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Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-CA)
"Scientific innovation keeps our country moving forward with discovery and ingenuity. In my home state of California, scientific developments provide much-needed environmental protections, improve use of our water resources, and serve as vital components to fuel our economy, especially at the two nuclear labs located in my district. I am honored to be named a recipient of this award again this year, and will continue my commitment to science." Guest Column in TSC Newsline March Edition March 26, 2007 One of the keys to maintaining America's competitiveness in the international marketplace is robust investments in our federal science infrastructure. Our scientists need to have the best facilities in the world to foster scientific innovation and discovery. One of the jewels of modern science is the National Ignition Facility, or NIF, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California. Not only is the scope and science behind this project truly a modern marvel, but the project is essential to ensuring the safety and credibility of our nuclear deterrent. NIF is the largest single tool in the Stockpile Stewardship Program which allows us to maintain our nuclear arsenal without resorting to live testing. Maintaining our arsenal without live testing allows the United States to lead the global effort to eliminate the threat of weapons of mass destruction. In addition to its national security value, NIF allows the United States to undertake vital research and development of clean energy sources and explore basic science issues, such as materials sciences and astrophysics. The advances that have enabled the progress on NIF have also encouraged economic development through the creation and adoption of improved manufacturing processes. NIF is nearly complete, and I am looking forward to seeing Livermore Lab apply the full capability of its 192 beams as soon as possible. This lab is an integral component to furthering American advances in science and sustaining our global competitiveness. |