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In a February 2 press release, the DOE announced that they would seek a $505 million (14.1%) increase for the DOE Office of Science, including $31 million (10.8%) increase for the DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences.

The President will request $60 million for support of the international ITER fusion engineering test reactor project, an increase of $34.4 million over the amount appropriated by Congress for FY 2006. The U.S. domestic fusion program would thus be reduced in the President's plan.

The fusion portion of the press release is as follows:

Fusion Energy Sciences Program ($319.0 million)

This is a $31.3 million increase over FY 2006. This will support a national research effort to advance plasma science, fusion science, and technology needed for an economical and environmentally safe fusion energy source.

A key portion of this budget has been allocated to participation in the second year of the ITER project ($60.0 million total), an international fusion experimental reactor, and, if successful, the critical next step on the path toward harnessing the energy of nuclear fusion to generate electricity to heat homes and fuel AmericaÕs economy. The funding increase supports full participation in ITER, and the balance of the Fusion program is maintained at near FY 2006 levels.