Building Careers and Shaping Public Policy

29 May 2003

The Honorable John McCain
Chair, Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am writing on behalf of the IEEE-USA to express our full support for the goals of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (S. 189), which is under consideration in the U.S. Senate. We feel that legislation to ensure the continued United States leadership in nanotechnology is long overdue.

Since the announcement of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative in 2001, we have seen substantial increases in the federal government's investment on nanotechnology in the past few years. Nanotechnology research and development is in its infancy, but the promise of nanotechnology to usher in a new industrial age is unquestionable. Nanotechnology will impact practically every aspect of our lives in the future, including new materials, electronics, nanobiotechnolgy, and computers for information technology. Nanotechnology promises to become an economic engine of the future that will create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in our economy.

The United States faces strong competition in the field of nanotechnology from other countries in Europe and Asia, who have also initiated well-funded programs in nanotechnology research. It is vitally important that the federal investments in nanotechnology are well coordinated in order to support our technological and economic leadership. Nanotechnology research and development efforts also require sustained support from federal and state governments, the universities and industry. The Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (H.R. 766), which passed the House of Representatives with a 405-19 vote, and the Senate Bill, S.189, both represent significant steps in the right direction. On behalf of our members, we applaud your efforts to put the national nanotechnology research and development programs on a firm footing.

IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc, created in 1973 to promote the careers and public policy interests of the 235,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. If you have any questions, please contact at 202-530-8331, or at Bill.Williams@ieee.org.

Sincerely,

James V. Leonard, P.E.
President, IEEE-USA

(Sample of Letter Sent to Members of the
Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee)