Oversight of the department of Energy Research and development enterprise. Welcome, mr. Secretary. Were delighted youre here today. This committee has jurisdiction over the department of energys vitally important science and Energy Research and development activities. The laboratories and facilities so i hope we see you much more frequently from now on, and i look forward to working with you throughout this congress. With the budget season mostly behind us, id like to bring just a few minutes and a few items to your attention. Ill start with the good news which is that despite the administrations best effort to make draconian cuts across the board to deo research and Development Programs, most actually fared well in the house of representatives. Im particularly pleased to see the increases to the budget for arpae and the long Programs Office both of which have yielded truly transformative results for Energy Technologies of all types. Im also quite happy that the house supported a substantial increase in the International Fusion project which i advocated for as well. I went to visit that project a couple years ago, and practically everybody over there was a texan. It is crucial that we honor our commitment to this project and ensure that we are providing the support for the department of energy itself, identified would be necessary to maintain its construction schedule and minimize its total cost to u. S. Taxpayers. The completion and operation of this project will have substantial contributions to what we know as Fusion Energy today. If successful, this project could be a huge game changer in the Energy Future of not only our nation but for humanity as a whole. Now for the bad news. Yet again it is extremely disheartening that quite frankly disturbing to see the dramatic cuts laid out in administrations Budget Proposal. I know that you must think i sound like a broken record, mr. Secretary, because we had this same conversation last year. But unfortunately, it is necessary until the administration stops producing these shortsighted proposals and deploys a thorough thought for process for developing its budget requests. Im thankful for your enthusiastic report of all these programs, mr. Secretary, but enthusiasm alone is really not enough for the American People. We need to see constructive forwardlooking Budget Proposals being submitted to congress. Moving beyond the budget, we are here today to allow our members to ask questions pertaining to all research and Development Programs within the entire department. As the title of this hearing suggests. Constituents from member districts on both sides of the aisle benefit greatly from these programs and we believe its our duty to ensure the responsible use of their tax dollars. Many of these programs havent been authorized in many years. However, in some cases we hope to create more thoughtful Bipartisan Legislation this congress to support the important science and Energy Research stewarded by the department, and we want to work with you in that effort. With that, id like to thank you again for being here, mr. Secretary, and i look forward to a productive discussion this morning. Our Ranking Member is not present, but we have a wellknown texan sitting in for him. Now i recognize mr. Webber. Thank you, chairwoman johnson for hosting this hearing and welcome to our fellow texas statesmen, governor, secretary rick perry. We appreciate him being here. As weve heard from the chairwoman, the department of energy and secretary perry have proposed a budget that requests cuts to programs that have traditionally received bipartisan support from this committee. Id like to remind my colleagues on both sides of the aisle two important facts. Number one, the Budget Proposal is just that. A proposal. We the members of congress are the ones tasked with actually setting the funding levels after hearing from important witnesses like secretary perry today. Second, i want to stress that we will have tough decisions to make on the doe budget. We do not have unlimited funds and we cannot fund every project no matter how worthy. Critical programs must be prioritized, and we have to make smart targeted investments that give the american taxpayer the best bang for their buck year after year. And at the department of energy, there is an incredible range of programs for us to review. This committees jurisdiction includes all of d. O. E. s civilian research, including over 10 billion in research, development, demonstration and commercial application programs as well as the departments 17 National Labs. This amount incredibly totals onethird of the department of energys budget. Onethird of the budget. Mr. Secretary, i dont have to tell you that you lead an incredible department quite well, i might add with a long history of Major Research achievements. Over the past 70 years, Research Conducted at the National Labs has led to monumental achievements in medicine, manufacturing, computing as well as the development of Innovative Energy technology. Each national lab has made invaluable contributions to the United States scientific progress and they have showed basic Science Research is the most effective way to encourage innovation. Addition additionally, does user facilities provide our nations researchers with the most cutting edge tools of modern science like advanced light sources, particle accelerates and the two fastest supercomputers in the world. Each year approximately 22,000 researchers from academia and the private sector used doe facilities to perform new Scientific Research and to develop new technologies. Here at home d. O. E. Heads most federally sponsored research in physical sciences. Internationally the United States through the departments work is the world leader in basic Science Research and technological development. But other countries like china are making significant investments in basic research. Threatening americas global standing as the leader in scientific knowledge. Without the departments continued investment in basic and early stage research, the u. S. Is in danger of losing its Global Technology edge. By investing wisely in this research, the department can achieve its goal of scientific discovery and Technological Breakthroughs for future generations. Doe must also invest in the researchen infrastructure that brings the best scientists in the world to the United States. I look forward to hearing from secretary perry about implementation of legislation that was signed into law last congress. Including doe research, the National QuantumInitiative Act and others. The department of energy must prioritize the kind of groundbreaking basic research authorized in these bills over grants for technology that is ready for commercial deployment. When the government tries to push developed technology into the market, it wastes limited resources in competition with private investors. When basic research is the priority, everyone that has opportunity to access the fundamental knowledge that can lead to the development of future technologies. I want to say thanks again to secretary perry for taking the time to be here today. And i yield the balance of my time. Thank you. Thank you very much. If there are members to wish to submit additional Opening Statements, they will be added to the record at this point. At this point id like to introduce our witness, rick perry currently serves as the United States 14th secretary of energy. He oversees the department of energy tasked with advancing national, economic and Energy Security of the United States. Promoting scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission, and ensuring the environmental cleanup in the National Nuclear weapons complex. Prior to his current cabinet post he was elected Lieutenant Governor of texas in 1998 and later served as governor from 2000 to 2015. He was the longest serving governor in texas history. Not to tell my age, but ive known this gentleman since he was a young man serving in texas. So now im going to yield to you have another statement . Okay. No. Im good. Okay. Im going to ask our secretary to make his Opening Statements and then well proceed with questions. Mr. Perry. Thank you for your kind remarks. Our years in grade School Together were great. And were just out of college, for the record. Thank you. And Ranking Member webber, its my great pleasure to be in front of you and your row, and thank you for your friendship and your wise counsel through the years as i can say to a number of the members that are out there. Governor crist its always a pleasure to be in front of a colleague. As we were making remarks behind colleague. As we were making remarks behind the door there that life after governor is good, and so thank you for your friendship and assistance through the years. Its a pleasure to be in front of each of you members today, and to share with you my observations about the president s 2020 budget, and his budget request as Ranking Member webber so succinctly described it appropriately for the department of energy. If i may, to further highlight some of the great work that were doing, theres just a very short video here that id like to ask you to enjoy with me. And it actually has volume, too. Its kind of a new thing were working on over at the agency to get some volume with our video. Basically what im saying here is we do some pretty good Pioneer Nuclear safety modeling. Assisted in the shell gas revolution, the l. E. D. Revolution. And for those of you arent awake secretary of energy remains the coolest job ive ever had. Thats due to the incredibly brilliant and dedicated people at our National Labs. Theyve had an Astonishing Impact across the nation and literally around the world. Over the years our scientists and engineers, theyve decoded dna. Theyve helped kick start the development of the internet. Brought Safe Drinking Water to multitudes. Pioneered Nuclear Safety modeling. Assisted in the shell gas revolution. The l. E. D. Revolution, and powered spacecraft to other planets. Weve done all that and much more and were just getting started. Now im especially excited about the potential of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Our National Labs are already home to the fastest supercomputers in the world and we can use them, and our nextgeneration exoscale and quantum machines to accelerate americas a. I. Capabilities. A. I. Is already being used to optimize Grid Security, increase our Energy Efficiency among a host of other energyrelated applications. Its also being used to reduce traffic jams and strengthen cyber security. Predict extreme weather and improve Emergency Response and develop cures for cancer and traumatic brain injury. Yet im absolutely convinced were just scratching the surface of our capabilities. And im convinced more than ever through our advances in science, innovation in technology, we can make a worldchanging impact at dod. Thank you for the privilege to be able to show that to you. As you can see, it is really exciting time to be at the helm of d. O. E. And i appeared before this Committee Last year, and i committed to fulfill a number of goals including protecting our Critical Energy infrastructure from cyber threats, investing in early stage cuttingedge research and development and advancing our leadership, exoscale and quantum computing. Im proud to report to you that d. O. E. Has made progress in every one of those areas. This past fall i fulfilled a commitment to visit all 17 of our National Labs, and i got to witness firsthand, as you saw in the video, the brilliant work that those incredible facilities are engaged in. Youll have the opportunity to see examples at National Lab Day july the 24th. Its going to be right up here in your backyard on the hill, and i hope youll consider coming by. Our National Labs are homes to as randy shared with you, the two fastest supercomputers in the world. Five of the ten fastest supercomputers in the world. And we got nextgeneration, if you will, exoscale computers that are coming online in the very near future to accelerate americas capacity and capabilities in the Artificial Intelligence world. This is really important. Its important in a host of Different Reasons which well expound on here during the course of this committee meeting. But i am completely and absolutely convinced the impact that this is going to have on the world that we live in, not just in the area of the energy as we commonly think about it, but a broad array of scienceoriented, sciencecentric areas. Unfortunately, the success of our National Labs has also made them a target. A target for people and nations seeking to steal americas ingenuity. In response, were requiring d. O. E. Employees to fully disclose their involvement in Foreign Government talent recruitment programs that are sponsored by countries of risk. You know, you all know who those are. Iran and china and russia, north korea. And weve banned our researchers from joining chinese talent recruitment programs. I happen to think these are common sense approaches, alex. These are things that we should be doing. And they will better protect our National Security in advanced research and technology. In the coming weeks and months, i look forward to working with all of you at the department as we work on these programs that we talked about, our shared programs, dr. Dabbar, i thank you, madam chair, for your kindness, your hospitality and longtime friendship. Thank you. Thank you very much. At this point, well begin our first round of questions and the chair recognizes herself for the first round. Madam sorry, mr. Secretary, do you stand by the proposal of the elimination of author e. , or is ive heard you make some very positive statements. We are concerned about the futu future. Its been a positive program, and our Appropriations Committee just recommended a fair amount of funding. Yes, maam. Give us a little bit of how you stand on yes, maam. Madam chair, im going to give you a backwards look and then im going to give you a forwards look, if i may. My backwards look is to my previous position of being the governor of the state of texas and the work we did there while randy was a member of the texas legislature. We worked together on some really exciting successful Public Private partnerships, texas enterprise fund. Texas technology fund. And those basically were mini arp aes, if you will. A little different in some instances. But when you think of cuttingedge technology, the dollars we expend in that arena, our desire to Bring Technology and then commercialize it, thats what arpae from my perspective historically has been about. And i respect ombs work and what they do. Ill be real honest with you, i respect this congress more. And i understand how the process works. And i think Ranking Member webber was spot on when he reminded us that this is a starting point. And its, you know, its a starting point and we recognize that. So Going Forward, just like i said in other Committee Hearings previously, i respect this process. I understand how this process works fairly well. And were going to expend the dollars and hopefully very wisely and thoughtfully and efficiently that Congress Appropriates. So as you all have historically said, we like arpae. We want it to be run efficiently. Effectively, be wise about it. But we hear the message here. Previous congress sent a clear message about what they think arpae needs to be. I hope you see a reflection of your desire for this program to go forward and to expend these dollars thoughtfully with the result of programs that are making for a Better Future for this country. Well, thank you. Have you had dialogue