Lawmakers Want to Know How Government Science Facilities Are Holding Up

Two Colorado Congressmen recently introduced legislation that would direct the Government Accountability Office to thoroughly assess the present state of America’s federal science facilities and associated infrastructure.

That information would also continue to be tracked and updated going forward.

The Federal Labs Modernization Act, put forward by Reps. Joe Neguse, D-Col., and Ed Perlmutter, D-Col., marks a move to help better ensure that certain U.S. research entities are kept up to date, and equipped to innovate, the lawmakers said in a statement. 

According to the bill’s text—not yet published, but shared with Nextgov Tuesday—GAO’s comptroller general would be required to produce for Congress a report that dives deep into the status of the nation’s government science facilities, “including with respect to climate control systems, the functionality of equipment and the usage of such equipment, the quality of buildings in which such facilities are housed” and more. Those agency-steered reports would also pinpoint the structures most in need of revamps, estimated costs for necessary renovations and evaluations “of whether facility occupancy is sufficient to meet agency demands.” 

They’d be expected 180 days after the act’s passage and again every two years thereafter.

Further, the bill would also amend a section of the COMPETES Act, a previously passed law that mandates the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to keep Congress informed of certain conditions and deficiencies across federal research facilities. Specifically, the change would broaden information that would need to be reported.

“Our federal labs are the birthplace of research and innovation, many of which are located here in Colorado,” Perlmutter said. “We must ensure these labs have the funding and resources they need to carry out their important work, and these reports will allow Congress to better support our labs.”

As the lawmaker alluded to, the state houses more than 30 of the country's 300-plus research labs, including ones for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Food and Drug Administration, among others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many kicked into high gear.

“It is pertinent that we ensure our federal labs are well funded and supported to ensure federal scientists can continue to produce the groundbreaking research that will lead to renewable energy solutions, resiliency, preservation of our ecosystems, and so much more,” Neguse said.

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.