[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 189 Reported in Senate (RS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 280
108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 189

                          [Report No. 108-147]

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 16, 2003

   Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Warner, Ms. 
  Mikulski, Mr. Hollings, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Levin, Mr. 
Bayh, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Corzine, Mr. 
  Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Baucus) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Commerce, Science, and Transportation

                           September 15, 2003

                Reported by Mr. McCain with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

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

<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Congress makes the following findings:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (A) new generations of electronics where the 
        entire collection of the Library of Congress is stored on 
        devices the size of a sugar cube;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (C) prosthetic and medical implants whose surfaces 
        are molecularly designed to interact with the cells of the 
        body;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (E) selective membranes that can fish out specific 
        toxic or valuable particles from industrial waste or that can 
        inexpensively desalinate sea water; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (15) Many States and regions have begun nanotechnology 
programs. These programs have developed expertise, particularly with 
regard to providing infrastructure and preparing the nanotechnology 
workforce. The Federal nanotechnology program should leverage these 
existing State and local institutions to best provide a coordinated and 
comprehensive nanotechnology research portfolio.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (16) In ``Small Wonders, Endless Frontiers'' the National 
Academy of Sciences' National Research Council recommends increased 
investment in nanotechnology, particularly at the intersection of 
nanotechnology and biology. Such investments will allow significant 
advancements in biotechnology and medicine.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. PURPOSE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    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.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) establish the goals, priorities, grand 
        challenges, and metrics for evaluation for Federal 
        nanotechnology research, development, and other 
        activities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) invest in Federal research and development 
        programs in nanotechnology and related sciences to achieve 
        those goals; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) provide for interagency coordination of 
        Federal nanotechnology research, development, and other 
        activities undertaken pursuant to the program.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Goals of the National Nanotechnology Research 
Program.--The goals of the program are as follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) The development of a network of shared 
        academic facilities and technology centers, including State 
        supported 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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) The development of enabling infrastructural 
        technologies that United States industry can use to 
        commercialize new discoveries and innovations in 
        nanoscience.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) The acceleration of the deployment and 
        transition of advanced and experimental nanotechnology and 
        concepts into the private sector.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) To ensure that philosophical, ethical, and 
        other societal concerns will be considered alongside the 
        development of nanotechnology.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Research and Development Areas.--Through its 
participating agencies, the National Nanotechnology Research Program 
shall develop, fund, and manage Federal research programs in the 
following areas:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) to fund fundamental research and the 
                development of university-industry-laboratory and 
                interagency (including State-led) 
                partnerships.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Nanomaterials by design which are 
                stronger, lighter, harder, self-repairing, and 
                safer.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, and 
                magnetics.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Healthcare applications.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) Nanoscale processes and 
                environment.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) Energy and energy 
                conservation.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) Microspacecraft.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) Bio-nanodevices for detection and 
                mitigation of biothreats to humans.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) Economical, efficient, and safe 
                transportation.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) National and homeland 
                security.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) Other appropriate 
                challenges.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Interdisciplinary nanotechnology research 
        centers.--The Program, through the appropriate agencies, shall 
        fund, on a competitive merit reviewed basis, research 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)) and shall 
        encourage the participation of minority serving institutions at 
        these centers.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Societal, ethical, educational, legal, and 
        workforce issues related to nanotechnology.--The Director of 
        the National Science Foundation shall establish a new Center 
        for Societal, Ethical, 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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Gap funding.--The program shall address 
        research areas identified by the Council under section 5(a)(9) 
        of this Act through a program of competitive grants to be 
        awarded in such areas by the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation using the Foundation's funds and any funds 
        contributed to the Foundation by other participating agencies 
        for this purpose. Such grants may be made to government or non-
        government awardees. Where appropriate, such grants may 
        encourage interagency partnerships or leverage the expertise of 
        State-supported nanotechnology programs.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. PROGRAM COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) provide for interagency coordination of the 
        program, including with the Department of Defense;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) provide guidance each year to the 
        participating departments and agencies concerning the 
        preparation of appropriations requests for activities related 
        to the program;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) consult with academic, industry, State and 
        local government (including State and regional nanotechnology 
        programs), and other appropriate groups conducting research on 
        and using nanotechnology;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) identify research areas which are not being 
        adequately addressed by the agencies' current research 
        programs.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) President's Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Establishment.--The President shall establish 
        a National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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, 
State nanotechnology programs, and others to exchange technical and 
programmatic information. The Office shall promote full coordination of 
research efforts between agencies, scientific disciplines, and United 
States industry.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Program Plans and Reports.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Annual evaluation of nanotechnology research 
        development program.--The report by the Advisory Panel, 
        required pursuant to subsection (b)(4), shall include--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) a review of the program's management 
                and coordination;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) a review of the balance in the 
                program's portfolio and components across agencies and 
                disciplines;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) recommendations for new program goals 
                and grand challenges;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) reviews and recommendations regarding 
                other issues deemed pertinent or specified by the 
                panel; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) examples of successful 
                        transition of research, technologies, and 
                        concepts from the Federal nanotechnology 
                        research and development program into 
                        commercial and military products;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) best practices of 
                        universities, government, and industry in 
                        promoting efficient and rapid technology 
                        transition in the nanotechnology 
                        sector;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (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</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) recommendations for 
                        government sponsored activities to promote 
                        rapid technology transition in the 
                        nanotechnology sector.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Office of management and budget review.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Budget request review.--Each Federal 
                agency and department participating in the program 
                shall, as part of its annual request for 
                appropriations, submit information to the Office of 
                Management and Budget including--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) each element of its 
                        nanotechnology research and development 
                        activities that contributes directly to the 
                        program or benefits from the program;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the portion of its request 
                        for appropriations that is allocated to each 
                        such element; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) the portion of its request 
                        for appropriations that is allocated to each 
                        program funding area.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) OMB review and allocation statement.--
                The Office of Management and Budget shall review the 
                information provided under subparagraph (A) 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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) includes a detailed description of the 
                goals, grand challenges, and program funding areas 
                established by the President for the program;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Triennial external review of nanotechnology 
        research and development program.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--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--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) a review of the program's 
                        management and coordination across agencies and 
                        disciplines;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) recommendations for new or 
                        revised program goals and grand 
                        challenges;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (vii) recommendations on policy, 
                        program, and budget changes with respect to 
                        nanotechnology research and development 
                        activities;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (viii) recommendations for 
                        improved metrics to evaluate the success of the 
                        program in accomplishing its stated 
                        goals;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (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; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (x) an analysis of the relative 
                        position of the United States compared to other 
                        nations with respect to nanotechnology research 
                        and development, including the identification 
                        of any critical research areas where the United 
                        States should be the world leader to best 
                        achieve the goals of the program.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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 June 10, 
                2005, with subsequent evaluations transmitted to the 
                Committees every 3 years thereafter.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) National Science Foundation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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 $346,150,000 for fiscal year 2004.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Specific allocations.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Interdisciplinary nanotechnology 
                research centers.--Of the amounts described in 
                paragraph (1), $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2004, shall 
                be available for grants of up to $5,000,000 each for 
                multidisciplinary nanotechnology research 
                centers.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) Gap funding.--Of the sums authorized 
                for the National Science Foundation each fiscal year, 
                $5,000,000 shall be for use in competitive grants as 
                described in section 4(c)(7) of this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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 $160,195,000 for fiscal year 
2004.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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 $58,650,000 for fiscal year 
2004.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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 $49,680,000 for 
fiscal year 2004.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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 $50,600,000 for fiscal year 
2004.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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 
$5,750,000 for fiscal year 2004.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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 $1,610,000 for 
fiscal year 2004.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (h) Department of Transportation.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation to carry out the 
Secretary's responsibilities under this Act $2,300,000 for fiscal year 
2004.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (i) Department of Agriculture.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the 
Secretary's responsibilities under this Act $2,870,000 for fiscal year 
2004.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. SOCIETAL, ETHICAL, EDUCATIONAL, LEGAL, AND WORKFORCE 
              ISSUES RELATED TO NANOTECHNOLOGY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) 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, Legal, 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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) 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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) 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 Societal, Ethical, Educational, 
Legal, and Workforce Issues Related to Nanotechnology established under 
section 4(c)(5) of 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.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Advisory panel.--The term ``Advisory Panel'' 
        means the President's National Nanotechnology Panel.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Program.--The term ``program'' means the 
        national nanotechnology research program established under 
        section 4.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

SEC. 2. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.

    (a) National Nanotechnology Program.--The President shall implement 
a National Nanotechnology Program. Through appropriate agencies, 
councils, and the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office 
established in subsection (d), 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.--The goals of the National Nanotechnology Program shall 
include:
            (1) Developing a fundamental understanding of matter that 
        enables control and manipulation at the nanoscale.
            (2) Ensuring United States global leadership in the 
        development and application of nanotechnology.
            (3) Advancing the United States productivity and industrial 
        competitiveness through stable, consistent, and coordinated 
        investments in long-term scientific and engineering research in 
        nanotechnology.
            (4) Developing a network of shared facilities and centers 
        to foster partnerships among researchers in nanotechnology.
            (5) Accelerating the deployment and application in the 
        private sector, including startup companies, of nanoscale-
        related research and development.
            (6) Providing effective education and training for 
        researchers and professionals skilled in the multidisciplinary 
        perspectives necessary for nanotechnology so that a true 
        interdisciplinary research culture for nanoscale science, 
        engineering, and technology can emerge.
            (7) Ensuring that ethical, legal, environmental, and other 
        appropriate societal concerns are considered during the 
        development of nanotechnology, including safer sustainable 
        nanoscience products and processing.
    (c) Program Management.--The National Science and Technology 
Council shall oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the 
National Nanotechnology 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) provide for interagency coordination of the Program, 
        including with the activities of the Defense Nanotechnology 
        Research and Development Program established under section 246 
        of the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
        Year 2003 (Public Law 107-314);
            (3) develop, within 12 months after the date of enactment 
        of this Act, and update every 4 years thereafter, a strategic 
        plan to meet the goals and priorities established under 
        subsection (b) and to guide the activities and anticipated 
        outcomes of the participating agencies, including a description 
        of how the Program will move results out of the laboratory and 
        into application for the benefit of society, support for long-
        term funding for multidisciplinary research and development in 
        technology, and dedication of funding for interagency 
        nanotechnology projects;
            (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 nanotechnology research 
        portfolio is maintained in order to ensure the appropriate 
        level of research effort;
            (5) exchange information with academic, industry, State and 
        local government (including State and regional nanotechnology 
        programs), and other appropriate groups conducting research on 
        and using nanotechnology;
            (6) develop a plan to utilize Federal programs, such as the 
        Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small 
        Business Technology Transfer Research Program, in support of 
        the goal stated in subsection (b)(5);
            (7) identify research areas that are not being adequately 
        addressed by the agencies' current research programs;
            (8) encourage progress on Program goals through the 
        utilization of existing manufacturing facilities and industrial 
        infrastructures such as, but not limited to, the employment of 
        underutilized manufacturing facilities in areas of high 
        unemployment as production engineering and research testbeds; 
        and
            (9) provide for, on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis, 
        interdisciplinary nanotechnology research centers, which to the 
        greatest extent possible, shall be established in 
        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)) and shall 
        encourage the participation of minority serving institutions at 
        these centers.
    (d) Program Coordination.--The President shall establish a National 
Nanotechnology Coordination Office, with full-time staff, which shall--
            (1) provide technical and administrative support to the 
        Council and the Advisory Panel;
            (2) serve as the point of contact on Federal nanotechnology 
        activities for government organizations, academia, industry, 
        professional societies, State nanotechnology programs, 
interested citizen groups, and others to exchange technical and 
programmatic information;
            (3) conduct public outreach, including dissemination of 
        findings and recommendations of the Advisory Panel, as 
        appropriate; and
            (4) establish an office 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, 
        including startup companies.
    (e) Annual Report.--The Council shall prepare an annual report, to 
be submitted to the House of Representatives Committee on Science and 
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation at the 
time of the President's budget request to Congress, that includes--
            (1) the Program budget, for the current fiscal year, for 
        each agency that participates in the Program, including a 
        breakout of spending for the development and acquisition of 
        research facilities and instrumentation, for each program 
        component area, and for all activities pursuant to subsection 
        (b)(7), which shall be submitted by December 31st of such year;
            (2) the proposed Program budget for the next fiscal year, 
        for each agency that participates in the Program, including a 
        breakout of spending for the development and acquisition of 
        research facilities and instrumentation, for each program 
        component area, and for all activities pursuant to subsection 
        (b)(7);
            (3) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the 
        goals and priorities established for the Program;
            (4) an analysis of the extent to which the Program has 
        incorporated the recommendations of the Advisory Panel and the 
        Center, established in section 7 of this Act; and
            (5) an assessment of how Federal agencies are implementing 
        the plan described in section (c)(7), and a description of the 
        amount of Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business 
        Technology Transfer Research funds supporting the plan.

SEC. 3. ADVISORY PANEL.

    (a) In General.--The President shall establish or designate a 
National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel.
    (b) Qualifications.--The Panel established or designated by the 
President under subsection (a) shall consist primarily of individuals 
who are non-Federal members and shall include representatives of 
academia and industry. Members of such Panel shall be qualified to 
provide advice and information on nanotechnology research, development, 
demonstrations, education, technology transfer, commercial application, 
or societal and ethical concerns. In selecting or designating an 
Advisory Panel, the President may also seek and give consideration to 
recommendations from the Congress, industry, the scientific community 
(including the National Academy of Sciences), scientific professional 
societies, academia, the defense community, State and local 
governments, regional nanotechnology programs, and other appropriate 
organizations.
    (c) Duties.--The Panel shall advise the President and the Council 
on matters relating to the Program, including assessing--
            (1) trends and developments in nanotechnology science and 
        engineering;
            (2) progress made in implementing the Program;
            (3) the need to revise the Program;
            (4) the balance among the components of the Program, 
        including funding levels for the program component areas;
            (5) whether the Program component areas, priorities, and 
        technical goals developed by the Council are helping to 
        maintain United States leadership in nanotechnology;
            (6) the management, coordination, implementation, and 
        activities of the Program; and
            (7) whether societal, ethical, environmental, and workforce 
        concerns are adequately addressed by the Program.
    (d) Reports.--The Advisory Panel shall report, not less frequently 
than once every 2 fiscal years, to the President, the Senate Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Technology, and the House of Representatives 
Committee on Science on its assessments under subsection (c) and its 
recommendations for ways to improve the Program. The first report under 
this subsection shall be submitted within 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    (e) Travel Expenses of Non-Federal Members.--Non-Federal members of 
the Panel, while attending meetings of the Panel or while otherwise 
serving at the request of the head of the Panel away from their homes 
or regular places of business, may be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 
5703 of title 5, United States Code, for individuals in the Government 
serving without pay. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
prohibit members of the Panel who are officers or employees of the 
United States from being allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with existing law.

SEC. 4. TRIENNIAL EXTERNAL REVIEW OF NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--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 National Nanotechnology Program, including--
            (1) a review of the technical success of the Program in 
        achieving the stated goals under the metrics established by the 
        Program and the Advisory Panel, and under other appropriate 
        measurements;
            (2) a review of the Program's management and coordination 
        across agencies and disciplines;
            (3) 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;
            (4) recommendations for new or revised Program goals;
            (5) recommendations for new research areas, partnerships, 
        coordination and management mechanisms, or programs to be 
        established to achieve the Program's stated goals;
            (6) recommendations for investment levels by each 
        participating agency in each Program funding area for the 5-
year period following the delivery of the report;
            (7) recommendations on policy, program, and budget changes 
        with respect to nanotechnology research and development 
        activities;
            (8) recommendations for improved metrics to evaluate the 
        success of the Program in accomplishing its stated goals;
            (9) a review of the performance of the National 
        Nanotechnology Coordination Office 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; and
            (10) an analysis of the relative position of the United 
        States compared to other nations with respect to nanotechnology 
        research and development, including the identification of any 
        critical research areas where the United States should be the 
        world leader to best achieve the goals of the Program.
    (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 subsection (a) to the 
Advisory Panel, 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 June 10, 2005, with subsequent evaluations transmitted to the 
Committees every 3 years thereafter.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) National Science Foundation.--
            (1) In general.--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) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    (B) $385,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
                    (C) $424,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
                    (D) $449,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
                    (E) $476,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            (2) Specific allocations.--
                    (A) Interdisciplinary nanotechnology research 
                centers.--Of the amounts authorized by paragraph (1) 
                for each fiscal year, $50,000,000 for each fiscal year 
                shall be available for grants of up to $5,000,000 each 
                for multidisciplinary nanotechnology research centers.
                    (B) American nanotechnology preparedness center.--
                Of the amounts authorized by paragraph (1) for each 
                fiscal year, $5,000,000 shall be used to establish and 
                maintain a university-based American Nanotechnology 
                Preparedness Center.
                    (C) National nanotechnology coordination office.-- 
                Of the sums authorized by paragraph (1) for each fiscal 
                year, $5,000,000 shall be used for the activities of 
                the Nanotechnology Coordination Office.
                    (D) Manufacturing technologies for nanomaterials.--
                Of the sums authorized by paragraph (1) for each fiscal 
                year, $5,000,000 shall be used for the activities of 
                the Center for Nanomaterials Manufacturing.
    (b) Department of Energy.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Secretary's 
        responsibilities under this Act--
                    (A) $265,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    (B) $292,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
                    (C) $321,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
                    (D) $340,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
                    (E) $360,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            (2) Allocation.--Of the sums authorized by paragraph (1) 
        for each fiscal year, $25,000,000 shall be used on a merit-
        reviewed and competitive basis to support consortia that 
        integrate newly developed nanotechnology and microfluidic tools 
        with systems biology, immunology, and molecular imaging, of 
        which at least 1 such consortium shall be provided with at 
        least $10,000,000 for each fiscal year.
    (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) $31,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $34,100,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $37,500,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $42,300,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (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) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $77,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $95,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (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) $62,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $68,200,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $84,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (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 2004;
            (2) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $6,050,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $6,413,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $6,800,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (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) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $1,100,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $1,210,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $1,283,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $1,360,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (h) Department of Homeland Security.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Homeland Security to carry out the 
Secretary's responsibilities under this Act--
            (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $2,200,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $2,420,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $2,570,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $2,720,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (i) Department of Agriculture.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out the 
Secretary's responsibilities under this Act--
            (1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $12,100,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $12,830,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $13,600,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 6. AMERICAN NANOTECHNOLOGY PREPAREDNESS CENTER.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall, on a merit-reviewed and competitive basis, establish a new 
American Nanotechnology Preparedness Center to encourage, conduct, 
coordinate, commission, collect, and disseminate research on the 
educational, legal, workforce, societal, and ethical issues related to 
nanotechnology.
    (b) Studies.--The Director of the National Science Foundation, 
through the Center, shall conduct, coordinate, commission, collect, and 
disseminate studies on the educational, legal, workforce, societal, and 
ethical implications of nanotechnology. The studies shall identify 
anticipated issues and problems, as well as provide recommendations for 
preventing or addressing such issues and problems.
    (c) Workforce Data.--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.
    (d) Annual Report.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall compile the studies required by paragraph (b) and, with the 
assistance of the Center, shall complete a report that includes a 
description of the Center's activities, which shall be submitted to the 
President, the Council, the Advisory Panel, 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. 7. COMMERCIALIZATION ISSUES RELATED TO NANOSCIENCE AND 
              NANOTECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall establish a center within NIST's 
Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory for issues relating to the 
commercialization of nanoscience and nanotechnology research. The 
program shall--
            (1) conduct basic research on issues related to the 
        development and manufacture of nanotechnology including--
                    (A) metrology;
                    (B) reliability and quality assurance;
                    (C) processes control; and
                    (D) manufacturing best practices; and
            (2) in consultation with the National Technical Information 
        Service and the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, 
        act as a clearinghouse for information related to 
        commercialization of nanoscience and nanotechnology research, 
        including--
                    (A) information relating activities by regional, 
                state, and local commercial nanotechnology initiatives;
                    (B) transition of research, technologies, and 
                concepts from Federal nanotechnology research and 
                development programs into commercial and military 
                products;
                    (C) best practices by government, university and 
                private sector laboratories transitioning technology to 
                commercial use;
                    (D) examples of ways to overcome barriers and 
                challenges to technology deployment; and
                    (E) use of existing manufacturing infrastructure 
                and workforce.
    (b) Use of Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.--The 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall 
utilize the manufacturing extension partnership program to the extent 
possible to reach small and medium sized manufacturing companies.
    (c) Manufacturing Technologies for Nanomaterials.--The Director of 
the National Science Foundation shall establish, on a merit-reviewed, 
competitive basis, a new Center for Nanomaterials Manufacturing to 
encourage the development and transfer of technologies for the 
manufacture of nanomaterials. The Center will encourage, conduct, 
coordinate, commission, collect, and disseminate research on new 
manufacturing technologies for materials with unprecedented 
combinations of strength, toughness, lightness, flame resistance, and 
membrane separation characteristics, and develop mechanisms to transfer 
such manufacturing technologies to United States industries.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Advisory panel.--The term ``Advisory Panel'' means the 
        President's National Nanotechnology Panel established or 
        designated under section 3.
            (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) 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.
            (4) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the National 
        Nanotechnology Program established under section 2.
            (5) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the National 
        Science and Technology Council or an appropriate subgroup 
        designated by the Council under section 2(c).
            (6) Grand challenge.--The term ``grand challenge'' means a 
        fundamental problem in science or engineering, with broad 
        potential economic and scientific impact, the solution to which 
        will require the application of nanotechnology research.




                                                       Calendar No. 280

108th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 189

                          [Report No. 108-147]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 15, 2003

                       Reported with an amendment