House to Consider $2.1B Nanotechnology Bill

House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) recently introduced legislation that would authorize a multi-agency national nanotechnology research initiative. Nanotechnology is one of the top interagency priorities in the Administration's fiscal 2004 proposed budget for non-medical, civilian scientific and technological research and development.

H.R. 766, the Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003, authorizes $2.1 billion over three years for nanotechnology research and development programs at the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA and the National Science Foundation. The bill provides a formal structure for coordination of research across the agencies, emphasizes interdisciplinary research, addresses societal concerns raised by nanotechnology, and requires outside reviews of the program.

Cosponsors of the legislation include: Science Committee Ranking Democrat Ralph M. Hall (D-TX), Environment Technology and Standards (ETS) Subcommittee Chair Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Research Subcommittee Chair Nick Smith (R-MI), Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Democrat Bart Gordon (D-TN), Energy Subcommittee Chair Judy Biggert (R-IL), Research Subcommittee Ranking Democrat Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Committee Vice-Chair Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), and Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY).

The text of the bill and a section-by-section analysis can be found at the Science Committee website: http://www.house.gov/science