Title: A resolution recognizing the contributions of defense laboratories to the technological dominance of the United States Armed Forces and supporting the designation of April 25, 2019, as "Department of Defense Laboratory Day 2019".
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution supports the designation of April 25, 2019, as Department of Defense Laboratory Day 2019 and recognizes the contributions of the Department of Defense laboratories.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 160 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 160

     Recognizing the contributions of defense laboratories to the 
     technological dominance of the United States Armed Forces and 
   supporting the designation of April 25, 2019, as ``Department of 
                     Defense Laboratory Day 2019''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 11, 2019

   Mr. Jones (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Reed, Ms. 
Duckworth, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Peters, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. 
 Brown) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Recognizing the contributions of defense laboratories to the 
     technological dominance of the United States Armed Forces and 
   supporting the designation of April 25, 2019, as ``Department of 
                     Defense Laboratory Day 2019''.

Whereas the national network of laboratories, research and development centers, 
        and engineering centers that are owned and funded by the Department of 
        Defense (referred to in this preamble as the ``defense laboratories'') 
        should be commended as reservoirs of technical talent available to 
        support--

    (1) immediate, tactical military innovation; and

    (2) foundational research, science, and engineering to address long-
term challenges;

Whereas the national security innovation emanating from the defense laboratories 
        will be predicated on--

    (1) a sufficient pipeline of trained and experienced scientists and 
engineers eligible for a security clearance; and

    (2) the facilities, infrastructure, instrumentation, and support 
capabilities needed--

    G    (A) to attract and retain those scientists and engineers; and

    G    (B) to bolster the activities of those scientists and engineers to 
meet the technology problems of the Department of Defense;

Whereas research and development supported by the Department of Defense has--

    (1) led to new products and processes for state-of-the-art Armed Forces 
weapons and technology; and

    (2) technically informed new approaches and concepts of operation that 
will be needed to keep the Armed Forces ahead of future adversaries of the 
United States;

Whereas defense laboratories--

    (1) are critical elements of the innovation ecosystem; and

    (2) compose indispensable elements in the technology transfer community 
when leveraged with partners in--

    G    (A) State and local governments;

    G    (B) regional organizations;

    G    (C) academia; and

    G    (D) nonprofit research institutions;

Whereas defense laboratories have earned prestigious national and international 
        awards for research and technology transfer efforts, providing a 
        foundation of technological leadership for--

    (1) the Armed Forces; and

    (2) the United States;

Whereas the innovations that are produced at defense laboratories fuel economic 
        growth by creating new industries, companies, and jobs; and
Whereas April 25, 2019, is an appropriate day to designate as ``Department of 
        Defense Laboratory Day 2019'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of April 25, 2019, as 
        ``Department of Defense Laboratory Day 2019'' in celebration of 
        all of the work and accomplishments of the national network of 
        laboratories, research and development centers, and engineering 
        centers that are owned and funded by the Department of Defense 
        (referred to in this resolution as the ``defense 
        laboratories'');
            (2) recognizes that a key to maintaining the innovation and 
        competitiveness of the United States in a global economy is to 
        continue to support federally sponsored research and 
        development;
            (3) acknowledges that the knowledge base, technologies, and 
        techniques generated in the national network of defense 
        laboratories serve as a foundation for additional efforts 
        relating to the Armed Forces in the defense industrial base;
            (4) commits to find ways to increase investment in the 
        national network of defense laboratories in order to increase 
        support of--
                    (A) federally sponsored research and development;
                    (B) critical scientific, technical, engineering, 
                and mathematics (referred to in this resolution as 
                ``STEM'') personnel;
                    (C) STEM development activities; and
                    (D) necessary supporting infrastructure and 
                facilities;
            (5) encourages defense laboratories, Federal agencies, and 
        Congress to hold an outreach event on April 25, 2019, 
        ``Department of Defense Laboratory Day 2019'', to make the 
        public more aware of the important contributions that defense 
        laboratories make to national defense and economic prosperity; 
        and
            (6) recognizes the outstanding dedication, qualifications, 
        service, and accomplishments of the scientists, engineers, 
        technicians, and support staff of the defense laboratories.
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