[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 174 (Friday, October 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE KEN SALAZAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JARED POLIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 27, 2017

  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, trailblazer, pioneer, true Coloradoan. These 
are just a few phases that describe the Honorable Ken Salazar. A native 
of San Luis Valley, Secretary Salazar has always been true to his 
Colorado roots and values. Working tirelessly for others and the 
environment, Secretary Salazar's legacy will abide for generations to 
come.
  Secretary Salazar grew up on a rural ranch, learning to read and 
write by the light of oil lamps. No stranger to hard work, he pursued a 
varied education attending Colorado College, earning a Bachelor of Arts 
degree in political science in 1977, and law degree from the University 
of Michigan Law School. Later Salazar was awarded honorary degrees from 
Colorado College and the University of Denver.
  1986 marked Secretary Salazar's first appointment in politics. 
Serving as Gov. Romer's Director of Natural Resources, Salazar worked 
towards petroleum and mining reforms to better protect the surrounding 
environment.
  Secretary Salazar was elected as Colorado Attorney General in 1998 
and handily won reelection in 2002. As Attorney General, he was awarded 
the prestigious Conference of Western Attorneys General Profile in 
Courage award for his work.
  In 2004, Secretary Salazar ran for U.S. Senate and won. Salazar was a 
leading member of a bipartisan group of Senators that developed the 
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, which would have provided 
a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and increased funding 
for border security.
  Secretary Salazar's Senate record is reflective of his passion for 
justice and environmental protections. He fought to limit natural gas 
drilling in western Colorado alongside Sen. Udall and his brother, 
Congressman Jon Salazar. Secretary Salazar worked in the Senate to give 
benefits to Rocky Flats workers.
  In 2009, President Obama appointed Salazar as Secretary of the 
Interior. As one of two Hispanics serving in the cabinet, Secretary 
Salazar worked to ensure our national parks and monuments were 
inclusive to minority communities and America's tribal communities.
  During his time as Secretary, Salazar successfully developed and 
implemented numerous renewable energy initiatives on public lands and 
helped lead the Obama Administration's ``all of the above'' energy 
strategy.
  I am honored to know Secretary Salazar as a colleague, but even more 
as a friend. On behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I want to 
congratulate Secretary Salazar on his induction in the Latino Hall of 
Fame.

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