568 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



Miller's initiative was followed up by additional letters to the 

 agencies involved. Detailed reports from these agencies were then 

 compiled and published by the committee at the end of 1972, sum- 

 marizing who was doing and planning what, and the obstacles in the 

 way of a successful development of solar energy research. The entire 

 package, analyzed by the committee was published in a 119-page 

 report entitled, "Solar Energy Research — A Multidisciplinary Ap- 

 proach." As we shall see, it helped provide a good foundation for 

 legislation enacted in 1974. 



FINAL REPORT OF TASK FORCE 



In the closing months of 1972, the task force took stock of its work 

 and decided to put on a final burst of speed and concentrate on a crisp 

 but comprehensive final report. Tentative conclusions and supporting 

 material were assembled. On October 11, Miller wrote to the members 

 of the Research Management Advisory Panel : 



At this point in time I think the report may recommend a significant increase in 

 the Nation's R. & D. efforts oriented toward energy. Of vital importance are the 

 questions of how this increased R. & D. effort should be funded, and the organiza- 

 tional reforms necessary in the public and private sectors to manage such R. &. D. 

 efficiently and effectively. Accordingly, I am asking that the Research Management 

 Advisory Panel apply its unique expertise to these questions and advise the Task 

 Force on alternative courses of action. 



The RMAP had an all-day meeting in the Faculty Club of the Massa- 

 chusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass. Their comments, 

 along with the briefings and the May hearings helped to crystallize 

 material for the final report of the task force, a 404-page product termed 

 very simply "Energy Research and Development." This report also 

 enhanced McCormack's reputation as an energy expert. Interestingly 

 enough, it probably helped him more within the Congress than in the 

 general public. As explained subsequently by McCormack: 



We didn't try to make a sensational report. It's always been our habit to try 

 to report practically and methodically what we're doing, what the problems are 

 and what the solutions are rather than sensationalizing the stuff, so the press didn't 

 pay a lot of attention to us. We did get a little coverage but not an awful lot 



Although the task force itself officially went out of existence at 

 the end of the 92d Congress, the staff struggled with the report well 

 into the early weeks of the 93d Congress in 1973 to insure that it was of 

 the highest caliber. For example, McCormack asked the members of his 

 task force as late as January 31 to submit their comments by February 7 

 on the draft conclusions and recommendations. 



The report recommended: 



1 Now is the tunc to implement a greatly increased national energy research 

 and development effort. Studies alone are not enough. Adequate funds and technical 

 manpower must also be committed. 



