Gary M. Jackson is a partner at DiManna & Jackson, LLP and has actively practiced as a trial lawyer since 1971.  Mr. Jackson is a former Chief Trial Deputy with the Denver District Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, in which he was awarded a Special Commendation from U.S. Attorney Edward Levi for his trial skills.  Currently, Mr. Jackson’s trial practice includes personal injury cases and the representation of attorneys and judges in alleged misconduct and judicial performance matters.  Mr. Jackson received the CBA Award of Merit in 2011, the Colorado Bar Association’s highest honor.  Mr. Jackson has been appointed by the Governors of Colorado and Chief Justices of Colorado to serve on the Judicial Performance Commission of the 18th Judicial District and the Judicial Nominating Commission of the 2nd Judicial District.  He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, (former Colorado Chapter President); American College of Trial Lawyers; Sam Cary Bar Association (Founding Board Member and former President); Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (Founding Board member).  Mr. Jackson was also the Chair of Committee on Conduct for the U.S. District Court and chair of Colorado Law Alumni Board.   Mr. Jackson has received the following awards: 1994 Colorado Law Small Firm Practitioner Distinguished Alumni Award; Colorado Law’s 2003 Honorary Order of the Coif;  CU-Boulder’s 2008 George Norlin Award; 2001 National Bar Association Wiley Branton Award; 2001 Sam Cary Bar Association’s King Trimble Life Time Achievement Award;  2010 William Lee Knous Award.  Mr. Jackson is the chair of the Delta Eta Boule Foundation, which provides college scholarships to deserving high school students of color.  Lastly, Mr. Jackson is a founder and treasurer of the Sam Cary Scholarship Endowment Fund, which has provided more than $150,000 of scholarships to CU and DU law students since its inception in 1986.  Other community boards and associations in which Mr. Jackson has been an active member are: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble; Lowry Redevelopment Authority Board; Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce; Urban League of Metropolitan Denver; 100 Black Men of Denver, Inc.; United Negro College Fund; Colorado Trial Lawyer’s Association; James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club; and Sixth of May Foundation.

Jackson joins the following members on the advisory committee:

Hal Haddon (co-chair) - Mr. Haddon has been recognized as 'one of the best lawyers in America for 25 years.'  He has been an adjunct professor of law at Denver University and a fellow with the American College of Trial Lawyers and with the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.  Mr. Haddon was previously served as chairman of the Federal Judicial Selection Commission of Colorado in 1994 and 1998, and served as co-chair of the Federal Judicial Selection Committee in 2009.  He is currently a partner at the law firm of Haddon, Morgan, Mueller, Jordan, Mackey and Foreman, based in Denver.

Rebecca Love Kourlis (co-chair) - Ms. Kourlis served as a Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court for 11 years, resigning in 2006 to head the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System at the University of Denver.  Kourlis has received a number of honors, including Citizen of the West in 2010; Lawyers Conference of the American Bar Association Judicial Division Robert B. Yegge Award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Judicial Administration in 2009; and the Institute for Legal Reform, United States Chamber of Commerce: Legal Reform Organization of the Year in 2007.  She is a graduate of Stanford University Law School.  She is also a Colorado native and daughter of former Governor John A. Love.

Dale Harris - Mr. Harris is of counsel with the law firm, Davis, Graham & Stubbs, LLP.  He is a fellow of the American College of Trial lawyers and a past president of both the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.  He has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mile High United Way and is a member of the Colorado Supreme Court Judicial Advisory Council and the Chief Justice Commission on the Legal Profession.  He has been president of the Colorado Association of Corporate Counsel and has extensive experience with complex business and commercial litigation.  He is immediate past-chair of the Board of Directors of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and currently serves as the chair of the Board of the Arthritis Foundation Great West Region.

Diego Hunt - Mr. Hunt is an attorney in the Denver office of Holland & Hart LLP, where he specializes in products liability litigation and complex business disputes.  He has litigated cases in several states and represents a wide range of clients.  He is the immediate past-president of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and served as the chair of its Judicial Nominations and Endorsements Committee from 2008 to 2011.  Mr. Hunt also managed several community-based initiatives through the Denver District Attorney's Office and Department of Public Safety and has served on several nonprofit and professional boards including the Mi Casa Resource Center.  He continues to actively serve on several committees of Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and is a co-chair of the City of Denver's Latino Commission.

Diane King - Ms. King is a partner in King & Greisen, LLP.  She is a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and is a frequent lecturer on employment law.  She has served as a president and board member of the Faculty of Federal Advocates and the Plaintiff's Employment Lawyers Association, is a board member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and is a founder and member of the Colorado AIDS Project Legal Referral Service.  Ms. King has extensive experience with the federal bench.  She is the former chair of the U. S. District Court's Committee on Conduct and currently serves as the chair of the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel.

Michelle Lucero - Ms. Lucero is the vice president of Employee Relations at Centura Health, where she currently oversees all matters related to employment and labor issues, including all employment federal court actions.  Prior to her tenure at Centura Health, Lucero served as the Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of Denver from 2003 to 2006.  In that position, Lucero had oversight of all federal court matters.  Ms. Lucero has a diverse professional and community background, serving as a Trustee for Metropolitan State University of Denver, the Denver Career Service Board, and the Winter Park Trust - Board of Trustees. Lucero is a graduate of Rockhurst College, the CU Law School and is a native of Colorado.

Robert Miller - Mr. Miller, a resident of Greeley and partner with Perkins Coie, LLP, has over 45 years of experience in complex commercial litigation and white collar crime.  As the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, and as a former Colorado District Attorney, he has extensive experience in representing companies, board members, officers and individuals in connection with investigations by federal and state prosecutors.  He also routinely conducts internal investigations and advises companies on compliance programs.  He has represented many public and private companies, officers, board members and individuals in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation.  He is also a panel member for the American Arbitration Association.  

Lori Potter - Ms. Potter is a partner with Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell, based in Denver.  She has served as an attorney for the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund and has been listed in 'Best Lawyers in America' since its inception for her extensive work in environmental, water, public lands law and related federal litigation.  She was one of the founding directors of the Faculty of Federal Advocates and Chair of the Civil Justice Reform Act advisory committee for the District of Colorado.

Dan Reilly - Mr. Reilly is a founding member of the trial firm Reilly Pozner LLP.  He is a civil trial lawyer with extensive experience in the federal courts.  In 2000, he was inducted into the American College of Trial lawyers and the American Board of Trial Advocates.  He has been listed in 'The Best Lawyers in America' annually since 1995 and was honored by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association for Best Amicus Brief.  Mr. Reilly has represented the ownership of the Denver Broncos and has handled a broad spectrum of civil litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants for over 30 years.

Ken Spann - Mr. Spann is a fifth generation Coloradan, a lawyer-rancher, and Vice President of Spann Ranches, Inc., one of the longstanding family-owned, great commercial cattle ranches in Colorado.  Mr. Spann has also served on the Board of the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District and has extensive experience with the livestock industry, public lands management, water law and environmental law, including directly representing the National Cattlemen's Association on issues pertaining to federal land management before Congress and several administrations.  Mr. Spann served on the Colorado Rangeland Reform Panel convened by former Colorado Governor Roy Romer to advise the U.S. Department of the Interior on grazing regulations.  He is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law.

'We've had great success in the state of Colorado with a renewable electricity standard and I would argue in fact we felt less the effect of this Great Recession because of our energy sectors' capacity to innovate, create jobs and provide power that's less and less expensive,' Udall said at the hearing.  'I hope we can take a closer look at this legislation because it would provide market signals and certainty to businesses, innovators and consumers directed at new and clean energy technologies.'

Udall believes the bill (S.2146) is a start to an important conversation on how the government can continue to encourage and promote clean energy sources like wind, solar, hydropower and natural gas - one that parallels frameworks in other countries and affects the United States's place in the global energy race. 

Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs David Sandalow agreed, saying, 'A clean energy standard, one that sets a clear pathway for several decades, would bring not just capital, but American ingenuity, American know-how, to the table.'  He said that in countries like China and Germany, the government is partnering with and making investments in businesses to ensure they succeed in the global race, a framework Udall has long advocated for here in the United States.

• The Rio Grande Reservoir, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year;
• The Colorado River Compact of 1922, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year;
• The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year; and,
• The Colorado Foundation for Water Education and Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, which are celebrating their 10th anniversaries this year.

Water is our most precious natural resource in the West. It is also in limited supply. Therefore, it is often subject to conflict. (Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting, or so goes the old saying.) But thanks to the hard work of generations of Coloradans, we have been able to reap the benefits of our streams and rivers. That is something worth celebrating.

That's why this week I introduced a resolution, along with Senator Bennet, honoring 2012 as the Year of Water in Colorado. The resolution builds on Colorado Water 2012, a statewide celebration designed to engage all Coloradans in a conversation about the past, present and future of our water. My resolution recognizes the importance of water in Colorado and many of the organizations that have innovated and cooperated over the past century to develop, protect and conserve this scarce resource.

This spirit of cooperation was reflected in the agreement yesterday in Hot Sulphur Springs where Denver Water, and Grand and Summit counties came together to sign a historic accord about Colorado River water. When complete, this agreement will put to rest decades-old conflicts between Front Range and Western Slope water users. It is my hope that their cooperation will serve as a guide for future agreements that benefit all Coloradans.

Wallace Stegner wrote that 'Water is the true wealth in a dry land.' Here in Colorado, at the crest of the continent, water is central to our success, and our future prosperity depends on how we manage our limited water budget. It is easy to forget the importance of this resouce in times of surplus, but this year's drought conditions hammer home the need for deliberate, long-term water policy.

During the Year of Water and beyond, I will continue to push for smart policies for Colorado water. Please read below for two important updates on my efforts, and click here to sign up for future updates on water-related issues.
 
Warm regards,

Good Samaritan Mine Cleanup

In the Senate, I am fighting for ways for Coloradans to draw greater benefit from limited water resources. For years I have been trying to pass legislation that would make it easier for groups to clean up toxic pollution from abandoned mines. These groups, which are not responsible for the pollution but want to clean it up anyway, are called, appropriately enough, Good Samaritans. Most recently, I have been working with the Environmental Protection Agency to develop additional tools that incentivize responsible Good Samaritan cleanup activities. And just last month, I toured several abandoned mine sites in San Juan County with a Good Samaritan group in the Animas River basin. See video from my tour here and video of a previous abandoned mine tour near Creede here.

The Next 50 Years of Water

The Bureau of Reclamation is currently engaged in a study of the Colorado River basin, in conjunction with the seven basin states, on water supply and demand over the next 50 years. The study will examine various steps Coloradans can take to have access to quality water supplies, even under a new set of challenges – our population is on pace to double by 2050 and climate change will continue to stretch water supplies. I have been closely monitoring the study, which should be finished this summer, as it will be an important opportunity to look for comprehensive solutions to existing and future water challenges.

Crapo noted the Senate Majority last adopted a budget plan in April of 2009.  Since that time, the nation has spent $10.6 trillion and added $4.5 trillion in new gross debt.  A member of the Senate’s bipartisan “Gang of Six” that agreed to spending and tax reforms, Crapo noted that alternative budget plans now being brought forward by Republicans contain the needed changes to stem deficit spending.

“Each of these proposals would include true, comprehensive reforms to our entitlement programs, to prevent the impending insolvency and protect the programs for current and future generations,” Crapo said. 

“These budgets also call for comprehensive tax reform, which take us out of the old paradigm of Congress debating whether to raise or cut taxes, and instead these proposals would, each in their own way, dramatically streamline the tax code, reduce all tax rates and unleash significant growth in our economy.  A byproduct of this robust growth would be an increase in revenues,” he added.

Crapo encouraged his colleagues to work together on a bipartisan plan to reform entitlements, cut spending and pursue tax reforms that would tighten loopholes while reducing overall tax rates.  “Every American family and business has to develop their own budget.  The Senate should be no different,” he concluded.

Following the debate, the Senate was scheduled to vote on five budget proposals.  These included President Obama’s budget, which was defeated 99-0 in the Senate and 414-0 in the House.  No Senate Democrats have proposed a budget.

Boxer Statement: Surface Transportation Conference Press Briefing
May 15, 2012

(Remarks as Prepared for Delivery)

At the opening meeting of the surface transportation bill conference on May 8th, I said I would give regular updates on the progress that the conferees have made.

While I am not going to address specific negotiations or discussions between the conferees today, I can tell you that we have moved past the organizational stage, and we are now working on the substance of the bill.

Staff has been meeting every day on all the issues, and they are working together to address each outstanding item. This week alone, 12 meetings of the working groups have been scheduled. Additional working sessions will be scheduled.

Vice Chairman Mica and I have been in touch by phone and are scheduled to meet on Thursday.

The process has been very inclusive, which I expect to lead to a good result. Every conferee has been involved - from the freshmen to the most senior.

I am optimistic that the conferees will reach agreement on the surface transportation bill, because our bipartisan Senate bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), which passed by an overwhelming vote of 74-22, has many proposals the House supports, such as an expanded TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) program, consolidations, and more state and local flexibility.

This conference was up and running in record time, because this bill is vitally important to the nation's workers, businesses, and the economy. One reason that our conference got off to a fast start is because we are running up against a June 30th deadline, when the current transportation extension expires. Transportation systems play a critical role in the nation's economy, and we must pass a conference report before the end of June.

Today, several business and labor organizations sent a letter to conferees demanding action. The letter is signed by:

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

National Asphalt Pavement Association

American Trucking Association

American Society of Civil Engineers

Association of Equipment Manufacturers

American Automobile Association

The Associated General Contractors of America

National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association

American Council of Engineering Companies

American Road & Transportation Builders Association

Transporation Trades Department, AFL-CIO

Laborers' International Union of North America

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

National Association of Manufacturers

American Public Transportation Association

American Highway Users Alliance

International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association

Associated Equipment Distributors

The letter states: "This is a historic moment, because the American economy is at risk and the nation is falling even further behind on our infrastructure needs. The nation's economy is at a critical stage, and this surface transportation legislation can be a major factor in ensuring that we will strengthen our overall position in the world economy."

The letter goes on to say ". . . failure to enact this legislation will be devastating to America's workers, jobs, businesses, and the economy."

In a Politico opinion piece, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, wrote: "Congress and President Barack Obama must work toward passage of a bill out of conference before June 30. The nation cannot afford for them to fail in finding a way to sustain federal funds through 2013 or to address many of the inefficiencies of current federal law."

We all recognize the critical importance of this legislation -- the conferees are fully engaged. Our goal is to complete the conference report by early June to provide enough time to pass both houses and be signed into law by the President before the June 30th deadline.

The country needs us to pass a surface transportation bill so that we can fix our aging infrastructure, create many jobs in the private sector, and boost the economy. The health of our businesses, workers, and communities depend on it - 3 million jobs are at stake. Failure is not an option.

I will now take questions.

###

Udall believes this amendment to the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank threatens millions of dollars of U.S. exports of renewable energy manufacturing products abroad. The Ex-Im Bank helps Colorado businesses export their products abroad and create jobs in Colorado. The wind energy industry already faces a production tax credit expiring this year that is jeopardizing thousands of jobs - 6,000 in Colorado alone - at companies such as Vestas that boost local Colorado economies with its manufacturing facilities in Pueblo and Windsor. Passage of the Vitter amendment could further hamstring Colorado businesses' ability to export to countries that are investing in renewable energy technologies.

WASHINGTON- Today, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, sent a letter to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Dr. Gregory Jaczko, and to Southern California Edison (SCE) requesting information regarding the replacement of steam generators at the San Onofre nuclear plant.

Concerns have been raised that design changes contributed to accelerated wear in tubes carrying radioactive water at the facility, which is located in San Clemente, California.

Text of the two letters are below:

May 15, 2012

The Honorable Gregory Jaczko
Chairman
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

Dear Chairman Jaczko:

On February 8, 2012, I wrote to ask the Nuclear Regulation Commission (NRC) to review the safety of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station after problems were discovered with the facility's redesigned steam generators. You committed to conducting a thorough review before deciding whether to approve the restart of the reactors.

Since my letter to you, the media and others have raised concerns that design changes in the San Onofre replacement steam generators contributed to accelerated wear in tubes carrying radioactive water. Recent media reports quote a Southern California Edison (SCE) executive as saying, "We are thinking that this is probably a design defect."

Among other requirements, NRC rules state that a nuclear power plant operator must obtain a license amendment for any change that would result in more than a "minimal increase in the likelihood" of a malfunction of a structure, system, or component important to safety. SCE determined that such an amendment was not necessary for its redesigned steam generators.

Please provide me with a written summary that describes NRC's plans for establishing whether SCE's replacement of the steam generators required a license amendment, as well as any documents related to NRC's review of the design change. In addition, provide me with all documents in the NRC's possession or control related to SCE's determination that a license amendment was not necessary. Please deliver these documents to my Committee office by May 21, 2012. I also have requested from SCE all documents related to their determination. Contact Terrance Horner or Grant Cope (202/224-8832) with any questions.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
Chairman

***

May 15, 2012

Theodore F. Craver Jr.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Edison International
555 12th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004

Dear Mr. Craver:

I write to request that Edison International provide me with documents related to the San Onofre nuclear power plant's redesigned steam generators. On January 31, 2012, the facility shut down a reactor because radioactive water leaked from tubes in one of the redesigned steam generators. Concerns have been raised that design changes in the steam generators contributed to accelerated wear in tubes carrying radioactive water.

The determination to restart the San Onofre reactors must ensure the safety of the millions of Californians who live and work near the plant. Please provide all documents related to Edison's determination of whether a license amendment was required for the replacement of the steam generators. I ask that you deliver all documents to my Committee office by May 21, 2012. Contact Terrance Horner or Grant Cope (202/224-8832) with any questions.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
Chairman

'Disruptions to our nation's fuel supplies caused by international conflict and instability have had severe implications for Colorado consumers and our nation's economy,' Udall said.  'These supply disruptions also have severe implications for our nation's military.  Our armed forces consume 300,000 barrels of oil a day.  A significant disruption to our fuel imports could place our nation's military in a dangerous predicament.  That is why I have joined with my colleagues in asking the U.S. Navy to weigh in on this short-sighted, political maneuver by House Republicans to deny the military an all-of-the-above energy policy.'

Udall has been an outspoken advocate for the military's pursuit of alternative fuels.  In April, he led a letter to commend the Secretary of the Navy on his commitment to developing and employing renewable energy technologies in order to protect our troops and cut our country's reliance on foreign oil.  Udall has been a vocal advocate for shoring up both our country's energy and national security.  Last year, Udall introduced the Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2011 with Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to help the military save money and lives by reducing its reliance on foreign fossil fuel, and he fought to include key provisions of it in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act.

Please contact Mike Saccone at 202-224-4334.

To view the letter, click HERE.  The full text of the letter follows:

Dear Admiral Greenert,

We write today as members of the Senate Armed Services Committee in preparation for the upcoming Committee mark-up of the annual National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, currently scheduled for the week of May 21st.  

We would like to request your views on an amendment adopted by the House Armed Services Committee that would limit the availability of funds for procurement of alternative fuels by the Department of Defense.  A copy of the amendment is attached.

For over 200 years, the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy have been on the leading edge of innovation and technological achievement, and your efforts to reduce the Navy's dependence on fossil fuels and outdated energy technologies is in the finest traditions of military scientific leadership.  We are concerned that a provision which restricts the military from making advancements in efficiency and the development of alternative energy sources will harm the current and future readiness of our naval forces, make it difficult for our men and women in uniform to carry out their current mission, and will ultimately degrade our national security.

Continued reliance on foreign oil puts U.S. troops at unnecessary risk on and off the battlefield.  In addition, the fiscal costs related to DOD's dependence on fossil fuels are staggering.  The annual Pentagon fuel bill increases by $130 million for every dollar increase in the cost per barrel of oil.  This year alone, the Department of Defense will face an additional $1.3 billion bill as a result of the recent rise in fuel prices.  

Given that our military consumes approximately 300,000 barrels of oil per day, research into alternative fuels is a strategic and economic necessity.  As Admiral Mark Ferguson, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, recently testified before the Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, our fuel bill alone is 'consuming our readiness account' and 'we need to look at alternatives.'

The aforementioned amendment, if enacted, in our view would tie the hands of our military leaders, restrict the Navy's ability to make critical advancements on alternative energy and hamper our efforts to decrease our dependence on foreign sources of energy.  In your capacity as Chief of Naval Operations, we respectfully request your views on this amendment and further information about how it might affect your current mission.  

We appreciate your consideration.  Thank you for your leadership and your continued service to our nation.

Read the letter from Udall and 43 other senators by clicking HERE.

Brian Raybon, special assistant to Senator Crapo, who is also fluent in Spanish, will be available at Wilder City Hall to assist Idahoans with any questions or problems related to federal agencies or with problems regarding federal programs.

Crapo Remote Office Hours schedule:

Tuesday , May 22:

Wilder         Wilder City Hall, 219 Third Street, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

EMPLEADO DEL SENADOR CRAPO PRESENTA HORAS DE OFICINAS REMOTAS BILINGÜES EN

WILDER, EL 22 DE MAYO

Wilder- Para prestar un mejor servicio a personas en Idaho, personal de la oficina del Senador Mike Crapo viajará a Wilder este mes para hablar de los problemas y otros temas de política que pertenecen a las agencias federales o a los programas federales. 

Brian Raybon, el Asistente Especial a Crapo, quien habla español con fluidez, estará disponible en Wilder en el ayuntamiento de Glenns Ferry para asistir a la gente con su preguntas o problemas relacionados a las agencias federales, o con problemas con los programas federales.

Horario de Horas Remotas:

Martes, el 22 de Mayo:

Wilder            Ayuntamiento de Wilder (City Hall), 219 Third Street, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

“It has been more than three years since the United States Senate has submitted a budget—a record since Congress adopted budget process reforms in 1974,” said Crapo.  “The nation’s dire economic situation requires a blueprint for spending, and without a budget we are sent further down our debt spiral.  This forum provides Idahoans the opportunity to participate in a conversation about what is important to them, their families and communities, and the country’s fiscal situation is something that affects us all.”

Participants are invited to join Crapo in this meeting next Wednesday, May 23, at 6:55 p.m. Mountain Time/5:55 p.m. Pacific.  To sign up for the iTownhall meeting, please visit Senator Crapo’s website, www.crapo.senate.gov, and click on the iTownhall icon.  You will be directed to send an e-mail request with your contact information.  In order to ensure your participation, you need to sign up before Monday, May 21^st.

To participate in the meeting, all you need is a telephone.  Participation is voluntary, and listeners are given an opportunity to ask the Senator about topics regarding federal policies or legislation.  Those who have signed up will receive an automated phone call just before the iTownhall forum begins and will be instructed on how to participate.

Following the call, an audio file (MP3) of the full call will be posted on the website.  A transcript will be posted at a later date.

'I was extremely disappointed to hear that Colorado Springs will not receive a Frontier Airlines route between the Springs and Washington,' Udall said.  'When I supported connecting these two cities, I believed it was important that the residents of Colorado's second-largest city - a major metropolitan area in its own right - have a direct flight to our nation's capital.  I remain convinced of the importance of directly linking Colorado to the global economy and will continue to work to secure these connections, while looking for other ways to boost the Springs economy.'

In March, Udall led eight members of the Colorado congressional delegation on a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood supporting Frontier's bid for one of four new round-trip flights out of DCA.  Washington, D.C., is one of the largest destinations for the Colorado Springs market, underscoring the need for direct and affordable service to connect the two regions.  As a result of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act, which became law on February 14, 2012, FAA was authorized to expand the number of takeoff and landing slots at DCA; the agency sought applications for underserved markets farther than 1,250 miles from Washington, D.C.  The flights will likely begin in August.

'The Export-Import Bank serves as an important tool for Colorado businesses of all sizes to remain competitive in the global market place and sell their products abroad,' Udall said.  'From aerospace to agriculture, the Export-Import Bank supports Colorado businesses' export capabilities, which in turn supports Colorado jobs.  I will continue pushing my colleagues to pass this measure without further delay.'

Since 2011, the Ex-Im Bank backed over $72 million in loans to Colorado businesses, supporting $231 million in export sales, sustaining and creating thousands of jobs and bolstering U.S. competitiveness.  For more information on the Ex-Im Bank in Colorado, including a list of businesses affected, go here: http://www.exim.gov/congmap/#/CO.

The Ex-Im Bank provides services such as direct loans, loan guarantees and insurance to help small- and medium-sized businesses build their exporting arms - without costing taxpayers a dime.  In particular, the Ex-Im Bank can be an important tool to fill the gap when businesses or foreign buyers of American goods have limited access to private capital.  The bipartisan Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act gives the bank lending authority for four more years and raises its lending cap to $120 billion in FY2012, $130 billion in FY2013, and $140 billion in FY2014.  It is supported by Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, Crested Butte / Mt Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and EDC, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, Aerospace Industry Association, Satellite Industry Association and TechAmerica.

This hearing is another important step in the legislative process, and I will continue to press members of the House and Senate committees to vote and pass this bill out of committee.

If you would like to watch the hearing, it will be webcast live on the committee's website at 2:00 p.m. ET/ 12:00 p.m. MT on Thursday, May 17: http://naturalresources.house.gov/Live/.

Read more about this bill.