In a discussion with Congressman Zach Wamp on the floor of the U.S. House, a key subcommittee chairman has agreed to work to adequately fund the Spallation Neutron Source.

Wamp got the commitment during a June 27 exchange with U.S. Rep. Ron Packard, R-Calif. He is chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.

Packard said he will work for adequate SNS funding when spending levels are agreed to during a conference between the House and Senate later this year.

The exchange follows:

Mr. Wamp:

Mr. Chairman, the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is one of the most important science initiatives of our generation and represents a $1.4 billion major construction project supported by the Department of Energy Office of Science to build the world's most powerful source of pulsed beams for scientific research and development.

With its advanced accelerator technology and world-class instrument design, SNS will be more than 12 times as powerful as the world's current leading neutron source in the UK (United Kingdom) and offer unprecedented research opportunities for up to 2000 scientists each year. This research is crucial to supporting advances in biology, polymers, magnetic materials, superconductivity and materials research that will continue to keep the U.S. economy strong and keep us at the forefront of scientific endeavors around the globe.

SNS has been subject to many technical and management reviews in the past four years, including review by the DOE, several external independent review teams, the GAO and the House Science Committee. These reviews have shown conclusively that the technical basis of the SNS is sound and that the SNS management is on a solid path to completing the project within budget by 2006 as planned. All conditions prescribed in the Committee report on last year's Energy and Water Appropriations Bill have been satisfied, and the House Science Committee has recommended full funding of the SNS in FY2001.

The SNS will fully obligate $190M in this fiscal year, including the FY2000 appropriation of $100M in construction funds and $17.9M in R&D, plus the FY1999 balances brought forward of about $71.4M. Significant design and construction activity has taken place in the last year, with most Title I design completed, approximately $75M in procurements being awarded and major excavation and grading of the 100-acre site well underway.

Fully Funding the FY2001 requested level is essential to maintain the current schedule to complete SNS in 2006 within the total project cost of $1.4 Billion.

I know how hard you, Mr. Chairman, and your excellent staff have worked to get this project to where we are today, and I appreciate that. I also acknowledge the budget constraints that we're currently under and that so far we haven't been able to provide the necessary funds that this project needs to meet the necessary milestones over the next 12 months.

I am asking your commitment, please sir, that as we work together during conference we will do everything possible to significantly increase the funding for the Spallation Neutron Source, and I'll yield for your response.

Chairman Packard:

I appreciate the gentleman's request. I certainly will work in Conference to adequately fund the Spallation Neutron Source.

Mr. Wamp: