Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-766
Sponsor: Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood [R-NY-24]
Introduced: 2003-02-13 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Commerce
Commercialization
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Engineering
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to research
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government and business
Graduate education
High technology
Higher education
International competitiveness
Nanotechnology
Performance measurement
Planning-programming-budgeting
Research and development
Research centers
Research grants
Science and ethics
Scientific education
Strategic planning
Technical education
Technology assessment
Technology transfer

Summary:
action_date: 2003-02-13
text: Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 - Directs the President to implement a National Nanotechnology Research and Development Program to promote Federal nanotechnology research, development, demonstration, education, technology transfer, and commercial application activities as necessary to ensure continued U.S. leadership in nanotechnology research and development (R&D) and to ensure effective coordination of such R&D across Federal agencies and scientific and engineering disciplines.
Requires that Program activities be designed to: (1) support nanotechnology R&D through grants to individual and interdisciplinary teams of investigators and through establishment of interdisciplinary research centers and advanced technology user facilities; (2) ensure that solicitation and evaluation of proposals under the Program encourage interdisciplinary research; (3) expand education and training of undergraduate students in interdisciplinary nanotechnology science and engineering; (4) accelerate the commercial application of nanotechnology innovations in the private sector; and (5) ensure that societal and ethical concerns will be addressed by establishing a research program to identify such concerns, ensuring that research results are widely disseminated, and integrating such research with nanotechnology R&D.
Directs the President to: (1) establish or designate an interagency committee on nanotechnology R&D to oversee Program planning, management, and coordination; (2) establish an advisory committee on nanotechnology to make recommendations to Federal agencies for implementing the Program; and (3) establish a National Nanotechnology Coordination Office.
Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct periodic reviews of the Program.
action_date: 2003-05-06
text: Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 - Directs the President to implement a National Nanotechnology Research and Development Program to promote Federal nanotechnology research, development, demonstration, education, technology transfer, and commercial application activities to ensure continued U.S. leadership in nanotechnology research and development (R&D) and effective coordination of such R&D across Federal agencies.
Requires that Program activities be designed to: (1) support nanotechnology R&D through grants to individual and interdisciplinary teams of investigators and through establishment of advanced technology user facilities and interdisciplinary research centers; (2) ensure that solicitation and evaluation of proposals under the Program encourage interdisciplinary research; (3) expand education and training of undergraduate students in interdisciplinary nanotechnology science and engineering; (4) accelerate the commercial application of nanotechnology innovations; and (5) ensure that societal and ethical concerns, including environmental concerns and the potential implications of human performance enhancement and the possible development of nonhuman intelligence, will be addressed by establishing a research program to identify such concerns, by integrating nanotechnology R&D with research on societal and ethical concerns, and by requiring that interdisciplinary research centers include activities that address those concerns; and (6) include diverse institutions.
Directs the President to establish or designate an interagency committee on nanotechnology R&D to oversee Program planning, management, and coordination. Requires such committee to: (1) establish Program goals and priorities; (2) establish Program component areas; (3) develop and update annually a strategic plan; (4) propose a coordinated interagency budget for the Program; (5) develop a plan to utilize Federal programs, such as the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program, to support accelerating the commercial application of nanotechnology innovations; (6) consider the recommendations of the nanotechnology advisory committee (established by this Act) and the views of academic, State, industry, and other groups conducting research on and using nanotechnology; and (7) submit annual reports to specified congressional committees on the Program budget, the progress made toward achieving Program goals and priorities, and agency implementation of the plan for utilizing Federal small business programs to accelerate the commercial application of nanotechnology innovations.
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to establish or designate an advisory committee on nanotechnology which shall assess and report to the President on: (1) trends and developments in nanotechnology science and engineering; (2) the progress made in implementing the Program; (3) the need to revise the Program; (4) the balance among Program components; (5) whether the program component areas, priorities, and technical goals developed by the interagency committee are helping to maintain U.S. leadership in nanotechnology; (6) Program management, coordination, implementation, and activities; and (7) whether societal and ethical concerns are adequately addressed.
(Sec 6) Directs the President to establish a National Nanotechnology Coordination Office to: (1) provide technical and administrative support to the interagency and advisory committees; (2) serve as a point of contact on Federal nanotechnology activities for specified governmental and nongovernmental entities to exchange technical and programmatic information; and (3) conduct public outreach.
(Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2006 for the following agencies to carry out this Act: (1) the National Science Foundation; (2) the Department of Energy; (3) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (4) the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and (5) the Environmental Protection Agency.
(Sec. 8) Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct periodic reviews of the Program, which shall include an evaluation of technical achievements, the relative position of the United States with respect to other nations in nanotechnology R&D, the Program's success in transferring technology to the private sector, whether the Program has been successful in fostering interdisciplinary R&D, and the extent to which the Program has adequately considered societal and ethical concerns. Mandates that one review: (1) within three years include a study to determine the technical feasibility of the manufacture of materials and devices at the molecular scale; and (2) within six years include a study to assess the need for standards, guidelines, or strategies for ensuring the development of safe nanotechnology.
(Sec. 9) Requires agencies for which appropriations are authorized under this Act to establish Science and Technology Graduate Scholarship Programs that are designed to recruit and prepare students for Government careers that require engineering, scientific, and technical training. Directs such agencies to enter into contractual agreements under which individuals selected receive scholarships in exchange for agreeing to serve as full-time Government employees for a specified period.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003 - Directs the President to implement a National Nanotechnology Research and Development Program to promote Federal nanotechnology research, development, demonstration, education, technology transfer, and commercial application activities to ensure continued U.S. leadership in nanotechnology research and development (R&D) and effective coordination of such R&D across Federal agencies.
Requires that Program activities be designed to: (1) support nanotechnology R&D through grants to individual and interdisciplinary teams of investigators and through establishment of advanced technology user facilities and interdisciplinary research centers; (2) ensure that solicitation and evaluation of proposals under the Program encourage interdisciplinary research; (3) expand education and training of undergraduate students in interdisciplinary nanotechnology science and engineering; (4) accelerate the commercial application of nanotechnology innovations; and (5) ensure that societal and ethical concerns, including environmental concerns and the potential implications of human performance enhancement and the possible development of nonhuman intelligence, will be addressed by establishing a research program to identify such concerns, by integrating nanotechnology R&D with research on societal and ethical concerns, by requiring that interdisciplinary research centers include activities that address those concerns, and by ensuring, through the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (established by this Act) and agencies participating in the Program, that public input and outreach are integrated into nanotechnology R&D and research on societal and ethical concerns by the convening of regular and ongoing public discussions; and (6) include diverse institutions.
Directs the President to establish or designate an interagency committee on nanotechnology R&D to oversee Program planning, management, and coordination. Requires such committee to: (1) establish Program goals and priorities; (2) establish Program component areas; (3) develop and update annually a strategic plan; (4) propose a coordinated interagency budget for the Program; (5) develop a plan to utilize Federal programs, such as the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program, to support accelerating the commercial application of nanotechnology innovations; (6) consider the recommendations of the nanotechnology advisory committee(as established by this Act), the suggestions or recommendations on nanotechnology R&D and research on societal and ethical concerns developed from public outreach, and the views of academic, State, industry, and other groups conducting research on and using nanotechnology; and (7) submit annual reports to specified congressional committees on the Program budget, the progress made toward achieving Program goals and priorities, and agency implementation of the plan for utilizing Federal small business programs to accelerate the commercial application of nanotechnology innovations.
(Sec. 5) Directs the President to establish or designate an advisory committee on nanotechnology which shall assess and report to the President on: (1) trends and developments in nanotechnology science and engineering; (2) the progress made in implementing the Program; (3) the need to revise the Program; (4) the balance among Program components; (5) whether the program component areas, priorities, and technical goals developed by the interagency committee are helping to maintain U.S. leadership in nanotechnology; (6) Program management, coordination, implementation, and activities; and (7) whether societal and ethical concerns are adequately addressed.
(Sec 6) Directs the President to establish a National Nanotechnology Coordination Office to: (1) provide technical and administrative support to the interagency and advisory committees; (2) serve as a point of contact on Federal nanotechnology activities for specified governmental and nongovernmental entities to exchange technical and programmatic information; and (3) conduct public outreach.
(Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2004 through 2006 for the following agencies to carry out this Act: (1) the National Science Foundation; (2) the Department of Energy; (3) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; (4) the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and (5) the Environmental Protection Agency.
(Sec. 8) Requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct periodic reviews of the Program, which shall include an evaluation of technical achievements, the relative position of the United States with respect to other nations in nanotechnology R&D, the Program's success in transferring technology to the private sector, whether the Program has been successful in fostering interdisciplinary R&D, and the extent to which the Program has adequately considered societal and ethical concerns. Mandates that one review: (1) within three years include a study to determine the technical feasibility of the manufacture of materials and devices at the molecular scale; and (2) within six years include a study to assess the need for standards, guidelines, or strategies for ensuring the development of safe nanotechnology.
(Sec. 9) Requires agencies for which appropriations are authorized under this Act to establish Science and Technology Graduate Scholarship Programs that are designed to recruit and prepare students for Government careers that require engineering, scientific, and technical training. Directs such agencies to enter into contractual agreements under which individuals selected receive scholarships in exchange for agreeing to serve as full-time Government employees for a specified period.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-05-08
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 405 - 19 (Roll no. 167).
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 405 - 19 (Roll no. 167).
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 766.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Jackson-Lee amendment under the five-minute rule.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: DEBATE UNDER THE FIVE MINUTE RULE - The Committee of the Whole resumed debate under the five minute rule.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the E.B. Johnson of Texas amendment under the five minute rule.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Bell amendment, the Chair put the question on the adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Bell demanded a recorded vote and made a point of no quorum. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment and the point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Bell amendment under the five minute rule.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Bell amendment, the Chair put the question on the adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Bell demanded a recorded vote and made a point of no quorum. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment and the point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Debate - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Bell amendment under the five minute rule.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 766.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Lee Terry to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 219 and Rule XXIII.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 766 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Scienc now printed in the bill. Measure will be read by section. Bill is open to amendments.
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 219. (consideration:  CR H3715-3735)
action_date: 2003-05-07
text: Rule H. Res. 219 passed House.
action_date: 2003-05-06
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 219 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 766 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Scienc now printed in the bill. Measure will be read by section. Bill is open to amendments.
action_date: 2003-05-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 48.
action_date: 2003-05-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 108-89. (text of measure as reported in House:  CR 5/7/2003 H3722-3724)
action_date: 2003-05-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 108-89.(text of measure as reported in House:  CR 5/7/2003 H3722-3724)
action_date: 2003-05-01
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-05-01
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-04-09
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-03-19
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-02-13
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science.
action_date: 2003-02-13
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-02-13
text: Introduced in House