Fermilab needs boost from energy bill

In his 22 years as a high-energy physicist at Fermilab, Bill Foster was part of a team seeking the elusive top quark. In his few months as 14th District congressman, Foster is part of a team seeking elusive federal funding for high-energy research.

Foster joined other Illinois members of Congress and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin two weeks ago in proclaiming the U.S. Senate had approved $250 million in funding for energy, helping to assure Fermilab in Batavia could continue its research and retain staffing that was threatened by budget cuts late last year. Now Foster will push the concept among his colleagues in the House in hopes of approving the bill, which earmarks $100 million for the Department of Energy's Office of Science and another $150 million to the National Science Foundation.

That news was followed by the announcement last week that a $5 million anonymous donation was provided to Fermilab, assuring that the lab can function at top levels through this fall and restore some of the cutbacks it instituted six months ago.

As we entered the new year, we lamented a $250 million cutback in funding and the retirement of former House Speaker and 14th District Congressman Dennis Hastert, who was a strong voice for Fermilab. Now, from the standpoint of truly understanding high-energy physics and what the future could hold, Foster could conduct many educational sessions on the floor of Congress for his colleagues. Having Foster in their corner, combined with approved research funding and this significant anonymous donation, Fermilab physicists are enjoying a shot of adrenaline.

We also sense a great measure of gratitude coming out of Fermilab, as its leaders and employees know that elected officials and those in the public realize the importance of ongoing research. But the excitement has to be tempered and the approach cautious. Only simple math is needed to realize that $5 million represents a great gift and wonderful gesture, but it doesn't resolve the lab's funding problems. Only the new energy bill can do that, which is why the most important thing Foster and his colleagues said last week was that the funding measure passed with a veto-proof majority in the Senate.

Still, if anyone understands how something that seems on the verge of reality can suddenly take an unexpected turn, it is a high-energy physicist. Foster was involved in many complex projects during his years at Fermilab, including the discovery of the top quark. He now works in a different arena, but one with just as many twists and turns. He has to win another election in November to assure he stays in the congressional seat he won last March, and he has more work to do to keep Congress focused on an energy bill that makes sense.

We're not against Fermilab tightening its belt a bit and understanding that future funding will always be uncertain, but we applaud efforts that make money available for high-energy physics and we join those at Fermilab in thanking the anonymous donor.