CONGRESS REQUIRES EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY REPORTING AT NATIONAL LABS

Congressman David Wu's reporting provision is a victory for Asian American community following Wen Ho Lee case

Washington, DC -- The House of Representatives gave final approval to legislation today that requires the Department of Energy (DOE) to report to Congress about minority employment practices at its National Laboratories every two years.  This is a huge victory for the Asian American community following the Wen Ho Lee case because it is an acknowledgement by Congress that the employment culture at the DOE National Laboratories needs reform.  

Congressman David Wu (D-OR) sponsored the reporting provision, and fought for its inclusion into the Energy Bill (H.R. 6).  Wu offered his provision after a 2002 General Accounting Office (GAO) report (GAO-02-391), prepared at his request, revealed racial and gender disparities in employment practices at the DOE labs.  

"We need to ensure that our national labs can recruit and retain the best and brightest, both to protect our national security, and to maintain America's technological leadership.  And, first and foremost, we must protect the basic rights of all American workers," said Congressman David Wu.  "This provision holds the Department of Energy accountable for its employment practices, and takes an important step to correct the situation revealed by our Congressional investigation."

Following the Wen Ho Lee case at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1999, there was increasing anecdotal evidence that minority employees felt that the work environment at DOE's National Laboratories was hostile and unfair.  Many Asian American employees felt that they were being wrongly targeted as potential threats to national security.  The 2002 GAO report revealed disparities in minority hiring and promotion practices at the National Laboratories.

Under Congressman Wu's Energy Bill provision, DOE must provide Congress with a biennial report on equal employment opportunity practices at its National Laboratories.  The report must include information on efforts to attract minorities to the laboratories, and document employee complaints and disciplinary actions taken.

The provision was included in the Energy Bill conference report (H.R. 6), which received final House approval today by a vote of 246 to 180.  The Senate is expected to pass the bill shortly.  It will then go to the President for his signature.

Congressman David Wu is the Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.