Noem, House Vote to Boost Sanford Lab Research

Rep. Kristi Noem this week joined the U.S. House of Representatives in passing new legislation to support the research being conducted at Sandford Lab. More specifically, H.R.4377, the Accelerating American Leadership in Science Act, would specifically authorize funding for Sanford Lab's neutrino research.

"For decades, the Homestake Mine was used for mining gold, but today, we are mining the site for something much more valuable: a new understanding of how the natural world works," said Noem. "Not only does the nation stand behind this research, but allies across the globe do as well. That is extremely encouraging. The future of science is happening in our backyard."

Additionally, Noem met with British Ambassador Kim Darroch Wednesday to thank him for the United Kingdom's support of the Sanford Lab project. In September 2017, the United Kingdom announced an $88 million investment in the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility and the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE) -- projects being conducted at Sanford Lab. The announcement came after Noem wrote the British Minister of State for Universities and Science Jo Johnson in August 2016 urging support for the project.

The LBNF/DUNE experiment focuses on the study of neutrinos -- one of the least understood particles in the universe. It seeks to uncover their structure and behavior in the hopes of developing new technological advances as well as educating and training students. To study the properties of neutrinos, the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois would produce an intense beam of neutrinos, which would travel 800 miles across the United States to the deep underground lab at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota.

According to a 2016 study commissioned by the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, this experiment will contribute as much as $952 million to South Dakota's economy, while creating nearly 2,000 jobs.

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