past event

Center on Nanotechnology and Society
1st Annual Nanopolicy Conference
Nanoworld: Toward a Policy for the Human Future

U.S. Representative Mike Honda, M.A.

Mike Honda represents the 15th Congressional District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives, which encompasses Silicon Valley. In his career as an educator, Rep. Honda was a science teacher, served as a principal at two public schools, and conducted educational research at Stanford University. While a member of the California Assembly, Rep. Honda was named "High-Tech Legislator of the Year" by the American Electronics Association. Rep. Honda serves on the House Committee on Science, and on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.

As a Congressman for Silicon Valley, Rep. Honda is taking a leading role in bringing Democrats and Republicans together to better understand technology issues. In this vein, Rep. Honda has formed a bi-partisan Wireless Task Force to enable Congress to better understand and support innovative technologies for next generation wireless deployment. Rep. Honda also joined Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) in introducing the Nanotechnology Research and Development Act of 2003, which was ultimately signed into law by President Bush on December 3, 2003, as the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act.

In November of 2004, Rep. Honda formed a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology (BRTFN) to help develop a regional nanotechnology economic development initiative and supporting legislation. The BRTFN released its recommendations late last December, and Congressman Honda is in the process of drafting legislation that will implement many of the BRTFN's recommendations at the federal level.

Rep. Honda earned bachelor's degrees in biological sciences and Spanish, and a master's degree in education from San Jose State University.