Role of the U.S. Congress in setting goals and priorities for research on nutrition and aging.

The U.S. Congress plays an important role in setting the broad research agenda for research agencies. It often does so by articulating major goals for federally-supported activities. Goals, longer-term objectives that agencies should work towards, should not be confused with priorities, near-term resource allocations designed to support efforts to achieve goals. Typically, federal research priorities are established by individual departments, agencies, and other organizations within the executive branch; however, when the funding levels are particularly large or public concern about an issue is particularly intense, Congress may become involved in the process of setting specific priorities. Congress influences the directions of research on aging primarily through the activities of authorization, appropriations, and special or select committees. The Special Committee on Aging in the Senate, and the Select Committee on Aging in the House of Representatives focus their attention exclusively on elderly Americans. Periodically, the activities of these committees are directed to research issues. Congress indirectly influences the directions of research on aging and nutrition through laws that establish science-based regulatory programs such as the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act. In setting priorities Congress relies on information, analysis, and advice from the four congressional support agencies, particularly the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA). OTA has undertaken a number of studies in recent years which address aging and nutrition issues. It is useful to try to devise mechanisms to encourage the establishment of national and international long-range goals and near-term priorities for research on aging and nutrition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)