Mark Udall on the Issues

Colorado is home to a vibrant and expanding business community. We are a leader in the aerospace industry, ranking second in the number of aerospace workers employed within the state. Our other leading industries—agriculture, air transportation, technology, outdoor recreation, and financial services—continue to grow and will remain competitive if we are smart about our tax and investment policies. Colorado is also deeply involved in the exploding renewable energy industry. "Being green" is MAKING green ($) as the renewable energy industry gains momentum and creates more jobs and business opportunities. Read More >

Agriculture is at the heart of American life, affecting our economy, our energy supply, our environment, and the nutritional needs of every citizen on a daily basis. As a former state legislator and friend once told me, "Mark, if you eat, you are in agriculture." Because I eat, and because I have raised teenagers who eat even more, I have always been interested in agriculture policy, and was proud to serve on the House Agriculture Committee. Read More >

From the largest herds of elk in North America to its gold medal fisheries, Colorado is home to world-class hunting and angling - and home to some of the most passionate and seasoned sportsmen and women in the United States. Not only are their outdoor pastimes Colorado traditions, but they are significant to Colorado's economy. Hunting, fishing and wildlife watching generate more than $1 billion a year, and support at least 20,000 full-time jobs in our state. Read More >

A strong education system is critical to the survival of our democracy. For most children in Colorado, a good public education is the key to their economic future. The country as a whole also relies on a strong education system to stay competitive in the global market, to remain the world leader in scientific and technological innovation, and to address many of our social and economic challenges. Read More >

Nearly 25% of the world's oil flows through the uncertain and perilous waters of the Persian Gulf. Because of global economic development, political instability in the Middle East and a costly war in Iraq, the cost of a single barrel of oil is over $100, and Americans consumers are facing near record-setting gasoline prices. Clearly, our national security and our economic future are tied to the cost of oil, and we will never break free from this dependency until we forge a completely new energy policy. Read More >

I believe that it is time for universal acknowledgment of what is already the scientific and public consensus-global climate change is occurring and human activity is a primary contributor to that change. The problem presents a major environmental challenge that requires an immediate response from our state and national government. Read More >

I believe every American should have access to high quality, affordable health care. The excellent health care insurance options that are available to Members of Congress ought to be made available to every American. No employer should have to refuse to create new jobs or cut back on current jobs because of the high cost of providing health care. How we meet these goals and do so in a way that strengthens our economy, preserves consumer choices and maintains the very best care, is the challenge -- perhaps the most critical domestic policy challenge -- of our generation. Read More >

Controlling our borders and reforming our immigration policies is one of the nation's most pressing problems, but politics is getting in the way of a solution, and more and more Americans are frustrated that Congress and the Bush Administration have failed to get the job done. Incredibly, the Bush Administration did not effectively start enforcing the law against employers who hire illegal labor until last year, and attempts at passing immigration reform legislation have stalled in both the House and the Senate. Read More >

More and more Coloradans are feeling the pinch of a tightening economy. Gas prices have sky-rocketed, housing values have dropped, and credit card interest rates have gone through the roof. Our economy is in trouble, in part, because the federal government's short-sighted economic and fiscal policies are fundamentally flawed. In the last seven years we have endured an administration that weakened government oversight of the sub-prime mortgage industry, instituted trade and tax policies that too often reward corporations for moving plants overseas, failed to change an energy policy that is hostage to more than $100-per-barrel oil, and allowed health care costs to outpace income for all but the most wealthy Americans. The Bush Administration and Republican Congress compounded the problem by permitting the federal budget to spiral into red ink and failing, in my opinion, to chart the right course in international affairs. The war in Iraq is costing taxpayers nearly $2 billion a week, the American dollar is losing value and the Chinese and Saudi Arabians among others, own our debt. Read More >

Like most Americans, I have a deep respect for the men and women who have served our country in uniform. As a World War II veteran, my father taught my family about the sacrifices veterans have made to keep our country secure and our rights preserved. Veterans deserve more than our thanks, however. They deserve action to match our words. Current veterans and those who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan need our support to ensure that they receive the health care and other benefits they deserve. Read More >

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and from my trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, I know that the threat of terrorism is real and that, six years after 9/11, we still have a lot of work to do to make sure America is safe. I also know that our national security is too important to become a partisan issue. Every American, regardless of their political affiliation or ideology, has a stake in keeping our country strong militarily and safe from attack. Read More >

I believe Coloradans have a special bond with the land. Most would also agree that we have a moral obligation to be good stewards of our natural environment and conserve it for future generations. As the Executive Director of the Colorado Outward Bound School, I had the opportunity to teach (and learn from) many young people in challenging landscapes throughout the West. Kids who never stepped out of an urban setting would find themselves on a remote mountain top, sleeping under the stars and facing leadership challenges they had never imagined. It was always inspiring to see their enthusiasm for the natural environment. Read More >

Both as a state legislator and as a Member of Congress, my approach to water issues has been to respect the doctrine of prior appropriation and to work to ensure that Colorado's water users and water resources are fully protected. My policy approach has been to ensure water quality, enhance water quantity, and reduce water controversy and inter-basin conflicts. In Congress, I have also worked to make sure that the federal government respects state water law and also meets federal obligations to protect water users on our public lands. Read More >

There is no question that we have an obligation to protect our children. Fulfilling this responsibility has become increasingly difficult in a world where technological innovation has opened children’s doors and minds to a largely uncensored world—in many cases before those young minds have the ability to make judgment calls as to who should be considered a friend, and what behavior is appropriate. Read More >

As an American citizen and public servant, I take my oath to protect and defend the Constitution very seriously. I understand that the balance between security and civil liberties is delicate. Fail to provide law enforcement the tools they need to protect our country and we could open ourselves up to another terrorist attack. Fail to adequately protect our civil liberties, and we could end up with a country that no longer resembles the one we know and love today. I believe we can best protect our country by remembering what Benjamin Franklin said many years ago, namely, "that a country willing to sacrifice its freedom for security, will get neither." Read More >

One of the most fundamental responsibilities of government is to keep citizens safe from harm. As Coloradans, we can take pride in the relative safety of our streets compared to many other communities, but we continue to have a serious meth production problem (even in rural communities), and gang violence has been on the rise. Over the years I have gone on "ride-alongs" with units in Thornton, Westminster and Northglenn while serving my Congressional District. I have found that accompanying police officers on their nightly and weekend patrols has given me a better feel for the dangers they face, and a deep appreciation for the problem of crime on our streets. As your Senator I will maintain close ties with local and state law enforcement, and do all that I can to address the needs of our law enforcement officers. Read More >

The issues of contraception, abortion, reproductive health, and family planning are among the most controversial in our society. Americans with different opinions on these issues often have difficulty reaching common ground because of firmly-held personal values, their views about the Constitution, and individual definitions of morality, and religious beliefs. I believe we can respect each other's personal and religious views about these issues without compromising our convictions. I also believe that we should work to find common ground in support of goals we can all share, including the goal of reducing the number of abortions and unwanted pregnancies that occur in our country. Read More >

Like so many Americans, I believe our soldiers in Iraq have performed magnificently. They have endured brutal conditions. They have met every challenge. And they have displayed an unbreakable spirit, marked by courage, skill, and quiet resolve.

We have asked them to do so much. It's time to bring them home. Read More >

Since I was elected to Congress I have had the honor of serving on the House Science Committee. I am currently the Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. This all comes too late to help either of my nearly-grown kids with their science homework, but it has been a great committee to help Colorado - because our state, believe it or not, is ranked #2 in the country for growth in aerospace jobs. One of the best ways we can ensure that our country and Colorado competes effectively in a global economy is to keep up our investment in science and technology. Read More >

Like many Coloradans, I grew up learning how to use a rifle and fully recognize that gun ownership is part of the way of life in the West. From my personal experience with guns, and my relationship with many gun owners, I know that there is a difference between using guns for recreational purposes or self-protection, and using them to harm others. I also believe that every American--whether they own a gun or not--has a stake in reducing criminal violence. Read More >

America is getting older. As the baby boom generation enters retirement, pressures on the solvency of Social Security and Medicare will increase. I firmly believe in the preservation of both programs, and have supported legislation in Congress to put both Social Security and Medicare on a sounder fiscal foundation. Read More >

Due, at least in part, to the reckless spending and tax policies of the Bush Administration and a fiscally-irresponsible Congress in 2001, and the escalation of the costs of the war in Iraq, the federal government is currently running a substantial budget deficit. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the deficit will continue well into the next decade and promises to burden future generations with a repayment obligation or "debt tax" of more than $30,000 per person. Read More >

As a state legislator and as a Congressman I have taken an active role in addressing Colorado's transportation needs. I believe we need to look at transportation policy in a comprehensive way - that is not just about paving roads and widening highways, but also includes rapid transit, rail, and alternative modes of moving people and goods. As a Member of the Science Committee, I have also been focused on improving the security, safety and efficiency of our nation's aviation system. Read More >