When issues are rooted in science or technology, Members of Congress often need assistance in framing issues, identifying legislative options, and assessing all the pros and cons of each option, so they can make informed decisions that are consistent with their own values and priorities. Today, Congress has no reliable, impartial source available to provide detailed analysis of this type, with the possible exception of a limited pilot effort within GAO. It is time for Congress to move beyond pilots, and to establish a permanent technology assessment capability. When creating a permanent solution, the greatest challenges will be to ensure that this new technology assessment program has careful and balanced bipartisan and bicameral oversight, and that its staff and funding levels will remain stable, even through heated controversies and budget crises. Ideally, they should receive sufficient resources to offer a significant amount of support for Congress, but stability is more important than size.