Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) to introduce the Restore and Modernize Our National Labs Act, legislation that will invest in maintenance projects and infrastructure improvements at America’s National Labs. Representative Bill Foster (D-Ill.) leads companion legislation in the House.
Specifically, the legislation will authorize funding for deferred maintenance projects and infrastructure improvements throughout the Department of Energy’s National Laboratory system to support the technological capacity of the laboratories while creating local jobs in construction and equipment supply.
“Our National Labs ensure we remain world leaders in energy, national security, and scientific research,” said Bennet. “It is essential that we repair and update the laboratories, administrative buildings, and critical infrastructure like roads and power plants that make this research possible. This legislation will address the backlog of laboratory modernizations and keep our world-class workforce safe.”
“Across the country, our National Labs – including Sandia and Los Alamos in New Mexico – have positioned the U.S. as a global leader in cutting-edge research and scientific innovation,” said Luján. “To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from driving innovation in emerging technologies like quantum and AI to strengthening national security – our Labs need strong, reliable infrastructure. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Restore and Modernize Our National Labs Act to upgrade outdated facilities and expand the capabilities of our world-class institutions. I’ll keep fighting to ensure our National Labs have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology, and a skilled workforce.”
“An ongoing challenge at our national laboratories is the lack of sufficient funding for essential maintenance and upgrades. Right now, there’s a severe backlog of unfunded modernization projects,” said Foster. “Our national laboratories make remarkable contributions to technologies that improve everyday life and keep the U.S. on the cutting edge of innovation. Ensuring the necessary resources to make capital improvements will allow the labs to continue driving research and supporting our economy.”
The Department of Energy’s National Laboratories face a maintenance backlog from decades of underfunding that puts the Labs’ missions at risk. The Labs need significant new federal investments to repair and update laboratories, administrative buildings, and critical infrastructure like roads and power plants. These improvements will keep the Labs’ nearly 80,000 employees safe and ensure these research facilities are equipped to fulfill their mission.
In addition to Bennet and Luján, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) cosponsored the bill.
The text of the bill is available HERE.