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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the 
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nation's premier particle accelerator laboratory, leads United 
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States research into the fundamental nature of matter and 
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energy; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 2007, Fermilab's researchers and facilities 
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achieved results judged by the American Institute of Physics as 
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among the Ten Top Physics Stories from around the world; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Particle accelerators at Fermilab provide 
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unparalleled scientific research opportunities for thousands 
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of scientists and students from throughout the State of 
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Illinois, the nation, and the world; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Fermilab scientists have immediate opportunities 
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for landmark discoveries at the energy frontier that will not 
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be available again in the United States for many years to come; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The facilities at Fermilab are essential for the 
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basic scientific research that nurtures technological and 
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scientific advances and that fuels American innovation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Advances in the technology of particle 
 


 






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accelerators produce significant benefits not only to basic 
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science but to health care, medical research, manufacturing, 
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materials science, and the economy of the State of Illinois and 
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the nation; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The budget for FY2008 approved by Congress and 
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signed by the President dealt a severe blow to the United 
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States  Office of Science's High-Energy Physics program, which 
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received $94 million less than requested; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The FY2008 budget, which cuts $52 million from the 
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President's FY2008 budget request of $372 million for Fermilab, 
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could cripple the laboratory's ability to remain one of the 
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world's preeminent research facilities; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The budget eliminates funding for the 2 programs 
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most vitally linked to Fermilab's future, the NOvA neutrino 
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experiment and the research and development program for the 
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International Linear Collider; and
 
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    WHEREAS, A restoration of funding in basic physics research 
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is essential to maintaining America's role as the innovator in 
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technology, retaining our nation's leading scientific 
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institutions and their skilled workforces, and providing 
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opportunities for future scientists; therefore, be it

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the United States 
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Congress to enact, and the President to approve, a supplemental 
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appropriation to restore the funding to Fermilab to the level 
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of the President's FY2008 budget request; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge the Director of the Office of 
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Management and Budget to increase the funding request for the 
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Office of Science, particularly for the High-Energy Physics 
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program, in the President's FY2009 budget; and be it further




 
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    RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to 
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the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United 
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States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of 
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the United States Senate, and each member of the Illinois 
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congressional delegation.