The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“CONGRATULATING DR. MARK PETERS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E799-E800 on Aug. 28, 2020.
The Department oversees energy policies and is involved in how the US handles nuclear programs. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department's misguided energy regulations have caused large losses to consumers for decades.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONGRATULATING DR. MARK PETERS
______
HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON
of idaho
in the house of representatives
Friday, August 28, 2020
Mr. SIMPSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Dr. Mark Peters for his excellent service as Director at Idaho National Laboratory. After nearly five years of capable leadership, Dr. Peters has accepted a position as Executive Vice President for Laboratory Operations for the Battelle Memorial Institute. I wish him well in this new endeavor and take comfort that he will continue to have a role in oversight, not just at INL, but each of the national laboratories managed by Battelle.
Dr. Peters spent considerable time on Capitol Hill and many of you have gotten to know him and rely upon his expertise.
One of the benefits of representing a Department of Energy national laboratory is you get to meet and work with some of our nation's best and brightest. Intelligent and driven people come to these crown jewels of science and innovation and contribute so much to our economic prosperity and national security.
Mark's service at INL is an example of operational excellence, energy innovation, and national security impact.
Under Dr. Peters' leadership, INL has delivered on the grand challenges we ask of our national labs. Since Mark arrived at INL on Oct. 1, 2015, the laboratory has helped push forward development and demonstration of advanced nuclear technologies and deployed new capabilities to secure our nation's critical infrastructure from cyberattack.
Mark's vision and ability to bring people together allowed INL's clean energy program to expand and contribute to new and exciting areas. I'm talking integrated energy systems, advanced manufacturing, biomass upgrades, and so much more.
Under Mark's leadership, the laboratory assembled the power source for the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, continues to meet the Army's needs for tank armor, is helping DoD explore the use of microreactors, and is producing new nuclear fuels and materials.
A personal priority of mine has been revitalizing the lab's infrastructure and putting INL's talented workforce into world-class facilities. Mark has been a great ally in this process, an innovator and collaborator.
He brought the Department of Energy and lab together with the State of Idaho to build two new facilities on INL's in-town campus. One of those facilities is dedicated to protecting our nation from cyberattack. The other is dedicated to collaborations in high-
performance computing.
Dr. Peters has worked hard to introduce the lab to all corners of our state and region, demonstrating to the people of Idaho that our national laboratories are places of innovation and intellectual curiosity rather than secretive outposts often rumored about, but rarely understood.
Mark has been dedicated to partnerships, building relationships with universities, industry, governments, and schools. He showed our state and region that so much can be accomplished when we work together and in pursuit of lofty, even idealistic, goals.
Finally, Dr. Peters has a decency and optimism about him--an intangible quality that makes everyone around him more positive and excited to work together for a brighter future.
Mark is a thoughtful person who cares deeply for the people he works with, his community, and our state.
Mark has implemented policies to support employee safety, work/life balance, inclusive recruiting and retention, a shared sense of responsibility, and duty to give back.
My wife, Kathy, and I have developed a close relationship with Mark and his wife, Ann Marie, who has distinguished herself through her work with the College of Eastern Idaho and various eastern Idaho charities.
Mark and Ann Marie are an incredible asset to Idaho and Kathy and I are grateful for their passion for our community and friendship.
Mark and Anne Marie will be missed, but I look forward to working with Mark in his new role.
____________________
