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: