S. 2325: Restore and Modernize Our National Laboratories Act of 2025

The bill titled "Restore and Modernize Our National Laboratories Act of 2025" aims to address the maintenance and modernization needs of National Laboratories in the United States. Here’s a breakdown of the bill's key components:

Funding Restoration and Modernization

The Secretary of Energy is mandated to fund projects that address deferred maintenance and critical infrastructure needs at National Laboratories. The allocated funds will support:

• Priority Deferred Maintenance Projects: This includes essential upgrades to research laboratories, administrative buildings, utilities, roads, and power plants.
• Lab Modernization Projects: These projects aim to strengthen infrastructure that supports current and emerging scientific missions, ensuring operations are safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable.

Financial Provisions

The bill authorizes a total of $5 billion for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 for these projects. Importantly, at least one-third of this amount must be managed by the Office of Science.

Submission to Congress

The Secretary of Energy is required to submit a list of funded projects to Congress annually alongside the President's budget submission. This list must include:

• A description of each project
• The funding profile for each project

Strategic Reports

Furthermore, the bill requires a strategy for facilities and infrastructure to be developed and submitted to Congress within a year of the bill’s enactment. This report must outline:

• The current priority list of each proposed National Laboratory project, including costs and schedules
• A 10-year plan for reconfiguring laboratories to meet missions and manage long-term operational costs
• Estimates of funding and resources necessary to fulfill these plans
• Details on the planning processes, including metrics used for project prioritization and stakeholder engagement

Definitions and Scope

The bill defines a National Laboratory as per the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and designates the Secretary of Energy as the responsible authority for carrying out the provisions of the bill.

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