Our constitutional right to be free from 'unreasonable searches and seizures' applies regardless of whether we are talking about letters kept in a desk or emails stored online. Even though the way we connect as Americans has changed - with emails, tweets and Facebook replacing more traditional forms of communication - our constitutional right to privacy must remain protected.

New technology has the potential to change our lives for the better, but our laws must evolve with those technologies to ensure our right to privacy is respected. Unfortunately, some federal government agencies are justifying warrantless searches of your electronic communications using a loophole in the outdated Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986. That's not acceptable to me or to the Coloradans I represent.

Today's online communication is worlds apart from that of 1986, and we need to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) to reflect that. 

Up until last month, the Internal Revenue Service relied on an outdated law to claim that it didn't need a search warrant to read your private online communications. I was outraged when I learned that. I led the charge against this wrongheaded policy and, with your support, I successfully got the IRS to back down. Only weeks later, I again fought attempts by the Department of Justice and the FBI, to pursue this same constitutionally unsound course.

It is clear that we must update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to protect Americans' constitutional right to privacy. Be a citizen 'cosponsor' and join with me in urging Congress to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. 

I have been proud to lead the fight for your constitutional rights on this issue and many others.  Let us speak with a united voice in telling Congress that we need to update the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to maintain our constitutional rights in the digital age.  

Warm regards,

This battle not only signified an unexpected victory in the Mexican people's push for independence and freedom from foreign invasion, but it also ensured that French forces could not stake a claim to the Americas at a time when the United States faced its Civil War. Without this important battle, our nation's history could have been very different.

Last week, I successfully led a bipartisan group of senators in passing a resolution to commemorate Cinco de Mayo and recognize the Mexican people's historical struggle for independence and freedom. As a member of the U.S. Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force and the bipartisan, I have continuously worked to make sure the interests of Colorado's Hispanic community are well represented in Congress.

The Mexican-American community's rich and proud narrative runs deep throughout the state of Colorado, the West and the nation. I am proud to acknowledge their achievements and contributions, which have enhanced the quality of our nation's cultural and historical fabric.

When I came out in support of marriage equality in August 2011, I joined a small core of 18 senators who publicly stood for progress on that issue. Like many Americans, there was a point when I struggled with accepting the idea of marriage for gay and lesbian couples; I thought perhaps civil unions would be a workable compromise. But over my years in Congress, I have met more and more Coloradans who understand what this issue really boils down to: It is about love and commitment, about basic dignity and about being able to protect your families.

Fairness and equality have always been cornerstones of the Colorado way of life. I went through my own evolution to come to this realization: Gay and lesbian couples should be able to make a long-term and public commitment to the person they love with the guarantee of equal rights under the law to protect and care for their families. These commitments — public covenants — strengthen our communities and affirm shared responsibilities. We all want to have the tools needed to build a life together, and when we dream of making a lifelong promise to the person we love, we don’t call it a civil union or a domestic partnership —we call it a marriage.

Each week brings more voices of support for the movement toward full equality, adding to the critical mass of lawmakers and world leaders re-examining their attitudes about our LGBT family members, friends and neighbors. At the federal level, you have seen the U.S. Supreme Court proceedings on the constitutionality of marriage equality cases. And in Colorado, under the leadership of Democratic House Speaker Mark Ferrandino and State Sen. Pat Steadman, our state legislature recently passed a civil unions bill that Governor Hickenlooper signed into law. This new state law has broad bipartisan support among Coloradans. Passing civil unions was an important step to immediately secure important protections for LGBT families.

And the drumbeat is growing as the American public continues to evolve.

During my fight to repeal the anachronistic Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that prevented gay members of the military from serving our country honestly and openly, opponents argued that open service would harm our military readiness and national security. In the 18 months since its repeal, our troops have proved false that paper tiger.

Our society as a whole, our communities and our bonds with each other can only be strengthened by allowing all gay and lesbian couples to proclaim their shared commitments to their loved ones under the law, just as I have done with my own wife.

We should continue working together in our states, with local governments, with our neighbors and with our elected officials to keep this momentum going.

Now is the time to put away reactionary rhetoric so we can have a genuine dialogue about equality. But I’ll need your help. Help me bring your voices to our lawmakers and other national leaders in Washington, D.C. Please pledge your commitment to the Colorado ideal of equality and share your story with me about how this debate affects you, your families and your neighbors.

Warm regards,

I strongly believe that Colorado's diverse energy portfolio — from the solar energy in the San Luis Valley to the wind towers along the Front Range and the natural gas production of the Western Slope — is a model for the nation when it comes to achieving true energy security. We also are leading the way on energy innovation at the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden and our nationally recognized universities.

We all have a role to play in responsible energy development and we owe it to ourselves and future generations to make the right decisions today to build tomorrow's energy economy. Now is the time for Congress to step up and guide our nation toward cleaner energy resources in the decades to come. Industry investments and innovation are essential steps to help our country transition away from its dependence on oil from unstable regions and instead turn toward a more affordable, reliable and secure energy future. Because of this, I'm committed to working on comprehensive energy legislation that will help job creation in the private sector, improve our national security, protect the environment our air and water, and boost the clean energy economy.

Over the next several months, I will travel around the state and meet with energy industry officials, local leaders and the public to hear how Colorado can best help the United States increasingly create our own sources of homegrown energy. I hope to hear from you along the way, but if our paths don't cross, please let me know your ideas to help make Colorado the national leader on energy independence. If you missed my Twitter Q&A, read the highlights below.

Here in Colorado, we know that maintaining a clean, healthy environment is critical to our public health, a strong economy and thousands of Colorado jobs. Conserving our natural resources for future generations is a core value in the west not just because it is the right thing to do, but because our livelihoods depend on it. We are facing daunting challenges, from restoring the health of our forests to addressing climate change, conserving water and developing a smarter energy policy. Tackling these challenges will require working together.

And it is through the collaborative efforts of Coloradans - our farmers, ranchers, foresters, rangers, sportsmen, local businesses and outdoor recreationists - that we are able to advance policies that protect our most special places like Browns Canyon in Chaffee County, the Colorado National Monument in Mesa County, Rocky Mountain National Park and wilderness in the San Juan Mountains.

Today, let's be mindful of our role as stewards of the earth, tasked with the critical job of protecting the health of our environment. As an avid outdoorsman who enjoys and respects the outdoors, I have always felt that conserving our natural resources is a collective responsibility, critical to ensuring future sustainability. Thank you for celebrating Earth Day with me.

The horror of the Newtown shooting, arriving on the heels of the mass shootings in Aurora, Columbine, Virginia Tech and Tucson, has appropriately reignited a national debate over gun violence.  Sadly, this week even a bipartisan compromise to expand background checks to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, drafted by two conservative U.S. senators — Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia — failed to pass the U.S. Senate, despite being supported by 90 percent of Americans and over 70 percent of NRA members.

Last week I met with the mothers and fathers of the children who were murdered in Newtown; although they told me about how thankful they were to the families and community of Aurora for their support, I know they are uniquely disappointed in the Senate's failure to pass meaningful gun-safety measures.  This gulf between public support and congressional inaction cannot continue.

As with many issues, Colorado serves as a roadmap for the steps we must take: Our state closed the gun show loophole through a ballot initiative in 2000 and in March this year, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law several bills that require universal background checks for all gun purchases and limit high-capacity magazines.  These actions mirror my votes in the U.S. Senate this week in favor of background checks, supporting a ban on high-capacity magazines, cracking down on illegal gun sales and trafficking, and improving mental health services.

The U.S. Senate also considered an assault weapons ban.  And while I've previously called for an effectively crafted ban on military-style weapons, the specific ban we considered went much further than the 1994 assault weapons law and also would have banned legitimate hunting rifles and even some shotguns.  I spoke to sportsmen from across Colorado and they voiced their concerns about how this ban would restrict their ability to hunt and responsibly practice their sport, which is an important part of our economy and way of life.  I know some Coloradans may say that banning some legitimate hunting weapons is a small price to pay to keep other, more dangerous weapons off of our streets — especially for a state that has suffered mass gun tragedies.  I can relate to that sentiment, but after years of seeking to find common ground on gun-safety issues, I also know that overreach can spur the backlash that we've seen undermine even the most common-sense solutions - like universal background checks.  

But an assault weapons ban alone should not serve as a litmus test for people who want to reduce gun violence.  Even if a perfectly drafted assault weapons ban were signed into law, we would still be left with easy access to millions of military-style weapons on our streets today - which is why it is so important to also ensure that a background check is conducted on every gun sale.

There are no easy answers, but we should all agree — and a large majority of NRA members do — that we must keep firearms of any kind out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill by requiring universal background checks.  But loopholes — which the Manchin-Toomey proposal sought to correct — continue to prevent many of these background checks from occurring today.  Disturbed individuals should not get a chance to fire even one round into their communities, let alone the 30 rounds a high-capacity magazine would allow.  Together, background checks and a ban on high-capacity magazines achieve much of what an assault weapons ban seeks to — preventing the wrong people from having access to weapons that can inflict mass casualties in a matter of moments.

Coming from a state with a long and storied tradition of gun ownership that has also suffered through too many gun tragedies, I know we must simultaneously renew our commitment to keeping our children safe while safeguarding our Second Amendment rights.  My friend Gabby Giffords, a survivor of the senseless violence in Tucson, knows too well how important this debate is and her strength has only affirmed my conviction that the status quo must change.  I will keep fighting for Colorado's families and values.  Our nation deserves nothing less.

Warm regards,

I have long held the view that we need a balanced approach to securing our energy future — a strategy that includes renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass alongside traditional sources, like natural gas and coal. I believe renewable energy sources have and will continue to create thousands of new, good-paying jobs throughout Colorado and reverse the harmful effects of climate change in the process. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Labor shows that renewable energy jobs are created at four times the pace of other jobs. With our innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, Colorado can be a model for the nation and lead the way toward energy independence.

Over the next several months, I will travel around the state and meet with energy industry officials, local leaders and the public to hear how Colorado can best help the United States increasingly create our own sources of home-grown energy.  I hope to hear from you along the way, but if our paths don’t cross, please let me know your ideas to help make Colorado the national leader on energy independence. 

While we can and must find ways to reduce global warming, energy independence is not just about protecting our air and water: A balanced energy approach will create good-paying American jobs and make us a more secure country. If we can harness our own energy sources, we have the potential to improve national security by reducing our dependence on oil from unstable parts of the world. A smarter energy policy will give our military leaders the tools and support they need to reduce their energy consumption, diversify their fuel supply, and – by reducing fuel supply lines they must protect – literally save lives.

And we are already seeing the benefits of this new energy economy here in Colorado. Companies along the Front Range and throughout Colorado are keeping the United States at the front of the global economic race and leading us toward a modern 21st century energy policy. Industry investments and innovation are essential steps to help our country transition to a more affordable, reliable and secure energy future.

In Colorado, we understand the importance of a common-sense, balanced energy approach. Our national security, strong economy and clean air and water hinge upon on our energy policies, and this is why I need your help. 

Tweet me your energy ideas at @MarkUdall using the hashtag #COEnergy or share your ideas with me on Facebook. How can we bridge partisan and geographic divides — to find common ground? We owe it to ourselves and future generations to lead. We all have a role to play and I know Colorado can serve as the national model.

Warm regards,

Simple and effective fire-mitigation methods do not always cost a lot of time or money.  In fact, common-sense steps taken while doing your fall yard work can make an enormous difference in the long run.   

• When working in your yard, focus on creating fuel-free zones 30 feet around your homes by keeping it clear of twigs and leaves.  Rakes and weed-whackers are some of the best tools we have to increase the likelihood that our homes will survive a wildfire. 
• When selecting landscaping and plants to place near your home, make sure they will not become a hazard in the event of a fire. 
• Store firewood and other combustibles, such as gas tanks or wooden lawn chairs, away from your home.  Doing so will help your structures survive future wildfires.  
• Contact your local planning and zoning office to find out if your home is in a high-risk fire zone. 
• You can also contact your homeowner’s association to determine how you can properly prepare for wildfire season within the parameter of regulations that will be helpful for you and your neighborhood. 

Here are some key resources Coloradans should be aware of:

Fire Restrictions and Risk (by County)


FEMA-Ready.gov:
Ready.gov is a national campaign designed to prepare Americans for both natural and man-made emergencies. It contains valuable advice on how families can plan and prepare for wildfire evacuations.

Colorado Division of Insurance:
Well before an emergency, you should inventory your belongings and carefully review your homeowner’s insurance policy to see what it covers.  All you need is a few hours, a digital camera and a pad of paper.  Comb through your belongings and set aside what receipts you can find.  Store this information online, in a safe deposit box or somewhere off-site.  If your home is damaged or lost during a fire, this is one of the best ways to financially protect yourself and help your family recover after a tragic fire.

FloodSmart:
Coloradans living in and around burn areas are especially vulnerable to flooding. Floodsmart is FEMA's gateway for property owners interested in accessing the National Flood Insurance Program.  The website contains information on eligibility, insurance agents and how to file a claim.

Colorado 2-1-1:
Dial 2-1-1.  This switchboard helps make connections, via referrals, between individuals and families in need and the appropriate community-based organizations and government agencies.

Health considerations:
Even if you do not live in an area directly affected by wildfire, smoke inhalation can cause problems for Coloradans with health issues, the very young and the elderly. Call LungLine at 800-222-LUNG, to talk to registered nurse if you are experiencing symptoms, such as difficulty breathing normally, cough with or without mucus, chest discomfort, wheezing and shortness of breath. 

Help Colorado Now:
Help Colorado Now is a site created by Gov. Hickenlooper and the Colorado Division of Emergency Management created as a central resource for information on how you can help those affected by the Colorado wildfires.

InciWeb:
InciWeb is an interagency one-stop-shop for regular updates on all major incidents (in this case, wildfires) across the United States. The system was developed to provide the public a single source of incident related information on firefighting activities, evacuations and public meetings.

Since the last time I wrote to you, the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration have taken effect, and I know it's starting to take its toll on many Coloradans.  Nearly 8,500 Coloradans shared their stories with me about how the sequestration harms them and their families.  From job losses to pay cuts to an inability to make tuition payments, these realities underline why these automatic budget cuts are neither the smartest nor the most strategic way to reduce the federal budget deficit.

These stories have only hardened my resolve to find a better way forward, a way that makes big budget cuts but doesn't do it on the backs of the middle class.  For years, I have said that part of getting our economy going and creating jobs means setting our budget on a sustainable footing and reducing the deficit.  I supported President Obama's work in 2009 to create a bipartisan commission focused on reducing the deficit.  And since then, I have called on Congress to embrace its balanced and bipartisan final recommendations.  Confronting sequestration is just the latest challenge in the process to responsibly reduce government spending.

Sequestration originally was designed to trigger budget cuts so painful that Congress would have no choice but to set aside its partisanship and reach a long-term deficit reduction deal.  I'm sad to say that didn't happen.  Instead of harnessing this opportunity and working on a balanced, deficit-reduction plan, some members of Congress were too focused on ultimatums and lines in the sand than the collaboration Coloradans and all Americans want.  

#Congress needs to work together to #StopSequestration. Sign my petition & RT to show your support: 1.usa.gov/XHjDel.

— Mark Udall (@MarkUdall) February 25, 2013

Although sequestration appears to be here to stay, I'm hopeful that Congress can bridge the partisan divide to mitigate sequestration's more harmful and indiscriminate effects.  This is why I have partnered with Republican Senator Susan Collins to craft a common-sense and bipartisan plan to replace the automatic spending cuts with smarter, more strategic spending reductions.  In fact, I offered a version of that plan as an amendment this week to a critical government-funding bill - and I plan to keep fighting to turn this common-sense, bipartisan idea into law.

Our bipartisan plan would allow individual federal agencies to strategically implement what would otherwise be arbitrary, automatic cuts.  We would achieve the same savings, but in a way that is much smarter.  My bill also would require the executive branch to work with Congress while encouraging oversight by the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives appropriations committees.

I'm fighting to give focus to these otherwise arbitrary budget cuts.  I will continue to work on behalf of Colorado to find a more equitable solution to the sequester and work in a bipartisan fashion to achieve balanced and comprehensive budget reform.

Warm regards,

This year, I am proud to serve alongside a record number of women in the U.S. Senate.  As a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, it's great news to me that the U.S. Air Force Academy will soon have its first woman superintendent, and the Department of Defense recently announced that women will be eligible to serve in direct combat units for the first time.

These are important and historic actions that will benefit our military and our nation, and these strides are worth celebrating.  But there is still much more work to do.  While this is the first time the Senate has ever had 20 female senators serving at the same time, that still translates to only 20 percent of our members — a far cry from reflecting the 51 percent of Americans who are women.  I’ve often said that I believe that Congress would function better if there were more women serving in the Senate and House.

One area of disparity is equal pay for equal work and that is why I'm fighting to take the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act one step further to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.  On average, women earn $434,000 less over the course of their lifetimes than their male co-workers who perform the same jobs and work the same number of hours.  That's unacceptable.  It's 2013, but our country is still wrestling with guaranteeing equal rights for women.  I will continue fighting to ensure that our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends receive equal pay for equal work.

Although I would have preferred that Congress had passed a comprehensive and balanced deficit-reduction plan to replace the sequester, the Udall-Collins plan is the only immediate way to temper the effects these automatic spending cuts will have on our economy and national security.

My bipartisan legislation would allow individual federal departments and agencies to propose how they each would more strategically implement the otherwise-arbitrary, automatic cuts. My bill would require that the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives appropriations committees work with the administration to provide oversight and ultimately approve the spending plans.

The Udall-Collins bill does the following:

• It empowers the executive branch to work with Congress and propose the best way to administer what would otherwise be automatic, arbitrary budget cuts required under the Budget Control Act;
• The Administration's spending proposal for a given department would be given to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees for review and approval, providing appropriate Congressional oversight and input;
• Finally, the legislation provides authorities for the Department of Defense to start new projects and programs that have been approved, but have been on hold due to the inability of Congress to adopt a full-year defense appropriations bill.

Partisan plans won't solve #sequestration. My plan allows @whitehouse to take smarter approach: markudall.senate.gov/?p=press_relea… #copolitics

— Mark Udall (@MarkUdall) March 1, 2013

Proud to work w/ @senatorcollins on a smart plan to confront #sequestration. RT if you agree #bipartisan compromise = the best approach.

— Mark Udall (@MarkUdall) March 1, 2013

Yesterday, President Obama joined congressional leaders, from both parties, to honor Rosa Parks and her iconic role as one of the catalysts for the 20th century Civil Rights Movement. They unveiled a 9-foot-tall statue that will stand alongside other key historical figures in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. Parks is the first African-American woman to be honored in such a way - she was also the first African-American woman to lay 'in state' in the U.S. Capitol following her death in October 2005. I stand with Coloradans in honoring this woman who helped changed the face of the American electorate for the better.

On the evening of Dec. 1, 1955, what started out as Rosa Parks' ride home after a long day of work turned into much more. After ignoring a city bus driver's order to give up her seat for a white passenger, she was promptly arrested by local law enforcement for civil disobedience in violation of Alabama's segregation laws. Parks' courageous stance that night against government-sanctioned racial discrimination awakened a nation, and helped pave the way for racial equality in the United States.

Rosa Parks' role in the civil rights movement shaped the way we view our voting laws and racial equality while empowering millions to stand up for what's right. Her actions also helped lead to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discriminatory voting practices and helped secure the right to vote for all Americans.

Also yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder, a case that will determine the constitutionality of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. This portion of the landmark law requires state and local governments with a history of voting discrimination to first clear any proposed changes to voting or election procedures with the U.S. Department of Justice or a federal court.

Supporters of the provision believe that efforts to undermine the voting power of Americans persists. They cite as examples redistricting, fewer polling locations and cuts to early voting in key swing states during the 2012 election cycle. Supporters also point out that if a bipartisan Congress reauthorized the landmark civil rights legislation as recently as 2006, then Section 5 is still an essential element of the law and should remain.

Although Colorado is not included in Section 5, our state has taken on challenges of its own to ensure that working Coloradans can vote without hassle by making sure enough polling locations are provided to reduce long waits in line on Election Day. I stand with Coloradans in opposing any and all efforts designed to suppress the vote of any group or individual.

I know that when I walk by Rosa Parks' statue in the Capitol, I will be reminded of her courageous actions in her fight for equality. Going forward, we must remain diligent in our efforts to engage all Americans in the political process. Securing access to the constitutional right to vote lies at the heart of that effort.

#Congress needs to work together to #StopSequestration. Sign my petition & RT to show your support: 1.usa.gov/XHjDel.

Over the past week, more than 8,100 Coloradans have signed my petition urging Congress to work together to stop sequestration.  You also have shared your stories on how these automatic budget cuts will affect you or your families.

Many of you shared with me how you may lose your job, take a dramatic pay cut, be unable to afford your college tuition or support our local economy.  Others voiced your concerns about food safety, education and national security.

After taking in your views, it's crystal clear that sequestration is not the way to bring about meaningful deficit reduction.   There are much smarter ways to reduce our nation's budget deficit, and I have been fighting for those ways for several years.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.   With your stories in mind, I will continue to urge my colleagues in Congress to work together and pass a proposal to avert sequestration - and to be smarter about the way our government reduces its deficit.   As most of you agree, doing nothing is not an option.

If you haven't already, please sign my petition to stop sequestration and tell me how sequestration would harm you or your family.

How will sequestration affect your life?  Here's what some Coloradans had to say:

'My wife and I are both student veterans. Any possible delay in our Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits would result in possibly paying our mortgage late and other financial issues.' - Nicholas, Louisville

'I will be furloughed and lose 20% of my income. As a result, I don't know if I can continue to support my son at CU Boulder.' - Douglas, Colorado Springs

'My severely developmentally disabled brother receives housing and medical assistance from Medicaid, which will be cut. This would be devastating for him and for our family.' - Susan, Lafayette

'Our family is 100% supported by our small business. When people lose their jobs, they buy less from businesses such as ours. There is no doubt that cuts need to be made, just as revenue needs to increase. However these types of cuts are not the right ones. Please work to find a proposal that makes sense!' - Pam, Montrose

'I now work for the BLM under a govt. contract in Denver. The govt. workers are worried about furloughs, the contractors are worried about government contracts not being renewed. I'm worried about being out of a job.' - Brian, Denver

'I have a child with special needs who attends a very small school and there is a great chance that the special ed that she receives could be a budget cut. This is unacceptable... she deserves an education as well.' - Janice, Littleton

'If we have another fire season like last year there is no way Colorado and other Western states can face cutbacks to those services. Please find a solution.' - Carol, Broomfield

'If the Social Security Administration has to cut staff hours, it might affect when my pension benefit arrives in my checking account. I'm concerned not so much for myself or my family but for the potential impacts on the youngest, oldest and neediest among us.' - Karen, Westminster

Over the past several weeks, my colleagues in Congress and I have received daily warnings that if we do not act soon to reduce the federal budget deficit in a balanced and comprehensive way, a series of automatic budget cuts, commonly called sequestration, will severely hurt our military readiness and domestic discretionary programs.  

Sequestration — part of the bipartisan and widely supported Budget Control Act of 2011 — was designed to trigger budget cuts so painful that Congress would have no choice but to set aside its partisanship and reach a deal.  However, a growing chorus of lawmakers now seems content to simply let these cuts occur, rather than negotiate a reasonable and balanced solution.

I stand with Colorado businesses, workers and families who have told me that this is an irresponsible and short-sighted approach.

The effects of sequestration would not only ripple throughout our national security apparatus and overall military readiness — issues I pressed our military leaders to discuss during committee hearings several weeks ago — but also would hurt critical services Coloradans care about, including health, education, fire preparedness and protecting the clean air and water Coloradans hold dear.  

We still have time to avert these cuts.  And I stand with Coloradans when I say Congress must come together and seize this rare opportunity to reduce the deficit in a balanced and bipartisan way.

Colorado's congressional delegation is already on board with this approach.  Last August, I led a bipartisan letter from seven of Colorado's nine federal representatives demanding a balanced approach to addressing sequestration.

Since then, we have seen a series of stop-gap proposals and small deals.  Now it's time for Congress to go big — and I need your help.

Please sign my petition, share your story on why sequestration matters to you and your family, and tell Congress that doing nothing is not an option.

Warm regards,

Today, 43 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans and 90 percent of transgendered Americans have experienced some form of workplace discrimination.  In Colorado, we already have non-discrimination laws protecting LGBT people in the workforce, and now it is time for the federal government to follow suit.

Since 1965, an Executive Order has prohibited federal contractors from discriminating against their employees due to national origin, religion, race or sex.  Last week, I joined with more than 30 senators to urge President Obama to sign his own Executive Order and protect the equality of all Americans by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to that list.

Just as I have urged Congress to follow Colorado's lead in passing meaningful anti-bullying laws to create a safe and secure learning environment in school for LGBT children, I will continue to fight to protect all LGBT Americans in the workplace.  While there is still work to be done in passing the more sweeping Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the president can take this important step now to ensure a level playing field for employees of federal contractors and underscore that hard work should pay off regardless of whom you love.

The upcoming Colorado Capital Conference in Washington, D.C. is an opportunity for you and others from across Colorado to meet and engage with national decision makers and opinion leaders in our nation's capital.  I am again hosting this year's conference with Colorado Mesa University and the University of Colorado.  This year, 100 Coloradans will have the opportunity to join this conference in Washington, D.C., June 5-7, to learn how to engage with and influence leaders in Washington.

Last year, I hosted the second annual Colorado Capital Conference in Washington, D.C.  With speakers ranging from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to Senator John McCain, the conference was an opportunity for citizens from communities across Colorado to hear directly from decision-makers in Washington and offer our uniquely Western perspective.

Join the Conversation

Coloradans from all political viewpoints and backgrounds are welcome to apply.  Click here to learn more about last year's conference.

Government is a two-way street.  Your thoughts matter as we shape policies, and it's important to me to provide Coloradans with the knowledge they need to interact with our federal government.

The Colorado Capital Conference will be a chance to learn about the political process, hear directly from national leaders, interact with other civic-minded Coloradans and take home ideas about how you can effect political change.

Additional information for the Colorado Capital Conference can be found online at http://coloradomesa.edu/capitalconference/. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by March 18, 2013.  We will be announcing attendees on April 2, 2013.

P.S. Follow the conference on Twitter (@COCapConf) for reminders about deadlines and up-to-date information about the conference. You can even get updates via SMS message by texting 'follow cocapconf' to 40404.

For the past 19 years, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has saved lives and strengthened families throughout Colorado and the United States by changing the way our society thinks about - and responds to - domestic violence. But one of the strongest tools we have to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assaults and stalking has languished without reauthorization.

Reauthorizing VAWA will help law enforcement officers confront perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse; provide safe and secure support services to survivors of crimes; and establish a National Domestic Violence Hotline. Partisan gridlock stalled the reauthorization of VAWA in the House of Representatives and has left survivors and victims of violence out in the cold-and they deserve better.

Last year, I called on Coloradans to sign my petition and urge Congress to reauthorize VAWA. It passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support, but we have to make another push to finally send it to the president's desk this time. Share the infographic above, tweet your friends, sign my petition and urge your members of Congress to reauthorize VAWA.

- Almost half of all murders in Colorado are committed by an intimate partner. The majority of victims are female.
- VAWA awarded the state of Colorado $6,437,596 in grants in 2012 to support survivors of domestic violence, rape and stalking.
- Without VAWA, over 16 million people are cut off from federal resources, including life-saving services and legal assistance.
- The VAWA Reauthorization of 2011 was endorsed by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and 11 state and local organizations.

As we celebrate Black History Month this year, I am honored to reflect on the historical and everyday contributions of African-Americans to the state of Colorado and our country. Their efforts to ensure equality for all Americans are tightly woven into the fabric of our ever-evolving nation.

Last month, millions of Americans and I watched as President Barack Obama took the oath for his second presidential term. And for the first time in our nation's history, there are two African-American U.S. senators serving at the same time - Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Mo Cowan (D-Mass.). And following the 2012 elections, Colorado celebrated a record number of African-American lawmakers in the Colorado House of Representatives, known as the 'historic five' who are paving the way for more diversity. I also am proud of how our state set the precedent for the country four years ago, when two African-American lawmakers, Rep. Terrance Carroll and Sen. Peter Groff, held the top leadership roles in the Colorado General Assembly.

These public servants are prime examples of how receiving a quality education plays a crucial role in creating access to exceptional opportunities—and a step closer to true equality. As we work to close achievement and economic opportunity gaps throughout our state and country, I would like to pay homage to two of Colorado's African-American pioneers who worked tirelessly to guarantee equal access to quality education for all Coloradans.

Omar D. Blair, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen in the 1940s, served as the first African-American president of the Denver Public Schools Board and went on to become the first African-American president of the Colorado Association of School Boards. During his tenure as president of the Denver Public Schools board, Blair championed quality education and led the city through the controversial desegregation of its public schools.

Rachel B. Noel, known as the lion of the African-American Civil Rights Movement in Denver, became the first African-American elected to the Denver Public Schools board and was also the first African-American woman elected to office in Colorado. On April 25, 1968, Noel spearheaded a resolution to integrate Denver's public schools. Despite the school board's decision to overturn the resolution in 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed Noel's historic resolution in its 1973 decision, Keyes v. School District No. 1.

These exceptional Coloradans changed the way we educate our youth and supported access to opportunity for all. But while we have seen progress, there is still much work to do.

In this rapidly changing world where we increasingly rely on technology, we must provide our youth with the math and science skills they need to become leaders and keep our nation on the cutting edge of innovation and ingenuity. That is why I stand with President Obama and Gov. Hickenlooper in supporting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education programs to provide our youth with viable pathways to academic and professional success. With a strong investment in STEM programs, as well as ensuring Colorado's students have continued access to language and arts education, there is no telling how successful our students can be in the 21st century.

From Colorado's earliest days as a Western territory to the present, African-American community leaders and public servants have been a driving force in transforming the works and vision of our Founding Fathers into reality. I am humbled and inspired by their commitment to pushing our country to reach its fullest potential. I will continue to do my part to honor African-Americans' legacy of triumph over challenge. I hope you will join me in doing the same.

Support Equal Pay For Equal Work

Dear Fellow Coloradan,

Four years ago today, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, ensuring a fair day in court for victims of gender-based pay discrimination. This law was a victory for women everywhere in the continuing fight for equal pay for equal work.  

However, our fight is far from over: It has been 50 years since the passage of the Equal Pay Act, yet Colorado women still make on average 79 cents to every dollar men make.  

That’s why I am proud to join with Senator Barbara Mikulski to introduce the Paycheck Fairness Act.  The bill would ensure that mothers, wives, sisters and daughters receive equal pay for equal work.

And this is about more than women.  With more and more families relying on women to either be the primary breadwinner or to share the responsibilities of supporting their households, the wage gap hurts children and the middle class. 

On average, women earn $434,000 less over the course of their lifetime than their male co-workers who perform the same jobs and work the same number of hours.  That is enough money, according to the Census Bureau and the Center for American Progress, to:

• buy two houses
• underwrite 7 college degrees
• buy 14 new cars
• feed a family of four for 37 years

These statistics are staggering — and underline why I plan to work with my colleagues to ensure that we pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and that we do not settle for anything less than full equality. 

As a country, we have made great strides and significantly narrowed the paycheck gap between men and women, but we must do more.  There is no time to waste; it is time to secure equal pay for women.  As our economy continues to recover, the Paycheck Fairness Act would help women as they go back to work.  To see how women in states across the country are suffering from gender discrimination, click here. 

It all comes down to this question: Do we want our daughters to have the same opportunities and success as our sons? I believe the answer is yes — and I want to hear why you believe this, too:

Please take a moment to sign my equal pay for equal work petition.  If you have a Twitter account, consider tweeting your support with #PaycheckFairness.  Congress needs to hear your voice.

Warm regards,

Although national division and social injustice still exist, we have learned from experience that our greatest triumphs often came during our darkest hours. I have faith that Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C., will work together and bridge the partisan divide to build a more perfect union. We will rise above our challenges and seek to fulfill the full potential of our Constitution.

After a day spent reflecting on how far we've come, now is a time for renewal. As President Obama repeats his oath of office, I hope you will join me in renewing our commitment to our founding principles and cooperating together to move America forward. I am excited to have the privilege to represent you and Colorado's interests in the 113th Congress.