The Honorable Constance A. Morella
2228 Rayburn House Office Building
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515-2008

Dear Congresswoman Morella,

I am writing to you to on behalf of Chairperson Jeanne Hurley Simon of the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) with regard to the proposed closing of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). This proposal of the Department of Commerce would result in the transfer of NTIS authorities, functions and resources to another agency, but it also raises broader public information policy issues. I would like to suggest to you that NCLIS may be helpful to you as you explore this proposal and its attendant issues.

NCLIS is an independent agency charged by PL 91-345 to take a leadership position on matters pertaining to the library and information needs of the nation. Specifically, Section 1504(1) of that law says the Commission shall "advise the President and the Congress on the implementation of national policy by such statements, presentations, and reports as it deems appropriate." Therefore it is appropriate for us to offer our assistance to the Congress in an area that is of critical importance to the information needs of the people of the United States.

We did offer to present oral testimony at your hearing on NTIS scheduled for Tuesday, September 14, 1999, but have been advised that it will not be possible. However, we sent a packet of information to Terri Fish at the Technology Subcommittee of the House Science Committee; that information provides background material on the Commission and some of its relevant activities. Included in the package of materials was a recent study, Assessment of Electronic Government Information Products, dealing with current agency practices for preparation and dissemination of electronic government information products. Also enclosed was a copy of a letter Ms. Simon sent to the Secretary of Commerce regarding the NTIS matter.

The vice chair of our Commission and members of my staff met recently with Jonathan M. Orszag, Assistant to Secretary Daley, who is directing the NTIS transfer. Mr. Orszag identified two objectives that Commerce was pursuing. One objective is the orderly transfer of various authorities, functions and resources from Commerce to the Library of Congress (or another agency) so that the Department can divest itself of its NTIS fiduciary responsibilities. The other objective is to assure that the public good represented by the NTIS collection remains accessible to the American people. Mr. Orszag acknowledged the broader public information policy issues including the reforms needed in government information dissemination that are implicitly raised by the transfer of this major Federal information resource. However, he does not see it as a Commerce Department role to take the lead on addressing these broader issues.

It is, however, entirely appropriate for the Commission to address these issues. We are well positioned to examine the need to consolidate, simplify, and streamline government information dissemination and to look at the changes that are required at a time when Government is dramatically shifting information products to the Web. Therefore, I would propose that you ask NCLIS to perform a quick, independent assessment of the Commerce Department proposal; this assessment should be completed in 3-6 months so as not to delay plans to transfer NTIS out of Commerce by the end of FY 2000. The assessment would identify various options the Congress could consider to address both the closure of NTIS and the reforms needed in Federal policies and programs dealing with government information dissemination.

The Department of Commerce's proposal to close NTIS provides a very timely opportunity to reconsider ways to strengthen the overall policy and the organizational and legal machinery used to deliver Federal information to the public. We are very concerned that the short-term measures that must be taken to transfer authorities, functions, and resources of NTIS by the end of Fiscal Year 2000 not cause the Congress to defer the more substantive considerations relating to the need for basic reforms in government information dissemination.

We would welcome the chance to discuss our suggestion in detail with you and/or members of your staff at your convenience. We could cover a number of topics, including a timetable, specific format for our assessment, and other considerations. I will contact you after the hearing to determine what the appropriate next steps are.

Sincerely yours,

Robert S. Willard
Executive Director