ABSTRACT
The rules governing staff agencies are necessary and proper and the limitations understandable. Yet members of Congress and their staffs do need scientific advice framed within the context of their particular state or district. In contrast to the Executive branch's multitude of formal science-oriented agencies, commissions, panels and grant and contracting programs, Congress has only three agencies with science and technology components: the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the General Accounting Office (GAO), and the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). Scientists on an independent, local basis could form small volunteer advisory committees for their members of Congress, operating closely with members and their staffs in a confidential, informal manner. In addition to having the panels be confidential, local, and endowed with a code of ethics, another all-important aspect would be informality. Informality would provide the crucial element of timeliness to the proceedings.
