Bill Text: MI HCR0051 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution to memorialize Congress to fund the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University to its full scheduled appropriation level.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 34-19)
Status: (Passed) 2012-05-01 - Referred To Committee On Appropriations [HCR0051 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-HCR0051-Engrossed.html
Reps. Bauer, Opsommer, Byrum, Meadows, Glardon, Shaughnessy, Horn, Smiley, Callton, Kowall, Ananich, Tlaib, Shirkey, Hammel, Slavens, Constan, Pscholka, Roy Schmidt, Lindberg, Bledsoe, Segal, Dillon, McCann, Kandrevas, Switalski, Hovey-Wright, Barnett, Brunner, Durhal, Townsend, Irwin, Gilbert, Rogers, Denby, Goike, Muxlow, LaFontaine, Santana, Jackson, Darany, LeBlanc, Liss and Talabi offered the following concurrent resolution:
House Concurrent Resolution No. 51.
A concurrent resolution to memorialize Congress to fund the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University to its full scheduled appropriation level.
Whereas, In the proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, the White House has presented its intention to fund the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University at a level of $22 million. This amount is less than half of the agreed upon $55 million needed to maintain this critically important scientific project on its schedule for the completion of construction and the commencement of its service to our country's scientific research efforts; and
Whereas, The FRIB project is an effort that reflects many years of preparation, planning, and coordination between Michigan State University and the Department of Energy. This highly complex undertaking involves not only the Department of Energy and Michigan State University, but also numerous contracted companies and scientists. The serious underfunding will undermine this effort and likely result in higher overall costs. With this project already pared down dramatically from its initial scope, a thoughtful reduction that decreased total costs by $500 million, it is shortsighted to lose some of these savings by lengthening the time required to complete the project; and
Whereas, Many people have remarked on the fact that the proposed federal budget includes funding for an international nuclear science project located in France. The U.S. Department of Energy is asking to appropriate $150 million to the ITER fusion project in Cadarache, France, for fiscal year 2013. This is nearly three times more than what is needed to maintain the FRIB. Clearly, American interests would be better served by fully funding the FRIB, a nuclear science project located within our shores, than by sending money to a project located overseas; and
Whereas, The FRIB is a major commitment that represents an effort by our country to maintain its long-held leadership in basic scientific research. The work that will take place at the completed FRIB could reap rewards in any number of vital fields, with possible applications in medicine, materials, security, the environment, and many others. The location of the FRIB at a major research university represents an investment in the education of the next generation of America's nuclear scientists. Any steps taken to delay this endeavor through a reduction of funding could prove harmful to our nation's long-term interests; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we memorialize Congress to fund the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University to its full scheduled appropriation level; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
