For more than 150 years, leaders from President Abraham Lincoln to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have challenged us to keep faith with the spirit that enlivens our Constitution. Today we continue the work of these two dynamic men who courageously led the charge – through national division and civil strife – in pursuing a more perfect union where all Americans are truly free and have equal access to opportunity.

Four years ago today, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, ensuring a fair day in court for victims of gender-based pay discrimination. This law was a victory for women everywhere in the continuing fight for equal pay for equal work. However, our fight is far from over: It has been 50 years since the passage of the Equal Pay Act, yet Colorado women still make on average 79 cents to every dollar men make.

Today I am humbled to be in our nation's capital to witness the second-term inauguration of our President Barack Obama. His re-election, leadership and what he stands for make me confident that we can rise to meet the great challenges before us.

Each January, communities around our state and nation come together to remember and honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in a day of reflection and service. Dr. King was a driving force in promoting social justice and equality — principles embodied in our Constitution. Dr. King's commitment to sharing his vision of a brighter future during a time of national division and civil strife show how one person can have an extraordinary impact on the evolution of our society.

At the start of last year, I wrote to Coloradans asking you for your top priorities for 2012. Thousands of you wrote back to tell me what matters most to you, your families and your businesses. I am pleased to say that, from reforming the way Washington works to improving our energy strategy, 2012 was a great year for making your ideas to create jobs, boost our economy and preserve our quality of life a reality.

For many years, you and I have been fighting to make Colorado the country's leader in clean energy production. The latest chapter in that fight was six months ago, when I pledged to deliver a speech on the Senate floor nearly every day we were in session about how the wind Production Tax Credit and the wind energy industry have boosted our economy and created jobs in Colorado and across our great nation.

Our great state - and much of Colorado's history - began with a mining boom. However, this heritage, literally the state's foundation, left behind 7,000 abandoned mine sites and the toxic runoff they often create. These sites, the legacy of past decades of irresponsible mining, today threaten the foundation of much of our outdoor economy and what makes our state great: our land and water.

In an effort to keep this discussion going, I will be joining Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Wednesday for a live-streamed discussion about the wind PTC, renewable energy and our pursuit of an all-of-the-above energy strategy.

Two weeks ago, small-business owner Lisa Goodbee, president of Goodbee & Associates in Centennial, and 14 other small-business owners met with President Obama in Washington, D.C. They asked him to continue working with Congress to reach a balanced deal that fixes our budget.

If the U.S. House of Representatives doesn't act before the end of the year, 1.9 million middle-class Colorado families will lose $2,200.  Tell Congress what $2,200 means to you.

What do GPS, flat-screen televisions and the Internet have in common? Before each became commonly available consumer goods, they were developed by the military. Alternative fuels are on the cusp of similar cutting-edge development.

Thanksgiving is a great time to spend time with family and friends and to take stock of how fortunate we are to live and work in the West. From our growing economy to the natural wonders that make Colorado the best place to raise a family, we are truly blessed.

Beginning Friday, Senator John McCain and I will lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  The forum will bring together more than 300 leaders from 50 countries for weekend-long discussions on some of the world's most pressing security issues.

This Veterans Day, I want to honor the men and women who have bravely served our country in uniform. Through their hard work, selflessness and courage, our veterans represent the very best of our nation and what we strive to achieve. 

Congress comes back into session next week, and the time has finally come for Congress to stop delaying and extend the wind Production Tax Credit.

As a U.S. Senator, my office receives a limited number of tickets to distribute to my constituents who plan on visiting Washington, D.C. for this event.