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S 596 111th Congress Senate

Nanotechnology Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2009

Official title: A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to establish an award program to honor achievements in nanotechnology, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 16, 2009 Introduced by: Wyden, Ron Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Advanced technology and technological innovationsAlternative and renewable resourcesConsumer affairsEnergy storage, supplies, demand
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Environmental technologyHealth technology, devices, suppliesProduct development and innovation
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 16, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3116)
Mar 16, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3115-3116)
Mar 16, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action March 16, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3116)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Nanotechnology Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce, through the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to establish a program to award prizes to eligible persons for achievement in one or more applications of nanotechnology for: (1) improvement of the environment, consistent with Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); (2) development of alternative energy that has the potential to lessen the dependence of the United States on fossil fuels; (3) improvement of human health, consistent with regulations promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and (4) development of consumer products.

Describes an eligible person as an individual who is: (1) a citizen or legal resident of the United States; (2) a member of a group that includes U.S. citizens or legal residents; or (3) an entity that is incorporated and maintains its primary place of business in the United States.

Requires establishment of a board to administer the program.

Allows the board to make awards under the program by: (1) holding a financial award competition and making an award to the first competitor to meet such criteria as the board shall establish; and (2) recognizing (without financial remuneration) an eligible person for superlative achievement in one or more of the nanotechnology applications described above and recommending to the Secretary that the President award the National Technology and Innovation Medal to each such eligible person recognized for such an achievement.

Authorizes the board to contract with a private organization to administer such a financial award competition. Prohibits the federal government from acquiring an intellectual property right in any product or idea by virtue of the submission of such product or idea in any such competition.

Requires the board to submit annual reports to Congress on the nanotechnology award program established by this Act.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 596: Nanotechnology Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-596/
MLA
"S. 596: Nanotechnology Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-596/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 596, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-596/.
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[S. 596: Nanotechnology Innovation and Prize Competition Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-596/)
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