ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met at 2 p.m., in room SD-192, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. J. Bennett Johnston (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Johnston, Hatfield, McClure, and Domenici. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF ENERGY RESEARCH STATEMENT OF DR. JAMES F. DECKER, ACTING DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ENERGY RESEARCH, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OPENING STATEMENT Senator JOHNSTON. The subcommittee will come to order. This afternoon we will hear the fiscal year 1991 budget request of the Office of Energy Research, which is one of the largest basic research activities in the Federal Government with total funding in the current year of about $2.4 billion. The fiscal year 1991 request for appropriations is for $2.7 billion, an increase of over $300 million. We are pleased to welcome Dr. James F. Decker, Acting Director of Energy Research in the Department of Energy. Dr. Decker is also the Deputy Director and I believed he served as Acting Director several years ago. PREPARED STATEMENT Dr. Decker, we look forward to hearing your presentation today, especially your request for the high energy physics program, the superconducting super collider, nuclear physics, basic energy sciences, magnetic fusion, global warming, climate change, human genome project as well as other very interesting important programs. Your full written statement will be incorporated in the record and we would like to hear your summary of each of these programs. Please proceed: STATEMENT OF JAMES F. DECKER Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee: It is a pleasure to appear here today to present the FY 1991 budget request for the programs supported by the Office of Energy Research (ER). These programs are: High Energy Physics, the Superconducting Super Collider, Nuclear Physics, Basic Energy Sciences, Magnetic Fusion Energy, Biological and Environmental Research, Energy Research Analyses, University and Science Education, University Research Instrumentation, Multiprogram Energy Laboratories-Facilities Support, and supporting program direction. Funding for these programs in FY 1991 is being requested under the two appropriations shown in Table 1, Energy Supply R&D and General Science and Research. The total FY 1991 budget request for ER's programs is $2.7 billion, an increase of $302 million over the FY 1990 appropriation of $2.4 billion. In his February 7, 1990, testimony before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Dr. Allan Bromley, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, noted that, "federal support for basic research is an essential investment in the nation's scientific and technological future." This request reflects the Administration's commitment to the key role played by science in enhancing the economic and technological well-being of the United States, as well as the quality of our lives. It also reflects our continuing commitment to excellence in the research programs supported by the Office of Energy Research. I would like to discuss the programs under the General Science and Research appropriation first, followed by those under the Energy Supply R&D appropriation. |