The U.S. House of Representatives on June 27 approved three federal proposals championed by Republican members of the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee that would modernize America’s energy industry.
Members passed the Department of Energy (DOE) Science and Innovation Act of 2018, H.R. 5905; the ARPA-E Act of 2018, H.R. 5906; and the National Innovation Modernization By Laboratory Empowerment (NIMBLE) Act, H.R. 5907.
“These three energy bills advance and update vital energy research. They modernize our DOE national labs, continue to prioritize basic science research, and promote energy innovation,” said U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, chairman of the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which released a statement from the members following the House vote.
“To maintain our leadership in science and technology, we must continue to support the research, and research infrastructure that cultivates energy breakthroughs,” Rep. Smith said.
H.R. 5905, introduced on May 22 by U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), chairman of the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Energy Subcommittee, would authorize the DOE’s Office of Science programs at $6.26 billion for fiscal year 2018 and $6.6 billion for FY 2019, according to a summary released by the full committee. The bill also would prioritize that funding for upgrades at the DOE’s national labs and universities. The U.S. Senate on June 28 received H.R. 5905 and has placed the measure on the Senate legislative calendar.
“To maintain our competitive advantage as a world leader in science, we must support the basic research and development that leads to major scientific discoveries,” Rep. Weber said.
H.R. 5906, introduced on May 22 by U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), vice chairman of the committee, would amend the America COMPETES Act to establish DOE policy for Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), according to the congressional record.
The measure also would require DOE to reform and refocus ARPA-E toward developing new science and technology solutions that address energy, economic, environment and national security challenges. H.R. 5906 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for consideration.
“Our legislation today addresses many of the concerns that ARPA-E was not living up to its original mission,” Rep. Lucas said. “By refocusing the ARPA-E mission, the Department of Energy will be more innovative and agile in addressing pressing matters, ranging from energy grid improvements to fossil fuel exploration and biofuel development.”
H.R. 5907, introduced by U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL), also a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Energy Subcommittee, would provide authority to DOE national lab directors to approve and facilitate partnerships with the private sector “to collaborate with more small businesses and be engines for national, regional and local economic growth,” the congressman said.
“By cutting red tape for smaller research and development agreements, decision-making authority will go to the people on the ground who know the labs best,” Rep. Hultgren said. “Our labs are the crown jewel in our research ecosystem. By allowing them to be more nimble in reacting to the needs of the private sector, we can better serve the nation and the needs of the Department.”
H.R. 5907 also has been referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for consideration.
Following the House approvals for the three bills, Rep. Smith thanked the science committee members from both sides of the aisle for their work on the energy issues. “Representatives Lucas, Weber, and Hultgren have taken the lead to keep our national labs the best in the world,” he said.