Greetings from U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Hello Coloradans,

The Senate is back in session after the August work-period during which I worked in every region of the State and met with some of our State’s top businesses, schools and facilities, as well as our top-notch educators and workforce. Colorado is truly blessed to have such a large number of innovative and forward-thinking residents. I look forward to continuing to help them grow and succeed in our State.

This week, the Senate approved the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008 (H.R. 2642), which provides $109.2 billion in appropriations to military and veterans’ facilities across the Nation, including our State’s Fitzsimons VA Hospital, Fort Carson, Schriever Air Force Base and more. Click here for more facts about Colorado’s wins on this bill. I am particularly proud of an amendment I secured on the bill that would provide $125 million to support a long-overdue mileage reimbursement increase for veterans. The funding will increase their reimbursement from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile. Many of our Nation’s veterans, including thousands in Colorado, live hundreds of miles away from VA medical facilities and travel for frequent treatments can weigh heavily on their monthly budgets.

During the August work-period and over the last several months, I have met with farmers, ranchers and residents of communities throughout Southeastern Colorado who would be most affected by the proposed Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site expansion. I believe that we owe our men and women in uniform at Fort Carson the best training opportunities possible to keep our Nation strong. However, in my view, the Army has not yet provided a sufficient justification for its expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site; nor have they created a plan that protects private property rights and the agricultural heritage of the area. This week in the Senate, we were able to pass an amendment delaying the proposed expansion at Pinon Canyon. Later this month, along with Senator Allard, I will offer an amendment that will require the Army to answer specific questions regarding its proposed expansion at Pinon Canyon.

The month of September will be extremely important for our Nation on the issue of Iraq and the Middle East. Please let me know what you think are the best ways to find a bipartisan way forward in Iraq and the Middle East. Majority Leader Reid has recently mentioned my bipartisan Iraq Study Group (ISG) bill as one possible bill to be used as a vehicle to chart a new course in Iraq. The ISG bill I authored with Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) makes a majority of the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group the law of the United States and creates a path for our forces in Iraq to convert their mission from one of combat to one of support. Over the next several weeks I will be working to move forward on our legislation and possibly other initiatives that will help bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq.

I look forward to updating you soon.

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