The bill would provide $671M for the DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (OFES), compared to $564M in FY 2019 and $403M requested by the President.

Within the OFES total of $671M, the bill provides $242M for ITER and $429M for the non-ITER portion of the OFES program (that includes $15M in construction funds for the petawatt laser upgrade at SLAC and $414M in research funds for the rest of the OFES program), compared to $132M for ITER and $432M for the non-ITER program appropriated in FY 2019.

For the Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program within the DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the bill provides $565M, compared to $545M appropriated in FY 2019 and $481M requested by the President.

The fusion language accompanying the bill is as follows:

Fusion Energy Sciences (FES). - Within available funds, $68,000,000 is for NSTX-U operations; $4,000,000 is to support the Department's recent creation of the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) research and development program; $20,000,000 is for High Energy Density Laboratory Plasmas, including activities for LaserNetUS; and $21 ,000,000 is for the Materials Plasma Exposure eXperiment. The Department is directed to expand the INFUSE program to allow for both domestic and international companies.

The agreement does not include funds for the creation of a Fusion Public-Private Partnership Cost Share Program for reactor technologies at this time. The Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee is directed to give full consideration to the establishment of a cost share program for reactor technologies as part of its ongoing long-range strategic planning activity. The Department is directed to provide to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act a plan on a possible cost share program for reactor technologies. The plan should include program objectives, eligibility requirements, and a funding profile for future fiscal years.

The agreement provides $242,000,000 for the U.S. contribution to the ITER project, of which not less than $85,000,000 is for in-cash contributions.

Inertial Confinement Fusion and High Yield. - Within available funds, not less than $344,000,000 is for the National Ignition Facility, not less than $80,000,000 is for OMEGA, not less than $66,900,000 is for the Z Facility, and not less than $6,000,000 is for the NIKE Laser at the Naval Research Laboratory. The agreement directs the NNSA to submit to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act a report on how the Joint Program in High Energy Density Laboratory Plasmas supports the national security mission of the agency. The NNSA shall submit to the Committees not later than 45 days after enactment of this Act a report, with appropriate classified annexes, describing the NNSA's plans to meet or exceed proposed near-peer technological developments with regard to laser and pulsed power facilities and technologies. The NNSA shall include a preliminary budget to build or modify existing facilities to address shortfalls and prevent technological surprise.

Independent Review of the Inertial Confinement Fusion Program. - The agreement includes Senate direction. The NNSA is reminded that if it is determined that ignition science activities are necessary to maintain the stockpile, the review shall recommend and prioritize research areas that would improve the program.