The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand

FebruaryXX, 2018

The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand

U.S. Senate

478 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Gillibrand:

As a [scientist/engineer/technician/student] at the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) and a constituent, I am deeply concerned with President Trump’s proposed fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget. If enacted, it would cut funding for the LLE by an unprecedented 50% in FY19 and shutdown the facility in three years. I urge you to oppose the President’s budget request and provide $75 million for the LLE in FY18 and $80 million in FY19.

The University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) is one of the leading research facilities in the world. It isa vital contributor to national security, an invaluable source of scientific education and leadership, key to strategic work on an independent energy future, and a crucial part of the high-tech economy of New York. The OMEGA lasers (Omega and Omega EP) at the LLE are the largest and most capable found at any academic institution in both the United States and worldwide. As a result, the LLE is the largest university-based program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) in the entire nation.

As home to some of the most advanced experimental and computational capabilities in the world, the OMEGA Laser Facility at the University of Rochester’s LLE is recognized nationally and internationally for its critical contributions to the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Inertial Confinement Fusion Program (ICF) and Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP)in partnership with three national security laboratories (Los Alamos, Sandia and Livermore).

As a result of the federal support, the economic impact of LLE on the Rochester area and the Finger Lakes region is profound. The LLE is an engine of regional innovation and growth for the Finger Lakes’ optics, imaging and photonics sector. Since its inception, LLE has attracted more than $2.3 billion to New York State to support cutting-edge research, and more than 360 talented scientists, engineers, and technicians are currently involved in the program. The DOE has also designated the LLE as the National Laser User’s Facility (NLUF) which allows the LLE to host more than 400 scientists from 55 universities, over 35 centers and national laboratories in 21 different countries on 4 continents to carry out fundamental research, training and education. Currently, there are more 100 graduate students from the University of Rochester and other leading institutionsconducting their research at the LLE.

Besides payroll and local purchases, LLE provides a strong stimulus to the local economy through its groundbreaking research, which are the seeds that help attract and develop new companies and investors to New York State’s high-technology sector. QED Technologies, Inc., Sydor Instruments LLC., and Lucid, Inc. are just a few of the local companies that were created – and continue to benefit us – as a result of LLE’s technology and research.

Given the LLE’s significant scientific, economic and national security impact, I thank you for your support and urge you to reject the President’s proposal and provide the $75 million in FY18 and $80 million in FY19 to support theLLE’s cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art facilities.

Sincerely,

Employee Name

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