Jasper Packard: “I want to commend Chairman Myers for his hard work in crafting the Energy and Water Appropriations bill in light of our…”

“I want to commend Chairman Myers for his hard work in crafting the Energy and Water Appropriations bill in light of our budget constraints. I also appreciate his support of fusion energy by providing $225 million for these programs. Fusion research takes place at a number of universities and institutions around the country. San Diego is particularly blessed: we host major programs at the University of California at San Diego and at General Atomics. In addition, we serve as the host to the U.S. team for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor--a major international science and engineering project. Last year's Energy and Water conference report called for a restructuring of the fusion program and set into motion an extensive and effective peer review process carried out through the Fusion Energy Advisory Committee. The restructured program and this ongoing peer review process has been widely praised and I believe the fusion community should be congratulated for a job well done. Because of the budget difficulties in achieving a higher level for fusion energy, the committee included prescriptive report language concerning fusion programs. This language is not consistent with the recommendations of the Fusion Energy Advisory Committee and the ongoing peer review process. I am also concerned about its impact on university and other aspects of the fusion programs.”