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Restore and Modernize Our National Laboratories Act of 2025
To direct the Secretary of Energy to fund projects to restore and modernize National Laboratories, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill authorizes $5 billion per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to fund restoration and modernization projects at the Department of Energy's National Laboratories. Projects include addressing deferred maintenance, upgrading critical infrastructure, and modernizing facilities to support scientific research and computing capabilities. At least one-third of the funding must be managed by the Office of Science. The Secretary of Energy must submit annual project lists to Congress and develop a long-term strategy for facilities and infrastructure across all National Laboratories, including 10-year plans demonstrating facility reconfiguration and funding needs.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL)
3 cosponsors
Money behind the sponsor
Top reported contributors to Bill Foster’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.
- FERMILAB $22,943
- NULL $18,250
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY $17,800
- UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO $17,560
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY $17,476
Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Bill Foster → · Outside spending →
Actions (2)
- Jul 17, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. · house
- Jul 17, 2025 Introduced in House
Similar bills (6)
Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.
Text versions (1)
Bills are re-published as they move (Introduced → Reported → Engrossed → Enrolled …). Each stage below is a separate text; pick two to see what changed. Data from Congress.gov.
Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 17, 2025
Mr. Foster (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Thanedar, and Mr. Smith of Washington) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
A BILL
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) Restoration and Modernization.—
(1) Definitions.—In this subsection:
(A) National laboratory.—The term “National Laboratory” has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(B) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Energy.
(2) Restoration and modernization projects.—The Secretary shall fund projects described in paragraph (3) as needed to address the deferred maintenance, critical infrastructure needs, and modernization of National Laboratories.
(3) Projects described.—Projects described in this paragraph 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 to carry out the following:
(i) Support existing and emerging science missions with new and specialized requirements for world-leading scientific user facilities and computing capabilities.
(ii) Maintain safe, efficient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable and responsible operations.
(4) Submission to congress.—For each fiscal year through fiscal year 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 for which the Secretary will provide funding under this section, including a description of each project and the funding profile for each such project.
(5) Authorization of appropriations.—
(A) In general.—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.
(B) Office of science.—Not less than one-third of the amounts made available to carry out this section each fiscal year shall be managed by the Office of Science of the Department of Energy.
(b) Strategy for Facilities and Infrastructure.—Section 993 the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16357) is amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 993. STRATEGY FOR FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
“(a) Facility and Infrastructure Policy.—
“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall implement a strategy for facilities and infrastructure supported 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 at all National Laboratories and single- purpose research facilities.
“(2) Strategy.—The strategy shall provide cost-effective means for ensuring enabling infrastructure can support current and future science and energy mission needs by carrying out the following:
“(A) Maintaining existing facilities and infrastructure.
“(B) Closing unneeded facilities.
“(C) Making facility modifications.
“(D) Building new facilities.
“(b) Report.—
“(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing the strategy under subsection (a).
“(2) Contents.—For each National Laboratory and single- purpose research facility that is primarily used for science and energy research and across each Office that manages National Laboratories, the report under paragraph (1) shall contain 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 such National Laboratory and single-purpose research facility and infrastructure 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 such 10-year plan, and a description of how investments will be allocated among budgetary sources.
“(D) A description of facilities and infrastructure planning processes, including data and metrics relied upon, project prioritization criteria, and stakeholder engagement.”. <all>
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