Advances in science and technology can help drive economic growth and meet national priorities in public health, environmental protection, agricultural productivity, defense, and many other areas. Federal policies affect scientific and technological advancement on several levels. The federal government also establishes and maintains the legal and regulatory framework that affects S&T activities in the private sector. This report serves as a brief introduction to many of the science and technology policy issues that may come before the 116 th Congress. Each issue section provides background information and outlines selected 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. However, congressional authorities related to S&T policymaking are diffuse. Many House and Senate committees have jurisdiction over important elements of S&T policy. For Further Information
John F. Sargent Jr., Specialist in Science and Technology Policy 
Marcy E. Gallo, Analyst in Science and Technology Policy
CRS Report R45403, The Global Research and Development Landscape and Implications for the Department of Defense , by John F. Sargent Jr., Marcy E. Gallo, and Moshe Schwartz
CRS Report R44711, Department of Defense Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E): Appropriations Structure , by John F. Sargent Jr. 
CRS Report R45110, Defense Science and Technology Funding , by John F. Sargent Jr. 
CRS Report R45150, Federal Research and Development (R&D) Funding: FY2019 , coordinated by John F. Sargent Jr.

	Energy

Energy-related science and technology issues that may come before the 116 th Congress include those related to reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, advances in nuclear energy technology, the development of biofuels and ocean energy technology, and international fusion research. To address this gap, the federal government created several programs to encourage private sector development of new CBRN medical countermeasures. For Further Information
Patricia Moloney Figliola, Specialist in Internet and Telecommunications Policy 
CRS Report R45409, Quantum Information Science: Applications, Global Research and Development, and Policy Considerations , by Patricia Moloney Figliola 

	Physical and Material Sciences

Some of the policy issues in the physical and material sciences that the 116 th Congress may address include funding and oversight of the National Science Foundation and the multiagency initiative supporting research and development in the emerging field of nanotechnology.
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 ubiquity and constantly changing nature of science and technology frequently create public policy issues of congressional interest.
The federal government supports scientific and technological advancement directly by funding and performing research and development and indirectly by creating and maintaining policies that encourage private sector efforts. Additionally, the federal government regulates many aspects of S&T activities.
This report briefly outlines a key set of science and technology policy issues that may come before the 116th Congress. This set is not exhaustive, however. Given the rapid pace of S&T advancement and its importance in many diverse public policy contexts, other S&T-related issues not discussed in this report may come before the 116th Congress. The selected issues are grouped into 10 categories
Overarching S&T Policy Issues, Agriculture, Biomedical Research and Development, Climate Change Science and Water, Defense, Energy, 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 illustrative rather than comprehensive. Each section identifies CRS reports, when available, and the appropriate CRS experts to contact for further information and analysis.