Angie Craig: “this amendment authorizes outyear funding levels for the Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences Program. I…”

“this amendment authorizes outyear funding levels for the Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences Program. I appreciate Chairman Bingaman incorporating provisions of my bill on fusion science research in the Daschle-Bingaman substitute bill. However, the Daschle-Bingaman substitute did not incorporate outyear funding authorizations for the Fusion Energy Sciences Program. This technical amendment authorizes funding for fiscal years 2003 through 2006. While we grapple with short-term remedies to our energy problems, we need to stay focused on long-term investment in those areas which have the potential to help secure our energy future. I believe fusion energy has the potential. I appreciate the support of the chairman on this issue.”