State of the Union Address by President Donald J. Trump February 5th, 2019
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Lawmakers Press to Preserve PNNL Use Permit

(Washington, D.C.)  –  Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Doc Hastings, along with Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Norm Dicks, are pressing the Department of Energy to preserve the Pacific Northwest National Lab’s Use Permit as a requirement for any new Lab management contract.   

“PNNL is a vital part of the Tri-Cities community and the inclusion of the Use Permit is an integral part of the lab’s future success," Senator Murray said.  "We must maintain the Use Permit for the future innovation, economy and competitiveness of our region.”

“The impacts of eliminating the Use Permit are serious for the Lab, for local economic growth and for taxpayers getting the most out of their investment.  The bottom line is ensuring competition in government contracting should not result in a diminished Lab through loss of the Use Permit,” said Hastings. 

In a letter to Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Clay Sell, the lawmakers expressed their strong support for continuation of the Use Permit and for a timely resolution to the contract competition.  They noted in the letter that the Use Permit “creates innovation, economic development, jobs, and has been a clear success for the American taxpayer.” 

The lawmakers said the Use Permit is widely recognized as a tremendous success and is critical to the future of the Lab under any contractor.  

In February of 2006, DOE announced that it would re-compete the contract for management and operation of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

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