Lawmakers renewed funding for the Office of Technology Assessment yesterday at a markup for the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. We don't have full details yet but the subcommittee approved $2.5 million to reestablish the OTA, which will provide nonpartisan technological and scientific research to members of Congress and the general public. Congress has finally reversed what science blogger Chris Mooney called a "stunning act of self-lobotomy." Let us all rejoice in knowing that Congress has its brain back again. This will hopefully bring new research that will support our mission to use Internet technologies to make the Congress more open, transparent, and accessible to the public.