I thank you for helping my efforts to pass H.R. 174 which I introduced with my good friend Mr. Salazar earlier this year.

Passing H.R. 174 would be an important first step in addressing this problem and is identical to H.R. 1660 that passed this Committee and the whole House last Congress.

I believe that there is a better way to determine need than drawing circles in a 75-mile radius around a national cemetery to determine where the most underserved veterans are.

There is a long history of a need for a cemetery in Southern Colorado.

I believe that VA should conduct a preemptive review of the NCA's obstacles in meeting the National Shrine Mandate.

Well, that is real exciting. Would you be able to, if there is any way our office can help you in that visit we would be very happy to do so.

I have twice introduced a bill with Mr. Salazar, which would direct the Secretary of the VA to establish a national cemetery in El Paso County.

I agree with that, Mr. Chairman. I would like to say to the gentleman from Fort Logan, I have been there.

Also, last year Chairman Hall and I had a field hearing in Colorado Springs to discuss cemetery issues.

they are issues which we must grapple with, they are issues that we cannot afford to fail in

we look very much forward to working with the Members of Congress as we tackle the difficult issues of an energy future for America

we have a new beginning as we attempt to harness the power of the sun, the power of geothermal, the power of the wind

Secretary Salazar, in your time at the Department of the Interior, you have blocked domestic energy development across the board.

I know there are actually three members on this Committee from my home State of Colorado, Congressmen Lamborn and Coffman and Congresswoman Diana DeGette.

It is critical that reforms aimed at resolving these issues be allowed to take effect rather than creating new processes that do not address the underlying issues.

It is my opinion that BLM and the Department of the Interior should be given a chance to implement this new initiative and see it through.

POGO particularly wants to praise Secretary Salazar for enhancing the ethical culture of the agency.

I don't think it does our government a lot of good and the people that we serve simply by rearranging the boxes, OK?