This resolution recognizes the 60th anniversary and significant scientific contributions of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to national security, energy, and environmental research.
Dan Newhouse
Representative
WA-4
This resolution formally recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and commends its significant contributions to science, energy, and national security. Congress acknowledges PNNL's evolution from a nuclear research facility to a major national laboratory driving innovation across critical sectors. The bill celebrates the lab's extensive research, collaborations, and commitment to developing future STEM talent.
Congress Celebrates PNNL's 60 Years of Science, Highlighting $1.64 Billion R&D Impact
This resolution is essentially Congress giving a massive, official high-five to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as it hits its 60th anniversary. It’s not about changing laws or spending new money; it’s about recognizing the lab’s journey from a nuclear cleanup site in 1965 to a modern scientific powerhouse with a $1.64 billion research budget in fiscal year 2024.
The Evolution of a National Lab
The bill traces PNNL's history, noting its start running the Hanford Laboratories and its official rebranding in 1995. What’s interesting is how much the mission has expanded. They went from focusing on plutonium and nuclear waste to tackling everything from the energy grid and advanced energy storage to salmon recovery and cybersecurity. For the average person, this means the lab that helped clean up past environmental messes is now working on making sure your lights stay on, your data is safe, and your local ecosystems are protected. They've grown into a major economic engine, too, now employing over 6,400 people and acting as the largest employer in central Washington.
From Lab Bench to Airport Security
One of the coolest parts of this recognition is the focus on technology transfer—the process of getting lab inventions out into the real world. PNNL isn't just publishing papers; they are developing patented tech that actually impacts your life. The resolution specifically points out the millimeter wave technology developed there, which is now used in airport security scanners. Think about that next time you’re passing through TSA: that machine was born in this national lab. In FY2024 alone, PNNL researchers filed 319 invention disclosures, showing their commitment to turning basic science into commercial applications that improve safety and efficiency.
Partnering for the Future Workforce
PNNL doesn't operate in a silo. The resolution highlights their extensive collaboration, including over 200 joint appointments with more than 60 universities and partnerships with businesses across the country. This model is crucial because it helps bridge the gap between academic research and industry needs. Crucially, PNNL is also heavily invested in the next generation of workers. Their STEM outreach programs reached over 51,000 students and 900 educators in FY2024. If you have kids in school, this means a federal lab is actively working to ensure the pipeline of qualified scientists and engineers—the people who will solve the next big problems in energy and security—stays full.