October has been a busy month; I have traveled thousands of miles crisscrossing the state to meet with Coloradans on the issues they care about most. Most recently I finished my series of eleven farm bill listening sessions in Craig. I want to thank the farmers and ranchers, Colorado Farm Bureau and the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union for their valuable help in the reauthorization of the Farm Bill and their help to revitalize rural Colorado.

I also met with law enforcement officials in Durango on the Inter-tribal law enforcement justice issues, veterans in Craig to update them on the progress of locating a community based outpatient clinic there, transportation leaders along the I-70 corridor where I proposed a statewide transportation summit and community residents in Pagosa Springs on the Village at Wolf Creek development. I visited a biomass plant that provides energy to the Walden School in North Park.

I also held a meeting in Loveland on the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Designation legislation. Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is our state’s most famous park with pristine wilderness and boundless recreational opportunities. I have sponsored a bill to designate RMNP under the Wilderness System and ensure that the park is protected for future generations. The bill has the consensus support of all the surrounding communities, business chambers, environmental groups and locals. It is my hope we can soon pass this consensus wilderness designation legislation to protect Rocky Mountain National Park.

This week I sent a letter to President Bush asking him to ensure the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) fulfills its mandate at the ‘Supermax’ federal prison in Florence, Colorado. I asked the President to take action to conduct a prompt review of all security procedures and staffing needs at BOP facilities and provide additional funds for staffing. Recent reports from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General have concluded intelligence-sharing between the BOP and FBI has been inadequate and security monitoring of ‘Supermax’ prisoners has been random. I am proud of the ‘Supermax’ facility in Florence and the hardworking men and women who work there, but I am deeply concerned about the security issues of the facility and whether the funding it receives is adequate to maintain the security of those who work there, the local community and the Nation.

I look forward to working in Colorado through the next two weeks until Congress reconvenes in early November for a so-called ‘lame-duck’ session, when we will work to complete the unfinished business of the Nation.

Sincerely,

Ken Salazar,
United States Senator

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