H.R. 2729: To authorize the designation of National Environmental Research Parks by the Secretary of Energy, and for other purposes.

111th Congress · introduced 2009-06-04 · Science, Technology, Communications · Latest: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2009-06-04 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 597 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR2729 (2009-07-21), Passed. See all
Where it stands now: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

To authorize the designation of National Environmental Research Parks by the Secretary of Energy, and for other purposes.

Plain summary

Requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to designate as protected outdoor research reserves for the purpose of conducting long-term environmental research on the impacts of human activities on the natural environment: (1) Savannah River National Environmental Research Park; (2) Idaho National Environmental Research Park; (3) Los Alamos National Environmental Research Park; (4) Fermi Lab National Environmental Research Park; (5) Oak Ridge National Environmental Research Park; and (6) Nevada National Environmental Research Park. Requires each site to support environmental research and monitoring activities to characterize and monitor site conditions and serve as control areas for comparison with environmental impacts of DOE land management, energy technology development, remediation, and other site activities outside the Park areas. Authorizes areas of research and monitoring on the sites to include: (1) ecology of the site and the region; (2) population biology and ecology; (3) radioecology; (4) effects of climate variability and change on ecosystems; (5) ecosystem science; (6) pollution fate and transport research; (7) surface and groundwater modeling; (8) student training; and (9) environmental impacts of development and use of energy generation technologies, including renewable energy technologies. Requires DOE to enter into a cooperative agreement with a university, community college, or consortium of institutions of higher education with expertise in ecology and environmental science of the region in which the Park is located to ensure the independence of the research, monitoring, public education, and outreach activities. Requires each site to support an outreach program to inform the public of the diverse ecological activities conducted and to educate students at various levels in environmental science. Requires DOE to designate a National Environmental Research Park Coordinator within the Department of Energy Office of Science to: (1) coordinate research activities among the Parks; (2) ensure that information on best practices for research, education, and outreach activities is shared among the sites; and (3) serve as liaison to other federal agencies to facilitate collaborative work at the Parks. Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2014. Authorizes the Parks to be utilized to provide educational opportunities through the Summer Institutes program authorized in the Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

To authorize the designation of National Environmental Research Parks by the Secretary of Energy, and for other purposes.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2729, A bill to authorize the designation of National Environmental Research Parks by the Secretary of Energy, and for other purposes (2009-07-09); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2729, A bill to authorize the designation of National Environmental Research Parks by the Secretary of Energy, and for other purposes (2009-07-09)

Cosponsors on this site

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] reported raising $6.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

House roll call 597 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, HR2729 (2009-07-21): Passed

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111hr2729.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/hr>

Record fed-us-cong111-hr2729 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111