As summer comes to a close, I have spent August working in Colorado listening to Coloradans about their hopes and concerns on issues ranging from farming and ranching to energy development and business innovation. I have always believed that it is the people, not Washington, who have the best ideas, and these meetings give me an opportunity to hear their thoughts on the issues of the day and take those perspectives back with me to Washington.

Over the past two weeks, I have held listening sessions on the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill in Alamosa, Burlington, Yuma, Sterling, Grand Junction and Brighton. At each of these listening sessions, I have heard the stories, troubles and hopes of our farmers, ranchers and the residents of our rural communities

The 2007 reauthorization of the Farm Bill will give us a chance for Washington to address major issues including bolstering the energy title in the Farm Bill so we reduce our dependence on foreign oil and begin to grow some of our energy. Other major issues many farmers and ranchers raised included funding for disaster mitigation programs, drought relief, commodity support and trade. I intend to use the ideas I’ve gathered from these meetings to shape a farm bill that helps revitalize our rural communities, is fairer to our family farmers and ranchers, preserving their important way of life while giving them a level playing field to compete upon, both in the U.S. and around the world.

This week I also co-hosted a meeting with Senator Allard in Fountain regarding the future of Fountain Creek. The goal of this meeting was to provide information from the Army Corps of Engineers to the communities of Colorado Springs, Fountain and Pueblo, and it was very informative. Fountain Creek is central to the future of these communities and offers an opportunity for success.

Colorado is home to many of the Nation’s top manufacturing and telecommunications businesses. We are also home to our Nation’s premier military installations. This week I visited many of these businesses and installations including Ball Corporation, Qwest, Gates Manufacturing, as well as Schriever and Peterson Air Force Bases. I am impressed with these businesses; their innovation and commitment to the highest quality and service is laudable. I also continue to be impressed by the military installations that call our state home; they play a key role in keeping our Nation safe. I am committed to ensure their continued success.

Finally, this week I called on Governor Owens and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to make it easier to build an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) coal-fueled power plant in Colorado. These “clean coal” technologies are important not only to our Nation’s future, but to Colorado’s as well. Coal represents 50 percent of our Nation’s power resources, and the abundance of clean coal in the Rockies can make Colorado and the West the “new Middle East” for coal. “Clean coal” plants are more efficient and less polluting than current coal power plants, and Colorado can become a leader in this new direction towards energy independence. Our state must seize this opportunity.

Coloradoans have informed opinions and great ideas on the major issues of our time. Our state is also home to many of the Nation’s top businesses and respected military installations. We have a lot to be proud of and much to be hopeful for. I will go back to Washington in a week full of hope in our future but also full of ideas given to me by Coloradans to improve our lives. If we did not get a chance to talk during this August please email me your thoughts and ideas, I look forward to hearing from you and continuing to work for you.

Sincerely,

Ken Salazar,
United States Senator

Statement of Sen. Salazar on Foiled Terrorist Plot

More