Rep. Neguse Announces Significant Funding Headed to NIST & CU’s JILA Lab Renovation
Lafayette, CO — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse announced $2 million in federal funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado Boulder’s Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) is headed to the world-leading research facility. Rep. Neguse worked to secure funding for the lab as a Community Project Funding request within the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY ‘23) Consolidated Appropriations Act.
“Colorado has become world-renowned for its research ecosystem, and I could not be more excited that we’ve secured funding to help support the development of these groundbreaking labs in Colorado’s Second District,” said Congressman Neguse. “Thanks to this funding, JILA researchers and scientists will be able to complete much needed renovations to their lab—equipping this facility with the tools needed to remain a leader in their field.”
“JILA is grateful for this federal funding championed by Congressman Neguse," said John Bohn, Associate Chair of JILA, a joint research institute between CU Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). "This support provides critical infrastructure for the JILA facility, notably HVAC improvements that are essential to maintaining stable, high-quality laboratory space. This space will enable JILA scientists to continue to explore cutting-edge experiments in the physical sciences, including quantum science and technology. JILA's dual mission of research and workforce development benefits both Colorado and the Nation.
Funding will help to replace JILA’s antiquated ventilation and temperature control system. JILA scientists are conducting world leading research in laboratories that are still using pneumatic controls and dual-duct HVAC systems, which are obsolete for the purposes of cutting-edge research laboratories. The updated system will also help to make the research facility energy-efficient and able to support precisely controlled stable temperature environments necessary for quantum research.
JILA was founded in 1962 as a joint institute of The University of Colorado Boulder and the National Institute of Standards & Technology—and is one of the nation’s leading research institutes in the physical sciences.
Background
Colorado is home to the most national labs outside of the Washington metropolitan (DMV) area, with more than thirty federally-funded research labs and joint institutes across the state. Since first being elected to Congress, Congressman Neguse has worked to increase federal support for the state’s research ecosystem. Most recently, he led a letter urging his colleagues to ensure funding for the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) in the FY2024 appropriations bill.
Last year, he played a key role in the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the largest investment for preventing climate change in American history. Some of the benefits included were: $5 billion for forest and reforestation investments and wildfire mitigation programs, $4 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to combat drought conditions across the West, and $2 billion for federal labs throughout the country – with NCAR, UCAR, and NOAA falling under this jurisdiction.
On August 31, 2022, Rep. Neguse hosted US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to tour and visit the NCAR facility in Boulder. Rep. Neguse and Speaker Pelosi held a roundtable discussion with various community leaders and scientists regarding the ongoing climate crisis and how substantial funding research helps us better understand ways to prevent further climate change in the future.
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