Representative Mark Udall (Colorado)

"As a native Westerner, I am passionate about preserving our natural environment and quality of life. My family and I have hiked, skied and rafted many of Colorado's wild lands and rivers. I have a deep attachment to the West, its landscapes and way of life, which is one of the primary reasons I sought public office. In Congress, I have fought and will continue to fight to protect our natural resources." -- Mark Udall

Representative Mark Udall is finishing his fifth term as the Representative of Colorado's 2nd district and is a champion of the environment. Udall's political career began in 1996 when he won a seat in the state House, serving two years before seeking an open congressional seat in the 2nd district in 1998.

Rep. Udall earned a 95 percent score from the League of Conservation Voters for his last term in Congress and a 100 percent for every preceding term. He is a champion of conserving public lands, investing in renewable energy, mandating vehicle fuel efficiency, and addressing global warming. He strongly supports encouraging sustainability in agriculture and wrote his own Farm Bill in 2002. In 2007, Rep. Udall introduced an amendment to the energy bill that would have created a strong renewable electricity standard for America, and also successfully pushed a bill to provide grants to help school districts replace older diesel buses with ones that use alternative energy.

Along with fellow-Colorado Representative John Salazar, he introduced an amendment that was originally included in the 2007 Energy Bill which would have prohibited the presence of drill rigs on federal lands on surface of the Roan Plateau in Colorado. He has also introduced legislation to "strengthen and streamline" federally funded research on climate change. Udall voted for the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Fill Suspension and Consumer Protection Act of 2008. Udall would be an extremely strong environmental advocate in the Senate, and the Sierra Club has proudly endorsed him. Coloradans can help ensure there is an environmental majority in the Senate by voting for Mark Udall in November. For more information, visit Mark Udall's website at http://www.markudall.com/.