1467 



ties — compel priority attention to short-range problems and issues, 

 while -tending to defer attention to longer term trends, problems, and 

 opportunities. A third similarity is the tendency in both diplomatic 

 and political institutions toward a high degree of personal mobihty 

 and a correspondingly short "institutional memory." 



A CONGRESSIONAL POLICY PLANNING STAFF 



Accordingl}^, it seems reasonable that the many recommendations 

 which have been made for a strong and technologically sophisticated 

 policy planning staff in the Department of State might be allowed to 

 suggest a corresponding need in the congressional environment. Such a 

 mechanism or institution, capable of assessing prospective future 

 trends at a reasonable confidence level, might help the Congress to 

 design preventive actions in advance of crises. Examples of the kinds of 

 ser\4ces that might usefully be performed ^^^thin such an institution 

 might be: 



— Sustained monitoring of executive branch compliance with 

 congressional intent in the area of scientific and technological 

 impacts on foreign policy and international relations — and vice 

 versa; 



— Assessing the present and forecasting the future diplomatic 

 environment as changes occur in response to the global spread of 

 technological innovation: 



— Assessing the secondar}^ impacts and interrelationships of 

 "international" technological issues; 



— Examining the adequacy of U.S. "international" institutions 

 in the face of changes in the diplomatic environment resulting 

 from the global spread of technological innovation; 



-—Structuring and making coherent the array of foreign policy 

 interactions with science and technology ; and 



— Maintaining a continuity of foreign policy expertise, an ex- 

 tended institutional memory, and an assistance cadre for major 

 studies for "international" committees concerned with S&T 

 questions, S&T committees concerned with foreign policy ques-. 

 tions, and committees monitoring major technological missions 

 with significant internatiopal implications. 

 One possible legislative approach i§ suggested by a proposed bill 

 "to establish a Joint Committee on National Security. "^^^ In intro- 

 ducing the proposal, Air. Zablocki said it, was intended "•: . . to 

 address itself in a more comprehensive waj^ to a thorough and ongoing 

 analysis and evaluation of pur national security policies and goals." 



It is abundantly clear that the cbhtinuing diminution of Congress' role in 

 foreign policy is a direct result of this communication breakdown. For too many 

 years the Executive has failed to share with Congress the kind of adequate in- 

 formation needed in matters involving national securitj^. In short, there is no 

 proper and adequate forum for a regular and frank exchange between the Congress 

 and the Executive on the vital issues afifecting our national security .^^^ 



However, the joint committee called for under the bill would not 

 "usurp tie legislative or investigative functions of any present com- 

 mittees" but would "supplement and coordinate their efforts in a 

 more comprehensive and effective framework." It would also facilitate 



22S Such a bill was introduced as H.R. 54, Januaiy 14, 1975, by Congressman Clement J. Zablocki, Chair- 

 man of the Subcommittee on National Security Policy and Scientific Developments. A similar measure, 

 S. 99, was offered in the Senate by Hubert H. Humphrey, January 16. 



«» U.S. Congress, House, Congressional Ricord, 94th Cong., ist sess., 1975 ,121, p. 39. (Daily edition.) 



