[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 113 (Thursday, July 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1438-E1439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

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                               speech of

                         HON. WILLIAM P. LUTHER

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1905) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Chairman, I wish to express my concerns regarding the 
future status of funding for the National Ignition Facility [NIF] 
included in the fiscal year 1996 House Energy and Water Appropriations 
measure.
  I applaud the Appropriations Committee's decision to defer money for 
construction on this project. However, I am concerned that the full 
Appropriations Committee added $10 million to the bipartisan 
subcommittee funding proposal for the NIF.
  My major concern with the NIF is the stark reality of budgetary 
demands in future years, particularly with respect to the construction 
funds necessary of completion of the NIF. Current estimates of 
completion of the NIF, after design and construction, place the cost at 
more than $1 billion and perhaps as much as $1.5 billion.
  At a time when Federal budget realities require hard, difficult 
choices, the NIF project will require an obligation of an ever-
increasing amount of funds from an invariably shrinking funding source.
  Therefore, in order to protect higher priorities, particularly basic 
science research projects, serious questions need to be raised in the 
coming months about future plans involving future funding for NIF 
design and construction.
  There are some who argue that we need the NIF in order to keep our 
stockpile of nuclear weapons safe. The NIF is, in fact, the most 
expensive of many components that make-up DOE's stockpile stewardship 
program. Yet, according to most experts, the NIF's contribution to 
stockpile safety is nominal.
  Given our current budget situation, and the recommended levels of 
funding for energy research in the recently passed budget conference 
report, we cannot afford to fully construct the NIF.
  While I understand the compromise position of the full Appropriations 
Committee, Mr. 

[[Page E 1439]]
Chairman, I intend to monitor the NIF throughout future authorizations 
and appropriations legislation and when appropriate, will support 
efforts to limit significant amounts of funding intended for NIF 
construction.


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