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12/15/06
UDALL SCORES VICTORIES IN 109TH CONGRESS
Lawmaker racks up wins on national security, energy, water, fiscal responsibility and public lands
(Westminster, CO) – Congressman Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs) worked in a bipartisan fashion to score several legislative victories in the Republican-controlled 109th Congress which adjourned on December 9. Among those issues Udall championed include a new strategy for the war in Iraq, energy independence, fiscal responsibility, space and aeronautics, water, and public lands.
National security
· As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Udall worked with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to secure increases of 10,000 in the 2006 end strength of the Army (from 502,400 to 512,400) in the Defense authorization bill. The bill also includes provisions to increase end-strength by 20,000 each year up until 2009.
· Udall led the House effort to include Senate approved language in the Defense Authorization Act calling for President Bush to put forth a strategy for redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq and to report to Congress on progress toward the goal of a transition to full Iraqi sovereignty in 2006.
· Udall secured over $19 million in federal funding for various companies in Colorado for research and development of systems critical to our national defense.
Energy independence. As co-chair of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus in the U.S. House, Udall was successful in including several provisions in the comprehensive Energy Policy Act of 2005.
· Energy efficiency: contains many provisions in legislation that Udall sponsored with Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), including new standards for 15 products and tax provisions for alternative fuel vehicles, energy efficient appliances and new and existing homes.
· Clean Green School Bus Act: a bill that Udall introduced with Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) authorizing grants to help school districts replace aging diesel vehicles with clean, alternative fuel buses.
· Distributed Power Hybrid Energy: includes provisions from legislation Udall authored on distributed power, which would direct the Secretary of Energy to develop and implement a strategy for research, development, and demonstration of distributed power energy systems.
· Production Tax Credit: led the effort in the House to extend the production tax credit (PTC) for renewable generation and apply the PTC on an equal basis to all types of renewable generation and to enable electric cooperatives to invest in renewable generation through "clean energy bonds."
In addition, Udall succeeded in securing increased funding in FY06 for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs at the Department of Energy. He also won a $2 million increase in funding in FY 2006 for the Energy Star program.
Fiscal responsibility
Udall authored an early constitutional version of the line-item veto bill (the SLICE Act) and subsequently worked with the White House Office of Management and Budget to win House passage of the Legislative Line-Item Veto Act. As the chief Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, Udall garnered 35 Democratic votes to help pass the bill.
Space and Aeronautics
In his role as ranking member on the Space Subcommittee, Udall negotiated final provisions in a bill that authorizes NASA programs until 2007. The measure contained several Udall legislative priorities, including: legislation to revitalize aeronautics and aviation research and development at NASA; a servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope and $150 million to be used specifically for Hubble; and a grant program to give local government better access to remote sensing data to deal with growth, homeland security, drought and forest fire management.
Water
· Won House and Senate passage of H.R. 5136, National Integrated Drought Information System Act, legislation that creates a national system to provide early warnings, forecasts, and information about drought conditions so that state and local communities can better address the impacts of drought. The bill authorizes a total of $94 million through fiscal 2012 to enhance and operate the National Integration Drought Information System (NIDIS) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The bill is on the president’s desk awaiting his signature.
· Won House passage of H.R. 5110, the More Water and More Energy Act, which calls for research and development of ways that water from oil and gas production could be used for agricultural purposes and to alleviate drought conditions. The bill authorizes $5 million in federal grants to assist in developing three pilot plants to demonstrate the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of processes in which produced water can be recovered and made suitable for use. One of the pilot plants could be built in Colorado.
Public lands
· Authored and won enactment of a bill to reaffirm the long-standing right of states to make decisions about hunting and fishing licenses and tag limits.
· Won enactment of a bill that allowed Mrs. Betty Dick to remain in a cabin she used as her home for the last 25 years in Rocky Mountain National Park.
· Won approval of a bipartisan amendment to the Interior Department spending bill to increase by $12 million funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program.
· Won enactment of H.R. 1129, a bill to facilitate a land exchange between Pitkin County and the federal government to protect scenic lands in the White River National Forest and to expand recreational, fish and wildlife and open space opportunities.
· Won House passage of H.R. 2110, the Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop Protection Study Act, which requires the Forest Service to work with local communities to study ways to protect the scenic Front Range mountain backdrop in the northern Denver-metro area and the region just west of Rocky Flats.
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