DOE Announces Members of New Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Laboratories
Published: Tue, 05/20/14
Secretary Moniz Announces Members to New Commission on National Labs
DOE May 20, 2014 WASHINGTON - Today, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories, a congressionally-mandated committee that will evaluate the effectiveness of the Energy Department's 17 national laboratories. The Commission is being established pursuant to the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
"The Energy Department's national laboratories are a leading force in driving U.S. scientific and technological innovation and advancing the Department's science, energy, environmental, and national security missions," said Secretary Moniz. "I want to thank the Commission members for their expertise and look forward to working with them to ensure we leverage the national laboratories' unique capabilities to fulfill our missions." The Commission will be co-chaired by Jared Cohon, President Emeritus and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, and T.J. Glauthier, President, TJG Energy Associates, LLC. This independent Commission will examine if the priorities of the labs are in line with the broader strategic priorities of the Energy Department. The Commission will conduct a two-part study and present the first phase of its study by February 1, 2015. In addition to the co-chairs, the Commission includes:
Could New "Commission to Review The Effectiveness of the National Energy Labs" Lead to Lab Closures? ECA Bulletin January 2014 The FY 2014 budget, now signed into law, contains a section that instructs the Secretary of Energy to establish the "Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories." Appropriations Committee staff members tell ECA the goal of the Commission is to undertake a strategic review of the mission of the DOE laboratories, to help understand how money is spent on the national energy laboratories and to determine if resources are efficiently allocated. They assure ECA that the Commission is not intended to close or realign laboratories, but instead to determine if labs are most effectively supporting DOE's current and future missions. Staff members told ECA that the goal is for the Commission to issue recommendations without taking politics into consideration. ECA communities should be aware of the Commission and its activities. It is currently unclear if the Commission will hold public meetings, but it is important that communities share with the Commission the importance of the Labs in their communities. ECA has asked Appropriations Committee staff to require the Commission to hold public meetings, and at the very least, give local governments and communities an opportunity to formally provide input to the Commission before it issues its recommendations. We will keep you posted on further developments. The following language is an edited version of the bill text that directs establishment of the Commission. Full language can be found at Section 319 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014. Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories The Commission shall address whether DOE's national laboratories (all DOE and NNSA national laboratories):
The Commission shall analyze the effectiveness of the use of laboratory directed research and development (LDRD) to meet the Department of Energy's science, energy, and national security goals. The Commission shall further evaluate the effectiveness of the Department's oversight approach to ensure LDRD-funded projects are compliant with statutory requirements and congressional direction, including requirements that LDRD projects be distinct from projects directly funded by appropriations and that LDRD projects derived from the Department's national security programs support the national security mission of the Department of Energy. Finally, the Commission shall quantify the extent to which LDRD funding supports recruiting and retention of qualified staff. The Commission shall, by no later than February 1, 2015, transmit to the Secretary of Energy and the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate a report containing the Commission's findings and conclusions. Response by the Secretary of Energy The Secretary of Energy shall, by no later than April 1, 2015, transmit to Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the Secretary's approval or disapproval of the Commission's recommendations and an implementation plan for approved recommendations. Commission Membership The Commission shall be composed of nine members appointed by the Secretary of Energy from among persons nominated by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Each person nominated for appointment to the Commission shall:
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