House and Senate Report Language for DOE: General Science & Research

Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees approved, on July 16, differing versions of a fiscal year 1997 Energy and Water Development bill (see FYI #109.) Committee reports are available for both the House and Senate bills. Below is report language that describes the committees’ views and recommendations for the Department of Energy’s General Science and Research Activities, which comprises High Energy and Nuclear Physics. Please see previous FYIs for report language on Fusion and Basic Energy Sciences.

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT (H. Report 104-679):

GENERAL SCIENCE AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES (GS&RA)

“The General Science and Research Activities account consists of the high energy physics and nuclear physics programs. High energy physics research seeks to understand the nature of matter and energy at the most fundamental level, as well as the basic forces which govern all processes in nature. The goal of nuclear physics research is to understand the structure and properties of atomic nuclei and the fundamental forces between the constituents that form the nucleus. Nuclear processes determine essential physical characteristics of our universe and the composition of the matter that forms it. Knowledge acquired in this basic research is an essential part of the intellectual foundation of other scientific disciplines. Deeper understanding correspondingly contributes to all of the scientific disciplines and to our Nation’s technological base.

“While high energy physics and nuclear physics research programs are not directly associated with energy technology in the near or mid-term, they support basic research whose aim is to provide new knowledge which is expected to have long-term scientific and technological impacts on energy development and utilization and on other aspects of our society. The Committee’s funding recommendation for General Science and Research Activities reflects the continued role of the Federal government in fundamental scientific research where research is not market-driven and is difficult or impossible for the private sector to conduct.

“The Committee recommendation includes a new program entitled `Research and Technology’ which consolidates the funding and program activities formerly contained in `Physics Research’ and `High Energy Technology.’ This will provide greater flexibility in executing the high energy physics program and allocating resources among facilities and activities.

“Due to severe budget constraints, the Committee was unable to fund the full budget request. The recommendation for General Science and Research Activities is $996,000,000, a reduction of $13,150,000 from the budget request of $1,009,150,000, but an increase of $15,000,000 over fiscal year 1996. The Committee encourages the Department to: continue to pursue management improvements, such as reducing the requirements of internal regulations and the number of audits and oversight reviews; lessen administrative requirements at facilities and laboratories; and direct more of the funding to support direct program tasks.”

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT (S. Report 104-320):

GENERAL SCIENCE AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES (GS&RA)

“The general science and research activities programs are concerned with understanding the nature of matter and energy and the fundamental forces and particles of nature. The knowledge acquired in this basic research is an essential part of the intellectual foundation of other scientific disciplines and technical permits. Deeper understanding correspondingly contributes to all of the scientific disciplines and to our Nation’s technological base. The general science and research activities programs are organized into two interrelated scientific programs, high-energy physics, and nuclear physics. These programs support basic research which is aimed to provide new knowledge which is expected to have long-term scientific and technological impacts on energy development and utilization and on other aspects of our society.

“The Department’s general science and research support some of the most important research conducted by the Federal Government. As a result, the Committee has sought to minimize any reductions in these programs.

“High-energy physics. - The Committee recommendation for high-energy physics is $672,921,000, a $5,921,000 reduction from the amount provided in fiscal year 1996 and a $6,204,000 reduction from the amount requested.

“The Committee encourages the Department to participate in international collaborations to increase access of U.S. researchers to world class research facilities. However, the Committee strongly cautions the Department that, due to budget constraints, it should anticipate, at best, current level funding for the high-energy physics program for the foreseeable future. Any funds committed to the LHC [Large Hadron Collider at CERN] must be derived from the base high-energy physics budget.

“Nuclear physics. - The recommendation for nuclear energy physics is $318,425,000, a $13,925,000 increase over the amount provided in fiscal year 1996 and equal to the amount requested.”