I hope you had a joyous Thanksgiving Holiday. The United States Senate is currently in the middle of a two week work period. I am using this work period to meet with Coloradans in thirteen counties across the state on energy, agriculture, law enforcement and other issues before we reconvene to wrap up the 109th Congress. After this week, I will have visited nearly all of Colorado’s 64 counties this year.

The elections this month changed the leadership in the United States Senate from Republican to Democratic and as a result the committee structure changed as well. As new assignments were made for the 110th Congress, I accepted a seat on the powerful Senate Finance Committee and kept my seat on the Agriculture, Energy and Ethics Committees.

I am honored to be asked to serve on the Finance Committee and I look forward to working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle as we address the needs of this Nation. The Finance Committee will amplify my voice for Colorado’s needs -- it is one of four “Super-A” committees and has jurisdiction over many matters of national significance, including those relating to Social Security, taxes, Medicare and Medicaid, customs, trade agreements, general revenue sharing, and tariffs and import quotas. Please click here to get more information on the Senate Finance Committee.

I also recently met with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to discuss staffing and security concerns at the “Supermax” facility prison in Florence and the need for additional federal law enforcement resources in Southwest Colorado. Attorney General Gonzales committed to touring the “Supermax” facility with me as soon as his schedule permits and to add 18 staff members to “Supermax” by the end of this month.

Colorado’s veterans could soon gain better access to world-class health care thanks to Senate efforts to include a $52 million appropriation for construction and planning for the new Fitzsimons veterans’ hospital project in 2007. The Senate passed the Veterans Affairs/Military Construction Appropriations Bill which included the money for Fitzsimons. If this $52 million stays in the bill after it goes to conference committee with the House it will enable the project to begin.

I look forward to this week in Colorado. Our state is blessed with thoughtful, innovative and optimistic people who consistently look for solutions to our energy, economic, law enforcement and other hurdles.

Next week the United States Senate will reconvene. I am hopeful we can renew work on some of our unfinished business on issues such as the war in Iraq, immigration, drought and disaster assistance. Whether it is in the waning days of this session or in the new year, I am committed to working on these vital issues and many more. Please stay tuned to my newsletter in December. I will wrap up some of the highlights from this past year and preview the next Congress. I am encouraged that we can accomplish a lot in the next two years and look forward to getting the job done.

Thank you.

Ken Salazar

United States Senator

Sen. Salazar and Rep. Udall angered by government attempts to limit compensation for Rocky Flats workers

Sen. Salazar statement on the passing of Mrs. Betty Dick

Sen. Salazar works with Senate Leadership to bring ag disaster relief to farmers, again


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