House committee passes 3 bills to modernize Department of Energy research infrastructure
Investments would be made to modernize Department of Energy (DOE) user facilities that support more than 30,000 researchers around the world each year under three bills that a House committee approved on Wednesday.
The House Science, Space and Technology Committee approved the Department of Energy Research Infrastructure Act, H.R. 4376, the Accelerating American Leadership in Science Act, H.R. 4377, and the Nuclear Energy Research Infrastructure Act, H.R. 4378.
“Maintaining America’s leadership in energy research infrastructure is a crucial priority for our committee,” U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the chairman of the committee, said.
Under H.R. 4376, the secretary of energy would be directed to complete upgrades to the Advance Light Source. The synchrotron facility provides researchers around the world access to the brightest beams of soft x-rays, hard x-rays and infrared. Modernization efforts would include the Linac Coherent Light Source II HIgh Energy upgrade, and the construction of a Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.
“For over a century, the United States has lead the world in scientific discovery and advanced technology,” U.S. Rep. Steve Knight (R-CA), the author of H.R. 4376, said “The discoveries and innovations created by American minds have not only provided immeasurable value to our economy, but have also improved the quality of life for all of mankind. The research advanced in this bill has the potential to be a generational leap in our understanding of the natural world.”
Meanwhile, H.R. 4377 would authorize the secretary of energy to complete upgrades to the Advanced Photon Source. Construction of a Long Baseline Neutrino Facility to provide proton power to the Spallation Neutron Source, and construction of a second station for the Spallation Neutron Source, would be included in those upgrades.
“The Department of Energy’s Office of Science operates and maintains this large-scale research infrastructure which no single university or business has the capacity to propose,’ U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL), the author of the bill, said. “I introduced the Accelerating American Leadership in Science Act to ensure the United States remains the destination for the best and brightest in the world to continue their work exploring the outer reaches of our scientific knowledge. The research done at these facilities, and the technology they produce, reaffirms American leadership in fields that will improve lives and increase domestic jobs here in Illinois.”
And H.R. 4378 would direct the secretary of energy to build a Versatile Neutron Source using funds from the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy.
“Access to fast neutrons is a critical part of the development of next generation materials and fuels for advanced nuclear reactor technology,” U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), the author of the bill, said. “The Nuclear Energy Research Infrastructure Act allocates funds from within the DoE Office of Nuclear Energy for the construction of the Versatile Neutron Source. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside my fellow Texans, and the other members of this Committee, to support research infrastructure that will keep America safe, globally competitive and encourage nuclear innovation.”
