Welcome. To those of you who have not received this newsletter before, it is intended to be a forum where I report to you about the business in the U.S. Senate and my work on the issues most important to Coloradans. I hope you find it useful and informative. If you have not already signed up to receive future updates, I invite you to sign up to continue receiving it.

I returned to the Senate this week after holding meetings with Coloradans in over 20 counties throughout the state about an issue on the minds of every Coloradan: energy, including the high price of gasoline, diesel and natural gas. Prices, now at all time highs, are gouging the budgets of Colorado families, commuters, businesses, farmers and ranchers.

To help address high gas prices, I have taken steps to reduce our Nation’s demand for oil and gas. I recently introduced five proposals to: reduce incentives to buy super-SUVs; increase efficiency standards for auto tires; reduce government fuel consumption; immediately implement next year’s scheduled energy efficiency incentives; and establish a federal gasoline price gouging law.

The Coloradans I met with last week also expressed their concerns over skyrocketing home heating costs. I am a co-sponsor of a bill to ease the impact of home heating costs and will continue to work to stabilize energy prices, and to meet, head on, the challenge of long-term energy independence.

This summer’s Energy bill provides long-term measures to increase production and use of renewable and alternative energy, promote energy conservation and efficiency and develop newer technologies for the development of existing energy sources. While it is a good first step, I said then, and events prove now, that we must do much more to address our overdependence on foreign oil. The time for talk is over; our Nation must get serious about our long-term energy independence.

I believe that we can become energy independent, if we are bold. For example, South America’s economic giant, Brazil, has a robust alternative fuels program that has almost cut in half its dependence upon foreign oil. If a country like Brazil can do this, there is no reason the strongest and richest nation on earth cannot do the same.

Also, just this week, our own University of Colorado won a repeat victory at the Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. I applaud their work. The students designed and successfully created a model for energy-efficient mobile home design. Their achievement is a testament to the fact that we can lead our country to greater energy independence and security.

In other business this week, I met with Supreme Court nominee Ms. Harriet Miers. I am confident that, if more information is released from the White House, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be able to complete a full, fair and proper review of Ms. Miers’ record. Based on the Committee’s work and my own careful study, I will decide how to vote.

I look forward to continuing my work on your behalf.

Ken Salazar
Unites States Senator

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