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The Department of Energy and the University of California have agreed to extend the school system's contract to manage the Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National laboratories through 2005. 

Rep. Ellen Tauscher said today that changes have been made by the Energy Department, the university and the National Nuclear Security Administration to rectify long-standing problems. The university has improved security and counterintelligence and streamlined reporting procedures, as well as project management to protect nuclear secrets, she said. Tauscher pledged to closely monitor the implementation of the contract to make sure lab employees and their working environment is at the forefront of technological advances.