Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources Hearing on Department of Energy Science for the Future Act

The Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources held a hearing on March 1 to consider pending legislation, including the Department of Energy Science for the Future Act. The bill provides significant investments to the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which provides graduate research fellowships and traineeships. Here is the Committee’s press release on the bill, which links to the bill, summary, and section-by-section analysis.

Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV) mentioned in his opening statement, “The DOE Science for the Future Act reauthorizes the fundamental research and development activities performed by scientists at the Department of Energy, the National Labs, universities, and private companies to advance our understanding of the atom, the cell, the Earth’s systems, and the universe. These scientific endeavors involve the most advanced scientific instruments in the world – from the fastest computers to the brightest light sources, and so much more. The Office Science is a critical piece of the United States’ ability to advance human knowledge of the sciences, and in carrying out that mission, it advances a critical, and ultimately nonpartisan, aspect of our society.”

Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY) mentioned in his opening statement, “For decades, the department has overlooked research universities in rural states. This bill will help universities, like the University of Wyoming, better compete for the department’s research dollars. The bill also establishes new basic research programs on carbon and rare earth mineral extraction, underground storage of carbon dioxide, as well as nuclear energy. These new programs will help ensure that the Office of Science is conducting research to promote all types of American energy.”

Testimony by Dr. Geraldine Richmond, Under Secretary for Science and Innovation at the Department of Energy, can be found here.