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| Greetings
from U.S. Senator Ken Salazar
Greetings, Coloradans. I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe as we enter the holiday season. The past two weeks have been busy in the Senate and I have been fighting every day in Washington for the people of Colorado. Just one week ago, the Senate held an historic joint hearing of the Energy and Commerce Committees to get answers from the CEOs of the oil industry on the high prices being paid by Americans at the gas pumps and to heat their homes. In addition, at my request the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on the negative impacts of high fuel costs on farmers, ranchers and rural communities. I was especially honored to be joined at this hearing by Mr. Ryan Neibur, a fifth-generation farmer from Burlington who traveled to Washington to put a real face to the pain suffered by farmers, ranchers and rural communities because of these sky-high fuel prices. More recently, the Senate passed the $441.6 billion Department of Defense Authorization bill. I made several improvements to this bill, including securing $10 million to complete the transition of Rocky Flats into a National Wildlife Refuge. I also added five other amendments to improve the quality of life for America’s service members and their families as well as job training opportunities for military spouses. The Senate also passed the Energy and Water Appropriations bill conference report, which currently awaits the President’s signature. Within that bill I was able to include $67 million in funding for 17 water projects across the state of Colorado, including $125,000 to study Fountain Creek in El Paso County and $2.6M for the John Martin Reservoir in Bent County. Earlier this week, I joined with Republicans and Democrats, including Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) to introduce legislation to set America free from its dependence on foreign oil. This is an important proposal for America’s journey towards its energy independence, and will help achieve it through oil-savings, renewable energy and new technologies. This week I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues including Senators Craig (R-ID), Sununu (R-NH), Durbin (D-IL) and Feingold (D-WI) in opposing a proposed reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act. This unacceptable draft fails to accomplish what we and many of our other fellow Senators believe is necessary – a reformed PATRIOT Act that continues to provide law enforcement with the tools they need to fight terrorism while making reasonable reforms to protect innocent people from unnecessary and intrusive government surveillance. This same group of Senators and I also asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to review the use of “national security letters” after media reports found that the FBI issues over 30,000 of these letters, which allow investigators to demand information about Americans not suspected of any crime, each year in the name of anti-terror investigations. Finally, I also met with Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Samuel Alito. I have not made any decision on how I will vote on Judge Alito’s nomination. But at this time I have major concerns that he will abandon the fair and impartial legal approach taken by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. I look forward to continuing my work for Colorado.
Working for Colorado SAFE Act Six Seek Specific Changes to PATRIOT Act Conference Report Sen. Salazar joins new “gang” to set America free from foreign oil Salazar/Allard secure $10M to complete Rocky Flats transition Into National Wildlife Refuge Sen. Salazar hears from CEO’s and farmers on cause & effect of high fuel costs $67M in federal water projects in Colorado announced by Sen. Salazar Sen. Salazar Urges State to Investigate Flu Vaccine Distribution Problems More In the News Bipartisan Senate group to unveil oil-saving plan Briefs: Senate Ok’s bill boosting Rocky Flats, Pueblo depot CDC buys more flu vaccine to ease shortages U.S. Sen. Salazar: Company profits 'unconscionable' Fountain Creek study gets boost in Congress Flu
Vaccine Not Arriving: Sen. Salazar worries shots are not getting to small,
rural clinics Senator Ken Salazar's DC office is located at 702 Hart Senate office building, Washington, DC 20510. He has Colorado regional offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Ft. Morgan, Pueblo, Durango, Grand Junction and Alamosa. For contact and mailing info, click here.
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