2012 Maryland Senate Debates: on Technology

Benjamin Cardin: Regulate nanotechnology in products; develop best practices

Cardin selected, "No."

Cardin adds, "American families need a well-funded and fully-staffed watchdog agency to oversee the quality of products they rely upon for nutrition and health care. Headquartered in Maryland, the FDA has a broad mission--not only to ensure the safety of our food supply and existing medical drugs and devices--but also to approve applications for new drugs and devices to be marketed to the public. I have co-introduced the Nanotechnology Regulatory Science Act of 2011, which would establish a program within the FDA to assess the health and safety implications of using nanotechnology in everyday products and develop best practices for companies using nanotechnology. This new program would bring more highly-skilled research jobs to Maryland. The legislation authorizes $48 million over three years, starting in 2013."

Dan Bongino: Return the United States to being a center of innovation

Bongino selected, "A high priority."

Bongino added, "The United States led the world in science and innovation over the last two centuries. We gained our position by virtue of our commitment to free market principles. If we focus our energy on free markets and free people, we can harness our natural resources and human capital, and return the United States to being a center of innovation, not just the recipients of it. We need emphasize to research and development which will power our domestic economy, while making us competitive in the global economy."