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FYI
The American Institute of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News
Number 38: March 25, 2003

Nanotechnology Legislation on Fast Track

Last week's hearing by the House Science Committee makes it clear
that legislation to strengthen the federal role in nanotechnology
research and development is on a fast track. Key representatives,
senators, an associate director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, and other witnesses generally agreed on an
expansion of the federal government's involvement in this emerging
field, and indicated that they were close to agreement on this
legislation. 

Similar bills have been introduced in the House and Senate to promote
nanotechnology research.  Committee chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY)
and Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA.) have introduced H.R. 766, the
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003.  The legislation
has 15 cosponsors. Senator Ron Wyden's (D-OR) bill, S. 189, has nine
cosponsors. 

Under the House legislation, $2.1 billion would be authorized for
nanotechnology R&D at the NSF,  DOE, Department of Commerce, NASA,
and EPA. Over three years, (FY 2004, 2005, 2006) NSF's authorization
would total $1.159 billion, while DOE would be authorized for $653
million, and NIST, $205 million.  The legislation calls for an
interagency R&D program that, in the words of the bill, "will provide
sustained support for interdisciplinary nanotechnology R&D through
grants to researchers and through the establishment of
interdisciplinary research centers and advanced technology user
facilities."  See FYI #30 for more information on both bills. 

First to testify were Senator Wyden and Senator George Allen (R-VA).
Both were very enthusiastic about the prospects for nanotechnology,
and their own legislation, S. 189.  Wyden expressed support for the
Administration's efforts, saying  "We just think we can be bolder and
more aggressive." He also said that "there is absolutely nothing
partisan about this issue." Allen was similarly supportive, and made
a key observation that is probably true of most physical science
research: that no more than 5% of senators or their staffs know what
nanotechnology is. 

Boehlert was enthusiastic in his reply to the senators' testimony,
lauding them for working across party lines and across the House and
Senate chambers.  "We are going to move forward with this
legislation," Boehlert said, telling committee members that Senator
John McCain (R-AZ) will hold a hearing on the bill.

The executive branch also gave this legislation a green light.
Richard Russell, Associate Director for Technology at the Office of
Science and Technology Policy said "we all share the same goals."
The Bush Administration agrees on the importance of the federal role
in supporting and coordinating fundamental nanotechnology research.
Russell explained that nanotechnology was highlighted in the
Administration's FY 2004 budget request, and predicted that it would
be easy to resolve the minor legislative disagreements between the
executive and legislative branches. 

Four other witnesses testified at this hearing: Thomas Theis of IBM,
James Roberto of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Carl Batt of Cornell
University, and Alan Marty of JP Morgan Partners.  All were
supportive of the legislation.

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Richard M. Jones
Media and Government Relations Division
The American Institute of Physics
fyi{at}aip.org
(301) 209-3094
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