COMMITTEE APPROVES LEGISLATION TO ENHANCE THE NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE 

WASHINGTON D.C. - May 7, 2008 - The House Science and Technology Committee today approved H.R. 5940, the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008, which amends the 21^st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, making several changes to the implementation process and priorities of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI).

As one of the bills original cosponsors, Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX) praised the bipartisan legislative effort, highlighting the success that the NNI has already achieved.  “We are using nanotechnology to help create clean, secure affordable energy; medical devices and drugs; sensors to detect and identify harmful chemical and biological agents; low-cost filters to provide clean drinking water; and techniques to clean up hazardous chemicals in the environment,” Hall said.  “My main interest in this process has been to make sure that we are careful to allow this multi-agency program, which seems to be working well, to continue to have the flexibility it needs to do its work without being overly prescriptive.” 

H.R. 5940 was developed, based on recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, witness testimony from previous Committee hearings, and the President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology (PCAST).

The legislation approved today makes several minor changes to the NNI, incorporating provisions that address science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce needs and promoting technology transfer to bring nanotechnology products from the lab to the marketplace more efficiently.  Currently, twenty-six federal agencies participate in NNI, 13 of which contribute to the research and development budget.

The following groups have expressed support for H.R. 5940: Semiconductor Industry Association, the NanoBusiness Alliance, the American Chemical Society, and the National Science Teachers Association.

H.R. 5940 passed out of Committee today with unanimous bipartisan support, incorporating four amendments by Reps. Brian Baird (D-WA) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX).

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110-142