IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 44 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Federal laboratories have been and continue to be on the cutting edge of scientific 

and technological advancement and supporting the designation of 2013 

as the ‘‘Year of the Federal Lab’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 23, 2013 

Mr. FATTAH (for himself, Mr. HULTGREN, and Mr. BEN RAY LUJA ́N of New 

Mexico) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

Federal laboratories have been and continue to be on 

the cutting edge of scientific and technological advancement and supporting the designation of 2013 as the 

‘‘Year of the Federal Lab’’. 

Whereas a Federal laboratory is defined as any laboratory, 

federally funded research and development center, or center that is owned, leased, or otherwise used by a Federal 

agency and funded by the Federal Government; 

Whereas the national network of Federal laboratories should 

be commended for the unique role they have had in 

countless innovations and advances in the areas of environment, health, national security, and the basic sciences; 

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•HRES 44 IH 

Whereas technological progress is responsible for up to half 

the growth of the United States economy and is the principal driving force behind long-term economic growth and 

increases in our standard of living; 

Whereas federally supported research and development has 

led to new products and processes for the commercial 

marketplace, including antibiotics, plastics, airplanes, 

computers, microwaves, and bioengineered drugs; 

Whereas Federal laboratories frequently partner with State 

and local governments and regional organizations to 

transfer technology to the private sector; 

Whereas earning prestigious national and international 

awards for their research and technology transfer efforts, 

Federal laboratories lead the way in cutting-edge science 

and technology; 

Whereas the innovations that are produced at the Nation’s 

Federal laboratories fuel economic growth by creating 

new industries, companies, and jobs; 

Whereas since the United States global leadership and national security is dependent on innovation and new industries, the work of the Nation’s network of Federal laboratories is essential to the Nation’s continued prosperity; 

and 

Whereas 2013 would be an appropriate year to designate as 

the ‘‘Year of the Federal Lab’’: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of the ‘‘Year of the 

3 Federal Lab’’ in celebration of all of the work and 

4 accomplishments of the national network of Federal 

5 laboratories; 

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1 (2) recognizes that one key to maintaining 

2 United States innovation and competitiveness in a 

3 global economy is to continue to support federally 

4 sponsored research and development; 

5 (3) acknowledges that the knowledge base, tech6 nologies, and techniques generated in the Federal 

7 laboratory system serve as a foundation for addi8 tional commercially relevant efforts in the private 

9 sector; 

10 (4) commits to find ways to increase Federal 

11 investment in the network of Federal laboratories in 

12 order to increase support of federally sponsored re13 search and development; and 

14 (5) encourages the laboratories, the executive 

15 branch agencies, and Congress to hold educational 

16 and outreach events during the ‘‘Year of the Federal 

17 Lab’’ to make the public more aware of the work of 

18 the Nation’s network of Federal laboratories. 

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