Last Friday, in Colorado, I met with members of the Summit County Bark Beetle Task Force on the bark beetle crisis facing our forests, threatening to exacerbate the wildfire season we are in right now. Only through the cooperative efforts of residents, local businesses, and local and federal government will we be able to deal with the monumental bark beetle infestation challenge Colorado faces. I also organized a meeting this week with the Colorado Congressional delegation, the Northwest Council of Governments (NWCOG) and Colorado Counties, Inc (CCI) to hear their views on how best the Colorado congressional delegation can help in fighting this growing problem.

I also worked on creating the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. This program is a culmination of years of effort between the states of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. This program will now allow us to think and plan for the future of the Platte River at a basin-wide level to protect Colorado’s water rights.

With gas prices at over three dollars a gallon and no relief in sight, Coloradans are feeling the pain at the pump. As our Nation pursues a diversified energy policy to secure our energy independence, I have taken steps to create a win-win scenario for Colorado. I am supporting efforts to increase safe and responsible oil and gas development off the Gulf Coast, and I am working to ensure that the increased revenue is used to fully fund the stateside Land and Water Conservation Fund grants program so important to conserving our state’s natural beauty.

This week I supported the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill. The Senate added two amendments which I authored: one helps protect our farmers and agriculture producers by requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on measures being taken to improve the inspection of agricultural products entering the United States. The other addresses the communications capabilities of emergency first responders by requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on the steps necessary to achieve effective emergency communication at all levels of government.

Finally, the federal government needs to get its act in order on immigration reform and address what is primarily a federal responsibility. Unfortunately, there are obstructionists in Congress who would rather demagogue this issue than work together to pass tough, fair and practical comprehensive immigration reform this year. Now is the time for the federal government to act -- individual states such as Colorado should not have to resort to passing a patchwork of state laws.

In the coming weeks I will continue to push for comprehensive immigration reform, sound energy policy that reduces our dependence on foreign oil and a fiscally responsible fix to the estate tax. In addition, I will spend the August work period traveling to many Colorado communities to meet with Coloradans on the issues most important to them. Please look for more details and upcoming events in Colorado in the next newsletter.

Colorado Delegation Discusses Bark Beetle Problem with Northwest Colorado Council of Governments

Sen. Salazar Announces “Priority” Federal Funding Status for 10 Colorado Drug Task Forces

Sen. Salazar Pushes for a Secure Border

Sen. Salazar Meets with Summit County Bark Beetle Taskforce to Discuss Local Efforts

Sens. Allard, Salazar Introduce Platte River Recovery Implementation Program Legislation

Sen. Salazar Will Push Legislation for Increased Oil and Gas from Gulf Coast Region to Ease Energy Needs

More