U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard Introduces Colorado Legislative Agenda

U.S. SEN. WAYN ALLARD INTRODUCES COLORADO LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) today, on the first day of session in the 110th Congress, introduced what he titled the first phase of a "Legislative Agenda for Colorado and the Nation," which included 15 pieces of legislation.

"As we start the 110th Congress and embark on a two year journey to submit, consider, debate, improve and eventually pass legislation on behalf of the greater good of our constituents and the American people, I am introducing a package of legislative proposals that I believe will benefit Colorado and the country," said Allard. "This is just the first phase of my legislative agenda, but I think it's important to hit the ground running and get these bills under consideration by the U.S. Senate."

Allard introduced the following bills in the 110th Congress:

--The Methamphetamine Trafficking Enforcement Act of 2007 will reduce the drug quantity thresholds for federal prosecution of those found trafficking, manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine, encourage federal law enforcement officials to collaborate with their foreign counterparts to fight meth internationally and require an Attorney General report to Congress on the trafficking and abuse of meth on Indian Reservations, which has increased over the past decade.
--The Medicare Cost Contract Extension and Refinement Act of 2007 would extend the sunset date of Medicare cost contracts by five years from December 31, 2007, to December 31, 2012. Medicare cost contracts provide Medicare beneficiaries in many rural areas and small cities with an affordable, high-quality option to the traditional Medicare fee-for-service plan and allows them access to physicians in their own communities.
--The Mark-to-Market Extension Act of 2007 to extend the program, which preserves affordable rental housing while saving taxpayer dollars, for five additional years. The program reduces property rents to market level while simultaneously restructuring property debt levels to prevent Federal Housing Administration defaults.
--A bill to include the Pueblo, Colorado, Transportation Technology Center in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Domestic Preparedness Consortium and provide for its coordination and use in training the nation's first responders within the railroad and mass transit environment.
--The National Trails System Willing Seller Act will pave the way for the completion of our nation's most outstanding trails, including the Continental Divide trail, by allowing the federal government to purchase land to complete several national trails from willing sellers.
--A bill to establish a national veterans' cemetery in the Pikes Peak region to meet the needs of the approximately 175,000 veterans in the area.
--A bill that clearly defines the process under which the Army can expand the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, specifically prohibiting the use of eminent domain, requiring the Army to pay fair market value. The bill does not allow the Army to proceed with land acquisition until it delivers the answers previously sought on the environmental and economic effects of expansion and must offer options for compensating the loss of property tax revenue.
--The Arkansas Valley Conduit bill will ensure the construction of a pipeline that will provide the small, financially-strapped towns and water agencies along the lower Arkansas River with safe, clean and affordable water.
--A bill to authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a study of the growth in energy consumption by computer data centers operated by the federal government and by private corporations and movement toward energy efficient microchips and computer servers to more fully understand the impact that the growing number of computers in use throughout the country has on energy consumption.
--The Mesa Verde Boundary Expansion legislation will authorize the expansion of the boundary of Mesa Verde National Park by allowing the incorporation of 324 acres purchased by the Conservation Fund for conveyance to the park, and 38 acres that will be donated to the park by the Mesa Verde Foundation.
--The Baca National Wildlife Refuge Purpose will give the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service management tools to allow the agency to run the refuge in a way that achieves the most beneficial use of this natural resource.
--A bill to extend the Cache la Poudre Heritage Area in northern Colorado, which will give local citizens greater management authority over the area.
--A bill to allow the citizens of La Plata and Montezuma counties in southwest Colorado to receive television stations from Denver, Colo., instead of Albuquerque, N.M.
--A bill to designate Granada Relocation Camp (Camp Amache), which served as one of 10 internment camps in the nation during World War II, as a National Historic Site in Colorado.
--A resolution calling for an artistic rendering of President Ronald Reagan nearly 20 years ago standing at the Berlin Wall, at the Brandenburg Gate, issuing his famous challenge to Soviet tyranny to be painted into the Capitol, alongside other significant scenes of our Nation's past.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues on getting these bills through the legislative process and being able to show Coloradans that we in Washington are engaged on their behalf," said Allard. "As the 110th Congress progresses, I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner on issues important to Colorado and the country."

http://allard.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=232079&Month=1&Year=2007