Ben Ray Lujan teams up other host state senators to advocate for national laboratories

Adrian Hedden
Carlsbad Current-Argus
This undated file aerial photo shows the Los Alamos National laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M. (The Albuquerque Journal via AP, File)

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) joined senators from three other host states for national laboratories in forming a caucus dedicated to advocating for the labs in federal decision making and funding.

New Mexico, Lujan’s home state, is home to both Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories which engage in federal research and weapons development for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The state also contains the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, an underground repository for transuranic (TRU) nuclear waste produced by national laboratories across the country.

This includes Idaho and Oakridge national laboratories in Idaho and Tennessee, and U.S. Sens. James Risch (R-Idaho) and Marsh Blackburn (R-TN) joined Lujan in co-chairing the caucus along with Democrat U.S. Dick Durbin of Illinois which hosts Argonne National Laboratory.

The senators in a joint statement said the caucus would work to identify legislation to “elevate” visibility of the labs on a national scale, and their role in meeting energy and security needs, starting by hosting events and briefings to educate the rest of the chamber of the labs’ capabilities.

In New Mexico, that entails Los Alamos’ role in rebuilding the U.S.’ nuclear warhead stockpile, with the DOE intending to produce 30 plutonium pits, the triggers or warheads, by 2030 at the lab.

Sandia National Laboratory recently led research in electric vehicles, renewable energy and nuclear reactors.

In a letter to members of the U.S. Senate, the four senators wrote that U.S. national labs employ 20,000 scientists, engineers and other workers across the country, and the network of labs will play a key role in shifting energy needs and national security.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM)

“As the United States navigates rapidly evolving energy markets, emerging technologies, and the international security environment, the Senate National Laboratory Caucus will ensure that this key component of our nation’s research capacity is focused on strategic, bipartisan priorities to protect our nation’s economic and national security,” the letter read.

Lujan himself has a history of introducing or supporting legislation in support of New Mexico’s national laboratories.

Last year, he supported the Chips and Science Act which became law Aug. 9, 2022 which he said earmarked $16.5 billion for national labs, including Los Alamos and Sandia.

Lujan said he also pushed for $11.2 billion in federal funds for DOE research in energy-related activities, workforce development, climate change, national security and manufacturing and $250 million for efforts at national laboratories to prepare for biological threats in the wake of COVID-19.

“Through these historic investments, our National Labs will continue their leadership in developing cutting-edge technology, maintaining our national security and global competitiveness while creating more skilled, good-paying jobs in New Mexico and across the nation,” Lujan said in a statement.

In April 2022, Lujan cosponsored the Leveraging our National Laboratories to Develop Tomorrow’s Technology Leaders Act with Blackburn, which would appropriate $125 million over five years for an entrepreneurship program led by the national lab network throughout the country.

“National Laboratories in New Mexico and across America are leading the way in developing cutting-edge technologies and maintaining our national security and global competitiveness,” Lujan said in a statement as the bill was introduced.

“Labs are critical learning hubs for developing the next generation of tech leaders and entrepreneurs who are tackling our nation’s greatest scientific challenges while creating skilled jobs.”

Blackburn said the funding would support scientists at Oakridge National Laboratory and throughout the U.S. which are responsible, she said, for keeping the U.S. “on the cutting edge.”

“The scientists, engineers, and researchers at Oak Ridge are innovators,” Blackburn said. “This bipartisan legislation will support their critical research while fostering economic development and expanding the skilled workforce.”

Adrian Heddencan be reached at 575-628-5516,achedden@currentargus.com or@AdrianHedden on Twitter.