Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. and others letter to Ralph Regula, August 10, 2001

CURT WELDON c MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION COMMISSION REPUBLICAN POLICY COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES MILITARY READINESS. CHAIRMAN SPECIAL OVERSIGHT PANEL ON MERCHANT MARINE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE Congress of ttjr Unitri) States 2; oust of Bepresentatibes Magfjington, 2ЭС 20515-3807 August 10, 2001 The Honorable Ralph Regula Chairman Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Education 2358 Rayburn House Office Building Washington^ D4C.l 20515 Dear Chai: Health and Human Services and We are writing to express our strong support for a request submitted to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in the fiscal year 2002 appropriations cycle on behalf of the Ben Franklin Technology Partnership of Southeastern Pennsylvania in the amount of $2,000,000. This funding will be used for the purposes of developing and implementing nanotechnology education programs in community colleges and high schools throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. The nanotechnology education initiative is an important effort to provide education and training in nanotechnology - a rapidly growing field of science that will drive the economy of the 21st century and that will generate thousands of new jobs throughout the U.S. To ensure that the United States secures its leadership position in nanotechnology research, development and commercialization, it is necessary to establish education programs that will supply the industry with specially trained employees. This education initiative will be developed and implemented by Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) , the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and several other academic and corporate partners participating in the Nanotechnology Institute (N1) . With this funding, N1 will establish a three -year program to develop an Associates Degree Program in nanotechnology at several community colleges in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland to establish outreach programs at regional high schools . Therefore, we respectfully request your support for an appropriation request submitted by Representative Fattah in the amount of $2 million for Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania . THIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER I ' RECYCLED I