Congressional Hearing on National Laboratories Innovation
January 1, 2018
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
The Frame
The committee oversees over $9 billion in annual federal funding for civilian research and development programs that are primarily executed by these national laboratories.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Department of Energy National Laboratories
The laboratories provide testimony regarding their research missions and receive federal funding overseen by the committee.
U.S. Taxpayers
Taxpayers fund the $9 billion in research and development programs discussed by the committee.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on March 14, 2018, by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- The Committee oversees a budget of over $9 billion for civilian research, development, and commercial application programs.
- Five national laboratories were represented: Idaho, Sandia, Lawrence Berkeley, SLAC, and Argonne.
- The hearing focused on the labs' roles in basic science, applied energy, and national security.
- Argonne National Laboratory was cited for its historical role in developing nuclear reactor designs for the USS Nautilus and commercial power plants.
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory was noted for its 1960s experiments in particle physics.
- The document includes written testimony and post-hearing responses from the five laboratory directors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this hearing?
Which laboratories participated in this hearing?
Why It Matters
The committee oversees over $9 billion in annual federal funding for civilian research and development programs that are primarily executed by these national laboratories.
News Coverage
Sponsors
Show 2 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Historical Context of Lab Missions
The hearing emphasizes the long-term continuity of national lab missions, specifically linking 1940s nuclear research to modern commercial energy applications.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools