§2791. Laboratory-directed research and development programs

(a) Authority

Government-owned, contractor-operated laboratories that are funded out of funds available to the Department of Energy for national security programs are authorized to carry out laboratory-directed research and development.

(b) Regulations

The Secretary of Energy shall prescribe regulations for the conduct of laboratory-directed research and development at such laboratories.

(c) Funding

Of the funds provided by the Department of Energy to a national security laboratory for national security activities, the Secretary shall provide a specific amount, of not less than 5 percent and not more than 7 percent of such funds, to be used by the laboratory for laboratory-directed research and development.

(d) "Laboratory-directed research and development" defined

For purposes of this section, the term "laboratory-directed research and development" means research and development work of a creative and innovative nature which, under the regulations prescribed pursuant to subsection (b), is selected by the director of a laboratory for the purpose of maintaining the vitality of the laboratory in defense-related scientific disciplines.

(Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLVIII, §4811, formerly Pub. L. 101–510, div. C, title XXXI, §3132, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1832 ; renumbered Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLVIII, §4811, and amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, §3141(k)(6), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1784 ; Pub. L. 114–92, div. C, title XXXI, §3115(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1193 .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 7257a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 108–136.

Amendments

2015-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted "to a national security laboratory" for "to such laboratories", "of not less than 5 percent and not more than 7 percent" for "not to exceed 6 percent", and "by the laboratory" for "by such laboratories".

2003-Pub. L. 108–136, §3141(k)(6)(D), made technical amendment to section catchline.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Pilot Program on Unavailability for Overhead Costs of Amounts Specified for Laboratory-Directed Research and Development

Pub. L. 114–328, div. C, title XXXI, §3119, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2763 , as amended by Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXI, §3118, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1952 ; Pub. L. 116–283, div. C, title XXXI, §3162, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4391 , which established a pilot program under which each national security laboratory was prohibited from using certain funds to cover costs of general and administrative overhead for the laboratory, was repealed by Pub. L. 117–263, div. C, title XXXI, §3116(b), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3054 . See section 2792(c) of this title.