Hultgren pushes legislation beneficial to suburban labs

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, a Plano Republican, won House approval of legislation that he says could further the work national research hubs like Batavia's Fermilab and Lemont's Argonne National Lab.

One of Hultgren's proposals would expedite research into high-performance computing technology that could yield computing that is done at the speed of a human brain. Argonne could eventually end up doing some of that research.

"Massive gains in computing power are necessary to meet our national security, scientific and health care needs, including testing our aging nuclear stockpile to modeling the human brain in order to fight Alzheimer's disease," Hultgren said.

The House also approved Hultgren's proposal that would make it easier for companies in the private sector to use research done at federal labs.

"Entrepreneurs can use scientific research completed in the labs to innovate and bring revolutionary ideas to the marketplace, pushing our economy forward while creating local jobs and economic development along the way," Hultgren said.

Both now go to the Senate.