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Science & Technology

The biggest challenges facing our country deserve innovative solutions, and I believe that we need to empower our scientists and engineers to find them.

I also am proud to support the two national laboratories in our district, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia, in my work in Congress as they are on the forefront of many technological breakthroughs that will power the future.

I am thrilled that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF)—the United States' most cutting-edge nuclear research facility—has achieved fusion ignition, potentially providing a new clean, and sustainable energy source. This breakthrough will ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear stockpile, open new frontiers in science, and enable progress toward new ways to power our homes and offices in future decades. I commend the scientists and researchers for their hard work and dedication that led to this monumental scientific achievement, and I will continue to push for robust funding for NIF to support advancements in fusion research.

I will continue to advocate for increased funding for NIF and the Inertial Confinement Fusion program. NIF is a key element of the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program to maintain the reliability, security, and safety of the U.S. nuclear deterrent without full-scale testing. NIF is the world's most precise and reproducible laser system, which under extreme conditions, causes hydrogen atoms in the target to fuse and release energy in a controlled thermonuclear reaction.

What I am Doing for You


I cosponsored H.R. 4346, the CHIPS and Science Act, which seeks to bolster the US semiconductor supply chain and promote research and development of advanced technologies in the United States. This legislation makes historic investments to surge production of American-made semiconductors, tackle supply chain vulnerabilities, bolster America's scientific research and technological leadership, and strengthen America's economic and national security, and was signed into law in 2022.

I'm an original cosponsor of H.R. 849, the Scientific Integrity Act, a bipartisan bill that sets clear, enforceable standards for federal agencies and federally-funded research to keep public science independent from political or special interest meddling. The bill provides much-needed protections for our federal scientists, helps restore public trust, and better enables us to address and solve the many pressing challenges our communities face from pandemics to climate change.

I'm a cosponsor of H.R. 869, the Research Investment to Spark the Economy Act (RISE Act) of 2021, which would provide $25 billion in emergency relief to U.S. researchers at independent research institutions, public laboratories and universities throughout the country may continue their important, federally-funded projects through the pandemic.

I introduced H.R. 2687, the Securing Energy Critical Elements and American Jobs Act, to promote collaboration and research in the fields of energy critical elements and to ensure a reliable supply of rare earth elements. These elements are critical for numerous advanced technologies from hybrid vehicles and solar panels to military electronics.

I helped lead 24 House members in urging strong funding for the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under the National Nuclear Security Administration's Inertial Confinement Fusion and High Yield Campaign, a program that maintains our national security and keeps America moving toward a new energy future.

I cosponsored H.R. 565, the Stepping Up to STEM Education Act, which would establish an office of STEM Education at the Department of Education, create state STEM networks, and create an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Education (ARPA-ED).

 

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Trump & His Team's Ties to Russia

Rep. Swalwell tours the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, May 2015.

 

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Chabot  Space  and  Science  Center  660x660

Rep. Swalwell touring the Chabot Space and Science Center