Washington, D.C. - For several months, U.S. Senator Mark Udall worked with Senate leaders to schedule Colorado's first bark beetle hearing. Senator Udall's bill, the National Forest Insect and Disease Emergency Act, was originally scheduled to be heard in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday, with Colorado State Senator Dan Gibbs testifying about the danger posed to Colorado communities by bark beetle-damaged trees. If passed, the bill would give the Forest Service and Interior Department more resources to reduce bark beetle-related safety and health threats.

But Colorado's bark beetle hearing was canceled yesterday due to Republican obstructionism.

Angry over the passage of health insurance reform legislation, Republican leaders used an arcane rule to cancel committee hearings while vowing not to cooperate with Democrats for the rest of the year.

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"Republican leaders ought to know better. These types of political games only hurt constituents, not Democratic lawmakers. In Colorado, we have mountains covered with orange-colored dying trees, and, as a result, homes are at risk of wildfire and hikers and workers in danger of being hurt by falling trees. This is a public safety emergency that needs to be addressed immediately. Republican games just give Coloradans one more hurdle to jump through to get help," Udall said. "Summer is around the corner, and that means fire season will be here soon. Thanks to the Republicans, much-needed help is on hold."

State Senator Dan Gibbs flew back to Colorado today without having the opportunity to testify. "If Republican leadership had any idea of what we are facing in Colorado with this epidemic, they would stop these games now and let us do our jobs and help Colorado with this serious issue," Gibbs said.