Rep. Miller welcomes Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Second Campus
and new jobs and educational opportunity to Richmond;
Congratulates city and civic leaders for successful united effort

RICHMOND, CA -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) praised today’s announcement that a top federal science laboratory has selected Richmond, CA for a highly coveted new second campus, calling it a major boost for local jobs and a vote of confidence for the role that Richmond and the East Bay play in innovation and discovery.

“I am thrilled to welcome the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to Richmond,” said Miller, who helped make the case to federal lab officials that Richmond was the right choice out of several locations under consideration for the construction of a major new second campus to conduct research and science experiments.

“This is the decision we were hoping for, and it is the right decision for the Lab, for Richmond, and for the East Bay. The Berkeley Lab’s announcement that its second campus will be built in Richmond means new jobs for our community now and in the long term, new educational opportunities for our students, and more innovations and new discoveries for our country,” Miller said.

Miller noted that the second campus in Richmond will give the growing national laboratory the space it needs for several existing programs, and it will provide for new scientific discoveries and the continued economic growth they generate.

“The national labs are among our nation’s most important scientific and economic assets,” Miller said. “Lawrence Berkeley brings the world’s top minds together to chart new frontiers of discovery and innovation — and to create the jobs and industries of the future. Year after year, the brilliant minds at the Berkeley Lab make breakthroughs in our understanding of distant galaxies and the tiniest objects on Earth. And every single day, the work they do means better medicines, cleaner sources of energy from the sun and advanced biofuels, and more energy-efficient cars and buildings. Their work leads directly to the next generations of technology, intellectual discoveries, and economic growth and the jobs that come with it.

“Today’s decision is the latest exciting step in Richmond’s and West County’s economic evolution. Richmond is where Rosie the Riveter first proclaimed ‘We Can Do It.’ When it came to the ship building and manufacturing industry – the people and industry in Richmond did it, bringing men and women from across the country to build the jeeps and ships that helped win the second World War. That attitude continues to drive change today in Richmond, West County, and the entire Bay Area. Our community is increasingly populated with entrepreneurs, innovators, startup businesses, and the jobs they create – all of which will be strengthened by this new second campus for the Berkeley Lab. The announcement that the second campus will be built in Richmond ensures that the East Bay, and West County in particular, will remain a center for innovation and entrepreneurship for decades to come.

“I look forward to working with the Lab’s director, Dr. Paul Alivisatos, and his team, and with the Richmond community to make this partnership a huge success. I want to commend the efforts of Richmond’s City Manager, the mayor and city council, and Richmond’s business, labor, and education leaders for recognizing this opportunity and making the winning case that Richmond was the right place for the second campus. I am proud to have been part of the team that advocated effectively on behalf of our community.”

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