HOUSE MEMORIAL 44

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Ben Lujan

A MEMORIAL

SUPPORTING LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY AND URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ADEQUATELY FUND AND SAFEGUARD THE FUTURE OF THIS NATIONAL ASSET.

     WHEREAS, Los Alamos national laboratory was founded in New Mexico in 1943 and for sixty-four years has provided great scientific services to the nation and a strong partnership with the state of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Los Alamos national laboratory has been a keystone of our nation's security since the Manhattan project was instrumental in ending World War II; and

     WHEREAS, Los Alamos national laboratory employs about twelve thousand New Mexicans and provides a payroll of almost nine hundred million dollars ($900,000,000) per year; and

     WHEREAS, Los Alamos national laboratory is responsible for more than five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) annually in procurement in the state of New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, Los Alamos national laboratory has played a significant role in economic and educational development in New Mexico, including assisting in sponsorship of the valuable northern New Mexico mathematics and science academy and adventures in supercomputing challenge; and

     WHEREAS, Los Alamos national laboratory remains a critical element in the security of the United States and is a scientific leader in national defense, nuclear nonproliferation, bioscience, space exploration, energy development and many other science, engineering and technology research and development efforts; and

     WHEREAS, the United States congress urged transition of the Los Alamos national laboratory contract from a nonprofit university to a for-profit corporation, and the ensuing change to a new financial framework resulted in a shortage of laboratory funding for its operational and programmatic costs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that Los Alamos national laboratory is a welcomed and valued partner to the state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Los Alamos national laboratory is a national asset with a global reputation for its technical innovation and scientific discovery and must be adequately funded and organizationally supported by the legislative and executive branches of the United States; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the United States secretary of energy, president pro tempore of the United States senate, speaker of the United States house of representatives, United States national nuclear security administration administrator and the New Mexico congressional delegation.  

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