AIP FYI #30: Bills Would Enhance Nanotechnology R&D

A bipartisan bill that would enhance the nation’s multiagency
nanotechnology research and development effort was introduced on February 13
by House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Rep. Mike
Honda (D-CA). A similar bill was introduced in January by Senator Ron Wyden
(D-OR). The Bush Administration has identified nanotechnology research and
development as one of its six cross-cutting federal R&D priorities for the
FY 2004 fiscal year, and both bills would strengthen and improve
coordination of federal R&D activities in this area.

The House and Senate bills are similar, but not identical. Both would
establish a coordinated interagency nanotechnology R&D program, a National
Nanotechnology Coordination Office, a federal interagency committee to plan
and manage the R&D activities, and non-federal presidential advisory
committee. The House bill (H.R. 766) would authorize three years of
nanotechnology R&D funding for five federal agencies, at the following
levels: $645 million for FY 2004; $709.5 million for FY 2005; and $781
million for FY 2006. The Senate bill (S. 189) provides a one-year
authorization for FY 2004 only, for nine agencies, at a level of $678
million.

The House bill has 10 other cosponsors so far, including many of the
chairmen and ranking members of the House Science Subcommittees: Ralph Hall
(D-TX), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Timothy Bishop (D-NY), Bart Gordon (D-TN),
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Nick Smith (R-MI), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Vern
Ehlers (R-MI), Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). It has been
referred to the full Science Committee for action.

The nine current cosponsors of the Senate nanotechnology bill are: George
Allen (R-VA), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Joseph
Lieberman (D-CT), John Warner (R-VA), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Ernest Hollings
(D-SC), Carl Levin (D-MI), and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). This bill has been
referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. See
http://www.aip.org/enews/fyi/2002/106.htm for details of a September 2002
hearing on a previous version of Wyden’s bill.

In introducing his bill, Chairman Boehlert stated, “Nanotechnology may be
the ‘smallest’ field of science – the manipulating of individual atoms. But
I’ve come to understand that in science and technology, few things could
actually be ‘bigger’ than nanotechnology – in terms of its potential to
revolutionize scientific and engineering research, improve human health and
bolster the economy. This bill will ensure that the federal government is
investing significantly, and most importantly wisely, in this growing
field.” In remarks several years ago at Brookhaven National Laboratory (see
http://www.aip.org/enews/fyi/2002/033.htm), Boehlert noted that “the notion
of nanotechnology and its potential impact have caught on with the public
and their representatives in Congress. This is no mean achievement;
manipulating atoms is easier than manipulating public attitudes…. There
is broad, bipartisan support in Washington these days for investing in
scientific research, and broad agreement that nanotechnology is a priority
field.” However, as budget deficits return, and defense and security issues
demand greater resources, it remains to be seen whether science and
technology priorities such as nanotechnology will actually receive higher
funding.

Audrey T. Leath

Media and Government Relations Division

The American Institute of Physics

fyi@aip.org

(301) 209-3094