WASHINGTON -U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., released the following statement today on the budget for New Mexico's national laboratories under President Barack Obama's Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) proposal:
"The President's budget proposal looks towards the future of our nuclear stockpile. Under the proposal, the core missions at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories hold relatively stable in preparation for the completion of the Nuclear Posture Review that will determine his administration's overall approach to reducing the arsenal.
"For years I have advocated for the labs to grow in new areas of national security, in addition to maintaining the core mission of stockpile stewardship. Today they are doing just that and I am pleased the budget supports these efforts and expands research and development opportunities in nonproliferation and energy.
"Although the budget provides immense new opportunities in these areas, however, I am disappointed it does not reflect the true value in upgrades to the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Research and breakthroughs at LANSC hold unparalleled value to maintaining our national security and I will be fighting to ensure our expertise and capabilities there are protected.
"In the coming months I will be working closely with the labs and my colleagues to ensure that the long-term future of Sandia and Los Alamos are at the forefront of our national security efforts, just as they have been for over 60 years."
