Luján, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Restore and Modernize National Labs
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced the Restore and Modernize Our National Labs Act of 2025, legislation that would invest in maintenance projects and infrastructure improvements at America’s National Labs. Specifically, the legislation would authorize funding for deferred maintenance projects and infrastructure improvements throughout the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Laboratory system to support the technological capacity of the laboratories while also creating local jobs in construction and equipment supply.
The Department of Energy’s National Laboratories are experiencing a maintenance backlog from decades of underfunding that puts the Labs’ missions at risk. Significant new federal investments are needed to repair and update laboratories, administrative buildings, and critical infrastructure like roads and power plants. Making these improvements will keep the Labs’ nearly 80,000 employees safe and secure and ensure that these research facilities are equipped to fulfill their mission.
“Across the country, our National Labs – including Sandia and Los Alamos in New Mexico – have positioned the U.S. as a global leader in cutting-edge research and scientific innovation,” said Senator Luján, Co-Chair of the Senate National Labs Caucus. “To meet the challenges of the 21st century – from driving innovation in emerging technologies like quantum and AI to strengthening national security – our Labs need strong, reliable infrastructure. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Restore and Modernize Our National Labs Act to upgrade outdated facilities and expand the capabilities of our world-class institutions. I’ll keep fighting to ensure our National Labs have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge technology, and a skilled workforce.”
“Illinois is home to world-class research centers, including Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories, that push the boundaries of scientific discovery,” said Senator Durbin. “But it’s critical that the U.S. maintains its position as a global leader in scientific discovery by properly investing in our labs and building critical infrastructure to meet the demands of the 21st century. With the Restore and Modernize Our National Labs Act, we can offer our scientists at our nation’s premier labs the support and resources they need.”
“California’s national laboratories are critical to maintaining our nation’s global leadership in advancing science and technology. We must invest in modernizing and building reliable infrastructure for our nation’s labs so we can better support our STEM workforce, strengthen American global competitiveness and innovation, and address our country’s greatest scientific challenges,” said Senator Padilla.
“Our National Labs ensure we remain world leaders in energy, national security, and scientific research,” said Senator Bennet. “It is essential that we repair and update the laboratories, administrative buildings, and critical infrastructure like roads and power plants that make this research possible. This legislation will address the backlog of laboratory modernizations and keep our world-class workforce safe.”
“The cutting-edge research conducted at national laboratories in New York and across the country is vital to our national security and high-tech economy,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This legislation would create good-paying jobs while helping ensure that our national labs maintain the modern, advanced infrastructure they need to drive innovation and attract top scientists from around the world. I will continue to fight to ensure that our research facilities have the resources they need to thrive and push back against dangerous attempts to cut their funding, which would harm our economy and global competitiveness.”
“An ongoing challenge at our national laboratories is the lack of sufficient funding for essential maintenance and upgrades. Right now, there’s a severe backlog of unfunded modernization projects,” said Rep. Foster, Co-Chair of the House National Labs Caucus. “Our national laboratories make remarkable contributions to technologies that improve everyday life and keep the U.S. on the cutting edge of innovation. Ensuring the necessary resources to make capital improvements will allow the labs to continue driving research and supporting our economy.”
The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Representative Bill Foster (D-Ill) leads companion legislation in the House.
Senators Luján and Durbin are co-leads of the Senate National Labs Caucus. The caucus works to identify legislative opportunities that elevate the National Labs’ visibility and meet national energy and security objectives. The caucus also helps identify bipartisan initiatives to maintain and extend U.S. leadership in critical scientific sectors.
Full text of the bill is available here.
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