AIP FYI #38: 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.

Richard M. Jones

Media and Government Relations Division

The American Institute of Physics

fyi@aip.org

(301) 209-3094