SUMMARY This report of the Technical Services staff describes the major activities of the past year. A great deal has been accomplished in many areas. In most of these projects the close cooperation and easy working relationship with the Sergeant at Arms Computer Center staff has been the key to accomplishment. During 1978, the program review system came into full use in the Committee on Labor and Human Resources with respect to fiscal data. This system uses the computer to organize and present the mass of data a committee has to deal with in the consideration and review of programs under their jurisdiction. Other committees are now evaluating this system for their use; and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources is expected to begin adding program performance information. Support of the staff of the Labor Committee in this development deserves recognition. Legis, the comprehensive bill tracking system for the Senate, became fully operational during the 95th Congress. In 1978, Legis began producing the official version of several of the bill clerk's ledgers replacing manual ledgers. Other official reports are being produced signifying the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Senate and his staff with the accuracy and quality of information in Legis. Mr. Kimmitt's personal interest and counsel has been crucial in attaining this achievement. A thorough review of equipment requirements for the Computer Center and Senate offices resulted in the purchase of major equipment components under lease, which will provide substantial cost savings in future years. Plans have also been prepared for procurement of replacement and additional equipment such as terminals. These studies were produced by joint action of the Technical Services staff and Computer Center staff. A pilot project to measure the effectiveness of CMS in State offices as well as an estimate of the costs and logistical problems involved in a decentralized operation was begun. The results of the test will be reported early in 1979. In a joint venture with the White House and the House of Representatives, the Senate is conducting tests of an advanced text processing and documentation system. Several committees are using the system to produce calendars and reports. A small computer with specialized text processing programs was installed for the Senate Legislative Counsel. This system, dedicated to the production of draft legislation, is fully compatible with a system in operation in the Office of the House Legislative Counsel and with the GPO. Compatibility was attained through cooperation of all parties and special programing support of GPO. Mr. Littell's personal participation was particularly helpful. The files of the Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities continue to be an active resource for congressional committees investigating executive nominees and for researchers. POLICY ANALYSIS SUPPORT SYSTEMS (HICKS) The objective of these systems is to provide computer data bases and analytical and reporting capabilities which the Senate may draw upon for the analysis of policy issues. SUMMARY There are five major components of the policy analysis support systems. Each is treated in detail in the "Description and Status" section. 1. Senate Program Review System.-The Program Review System is an on-line file, with both batch and on-line reporting capabilities, for the use of committees in reviewing the financial and performance status and trends of programs under their jurisdiction. 2. Budget Analysis System.-These analytical programs applied to the President's budget requests provide users with information not contained in published budget documents. 3. Statistical Analysis.-The statistical analysis system provides frequency distributions, correlation and regression analyses, and other statistical tests of tendency and relationships within sets of data compiled by or obtained for committees in the investigation of matters under their jurisdiction. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) are the systems commonly used, supplemented by special programs written by the Senate Computer Center staff. The statistical analysis system is also used by Senators' offices in the tabulation and analysis of issue surveys. 4. Policy Analysis Data Bases.-Several specialized data bases have been established on the Senate computer with data acquired by or for committees. Typically, committees will update their data bases as later information becomes available. Experimental data representing policy alternatives is also added in order to observe probable outcomes. 5. Econometric Modeling.-Committees have access to three commercially marketed econometric forecasting systems. Other Related Staff Activities: Assistance to the Committee on Rules and Administration in the consideration of sunset legislation; Presentation of the Senate's information requirements in the OMB study to implement P.L. 95-220, the Federal Program Information Act; Participation with the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, other committees, and the General Accounting Office in the development of an inventory of programs under the jurisdiction of those committees, and the procedures for collection of program level data from agencies. Discussions with the staff of the Executive Office of the President, Office of Administration, regarding use of the Domestic Informa tion Display System (DIDS), developed by NASA and the Bureau of the Census under Office of Administration auspices. DIDS maps were used by the Committee on Labor and Human Resources in comprehensive policy oversight hearings on "American Women and Human Resources Policies and Programs." Regular discussions with staff of the Congressional Budget Office, House Information Systems, and the General Accounting Office to share information and capabilities and to coordinate efforts on ongoing and contemplated projects. Preparation of Committee on Rules and Administration comments on a draft OMB circular on security in Federal computer systems. Arrangement of briefing by the Civil Service Commission for Senate staff members on the Commission's proposed Federal Personnel Management Information System. Assistance to the Committee on Rules and Administration in the consideration of requests for approval of contracts for commercial time-sharing services and monitoring of such services. DESCRIPTION AND STATUS OF SYSTEMS 1. Senate Program Review System The Senate Program Review System is being developed initially for the Committee on Labor and Human Resources as a prototype for eventual use by other committees. The purpose and objectives of the Senate Program Review System are (1) to provide computer data bases in which information about the financial and performance aspects of programs under the committee's jurisdictions can be entered and maintained; (2) to perform statistical analyses of the information in the data base in order to discern relationships and to hypothesize about the effects of past or future variations in the program levels; (3) to provide committees with the capability of producing any of a number of preprogrammed reports, either on the committees' terminals or on the high-speed printer; and (4) to provide committees with the capability of developing ad hoc reports from their terminals. The objectives are to support the production of committees' March 15 Views and Estimates Reports, the reauthorization process, and the oversight and program evaluation processes. Programming of the basic system has been completed, providing the following capabilities: -Automatic loading of a committee's file from other data sources such as OMB's Budget Preparation System, GAO's Legislative and Program Information System, and CBO's Legislative Classification System. -Addition, deletion, modification, and display of records on video. display terminals located in the offices of the committee. Selection on video display terminals located in the committee's office, of columns to be included in printed reports. (The first reports developed replicate those in the Views and Estimates Report of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.) -Printing reports on printers located in the committees office or on the high speed printer in the computer center. |