Hello, fellow Coloradans. Over the past two weeks, I’ve fought hard in the Senate to make sure Washington is working for Colorado. I recently wrapped up the last of my 64 county meetings where I discussed my work in the U.S. Senate on high energy prices and our dependence on foreign oil. Coloradans I met with expressed deep worry over high energy costs and many other troubling issues including health care and the war in Iraq.

On the Senate floor I successfully amended the Agriculture Appropriations bill to deal specifically with the effect of high energy costs on our farmers, ranchers and rural communities. I also required the Forest Service to provide specific answers to mountain communities on combating the pine beetle scourge in Colorado.

The Senate also passed legislation to provide funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. To ensure that this important bill worked for all of Colorado, I added three amendments that aid in recovering funds for the schoolchildren of our fighting men and women, studies ways to increase economic development in rural communities and evaluates the effectiveness of violence prevention programs funded by the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program.

After 20 of my colleagues and I introduced legislation to impose economic sanctions against Japan for its unwarranted ban against safe U.S. beef imports, Japan’s Food Safety Commission confirmed that the risk of mad-cow disease in U.S. beef was extremely rare. This action is an encouraging first step by the Japanese government towards a full reopening of its borders, the closure of which has cost U.S. beef producers over $6 billion since 2003, and is excellent news for ranchers across Colorado.

At a Senate hearing this week I pressed the National Park Service on its decision to upend its nearly 100 year-old understanding of its statutory mandate – to do no harm. These new rules were drafted in a rushed process that ignored input of the public. I remain concerned and have asked for additional information from the Park Service as it moves forward with its new rules. I will oppose any change in the management of the National Park Service that would undermine the preservation ethic of our national park system.

This past week has also seen significant turmoil in the President’s process to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. I was surprised by the effort to scuttle Ms. Miers’ nomination before even one hearing was held and disappointed over how the nomination of Judge Alito was handled. Also, the bipartisan ‘gang of fourteen,’ of which I am a member, remains united. Each of us individually is reserving judgment on Judge Alito and none of us are at a point to make a final decision – it is too early in the process.

Finally, Senate Democrats took an important step this week to get to the truth about how intelligence was used to go to war in Iraq. Senate leaders had dragged their feet. Now we have forced the Intelligence Committee to lay out a timeline for the completion of its investigation and set out specifics of what is needed to bring this investigation to conclusion. It is important for our national security and for the integrity of our national intelligence capabilities. Learning the truth will only help our efforts in Iraq.

I look forward to continuing my work on behalf of all of Colorado.

Ken Salazar
Unites States Senator

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Sen. Salazar pushes for economic retaliation against Japan for ban on U.S. beef imports

Sen. Salazar’s 64 County Meetings Identify Coloradans Concerns: Energy, Health Care & Iraq

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Fountain Creek study gets funding boost

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