Committee on Science
SHERWOOD BOEHLERT, CHAIRMAN
Ralph M. Hall, Texas, Ranking Democrat
www.house.gov/science

January 29, 2002
Press Contact:
Heidi Tringe (Heidi.Tringe@mail.house.gov)
Jeff Donald (Jeffrey.Donald@mail.house.gov)
(202) 225-4275

SCIENCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS URGE U.S. PARTICIPATION IN ITER

WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and Ranking Member Ralph Hall (D-TX), along with three other Members of the House Science Committee today sent a letter to the Department of Energy, urging that the U.S. join the international fusion energy project known as ITER (International Thermonuclear Energy Reactor).

The Members who joined Boehlert and Hall in sending the letter to Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham were Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), George Nethercutt(R-WA), and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI).

The letter calls ITER "one of the most important endeavors being undertaken by the international energy science community" and urges U.S. participation to "ensure that our domestic fusion program is strong and that a new generation of scientists is inspired to work in this area." The Administration is expected to announce a decision on whether to participate in ITER shortly.

Boehlert and Hall have been pushing the U.S. toward participation for several years. In November 2001, they wrote to Secretary Abraham, urging him to begin sending a representative to the international planning sessions for ITER as a necessary precursor to U.S. participation.