[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 9 (Friday, January 17, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1139-S1140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        21st CENTURY NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the 21st Century 
Nanotechnology Research & Development Act. I want to thank my colleague 
from Oregon, Senator Wyden, for his leadership on this important issue. 
I have enjoyed working with Senator Wyden on nanotechnology for the 
past several years. I would also like to thank the other cosponsors on 
this legislation, the Senior Senator from Virginia--Mr. Warner, 
Senators Lieberman, Mikulski, Hollings, Landrieu, Clinton, Levin, and 
Bayh.
  Today, our scientists and visionaries are quickly learning that there 
is a whole New Frontier of promise and human endeavor literally right 
under our eyes, at the nanoscale, when magnified for us to see.
  The potential for nanotechnologies and the exciting work taking place 
in the nanoscience field are by all accounts revolutionary. 
Nanotechnology is still very much in its infancy, but as the technology 
matures it will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on our daily 
lives.
  Nanoscience is quickly transforming almost every aspect of our modern 
world and is already significantly improving our quality of life. From 
computer and electronic devices, to health care and pharmaceuticals, to 
agriculture, energy and our national defense, nanoscience will be the 
foundation of many of the revolutionary advances and discoveries in the 
decades to come and will soon occupy a major portion of the technology 
economy.
  Through nanoscience, researchers and scientists are already beginning 
to develop technologies that years ago were thought to be impossible. 
Memory and processing chips the size of a sugar cube have the ability 
to store all the information in our Nation's National Archives and the 
Library of Congress combined. Nanoscientists are also exploring ways 
nanomaterials can travel through the human body to detect and cure 
diseases, such as target cell therapy where limited amounts of 
chemotherapy drugs can, cell by cell, attack individual cancer cells 
and leave healthy cells intact.
  As production and innovation of nanotechnologies becomes easier, 
faster, more efficient and less costly, every market sector in the 
economy will begin to feel its impact. The NanoBusiness Alliance 
estimates that the global market for nanotechnology related products 
and services will reach more than $225 billion by 2005. The National 
Science Foundation conservatively predicts a $1 trillion global market 
in a little over a decade.
  While nanotechnology is typically defined by size--that is 1 
nanometer equaling 1 billionth of a meter--the science of 
nanotechnology is really the ability to pick and place or manipulate 
atoms 1/100,000 the width of a human hair, and eventually generate 
materials with properties that are fundamentally new and superior to 
the bulk form of the same materials.
  It is the promise and potential that impels the Congress to act and 
introduce legislation that assures this Nation remains at the forefront 
of the nanoscience revolution. The United States has been the leader of 
virtually every important and transformative technology since the 
Industrial Revolution, and this legislation ensures we will continue to 
lead the world in this new frontier.
  The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research & Development Act authorizes 
appropriations for the coordination of an interagency and 
interdisciplinary program to support long-term nanoscale research in 
the fields of nanoscience, nanotechnology and nanoengineering as part 
of the National Nanotechnology Research Program. The legislation 
authorizes $676 million for fiscal year 2004--a 15 percent increase 
from the President's budget request for fiscal year 2003--in

[[Page S1140]]

all nine civilian Federal agencies currently conducing nanotechnology 
research.
  The goal of the legislation is to provide an organized, structured 
and collaborative approach to nanotechnology research that will ensure 
America's leadership and economic competitiveness internationally. This 
legislation provides grants to support nanoscience research centers 
that will bring together experts from various disciplines, agencies, 
industries and universities.
  I have wanted the Commonwealth of Virginia to recognize 
nanotechnology as a key element in the future of high technology and 
economic development and commend the establishment of the Initiative 
for Nanotechnology in Virginia to serve as a facilitator in the 
nanoscience community. This legislation takes the work being done at 
the State level and encourages increased collaboration with State-led 
initiatives like the one in Virginia as well as universities and 
industry led projects.
  As our scientist and researchers adventure boldly into this New 
Frontier of nanoscience and chart new waters in lands not yet 
discovered, this legislation will serve as a guide and hopefully a 
catalyst to the nanotechnology community. The work being done in the 
nanoscience field is invigorating; it's exciting, and it's important 
for our future health, the economy and millions of jobs.
  I hope my colleagues will work with Senator Wyden and me to pass this 
important legislation in a nanosecond, but recognizing the deliberative 
process of the Senate, passage in a nanoyear will suffice.

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