[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11951]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER'S LABORATORY FOR LASER 
                               ENERGETICS

                                  _____
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 14, 2014

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that H.R. 4923, the Energy 
and Water Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2015, provided 
$68 million for the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser 
Energetics (LLE), a $4 million increase over last year.
  I strongly support this funding for LLE, which is a unique national 
resource and one of the crown jewels of New York State. One of two 
lasers at LLE, the OMEGA laser is the world's second most powerful 
ultraviolet fusion laser in the world. The second of LLE's lasers, the 
OMEGA EP (Extended Performance) laser, is a high-intensity, high-energy 
short-pulse laser. The LLE is a vital component of our nation's 
scientific capital and leadership, a key to strategic work on an 
independent energy future, a leader in developing innovative approaches 
to enhancing our national security, and a crucial part of New York's 
high-tech economy. It also serves as the principal laser research 
facility for Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories.
  The LLE has attracted nearly $2 billion to the State of New York and 
more than 1,000 individuals whose jobs are tied to the program. The 
laser lab also provides a strong stimulus to the local economy through 
start-up companies such as QED Technologies, Lucid Inc., and Sydor 
Instruments, fueling New York State's rapidly growing high-technology 
sector. Through the National Laser Users Facility, the LLE attracts as 
many as 300 additional scientists each year from national laboratories, 
universities, and companies, and continues to produce some of the best 
and brightest Master's and Ph.D. students.
  If there's any place the Federal Government should be investing, it's 
in the laser lab's research programs, which create jobs through the 
creation of spin-off companies. The work they are doing in high energy 
density research is remarkable, working every day to get us closer to 
energy independence and enhance our national security. I am proud of 
the LLE's contribution to the vibrant, growing high-tech community of 
Rochester.

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