This bill would reauthorize the multiagency research program established by Congress in 2003 and strengthen research to address environmental, health, and safety concerns that have arisen about nanomaterials.

The bill also expands private-public partnerships that would work to adapt federally funded research into competitive products. H.R. 554 requires that agencies develop a plan for the environmental and safety research component of the program that includes explicit near- and long-term goals, specifies the funding required to reach those goals, identifies the role of each participating agency, and includes a road map for implementation.

The current bill, which is identical to a measure passed by the House last year, was introduced Jan. 15 by House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) and committee ranking member Ralph Hall (R-Texas).

This bill passed the House of Representatives with a voice vote on February 11, 2009.