[mmaimcal]FUNDING FOR ALMA CONSTRUCTION

[Al Wootten]

6 November 2001

FYI #2

FUNDING FOR ALMA CONSTRUCTION PASSES MAJOR HURDLE

This afternoon, the Conference Committee of the House and Senate
Appropriations Sub-Committees for VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies met
to approve a final 2002 appropriations bill for the National Science
Foundation.  Of special interest is the fact that the conference
approved an NSF bill that calls for an appropriation of $12.5M for
construction of ALMA in 2002, these funds to be in the NSF Major
Research Equipment line.  Although this bill must be passed by both
House and Senate, and signed by President Bush, those steps are very
likely to follow soon.  

The support and hard work invested in ALMA by the astronomical community
and the NRAO staff led to this important milestone, and we can all take
pride in this achievement.

Paul Vanden Bout