Â	136th Year... and still on the job!	Wednesday May 12, 2004

TELL IT TO THE CHIEFTAIN

Thanks to senators

We appreciate the Chieftain's editorial commending Senator Allard and our congressional delegation on successfully making the first critical step toward restoring funds for the Pueblo chemical demilitarization project. The Pueblo Chemical Depot is one of eight sites in the United States where chemical weapons are stored. At the Pueblo Chemical Depot, 780,000 rounds of ammunition containing mustard agent have been stored for more than 50 years, representing a potential threat to our community and to the United States.

Senator Allard's achievements in restoring funding for Pueblo will make Pueblo and America safer.

However, we want to go further in our commendation. In the present fiscal climate in Washington, D.C., including huge demands on our defense budget and large federal deficit, persuading the Senate Armed Services Committee to restore $147 million in funding is nothing short of a remarkable achievement.

Senator Allard's success is a reflection of the respect he has earned from his colleagues and of the legislative and political skills he and his very able staff possess. We are fortunate to have such strong commitment and advocacy on this issue of great importance to Pueblo County, and offer our assistance to Senator Allard in his continued efforts to see this project initiated and completed in a timely manner.

In addition, our appreciation goes to Senator Nighthorse-Campbell and Congressmen McInnis and Hefley. Working together in the next few weeks will ensure that Senator Allard's restoration of funds makes it all the way through the authorizing and appropriations processes.

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

John Klomp
Pueblo County commissioner
Citizen's Advisory Commission chairman