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Requires the Department of Energy to report regularly on its use of authorities to reduce or waive cost-sharing for certain DOE programs. The Secretary must deliver the first report within 120 days after enactment and then at least quarterly to four specified congressional committees, and the reports must be made publicly available and describe the Department’s use of the listed cost‑sharing authorities for each reporting period. Also establishes the Act’s short title. The bill does not authorize new spending or change substantive program rules beyond the reporting requirement.
The bill improves transparency and congressional oversight of DOE cost-sharing decisions—helping taxpayers, lawmakers, and applicants plan and monitor programs—but increases administrative burden and risks exposing sensitive negotiation details or prompting restrictive congressional limits that could raise costs or reduce project funding flexibility.
Taxpayers and the public will receive regular, timely reporting on DOE decisions to reduce or waive cost-sharing, improving transparency and public accountability for how federal research funds are allocated.
Congressional committees (appropriations and energy/science) will get frequent data on cost-share waivers and reductions, helping lawmakers evaluate program costs, budget impacts, and oversight of DOE-funded projects.
Grant applicants and research partners (including state research entities) will gain clearer visibility into DOE's waiver/reduction practices, making it easier to plan project financing and assess funding risks.
If Congress or others use the reports to limit DOE’s discretion on cost-sharing, project sponsors and taxpayers could face higher upfront costs, fewer flexible funding options, reduced project viability, or slower deployment of research and development.
Public quarterly disclosures may reveal competitively sensitive information about negotiations or recipients, which could chill private cost-share offers or harm competitive positioning for some applicants and partners.
Quarterly reporting will increase DOE administrative workload and compliance costs, diverting staff time and resources away from program delivery and oversight activities.
Introduced January 13, 2025 by Jay Obernolte · Last progress March 25, 2025