date of enactment of this division.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and OSTP have asserted that the President's constitutional authority to conduct foreign diplomacy precludes Congress from proscribing the use of funds for such specific activities. The OSTP expended a portion of its FY2011 appropriation to engage in activities with China that Section 1340(a) sought to proscribe. The OSTP has asserted that "certain applications of Section 1340 ... would infringe upon the President's constitutional authority to conduct foreign diplomacy." Subsequently, DOJ issued a supporting opinion on the constitutionality of the application of Section 1340 to OSTP's activities concluding, in part:

Section 1340(a) of the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 is unconstitutional as applied to certain activities undertaken pursuant to the President's constitutional authority to conduct the foreign relations of the United States.

Most, if not all, of the activities of the Office of Science and Technology Policy that we have been asked to consider fall within the President's exclusive power to conduct diplomacy, and OSTP's officers and employees therefore may engage in those activities as agents designated by the President for the conduct of diplomacy, notwithstanding Section 1340(a).

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), in response to a request from the House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman, Representative Frank Wolf, concluded that

... OSTP's use of appropriations to fund its participation in the [U.S.-China Dialogue on Innovation Policy] and [U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue] violated the prohibition in Section 1340. In addition, because Section 1340 prohibited the use of OSTP's appropriations for this purpose, OSTP's involvement in the Innovation Dialogue and the S&ED resulted in obligations in excess of appropriated funds available to OSTP; as such, OSTP violated the Antideficiency Act, 31 U.S.C. §1341(a)(1)(A).

With respect to the issue of the constitutionality of the law, GAO stated:

It is not our role nor within our province to opine or adjudicate the constitutionality of duly enacted statutes such as Section 1340. In our view, legislation that was passed by Congress and signed by the President, thereby satisfying the Constitution's bicameralism and presentment requirements, is entitled to a heavy presumption in favor of constitutionality.

Citing the GAO conclusion, Chairman Wolf sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder stating his expectation that the Attorney General would "ensure comprehensive enforcement of section 1340" of P.L. 112-10 and "hold [OSTP Director] Dr. Holdren to full account for his violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act."

Congress subsequently reduced OSTP's FY2012 appropriations by nearly a third (32.3%). The House Committee on Appropriations had sought to reduce OSTP funding by half. Further, statutory language in OSTP's FY2012 appropriations act ( P.L. 112-55 ) and language in the accompanying report ( H.Rept. 112-284 ) prohibit OSTP from using appropriated funds to support activities that would carry the risk of transferring sensitive technology to China. In contrast with the FY2011 language, Section 539 of the law allows OSTP to proceed with activities that it certifies pose no risk of transfer.

P.L. 113-6 , the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, restored OSTP funding levels and continued the statutory language prohibiting expenditure of OSTP funds

to develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company unless such activities are specifically authorized by a law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act.

The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, retained the prior clarification that this prohibition shall not apply to activities that OSTP certifies have no risk but adds a requirement that OSTP certify that such activities

will not involve knowing interactions with officials who have been determined by the United States to have direct involvement with violations of human rights.

The OSTP must submit any such certification to Congress at least 30 days prior to the activity. These requirements reportedly reflect an existing agreement between Congress and OSTP.

P.L. 113-76 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, reaffirms and extends the above requirements for FY2014.

OSTP and NSTC Participation in Federal Agency Coordination, Priority-Setting, and Budget Allocation

As discussed above, OSTP, the OSTP Director and Associate Directors, and the NSTC participate in coordinating, setting priorities for, and allocating the budget for federal S&T activities. S&T policy organizations have suggested enhancing this participation.

Role of OSTP Director

Some reports from the S&T community suggest that the OSTP Director should take a greater role in coordination, priority-setting, and budget allocation regarding the federal R&D budget; energy; STEM education; international S&T policy; and federal-state S&T policy. In addition, some members of the S&T policy community have suggested that the OSTP Director play a greater role in EOP policy bodies involved in priority-setting and budget allocation, such as the OMB, NEC, CEQ, DPC, and NSC. For example, Congress could require the OSTP Director to play a greater role (e.g., certification of priorities or budgets) in setting priorities at the federal agencies, particularly for multi-agency and inter-agency activities.

Role of NSTC

Another recommendation found in these S&T community reports is to make the NSTC's authority equivalent to that of the NSC. The NSTC, they assert, lacks the influence of NSC. The differences in statutory authority, staff, and budget are among the reasons cited for this disparity.

The NSTC has participated in presidential decision-making processes in different ways in different Administrations. For example, during the Clinton Administration, the NSTC issued six Presidential Review Directives (PRDs). The PRDs served as the basis for gathering information and policy options for the President. President Clinton then had this information available as he developed eight Presidential Decision Directives (PDD) establishing new policy. As during the G.W. Bush Administration, the NSTC has developed no PRDs or their equivalents during the Obama Administration.

Some experts in the S&T community believe that incorporating NSTC deliberations into policy documents rather than basing the policy documents on formal directives puts S&T and the NSTC in a supportive role. These experts assert that, in some situations, S&T input and ramifications should have a more prominent influence on public policy.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Dr. Holdren discussed his vision for the NSTC:

There is an entity called the National Science and Technology Council which has existed in the White House, organized by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, but bringing together all of the executive branch agencies, typically at the deputy level, that have roles in science and technology.

This is a place where in the past one has been able to address crosscutting and overlapping jurisdiction issues effectively. In the last 8 years, it has languished. It was not really fully utilized in the last administration, but our intention—certainly my intention, if confirmed—would be to revive it and utilize it fully to try to reduce the sorts of problems that you point to here.

In this regard, the Obama Administration asserts that it has undertaken efforts to revitalize and streamline the efforts of the NSTC. The Administration cites its establishment of a fifth NSTC committee—the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education—to coordinate Federal programs and activities in support of STEM education. The Administration states that under President Obama NSTC committees meet two or three times annually and each subcommittee meets at least quarterly. The Administration also asserts that it "oversaw the restructuring of the original NSTC committees, with elimination of interagency efforts, where appropriate, and initiation of new efforts, as indicated by Administration priorities and/or Congressional mandates."

Options for Congress

Congress might choose to leave the roles of the OSTP Director and the NSTC in the budget process unchanged, might choose to increase their authorities, or might choose to increase its oversight of their roles.

Congress might mandate that OSTP review agency S&T budgets prior to submission to OMB and empower OSTP to alter the distribution of funding between S&T priorities based on their relative importance. Such authority might increase the ability of OSTP to harmonize and coordinate S&T expenditures among federal agencies. Federal agencies might resist such a change in authority, as it might further complicate the budget development and submission process and create competition between OSTP and OMB directives.

Congress might require that NSTC or OSTP review agency S&T budgets to assess the correspondence between NSTC multi-agency R&D strategies and proposed federal investments. A hallmark of multi-agency R&D investment is the need to coordinate the magnitude and mission goals of agency investments in order to achieve broader federal R&D goals. Such a review might increase transparency regarding progress towards these broader federal R&D goals, but it might also require increases in expenditures. Identifying cross-cutting funding and efforts might require dedicated program offices and staff to track and report on multi-agency activities.

Congress might choose to formalize the NSTC structure and organization and provide additional funding and personnel to increase the robustness of its process. Providing statutory underpinnings for the NSTC might enable Congress to obtain greater insight into the activities of the NSTC through reporting requirements and oversight of its activities. Alternatively, Congress could mandate that the OSTP Director provide regular reports on the activities of the NSTC.

OSTP Role in Ensuring Scientific Integrity

The OSTP plays a role in ensuring the scientific integrity of research conducted and supported by the federal government, as well as in the communication of scientific and technical information developed and analyzed by federal scientists and engineers. For example, OSTP, as part of a process managed by OMB, reviews S&T-related testimony to Congress.

George W. Bush Administration

During the George W. Bush Administration, advocacy groups charged that politicization adversely affected the integrity of science, primarily that related to environment, public health, and national security issues. These groups contended that Administration officials restricted the ability of federal scientists and engineers to provide information, instructed them to change their research reports, or modified the congressional testimony of federal scientific and technical agency leadership that did not support the Administration's views. OSTP Director Marburger stated that such allegations were "sweeping generalizations based on a patchwork of disjointed facts and accusations that reach conclusions that are wrong and misleading."

Policy makers responded to these concerns in several ways. In the America COMPETES Act ( P.L. 110-69 , §1009), Congress directed OSTP to develop an overarching set of principles to ensure the communication and open exchange of data by federal scientists and engineers. On May 28, 2008, in response to this requirement, OSTP sent a memorandum to federal agencies that sponsor research. The memorandum provides guidance and what OSTP termed the "Core Principle for Communication of the Results of Scientific Research Conducted by Scientists Employed by Federal Civilian Agencies." It states:

Robust and open communication of scientific information is critical not only for advancing science, but also for ensuring that society is informed and provided with objective and factual information to make sound decisions. Accordingly, the Federal government is committed to a culture of scientific openness that fosters and protects the open exchange of ideas, data and information to the scientific community, policymakers, and the public.

The memorandum also indicated that NASA's science communications policy should be a model for other federal agencies: NASA policy states that, "In keeping with the desire for a culture of openness, NASA employees may, consistent with this policy, speak to the press and the public about their work," with exceptions for privileged and other controlled information.

Bush-Obama Transition Recommendations

Prior to President Obama's inauguration, some S&T policy advocacy groups proposed that the executive branch change its scientific communication policy. One proposal was for the issuance of an executive order requiring federal agency leadership to monitor scientific integrity within their agencies and submit an annual report to OSTP with their observations and actions.

Other proposals included reversing Executive Order 13422 to prevent OMB from conducting political reviews of scientific documents; enhancing whistleblower protections, including strengthening the Office of Special Counsel; requiring that scientific studies used to inform regulatory policy be disclosed and docketed prior to the decision-making process; reforming agency communication and media policies; and providing the public with both the scientific results or analysis used in policymaking and the ability to include a minority report if there are any significant dissenting scientific evidence or opinions.

Some organizations suggested that the Obama Administration also address the use of science in regulatory policy, including explicitly differentiating between questions that involve scientific judgments and questions that involve judgments about economics, ethics, and other matters of policy; and develop guidelines on when to consult advisory panels on scientific questions, how to appoint them, how they should operate, and how to deal with conflicts of interest.

Obama Administration

Shortly after taking office, President Obama issued a memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies on the subject of scientific integrity. In the memorandum, the President articulated his view of the importance of ensuring scientific integrity; identified several overarching principles; charged the OSTP Director with ensuring "the highest level of scientific integrity in all aspects of the executive branch's involvement with scientific and technological processes"; required the Director to confer with heads of executive departments and agencies, the OMB, and other offices within the EOP in the development of a plan to achieve the identified principles; and directed the OSTP Director to develop recommendations for presidential action to guarantee scientific integrity throughout the executive branch.

OSTP Director Holdren subsequently issued a memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies providing further guidance on implementing the Administration's policies on scientific integrity. Director Holdren's memorandum provided principles in four broad areas: foundations of scientific integrity, public communications, use of federal advisory committees, and professional development of government scientists and engineers. In a separate section addressing implementation, Director Holdren stated that OMB would be issuing guidance to OMB staff regarding standards to be applied to the review of testimony on scientific issues prepared for presentation to Congress. He also noted that "the scope of an agency's scientific work and its relationship to the mission of each department or agency may necessitate distinct mechanisms be used by each to implement this guidance."

The OSTP reviewed the guidelines developed by each agency to ensure consistency with the guidance provided in President Obama's original memorandum. According to OSTP, some departments decided to develop policies that will apply broadly to a number of their component agencies. The OSTP has also stated that individual agencies covered by their departments' policies may develop their own policies with additional elements specific to their missions. According to the OSTP website, 19 federal agencies have released final policies. Four others have released draft policies and are in the process of finalizing them for release. The agencies' policies have met with mixed reviews. An analysis published by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a not-for-profit advocacy group, lauded the policies of some agencies for their active support for "a culture of scientific integrity," while criticizing the policies of other agencies as inadequate.

Some policy makers have asserted that the Obama Administration has failed to protect scientific integrity. For example, in a letter to the OSTP Director, several Members of Congress alleged scientific misconduct by the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Among the concerns raised in the letter were data quality, integrity of methodologies and collection of information, agency misrepresentation of the weight of what they asserted were scientific facts, misrepresentation of scientific conclusions in federal courts, and rigorous application of the scientific method.

Congress might opt to influence the direction of the existing executive branch activities, provide oversight of their implementation, or establish alternative reporting mechanisms for issues related to scientific integrity. Congress might establish guidance regarding how agencies should craft and implement scientific integrity policies. Alternatively, Congress might leave establishing and implementing such policies to agency discretion, and require regular reporting from agencies regarding scientific integrity issues and the effectiveness of policy enforcement. Finally, Congress could further empower the Inspectors General to address issues of scientific integrity or establish alternative reporting mechanisms, such as a federal ombudsman, to receive complaints regarding scientific integrity issues.

Public Access to Results of Federally Funded R&D

In "open access" or "public access" publishing, the entity that holds the copyright to an article grants all users unlimited, free access to the article. In traditional scientific publishing, subscriptions generally fund the costs of journal publication and distribution; in some cases, authors may also pay fees. This contrasts with open access publishers, which typically fund the costs of journal publication and distribution through author fees and give readers free online access to the full text of articles. Some traditional publishers have implemented a hybrid model where authors may choose to provide their articles free to readers in exchange for increased author fees.

Since 2008, Congress has authorized the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to require recipients of NIH grants to submit an electronic version of their final, peer-reviewed articles to NIH. The NIH places these articles in a public repository no later than 12 months after publication. This congressionally authorized policy has raised issues regarding protection of intellectual property and government competition with the private publishing industry.

Supporters of federal open access publishing policies have a variety of motivations, including the rising cost of traditional journal subscriptions; beliefs regarding improved scientific collaboration and utilization from free information access; and wishes for the public to access the results of research and development funded by their taxes. These supporters urge increased federal support for open access publishing.

In contrast, traditional publishers and some scholarly associations object to federal open access policies because they believe it may weaken the publishing industry, erode profits, and consequently restrict the activities of associations whose main source of income is publishing. Opponents of federal open access publishing policies cite potential negative consequences, such as uncertain long-term maintenance of electronic archives; increased publication costs for researchers; and the perceptions of the academic community and the academic reward system, which appear to give more status to articles published in traditional journals.

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 ( P.L. 111-358 ) required the OSTP Director to establish a working group to coordinate agency policies "related to the dissemination and long-term stewardship of the results of unclassified research, including digital data and peer-reviewed scholarly publications, supported wholly, or in part, by funding from the Federal science agencies" and report to Congress on these efforts. The OSTP issued a public request for information seeking perspectives on various facets of the public access issue. Respondents generally supported increasing public access to such research results.

In February 2013, the OSTP Director affirmed the Obama Administration's commitment "to ensuring that … the direct results of federally funded scientific research are made available to and useful for the public, industry, and the scientific community. Such results include peer-reviewed publications and digital data." The Director instructed federal agencies that fund more than $100 million of R&D per year to develop plans to make the published results of federally funded research freely available to the public and provided a guideline of within one year of publication.

The OSTP identified 20 agencies from which it expected draft public access plans. Not all agencies submitted their plans by the August 2013 deadline. The OSTP has reviewed the plans that were submitted and provided feedback to those agencies. Once all EOP comments on the draft plans are given back to agencies, agencies will have an opportunity to revise their plans and resubmit them for EOP approval. Once a plan is approved, each agency will determine its own release date. The joint explanatory statement to P.L. 113-76 directs OSTP to report to the congressional appropriations committees on each agency's progress in developing and implementing its plan for public access to federally funded research findings. This OSTP report is due within 45 days of enactment with semi-annual updates thereafter.

Division H of P.L. 113-76 , the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2014, directed those entities receiving funding through that act to implement public access plans if they had research and development expenditures in excess of $100 million. The statute mandates that these policies shall establish "free online public access to such final peer-reviewed manuscripts or published versions not later than 12 months after the official date of publication" and require that "a machine-readable version of the author's final peer-reviewed manuscripts that have been accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals describing research supported, in whole or in part, from funding by the Federal Government" be submitted "to the agency, agency bureau, or designated entity acting on behalf of the agency." This provision is similar in effect to that identified in the OSTP memorandum but specifies the period of embargo rather than leaving it to agency discretion, as under the OSTP approach.

FY2014 STEM Education Reorganization

Policy makers in Congress and the Administration have undertaken efforts in recent years to address governance concerns about the federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education program portfolio. The OSTP has been a focus of these efforts due, in part, to the OSTP Director's role as manager of the NSTC.

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 ( P.L. 111-358 ) directed OSTP to establish an NSTC committee "to coordinate Federal programs and activities in support of STEM education." The act charges the committee (known as "CoSTEM") with, among other things: conducting a review of STEM education activities and programs to identify potential duplication of efforts, developing a five-year STEM education strategic plan, and establishing an inventory of federally sponsored STEM education programs and activities.

P.L. 111-358 gave the OSTP Director responsibility for ensuring that the strategic plan is developed and executed and that the objectives of the plan are met. The act also required the OSTP Director to submit an annual report to Congress at the time of the submission of the President's budget request. This report is to include, among other things, a description of the STEM education programs and activities for the previous and current fiscal years, the levels of funding for each program and activity, and an evaluation of duplication and fragmentation of the programs and activities.

In December 2011, CoSTEM published a detailed inventory of federal STEM education "investments." The inventory included an evaluation of federal STEM education programs (e.g., their purposes, objectives, and funding agencies) and a list of federal STEM education investments, by agency, with FY2008 to FY2010 funding levels. In April 2012, CoSTEM published the 2010 Federal STEM Education Inventory Data Set.

Following the release of the inventory, CoSTEM published a progress report on its efforts to coordinate federal STEM education investments. Among other things, this document reported on the status of the five-year strategic plan mandated by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act and assessed the federal STEM education effort. The report identified four coordination goals: use evidence-based approaches, identify and share evidence-based approaches, increase efficiency and coherence, and focus federal efforts on four priority areas. The priority areas were identified according to three criteria (national needs, presidential priorities, and federal assets) and included kindergarten-through-grade-12 (K-12) STEM teacher education, engagement in STEM, undergraduate STEM education, and serving groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields.

In March 2013, the explanatory statement for the FY2013 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act ( P.L. 113-6 ) required OSTP to produce a federal STEM education strategic plan within 45 days of enactment of the law. Shortly thereafter, in its FY2014 budget request (released in April 2013), the Administration proposed a reorganization of the federal STEM education effort. The proposed reorganization would have eliminated or consolidated about half the federal STEM education effort while increasing total FY2014 funding for federal STEM education activities by about 6% over FY2012 levels. The Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution would have become lead agencies for K-12, postsecondary, and informal STEM education, respectively. Some other federal STEM education programs, including those at the lead agencies, would have been consolidated under the plan.

Publication of the proposed reorganization raised concerns among some STEM education stakeholders, especially among those who disagreed with the Administration's proposed approach. In particular, some stakeholders expressed concern that the proposed reorganization was informed by the perspective of budget analysts at OMB, who some analysts believe focused primarily on a certain type of program evaluation (randomized controlled trials) without incorporating the expertise of the STEM education community. Several policy makers expressed concern that reorganization decisions were made prior to publication of the congressionally mandated strategic plan (OSTP has asserted that unpublished draft versions of the strategic plan informed the proposed reorganization plan). Additionally, some policy makers questioned the capacity of lead agencies to take on their new roles and expressed support, instead, for the activities to remain with their existing agencies (e.g., NASA).

Advocates for the Administration's proposed reorganization of federal STEM education activities generally assert that the wide diversity of small STEM education programs distributed across numerous federal agencies presents a substantial barrier to coordination and contributes to fragmentation and incoherence in the federal STEM education effort. By establishing clear agency responsibilities for the three broad areas of federal STEM education activities (graduate/undergraduate STEM education, kindergarten-through-grade 12 STEM education, and informal science education) and aligning programs and funding accordingly, advocates assert that program evaluation would be improved, that fragmentation would be reduced and coordination enhanced, and that existing resources would be directed to high-priority programs.

One potential complicating factor in the execution of the reorganization proposal is its inclusion as part of the President's budget request. As a budget proposal affecting programs whose funding is provided by many of the 12 regular appropriations bills, the reorganization (i.e., the appropriations for each activity) would not be dealt with comprehensively, but rather on a piecemeal basis. A "ceding" appropriations subcommittee might agree to eliminate funding for a program under its jurisdiction with the expectation that it would instead be funded through one of the three lead agencies, under a different regular appropriations bill. However, the "receiving" appropriations subcommittee, operating independently, might opt not to provide funding for the program. The end effect, in some cases, might be the unintended elimination of programs, rather than a comprehensive and intentional reorganization.

In deliberations on FY2014 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations acts, neither the House Committee on Appropriations nor the Senate Committee on Appropriations supported the proposed reorganization. (House Energy and Water Development appropriators, in contrast, accepted some portions of the reorganization within their jurisdiction.) In addition, the House committee identified flaws in the subsequent federal STEM strategic plan, including the proposed mechanism for dissemination of federal STEM education research and findings. The House committee report would direct OSTP to report within 180 days of passage on the resources and authorities necessary to develop a "one stop" style website containing findings from federal research on STEM education. The Senate committee report would defer action on such consolidation until OSTP finalizes STEM program assessments and require OSTP to work with non-federal education and outreach communities on any subsequent reorganization proposal.

The joint explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 113-76 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, was critical of the proposed reorganization, stating:

While the Congress is supportive of attempts to improve efficiency and effectiveness in Federal STEM education programs, the proposed reorganization of these programs contained in the budget request was incomplete and lacked sufficient detail. The proposal contained no clearly defined implementation plan, had no buy-in from the education community and failed to sufficiently recognize or support a number of proven, successful programs. Accordingly, the agreement does not adopt the reorganization; all STEM activities are funded in their existing programmatic structures unless explicitly noted otherwise elsewhere in this statement or through language in either the House or Senate report that is not modified or superseded by this statement.

The joint explanatory statement further directs OSTP to reexamine other possible reorganizations of federal STEM programs after engaging in an inclusive development process and taking into consideration evaluations and other evidence of program success.

Stature and Influence of PCAST

As discussed above, PCAST advises the President on science, technology, and innovation-related issues. PCAST's members include individuals from industry, education and research institutions, and other organizations outside the federal government.

Legislative activity has focused less on PCAST than on the NSTC. In a 2008 report, some experts in the S&T policy community asserted that the stature and influence of PCAST has declined as PCAST focused on a narrower set of issues less likely to garner presidential interest. These experts note that while President George H. W. Bush held the first PCAST meeting at Camp David and participated in PCAST meetings, Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush only met occasionally for short periods of time with PCAST chair or committee members.

According to OSTP, through January 2012, President Obama met with PCAST four times during his first three years in office, with each discussion lasting an hour or more. In addition, PCAST co-chairs met with the President and senior EOP officials several times for focused discussions on specific topics that PCAST should undertake for its studies, updates on studies in progress, briefings on completed studies prior to public release, and actions the President could consider in response to PCAST's recommendations.

As a federal advisory committee, PCAST is unusual in that its original executive order states that the OSTP Director and one of its members will co-chair it, as opposed to having an independent chair not directly associated with the Administration. This joint-chair approach has continued through succeeding Administrations, with the APST co-chairing the Obama Administration PCAST. Federal advisory committees generally do not have Administration staff as chairs. Administration staff are more commonly included as ex-officio members. The inclusion of the APST as co-chair may reduce PCAST's ability to provide independent thinking to the White House and may place the APST in an awkward position if PCAST members disagree with White House policy.

Some S&T policy organizations have suggested strengthening PCAST by broadening its mandate, explicitly including national and homeland security issues within its remit, enhancing its independence, and increasing its staff significantly. Other suggestions include selecting the chair of PCAST solely from its non-Administration members; appointing members to staggered, overlapping terms unrelated to presidential and congressional election cycles; and providing all members with security clearances. The Obama Administration has undertaken to provide PCAST members with security clearances.

Some experts in the S&T community have also suggested increasing the number of presidential advisory committees. For example, they propose advisory committees focused on specific S&T policy issues, such as a Federal-State Science and Technology Council to enhance dialogue with the states, particularly on STEM education. The costs of establishing such new advisory committees may pose a challenge to their creation. In addition, requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (P.L. 92-463) regarding justification of any new advisory committee, its membership, and associated ethics rules (including financial disclosure) may complicate the establishment of new committees and the recruitment of committee members. As noted above, PCAST has taken on the responsibilities of several topic-specific advisory committees established in statute.

If Congress would like the President to establish additional presidential advisory committees—either to address areas not currently covered by PCAST or to address issues currently covered by PCAST but with separate committees focused on a particular area (e.g., nanotechnology, networking and information technology)—it might opt to provided additional funding to OSTP expressly for this purpose.

On November 20, 2008, the members of PCAST in the Bush Administration wrote a letter to the individuals who would succeed them as PCAST members. The letter recommended certain actions to the next PCAST. Among these recommendations were:

Play a more active role in advising Congress on issues related to science and technology policy, at the direction of the President, rather than just delivering reports to Congress; Consider more congressional activity, where it is needed for the Administration to implement PCAST's recommendations; and Increase interactions of PCAST, as a group, with the President, OMB, and CEA.

President Obama stated that PCAST would be "a vigorous external advisory council that will shape my thinking on the scientific aspects of my policy priorities." He announced the new members of PCAST on April 27, 2009, stating,

We also need to engage the scientific community directly in the work of public policy. And that's why, today, I am announcing the appointment—we are filling out the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, known as PCAST, and I intend to work with them closely. Our co-chairs have already been introduced—Dr. Varmus and Dr. Lander along with John. And this council represents leaders from many scientific disciplines who will bring a diversity of experiences and views. And I will charge PCAST with advising me about national strategies to nurture and sustain a culture of scientific innovation....

The OSTP asserts that President Obama has increased the role and influence of PCAST by considering and taking action on PCAST recommendations, including:

Funding a new influenza vaccine manufacturing improvement initiative to shorten the time frame for production of pandemic influenza vaccines, including dedication of the first U.S. cell-based influenza vaccine plant; Proposing preparation of an additional 100,000 K-12 STEM teachers by the end of the decade and establishment of an Advanced Research Projects Agency-Education (ARPA-ED); Accelerating adoption of Electronic Health Records and developing standards for health information exchange over the Internet, and metadata for Stages 2 and 3 of the electronic health records meaningful use criteria; Establishing the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, including initial funding for new initiatives; and Undertaking a Quadrennial Technology Review at the Department of Energy.

The OSTP asserts that during the Obama Administration PCAST has met six times per year compared to three or four times per year during the George W. Bush Administration, and that the current PCAST "has met with every major Administration leader in science and technology, including Cabinet-level Secretaries, to gather their views on the topics most useful for PCAST to address, and to discuss implementation of PCAST's recommendations."

In addition, OSTP states that the Obama Administration has provided PCAST with the staff and financial resources necessary to develop reports in a timely fashion for Congress and the Administration. These resources, according to OSTP, have increased the ability of PCAST to provide reports and recommendations. PCAST released 18 reports during the eight years of the Bush Administration; through the first five years of the Obama Administration, PCAST had released 20 reports through December 2013. Also, OSTP asserts that the Obama Administration has provided travel support to enable experts to provide advice to PCAST in person and has ensured that most of the current PCAST members have obtained security clearances so that PCAST may undertake studies related to national security.

Activities in the 113th Congress

The 113 th Congress has taken several legislative actions regarding OSTP and NSTC. Some of these actions have resulted in passage of public law, while others remain as proposed legislation.

Public Law

P.L. 113-76 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, provided FY2014 appropriations of $5.6 million for OSTP (along with appropriations for the rest of the federal government). It also contained statutory language prohibiting the expenditure of the OSTP funds

develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company unless such activities are specifically authorized by a law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act.

This prohibition does not apply to activities that OSTP certifies pose no risk of resulting in the transfer of technology, data, or other information with national security or economic security implications to China or a Chinese-owned company; and do not involve knowing interactions with officials who have been determined by the United States to have direct involvement with violations of human rights. The OSTP must submit any such certification to Congress at least 30 days prior to the activity. This prohibition was also present in FY2013 through P.L. 113-6 as described below. The reports accompanying P.L. 113-76 directed OSTP to reexamine possible reorganizations of federal STEM programs for consideration in a future fiscal year after engaging in an inclusive development process involving the interagency community and external stakeholders and taking into consideration program evaluations and other evidence of program success; report on the funding, authorities, and other resources necessary to support dissemination of federal STEM education research findings; report on federal agency progress in developing plans for public access to federally funded research findings; and report on the assessment of rare earth mineral criticality. In addition, OSTP is encouraged to report on collaborative relationships and activities and directed identify international collaborative opportunities is the area of neuroscience.

P.L. 113-73 , which made further continuing appropriations for FY2014, was a continuing resolution providing funding through January 18, 2014, for OSTP operations (along with the rest of the federal government) at a rate equal to FY2013.

P.L. 113-46 , the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014, was a continuing resolution providing funding through January 15, 2014, for OSTP operations (along with the rest of the federal government) at a rate equal to FY2013.

P.L. 113-6 , the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, provided FY2013 appropriations of $5.7 million, following rescission, for OSTP (along with appropriations for the rest of the federal government). It also contained statutory language prohibiting expenditure of the OSTP funds

to develop, design, plan, promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China or any Chinese-owned company unless such activities are specifically authorized by a law enacted after the date of enactment of this Act.

This prohibition extended the original prohibition established for FY2011. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, further clarified that this prohibition shall not apply to activities that OSTP certifies

(1) pose no risk of resulting in the transfer of technology, data, or other information with national security or economic security implications to China or a Chinese-owned company; and (2) will not involve knowing interactions with officials who have been determined by the United States to have direct involvement with violations of human rights.

The OSTP must submit any such certification to Congress at least 30 days prior to the activity. While the former requirement was also present in the FY2012 appropriations act, the latter requirement is new to FY2013 and reportedly reflects an existing agreement between Congress and OSTP. The reports accompanying P.L. 113-6 also express support for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education, directing OSTP to provide to the appropriations committees a STEM education strategic plan within 45 days; inform the committees of OSTP's continued development of a strategy to disseminate the results of K-16 STEM education research; and provide a detailed report containing actions of OSTP and other federal agencies to avoid duplication in STEM education programs, including a list of programs targeted for elimination, consolidation, or joint administration within 60 days. In addition, the House report directs OSTP to report semiannually on NSTC's progress in coordinating agency policies relating to the dissemination of unclassified scientific research, and encourages OSTP to ensure that sufficient investment is made in studying the potential environmental, health, and safety risks of engineered nanomaterials.

Proposed Legislation

The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2013 ( H.R. 756 ) would direct certain federal agencies to work through the NSTC to transmit and triennially maintain a strategic plan for federal cybersecurity and information assurance research and development. This bill would also require the OSTP Director to convene a university-industry task force to explore mechanisms for carrying out collaborative R&D, education, and training activities for cybersecurity and report to Congress on its findings and recommendations.

The Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2013 ( H.R. 967 ) would amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to rename the National High-Performance Computing Program as the NITRD Program and direct the federal agencies participating in the program to (1) periodically assess the contents and funding levels of program component areas and restructure the Program when warranted; and (2) ensure that the Program includes large-scale, long-term, interdisciplinary R&D activities. It would also require the participating federal agencies to develop, and update every three years, a five-year strategic plan to guide program activities; require the OSTP Director to encourage and monitor the efforts of participating agencies to allocate the resources and management attention necessary to ensure that the strategic plan is executed effectively and that program objectives are met; require the program, in addition to its current requirements, to provide for (1) increased understanding of the scientific principles of cyber-physical systems and improve the methods available for the design, development, and operation of such systems, and (2) research and development on human-computer interactions, visualization, and big data, and require continuation of a national coordinating office; and require the Director of OSTP to convene (1) a task force to explore mechanisms for carrying out collaborative R&D activities on cyber-physical systems, and (2) through the NSTC, an interagency working group to examine issues around funding mechanisms and policies for the use of cloud computing services for federally funded science and engineering research.

The Securing Energy Critical Elements and American Jobs Act of 2013 ( H.R. 1022 ) would, among other provisions, require the President, acting through OSTP, to coordinate the actions of federal agencies to promote an adequate and stable supply of energy critical elements; identify energy critical elements and establish early warning systems for supply problems of energy critical elements; establish a mechanism for the coordination and evaluation of federal programs with energy critical element needs; promote and encourage private sector development of a domestic energy critical elements supply chain; promote and encourage the recycling of energy critical elements; assess the need for and make recommendations concerning the availability and adequacy of the supply of necessary technically trained personnel; and report to Congress on these activities.

The Sound Science Act of 2013 ( H.R. 1287 ) would require federal agencies to develop guidelines for ensuring and maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of scientific information relied upon by such agency. The OSTP Director would approve such guidelines. A policy decision that did not comply with such approved guidelines would be deemed not in accordance with the law.

The STEM Opportunities Act of 2013 ( H.R. 1358 ) would, among other provisions, require the OSTP Director to carry out programs and activities to ensure that federal science agencies and institutions of higher education receiving federal R&D funding are fully engaging their entire talent pool.

The Strengthening The Resiliency of Our Nation on the Ground Act ( H.R. 2322 / S. 904 ) would, among other provisions, require the OSTP Director to establish an interagency working group to establish a strategic vision for extreme weather resilience, conduct a gap and overlap analysis of federal activities, and develop a National Extreme Weather Resilience Plan.

The American Manufacturing Competiveness Act of 2013 ( H.R. 2447 / S. 1709 ) would direct the Committee on Technology under the National Science and Technology Council to develop a national manufacturing competitiveness strategic plan.

The Quadrennial Energy Review Act of 2013 ( S. 552 ) would, among other provisions, direct the Secretary of the Energy and the OSTP Director to co-chair an Interagency Energy Coordination Council. This council would meet every four years in order to coordinate a Quadrennial Energy Review to be submitted to Congress.

The Cybersecurity Act of 2013 ( S. 1353 ) would, among other provisions, direct the OSTP Director, in coordination with the head of any relevant federal agency, to develop a federal cybersecurity research and development plan. The OSTP Director would submit this plan to Congress. In addition, the OSTP Director would coordinate ongoing cybersecurity research and development with other activities and, in coordination with the Director of the National Science Foundation, conduct a review of existing cybersecurity test beds.

Appendix A. President's Science and Technology Policy Advisors

Appendix B. Historical OSTP Funding