Lawmaker seeks to restore millions in funds for Fermilab

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster is asking for millions to restore lost funding to his former employer, Fermilab. In letters sent Thursday to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Foster, a Democrat from Geneva, asked that $350 million be restored to the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. The cuts were part of this year's budget, but the money could be included in a supplemental appropriations bill. Foster said he wanted $150 million for Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, often called Fermilab, where he once worked as a scientist. Although he also mentioned Argonne National Laboratory near Darien, Foster said Fermilab suffered the most of any national lab in the country. “I think (Fermilab) is warranted special merit,” he said. Shortly after Foster took office last month, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., made a similar plea and was backed by several legislators from both political parties. The bipartisan effort recognizes Fermilab's funding shortages, which have led to staff layoffs and delays in projects. The situation is similar at Argonne. Fermilab spokesman Kurt Riesselmann declined comment Thursday. Foster said he estimated $150 million would help Fermilab restore projects put on hold. The remaining $200 million would go toward a fusion project and the National Science Foundation. Although many members of Congress recognize the need to fund science efforts in Illinois and across the country, Foster said securing the funding won't be easy. “We all understand the constraints the speaker has on what she can and cannot do,” he said. “This is not going to be easy.” If the funding is restored, Fermilab and other laboratories still would need adequate funding in the future, Foster said. And as a new legislator, Foster acknowledged that he needs to form solid, powerful relationships in Congress. “I do not have 22 years of experience like (Dennis) Hastert did,” he said. “I'm doing what I can as quickly and as well as I know how.”