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“INTRODUCTION OF THE DOE RESEARCH CONSOLIDATION ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1132 on June 5, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE DOE RESEARCH CONSOLIDATION ACT
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HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Thursday, June 5, 1997
Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, as we move forward with the glidepath towards a balanced budget, it is essential that the Federal Government make every possible effort to decrease costs and increase efficiencies in its operations. This must be done in a way which does not harm the important functions of government.
The Science Committee has certainly taken this view to heart, and has served as an example of responsible governance. Chairman Sensenbrenner should be congratulated for moving forward with authorization bills for all the programs in the jurisdiction of Science Committee. And Ranking Member George Brown has demonstrated through his investment budget that it is possible to fund programs that provide pivotal support for education and R&D while remaining true to the constraints of a balanced budget.
Today, I am pleased to announce the introduction of another initiative in this spirit of responsible investment. Along with Chairman Calvert of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee, I am introducing the Department of Energy Research Consolidation Act. This bill will combine the administrative functions of the Office of Fossil Energy [FE] and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
[EE].
This consolidation will achieve budgetary savings while preserving the programmatic efforts of these offices. This merger can be achieved with little disruption to the core R&D initiatives of the two offices as they have similar missions which overlap in areas such as advanced materials, biomass, alternative fuels, high-temperature superconductivity, and hydrogen.
More importantly, a unified organizational structure provides opportunities to eliminate duplicate work, improve program integration, and achieve savings in such crosscutting areas as program planning, policy analysis, external communications, and administrative services. For example, there is little need to preserve two autonomous press operations for the scope of work undertaken by FE and EE.
A consolidated office would allow reductions in administrative staff in a manner which should not adversely impact our commitment to meeting our future energy needs. This legislation eliminates one assistant secretary position at DOE and would reduce by 25 percent administrative positions at DOE headquarters.
When DOE was originally formed, the research conducted by FE and EE were all located under the jurisdiction of a single assistant secretary for energy technology. While at one time there may have been a reason for having two separate offices, that time has clearly passed. Not only have trends in energy R&D policy led towards this consolidation, political developments have also contributed to the need to unify the management of energy technology R&D.
In the past, there has been a politically-motivated rivalry between congressional support of FE and EE, one that is based on labels rather than fact. This has been detrimental to both programs. This bill eliminates that rivalry, so we can make decisions about our priorities within this area without being saddled with counterproductive rhetoric.
This legislation is another example of the recognition that we all have a responsibility to tighten our belts. Energy R&D is very important to my district, and there are agencies in which it would be a lot easier for me to seek cuts. But having been closely involved with the DOE R&D budget during my time on the Science Committee, I believe that this consolidation is both realistic and necessary.
I recognize that downsizing is not an easy task. Last year, a DOE facility in my district combined with a similar facility in West Virginia. While the transition has required both commitment and sacrifice by all those involved, it was a necessary step given current budgetary constraints. The combined entity, the Federal Energy Technology Center, is the best example of what Secretary O'Leary had hoped to achieve with the Strategic Alignment Initiative.
In conclusion, let me say how pleased I am with the cooperation and support I have received from Members of both parties and all across the political spectrum. Chairman Calvert has been indispensable in helping garner support for this initiative. He has run our subcommittee in a fair and unbiased manner, which has created the climate which allows for this type of consensus bipartisan initiative. He, and Ranking Member Tim Roemer have provided a shining example of how, when we take the time to listen to one another, we can work together on initiatives that are to the benefit of everyone.
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