Advances in science and technology can help drive economic growth, improve human health, increase agricultural productivity, and help meet national priorities. The federal government establishes and maintains the legal and regulatory framework that affects science and technology activities in the private sector. Federal tax, intellectual property, and education policies can have large effects on private sector science and technology (S&T) activity performance. This report serves as a brief introduction to many of the science and technology policy issues that may come before the 114 th Congress. Each issue section provides background information and outlines the policy issues that may be considered. Overarching S&T Policy Issues

Several issues of potential congressional interest apply to federal science and technology policy in general. For Further Information
[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Science and Technology Policy ( [email address scrubbed] , [phone number scrubbed])
CRS Report RL34736, The President's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP): Issues for Congress , by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

		Federal Funding for Research and Development

The federal government has long supported the advancement of scientific knowledge and technological development through investments in research and development (R&D). For Further Information
John Moteff, Specialist, Science and Technology Policy ( [email address scrubbed] , [phone number scrubbed])
"Department of Defense" in CRS Report R43944, Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2016 , coordinated by [author name scrubbed]

	Energy

The science and technology related-energy issues that may come before the 114 th Congress include the funding and role of the Department of Energy's Office of Science and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, development of biofuels, reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, and the development of biofuels and of ocean energy technology.
Science and technology (S&T) have a pervasive influence over a wide range of issues confronting the nation. Public and private research and development spur scientific and technological advancement. Such advances can drive economic growth, help address national priorities, and improve health and quality of life. The constantly changing nature and ubiquity of science and technology frequently create public policy issues of congressional interest.
The federal government supports scientific and technological advancement directly by funding research and development and indirectly by creating and maintaining policies that encourage private sector efforts. Additionally, the federal government establishes and enforces regulatory frameworks governing many aspects of S&T activities.
This report briefly outlines an array of science and technology policy issues that may come before the 114th Congress. Given the ubiquity of science and technology and its constantly evolving nature, some science- and technology-related issues not discussed in this report may come before the 114th Congress. The selected issues are grouped into 11 categories:
Overarching S&T issues, Workforce and Education, Agriculture, Biomedical Research and Development, Defense, Energy, Environment, Homeland Security Information Technology, Physical and Material Sciences, and Space.
Each of these categories includes concise analysis of multiple policy issues. The material presented in this report should be viewed as introductory rather than comprehensive. Each section identifies available CRS reports and the appropriate CRS experts for further information and analysis.