ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.
- Today,
U.S. Senator Tom Udall
visited Sandia National Laboratories with fellow
U.S. Senator Richard Durbin
of Illinois to discuss ways to support New Mexico's national labs and promote technology transfer to create new well-paying jobs. Udall welcomed Senator Durbin, who chairs the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, to receive an update on Sandia's work on the
B61 Life Extension Project
. Senator Udall has fought to maintain adequate funding for this and other important programs at New Mexico's national labs. The B61 Life Extension Project is an important part of the President's stockpile stewardship program, and will allow the United States to maintain this capability without the need for nuclear testing.
PHOTO LINK: https://flic.kr/p/oCkmoL
Udall also spoke with scientists at the lab about the Department of Energy's (DOE) technology transfer program to help develop marketable products - and successful job-creating businesses - from research done at the lab. Udall has introduced a bill to
improve DOE's tech transfer program
, which could help create high-tech jobs here in New Mexico. Udall recently
hosted a roundtable discussion on tech transfer
with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz at HT Micro, an Albuquerque business that started as a result of tech transfer from Sandia.
"As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I'm fighting for resources for that support the mission of our national labs," Udall said. "Projects like the B61 Life Extension Project are important for our national security, and the possibility of increased tech transfer will translate into marketable products - and jobs - for New Mexico. I am happy that Senator Durbin was able to join me to see first-hand the critical role Sandia National Laboratories plays in our nation's security and energy future."
"I appreciated the opportunity to join Senator Udall and the great men and women of Sandia today to discuss how the lab's work supports our national security, the mission of Strategic Command, and other areas important to the Department of Defense," Durbin said. "The national labs and the Department of Defense work together to provide for our nation's defense and I am committed to ensuring that the scientists and engineers at our labs have the tools and funding to carry out this important work."
