What I'm Working On
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American Energy and Job Promotion Act
Colorado is positioned to lead the country in renewable energy. That's why I joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the American Energy and Job Promotion Act. This bill will extend several key renewable energy tax credits, like the production tax credit for wind, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, and other renewables. This measure, and others that I have supported, could help Americans reduce their energy costs at home and at the pump. Clean energy has great potential in Colorado and the U.S. to create new jobs and help us win the global energy race - but this will not happen without support from the federal government.
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Renewable Energy Production Tax Credits
Renewable energy is a crucial element of Colorado and America’s economic and energy future, supporting thousands of jobs while reducing impacts on the environment. I want to ensure that the tremendous growth in this field over the last decade continues into the next one. That is why I support extending key renewable energy tax credits, like the Production Tax Credit and Section 1603, to help to give the industry the certainty it needs for sustained growth that will create good, long-term jobs. These incentives are critical to help companies leverage private investment to create good-paying jobs in Colorado. I recently joined with several other Senators in sending letters to Senate leadership emphasizing the importance of these tax credits.
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Letter to President Obama on FY12 NASA funding
Colorado’s aerospace economy is in the top three in the nation, providing good-paying jobs for thousands of Coloradans. Colorado companies are building the successor to the space shuttle, literally changing the way we access space, pushing the limits of our understanding of the universe and inspiring future generations in the process. On January 27, 2011, I urged President Obama to submit a budget request to Congress for Fiscal Year 2012 that includes funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) consistent with the 2010 NASA Authorization Act. Those funding levels would represent a balanced portfolio supporting all of NASA’s primary objectives, including space exploration, aeronautics and earth and space science, which impact many Colorado companies, laboratories and institutions of higher education.
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Udall Legislation to Prevent Oil Spills
In the past 30 years, the oil industry has made major technological advances in oil drilling and production. Unfortunately, safety technology has not kept pace and we are now paying the price, both economically and environmentally. That's why I'm taking the lead in the Senate on a bill to commit more research and development funds into safety and accident prevention for offshore and onshore exploration and production activities. The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has underscored the urgent need to change the way we develop and use energy, and we need to learn from this tragedy and be smarter about our energy production.
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Electric Consumer Right to Know Act (e-KNOW) Act (S.3487)
In today's marketplace, consumers have a clear understanding of the price of gasoline and what their car mileage means for their pocket books. They also have ready access to the number of minutes remaining on their cell phone. But they can't get the same kind of clear, timely data related to their electricity use and its price. That is why I introduced the Electric Consumer Right to Know Act, which would establish consumers' right to access their own real-time electricity data. Defining this right is an important step toward helping consumers use electricity more efficiently and save money on their electric bills. And on top of that, I am proud to say that this idea came directly from a Coloradan at my Energy Jobs Summit in February 2010.
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STEM Education Coordination Act
I am working to update the way the federal government supports science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education by cosponsoring the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009 (S. 1210). Under this legislation, the government will have to improve coordination among the federal agencies involved in STEM education, such as the Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and NASA, and produce a five-year strategic plan for implementation of federal STEM education programs. Not only will improved coordination improve the effectiveness of federal STEM education activities, but it will also help ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently to enhance American competitiveness worldwide.
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Senate STEM Education Caucus
When I joined the Senate, I decided to become a member of the Senate STEM Education Caucus, which includes senators from both political parties. The caucus advances and promotes science and math education in the United States and works to raise awareness in the Senate for STEM education issues. While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, I co-founded the corresponding STEM Education Caucus in 2005.