From: rsherme@diamond.nswc.navy.mil (Russel Shermer (R43))
Newsgroups: sci.research
Subject: fyi #108: Senate Appropriations Committee Report: SSC
Date: 12 Aug 92 15:55:07 GMT
Organization: NAVSWC DD White Oak Det.

Posted for:
Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
Phone: (202) 332-9661
Email: fyi@aip.org

Senate Appropriations Committee Report: SSC

FYI No. 108, August 12, 1992

Accompanying all appropriations bills is a report written by
committee staff providing the committee's recommendations on how
agencies should spend the money which is appropriated to them.
Although these reports are not binding, federal agencies are
usually quite reluctant to implement policies contrary to those of
the committee which has jurisdiction over their budget.  Both the
House and Senate Appropriations Committees write reports, with a
final "conference report" issued to accompany the final bill.

Below are selected portions of Senate Report 102-344, accompanying
H.R. 5373, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for
fiscal year 1993, as it pertains to the superconducting super
collider.  The House Appropriations Committee has also released its
energy and water development report; see FYIs #81 and 85 for
information on the SSC.

Superconducting Super Collider:

Current funding:                         $483,700,000
Administration request for FY 93:         650,000,000
House bill:                                33,700,000
Senate bill:                              550,000,000

"Construction of the SSC is the highest priority in particle
physics today and absolutely critical for progress into the 21st
century.  The SSC is the next logical step in high energy physics,
springing from human ambition to expand scientific knowledge and
technological capability.

"The Committee recognizes the importance of the SSC to the Nation's
technological health.  More than just an investment in U.S.
scientific leadership, the SSC is the impetus for new directions in
industry, education, and economic growth.  Over 100 American
universities and nearly 900 American scientists are preparing to do
research utilizing the SSC.  By the end of fiscal year 1992, SSC
educational programs will have directly reached more than 30,000
students and educators.  More than 6,000 jobs across the country
have been created by the SSC, including new opportunities for
engineers, technicians, construction, and other workers
experiencing reduced job opportunities as a result of cutbacks in
the defense industry.

"The SSC laboratory and the Department of Energy have maintained
the baseline cost outlined in the SSC cost and schedule baseline,
presented to the Congress in January 1991.  Critical path
milestones are being met, including industrial assembly of
superconducting magnets, occupation of the magnet development
laboratory, and completion of the cryogenic facility.  The
accelerator systems string test building is completed and magnets
are being installed for testing in the summer of 1992.  The
Committee is deeply concerned that any further reductions in
Federal appropriations will jeopardize this substantial progress.

"The Committee recognizes the historically international character
of high energy physics research and the fact that the SSC will be
used by scientists from many nations.  The Secretary of Energy is
encouraged to continue with efforts seeking significant foreign
investment in the construction of the project.  However, the
Committee must reiterate its contention that construction of the
SSC should not be dependent on the question of whether foreign
participation will be forthcoming.  Since the SSC is a
high-priority project and important for this Nation, as the
Committee believes that it is, then we should be prepared to
proceed.  The Committee restates its belief that the benefits to be
realized by U.S. industries, particularly in the area of
superconducting magnet manufacturing and related technologies,
outweigh the budgetary requirements that are asserted as necessary
to require foreign participation."

[There follows an additional seven paragraphs of the committee's
rationale for funding the SSC.]


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Public Information Division
American Institute of Physics
Contact:  Richard M. Jones
(202) 332-9661
##END##########