110 HR 6661 IH: Nanotechnology Innovation and Prize U.S. House of Representatives 2008-07-30 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6661 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2008 Mr. Lipinski (for himself and Mr. Akin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To require the Secretary of Commerce to establish an award program to honor achievements in nanotechnology, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Nanotechnology Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2008.

2.

Nanotechnology award program

(a)

Program established

The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a program to award prizes to eligible persons described in subsection (b) for achievement in 1 or more of the following applications of nanotechnology: (1)Improvement of the environment, consistent with the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2)Development of alternative energy that has the potential to lessen the dependence of the United States on fossil fuels. (3)Improvement of human health, consistent with regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. (4)Development of consumer products. (5)Advancement in the field of nanoelectronics. (b)

Eligible person

An eligible person described in this subsection is— (1)an individual who is— (A)a citizen or legal resident of the United States; or (B)a member of a group that includes citizens or legal residents of the United States; or (2)an entity that is incorporated and maintains its primary place of business in the United States. (c)

Establishment of Board

(1)

In general

The Secretary of Commerce shall establish a board to administer the program established under subsection (a). (2)

Membership

The board shall be composed of not less than 15 and not more than 21 members appointed by the President, of whom— (A)not less than 1 shall— (i)be a representative of the interests of academic, business, and nonprofit organizations; and (ii)have expertise in— (I)the field of nanotechnology; or (II)administering award competitions; and (B)not less than 1 shall be from each of— (i)the Department of Energy; (ii)the Environmental Protection Agency; (iii)the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services; (iv)the National Institutes of Health of the Department of Health and Human Services; (v)the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the Department of Health and Human Services; (vi)the National Institute of Standards and Technology of the Department of Commerce; and (vii)the National Science Foundation. (d)

Awards

The board established under subsection (c) shall make awards under the program established under subsection (a) as follows: (1)

Financial prize

The board may hold a financial award competition and award a financial award in an amount determined before the commencement of the competition to the first competitor to meet such criteria as the board shall establish. (2)

Recognition prize

The board may recognize an eligible person for superlative achievement in 1 or more nanotechnology applications described in subsection (a). The award shall not include any financial remuneration. (e)

Administration

(1)

Contracting

The board established under subsection (c) may contract with a private organization to administer a financial award competition described in subsection (d)(1). (2)

Solicitation of funds

A member of the board or any administering organization with which the board has a contract under paragraph (1) may solicit funds from a private person to be used for a financial award under subsection (d)(1). (3)

Limitation on participation of donors

The board may allow a donor who is a private person described in paragraph (2) to participate in the determination of criteria for an award under subsection (d), but such donor may not solely determine the criteria for such award. (4)

No advantage for donation

A donor who is a private person described in paragraph (2) shall not be entitled to any special consideration or advantage with respect to participation in a financial award competition under subsection (d)(1). (f)

Intellectual property

The Federal Government may not acquire an intellectual property right in any product or idea by virtue of the submission of such product or idea in any competition under subsection (d)(1). (g)

Liability

The board established under subsection (c) may require a competitor in a financial award competition under subsection (d)(1) to waive liability against the Federal Government for injuries and damages that result from participation in such competition. (h)

Annual report

Each year, the board established under subsection (c) shall submit to Congress a report on the program established under subsection (a). (i)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated sums for the program established under subsection (a) as follows: (1)For administration of prize competitions under subsection (d), $750,000 for each fiscal year. (2)For the awarding of a financial prize award under subsection (d)(1), in addition to any amounts received under subsection (e)(2), $2,000,000 for each fiscal year.