Back to Story | Print | Close
U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
For Immediate Release
July 16th, 2008		  
NANOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE REAUTHORIZATION BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) today joined Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) to introduce the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008. The bill would reauthorize the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) and amend aspects of the program to better prioritize research and development activities. 

 

“Developments in nanotechnology have the potential to offer a wide range of innovations in research, industry, and commercial products that will influence our daily lives,” said Senator Inouye. “At the same time, nanotechnology is still a young field, and we must be sure that any potential risks are identified, analyzed, and properly understood. This bill achieves just that by strongly encouraging diverse participation in the comprehensive study and coordinated development of environmental, health, and safety standards.”

The NNI was established in fiscal year 2001 to coordinate Federal nanotechnology research and development. The NNI provides a vision of for the long-term opportunities and benefits of nanotechnology. By serving as a central locus for communication, cooperation, and collaboration for all thirteen participating Federal agencies, the NNI provides guidance and support for the advancement of this broad and complex field. The NNI creates a framework for a comprehensive nanotechnology research and development program by establishing shared goals, priorities, and strategies, and it provides avenues for each individual agency to leverage the resources of all participating agencies.

Specifically, the bill would:


  • Establish the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel as a distinct body independent from any existing advisory committees. Specifically, the Advisory Panel would be responsible for recommending an appropriate funding level for the Environmental, Health, and Safety program component area. The bill would also establish a subpanel focused on the societal, ethical, legal, environmental, and workforce issues related to nanotechnology;


 


  • Provide consistent funding for the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO) through the participating federal agencies; 


 


  • Require the NNCO to establish a publicly available database of the projects funded in the Environmental, Health, and Safety program component area, the Educational and Societal Dimensions program component area, and the Nanomanufacturing program component area;


 


  • Require an Office of Science and Technology Policy official to serve as the Coordinator for Societal Dimensions of Nanotechnology. The Coordinator would be required to develop and annually update a research plan for the Environmental, Health, and Safety program component area;


 


  • Support the development of standards, metrology, and characterization tools for nanotechnology; 


 


  • Promote technology transfer through the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program and make federally funded nanotechnology facilities available to companies to assist in the development of prototypes of nanoscale products, devices, or processes; 


 


  • Promote nanotechnology research and development in areas of national importance, including nano-electronics, energy efficiency, health care, water remediation, instrumentation and characterization, and rapid production nanomanufacturing; 


 


  • Require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a comprehensive study of federal codes, standards, and regulations as they relate to the safe production, use, and disposal of engineered nanomaterials and products containing nanomaterials; and


 


  • Require the NNCO to engage the public by convening a national discussion on nanotechnology.  This national discussion would include diverse participation and incorporate the views of academia, nongovernmental organizations, and industry to identify priorities and concerns related to nanotechnology research and development, products, and regulatory policy. 


 

###