Congress Eyes Increased Funding for Nano-related EHS Research

Environment and Energy Daily reports that House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) is likely to introduce a bill this month mandating that ten percent of the National Nanotechnology Initiative’s budget be directed to researching potential environmental, health, and safety issues related to nanotechnology. Current EHS funding is set at about four percent of NNI’s annual budget, and the new level would be about $150 million for FY2009 if the bill makes it into law. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) is also likely to introduce a companion bill in the Senate later this month.