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107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1781
To require the Secretary of Energy to develop a plan for a magnetic fusion
burning plasma experiment for the purpose of accelerating the scientific
understanding and development of fusion as a long term energy source,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 9, 2001
Ms. LOFGREN (for herself, Mr. NETHERCUTT, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr.
CUNNINGHAM, Mr. HOLT, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. GORDON, Mr. TOM DAVIS
of Virginia, Mr. HONDA, Mr. ISSA, Mrs. THURMAN, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr.
FILNER, Mr. WAMP, Ms. HARMAN, Ms. LEE, Mrs. DAVIS of California,
Mr. BACA, and Mrs. TAUSCHER) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Science
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Energy to develop a plan for
a magnetic fusion burning plasma experiment for the
purpose of accelerating the scientific understanding and
development of fusion as a long term energy source,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fusion Energy
Sciences Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) economic prosperity is closely linked to an
affordable and ample energy supply;
(2) environmental quality is closely linked to en-
ergy production and use;
(3) population, worldwide economic develop-
ment, energy consumption, and stress on the envi-
ronment are all expected to increase substantially in
the coming decades;
(4) the few energy options with the potential to
meet economic and environmental needs for the
long-term future must be pursued aggressively now,
as part of a balanced national energy plan;
(5) fusion energy is a long-term energy solution
that is expected to be environmentally benign, safe,
and economical, and to use a fuel source that is
practically unlimited;
(6) the National Academy of Sciences, the
President’s Committee of Advisers on Science and
Technology, and the Secretary of Energy Advisory
Board have each recently reviewed the Fusion En-
ergy Sciences Program and each strongly supports
the fundamental science and creative innovation of
the program, and has confirmed that progress to-
Secretary to be highly likely and where United States par-
ticipation is cost effective relative to the cost and scientific
benefits of a domestic experiment described in subsection
(a). If the Secretary elects to develop a plan under this
subsection, he shall include the information described in
subsection (b), and an estimate of the cost of United
States participation in such an international experiment.
The Secretary shall request a review by the National
Academy of Sciences of a plan developed under this sub-
section, and shall transmit the plan and the review to the
Congress by July 1, 2004.
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT.—The Secretary, through the Fusion Energy
Sciences Program, may conduct any research and develop-
ment necessary to fully develop the plans described in this
section.
SEC. 4. PLAN FOR FUSION ENERGY SCIENCES PROGRAM.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary, in full consultation with
FESAC, shall develop and transmit to the Congress a plan
for the purpose of ensuring a strong scientific base for
the Fusion Energy Sciences Program and to enable the
experiment decribed in section 3. Such plan shall include
as its objectives—
(1) to ensure that existing fusion research fa-
cilities and equipment are more fully utilized with
appropriate measurements and control tools;
(2) to ensure a strengthened fusion science the-
ory and computational base;
(3) to ensure that the selection of and funding
for new magnetic and inertial fusion research facili-
ties is based on scientific innovation and cost effec-
tiveness;
(4) to improve the communication of scientific
results and methods between the fusion science com-
munity and the wider scientific community;
(5) to ensure that adequate support is provided
to optimize the design of the magnetic fusion burn-
ing plasma experiments referred to in section 3; and
(6) to ensure that inertial confinement fusion
facilities are utilized to the extent practicable for the
purpose of inertial fusion energy research and devel-
opment.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary for the development and review of the plans de-
scribed in this Act and for activities of the Fusion Energy
Sciences Program $320,000,000 for fiscal year 2002 and
$335,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
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