[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 164 (Wednesday, November 12, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14794-S14795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         21ST CENTURY NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ACT

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. President, I rise today to thank my colleagues for 
their support of S. 189, the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
Development Act.
  Especially I want to thank my colleague from Oregon, Senator Ron 
Wyden, for his leadership. I have enjoyed working with Senator Wyden on 
nanotechnology for the past several years on this important issue for 
America's future. I would also like to thank the other cosponsors on 
this legislation: Commerce Committee Chairman and Commodore John 
McCain, the senior Senator from Virginia, Mr. Warner, and Senators 
Lieberman, Mikulski, Hollings, Landrieu, Clinton, Levin, and Bayh.
  I have made America's competitiveness in nanotechnology a priority, 
and working with Senator Wyden and the chairman of the Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator McCain, we held the 
first hearings in Congress on this emerging science, a field that 
promises to forever change the way we approach scientific and 
engineering challenges. Nanotechnology is a ``bottom-up'' approach much 
like building a sculpture atom by atom and molecule by molecule instead 
of cutting it from a larger rock. Nanotechnology on the dimensional 
scale is one nanometer; that is, one-billionth of a meter or 100,000 
times smaller than the width of a human hair.
  Far-reaching outcomes for the 21st century are envisioned in both 
scientific knowledge and technological advancement for nanotechnology. 
The potential for nanotechnology and the exciting work taking place in 
nanoscience are by all accounts revolutionary, and as the technology 
matures it will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on our daily 
lives.
  S. 189 is a truly historic piece of legislation, because, for the 
first time, it creates a comprehensive national plan to advance and 
develop the field of nanoscience, nanoengineering, and nanotechnology. 
This field of science is quickly transforming almost every aspect of 
our modern world and is already significantly improving our quality of 
life. Nanotechnology is also showing promise of new applications that 
we can only imagine at this time. Let me highlight several important 
examples, such as the use of iron nanoparticles in the cleanup of 
Superfund sites; nanometer-size minerals in the efficient production of 
gasoline from crude oil; nanoscale designer molecules to create bone 
structure for bone repair; nanolasers for super-precision surgery; and 
gold nanoshells with attached antibodies introduced to targeted cancer 
tumor sites to destroy tumor growth while leaving healthy tissue 
unharmed.
  As a Senator, my top priority is to advocate and support policies 
that create jobs, investment, and improvement of America's ability to 
compete in the global marketplace.
  I earnestly believe there is a link between research and development 
and job creation, which ultimately leads to prosperity for all 
Americans. Therefore, I believe one of our most important goals should 
be to create the conditions precedent to positioning researchers and 
innovators to compete, contribute, and succeed both domestically and 
internationally. From materials to electronic devices, computers, 
biotechnology, healthcare systems, pharmaceuticals, environmental 
improvement, agriculture, efficient energy conversion and storage, 
space exploration, economical transportation, and national defense, 
nanotechnology 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. The annual global impact of 
products where nanotechnology will play a key role has been estimated 
to exceed $1 trillion a year by 2015, requiring about 2 million 
nanotechnology workers.

  To remain competitive in this global market we must commit ourselves 
to ensuring that the United States keeps its edge in this field. This 
Nation has been the leader of virtually every important and 
transformative technology since the Industrial Revolution, and this 
legislation assures that the United

[[Page S14795]]

States will continue to lead the world at the new frontier of the 
nanotechnology revolution.
  Specifically, the legislation authorizes a total of $3.63 billion in 
appropriations over 4 years from fiscal year 2005 through fiscal year 
2008.
  The goals of the legislation are to provide support for fundamental 
research and to catalyze synergistic interdisciplinary science and 
engineering research and education in emerging areas of nanoscience by: 
providing research grants to individuals and interdisciplinary teams of 
investigators; establishing a network of advanced technology user 
facilities and collaborative research centers; accelerating 
nanotechnology research and development in the private sector including 
startup companies; encouraging participation of colleges and 
universities; and guaranteeing United States international leadership 
in the development and application of nanotechnology.
  This historic legislation not only helps ensure America's economic 
competitiveness in the global marketplace, but spurs innovation and 
research in a field of science and technology that can touch every 
human life. I thank my colleagues for working with Senator Wyden and me 
to pass this truly vital legislation for America's future.

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