The U.S. is expected to be participating in the LHC machine and detector construction projects, and negotiations are beginning now on the level of that participation. Thus, new initiatives are possible, but the competition for funding will be fierce. Discussions within the laboratory have been going on for several months. Based on what is known now about future directions of interest to our community, the main elements of the SLAC program in 2000 are clear. SLAC will be heavily involved in the machine and the physics program, no matter where the site is.
Funding is known and is tight.
The 1997 high energy physics budget will be very tight since Congress is not likely to increase funding and the big projects are not yet done. No funds are required to be appropriated for PEP-II in this year if FY1997 includes the full appropriation expected. Funding for completion of the project and start up are included in the previous years appropriation. It is necessary for SLAC to keep for operations part of the funds freed by the project completion. If the U.S. is to participate in LHC, significant funds will be required in this year.