Mark Udall | U.S. Senator for Colorado

Mark’s Newsletter Update: Preserving our Natural Heritage

From the snow-capped Rocky Mountain National Park to the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, and many parks in between, we are blessed to live in a state filled with some of nature's most spectacular landscapes. In what documentary filmmaker Ken Burns describes as "America's best idea," generations of Americans have worked to preserve these unique places in Colorado and across the nation.

Preserving our Natural Heritage

The Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped some of our most beloved natural places, including Grand Canyon National Park, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Colorado's very own Great Sand Dunes National Park.

WHAT I'M WORKING ON: Border Security

Labor Secretary Solis Meets with Colorado Latinos to Tout Green Jobs Programs

Recently, I had the opportunity to welcome U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis to Colorado, when she toured the Denver Green Jobs Initiative.  Partnering with Mi Casa Resource Center, a Denver-based nonprofit that teaches Latinos and low-income families skills that will help them get good-paying jobs, the Denver Green Jobs Initiative offers free job training and job placement assistance to jump-start careers in clean energy industries.

Mark's Newsletter Update: Judicial Emergency in Colorado's Federal Courts

The U.S. District Courts, including Colorado's, are in dire straits. With 99 empty seats nationwide, court cases are beginning to pile up. For example, the situation on the District Court of Colorado is now considered a "judicial emergency."

Army Grants Request by Udall to implement Confidential Alcohol Treatment Pilot Program at Fort Carson

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mark Udall announced that the Army has agreed to his request to implement the Confidential Alcohol Treatment Program - or CATEP - at Fort Carson starting Monday. The program will enable soldiers to seek confidential treatment for alcohol-related issues without fear of stigma or harm to their careers.

As Final Combat Brigade Leaves Iraq, Udall Honors U.S. Troops who have Served, Given their Lives for America

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mark Udall released the following statement as the last American brigade combat team left Iraq:

Colorado Front Range Wins Landscape Restoration Grant

Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, along with U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette and Ed Perlmutter, today applauded the selection of Colorado Front Range Landscape Restoration Initiative to receive $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote healthier, safer and more productive public lands.

Udall-backed Border Security Bill Passes Senate

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mark Udall announced that the Senate has passed border-security legislation, which he co-sponsored. The Emergency Border Security Supplemental Appropriations Act will provide targeted funding - without adding to the deficit - to hire 1,500 additional Customs and Border Protection agents, and supply additional technology and resources to target criminal activity on the Southwest border.

Bennet, Udall Introduce Bill to Help Reimburse Fort Lewis College for Native American Tuition

Washington, DC - Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, U.S. Senators for Colorado, late yesterday introduced legislation to help Fort Lewis College cover tuition costs of Native Americans students, who get federally-mandated free tuition at the college.

Colorado's Judicial Emergency: Udall Leads Fight for Vote on U.S. District Court Nominees

Mark Udall took to the Senate floor with a number of colleagues to demand a vote on the nomination of William Martinez to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for Colorado. The seat Martinez was nominated to fill has been open for almost two years, and at this point, the vacancy is considered a judicial emergency.  Senator Udall urged the Senate to see beyond partisan politics. Yet the nominations are still being blocked.

Udall Leads Fight for Vote on Nomination of William Martinez to U.S. District Court in Colorado

U.S. Senator Mark Udall urged his colleagues to end the partisan obstructionism that has caused a delay of the nomination of William Martinez to the U.S. District Court in Colorado and contributed to a serious and growing backlog in the federal courts in Colorado and across the country. The seat Martinez was nominated to fill has been open for almost two years, and at this point, the vacancy is considered a judicial emergency.

Udall Speaks in Support of his Credit Union Amendment to Increase Small Business Lending

Under current statute, credit unions are required to limit small business lending to 12.25 percent of the credit union's total assets. This arbitrary cap has restricted many credit unions from extending credit to worthy small businesses. Senator Udall's amendment will allow credit unions to gradually expand small business lending, creating jobs and freeing up capital without costing taxpayers a dime.

Udall Urges Senate to Pass Strong Renewable Electricity Standard

In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Mark Udall told his colleagues that now is the time to create a strong national renewable electricity standard, which sets a requirement to produce a portion of electricity from renewable energy sources, such as the sun or wind.

Senator Udall Introduces an Amendment to Increase Lending from Credit Unions, Create Jobs

As the U.S. Senate begins debating legislation to increase small business lending and create jobs, U.S. Senator Mark Udall introduced an amendment that would widen the options for small businesses seeking loans. Senator Udall's Small Business Lending Enhancement Act would expand the ability for credit unions to lend to small businesses.