A
JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL TO CREATE AN INTERIM LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE.
WHEREAS, the New Mexico
legislative council in 2002 created a Los Alamos national laboratory oversight
committee and named members of the public to a citizens advisory group to
assist the committee; and
WHEREAS, the committee received
testimony during the interim on the composition of the workforce at the
laboratory, the employee skills desired by managers at the laboratory, other
workforce issues, environmental concerns and the efforts being made by public
schools and institutions of higher education to assist students in acquiring
the skills and knowledge necessary to gain employment at the laboratory; and
WHEREAS, the citizens advisory
group named to assist the oversight committee began an examination of
educational needs to prepare New Mexico students for employment at the
laboratory and identified other workforce issues and environmental concerns;
and
WHEREAS, the citizens advisory
group can help the oversight committee focus on long-term solutions to increase
minority employment and promotion opportunities for current employees and the
employees terminated during the 1995 reduction in force at the laboratory and
long-term solutions to environmental concerns; and
WHEREAS, the citizens advisory
group expects that its work will continue until at least the middle of 2003;
and
WHEREAS, it is expected that
the senate of the state of California will create a committee to oversee the
operation of Los Alamos national laboratory and other national laboratories
operated by the university of California, and the New Mexico and California
oversight committees have met jointly in the past;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative
council be requested to create a Los Alamos national laboratory oversight
committee to continue the work begun in the 2002 interim and to meet as
necessary with members of the comparable California committee; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
copies of this memorial be transmitted to the co-chairmen of the New Mexico
legislative council, the president pro tempore of the California senate, the
president of the university of California and the director of Los Alamos
national laboratory.