What do GPS, flat-screen televisions and the Internet have in common? Before each became commonly available consumer goods, they were developed by the military. Alternative fuels are on the cusp of similar cutting-edge development.

Thanksgiving is a great time to spend time with family and friends and to take stock of how fortunate we are to live and work in the West. From our growing economy to the natural wonders that make Colorado the best place to raise a family, we are truly blessed.

Beginning Friday, Senator John McCain and I will lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The forum will bring together more than 300 leaders from 50 countries for weekend-long discussions on some of the world's most pressing security issues.

This Veterans Day, I want to honor the men and women who have bravely served our country in uniform. Through their hard work, selflessness and courage, our veterans represent the very best of our nation and what we strive to achieve. 

Congress comes back into session next week, and the time has finally come for Congress to stop delaying and extend the wind Production Tax Credit.

As a U.S. Senator, my office receives a limited number of tickets to distribute to my constituents who plan on visiting Washington, D.C. for this event. If you are a Colorado resident interested in attending the Inaugural swearing-in ceremonies, please fill out the ticket request form.

Tough economic times have seen rising health care costs place a strain on our seniors, who often live on fixed incomes. In an effort to provide our aging population with peace of mind, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes provisions aimed at improving Medicare by lowering prescription drug costs and eliminating barriers to coverage.

Since I was first elected to serve, I have worked to ensure that we do everything we can to foster a healthy environment for the growth of small businesses in our state and across the country. Small businesses face unique challenges ranging from accessing the capital they need to expand to finding unique ways to serve their communities; but in the end, it comes down to people. An important factor to hiring and retaining a competitive workforce for any small business is the ability to provide reasonable and affordable health coverage for their employees - health care plans that meet their needs and provide reliable coverage.

Thanks to everyone who joined my Twitter Town Hall on renewable energy. I enjoyed hearing the thoughts of Coloradans across the political spectrum on how we should pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy that creates jobs, helps the environment and improves our energy security.

This past summer, Colorado experienced one of the most severe wildfire seasons on record. The Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs, in particular, reminded us that wildfires don't stop at city limits - and residential areas near our forests, grasslands and public lands are at just as much risk as forestlands. Furthermore, roughly 40 percent of Coloradans live in the risky areas where human development meets or intermingles with undeveloped wildland and vegetative fuels, sometimes called the Wildland-Urban Interface. As we make our way through the fall months, now is the time to look ahead and do all we can to safeguard our homes and communities from the threat of future wildfires.

I'm hosting a Twitter Town Hall to talk about renewable energy with my constituents on Oct. 16, 2012, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. MT.  Join the conversation by tweeting me your questions using the hashtag #AskUdall and you also can view the discussion on my website.

Congress authorized special compensation for service members whose tours of duty were involuntarily extended under stop-loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009. I proudly supported this bipartisan provision.

October marks the beginning of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which provides us with the opportunity to increase awareness, share stories and help educate others about breast cancer.  The Centers for Disease Control estimates that over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone.  That means one in eight women in your life - a family member, neighbor or co-worker - has been or will be diagnosed.

Our state is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.  As a native Westerner, I’ve always been passionate about preserving our natural environment and our way of life.  We as Coloradans take great pride in our wilderness, but we also must remember to take care of it.  That is why this Saturday, I invite you to partake in the National Public Lands Day volunteer effort.  Saturday, September 29th marks the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands in America. 

Last week in the U.S. Senate, my colleagues came together to consider the Sportsmen’s Act.  This bipartisan legislation includes my proposal, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, which would free up more of the proceeds the federal government collects on sporting equipment and ammunition to expand access to public shooting ranges, all without raising taxes or increasing spending. 

Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT), the law that previously prohibited gay and lesbian members of the military from serving in the armed forces unless they kept their sexual orientation a secret from their colleagues.