Colorado Projects Included
Contact:
Tara Trujillo
720-333-3425
Heather Fox
303-725-6595
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 253-153 to pass a consolidated domestic spending package for fiscal year 2008. U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, highlighted a handful of Colorado projects that will be funded and provisions that are part of the legislation.
Oil Shale
The appropriations bill retains Rep. Udall’s amendment barring BLM from proceeding with final regulations for a commercial oil shale leasing program during fiscal year 2008, plus additional language in the explanatory statement that makes clear that the Interior Department must provide adequate time for Governor Bill Ritter and the public to provide input before any such final regulations are adopted.
“The people on the Western Slope should know that Congress has listened and will insist that the Bush Administration move carefully on oil shale development. Coloradans remember all too well how the last ‘crash’ oil shale program ended and why we don’t want to experience such a boom and bust cycle again,” said Udall.
NREL
Rep. Udall praised important funding for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The bill includes almost $80 million for NREL, including funding for operations and maintenance, critical funding for the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) and the South-Table Mountain Infrastructure, and provides funding for needed solar equipment. NREL is the nation’s leading facility for the development of renewable energy technology.
“Colorado has the sunshine, the wind power and the brain power to be the nation’s leader in renewable energy production and use. NREL has led this charge. When we invest in NREL, we invest in our state and our country,” said Udall.
Pueblo Chemical Depot
The bill includes $35.1 million for the construction of on-site chemical destruction facilities, with the goal of completing clean-up at the facility by 2012.
“We need to continue to do all we can to safely and expeditiously remove the mustard agent remaining at the Pueblo Depot. The sooner we clean up these weapons, the sooner the surrounding communities will be safe – and a clean-up by the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty deadline of 2012 will come at a lower cost to taxpayers,” said Udall.
Fitzsimons Veterans Hospital
Udall also announced the inclusion of $61.3 million in the bill for the Fitzsimons Veterans Hospital, another key priority for the Colorado delegation. The funding will enable construction to begin on the facility’s parking structure and energy plant. The bill also directs the Veterans Department to report on the feasibility of a veterans community-based outpatient clinic in rural Colorado.
“Denver’s current Veterans Hospital is 50-years-old, is at full capacity and does not meet the needs of our veterans. As Colorado’s service members continue to be placed in harm’s way, it is essential that we be prepared to meet their needs when they return home. This funding will put us on a path toward making the new campus at Fitzsimons a reality,” said Udall.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on the spending bill later this week, after which it will be sent to the president for his signature.
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