U.S. House Appropriations Committee Archives

The new chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee visited Oak Ridge on Thursday. U.S. Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican, toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex. The visit was hosted by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican. (Submitted photo)

The new chair of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee visited Oak Ridge on Thursday. During his visit, U.S. RepresentativeÂ Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican, touredÂ Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex.

The visit was hosted by Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican whose district includes Oak Ridge.

The House Republican Conference approved Frelinghuysen as the new chair of the critical House Appropriations Committee, which funds the federal missions at Oak Ridge, late last year. Hal Rogers, a Kentucky Republican, was the former chair. [Read more…]

Chuck Spencer

Operating costs have already been cut by 7 percent at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and all employees are expected to report to work on Friday, even if automatic federal spending cuts go into effect at midnight.

The federal cuts could reduce lab funding by 5 percent to 8 percent, ORNL Director Thom Mason said. That could translate into $70 million to $100 million in funding cuts, depending upon how the reductions are allocated.

Meanwhile, at the Y-12 National Security Complex, the automatic spending cuts could lead to furloughs, or temporary layoffs. Democrats on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee have said between 700 and 1,000 employees could be furloughed for up to six months.

But in a Feb. 14 message to employees, B&W Y-12 General Manager Chuck Spencer did not say how many employees might be affected.

[Read more…]

New House Appropriations chair visits ORNL, Y-12

Sequester scenarios: $100 million in funding cuts at ORNL, furloughs at Y-12