Nanotechnology-the science of manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular scale-could spur the next major technological revolution; nanotechnology potentially has applications in nearly every scientific field including medicine and energy (a nanometer is one billionth of a meter). Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported legislation to encourage scientific advances in the nanotechnology market and authorized $2.4 billion over three years for a federal program to support research, development, and education in the field of nanotechnology. Historically, however, the development of new technologies have brought unintended environmental consequences; examples include the development of nuclear power, DDT, and the gasoline additive MTBE. In an effort to prevent environmental degradation from nanotechnology, Congressman Bell (D-TX) offered an amendment to the legislation which would have required that toxicological and environmental impact studies be undertaken during the development of nanotechnlogy. Progressives favored the Bell amendment as a way to guard against any adverse environmental impacts of nanotechnology but the measure was rejected on a 209-214 vote.