[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 12, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H3028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 
 PROGRAMS AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND NATIONAL LABORATORIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
strengthen nuclear science and engineering programs at American 
universities, colleges, and National Laboratories.
  Nuclear science and engineering in the United States is a 50-year-old 
success story that has been written by some of the brightest minds the 
world has ever known. America has truly been blessed as the world 
leader in this area. But even as there is renewed interest in nuclear 
energy as one of the solutions to our Nation's energy problems, there 
are fewer Americans entering the nuclear science and engineering field, 
and even fewer institutions left with the capacity to train them.
  In fact, the supply of 4-year-trained nuclear scientists has hit a 
35-year low, and there are only 28 universities that operate research 
reactors, less than half the number there were in 1980.

                              {time}  1845

  These statistics tell but the beginning of the story, however. 
Current projections are that 25 percent to 30 percent of the nuclear 
industry's workforce and 76 percent of the nuclear workforce at our 
national laboratories are eligible to retire in the next 5 years. And a 
majority of the 28 operating university reactors will have to be 
relicensed in the next 5 years, a lengthy process that most 
universities cannot afford.
  When I consider these facts, I wonder how long we can continue the 
success story that is nuclear science in the United States. Not long is 
my guess, and that is why action must be taken to reverse this 
troubling trend.
  That is why I am introducing the Department of Energy University 
Nuclear Science and Engineering Act. This legislation is the House 
companion bill to legislation introduced in the Senate by my friend and 
colleague, Senator Jeff Bingaman.
  This bill provides financial support for the operation, maintenance, 
and improvement of expensive, yet essential, university nuclear 
research reactors; resources for the professional development of 
faculty in the field of nuclear science and engineering; incentives for 
students to enter the field and opportunities for education and 
training through fellowships and interaction with national laboratory 
staff; and general research funds for students, faculty and national 
laboratory staff.
  Now, more than ever, nuclear scientists and engineers are needed for 
much more than simply operating nuclear power plants. Trained in 
American universities and national laboratories, these specialists are 
needed to help design, safely dispose of, and monitor nuclear waste, 
both civilian and military; to develop radio isotopes for the thousands 
of medical procedures performed every day; to operate and maintain the 
Nation's existing fission reactors and nuclear power plants; to help 
stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons and respond to any future 
nuclear crisis worldwide; and to design, operate, and monitor current 
and future naval reactors.
  These are not small tasks, but if we continue on the path we are on, 
there will not be enough people to do the job down the line.
  The legislation I am introducing today incorporates a number of 
approaches recommended by reports from the National Research Council, 
the Department of Energy and its Nuclear Energy Research Advisory 
Committee, all leaders in the nuclear field. The bill advances four 
components essential to strong nuclear science and engineering 
programs: students, faculty, facilities, and finally research.
  Mr. Speaker, my written statement goes into greater detail about 
these components, so I want to conclude by saying that this legislation 
is important, not only to a handful of American universities, but to 
our national labs, our industry, our Navy, our national security and 
those engaged in life-saving medical research involving radiation.
  This legislation ensures that America continues to realize the 
benefits of a competent, well-trained, highly skilled nuclear 
workforce. More important, this bill is critical if we are to maintain 
America's standing as number one in the world in the area of nuclear 
science and engineering.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
who are cosponsors of this important legislation, including the 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin), the gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Bartlett), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Knollenberg), the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. 
Simpson), the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley), the gentlewoman 
from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Strickland), the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter), and the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Calvert).
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the rest of my colleagues to join us in this 
endeavor by cosponsoring the bill.

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