Senate Bills - 108th Congress

S. 189—21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act

On December 3, 2003, the President signed into law S. 189, the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, as P.L. 108-153. S. 189 was introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) on January 16; the Senate passed an amended, pre-conference version on November 18; and the House passed this legislation on November 20 by voice vote. The bill would establish in statute a National Nanotechnology Research Program with a National Nanotechnology Coordination Office and requires the awarding of grants and the creation of nanotechnology research centers on a competitive basis. The bill also provides for a research program to identify the ethical, legal, environmental, and other societal concerns related to nanotechnology.

A similar but not identical bill, H.R. 766, the Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003, was introduced on February 13 by Representative Sherwood L. Boehlert (R-NY) and passed the House on May 7.

Legislative Update (December 2003): 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act