My job as a Senator is to advance Nevada's top priorities. There are countless issues that matter to Nevadans, but a few stand out as special priorities as we enter the New Year. Some of the significant state policy highlights for the 2006 year include: fighting to keep Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act funds in Nevada, affordable housing, White Pine County land bill, Yucca Mountain on-site storage, and funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act
Like in 2005, the Administration has once again expressed its intention to divert funding from Nevada that is generated by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. This money is generated by the sale of public lands in the Las Vegas Valley and is used for high priority conservation projects, the development of public facilities like the Clark County Shooting Park, and the protection of sensitive lands. Senator Ensign and I defeated the Administration's proposal in 2005 to take Nevada's money and we will work closely with our colleagues to do so again in 2006.

Affordable Housing
The availability of affordable housing in Nevada, and particularly in Clark County, has reached a crisis level. Prices for homes in Clark County have risen nearly 80 percent over the past five years. Working men and women are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase homes for their families and as a result, it is especially challenging for the local governments to attract and retain public employees such as teachers, police, and firefighters. I am working with federal, state and local officials to address the issue and ease the burden on Nevada's families.

White Pine County Lands Bill
I am pleased to be working with the other members of the Nevada congressional delegation and the people of White Pine County to develop a county-wide comprehensive public land bill that will build on the successes of the Clark County bill in 2002 and the Lincoln County bill of 2004. The legislation is still in development but will create new private lands for development, protect critical and pristine areas, and address a broad array of natural resources issues that will help strengthen White Pine County.

Yucca Mountain
Working with the Nevada Delegation, I introduced legislation that mandates that nuclear waste be stored on-site where it is produced and requires the federal government take responsibility for possession, stewardship, maintenance, and monitoring of the waste.

The legislation would eliminate the need for a single repository such as Yucca Mountain ensuring nuclear waste can be safely stored on-site and under control of the federal government. The legislation will also increase safety at all nuclear power plants by providing funding for additional security to guard against accidents or terrorist attack. Storing nuclear waste on-site is the safest, most reasonable and most effective way of storing waste while keeping the health and safety of Americans as our top priority.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects
Our state and the entire nation have seen energy prices rise dramatically over the last few years, from gasoline to electricity. These increased costs are hurting our economy, small businesses, homeowners and agriculture across Nevada.

In 2006, I will continue my efforts to accelerate the use and production of renewable energy in all parts of the state. Last year, I helped get a three-year extension and expansion of the renewable energy production tax credit. As a senior member of Senate Appropriations Committee, I am in a unique position to help bring renewable energy funding back to the State. The most recent FY '06 Energy and Water Appropriations bill included $36 million for renewable energy projects that benefited Nevada.

This year, I hope to make that Federal tax credit permanent, so Nevada's vast geothermal, solar and wind resources can displace natural gas used in electricity generation and make our energy more affordable, cleaner and more sustainable. I will also continue my push for a Federal renewable portfolio standard, work on initiatives to increase access to transmission for renewable energy, and help grow Nevada's renewable transportation fuels business.

Nevada's legislative priorities need to be resolved through innovative thinking. Using new strategies to satisfy the state's many competing demands is a challenge I am ready to take on.

This year I will continue fighting to keep Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act funds in Nevada, work with federal, state and local officials to address the issue and ease the burden of insufficient affordable housing, create legislation that will address a broad array of natural resources issues that will help strengthen White Pine County, work to ensure the Yucca Mountain project never opens, and fund energy efficient projects.

There is work that must be done and I will continue to fight for Nevada interests in Washington, DC during the coming years.

NOTE from the Publisher: I 'd like to thank Senator Harry Reid for his Season's Greeting. To view Season's Greeting, click on icon on left.