SEC. 607. FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH PROGRAM.
 
(a) PROGRAM. - As part of the activities authorized under section 603, the
Director shall carry out a fusion energy sciences research and enabling
technology development program to effectively address the scientific and
engineering challenges to building a cost-competitive fusion power plant
and a competitive fusion power industry in the United States. As part of
this program, the Director shall carry out research activities to expand
the fundamental understanding of plasmas and matter at very high
temperatures and densities.
 
(b) ITER. - The Director shall coordinate and carry out the
responsibilities of the United States with respect to the ITER
international fusion project pursuant to the Agreement on the
Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for
the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project.
 
(c) IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITIES. - Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the
Congress a report on the Department’s proposed research and development
activities in magnetic fusion over the 10 years following the date of
enactment of this Act under four realistic budget scenarios. The report
shall - 
(1) identify specific areas of fusion energy research and enabling
technology development in which the United States can and should
establish or solidify a lead in the global fusion energy development
effort; and
(2) identify priorities for initiation of facility construction and
facility decommissioning under each of those scenarios.
 
(d) FUSION MATERIALS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. - The Director, in
coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy of the
Department, shall carry out research and development activities to
identify, characterize, and create materials that can endure the
neutron, plasma, and heat fluxes expected in a commercial fusion power
plant. As part of the activities authorized under subsection (c), the
Secretary shall - 
(1) provide an assessment of the need for a facility or facilities that
can examine and test potential fusion and next generation fission
materials and other enabling technologies relevant to the development of
commercial fusion power plants; and
(2) provide an assessment of whether a single new facility that
substantially addresses magnetic fusion, inertial fusion, and next
generation fission materials research needs is feasible, in conjunction
with the expected capabilities of facilities operational as of the date
of enactment of this Act.
 
(e) ENABLING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. - The Secretary shall carry out
activities to develop technologies necessary to enable the reliable,
sustainable, safe, and economically competitive operation of a
commercial fusion power plant.
 
(f) FUSION SIMULATION PROJECT. - In collaboration with the Office of
Science's Advanced Scientific Computing Research program described in
section 606, the Director shall carry out a computational project to
advance the capability of fusion researchers to accurately simulate an
entire fusion energy system.
 
(g) INERTIAL FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH AND DeVELOPMENT PROGRAM. - The
Secretary shall carry out a program of research and technology
development in inertial fusion for energy applications, including ion
beam and laser fusion. Not later than 180 days after the release of a
report from the National Academies on inertial fusion energy research,
the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report describing the
Department’s plan to incorporate any relevant recommendations from the
National Academies’ report into this program.