Wyden Remarks Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research & Development Act
As prepared for delivery
It is such a pleasure to join an event featuring so many brilliant and dedicated individuals all working to further scientific understanding and solve real problems with your work.
You all are probably the last people who need a lecture on the importance of nanotechnology, but I do have about 45 minutes of remarks here, so settle in. I’m kidding, of course. Friends don’t filibuster friends.
Today I’m going to describe how the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act came to be, and how that law has helped spur unprecedented developments in everything from medicine, to materials science and clean energy in Oregon and nationwide since it was passed into law twenty years ago.
I’m not going to stand up here and claim credit for the incredible work you all have accomplished. But here’s how I ended up authoring the legislation we are all here to talk about today.
Back around the turn of the century, when I was one of the newest members of the Senate, my priority was to learn as much as I could about how Oregon could find new industries and new approaches to grow our economy. At the time there was maybe one other Senator who knew how to use a computer: Pat Leahy. It quickly became clear to me that tech policy was a rapidly expanding area where I could make a difference. So I set to work, asking questions and speaking with experts. Within only a few years we managed to pass the Internet Tax Freedom Act, digital signatures, and my landmark Section 230 legislation into law.
It was about that same time when I heard about something called nanotechnology. There was already plenty of evidence that nano-scale technologies were fueling major innovations in medicine, detecting airborne toxins, and reducing pollution from cars. It seemed to me that this was another area where relatively small investments and smart policy could pay off big time for innovation. Oregon’s existing printing industry gave our state a natural on-ramp into the nanotechnology business. So back in 2002, at the first Oregon Business Summit, I told Oregonians the following:
“Nanotechnology is the science – and soon to be the business – of increasing the capacity of our technology while reducing its size to the molecular level. … One or two regions in the U.S. will someday emerge as the leaders. Why not Oregon?”
Over the course of that year, as the chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space, I drafted the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act. In doing so there were three individuals who were particular helpful in getting this enacted into law:
John Marburger, President Bush’s science advisor, who worked with me for weeks on end to develop this legislation. Senator George Allen, Republican of Virginia, who I didn’t agree with on a host of issues, but was my partner on this bill. In the House, someone who I developed great respect for over the years, Sherwood Boehlert, who recognized the great potential for nanotechnology in his home state of New York.
My goal was not just to funnel money into research, but to go a step further and establish a framework for making sure those resources were going where they could have the greatest impact. As I said when I introduced the bill in early 2003:
“There must be careful planning to make sure that money is used for sound science over the long-term. That is the reason for the legislation I am issuing today. The strategic planning it prescribes will ensure that scientists get the support they need to realize nanotechnology's greatest potential.”
Technology has changed, but that principle remains true today. Smart policymaking has to go hand-in-hand with growing industries and technologies to maximize their full potential and limit any potential harm to consumers or society.
In 2003, our bill passed unanimously in both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush. What a time to be alive.
That’s probably enough history for a Tuesday morning. Let’s fast forward and look at where nanotech is today, and why the National Nanotechnology Initiative has been so successful at its mission.
According to an impact study commissioned by the Nanotechnology Initiative, the nanotechnology sector has provided more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy over the past 20 years, and the U.S. Census Bureau estimated in 2017 that 171,000 workers were employed by nanotech research and development companies. Those estimates don’t even include the workforce or economic benefits from Fortune 500 companies, like Intel, which are huge players in the nanotechnology space.
In Oregon alone, as of 2017, there are 60 companies contributing $318 million in annual wages to our state’s economy. Our state boasts two Nobel laureates—Linus Pauling and Carl Wieman—with three prizes between them in the field of nanotech. In short, anyone who thought this field would become a huge force for our economy and our country has been proved right, thanks to all of you.
Since I represent the great state of Oregon, I have to take a moment to brag about some of our state’s most exciting ongoing nanotechnology innovations. Oregon State University is home to a massive hub of industry: the Northwest Nanotechnology Infrastructure Site. We would be here all day if I tried to list off all of the projects they’ve been leading, but I’ll briefly touch on two of the most exciting.
First is promising research into the use of nanoparticles to both detect and treat ectopic pregnancies and lower the risks to mothers. The other is the development of a nanoparticle spray that is intended to protect wine grapes from wildfire smoke taint, which can – and already have – ruined Oregon’s world-class wines.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute, which is doing important work on commercializing nanotechnology discoveries. ONAMI has been absolutely crucial to taking promising nanoscience and turning it into nanotechnology jobs. Senator Gordon Smith and I worked for years to win millions of dollars in funding help get ONAMI off the ground. Our $11 million appropriation, along with ongoing funding from the state of Oregon, helped ONAMI establish its commercialization gap fund at the end of 2006. Since then, it has invested more than $11 million in commercializing innovations in agriculture, semiconductors, medical devices and other fields. That seed money led to more than $2 billion in private investment.
When I look at all of the vital work and research coming out of my home state – and from every single one of you here today – I think it’s safe to say that the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act has exceeded expectations when it comes to supporting and growing this field, making a lot of your work possible.
Looking back, I think two aspects of the bill were particularly important to the success of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. The first was establishing the N-N-I as a hub for collaboration and coordination across the federal government. Instead of having thirty different federal agencies with competing values all trying to solve the same problems, the NNI has aligned these efforts, ensuring that experts are all coming to the same table to make their voices and priorities heard. Let me tell you from experience, that is rarely the case when it comes to the federal government. So it’s not surprising to me that the payoff was so much greater as a result.
The second reason I want to highlight is that the value of responsible development of nanotechnology was embedded from the very start of this effort. From day one, we wanted to make sure scientists and researchers were considering the ethical, social, and legal implications of what they were working on. As a result, the initiative sought out input from the public and experts about how to achieve those goals from the beginning.
I also want to touch briefly on the important work of Oregon State University’s Dr. Stacy Harper.
As I understand it, Dr. Harper is sort of the LeBron James of nanotechnology. Dr. Harper been at the forefront of shedding light on how man-made microplastics are spreading through the natural environment and harming aquatic plants and animals in the process.
Dr. Harper’s work is a reminder that technological innovation does not only mean making newer and cooler gadgets. It also means assessing how technology is affecting us and our environment, which is a lesson Congress would do well to keep in mind as we grapple with today’s hot-button technological developments.
I’ll close with this: right now Congress is grappling with how to both incentivize Artificial Intelligence research, but also how to regulate it and mitigate its risks. When drafting my Algorithmic Accountability Act, which would require companies to test their AI products for effectiveness and bias before deploying them, I drew on some of the same key pillars and principles I had in mind when I drafted my 21st Century Nanotechnology R&D law. . Much as the N-N-I has done with nanotech, our government should embed values of fairness, transparency and effectiveness at the heart of AI development in this country.
Thank you again to all of you for your dedication and perseverance, and for allowing me to say a few words this morning. I’ll promise you this: As long as I’m in the Senate, I’ll continue working to ensure America leads the world in responsible nanotechnology development.
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