Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025
In Committee
Introduced:Aug 26, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Garland Barr
Representative
Republican
KY-6
Cosponsors
11
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Congress
Summary
This bill would revive and expand the Office of Technology Assessment, a government agency that provides Congress with objective analysis on the impacts of new technologies. The bill renames the office, requires it to take on additional duties like providing technical assistance to Congress, and makes changes to its structure and operations.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill would revive and expand the Office of Technology Assessment, a government agency that provides Congress with objective analysis on the impacts of new technologies. The bill renames the office, requires it to take on additional duties like providing technical assistance to Congress, and makes changes to its structure and operations.
Last updated: 12/30/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><b>Office of Technology Assessment Improvement and Enhancement Act</b></p> <p>This bill renames and revises the functions and duties of the Office of Technology Assessment which, composed of a Technology Assessment Board and a director, provides Congress with assessments of probable technology application impacts. (The office has not been funded since FY1996.)</p> <p>Specifically, the bill renames the office the Congressional Office of Technology, and it requires the office to undertake additional duties, such as providing to Members of Congress (1) certain information without the need for board review, (2) certain technical assistance on legislation related to science and technology without the need for board review, and (3) objective policy options on how Members may achieve goals with respect to science and technology policy.</p> <p>The bill authorizes individual Members of Congress to submit to the board a request that the office undertake an assessment activity. Additionally, the bill requires the Congressional Research Service and the Government Accountability Office to coordinate technology assessment activities with the office to avoid duplication or overlapping of research activities.</p> <p>The bill also (1) allows the office to temporarily appoint specified technical and professional personnel to work for the office, (2) requires the office to make the findings of completed analyses publicly available, (3) revises the appointment of board members, (4) requires the board to hold an annual meeting at which Members of Congress may appear and present information regarding technology assessment activities, and (5) requires the board to report annually on the activities of the office. <br /></p> <p />
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Renames the Office of Technology Assessment to the Congressional Office of Technology
Requires the office to provide Congress with information, technical assistance, and policy options related to science and technology without needing full board review
Allows individual members of Congress to request that the office undertake technology assessment activities
Requires better coordination between the office and other Congressional research agencies to avoid duplication
Makes changes to the office's leadership structure and requires annual public meetings and reporting
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
If this bill becomes law, it would restore and strengthen the Congressional Office of Technology, which would provide lawmakers with more timely and accessible expert analysis on emerging technologies and their policy implications. This could help Congress make more informed decisions on a wide range of issues involving science and technology, benefiting the American public by ensuring legislation is based on rigorous, nonpartisan research.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Congress
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
5055, 119th Congress (2025). "Increasing Nutrition Access for Seniors Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5055
