[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2945 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 772
107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2945

                          [Report No. 107-350]

   To authorize appropriations for nanoscience, nanoengineering, and 
            nanotechnology research, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 17, 2002

 Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Allen, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. 
   Clinton, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Levin) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

                           November 20, 2002

              Reported by Mr. Hollings, without amendment

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize appropriations for nanoscience, nanoengineering, and 
            nanotechnology research, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Nanotechnology Research 
and Development Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
    (1) The emerging fields of nanoscience and nanoengineering 
(collectively, ``nanotechnology''), in which matter is manipulated at 
the atomic level (i.e., atom-by- atom or molecule-by-molecule) in order 
to build materials, machines, and devices with novel properties or 
functions, are leading to unprecedented scientific and technological 
opportunities that will benefit society by changing the way many things 
are designed and made.
    (2) Long-term nanoscale research and development leading to 
potential breakthroughs in areas such as materials and manufacturing, 
electronics, medicine and healthcare, environment, energy, chemicals, 
biotechnology, agriculture, information technology, and national 
security could be as significant as the combined influences of 
microelectronics, biotechnology, and information technology on the 20th 
century. Nanotechnology could lead to things such as--
            (A) new generations of electronics where the entire 
        collection of the Library of Congress is stored on devices the 
        size of a sugar cube;
            (B) manufacturing that requires less material, pollutes 
        less, and is embedded with sophisticated sensors that will 
        internally detect signs of weakness and automatically respond 
        by releasing chemicals that will prevent damage;
            (C) prosthetic and medical implants whose surfaces are 
        molecularly designed to interact with the cells of the body;
            (D) materials with an unprecedented combination of 
        strength, toughness, and lightness that will enable land, sea, 
        air, and space vehicles to become lighter and more fuel 
        efficient;
            (E) selective membranes that can fish out specific toxic or 
        valuable particles from industrial waste or that can 
        inexpensively desalinate sea water; and
            (F) tiny robotic spacecraft that will cost less, consume 
        very little power, adapt to unexpected environments, change its 
        capabilities as needed, and be completely autonomous.
    (3) Long-term, high-risk research is necessary to create 
breakthroughs in technology. Such research requires government funding 
since the benefits are too distant or uncertain for industry alone to 
support. Current Federal investments in nanotechnology research and 
development are not grounded in any specifically authorized statutory 
foundation. As a result, there is a risk that future funding for long-
term, innovative research will be tentative and subject to instability 
which could threaten to hinder future United States technological and 
economic growth.
    (4) The Federal government can play an important role in the 
development of nanotechnology, as this science is still in its infancy, 
and it will take many years of sustained investment for this field to 
achieve maturity.
    (5) Many foreign countries, companies and scientists believe that 
nanotechnology will be the leading technology of the 21st century and 
are investing heavily into its research. According to a study of 
international nanotechnology research efforts sponsored by the National 
Science and Technology Council, the United States is at risk of falling 
behind its international competitors, including Japan, South Korea, and 
Europe if it fails to sustain broad based funding in nanotechnology. 
The United States cannot afford to fall behind our competitors if we 
want to maintain our economic strength.
    (6) Advances in nanotechnology stemming from Federal investments in 
fundamental research and subsequent private sector development likely 
will create technologies that support the work and improve the 
efficiency of the Federal government, and contribute significantly to 
the efforts of the government's mission agencies.
    (7) According to various estimates, including those of the National 
Science Foundation, the market for nanotech products and services in 
the United States alone could reach over $1 trillion later this 
century.
    (8) Nanotechnology will evolve from modern advances in chemical, 
physical, biological, engineering, medical, and materials research, and 
will contribute to cross-disciplinary training of the 21st century 
science and technology workforce.
    (9) Mastering nanotechnology will require a unique skill set for 
scientists and engineers that combine chemistry, physics, material 
science, and information science. 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 
United States. This will have to reverse if we hope to develop the next 
generation of skilled workers with multi-disciplinary perspectives 
necessary for the development of nanotechnology.
    (10) Research on nanotechnology creates unprecedented capabilities 
to alter ourselves and our environment and will give rise to a host of 
novel social, ethical, philosophical, and legal issues. To 
appropriately address these issues will require wide reflection and 
guidance that are responsive to the realities of the science, as well 
as additional research to predict, understand, and alleviate 
anticipated problems.
    (11) Nanotechnology will provide structures to enable the 
revolutionary concept of quantum computing, which uses quantum 
mechanical properties to do calculation. Quantum computing permits a 
small number of atoms to potentially store and process enormous amounts 
of information. Just 300 interacting atoms in a quantum computer could 
store as much information as a classical electronic computer that uses 
all the particles in the universe, and today's complex encryption 
algorithms, which would take today's best super computer 20 billion 
years, could be cracked in 30 minutes.
    (12) The Executive Branch has previously established a National 
Nanotechnology Initiative to coordinate Federal nanotechnology research 
and development programs. This initiative has contributed significantly 
to the development of nanotechnology. Authorizing legislation can serve 
to establish new technology goals and research directions, improve 
agency coordination and oversight mechanisms, help ensure optimal 
returns to investment, and simplify reporting, budgeting, and planning 
processes for the Executive Branch and the Congress.
    (13) The private sector technology innovations that grow from 
fundamental nanotechnology research are dependent on a haphazard, 
expensive, and generally inefficient technology transition path. 
Strategies for accelerating the transition of fundamental knowledge and 
innovations in commercial products or to support mission agencies 
should be explored, developed, and when appropriate, executed.
    (14) Existing data on the societal, ethical, educational, legal, 
and workforce implications and issues related to nanotechnology are 
lacking. To help decision-makers and affected parties better anticipate 
issues likely to arise with the onset and maturation of nanotechnology, 
research and studies on these issues must be conducted and 
disseminated.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to authorize a coordinated inter-
agency program that will support long-term nanoscale research and 
development leading to potential breakthroughs in areas such as 
materials and manufacturing, nanoelectronics, medicine and healthcare, 
environment, energy, chemicals, biotechnology, agriculture, information 
technology, and national and homeland security.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) National Nanotechnology Research Program.--The President shall 
establish a National Nanotechnology Research Program. Through 
appropriate agencies, councils, and the National Coordination Office, 
the program shall--
            (1) establish the goals, priorities, grand challenges, and 
        metrics for evaluation for Federal nanotechnology research, 
        development, and other activities;
            (2) invest in Federal research and development programs in 
        nanotechnology and related sciences to achieve those goals; and
            (3) provide for interagency coordination of Federal 
        nanotechnology research, development, and other activities 
        undertaken pursuant to the program.
    (b) Goals of the National Nanotechnology Research Program.--The 
goals of the program are as follows:
            (1) The coordination of long-term fundamental nanoscience 
        and engineering research to build a fundamental understanding 
        of matter enabling control and manipulation at the nanoscale.
            (2) The assurance of continued United States global 
        leadership in nanotechnology to meet national goals and to 
        support national economic, health, national security, 
        educational, and scientific interests.
            (3) The advancement of United States productivity and 
        industrial competitiveness through stable, consistent, and 
        coordinated investments in long-term scientific and engineering 
        research in nanotechnology.
            (4) The development of a network of shared academic 
        facilities and technology centers that will play a critical 
        role in accomplishing the other goals of the program, foster 
        partnerships, and develop and utilize next generation 
        scientific tools.
            (5) The development of enabling infrastructural 
        technologies that United States industry can use to 
        commercialize new discoveries and innovations in nanoscience.
            (6) The acceleration of the deployment and transition of 
        advanced and experimental nanotechnology and concepts into the 
        private sector.
            (7) The establishment of a program designed to provide 
        effective education and training for the next generation of 
        researchers and professionals skilled in the multidisciplinary 
        perspectives necessary for nanotechnology.
            (8) To ensure that philosophical, ethical, and other 
        societal concerns will be considered alongside the development 
        of nanotechnology.
    (c) Research and Development Areas.--Through its participating 
agencies, the Nanotechnology Research and Development Program shall 
develop, fund, and manage Federal research programs in the following 
areas:
            (1) Long-term fundamental research.--The program shall 
        undertake long-term basic nanoscience and engineering research 
        that focuses on fundamental understanding and synthesis of 
        nanometer-size building blocks with potential for breakthroughs 
        in areas such as materials and manufacturing, nanoelectronics, 
        medicine and healthcare, environment, energy, chemical and 
        pharmaceuticals industries, biotechnology and agriculture, 
        computation and information technology, and national security. 
        Funds made available from the appropriate agencies under this 
        paragraph shall be used--
                    (A) to provide awards of less than $1,000,000 each 
                to single investigators and small groups to provide 
                sustained support to individual investigators and small 
                groups conducting fundamental, innovative research; and
                    (B) to fund fundamental research and the 
                development of university-industry-laboratory and 
                interagency partnerships.
            (2) Grand challenges.--The program shall support grand 
        challenges that are essential for the advancement of the field 
        and interdisciplinary research and education teams, including 
        multidisciplinary nanotechnology research centers, that work on 
        major long-term objectives. This funding area will fund, 
        through participating agencies, interdisciplinary research and 
        education teams that aim to achieve major, long-term 
        objectives, such as the following:
                    (A) Nanomaterials by design which are stronger, 
                lighter, harder, self-repairing, and safer.
                    (B) Nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, and 
                magnetics.
                    (C) Healthcare applications.
                    (D) Nanoscale processes and environment.
                    (E) Energy and energy conservation.
                    (F) Microspacecraft.
                    (G) Bio-nanodevices for detection and mitigation of 
                biothreats to humans.
                    (H) Economical, efficient, and safe transportation.
                    (I) National security.
                    (J) Other appropriate challenges.
            (3) Interdisciplinary nanotechnology research centers.--The 
        appropriate agencies shall fund 10 new centers in the range of 
        $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 per year each for 5 years. A grant 
        under this paragraph to a center may be renewed for 1 5-year 
        term on the basis of that center's performance, determined 
        after a review. The program, through its participating 
        agencies, shall encourage research networking among centers and 
        researchers and require access to facilities to both academia 
        and industry. The centers shall assist in reaching other 
        initiative priorities, including fundamental research, grand 
        challenges, education, development and utilization of specific 
        research tools, and promoting partnerships with industry. To 
        the greatest extent possible, agencies participating in the 
        program shall establish geographically diverse centers 
        including at least one center in a State participating in the 
        National Science Foundation's (NSF) Experimental Program, to 
        Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), established under 
        section 113 of the NSF Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 
        1862(g)).
            (4) Research infrastructure.--The program, through its 
        participating agencies, shall ensure adequate research 
        infrastructure and equipment for rapid progress on program 
        goals, including the employment of underutilized manufacturing 
        facilities in areas of high unemployment as production 
        engineering and research testbeds for micron-scale 
        technologies. Major research equipment and instrumentation 
        shall be an eligible funding purpose under the program.
            (5) Societal, ethical, educational, legal, and workforce 
        issues related to nanotechnology.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall establish a new Center for Ethical, 
        Societal, Educational, Legal, and Workforce Issues Related to 
        Nanotechnology at $5,000,000 per year to encourage, conduct, 
        coordinate, commission, collect, and disseminate research on 
        the societal, ethical, educational, legal, and workforce issues 
        related to nanotechnology. The Center shall also conduct 
        studies and provide input and assistance to the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation in completing the annual report 
        required under paragraph 7(b)(3) of this Act.
            (6) Transition of technology.--The program, through its 
        participating agencies, shall ensure cooperation and 
        collaboration with United States industry in all relevant 
        research efforts and develop mechanisms to assure prompt 
        technology transition.

SEC. 5. PROGRAM COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The National Science and Technology Council shall 
oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the Federal 
nanotechnology research and development program. The Council, itself or 
through an appropriate subgroup it designates or establishes, shall--
            (1) establish a set of broad applications of nanotechnology 
        research and development, or grand challenges, to be met by the 
        results and activities of the program, based on national needs;
            (2) submit to the Congress through the Senate Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the House of 
        Representatives Committee on Science, an annual report, along 
        with the President's annual budget request, describing the 
        implementation of the program under section 4;
            (3) provide for interagency coordination of the program, 
        including with the Department of Defense;
            (4) coordinate the budget requests of each of the agencies 
        involved in the program with the Office of Management and 
        Budget to ensure that a balanced research portfolio is 
        maintained in order to ensure the appropriate level of research 
        effort;
            (5) provide guidance each year to the participating 
        departments and agencies concerning the preparation of 
appropriations requests for activities related to the program;
            (6) consult with academic, industry, State and local 
        government, and other appropriate groups conducting research on 
        and using nanotechnology;
            (7) establish an Information Services and Applications 
        Council to promote access to and early application of the 
        technologies, innovations, and expertise derived from 
        nanotechnology research and development program activities to 
        agency missions and systems across the Federal government, and 
        to United States industry;
            (8) in cooperation with the Advisory Panel established 
        under subsection (b), develop and apply measurements using 
        appropriate metrics for evaluating program performance and 
        progress toward goals; and
            (9) identify research areas which are not being adequately 
        addressed by the agencies' current research programs.
    (b) President's Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.--
            (1) Establishment.--The President shall establish a 
        National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.
            (2) Selection procedures.--The President shall establish 
        procedures for the selection of individuals not employed by the 
        Federal government who are qualified in the science of 
        nanotechnology and other appropriate fields and may, pursuant 
        to such procedures, select up to 20 individuals, one of whom 
        shall be designated Chairman, to serve on the Advisory Panel. 
        Selection of individuals for the Advisory Panel shall be based 
        solely on established records of distinguished fundamental and 
        applied scientific service, and the panel shall contain a 
        reasonable cross-section of views and expertise, including 
        those regarding the societal, ethical, educational, legal, and 
        workforce issues related to nanotechnology. In selecting 
        individuals to serve on the Advisory Panel, the President shall 
        seek and give due consideration to recommendations from the 
        Congress, industry, the scientific community (including the 
        National Academy of Sciences), scientific professional 
        societies, academia, the defense community, the education 
        community, State and local governments, and other appropriate 
        organizations.
            (3) Meetings.--The Advisory Panel shall meet no less than 
        twice annually, at such times and places as may be designated 
        by the Chairman in consultation with the National 
        Nanotechnology Coordination Office established under subsection 
        5(c) of this Act.
            (4) Duties.--The Advisory Panel shall advise the President 
        and the National Science and Technology Council, and inform the 
        Congress, on matters relating to the National Nanotechnology 
        Program, including goals, roles, and objectives within the 
        program, its capabilities and research needs, guidance on 
        achieving major objectives, and establishing and measuring 
        performance goals using appropriate metrics. The Advisory Panel 
        shall issue an annual report, containing the information 
        required by subsection (d) of this section, to the President, 
        the Council, the heads of each agency involved in the program, 
        the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 
        and the House of Representatives Committee on Science, on or 
        before September 30 of each year.
    (c) National Nanotechnology Coordination Office.--The President 
shall establish a National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, with 
full-time staff, to provide day-to-day technical and administrative 
support to the Council and the Advisory Panel, and to be the point of 
contact on Federal nanotechnology activities for government 
organizations, academia, industry, professional societies, and others 
to exchange technical and programmatic information. The Office shall 
assure full coordination of research efforts between agencies, 
scientific disciplines, and United States industry.
    (d) Program Plans and Reports.--
            (1) Annual evaluation of nanotechnology research 
        development program.--The report by the Advisory Panel, 
        required pursuant to subsection (b)(4), shall include--
                    (A) 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;
                    (B) a review of the program's management and 
                coordination;
                    (C) a review of the funding levels by each agency 
                for the program's activities and their ability to 
                achieve the program's stated goals and grand 
                challenges;
                    (D) a review of the balance in the program's 
                portfolio and components across agencies and 
                disciplines;
                    (E) an assessment of the degree of participation in 
                the program by minority serving institutions and 
                institutions located in States participating in NSF's 
                EPSCoR program;
                    (F) a review of policy issues resulting from 
                advancements in nanotechnology and its effects on the 
                scientific enterprise, commerce, workforce, 
                competitiveness, national security, medicine, and 
                government operations;
                    (G) recommendations for new program goals and grand 
                challenges;
                    (H) recommendations for new research areas, 
                partnerships, coordination and management mechanisms, 
                or programs to be established to achieve the program's 
                stated goals and grand challenges;
                    (I) recommendations for new investments by each 
                participating agency in each program funding area for 
                the 5-year period following the delivery of the report;
                    (J) reviews and recommendations regarding other 
                issues deemed pertinent or specified by the panel; and
                    (K) a technology transition study which includes 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--
                            (i) examples of successful transition of 
                        research, technologies, and concepts from the 
                        Federal nanotechnology research and development 
                        program into commercial and military products;
                            (ii) best practices of universities, 
                        government, and industry in promoting efficient 
                        and rapid technology transition in the 
                        nanotechnology sector;
                            (iii) barriers to efficient technology 
                        transition in the nanotechnology sector, 
                        including, but not limited to, standards, pace 
                        of technological change, qualification and 
                        testing of research products, intellectual 
                        property issues, and Federal funding; and
                            (iv) recommendations for government 
                        sponsored activities to promote rapid 
                        technology transition in the nanotechnology 
                        sector.
            (2) Office of management and budget report.--
                    (A) Budget request report.--Each Federal agency and 
                department participating in the program shall, as part 
                of its annual request for appropriations, submit a 
                report to the Office of Management and Budget which--
                            (i) identifies each element of its 
                        nanotechnology research and development 
                        activities that contributes directly to the 
                        program or benefits from the program;
                            (ii) states the portion of its request for 
                        appropriations that is allocated to each such 
                        element; and
                            (iii) states the portion of its request for 
                        appropriations that is allocated to each 
                        program funding area.
                    (B) OMB review and allocation statement.--The 
                Office of Management and Budget shall review each 
                report in light of the goals, priorities, grand 
                challenges, and agency and departmental 
                responsibilities set forth in the annual report of the 
                Council under paragraph (3), and shall include in the 
                President's annual budget estimate, a statement 
                delineating the amount and portion of each appropriate 
                agency's or department's annual budget estimate 
                relating to its activities undertaken pursuant to the 
                program.
            (3) Annual nstc report to congress on the nanotechnology 
        research development program.--The National Science and 
        Technology Council shall submit an annual report to the 
        Congress that--
                    (A) includes a detailed description of the goals, 
                grand challenges, and program funding areas established 
                by the President for the program;
                    (B) sets forth the relevant programs and 
                activities, for the fiscal year with respect to which 
                the budget submission applies, of each Federal agency 
                and department, participating in the program, as well 
                as such other agencies and departments as the President 
                or the Director considers appropriate;
                    (C) describes the levels of Federal funding for the 
                fiscal year during which such report is submitted, and 
                the levels proposed for the fiscal year with respect to 
                which the budget submission applies, for each of the 
                program funding areas of the program;
                    (D) describes the levels of Federal funding for 
                each agency and department participating in the program 
                and each program funding area for the fiscal year 
                during which such report is submitted, and the levels 
                proposed for the fiscal year with respect to which the 
                budget submission applies, and compare these levels to 
                the most recent recommendations of the Advisory Panel 
                and the external review of the program;
                    (E) describes coordination and partnership 
                activities with State, local, international, and 
                private sector efforts in nanotechnology research and 
                development, and how they support the goals of the 
                program;
                    (F) describes mechanisms and efforts used by the 
                program to assist in the transition of innovative 
                concepts and technologies from Federally funded 
                programs into the commercial sector, and successes in 
                these transition activities;
                    (G) describes coordination between the military and 
                civilian portions, as well as the life science and non-
                life science portions, of the program in technology 
                development, supporting the goals of the program, and 
                supporting the mission needs of the departments and 
                agencies involved;
                    (H) analyzes the progress made toward achieving the 
                goals, priorities, and grand challenges designated for 
                the program according to the metrics established by the 
                program and the Advisory Panel; and
                    (I) recommends new mechanisms of coordination, 
                program funding areas, partnerships, or activities 
                necessary to achieve the goals, priorities, and grand 
                challenges established for the program.
            (4) Triennial external review of nanotechnology research 
        and development program.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
                National Science Foundation shall enter into an 
                arrangement with the National Research Council of the 
                National Academy of Sciences to conduct a triennial 
                evaluation of the Federal nanotechnology research and 
                development program, including--
                            (i) a review of the technical success of 
                        the program in achieving the stated goals and 
                        grand challenges under the metrics established 
                        by the program and the nanotechnology Advisory 
                        Panel, and under other appropriate 
                        measurements;
                            (ii) a review of the program's management 
                        and coordination across agencies and 
                        disciplines;
                            (iii) a review of the funding levels by 
                        each agency for the program's activities and 
                        their ability with such funding to achieve the 
                        program's stated goals and grand challenges;
                            (iv) recommendations for new or revised 
                        program goals and grand challenges;
                            (v) recommendations for new research areas, 
                        partnerships, coordination and management 
                        mechanisms, or programs to be established to 
                        achieve the program's stated goals and grand 
                        challenges;
                            (vi) recommendations for investment levels 
                        in light of goals by each participating agency 
                        in each program funding area for the 5-year 
                        period following the delivery of the report;
                            (vii) recommendations on policy, program, 
                        and budget changes with respect to 
                        nanotechnology research and development 
                        activities;
                            (viii) recommendations for improved metrics 
                        to evaluate the success of the program in 
                        accomplishing its stated goals; and
                            (ix) a review of the performance of the 
                        Information Services and Applications Council 
                        and its efforts to promote access to and early 
                        application of the technologies, innovations, 
                        and expertise derived from program activities 
                        to agency missions and systems across the 
                        Federal government and to United States 
                        industry.
                    (B) Evaluation to be transmitted to congress.--The 
                Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
                transmit the results of any evaluation for which it 
                made arrangements under subparagraph (A) to the Senate 
                Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and 
                the House of Representatives Committee on Science upon 
                receipt. The first such evaluation shall be transmitted 
                no later than 12 months after the date of the enactment 
                of this Act, with subsequent evaluations transmitted to 
                the Committees every 3 years thereafter.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) National Science Foundation.--
            (1) General authorization.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation 
        to carry out the Director's responsibilities under this Act--
                    (A) $221,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
                    (B) $254,150,000 for fiscal year 2004.
            (2) Specific allocations.--
                    (A) Interdisciplinary nanotechnology research 
                centers.--Of the amounts described in paragraph (1), 
                $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, $50,000,000 for 
                fiscal year 2004, shall be available for grants of up 
                to $5,000,000 each for multidisciplinary nanotechnology 
                research centers.
                    (B) Center for societal, ethical, educational, 
                legal, and workforce issues related to 
                nanotechnology.--Of the sums authorized for the 
                National Science Foundation each fiscal year, 
                $5,000,000 shall be used to establish a university-
                based Center for Societal, Ethical, Educational, Legal, 
                and Workforce Issues Related to Nanotechnology.
                    (C) National nanotechnology coordination office.--
                Of the sums authorized for the National Science 
                Foundation each fiscal year, $5,000,000 shall be used 
                for the activities of the Nanotechnology Coordination 
                Office.
                    (D) Gap funding through the science and technology 
                policy institute.--Of the sums authorized for the 
                National Science Foundation each fiscal year, $5 
                million shall be for the Science and Technology Policy 
                Institute, in consultation with the Office of Science 
                and Technology Policy, for use in competitive grants to 
                address research areas identified by the council under 
                section 5(a)(9) of this Act. Such grants may be made to 
                government or non-government awardees.
    (b) Department of Energy.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Secretary's 
responsibilities under this Act--
            (1) $139,300,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
            (2) $160,195,000 for fiscal year 2004.
    (c) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration to carry out the Administrator's 
responsibilities under this Act--
            (1) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
            (2) $25,300,000 for fiscal year 2004.
    (d) National Institutes of Health.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Institutes to carry out 
the Director's responsibilities under this Act--
            (1) $43,200,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
            (2) $49,680,000 for fiscal year 2004.
    (e) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology to carry out the Director's 
responsibilities under this Act--
            (1) $44,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
            (2) $50,600,000 for fiscal year 2004;
    (f) Environmental Protection Agency.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency to carry out the Administrator's responsibilities under this 
Act--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
            (2) $5,750,000 for fiscal year 2004.
    (g) Department of Justice.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Director of the National Institute of Justice to carry out the 
Director's responsibilities under this Act--
            (1) $1,400,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
            (2) $1,610,000 for fiscal year 2004.

SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL REPORTS, STUDIES, AND PLANS.

    (a) International Benchmarking Studies.--
            (1) United states standing to be monitored.--In order to 
        maintain world leadership in nanotechnology, the program 
        established under section 4(a) shall monitor the United States' 
        standing in the key research fields that support technological 
        innovation.
            (2) Biennial nstc study of relative united states 
        position.--Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment 
        of this Act, the President, through the Council, shall enter 
        into an arrangement with the National Research Council of the 
        National Academy of Sciences to conduct a biennial study of the 
        relative position of United States compared to other nations 
        with respect to nanotechnology research and development.
            (3) Issues to be addressed.--The study required by 
        paragraph (2) shall address, among other issues--
                    (A) the current and likely future relative position 
                of United States private sector, academic, and 
                government research in nanotechnology relative to other 
                nations;
                    (B) niche nanotechnology research areas where the 
                United States is trailing other nations;
                    (C) critical research areas where the United States 
                should be the world leader to best achieve the goals of 
                the Federal nanotechnology research and development 
                program;
                    (D) key factors influencing relative United States 
                performance in this field; and
                    (E) institutional, funding, and human-resource 
                factors that are critical to maintaining leadership 
                status in this field.
            (4) Action plan.--Not less than 6 months after receipt of 
        each study, the Council shall develop a plan for addressing the 
        issues raised in the study. The plan shall include--
                    (A) investment strategies for addressing the issues 
                raised in the report;
                    (B) strategies for promoting international research 
                cooperation to leverage international niches of 
                excellence identified by the report; and
                    (C) institutional and human-resource changes to be 
                made to achieve or maintain leadership status in this 
                field.
            (5) Transmittal to congress.--The Council shall submit the 
        study required by paragraph (2) and the plan required by 
        paragraph (4) to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on 
        Science, not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
        of this Act and every 2 years thereafter.
    (b) Societal, Ethical, Education, Legal, and Workforce Issues 
Related to Nanotechnology.--
            (1) Studies.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall encourage, conduct, coordinate, commission, 
        collect, and disseminate studies on the societal, ethical, 
        educational, and workforce implications of nanotechnology 
        through the Center for Societal, Ethical, Educational, and 
        Workforce Issues established under section 4(c)(5). The studies 
        shall identify anticipated issues and problems, as well as 
        provide recommendations for preventing or addressing such 
        issues and problems.
            (2) Data collection.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall collect data on the size of the anticipated 
        nanotechnology workforce need by detailed occupation, industry, 
        and firm characteristics, and assess the adequacy of the 
        trained talent pool in the United States to fill such workforce 
needs.
            (3) Annual report.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall compile the studies required by paragraph (2) 
        and, with the assistance of the Center for Ethical, Societal, 
        Educational, Legal, and Workforce Issues Related to 
        Nanotechnology established by paragraph 4(c)(5) if this Act, 
        shall complete a report that includes a description of the 
        Center's activities, which shall be submitted to the President, 
        the Council, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation, and the House of Representatives Committee on 
        Science not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of 
        this Act.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Advisory panel.--The term ``Advisory Panel'' means the 
        President's National Nanotechnology Panel.
            (2) Fundamental research.--The term ``fundamental 
        research'' means research that builds a fundamental 
        understanding and leads to discoveries of the phenomena, 
        processes, and tools necessary to control and manipulate matter 
        at the nanoscale.
            (3) Grand challenge.--The term ``grand challenge'' means a 
        fundamental problem in science or engineering, with broad 
        economic and scientific impact, whose solution will require the 
        application of nanotechnology.
            (4) Interdisciplinary nanotechnology research center.--The 
        term ``interdisciplinary nanotechnology research center'' means 
        a group of 6 or more researchers collaborating across 
        scientific and engineering disciplines on large-scale long-term 
        research projects that will significantly advance the science 
        supporting the development of nanotechnology or the use of 
        nanotechnology in addressing scientific issues of national 
        importance, consistent with the goals set forth in section 
        4(b).
            (5) Nanotechnology.--The term ``nanotechnology'' means the 
        ability to work at the molecular level, atom-by-atom, to create 
        large structures with fundamentally new molecular organization.
            (6) Program.--The term ``program'' means the national 
        nanotechnology research program established under section 4.
            (7) Research infrastructure.--The term ``research 
        infrastructure'' means the measurement science, 
        instrumentation, modeling and simulation, and user facilities 
        needed to develop a flexible and enabling infrastructure so 
        that United States industry can rapidly commercialize new 
        discoveries in nanotechnology.
                                                       Calendar No. 772

107th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2945

                          [Report No. 107-350]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To authorize appropriations for nanoscience, nanoengineering, and 
            nanotechnology research, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 20, 2002

                       Reported without amendment