In a boost for the Spallation Neutron Source, the U.S. House Science Committee is supporting the Department of Energy's $281 million request for fiscal year 2001.

"Last year Science Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner Jr. voiced some major concerns about SNS," said Congressman Zach Wamp. "I worked closely with him and the U.S. Department of Energy to make sure that the problems he cited were resolved, and -- thankfully -- they have been. This is a positive step for SNS and good news for the whole Oak Ridge-East Tennessee area."

The support for funding came in "Views and Estimates" on proposed spending submitted to the House Budget Committee by Sensenbrenner on behalf of the House Science Committee.

The Science Committee noted that it had been concerned about the SNS management, cost estimates and the fact the State of Tennessee was set to collect some $28.3 million in taxes on SNS, potentially making it more costly to build in Tennessee than in other states. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed and Gov. Don Sundquist signed legislation exempting SNS from those taxes.

The Science Committee noted that its concerns have been met. "Consequently, the Committee supports the FY 2001 request of $281 million - including $261.9 million for construction and $19.1 million for SNS R&D and related project costs. The Committee intends to continue to be vigilant in its oversight of the project," said the Views and Estimates.

"At the end of the day, Chairman Sensenbrenner's "tough love" for the SNS has helped bring about significant management improvements and put the project on a much sounder footing," Wamp said. "Even though we felt some "growing pains" during the process, it wound up helping to make sure that SNS is successfully completed. This is an example of Congressional oversight at its very best - looking out for the interests of all American taxpayers and making sure that big-ticket projects like SNS - the premier science project in America today - are also top-quality projects. This will help ensure that SNS is completed and that Oak Ridge remains at the forefront of science, technology and innovation in the United States and the whole world.

"We must now go to work to convince House and Senate appropriators that basic science investment is a high national priority and to urge them to make room for the SNS within their allocations."