House Passes $3.7B Nanotech Bill

Legislation that would authorize $3.7 billion over the next four years for the National Nanotechnology Initiative awaits the President's signature, having cleared Congress before the Thanksgiving Holiday recess. The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (S. 189) was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 20, following passage in the Senate two days earlier.

S. 189 provides for the creation of a National Nanotechnology Coordinating Office, research centers, education and training efforts, and research into the societal and ethical consequences of nanotech. It also supports efforts to spur technology transfer and includes a series of coordination offices, advisory committees and regular program reviews.

The bill's $3.7 billion authorization levels are spread over fiscal years 2005-08 to five federal agencies — the National Science Foundation ($1.73 billion), Department of Energy ($1.46 billion), National Institute of Standards and Technology ($307.2 million), NASA ($153.9 million) and the Environmental Protection Agency ($24.76 million). No appropriations were made in the bill.

The National Science and Technology Council would oversee the program's implementation, including management of the coordinating office and a National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel. Activities planned for the nanotech initiative range from interdisclipinary research grants and centers to education and training programs for researchers. The overarching goal is to develop an understanding of matter that enables control and manipulation at the nanoscale.

The 10-page S. 189 is available at http://thomas.loc.gov/.