Following His Major Push, Schumer Announces Top-Brass at National Nuclear Security Administration Will Make First-Ever Visit to U of R Laser Lab Tomorrow & See how Critical Facility Keeps U.S. at The Top of High-Energy Laser Innovation & Safeguards the Nation's Nuclear Stockpile

Statement

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced, at his request, Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty will be making her first-ever visit to the University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) on August 20th. Initially, Schumer wrote to invite Administrator Gordon-Hagerty to tour the Laser Lab when he launched a three-pronged plan to save the facility in March 2018, after the administration's budget proposal threatened shutting it down. Schumer then reiterated his invitation during an in-person meeting with Administrator Gordon-Hagerty in June 2018, citing the paramount role the Laser Lab plays in U.S. national security and the Rochester-Finger Lakes economy. Schumer succeeded last year in his plan to keep the Laser Lab open and secured back-to back record increases in Fiscal Year 2018 and 2019 funding for the Lab to keep its 350 Rochester workers on the job.

"The U of R Laser Lab, a trailblazer in research and discovery that's been home to Noble Prize-winning discoveries, plays a fundamental role in U.S. national security by helping to safeguard the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile and provides 350 good-paying jobs to the Rochester-Finger Lakes economy," said Senator Schumer. "I'm so glad to hear that NNSA Administrator Gordon-Hagerty has heeded my numerous requests and will be touring the laser lab tomorrow, to see first-hand how the facility is vital to the NNSA's mission to safeguard our nuclear stockpile and to train the next generation of skilled workers needed to fulfill NNSA's mission. We must do everything we can so that the Laser Lab continues to grow now and in the future, especially considering the actions of foreign competitors like China and Russia who are working to beat the U.S. in the race towards advances in high-energy physics, and Administrator Gordon-Hagerty's visit will help it to do just that."

"I'm very pleased that NNSA Administrator Gordon-Hagerty will be touring the Rochester Laser Lab to see firsthand the contributions that it provides for both the Rochester community and our national security," said Senator Gillibrand. "The Laser Lab's groundbreaking research helps advance our scientific knowledge and provides essential support to our nation's nuclear capabilities. I am hopeful that Administrator Gordon-Hagerty's visit will serve as an important step forward in the relationship between the Laser Lab and its federal partners, and I will always fight to ensure that the Laser Lab has the resources it needs for its important work for our country."

"The Laboratory for Laser Energetics is a world-class institution and leader in cutting edge scientific research," said Rep. Morelle. "I am excited that DOE Under-Secretary and NNSA Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty will be able to see this unique facility firsthand and learn about the innovative applications being developed that have the potential to aid U.S. national security. I look forward to Ms. Gordon-Hagerty's visit and commend the University of Rochester on their continued excellence."

"The Laboratory for Laser Energetics is one of the highest federal research priorities for the University and is a source of innovation and fundamental discovery of which we are rightfully proud. As the largest university-based DOE program, we understand and share the Administrator's strong interest in growing the NNSA's highly-skilled workforce. We are very thankful for her visit and are excited for this opportunity to showcase our wonderful students, scientists, faculty, and staff who make the LLE the word-class facility it is. Our partnership with NNSA has been enormously productive for the nation and the advancement of science, and we look forward to strengthening that relationship with Tuesday's visit. We want to thank Senator Schumer for helping facilitate this visit and for his tireless leadership and support to the University. We are incredibly grateful for the strong Congressional support we receive for the LLE. Continued investment in the LLE will advance the nation's scientific leadership, strengthen our national and economic security, foster the development of new technologies and companies, grow our local economy, and support efforts to find an affordable, plentiful, and efficient source of energy for the future," said Sarah Mangelsdorf, University of Rochester President.

Established in 1970, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) of the University of Rochester is a unique national resource for research and education in science and technology and a major asset of the University not found at any other university in the country. Both the Rochester area and the University have a history of innovation that provides a singular environment for LLE within a technologically sophisticated scientific community.

LLE is the largest U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) university-based research program in the entire nation and is home to the OMEGA lasers (Omega and Omega EP) -- the largest and most capable at any academic institution in the world. Working in partnership with three national security Department of Energy laboratories (Los Alamos, Sandia, and Livermore), the LLE is recognized nationally and internationally for its ICF (Inertial Confinement Fusion ) and high energy density science research as part of the nuclear Stockpile Security Program (SSP). Schumer said since the banning of underground nuclear testing, the only way to get the information needed for performance, weapons effects, and the safety of our current aging nuclear weapon stockpile is by doing ICF test experiments. Eighty percent of these ICF test experiments are done at the University of Rochester Laser Lab. LLE conducts implosion and basic physics experiments in support of the national Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program, validates advanced concepts for ICF to be used on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in order to demonstrate ignition and energy gain, serves as the principal laser research facility for three national laboratories, and is the only ICF facility with education as a primary mission. It is a vital component of the nation's scientific capital and leadership, and key to strategic work on an independent energy future.

In his invitation letter to NNSA Administrator Gordon-Hagerty, Schumer noted during Gordon-Hagerty's confirmation hearings she stated that among the DOE and NNSA's unique responsibilities is to ensure the safety, security, and reliability of our nation's nuclear weapons stockpile. As such, she said that one of DOE's top priorities for achieving this mission will be to develop a skilled workforce to ensure that the nation's "nuclear security enterprise continues to employ the brightest and the best by recruiting, retaining, and growing the highly skilled workforce needed to maintain the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile." Schumer wrote that a visit to LLE is a perfect opportunity to excel in both of these pursuits. Schumer explained that the LLE is vital in terms of both enabling the NNSA to meet this responsibility of ensuring our Nation's nuclear stockpile is safe and reliable, as well as advancing the government's priority of developing and educating the next generation workforce of scientists, engineers, and technicians that our nation needs.

As one of the premier institutions training the next generation of leaders in the fields of physics, optics, and material science, LLE is an economic development magnet that provides high-tech jobs and attracts scientific talent to the Rochester community. Many Rochester companies, including Sydor Technologies, QED Technologies, and Lucid, were created as a result of the Lab and now employ hundreds of people. LLE's work has also generated almost $16 million in business with more than 50 local companies across New York State since 2015.

Since its inception, the LLE has attracted more than $2.3 billion to New York State to support cutting-edge research. Through the LLE's mission, the University also attracts as many as 400 additional visiting scientists each year to Rochester from national laboratories, universities, and companies, and currently hosts over 145 students (graduate, undergraduate, and high school).

Schumer and Gillibrand have long fought for Rochester's Laser Lab. In past years, the senators have helped secure millions of dollars for the lab and pledged to continue to work for funds to strengthen this first-class institution. They helped secure $68 million in funding in the Fiscal Year 2016 spending bill for the LLE and advocated for federal investment in Fiscal Year 2017. Furthermore, in the 2018 bipartisan Omnibus spending bill, Schumer and Gillibrand secured $75 million in funding for the LLE for Fiscal Year 2018, and in the Fiscal Year 2019 Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, another $80 million in funding for the LLE. Earlier this year, the senators announced their push to boost federal funding to over $82 million in Fiscal Year 2020. Schumer stated that he will continue his efforts to help grow the laser lab, which is a key driver of Rochester's optics and photonics industry and in maintaining the nation's nuclear weapon stockpile while developing new clean energy sources.

Source