Society News Archive

1 March 2004

New House Bill Would Invest Millions in Health Physics Academic Programs

Health Physics Society President, Dr. Kenneth R. Kase, has written a letter to Representative Judy Biggert, (R-IL 13th) thanking her for introducing her new bill H.R. 3928, the Department of Energy University Nuclear Science, Engineering and Health Physics Act. The bill, introduced by Congresswoman Biggert on February 25, 2004, supports federal spending of more than $27 million for graduate and under-graduate fellowships and junior faculty research grants in university health physics and nuclear science and engineering programs and more than $15 million for health physics research programs over the next four years.

This bill is the latest in a continuing effort by Representative Biggert to address the projected shortfall of health physicists and nuclear engineers over the next ten years needed to support the continued use of nuclear technologies in industry, universities, and the government. The bill also addresses the need to maintain the research reactor infrastructure in our universities. In 2001 the Health Physics Society identified the need for financial support by the Congress and federal agencies for health physics programs in academic institutions to ensure an adequate supply of qualified radiation safety professionals in its position statement Human Capital Crisis in Radiation Safety.

The Nuclear Energy Institute has also welcomed the introduction of the bill on behalf of the nuclear industry in their recently issued news release.