I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 283
To establish the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Advisory Board. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 8, 2003
Mr. HONDA (for himself, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mrs. TAUSCHER, Mr. 
HOLT, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. HOEFFEL, Ms. 
NORTON, Ms. LOFGREN, and Mr. ETHERIDGE) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science 
A BILL 
To establish the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Advisory 
Board.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nanoscience and 
Nanotechnology Advisory Board Act of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The emerging fields of nanoscience and 
nanoengineering (collectively, ‘‘nanotechnology’’), in 
which matter is manipulated at the atomic level in
order to build materials, machines, and devices with 
novel properties or functions, are leading to unprece-
dented scientific and technological opportunities that 
will benefit society by changing the way many things 
are designed and made. 
(2) Long-term nanoscale research and develop-
ment leading to potential breakthroughs in areas 
such as materials and manufacturing, electronics, 
medicine and health care, environment, energy, 
chemicals, biotechnology, agriculture, information 
technology, and national security could be as signifi-
cant for the 21st century as the combined influences 
of microelectronics, biotechnology, and information 
technology were for the 20th century. 
(3) Long-term, high-risk research is necessary 
to create breakthroughs in technology. 
(4) Such research requires government funding 
since the benefits are too distant or uncertain for in-
dustry alone to support, and the Federal government 
can play an important role in the development of 
nanotechnology, as it will take many years of sus-
tained investment for this field to achieve maturity. 
(5) Advancements in nanotechnology stemming 
from Federal investments in fundamental research 
and subsequent private sector development likely will
create technologies that support the work and im-
prove the efficiency of the Federal government, and 
contribute significantly to the efforts of the govern-
ment’s mission agencies. 
(6) According to various estimates, including 
those of the National Science Foundation, the mar-
ket for nanotechnology products and services in the 
United States alone could reach over $1 trillion later 
this century. 
(7) Mastering nanotechnology will require a 
unique skill set for scientists and engineers that 
combine chemistry, physics, materials science, and 
information science. 
(8) Funding in these critical areas has been flat 
for many years and as a result fewer young people 
are electing to go into these areas in graduate 
schools throughout the Nation, a trend which will 
have to reverse if we hope to develop the next gen-
eration of skilled workers with multidisciplinary per-
spectives 
necessary 
for 
the 
development 
of 
nanotechnology. 
(9) Research on nanotechnology creates unprec-
edented capabilities to alter ourselves and our envi-
ronment and will give rise to a host of novel social, 
ethical, philosophical, and legal issues, and address-
ing these issues will require wide reflection and guid-
ance that is responsive to the realities of the science, 
as well as additional research to predict, understand, 
and alleviate anticipated problems. 
(10) Achieving and maintaining international 
leadership in nanotechnology is an important na-
tional security issue for the Nation, and in addition 
to the plethora of devices that can be developed for 
use by the Defense Department, there are many 
other ways in which nanotechnology has national se-
curity implications. 
(11) The Executive Branch has previously es-
tablished a National Nanotechnology Initiative 
(NNI) to coordinate Federal nanotechnology re-
search and development programs and this initiative 
has contributed significantly to the development of 
nanotechnology. 
(12) Authorizing legislation can serve to estab-
lish new technology goals and research directions, 
improve agency coordination and oversight mecha-
nisms, help ensure optimal returns on investments, 
and simplify reporting, budgeting, and planning 
processes for the Executive Branch and Congress.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There 
is 
established 
the 
Nanoscience 
and 
Nanotechnology Advisory Board (in this Act referred to 
as the ‘‘Advisory Board’’). The Advisory Board shall oper-
ate in coordination with the White House Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, and shall provide advice to the 
President and the National Science and Technology Coun-
cil on research investment policy, strategy, program goals, 
and management processes relating to nanoscience and 
nanotechnology. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, in consultation 
with the Director of the White House Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, shall establish procedures for the 
selection if individuals not employed by the Federal gov-
ernment 
who 
are 
qualified 
in 
the 
science 
of 
nanotechnology and other appropriate fields and shall, 
pursuant to such procedures, appoint up to 20 individuals 
to serve on the Advisory Board. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS.—Members of the 
Advisory Board shall be appointed from among leaders 
from industry and academia having scientific, technical, 
social science, or research management credentials. Mem-
bers shall hold a reasonable cross-section of views and ex-
pertise regarding societal, ethical, educational, legal, and 
workforce issues related to nanotechnology. In selecting
individuals to serve on the Advisory Board the President 
shall give due consideration to the recommendations of 
Congress, industry leaders, the scientific community (in-
cluding the National Academy of Sciences), academia, the 
defense community, the education community, State and 
local governments, and other appropriate organizations. 
(c) CHAIRPERSON.—The President shall designate a 
Chairperson who shall serve for a term of 3 years. 
(d) TERMS.—Each member of the Advisory Board 
shall be appointed for a term of 1 to 3 years, as deter-
mined by the President upon appointment, and may be 
reappointed when their terms expire. 
(e) VACANCIES.— A vacancy on the Advisory Board 
shall be filled in the same manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(f) COMPENSATION.—Members shall serve without 
pay but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provi-
sions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(g) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Board shall meet not 
less than 2 times per year, at the call of the Chairperson 
in consultation with the National Nanotechnology Coordi-
nation Office established under section 5 of this Act.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDINATION OF-
FICE. 
(a) STAFF TO ASSIST ADVISORY BOARD.—The Presi-
dent shall establish a National Nanotechnology Coordina-
tion Office to provide necessary technical and administra-
tive support to the Advisory Board and to coordinate Fed-
eral nanotechnology activities between Federal agencies, 
private sector industry, and academia. 
(b) APPLICABILITY
OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE 
LAWS.—The staff of the National Nanotechnology Coordi-
nation Office established under subsection (a) shall be ap-
pointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of 
chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title 
relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES. 
The Advisory Board shall—
(1) advise the President and the National 
Science and Technology Council, and inform the 
Congress, on matters relating to the National 
Nanotechnology Program, including—
(A) the articulation of short-term (1 to 5 
years), medium-range (6 to 10 years), and long-
range (beyond 10 years) goals and objectives 
within the program;
(B) the need for emphasis on the long-
range goals that move results out of the labora-
tory and into the service of society; 
(C) the capabilities and research needs of 
the nanotechnology program; 
(D) methods or approaches for achieving 
major program objectives; 
(E) establishing and measuring perform-
ance goals using appropriate metrics; 
(F) approaches to increase multi-agency 
investments in research at the intersection be-
tween nanoscale technology and biology; 
(G) creation of programs for the invention 
and development of new instruments for 
nanoscience and the establishment of centers of 
excellence where these instruments can be used 
by a number of scientists, faculty, and students; 
(H) approaches to stimulate and nurture 
industrial partnerships, both domestically and 
internationally, to help accelerate the commer-
cialization of nanotechnology developments; 
(I) approaches to addressing workforce 
issues through training grants, internships, fel-
lowships, professional development, and retrain-
ing; and
(J) the need to coordinate the nanoscale 
research and development activities and strate-
gies of the civilian Federal agencies and the De-
partment of Defense to maintain a balanced, in-
tegrated, 
and 
fully-coordinated 
Federal 
nanotechnology research effort; 
(2) consult with academic industrial entities, 
State and local governments and agencies, and other 
appropriate entities conducting research on and 
using nanotechnology; and 
(3) ensure that the Federal nanotechnology pro-
gram considers fully the societal implications of 
nanoscale science and technology. 
SEC. 7. REPORTS. 
The Advisory Board shall transmit an annual report 
to the President, the heads of each agency involved in the 
nanotechnology program, the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. The an-
nual report shall include—
(1) a review of the program’s technical success 
in achieving the stated goals and grand challenges 
according to the metrics established by the program 
and Advisory Panel;
(2) a review of the program’s management and 
coordination among civilian Federal agencies; be-
tween these agencies and the Department of De-
fense; and between state, local, international, and 
private sector efforts in nanotechnology research and 
development; as well as how this coordination sup-
ports the goals and the mission needs of the entities 
involved; 
(3) a review of the funding levels by each agen-
cy for the program’s activities and their ability to 
achieve the program’s stated goals and grand chal-
lenges; 
(4) a review of the balance in the program’s 
portfolio and components across agencies and dis-
ciplines; 
(5) an assessment of the degree of participation 
in the program by minority serving institutions and 
institutions located in States participating in Na-
tional Science Foundation’s Experimental Program 
to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR); 
(6) a review of policy issues resulting from ad-
vancements in nanotechnology and its effects on the 
scientific enterprise, commerce, workforce, competi-
tiveness, national security, medicine, and govern-
ment operations;
(7) recommendations for new program goals 
and grand challenges; 
(8) recommendations for new research areas, 
partnerships, coordination and management mecha-
nisms, or programs to be established to achieve the 
program’s stated goals and grand challenges; 
(9) recommendations for new investments by 
each participating agency in each program funding 
area for the 5–year period following the delivery of 
the report; 
(10) reviews and recommendations regarding 
other issues deemed pertinent or specified by the 
panel; and 
(11) a technology transition study which in-
cludes an evaluation of the Federal nanotechnology 
research and development program’s success in 
transitioning its research, technologies, and concepts 
into commercial and military products, including—
(A) examples of successful transition of re-
search, technologies, and concepts from the 
Federal nanotechnology research and develop-
ment program into commercial and military 
products; 
(B) best practices of universities, govern-
ment, and industry in promoting efficient and
rapid 
technology 
transition 
in 
the 
nanotechnology sector; 
(C) barriers to efficient technology transi-
tion in the nanotechnology sector, including, but 
not limited to, standards, pace of technological 
change, qualification and testing of research 
products, intellectual property issues, and Fed-
eral funding; and 
(D) 
recommendations 
for 
government 
sponsored activities to promote rapid technology 
transition in the nanotechnology sector. 
SEC. 9. TERMINATION. 
Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.; relating to the termination of 
advisory committees) shall not apply to this Act. 
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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