Boehlert, Gordon Urge Clear Research Agenda to Study Potential Implications of Nanotechnology

WASHINGTON – Outgoing Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and incoming Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) today reiterated their call for the Administration to establish a research agenda with clear priorities to ensure a greater understanding of the potential environmental, health and safety risks associated with nanotechnology.

Boehlert and Gordon made their comments in a joint statement today that accompanied the release of witness responses to questions issued by the Committee following the September 21 hearing, Research on Environmental and Safety Impacts of Nanotechnology: What are the Federal Agencies Doing?  The witnesses’ responses, along with other materials from the hearing, are available on the Science Committee’s website. 

Boehlert and Gordon issued the following statement:

“The witness answers have provided useful insights for the next Congress to consider.  In particular, we think the next Congress must continue to review whether an outside entity, like the National Academy of Sciences, ought to be charged with putting together a research agenda with clear priorities on environmental, health and safety issues related to nanotechnology, and whether the Health Effects Institute ought to carry out some of the more sensitive public health research.  Regardless of the role of outside organizations, we continue to believe that the federal government needs to move much more quickly to put together a truly coordinated strategic plan for research in this area along the lines of the recommendations that were recently published in the journal Nature.”