II 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 189

To authorize appropriations for nanoscience, nanoengineering, and 

nanotechnology research, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 16, 2003

Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. WARNER, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. HOLLINGS, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. LEVIN, and 

Mr. BAYH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL

To authorize appropriations for nanoscience, 

nanoengineering, and nanotechnology research, and for 

other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘21st Century 

5 Nanotechnology Research and Development Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 The Congress makes the following findings: 

8 (1) The emerging fields of nanoscience and 

9 nanoengineering (collectively, ‘‘nanotechnology’’), in which 
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1 matter is manipulated at the atomic level (i.e., atom-by2 atom or molecule-by-molecule) in order to build materials, 

3 machines, and devices with novel properties or functions, 

4 are leading to unprecedented scientific and technological 

5 opportunities that will benefit society by changing the way 

6 many things are designed and made. 

7 (2) Long-term nanoscale research and development 

8 leading to potential breakthroughs in areas such as mate9 rials and manufacturing, electronics, medicine and 

10 healthcare, environment, energy, chemicals, biotechnology, 

11 agriculture, information technology, and national security 

12 could be as significant as the combined influences of 

13 microelectronics, biotechnology, and information tech14 nology on the 20th century. Nanotechnology could lead to 

15 things such as—

16 (A) new generations of electronics where the en17 tire collection of the Library of Congress is stored 

18 on devices the size of a sugar cube; 

19 (B) manufacturing that requires less material, 

20 pollutes less, and is embedded with sophisticated 

21 sensors that will internally detect signs of weakness 

22 and automatically respond by releasing chemicals 

23 that will prevent damage; 
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1 (C) prosthetic and medical implants whose sur2 faces are molecularly designed to interact with the 

3 cells of the body; 

4 (D) materials with an unprecedented combina5 tion of strength, toughness, and lightness that will 

6 enable land, sea, air, and space vehicles to become 

7 lighter and more fuel efficient; 

8 (E) selective membranes that can fish out spe9 cific toxic or valuable particles from industrial waste 

10 or that can inexpensively desalinate sea water; and 

11 (F) tiny robotic spacecraft that will cost less, 

12 consume very little power, adapt to unexpected envi13 ronments, change its capabilities as needed, and be 

14 completely autonomous. 

15 (3) Long-term, high-risk research is necessary to cre16 ate breakthroughs in technology. Such research requires 

17 government funding since the benefits are too distant or 

18 uncertain for industry alone to support. Current Federal 

19 investments in nanotechnology research and development 

20 are not grounded in any specifically authorized statutory 

21 foundation. As a result, there is a risk that future funding 

22 for long-term, innovative research will be tentative and 

23 subject to instability which could threaten to hinder future 

24 United States technological and economic growth. 
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1 (4) The Federal government can play an important 

2 role in the development of nanotechnology, as this science 

3 is still in its infancy, and it will take many years of sus4 tained investment for this field to achieve maturity. 

5 (5) Many foreign countries, companies and scientists 

6 believe that nanotechnology will be the leading technology 

7 of the 21st century and are investing heavily into its re8 search. According to a study of international 

9 nanotechnology research efforts sponsored by the National 

10 Science and Technology Council, the United States is at 

11 risk of falling behind its international competitors, includ12 ing Japan, South Korea, and Europe if it fails to sustain 

13 broad based funding in nanotechnology. The United 

14 States cannot afford to fall behind our competitors if we 

15 want to maintain our economic strength. 

16 (6) Advances in nanotechnology stemming from Fed17 eral investments in fundamental research and subsequent 

18 private sector development likely will create technologies 

19 that support the work and improve the efficiency of the 

20 Federal government, and contribute significantly to the ef21 forts of the government’s mission agencies. 

22 (7) According to various estimates, including those 

23 of the National Science Foundation, the market for 

24 nanotech products and services in the United States alone 

25 could reach over $1 trillion later this century. 
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1 (8) Nanotechnology will evolve from modern advances 

2 in chemical, physical, biological, engineering, medical, and 

3 materials research, and will contribute to cross-discipli4 nary training of the 21st century science and technology 

5 workforce. 

6 (9) Mastering nanotechnology will require a unique 

7 skill set for scientists and engineers that combine chem8 istry, physics, material science, and information science. 

9 Funding in these critical areas has been flat for many 

10 years and as a result fewer young people are electing to 

11 go into these areas in graduate schools throughout the 

12 United States. This will have to reverse if we hope to de13 velop the next generation of skilled workers with multi14 disciplinary perspectives necessary for the development of 

15 nanotechnology. 

16 (10) Research on nanotechnology creates unprece17 dented capabilities to alter ourselves and our environment 

18 and will give rise to a host of novel social, ethical, philo19 sophical, and legal issues. To appropriately address these 

20 issues will require wide reflection and guidance that are 

21 responsive to the realities of the science, as well as addi22 tional research to predict, understand, and alleviate antici23 pated problems.

24 (11) Nanotechnology will provide structures to enable 

25 the revolutionary concept of quantum computing, which
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1 uses quantum mechanical properties to do calculation. 

2 Quantum computing permits a small number of atoms to 

3 potentially store and process enormous amounts of infor4 mation. Just 300 interacting atoms in a quantum com5 puter could store as much information as a classical elec6 tronic computer that uses all the particles in the universe, 

7 and today’s complex encryption algorithms, which would 

8 take today’s best super computer 20 billion years, could 

9 be cracked in 30 minutes. 

10 (12) The Executive Branch has previously established 

11 a National Nanotechnology Initiative to coordinate Fed12 eral nanotechnology research and development programs. 

13 This initiative has contributed significantly to the develop14 ment of nanotechnology. Authorizing legislation can serve 

15 to establish new technology goals and research directions, 

16 improve agency coordination and oversight mechanisms, 

17 help ensure optimal returns to investment, and simplify 

18 reporting, budgeting, and planning processes for the Exec19 utive Branch and the Congress. 

20 (13) The private sector technology innovations that 

21 grow from fundamental nanotechnology research are de22 pendent on a haphazard, expensive, and generally ineffi23 cient technology transition path. Strategies for accel24 erating the transition of fundamental knowledge and inno25 vations in commercial products or to support mission 
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1 agencies should be explored, developed, and when appro2 priate, executed. 

3 (14) Existing data on the societal, ethical, edu4 cational, legal, and workforce implications and issues re5 lated to nanotechnology are lacking. To help decision-mak6 ers and affected parties better anticipate issues likely to 

7 arise with the onset and maturation of nanotechnology, 

8 research and studies on these issues must be conducted 

9 and disseminated. 

10 (15) Many States and regions have begun 

11 nanotechnology programs. These programs have developed 

12 expertise, particularly with regard to providing infrastruc13 ture and preparing the nanotechnology workforce. The 

14 Federal nanotechnology program should leverage these ex15 isting State and local institutions to best provide a coordi16 nated and comprehensive nanotechnology research port17 folio. 

18 (16) In ‘‘Small Wonders, Endless Frontiers’’ the Na19 tional Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council 

20 recommends increased investment in nanotechnology, par21 ticularly at the intersection of nanotechnology and biology. 

22 Such investments will allow significant advancements in 

23 biotechnology and medicine. 
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1 SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 

2 It is the purpose of this Act to authorize a coordi3 nated inter-agency program that will support long-term 

4 nanoscale research and development leading to potential 

5 breakthroughs in areas such as materials and manufac6 turing, nanoelectronics, medicine and healthcare, environ7 ment, energy, chemicals, biotechnology, agriculture, infor8 mation technology, and national and homeland security. 

9 SEC. 4. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PRO10 GRAM. 

11 (a) NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PRO12 GRAM.—The President shall establish a National 

13 Nanotechnology Research Program. Through appropriate 

14 agencies, councils, and the National Coordination Office, 

15 the program shall—

16 (1) establish the goals, priorities, grand chal17 lenges, and metrics for evaluation for Federal 

18 nanotechnology research, development, and other ac19 tivities; 

20 (2) invest in Federal research and development 

21 programs in nanotechnology and related sciences to 

22 achieve those goals; and 

23 (3) provide for interagency coordination of Fed24 eral nanotechnology research, development, and 

25 other activities undertaken pursuant to the program. 
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1 (b) GOALS OF THE NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY

2 RESEARCH PROGRAM.—The goals of the program are as 

3 follows: 

4 (1) The coordination of long-term fundamental 

5 nanoscience and engineering research to build a fun6 damental understanding of matter enabling control 

7 and manipulation at the nanoscale. 

8 (2) The assurance of continued United States 

9 global leadership in nanotechnology to meet national 

10 goals and to support national economic, health, na11 tional security, educational, and scientific interests. 

12 (3) The advancement of United States produc13 tivity and industrial competitiveness through stable, 

14 consistent, and coordinated investments in long-term 

15 scientific and engineering research in 

16 nanotechnology. 

17 (4) The development of a network of shared 

18 academic facilities and technology centers, including 

19 State supported centers, that will play a critical role 

20 in accomplishing the other goals of the program, fos21 ter partnerships, and develop and utilize next gen22 eration scientific tools. 

23 (5) The development of enabling infrastructural 

24 technologies that United States industry can use to 
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1 commercialize new discoveries and innovations in 

2 nanoscience. 

3 (6) The acceleration of the deployment and 

4 transition of advanced and experimental 

5 nanotechnology and concepts into the private sector. 

6 (7) The establishment of a program designed to 

7 provide effective education and training for the next 

8 generation of researchers and professionals skilled in 

9 the multidisciplinary perspectives necessary for 

10 nanotechnology. 

11 (8) To ensure that philosophical, ethical, and 

12 other societal concerns will be considered alongside 

13 the development of nanotechnology. 

14 (c) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AREAS.—

15 Through its participating agencies, the National 

16 Nanotechnology Research Program shall develop, fund,

17 and manage Federal research programs in the following 

18 areas: 

19 (1) LONG-TERM FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH.—

20 The program shall undertake long-term basic 

21 nanoscience and engineering research that focuses 

22 on fundamental understanding and synthesis of 

23 nanometer-size building blocks with potential for 

24 breakthroughs in areas such as materials and manu25 facturing, nanoelectronics, medicine and healthcare,
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1 environment, energy, chemical and pharmaceuticals 

2 industries, biotechnology and agriculture, computa3 tion and information technology, and national secu4 rity. Funds made available from the appropriate 

5 agencies under this paragraph shall be used—

6 (A) to provide awards of less than 

7 $1,000,000 each to single investigators and 

8 small groups to provide sustained support to in9 dividual investigators and small groups con10 ducting fundamental, innovative research; and 

11 (B) to fund fundamental research and the 

12 development of university-industry-laboratory 

13 and interagency (including State-led) partner14 ships. 

15 (2) GRAND CHALLENGES.—The program shall 

16 support grand challenges that are essential for the 

17 advancement of the field and interdisciplinary re18 search and education teams, including multidisci19 plinary nanotechnology research centers, that work 

20 on major long-term objectives. This funding area will 

21 fund, through participating agencies, interdiscipli22 nary research and education teams that aim to 

23 achieve major, long-term objectives, such as the fol24 lowing: 
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1 (A) Nanomaterials by design which are 

2 stronger, lighter, harder, self-repairing, and 

3 safer. 

4 (B) Nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, and 

5 magnetics. 

6 (C) Healthcare applications. 

7 (D) Nanoscale processes and environment. 

8 (E) Energy and energy conservation. 

9 (F) Microspacecraft. 

10 (G) Bio-nanodevices for detection and miti11 gation of biothreats to humans. 

12 (H) Economical, efficient, and safe trans13 portation. 

14 (I) National and homeland security. 

15 (J) Other appropriate challenges. 

16 (3) INTERDISCIPLINARY NANOTECHNOLOGY RE17 SEARCH CENTERS.—The Program, through the ap18 propriate agencies, shall fund, on a competitive 

19 merit reviewed basis, research centers in the range 

20 of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 per year each for 5 

21 years. A grant under this paragraph to a center may 

22 be renewed for 1 5-year term on the basis of that 

23 center’s performance, determined after a review. The 

24 program, through its participating agencies, shall 

25 encourage research networking among centers and 
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1 researchers and require access to facilities to both 

2 academia and industry. The centers shall assist in 

3 reaching other initiative priorities, including funda4 mental research, grand challenges, education, devel5 opment and utilization of specific research tools, and 

6 promoting partnerships with industry. To the great7 est extent possible, agencies participating in the pro8 gram shall establish geographically diverse centers 

9 including at least one center in a State participating 

10 in the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Experi11 mental Program, to Stimulate Competitive Research 

12 (EPSCoR), established under section 113 of the 

13 NSF Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862(g)) 

14 and shall encourage the participation of minority 

15 serving institutions at these centers. 

16 (4) RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.—The pro17 gram, through its participating agencies, shall en18 sure adequate research infrastructure and equipment 

19 for rapid progress on program goals, including the 

20 employment of underutilized manufacturing facilities 

21 in areas of high unemployment as production engi22 neering and research testbeds for micron-scale tech23 nologies. Major research equipment and instrumen24 tation shall be an eligible funding purpose under the 

25 program. 
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1 (5) SOCIETAL, ETHICAL, EDUCATIONAL, LEGAL, 

2 AND WORKFORCE ISSUES RELATED TO

3 NANOTECHNOLOGY.—The Director of the National 

4 Science Foundation shall establish a new Center for 

5 Societal, Ethical, Educational, Legal, and Workforce 

6 Issues Related to Nanotechnology at $5,000,000 per 

7 year to encourage, conduct, coordinate, commission, 

8 collect, and disseminate research on the societal, eth9 ical, educational, legal, and workforce issues related 

10 to nanotechnology. The Center shall also conduct 

11 studies and provide input and assistance to the Di12 rector of the National Science Foundation in com13 pleting the annual report required under paragraph 

14 7(b)(3) of this Act. 

15 (6) TRANSITION OF TECHNOLOGY.—The pro16 gram, through its participating agencies, shall en17 sure cooperation and collaboration with United 

18 States industry in all relevant research efforts and 

19 develop mechanisms to assure prompt technology 

20 transition. 

21 (7) GAP FUNDING.—The program shall address 

22 research areas identified by the Council under sec23 tion 5(a)(9) of this Act through a program of com24 petitive grants to be awarded in such areas by the 

25 Director of the National Science Foundation using 
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1 the Foundation’s funds and any funds contributed 

2 to the Foundation by other participating agencies 

3 for this purpose. Such grants may be made to gov4 ernment or non-government awardees. Where appro5 priate, such grants may encourage interagency part6 nerships or leverage the expertise of State-supported 

7 nanotechnology programs. 

8 SEC. 5. PROGRAM COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The National Science and Tech10 nology Council shall oversee the planning, management, 

11 and coordination of the Federal nanotechnology research 

12 and development program. The Council, itself or through 

13 an appropriate subgroup it designates or establishes, 

14 shall— 

15 (1) establish a set of broad applications of 

16 nanotechnology research and development, or grand 

17 challenges, to be met by the results and activities of 

18 the program, based on national needs; 

19 (2) submit to the Congress through the Senate 

20 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor21 tation, and the House of Representatives Committee 

22 on Science, an annual report, along with the Presi23 dent’s annual budget request, describing the imple24 mentation of the program under section 4;
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1 (3) provide for interagency coordination of the 

2 program, including with the Department of Defense; 

3 (4) coordinate the budget requests of each of 

4 the agencies involved in the program with the Office 

5 of Management and Budget to ensure that a bal6 anced research portfolio is maintained in order to 

7 ensure the appropriate level of research effort; 

8 (5) provide guidance each year to the partici9 pating departments and agencies concerning the

10 preparation of appropriations requests for activities 

11 related to the program; 

12 (6) consult with academic, industry, State and 

13 local government (including State and regional 

14 nanotechnology programs), and other appropriate 

15 groups conducting research on and using 

16 nanotechnology; 

17 (7) establish an Information Services and Ap18 plications Council to promote access to and early ap19 plication of the technologies, innovations, and exper20 tise derived from nanotechnology research and devel21 opment program activities to agency missions and 

22 systems across the Federal government, and to 

23 United States industry; 

24 (8) in cooperation with the Advisory Panel es25 tablished under subsection (b), develop and apply 
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1 measurements using appropriate metrics for evalu2 ating program performance and progress toward 

3 goals; and 

4 (9) identify research areas which are not being 

5 adequately addressed by the agencies’ current re6 search programs. 

7 (b) PRESIDENT’S NANOTECHNOLOGY ADVISORY

8 PANEL.—

9 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall es10 tablish a National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel. 

11 (2) SELECTION PROCEDURES.—The President 

12 shall establish procedures for the selection of individ13 uals not employed by the Federal government who 

14 are qualified in the science of nanotechnology and 

15 other appropriate fields and may, pursuant to such 

16 procedures, select up to 20 individuals, one of whom 

17 shall be designated Chairman, to serve on the Advi18 sory Panel. Selection of individuals for the Advisory 

19 Panel shall be based solely on established records of 

20 distinguished fundamental and applied scientific 

21 service, and the panel shall contain a reasonable 

22 cross-section of views and expertise, including those 

23 regarding the societal, ethical, educational, legal, 

24 and workforce issues related to nanotechnology. In 

25 selecting individuals to serve on the Advisory Panel, 
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1 the President shall seek and give due consideration 

2 to recommendations from the Congress, industry, 

3 the scientific community (including the National 

4 Academy of Sciences), scientific professional soci5 eties, academia, the defense community, the edu6 cation community, State and local governments, and 

7 other appropriate organizations. 

8 (3) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Panel shall meet 

9 no less than twice annually, at such times and places 

10 as may be designated by the Chairman in consulta11 tion with the National Nanotechnology Coordination 

12 Office established under subsection 5(c) of this Act. 

13 (4) DUTIES.—The Advisory Panel shall advise 

14 the President and the National Science and Tech15 nology Council, and inform the Congress, on matters 

16 relating to the National Nanotechnology Program, 

17 including goals, roles, and objectives within the pro18 gram, its capabilities and research needs, guidance 

19 on achieving major objectives, and establishing and 

20 measuring performance goals using appropriate 

21 metrics. The Advisory Panel shall issue an annual 

22 report, containing the information required by sub23 section (d) of this section, to the President, the 

24 Council, the heads of each agency involved in the 

25 program, the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
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1 Science, and Transportation, and the House of Rep2 resentatives Committee on Science, on or before Sep3 tember 30 of each year. 

4 (c) NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDINATION

5 OFFICE.—The President shall establish a National 

6 Nanotechnology Coordination Office, with full-time staff, 

7 to provide day-to-day technical and administrative support 

8 to the Council and the Advisory Panel, and to be the point 

9 of contact on Federal nanotechnology activities for govern10 ment organizations, academia, industry, professional soci11 eties, State nanotechnology programs, and others to ex12 change technical and programmatic information. The Of13 fice shall promote full coordination of research efforts be14 tween agencies, scientific disciplines, and United States in15 dustry. 

16 (d) PROGRAM PLANS AND REPORTS.—

17 (1) ANNUAL EVALUATION OF NANOTECHNOL18 OGY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.—The re19 port by the Advisory Panel, required pursuant to 

20 subsection (b)(4), shall include—

21 (A) a review of the program’s technical 

22 success in achieving the stated goals and grand 

23 challenges according to the metrics established 

24 by the program and Advisory Panel; 
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1 (B) a review of the program’s management 

2 and coordination; 

3 (C) a review of the funding levels by each 

4 agency for the program’s activities and their 

5 ability to achieve the program’s stated goals 

6 and grand challenges; 

7 (D) a review of the balance in the pro8 gram’s portfolio and components across agen9 cies and disciplines; 

10 (E) an assessment of the degree of partici11 pation in the program by minority serving insti12 tutions and institutions located in States par13 ticipating in NSF’s EPSCoR program; 

14 (F) a review of policy issues resulting from 

15 advancements in nanotechnology and its effects 

16 on the scientific enterprise, commerce, work17 force, competitiveness, national security, medi18 cine, and government operations; 

19 (G) recommendations for new program 

20 goals and grand challenges; 

21 (H) recommendations for new research 

22 areas, partnerships, coordination and manage23 ment mechanisms, or programs to be estab24 lished to achieve the program’s stated goals and 

25 grand challenges;
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1 (I) recommendations for new investments 

2 by each participating agency in each program 

3 funding area for the 5-year period following the 

4 delivery of the report; 

5 (J) reviews and recommendations regard6 ing other issues deemed pertinent or specified 

7 by the panel; and 

8 (K) a technology transition study which in9 cludes an evaluation of the Federal 

10 nanotechnology research and development pro11 gram’s success in transitioning its research,

12 technologies, and concepts into commercial and 

13 military products, including—

14 (i) examples of successful transition of 

15 research, technologies, and concepts from 

16 the Federal nanotechnology research and 

17 development program into commercial and 

18 military products; 

19 (ii) best practices of universities, gov20 ernment, and industry in promoting effi21 cient and rapid technology transition in the 

22 nanotechnology sector; 

23 (iii) barriers to efficient technology 

24 transition in the nanotechnology sector, in25 cluding, but not limited to, standards, pace 
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1 of technological change, qualification and 

2 testing of research products, intellectual 

3 property issues, and Federal funding; and 

4 (iv) recommendations for government 

5 sponsored activities to promote rapid tech6 nology transition in the nanotechnology 

7 sector. 

8 (2) OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET RE9 VIEW.—

10 (A) BUDGET REQUEST REVIEW.—Each 

11 Federal agency and department participating in 

12 the program shall, as part of its annual request 

13 for appropriations, submit information to the 

14 Office of Management and Budget including—

15 (i) each element of its nanotechnology 

16 research and development activities that 

17 contributes directly to the program or ben18 efits from the program; 

19 (ii) the portion of its request for ap20 propriations that is allocated to each such 

21 element; and 

22 (iii) the portion of its request for ap23 propriations that is allocated to each pro24 gram funding area. 
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1 (B) OMB REVIEW AND ALLOCATION

2 STATEMENT.—The Office of Management and 

3 Budget shall review the information provided 

4 under subparagraph (A) in light of the goals, 

5 priorities, grand challenges, and agency and de6 partmental responsibilities set forth in the an7 nual report of the Council under paragraph (3), 

8 and shall include in the President’s annual 

9 budget estimate, a statement delineating the 

10 amount and portion of each appropriate agen11 cy’s or department’s annual budget estimate re12 lating to its activities undertaken pursuant to 

13 the program. 

14 (3) ANNUAL NSTC REPORT TO CONGRESS ON

15 THE NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

16 PROGRAM.—The National Science and Technology 

17 Council shall submit an annual report to the Con18 gress that—

19 (A) includes a detailed description of the 

20 goals, grand challenges, and program funding 

21 areas established by the President for the pro22 gram; 

23 (B) sets forth the relevant programs and 

24 activities, for the fiscal year with respect to 

25 which the budget submission applies, of each 
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1 Federal agency and department, participating 

2 in the program, as well as such other agencies 

3 and departments as the President or the Direc4 tor considers appropriate; 

5 (C) describes the levels of Federal funding 

6 for the fiscal year during which such report is 

7 submitted, and the levels proposed for the fiscal 

8 year with respect to which the budget submis9 sion applies, for each of the program funding 

10 areas of the program; 

11 (D) describes the levels of Federal funding 

12 for each agency and department participating 

13 in the program and each program funding area 

14 for the fiscal year during which such report is 

15 submitted, and the levels proposed for the fiscal 

16 year with respect to which the budget submis17 sion applies, and compare these levels to the 

18 most recent recommendations of the Advisory 

19 Panel and the external review of the program; 

20 (E) describes coordination and partnership 

21 activities with State, local, international, and 

22 private sector efforts in nanotechnology re23 search and development, and how they support 

24 the goals of the program; 
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1 (F) describes mechanisms and efforts used 

2 by the program to assist in the transition of in3 novative concepts and technologies from Feder4 ally funded programs into the commercial sec5 tor, and successes in these transition activities; 

6 (G) describes coordination between the 

7 military and civilian portions, as well as the life 

8 science and non-life science portions, of the pro9 gram in technology development, supporting the 

10 goals of the program, and supporting the mis11 sion needs of the departments and agencies in12 volved; 

13 (H) analyzes the progress made toward 

14 achieving the goals, priorities, and grand chal15 lenges designated for the program according to 

16 the metrics established by the program and the 

17 Advisory Panel; and 

18 (I) recommends new mechanisms of coordi19 nation, program funding areas, partnerships, or 

20 activities necessary to achieve the goals, prior21 ities, and grand challenges established for the 

22 program. 

23 (4) TRIENNIAL EXTERNAL REVIEW OF

24 NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

25 PROGRAM.—
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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the 

2 National Science Foundation shall enter into an 

3 arrangement with the National Research Coun4 cil of the National Academy of Sciences to con5 duct a triennial evaluation of the Federal 

6 nanotechnology research and development pro7 gram, including—

8 (i) a review of the technical success of 

9 the program in achieving the stated goals 

10 and grand challenges under the metrics es11 tablished by the program and the 

12 nanotechnology Advisory Panel, and under 

13 other appropriate measurements;

14 (ii) a review of the program’s manage15 ment and coordination across agencies and 

16 disciplines; 

17 (iii) a review of the funding levels by 

18 each agency for the program’s activities 

19 and their ability with such funding to 

20 achieve the program’s stated goals and 

21 grand challenges; 

22 (iv) recommendations for new or re23 vised program goals and grand challenges; 

24 (v) recommendations for new research 

25 areas, partnerships, coordination and man-
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1 agement mechanisms, or programs to be 

2 established to achieve the program’s stated 

3 goals and grand challenges; 

4 (vi) recommendations for investment 

5 levels in light of goals by each partici6 pating agency in each program funding 

7 area for the 5-year period following the de8 livery of the report; 

9 (vii) recommendations on policy, pro10 gram, and budget changes with respect to 

11 nanotechnology research and development 

12 activities; 

13 (viii) recommendations for improved 

14 metrics to evaluate the success of the pro15 gram in accomplishing its stated goals; 

16 (ix) a review of the performance of 

17 the Information Services and Applications 

18 Council and its efforts to promote access 

19 to and early application of the tech20 nologies, innovations, and expertise derived 

21 from program activities to agency missions 

22 and systems across the Federal govern23 ment and to United States industry; and 

24 (x) an analysis of the relative position 

25 of the United States compared to other na-
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1 tions with respect to nanotechnology re2 search and development, including the 

3 identification of any critical research areas 

4 where the United States should be the 

5 world leader to best achieve the goals of 

6 the program. 

7 (B) EVALUATION TO BE TRANSMITTED TO

8 CONGRESS.—The Director of the National 

9 Science Foundation shall transmit the results of 

10 any evaluation for which it made arrangements 

11 under subparagraph (A) to the Senate Com12 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor13 tation and the House of Representatives Com14 mittee on Science upon receipt. The first such 

15 evaluation shall be transmitted no later than 

16 June 10, 2005, with subsequent evaluations 

17 transmitted to the Committees every 3 years 

18 thereafter. 

19 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

20 (a) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.— 

21 (1) GENERAL AUTHORIZATION.—There are au22 thorized to be appropriated to the Director of the 

23 National Science Foundation to carry out the Direc24 tor’s responsibilities under this Act $346,150,000 

25 for fiscal year 2004. 
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1 (2) SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS.—

2 (A) INTERDISCIPLINARY NANOTECHNOL3 OGY RESEARCH CENTERS.—Of the amounts de4 scribed in paragraph (1), $50,000,000 for fiscal 

5 year 2004, shall be available for grants of up to 

6 $5,000,000 each for multidisciplinary 

7 nanotechnology research centers. 

8 (B) CENTER FOR SOCIETAL, ETHICAL, 

9 EDUCATIONAL, LEGAL, AND WORKFORCE

10 ISSUES RELATED TO NANOTECHNOLOGY.—Of 

11 the sums authorized for the National Science 

12 Foundation each fiscal year, $5,000,000 shall 

13 be used to establish a university-based Center 

14 for Societal, Ethical, Educational, Legal, and 

15 Workforce Issues Related to Nanotechnology. 

16 (C) NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDI17 NATION OFFICE.—Of the sums authorized for 

18 the National Science Foundation each fiscal 

19 year, $5,000,000 shall be used for the activities 

20 of the Nanotechnology Coordination Office. 

21 (D) GAP FUNDING.—Of the sums author22 ized for the National Science Foundation each 

23 fiscal year, $5,000,000 shall be for use in com24 petitive grants as described in section 4(c)(7) of 

25 this Act. 
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1 (b) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.—There are author2 ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry 

3 out the Secretary’s responsibilities under this Act 

4 $160,195,000 for fiscal year 2004. 

5 (c) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINIS6 TRATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

7 Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad8 ministration to carry out the Administrator’s responsibil9 ities under this Act $58,650,000 for fiscal year 2004. 

10 (d) NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.—There are 

11 authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the Na12 tional Institutes to carry out the Director’s responsibilities 

13 under this Act $49,680,000 for fiscal year 2004. 

14 (e) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND

15 TECHNOLOGY.—There are authorized to be appropriated 

16 to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 

17 Technology to carry out the Director’s responsibilities 

18 under this Act $50,600,000 for fiscal year 2004. 

19 (f) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.—There 

20 are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of 

21 the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the Ad22 ministrator’s responsibilities under this Act $5,750,000 

23 for fiscal year 2004. 

24 (g) DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.—There are author25 ized to be appropriated to the Director of the National
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1 Institute of Justice to carry out the Director’s responsibil2 ities under this Act $1,610,000 for fiscal year 2004. 

3 (h) DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.—There are 

4 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Trans5 portation to carry out the Secretary’s responsibilities 

6 under this Act $2,300,000 for fiscal year 2004. 

7 (i) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—There are au8 thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture 

9 to carry out the Secretary’s responsibilities under this Act 

10 $2,870,000 for fiscal year 2004.

11 SEC. 7. SOCIETAL, ETHICAL, EDUCATIONAL, LEGAL, AND 

12 WORKFORCE ISSUES RELATED TO 

13 NANOTECHNOLOGY. 

14 (a) STUDIES.—The Director of the National Science 

15 Foundation shall encourage, conduct, coordinate, commis16 sion, collect, and disseminate studies on the societal, eth17 ical, educational, and workforce implications of 

18 nanotechnology through the Center for Societal, Ethical, 

19 Educational, Legal, and Workforce Issues established 

20 under section 4(c)(5). The studies shall identify antici21 pated issues and problems, as well as provide rec22 ommendations for preventing or addressing such issues 

23 and problems. 

24 (b) DATA COLLECTION.—The Director of the Na25 tional Science Foundation shall collect data on the size 
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1 of the anticipated nanotechnology workforce need by de2 tailed occupation, industry, and firm characteristics, and 

3 assess the adequacy of the trained talent pool in the 

4 United States to fill such workforce needs. 

5 (c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Director of the National 

6 Science Foundation shall compile the studies required by 

7 paragraph (2) and, with the assistance of the Center for 

8 Societal, Ethical, Educational, Legal, and Workforce 

9 Issues Related to Nanotechnology established under sec10 tion 4(c)(5) of this Act, shall complete a report that in11 cludes a description of the Center’s activities, which shall 

12 be submitted to the President, the Council, the Senate 

13 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 

14 and the House of Representatives Committee on Science 

15 not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of 

16 this Act. 

17 SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 

18 In this Act: 

19 (1) ADVISORY PANEL.—The term ‘‘Advisory 

20 Panel’’ means the President’s National 

21 Nanotechnology Panel. 

22 (2) FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH.—The term 

23 ‘‘fundamental research’’ means research that builds 

24 a fundamental understanding and leads to discov25 eries of the phenomena, processes, and tools nec-
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1 essary to control and manipulate matter at the 

2 nanoscale. 

3 (3) GRAND CHALLENGE.—The term ‘‘grand 

4 challenge’’ means a fundamental problem in science 

5 or engineering, with broad economic and scientific 

6 impact, whose solution will require the application of 

7 nanotechnology. 

8 (4) INTERDISCIPLINARY NANOTECHNOLOGY RE9 SEARCH CENTER.—The term ‘‘interdisciplinary 

10 nanotechnology research center’’ means a group of 6 

11 or more researchers collaborating across scientific 

12 and engineering disciplines on large-scale long-term 

13 research projects that will significantly advance the 

14 science supporting the development of 

15 nanotechnology or the use of nanotechnology in ad16 dressing scientific issues of national importance, 

17 consistent with the goals set forth in section 4(b). 

18 (5) NANOTECHNOLOGY.—The term 

19 ‘‘nanotechnology’’ means the ability to work at the 

20 molecular level, atom-by-atom, to create large struc21 tures with fundamentally new molecular organiza22 tion. 

23 (6) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 

24 the national nanotechnology research program estab25 lished under section 4. 
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1 (7) RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term 

2 ‘‘research infrastructure’’ means the measurement 

3 science, instrumentation, modeling and simulation, 

4 and user facilities needed to develop a flexible and 

5 enabling infrastructure so that United States indus6 try can rapidly commercialize new discoveries in 

7 nanotechnology.

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