[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. REIN BEEUWKES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR.

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 22, 2022

  Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today with my friend and colleague 
Congresswoman Lori Trahan to recognize the work of Dr. Rein Beeuwkes 
and his recognition as the first recipient of the MIT Better World 
Alumni Service Award. This award honors a single MIT alumnus who ``has 
demonstrated the ability, passion, and unwavering commitment for 
working wisely creatively and effectively to advance the MIT idea for 
the betterment of humankind.''
  In 2005, deeply concerned about the need to move the U.S. and the 
world to a low carbon sustainable future, Rein recognized that in order 
to meet even the modest climate goals that had been set, there would 
need to be major technological breakthroughs. After considerable 
research, Rein was persuaded that fusion energy could become one of 
those breakthroughs if government adequately funded it and if the 
scientists working on fusion directed their focus to getting energy to 
the grid at a competitive price.
  Rein, affectionately known as ``fusion man,'' has become the 
evangelist for the potential and promise of fusion energy. Rein has 
worked tirelessly with the community of fusion scientists to set goals 
that will bring fusion energy to the grid in this decade. Rein was 
instrumental in urging the formation of the bipartisan Congressional 
Fusion Energy Caucus.
  Over the past decade, Rein has been an enthusiastic citizen-advocate 
for an accelerated fusion energy program in which MIT's Plasma Science 
and Fusion Center has played a leading role. Rein's support for MIT's 
fusion research helped spur the first commercial nuclear fusion reactor 
in North America which is being built in Devens, MA by Commonwealth 
Fusion Systems.

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