602 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



and environmental funccions performed by the Science Subcommittee 

 were transferred to the Subcommittee on Environment and the 

 Atmosphere. 



During the 94th Congress in 1975, as noted in chapter X, Chairman 

 Symington of the Science Subcommittee teamed up with Chairman 

 Thornton of the Domestic and International Scientific Planning and 

 Analysis (DISPA) Subcommittee to hold joint hearings for a special 

 oversight review of agricultural research and development. In 1974, 

 Symington had served as a congressional adviser to the U.S. delegation 

 at the United Nations World Food Conference in Rome. He returned 

 from Rome strongly convinced of the need to explore some of the ways 

 science and technology could assist in solving world food problems. 

 Thornton also served on the House Agriculture Committee and had a 

 longtime interest in agricultural research. In a report jointly issued 

 in August 1976, Symington and Thornton listed a number of recom- 

 mendations (see chapter X for a discussion of those recommenda- 

 tions which were implemented). 



Because of his deep interest in Government patent policy, in 

 May 1978 Thornton had published as a committee print a summary 

 of the hearings which he had conducted as chairman of the DISPA 

 Subcommittee during the 94th Congress in 1976. Thornton encouraged 

 the Science Subcommittee to continue the study after he assumed the 

 chairmanship of the subcommittee, but no further action was taken 

 by the Congress in the area of ownership of inventions resulting from 

 federally funded research and development. In 1979, Ertel was au- 

 thorized to form a task force within the subcommittee to inquire 

 further into issues of patent policy. 



In the early 1970's, the subcommittee had the major responsibility 

 for helping to organize the Panel on Science and Technology, as well 

 as the Research Management Advisory Panel. Both of these panels 

 ceased their activity with the departure of Chairman Miller from the 

 Congress. 



During the 92d Congress in 1971, the task force on energy was 

 formed and made responsible to the Science Subcommittee. The 

 activities of the task force on energy are discussed in chapter XIV. 



During 1978, the subcommittee made a study entitled '"Domestic 

 Technology Transfer: Issues and Options." As Thornton reported to 

 Teague: 



Upon assuming the chairmanship of this subcommittee in the 95th Congress, 

 I directed subcommittee staff to maintain continuing oversight of activities in the 

 Executive Branch and appropriate legislative responses to utilize more effectively 

 the results of federally funded research and development. With the plethora of 

 literature and on-going programs in the various agencies and departments of the 

 Executive Branch, I felt it was important for members of the committee to have a 

 comprehensive document to bring focus on current issues and options for action. 



