Now is the time to let Congress know your opinions and concerns about the Economic Recovery Plan, and the sense of urgency regarding passage of a bill that will address not only short term stimulus but will also provide for ongoing recovery and long term growth!
The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Finance Committee. Please contact as many members of the committee possible to send a strong message. See below for names and contact information:
Click on this link to search contact information for all Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Click on this link for the names of all members of the Senate Finance Committee:
http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/committee.htm
Finance Committee home page: http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/committee.htm
See below for links to all Senate Finance Committee members:
http://www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=6454.php
For those of you who don't follow Nanotechnology and Public Policy, there is an important piece of legislation that has been introduced by Senators Snowe and Kerry regarding National Nanotechnology Initiative funding priorities. The bill in question - the Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008, sets some new targets and research objectives within the existing framework of the NNI. Namely, this is legislation that will help shape the NNI to help focus research to addresses public safety, worker safety, and toxicology guidelines.
Needless to say, this is very important.
Please take some time to let your respective elected officials and respective spheres of influence know your support of this important legislation, as the number of studies being published about nanotoxicology are growing, and the pressures of commercializing nanoparticles continues to grow. Like any bill, its not perfect. However, the key to not slowing research is ensuring we are doing our due diligence to ensure safety. An uneducated public and the potential for a knee-jerk backlash to nanoscience research is something we need to avoid. This bill is certainly a step in the right direction.
Thanks for all that you do.
In science,
Patocka
