428 HISTORY OF THE COMMIT! II ON S( II X( I AND TECHNOLOGY 



TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO OPEC COUNTRIES 



Late in October 1975, Thornton's subcommittee conducted hear- 

 ings on "Technology Transfer to the Organization of Petroleum Ex- 

 porting Countries," with emphasis on Saudi Arabia and Iran. In 

 announcing the hearings, Thornton indicated: 



As the OPEC member nations recycle oil profits, new opportunities for the 

 participation of American business and industry have emerged. The subcommittee is 

 interested in the short and long term impacts on the United States associated with 

 the transfer of advanced technology to the OPEC nations. 



In 1976, the subcommittee made a number of recommendations 

 growing out of the hearings, including the suggestion that there be 

 established a single body with clearly defined authority to oversee and 

 coordinate all governmental authority in the field of technology trans- 

 fer. In a sense, this is the position which Dr. Frank Press, Director of 

 the Office of Science and Technology Policy holds in the Executive Office 

 of the President, although he has been somewhat circumscribed in 

 this particular area by lack of adequate staff. 



U.S.-U.S.S.R. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS 1975 



In November 1975, the Thornton subcommittee had three days of 

 oversight hearings on "U.S.-U.S.S.R. Cooperative Agreements in 

 Science and Technology." In opening the hearing, Thornton remarked: 



The purpose of these hearings will be to evaluate the status of the American- 

 Soviet bilateral research program since the first accords were signed at a summit 

 meeting in Moscow in May 1972. 



The consensus of the witnesses was that: 



— The program overall was moderately successful. 



— Progress, although unevenly developed, had been mutually 

 beneficial thus far. 



— The potential for future scientific benefits exists for both parties. 



Dr. Frank Press cochaired the Joint Commission on Soviet- 

 American Research with its counterpart in Moscow and the hearings 

 and report of the Thornton subcommittee were helpful in stimulating 

 a greater degree of coordination in this area. 



In June and July of 1976, the Thornton subcommittee in conjunc- 

 tion with the McCormack Subcommittee on Energy Research, De- 

 velopment and Demonstration had four days of joint hearings on the 

 subject of "International Cooperation in Energy Research and Develop- 

 ment." The hearings focused on the relationship between the United 

 States and other nations in resolving the energy issue, and particularly 

 the role played by research and development in these relationships. 



In addition to the many prehearing and posthearing documents 

 produced by the Thornton subcommittee, they cranked out a steady 



