March 15, 2019

Duckworth Celebrates Fermilab Particle Accelerator Groundbreaking

 

[BATAVIA, IL] — U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today celebrated the groundbreaking of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory’s (Fermilab) new Proton Improvement Plan-II (PIP-II), a major new particle accelerator project that will power cutting-edge research projects. Duckworth joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Governor J.B. Pritzker as well as U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (IL-11), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Sean Casten (IL-06) to mark the beginning of the new project. Photos from today’s event are available here.

“Fermilab’s Proton Improvement Plan II linear accelerator is a tangible example of Illinois’s commitment to advancing scientific discovery,” Duckworth said. “In addition to connecting local experts with scientists across the globe, this groundbreaking project will help keep our state on the cutting edge of technological innovation—and the entire international scientific community will benefit from our state’s contributions.”

Duckworth has been a supporter of Fermilab during her time in the Senate. She advocated for full funding for the lab’s research program in a letter to the Department of Energy last year and celebrated the 50th anniversary of Fermilab last year passing a resolution with Durbin congratulating the lab on 50 years of discoveries.

Fermilab is America’s premier particle physics and accelerator laboratory. This world-renowned facility generates cutting edge research with national and global partners to develop new technologies that support U.S. industrial competitiveness and make groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

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