These hearings focused on a number of bills that, in various degrees, call for new organizational arrangements in the federal government, for a stronger role in technological innovation. The central question addressed was whether the advancement of American technology needs the active participation of the federal government, be it in the currently highly visible, high technology sector or in the more traditional smokestack industries that much of the country relies on. Two of the bills propose the establishment of a new agency to be known respectively as either the National Technology Foundation or the Advanced Technology Foundation. Both bills would create or bring together programs closely related to technology development. They would also establish a number of new programs, but basically they would give a strong push to government support for research and development aimed at fostering technology to the point where commercialization would take over. Two other bills would instead initiate major studies of the entire question of industrial competitiveness. These proposals take the view that decisions should not be made until additional consensus is reached. Other lesiglative proposals would target federal support on technology for the manufacturing sector. Witnesses included congressional representatives, officials of U.S. government agencies, and representatives from industry. (JN)