Representatives Seek $275 Million+ for Fusion Energy Program

Fifty Members of the House of Representatives have signed a letter to Department of Energy Secretary Hazel O’Leary and John Gibbons, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, encouraging the Administration to request $275 million for fusion energy research in FY 1997.

The letter, dated February 15, comes as the Administration is preparing to send its budget to Congress during the week of March 18. The full text of the letter is below, as well as its signatories. Representatives who are Freshmen, members of the House Science Committee and House Appropriations Committee, or signatories of the NSF funding letter described in FYI #19 are noted.

“Dear Secretary O’Leary and Dr. Gibbons:

“We are writing to express our support for a strong U.S. program in fusion energy science and technology. Specifically, we encourage the Administration to submit to Congress a recommendation of at least $275 million for the Department of Energy’s fusion energy program in the Fiscal Year 1997 budget.

“As you know, the Department of Energy’s Fusion [Energy] Advisory Committee (FEAC) has recently completed a re-examination of the fusion program. The FEAC finds that cuts in the FY 1996 fusion budget effectively end U.S. leadership in this field at a time when there is tremendous progress and opportunity in fusion energy research. The report recommends that, by restructuring the Department of Energy’s fusion program and providing a modest increase over the FY 1996 level, we can maintain our research strengths and thereby ensure our nation’s active participation in international fusion energy development.

“The FEAC report sets three policy goals for restructuring the fusion energy program which we believe Congress will support. These goals are to advance plasma science in pursuit of national science and technology goals; to develop fusion science, technology and plasma containment innovations as the central theme of the domestic program; and to pursue energy science and technology as a partner in the international effort.

“Although we are all painfully aware of the severe budgetary constraints facing our nation, we must work to ensure that the U.S. fusion program is not reduced too deeply at a time when the fusion programs of other nations are growing and progress in fusion science and technology is accelerating. The U.S. must maintain a vital and competitive presence in this most fundamental area of science and this most promising energy technology.

“Finally, we want to be clear that it is not our intent that other basic energy and science programs at the Department of Energy be deprived of funding to ensure necessary funding for the fusion program. Perceived competition for funding between science programs can only hurt the strength of U.S. science and technology initiatives.

“Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to the Administration’s strong support of a restructured fusion energy sciences program.”

Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-MD) and Tim Roemer (D-IN) were the sponsors of this letter. Both are on the House Science Committee. Bartlett signed the NSF letter.

Robert E. Andrews (D-NJ)
Bill Baker (R-CA) Science Committee
Brian P. Bilbray (R-CA) Signed NSF letter; Freshman
Sherwood L. Boehlert (R-NY) Science Committee, Signed NSF letter
Jim Chapman (D-TX) Appropriations Committee (Energy and VA, HUD)
Gary A. Condit (D-CA)
Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) Signed NSF letter
Thomas M. Davis (R-VA) Science Committee, Signed NSF letter, Freshman
Julian C. Dixon (D-CA) Appropriations Committee
Calvin M. Dooley (D-CA) Signed NSF letter
Michael F. Doyle (D-PA) Science Committee; Signed NSF letter; Freshman
Vernon J. Ehlers (R-MI) Science Committee; Signed NSF letter; Freshman
Vic Fazio (D-CA) Appropriations Committee (Energy)
Bob Filner (D-CA)
Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) Appropriations (Energy and VA, HUD) Freshman
Bart Gordon (D-TN)
Lindsey O. Graham (R-SC) Science Committee, Freshman
Steve Gunderson (R-WI) Signed NSF letter
Jane Harman (D-CA) Science Committee
James A. Hayes (R-LA)
Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) Appropriations Committee; Signed NSF letter
Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Joseph P. Kennedy II (D-MA) Signed NSF letter
Scott L. Klug (R-WI) Signed NSF letter
Jerry Lewis (R-CA) Appropriations Committee (Chairman of VA, HUD Subcommittee)
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) Science Committee; Freshman
Matthew G. Martinez (D-CA) Signed NSF letter
William J. Martini (R-NJ) Freshman
Frank Mascara (D-PA) Signed NSF letter; Freshman
Jim McDermott (D-WA) Signed NSF letter
Robert T. Matsui (D-CA) Signed NSF letter
Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
John Joseph Moakley (D-MA) Signed NSF letter
Carlos J. Moorhead (R-CA) Signed NSF Letter
Constance A. Morella (R-MD) Science Committee (Subcommittee Chair); Signed NSF letter
Richard E. Neal (D-MA) Signed NSF letter
Charlie Norwood (R-GA) Freshman
Ron Packard (R-CA) Appropriations Committee (Chairman of Legislative Subcommittee)
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) Signed NSF letter
Donald M. Payne (D-NJ)
Marge Roukema (R-NJ)
Jim Saxton (R-NJ)
Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)
John M. Spratt (D-SC)
Peter G. Torkildsen (R-MA) Signed NSF letter
Robert G. Torricelli (D-NJ)
Zach Wamp (R-TN) Science Committee, Signed NSF letter, Freshman
Dick Zimmer (R-NJ) Signed NSF letter