Chuck Schumer: “due to severe budget constraints in the Fiscal Year 2001 Energy and Water Appropriations, additional funding has not…”

“due to severe budget constraints in the Fiscal Year 2001 Energy and Water Appropriations, additional funding has not been made available for the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The President's FY2001 Budget included $3 million for upgrades and enhancements to the NSLS at Brookhaven National Laboratory under the Basic Energy Science (BES) account. The NSLS facility at Brookhaven, bringing 2,300 scientists annually is used for a whole host of issues, ranging from the first images of the AIDS virus attaching itself to a human cell; landmark progress in understanding the structure of the ribosome, the most complex component in each living cell; pivotal work on the Lyme disease bacterium, leading to a vaccine; and pioneering studies on hepatitis. These additional funds will allow Brookhaven to begin construction of two experimental stations and to hire additional staff members, which are essential in handling the growing demand of this facility. I ask the Senator from Nevada that if additional funds are made available for the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, that the enhancements to the NSLS be added to the current funding for Brookhaven.”