July 17, 2025
Mr. Luján (for himself, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bennet, and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
To direct the Secretary of Energy to fund projects to restore and modernize National Laboratories, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Restore and Modernize Our National Laboratories Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. National Laboratories restoration and modernization
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) National laboratory
The term National Laboratory has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(2) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
(b) Restoration and modernization
(1) In general
The Secretary shall fund projects described in paragraph (2) to address the deferred maintenance, critical infrastructure, and modernization needs of National Laboratories.
(2) Projects described
Projects referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
(A)
Priority deferred maintenance projects at National Laboratories, including facilities sustainment for, upgrade of, and construction of research laboratories, administrative and support buildings, utilities, roads, power plants, and any other critical infrastructure.
(B)
Lab modernization projects at National Laboratories, including lab modernization projects relating to core infrastructure needed—
(i)
to support existing and emerging science missions with new and specialized requirements for world-leading scientific user facilities and computing capabilities; and
(ii)
to maintain safe, efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable and responsible operations.
(3) Submission to Congress
For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, at the same time as the annual budget submission of the President, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a list of projects that the Secretary funds under this section, including a description of each project and the funding profile for that project.
(4) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection $5,000,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of which not less than 1/3 each fiscal year shall be managed by the Office of Science.
(c) Strategy for facilities and infrastructure
Section 993 the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16357) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (1), by striking primarily
and all that follows through Programs
and inserting by the Office of Science, the Office of Environmental Management, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, the Office of Nuclear Energy, and the National Nuclear Security Administration Science and Technology Programs
; and
(B)
in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking for—
and inserting for ensuring that enabling infrastructure may support current and future science and energy mission needs by—
; and
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
(1) In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Restore and Modernize Our National Laboratories Act of 2025, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report describing the strategy developed under subsection (a).; and
(B)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking , the report
and inserting and across each office in the Department that manages National Laboratories, the report under paragraph (1)
; and
(ii)
by striking subparagraphs (A) through (D) and inserting the following:
(A)
the current priority list of each proposed National Laboratory and single-purpose research facility and infrastructure project, including cost and schedule requirements and proposed funding source;
(B)
a current 10-year plan that demonstrates the reconfiguration of each National Laboratory and single-purpose research facility and infrastructure project to meet respective missions and to address respective long-term operational costs and return on investment;
(C)
a preliminary estimate of funding and resources required to fulfill the 10-year plan described in subparagraph (B) and a description of how investments will be allocated among budgetary sources; and
(D)
a description of facilities and infrastructure planning processes, including data and metrics relied upon, project prioritization criteria, and stakeholder engagement.