Denver - This year’s Fourth of July recess marks six months of strong leadership from Colorado’s Democrats. In the last six months, Democrats like Reps. Diana DeGette, Ed Perlmutter, John Salazar and Mark Udall have done more to the advance the agenda of America’s working families than the Bush Republicans did in the last six years.

Despite constant obstructionism from Republicans, Democrats have worked hard to keep their promises to the American people. Both houses of Congress have passed energy legislation that strengthens our economy and national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Democrats have made our communities safer by passing the 9/11 Commission recommendations, and provided the American people with honest leadership and accountability by passing the toughest, most sweeping ethics reform in a generation.

We also raised the minimum wage for the first time in a decade, passed a balanced budget that includes tax cuts for the middle class, and kept our promises to the brave men and women who have served our country by passing the largest increase in veteran’s health care in more than 80 years. Democrats like Reps. Diana DeGette, Ed Perlmutter, John Salazar and Mark Udall have also fought for a new direction in Iraq, fought to increase access to health care by reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and kept their promise to promote the promise of science over partisanship by voting to expand funding for life-saving stem cell research.

"Democrats have accomplished more in the last six months than Republicans did in six years," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak. "Democrats like Reps. Diana DeGette, Ed Perlmutter, John Salazar and Mark Udall are keeping their promises to Colorado’s working families, and making our communities safer and stronger in the process. While Republicans like Doug Lamborn, Marilyn Musgrave and Tom Tancredo continue to stand in the way, our Democrats are working to make America safer and stronger, expand access to health care, fight for a new direction in Iraq, and end the culture of corruption that Republicans brought to Washington. This Independence Day recess, Colorado’s working families can be proud that they finally have a Democratic Congress that is independent of the Bush Republicans and their special interest friends."