Foster Stresses Need for Science Funding

Press Release

Urges Leadership to Include Basic Energy Sciences Funding In Supplemental Bill

While still working to obtain federal funding for Fermilab in Batavia, IL, Rep. Bill Foster (IL-14) today again showed his commitment to the restoration of broad science funding. Foster, with a bipartisan coalition of Members of the House, including Illinois Republican Reps. Judy Biggert and Peter Roskam, sent a letter to leadership stressing the urgent need to fund Basic Energy Sciences.

"While it is of the utmost importance that Fermilab receives federal funding, it is also important to remember that the entire science community has been hurt by systematic underfunding under the Bush Administration," Foster said. "I am working with my colleagues in the House to ensure that all of our nation's science programs receive the funding they need to advance our nation and increase our competitiveness globally."

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill passed by the Senate included $100 million that was allocated to the Department of Energy Office of Science for fusion and high energy physics. However, the legislation did not designate any funding for Basic Energy Sciences user facilities or other research within the DOE Office of Science.

Due to this fact, Foster and a coalition of House members sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader John Boehner, Appropriations Chairman David Obey and Appropriations Ranking Member Jerry Lewis urging them to provide an additional $50 million in the final version of the fiscal year 2008 Supplemental bill. The money would go to the Department of Energy Office of Science and the critical facilities and research supported by its Basic Energy Services program. This money would benefit Argonne National Laboratory and other DOE research facilities.

"As leadership and the Appropriations Committee work out a final version of the Supplemental spending legislation, I will continue to stand up for our scientific research facilities and programs in Illinois and throughout the country. This will allow our scientific community to pursue basic research, including advanced technologies that may drastically change the way our country uses and produces energy," Foster said.

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