Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved two bipartisan Science, Space, and Technology Committee bills to help make federal research and development (R&D) more effective and efficient.
Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas): “Research and development conducted at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) national labs and at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) keep us on the cutting edge of global technological capabilities. Improving communication between the DOE labs and the private sector will help speed ideas and products created in the labs to the market. Further, measurement science conducted at NIST contributes to industrial competitiveness by supporting the technical infrastructure for advancements in nanotechnology, global positioning systems, materials sciences, cybersecurity, health information technology and a variety of other fields.”
The House passed the following measures:
- The Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2014 (H.R.5120), Sponsored by Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.). The Department of Energy’s national laboratory complex supports basic and applied research across the United States. These state-of-the art facilities have led to scientific discoveries, but currently the process to move early-stage research from the laboratories towards commercialization is lagging. This legislation provides the laboratories increased flexibility to more efficiently partner with the private sector.
- The NIST Reauthorization Act of 2014 (H.R. 5035), sponsored by Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.). The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is one of the nation's oldest physical science laboratories, founded in 1901. NIST’s mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. H.R. 5035 updates and codifies programs at NIST to help the agency fulfil its important mission.
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