[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 283 Introduced in House (IH)]






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 Representatives 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 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 health care, 
        environment, energy, chemicals, biotechnology, agriculture, 
        information technology, and national security could be as 
        significant 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 industry alone to 
        support, and the Federal government can play an important role 
        in the development of nanotechnology, as it will take many 
        years of sustained 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 improve the efficiency of the Federal government, 
        and contribute significantly to the efforts of the government's 
        mission agencies.
            (6) According to various estimates, including those of the 
        National Science Foundation, the market 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 
        generation of skilled workers with multidisciplinary 
        perspectives necessary for the development of nanotechnology.
            (9) 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, and addressing these issues will require wide 
        reflection and guidance 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 national 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 security 
        implications.
            (11) The Executive Branch has previously established a 
        National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) to coordinate Federal 
        nanotechnology research and development programs and this 
        initiative has contributed significantly to the development of 
        nanotechnology.
            (12) Authorizing legislation can serve to establish new 
        technology goals and research directions, improve agency 
        coordination and oversight mechanisms, 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 operate 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 Council 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 government 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. Members shall hold a reasonable cross-section of views and 
expertise 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 (including 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 determined 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 provisions 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 Coordination Office established under section 5 
of this Act.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDINATION OFFICE.

    (a) Staff to Assist Advisory Board.--The President shall establish 
a National Nanotechnology Coordination Office to provide necessary 
technical and administrative support to the Advisory Board and to 
coordinate Federal nanotechnology activities between Federal agencies, 
private sector industry, and academia.
    (b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The staff of the 
National Nanotechnology Coordination Office established under 
subsection (a) shall be appointed 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 laboratory 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 performance goals 
                using appropriate metrics;
                    (F) approaches to increase multi-agency investments 
                in research at the intersection between 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 commercialization of nanotechnology 
                developments;
                    (I) approaches to addressing workforce issues 
                through training grants, internships, fellowships, 
                professional development, and retraining; and
                    (J) the need to coordinate the nanoscale research 
                and development activities and strategies of the 
                civilian Federal agencies and the Department of Defense 
                to maintain a balanced, integrated, 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 program 
        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 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
The annual 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; between these agencies and the 
        Department of Defense; and between state, local, international, 
        and private sector efforts in nanotechnology research and 
        development; as well as how this coordination supports the 
        goals and the mission needs of the entities involved;
            (3) 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;
            (4) a review of the balance in the program's portfolio and 
        components across agencies and disciplines;
            (5) an assessment of the degree of participation in the 
        program by minority serving institutions and institutions 
        located in States participating in National Science 
        Foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
        Research (EPSCoR);
            (6) 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;
            (7) recommendations for new program goals and grand 
        challenges;
            (8) 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;
            (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 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--
                    (A) examples of successful transition of research, 
                technologies, and concepts from the Federal 
                nanotechnology research and development program into 
                commercial and military products;
                    (B) best practices of universities, government, and 
                industry in promoting efficient and rapid technology 
                transition in the nanotechnology sector;
                    (C) 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
                    (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 Committee 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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