H.R. 589
Sponsor:
- Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas)
Cosponsors:
- Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas)
- Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas)
- Rep. Stephen Knight (R-Calif.)
- Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.)
- Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.)
- Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.)
- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.)
- Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.)
- Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas)
- Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.)
- Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.)
- Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.)
- Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)
- Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.)
- Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.)
- Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas)
- Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.)
- Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.)
- Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.)
- Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.)
Introduced:
- 1/20/17
Status:
- Passed by House 1/24/17
WHAT IT DOES
Reforms how national labs work with industry and establishes new research programs, including solar fuels, exascale computing and electricity storage. It also directs the Department of Energy to begin planning for a fast neutron source and provides for computational modeling support necessary for advanced nuclear engineering and ensures that the private sector will have access to existing national labs’ resources.
WHY WE LIKE IT
It establishes research programs focused on several key areas of clean energy development, while giving the national labs greater flexibility. Incorporates several previous bills strengthening the Department of Energy’s research programs and private sector technology transfer, as well as the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act from last Congress.