Udall Reacts to UT Decision to Complete for Lanl Contract

UDALL REACTS TO UT DECISION TO COMPETE FOR LANL CONTRACT

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., released the following statement concerning the University of Texas' decision to compete for the contract to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The Bush administration announced last April that it would take competitive bids for the contract to LANL for the first time in the history of the laboratory.

"This really isn't surprising news. When Secretary Abraham announced that the LANL contract would be put to bid last year, I said that if the University of California continued to make essential reforms, I felt that they would be in a strong position to re-compete. I have listened to my constituents at the laboratory and I know they are overwhelmingly opposed to losing the UC contract. I share their concerns and will keep them at the forefront as this develops.

"I wrote Secretary Abraham last year when news of contract competition at the lab first surfaced. I made it clear that maintaining employee benefits such as pension, retirement, and health care be protected in any contract negotiations. I was pleased to receive a response from the secretary assuring me that every effort would be made to maintain employee benefits. I intend to keep in touch with the Department of Energy to express my constituents' concerns that their benefits remain intact.

"I believe the University of California has made some positive changes over the past year. While our national security concerns must be paramount in deciding who manages the lab, I can say that I am proud of the many contributions the University of California and the lab's dedicated employees have made during the past six decades."