today's witness is john holdren. we'll have our opening states. i'll begin with my opening statements. >> dr. holdren, thank you for joining us today and your dual role as president and science adviser and you have the presidency here and that's very important and as such you have a far-reaching influence on the administration's direction of science and technology and probably not for this committee not a more important position on the hill. the director provide to the president, but science and technology played a very vital role in the making of this nation and it will continue to fulfill that role in the future and as such, i doubt you'll find anyone here who would challenge the need for science and the need for technology advice in this white house or in any white house. throughout the history of that advisory's come through in formal and formal methods. the office of science and technology policy we know today is reserved for the priorities act of 1976 which formally created both the office and established the roles and the science and technol

john holdren. we'll have our opening statements, and i'll begin with my opening statement. dr. holdren, thank you for joining us today, and in you're dual role as the president's science adviser and as director of the office of science and technology policy, you have the president's ear. and that's very important. and as such, you have a real far-reaching influence on this administration's direction in science and technology. probably for this committee not a more important position on the hill. we may not always agree with the advice that the director provides to the president, but science and technology have played a very vital role in the making of this nation, and it's going to continue to fulfill that role in the future. and as such, i doubt you would find anyone here who would challenge the need for sign and need for technology advice in this white house or any white house. throughout the history, advice has come through both informal and formal methods. the office of signs and technology policy we know today is a result of the national science and technology policy organ

john holdren is assistant to the president, and co-chair of the president's counsel of advisories on science and technology. prior to joining the administration, he taught at harvard and was director of the woods hole research center, chairman, as our witness should know, spoken testimony is limited to five minutes. but you're a very important, valuable witness. we would will a little more lenient with that, with you if you need such. and i say that. and if i didn't say it, ms. johnson would insist on it. so easier for me just to take that position too. so we're going to be fair with you is what i'm trying to tell you. after that, the members are going to have five minutes each to ask questions. and the chair is able to provide some flexibility, as i said, if you're our only witness today, doctor. and i thank you for your testimony. reminding members of the committee the rules limit our questions to five minutes. and i surely will adhere to that. at this time i'll open the round of questions, and the chair recognizes himself for that. well, we'll undo that. we recognize you at this t

john holdren. we'll have our opening statements. i'll begin with my opening statement. dr. holdren, thank you for joining us today, and your role as the president's science adviser and as director of the office of science and technology, you have the president's ear, and that's very important. as such, you have a real far-reaching influence on this administration's direction in science and technology. probably for this committee not a more important position on the hill. we may not always agree with the advice that the director provides to the president, but science and technology have played a very vital role in the making of this nation, and it's going to continue to fulfill that role in the future. and as such, i doubt you'd find anyone here who would challenge the need for science and need for technology advice in this white house or in any white house. throughout the history that advice has come through both formal and informal message. we know today the office is a result of the national science and technology policy organization and priorities act of 1976. which firm