OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

Date: June 26, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Government Budget and Spending Natural Resources


SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (Senate - June 26, 2008)

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NATIONAL SYNCHROTRON LIGHT SOURCE II

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise today to ask my colleague, the chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, about a matter that may become an issue if we do not pass the fiscal year 2009 appropriations bills in a timely manner. As you know, there are several critically important projects in the Department of Energy's Office of Science budget in various stages of development. One of the projects is the National Synchrotron Light Source II at Brookhaven National Laboratory. This project is in the design phase and is expected to begin construction in the early part of 2009.

The fiscal year 2008 Omnibus appropriations bill provided approximately $20 million less than the budget request, and the fiscal year 2009 budget request has a substantial increase, which is consistent with the funding profile. I am concerned about the impact a continuing resolution for several months may have on the schedule and overall cost for the National Synchrotron Light Source II project. One issue is that under a continuing resolution less money would be available than if the budget request were enacted. A more pressing issue is that under some previous continuing resolution rules construction would not be allowed to begin as that would be a new activity.

Could my colleague please comment on these matters?

Mr. DORGAN. I thank the gentleman from New York for the question. There are several projects in the Office of Science and in the Department of Energy that are in various stages of planning, design, and construction. Like the National Synchrotron Light Source II project, these other projects may also be impacted if a long-term continuing resolution is enacted.

I very much appreciate my colleague's concern about the project at Brookhaven National Laboratory and will work with him to attempt to address these issues if a long-term continuing resolution becomes a reality.


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