II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1372 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 11, 2007 Mr. Pryor introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To provide for a Center for Nanotechnology Research and Engineering.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Nanotechnology Infrastructure Enhancement Act.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) required that interdisciplinary nanotechnology research centers be established in geographically diverse locations including institutions located in States participating in the EPSCoR. (2)The National Science Foundation funds 16 Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers and 1 National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network with 13 nodes that combined involve more than 50 universities and colleges in the United States. The awards for the centers and network were made on the basis of a peer reviewed competition. (3)Only 3 EPSCoR States have institutions of higher education with major participation in the programs of the National Science Foundation centers and network described in paragraph (2). Other National Science Foundation programs support 4 additional EPSCoR State grants in the field of nanotechnology. (4)The National Science Foundation’s EPSCoR is the primary program by which the National Science Foundation seeks to provide an opportunity for States that traditionally have received limited amounts of federal research and development funding to improve the research infrastructure of their academic institutions. EPSCoR is an important component of national efforts to improve science, technology, and engineering education, increase innovation, and enhance competitiveness.

3.

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Director

The term Director means the Director of the National Science Foundation. (2)

EPSCoR

The term EPSCoR means the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research authorized in section 113 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).

4.

Center for nanotechnology research and engineering

(a)

Center established

From amounts appropriated under subsection (e), the Director shall establish a geographically diverse, interdisciplinary Center for Nanotechnology Research and Engineering (hereafter in this section referred to as the Center) to focus on— (1)the science and engineering of manufacturing at the nanoscale in multiple dimensions; or (2)nanotechnology for sustainable energy, water, agriculture, and the environment. (b)

Center or node

The Center may be a Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center or a National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network node. (c)

Composition

The Center— (1)shall consist of a lead academic institution located in an EPSCoR State; (2)shall consist of at least 1 additional academic institution located in a second EPSCoR State; and (3)may include other institutions located within or outside the United States. (d)

Duties

The Center shall— (1)conduct state-of-the-art research on nanomanufacturing; (2)collaborate with other National Science Foundation grantees, and with grantees from other Federal agencies, working on nanomanufacturing; (3)share resources with the programs of the grantees described in paragraph (2) for the purpose of mutual advantage; and (4)work toward a nanomanufacturing network that encourages extensive industrial collaboration. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation to carry out this section $2,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.