National Policy and Priorities for Science and Technology Act

(Rept. jointly from Sen. Comms. on Lab. and Pub. Wel., Commerce, and Aero. and Space Sciences with admn., S. Rep. 94-622)

National Policy, Organization, and Priorities for Science, Engineering, and Technology Act - =Title I: National Science, Engineering, and Technology Policy and Purposes= - Declares it to be the national policy that the Federal investment in science and technology must be addressed to the priority needs of the Nation, including: (1) promoting conservation and efficient utilization of natural and human resources, (2) protecting the oceans and coastal zones, (3) strengthening the economy and promoting full employment, (4) assuring adequate supplies of food, materials, and energy, (5) improving the quality of health care, and (6) developing high-quality, low-cost housing.

=Title II: Office of Science, Engineering, and Technology Policy= - Establishes an Office of Science, Engineering, and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President.

States that the Office shall prepare and annually update a five-year forecast of Federal investment in science and technology; annually estimate a range of options for various levels of Federal investment in science and technology; and furnish the options to the Office of Management and Budget for use in developing budget recommendations to the President.

States that the Office shall serve as a source of scientific, engineering, and technological analysis and judgment for the President with respect to major policies, plans, and programs of the Federal Government.

Directs the President to transmit an annual Science, Engineering, and Technology Report to the Congress, which shall be prepared by the Office.

=Title III: President's Advisory Committee on Science, Engineering, and Technology= - Requires the President to establish a President's Advisory Committee on Science, Engineering, and Technology.

Requires the Committee to survey, examine, and analyze the overall context of the Federal science, engineering, and technology effort including missions, goals, personnel, funding, organization, facilities, and activities; and to submit a report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the President within one year of the appointment of a majority of its members. Requires the President to transmit the report to Congress.

Terminates the Committee 90 days after submission of its report to the President.

=Title IV: Federal Coordinating Group for Science, Engineering, and Technology= - Establishes the Federal Coordinating Group for Science, Engineering, and Technology, to be chaired by the Director, and to exercise the same functions as those heretofore exercised by the Federal Council for Science and Technology. Provides for the abolition of such Council.

=Title V: State and Regional Science and Technology Program= - Establishes, within the Office of Science, Engineering, and Technology Policy, an Intergovernmental Science, Engineering, and Technology Advisory Panel, composed of the Director or his representative, the Director of the National Science Foundation or his representative, and one member from each State, to be appointed by the Governor of that State.

Directs the Panel to advise and assist the Director: (1) in identifying and defining civilian problems at the State, regional, and local levels susceptible to scientific and technical solution or amelioration; (2) in establishing priorities for addressing such problems; and (3) in fostering the utilization of the results of Federal research and development activities so as to maximize their application to civilian needs.

Authorizes the National Science Foundation to make grants to any State to pay a part of the costs of establishing or strengthening offices of State science, engineering, and technology within the executive and legislative branches of the State government.

=Title VI: General Provisions= - Authorizes appropriations to carry out the provisions of this Act of $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1976; $1,500,000 for the period from July 1, 1976 through September 30, 1976; and $12,000,000 for fiscal year 1977.