[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 125 (Monday, July 31, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      H.R. 2142, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LABORATORY MISSIONS ACT

                                 ______


                           HON. STEVEN SCHIFF

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 31, 1995
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, today I am joining my colleague Mr. Geren in 
introducing legislation which will begin to establish the missions for 
the Department of Energy's national laboratories in the post-cold war 
Federal scientific establishment. Specifically, my legislation will 
establish a procedure for defining and assigning missions to the 
Department's laboratories which take into account the historic role the 
laboratories have played, and continue to play, in the defense of this 
Nation and in its scientific and technological success.
  I am introducing this legislation in response to recent studies of 
the national laboratories, which clearly show the need for better 
defined roles and management. Through their unique historical missions, 
DOE's national laboratories have developed core competencies and 
scientific capabilities that have contributed and continue to 
contribute technology to ensure the maintenance of the nuclear 
deterrent and other elements of our national security. These 
laboratories collectively represent an extensive science and technology 
resource of people, facilities, and equipment. The national 
laboratories have established successful collaborative relationships 
with other Federal agencies, universities, and private industry that 
have allowed each partner to share and leverage their capabilities. 
Their contributions to energy-related and basic science, environmental 
restoration and waste management, and other emerging scientific fields 
are internationally significant.
  Over the years, however, the missions of the national laboratories 
have become diffuse. Congress is now in the process of rethinking the 
infrastructure which supports research by the Federal scientific 
establishment. I believe it is, therefore, vital that the laboratories' 
preeminence as research facilities and their contributions to the 
Nation's overall national security, scientific and industrial well-
being be recognized, defined, and focused. Whatever the final form of 
our Federal research support infrastructure, the national laboratories 
will have a prominent role within it.
  My legislation first defines a three step public process by which the 
Secretary of Energy, working with all stakeholders, including Congress, 
first defines the criteria, then the missions, and then streamlines, if 
necessary, the labs to carry out those missions. H.R. 2142, the 
Department of Energy Laboratory Missions Act, also directs the DOE to 
cease internal health, safety, and environmental regulation of the labs 
and to transfer those responsibilities to other appropriate Federal 
regulatory agencies. Recent reports to the Secretary of Energy indicate 
this will substantially improve management of the labs and release 
scarce resources to accomplish the labs' missions.
  As chairman of the Subcommittee on Basic Research of the Committee on 
Science, I intend to hold hearings on this legislation, and other 
related pending legislation this September. I am open to improving the 
mission-definition process and management at the Department and look 
forward to hearing from all interested parties at that time.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I like forward to working with you and the 
Members of this House on this legislation.
  A section-by-section summary of the legislation is attached.
                 Section-By-Section Summary, H.R. 2142

            The Department of Energy Laboratory Missions Act

       Section 1. Short Title.
       ``Department of Energy Laboratory Missions Act''
       Section 2. Definitions.
       1. Departmental Laboratory;
       2. Federal Laboratory;
       3. Relevant Congressional Committees;
       4. Secretary.
       Title I. Mission Assignment
       Section 101. Findings.
       1. Labs have developed core missions;
       2. Labs continue to contribute to national security;
       3. Labs have helped maintain the peace;
       4. Labs represent extensive science and technology 
     resources that contribute to national technology goals;
       5. Labs have established successful collaborative 
     relationships;
       6. Partnerships and cooperative agreements should be 
     encouraged;
       7. Labs need well defined and assigned missions.
       Section 102. Missions.
       The DOE may maintain labs to advance the following core 
     missions:
       1. To maintain the national security.
       A. By providing to nuclear weapons stockpile.
       B. By assisting with dismantlement of nuclear weapons and 
     working to curb proliferation.
       C. Advancing science and technology in the development of 
     nuclear and conventional weapons.
       2. To ensure the Nation's energy supply.
       3. To conduct basic research in energy-related science and 
     technology and in emerging scientific fields.
       4. To carry out research and development for the purpose of 
     minimizing environmental impacts of the production and use of 
     energy, nuclear weapons, and materials.
       5. To carry out additional missions as assigned by the 
     President.
       To further its core missions the DOE may establish mutually 
     beneficial collaborative partnerships.
       Section 103. Procedure for Laboratory Mission Assignment 
     and Streamlining.
       a. Mission Assignment and Streamlining Criteria.
       1. The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register, not 
     later than 3 months after enactment, the criteria for the 
     assignment of missions to, and streamlining if necessary of 
     departmental laboratories. The public shall have 30 days to 
     respond. In developing the criteria, the Secretary shall 
     consider the following:
       A. the unique technical and experimental capabilities of 
     each lab;
       B. unnecessary duplication of effort at the labs;
       C. cost savings or increases due to streamlining;
       D. appropriateness of research done at the labs;
       E. expert advice from outside individuals.
       2. Five months after enactment, Secretary shall publish in 
     the Federal Register and transmit to Congress the final 
     criteria.
       b. Secretary's Proposals.
       1. Not later than 1 year after enactment the Secretary 
     shall publish in the Federal Register and transmit to 
     Congress the Secretary's proposals for mission assignments 
     and streamlining.
       2. Summary of Process.
       The Secretary shall include a summary and justification of 
     the process used.
       c. Availability of Information.
       The Secretary shall make all information available to the 
     Comptroller General.
       d. Comptroller General Report.
       Fifteen months after enactment the Comptroller General 
     shall report to Congress on the Secretary's proposals.
       Section 104. Assignment of Missions and Streamlining of 
     Labs.
       The Secretary shall:
       1. assign the missions as proposed in the report;
       2. streamline the labs as proposed;
       3. complete process in 4 years after date report is 
     transmitted.
       Section 105. Reports.
       Each fiscal year the Secretary shall transmit to Congress:
       1. a schedule of mission assignments;
       2. any transfer of functions between labs.
       Title II. Governance
       Section 201. Findings.
       1. inordinate internal focus at DOE on compliance issues;
       2. too much emphasis at DOE on oversight and compliance 
     roles;
       3. costs of review groups interferes with research 
     operations;
       4. too much influence has been ceded by DOE to 
     nonregulatory advisory boards;
       5. enforcement of environment, safety, and health rules and 
     regulations is a function of other government agencies.
       Section 202. Elimination of Self-Regulation.
       The Department shall implement, but shall not be the agency 
     of enforcement of, Federal, State, and local environment, 
     health, and safety rules and regulations, unless the 
     Secretary certifies a particular action is unique to DOE and 
     is necessary to maintain human health and safety.
       Section 203. Effective Date.
       Title II shall take effect October 1, 1996.
       

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