904 



HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



JURISDICTION 



The jurisdiction of the McCormack subcommittee in 1975 in- 

 cluded the following: 



Legislation and other matters relating to: geothermal energy; solar energy 

 (including wind and other indirect forms); physical research; advanced energy 

 systems; energy transmission; energy conservation; energy utilization; tidal energy; 

 energy conversion technology; special oversight of nuclear energy research and 

 development; and the annual authorization of the Energy Research and Development 

 Administration (ERDA) except fossil fuels and nuclear research and development. 



McCormack started his subcommittee off at a torrid pace. He 

 initiated the practice of holding 8 a.m. hearings, which was before 

 breakfast for some of the witnesses and committee members. The major 

 reason for scheduling the extra-early sessions was that there simply 

 weren't enough committee hearing rooms to go around. But 

 McCormack recognized the public relations advantages of the unusual 

 schedule. In a press release on February 17, 1975, commenting on the 

 new practice, McCormack stated : 



The Members of Congress are serious about the new leadership role we have. 

 It is unusual to begin hearings so early, but with our full schedule, it is necessary to 

 extend the working day if we are to be responsive. 



At the first subcommittee hearing on February 18, McCormack 

 noted : 



The willingness of the members of this subcommittee to begin early and work late 

 shows clearly that the Congress views energy R. & D. as important and worthy of 

 the kind of hard work that is necessary to provide the depth of analysis needed to 

 resolve complex issues. 



AREAS OF EMPHASIS 



Briefings by the Office of Technology Assessment, ERDA officials 

 and outside experts helped the newer subcommittee members get a 

 handle on the new energy R. & D. programs. By the time the formal 

 subcommittee authorization hearings opened, some members of the 

 subcommittee knew as much or more about the ERDA programs as 

 ERDA officials themselves — especially since many of the ERDA 

 officials were fresh from the Atomic Energy Commission and had 

 little experience with nonnuclear energy. Running through the ap- 

 proach of most subcommittee members was the determination that 

 more should be done by ERDA in the areas of solar, geothermal, all 

 renewable resources, and conservation. 



"I am certain that the Members of Congress will insure that these 

 programs are adequately funded and implemented in accordance with 

 the laws we enacted last year," McCormack stated as the hearings 

 opened. The vigor with which members of the subcommittee and other 



