{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"CO\" and year = 2015 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=3DE01CDD-69C8-2FFE-24E4-307D7AE55664", "Bennet Announces Recommendations from Advisory Committee to Fill Federal Court Vacancies", "2015-12-31", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced that the bipartisan advisory committee he convened to recommend applicants to fill an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. District Court of Colorado has selected three nominees.  After interviewing 11 candidates the committee chose Magistrate Judge Kristin Mix, Regina Rodriguez, and Sam Walker.\n\"We are very grateful to the committee for all of their work to select the most highly qualified candidates to serve,\" Bennet said. \"We look forward to having the opportunity to review their applications and speak with each candidate in person.\"\nThe upcoming vacancy is created by Judge Robert Blackburn's taking senior status in April of 2016.  Given the overwhelming dockets currently faced by the courts, the advisory committee was formed in October in advance of Judge Blackburn's departure, to ensure the seat was filled in a timely manner.\nThe committee was co-chaired by Hal Haddon, former co-chair of previous advisory panels and a Denver lawyer, and Candy Figa, a prominent attorney in the Denver metro area, who has also been active in civic affairs, including serving as a City Councilmember and Mayor Pro tem of Greenwood Village and on the 18th Judicial Nominating Commission.  The bipartisan nature of the committee reflects Senator Bennet's interest in a nonpartisan, merit selection system that is consistent with the University of Denver's Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System's (IAALS) recommended process.\n\"The entire applicant pool was exceptional.  Each candidate had solid credentials and a unique set of experiences that would make them strong additions to Colorado's Federal Bench,\" said committee co-chair Candy Figa. \"While it was difficult to make final selections, we feel very confident in our recommendations and are eager to see the process move forward.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=93C34490-DECB-4AF5-F958-620DD10290E9", "Bennet Statement on Water Clause in Ski Area Permits", "2015-12-30", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Denver, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement in response to today's announcement from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on water in ski area permits: \"Water is a precious resource on which Colorado's ski areas rely for economic sustainability and growth.  We are lucky to live in a state with world class skiing right in our back yard and we want to keep it that way.  The final directive, published today, seems more balanced than the Forest Service's original directive.  We are hopeful that it will be workable for all sides by protecting private water rights and keeping Colorado's ski resorts sustainable long into the future.\" According to recent study by Colorado Ski Country USA and Vail Resorts, Inc., Colorado's ski industry generates $4.8 billion each year for our economy and supports more than 46,000 year-round equivalent jobs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=E47FCB30-A060-CB05-5314-FD7625D7DFAC", "Bennets Service Bill Offers New Opportunity to Make College More Affordable", "2015-12-23", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Denver, CO  Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has introduced a bill to help put college back in reach for middle class families by giving students the opportunity to earn grant money or loan forgiveness by completing community or national service.\nA higher education is becoming a prerequisite to success in today's rapidly changing economy, Bennet said.  Unfortunately, college is becoming increasingly unaffordable for many families.  This bill can help by offering an earned benefit to students who commit to working hard, giving back to their community, and the betterment of their country.  Along with steps we must take to drive down the costs of school, it puts a higher education   and the chance at financial security and economic mobility  back in reach.\nBennet's Service for School bill builds upon the AmeriCorps program.  Under Bennet's bill, students who complete 2,000 hours of service would become eligible for $10,000 in funding for college, roughly the average in-state tuition for four-year schools in the country.\nEach additional 2,000 hours would earn that student an additional $10,000, up to $40,000 maximum, or roughly four years of tuition.  Students would have to complete their hours of service at an eligible organization certified by the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS).\nTypes of service could include:  teaching, tutoring and mentoring in high-need communities, building affordable housing, helping communities respond to disasters, and environmental stewardship.  CNCS would determine if a given service opportunity meets the eligibility definition.\nThe Service for School bill is one of Bennet's proposals to make college more affordable and accessible as Congress prepares to reauthorize the Higher Education Act in 2016.  They include simplifying the FAFSA, creating incentives to help create higher quality and lower cost options through competency based education and accreditation reforms as well as measures to help families save and pay for school before, during, and after college.\nThis announcement comes on the heels of the recent bill-signing ceremony at the White House where the President signed into law a bill to rewrite No Child Left Behind. The bill, which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the chief federal law addressing K-12 education, reforms many of the broken policies from No Child Left Behind, the previous version of the bill, while maintaining several key provisions that have proved successful.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-on-passage-of-omnibus-appropriations-bill", "DeGette Statement on Passage of Omnibus Appropriations Bill", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill, which passed the House 316-113:\n\"Last-minute rushes to pass omnibus bills are a flawed way to run our government and to make policy choices on behalf of the American people. Federal spending essentially defines our priorities as a nation, be they education, defense, health, or anything else. When we fail to give each of these priorities the individual attention they deserve, we inevitably make choices and funding decisions that are not as carefully thought out as they should be.\n\"In addition, this bill carries dozens of policy provisions that should be considered on their own merit and not latched onto a funding bill. Doing so inevitably leads to passage of undeserving policy choices that would not stand on their own, and many of these policies will undermine the programs and efforts that this bill funds. This cheapens the investments the American people want us to make on behalf of virtually every priority the country has.\n\"Both in its general approach and in many specific provisions, I find much to object to in this omnibus funding bill, but it is the only realistic option available to keep the federal government operating through the coming year. It also includes additional investments that will greatly benefit people in Colorado and across the country. Among the provisions worth highlighting are investments in biomedical research and development at the NIH and FDA, investments in clean energy at the National Renewable Energy Lab, and transportation investments that will help build Colorado infrastructure and continue our flood recovery efforts.\nI supported this omnibus to avoid greater damage to the country and in hope that the Congress, in particular its Republican leadership, will do better going forward.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1274", "Perlmutter Statement on Passage of Omnibus Appropriations Bill", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) issued the following statement after voting to support the government funding bill, H.R. 2029, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016:\r\n\r\nI voted to support the government funding bill because it is good for Colorado and good for the 7th Congressional District. While not a perfect deal, the legislation reflects a true bipartisan compromise. The bill is largely free of dangerous policy provisions that would have undermined both economic and environmental progress made under the last several years. With this spending bill, Congress ensures economic certainty for businesses and families by averting a government shutdown and avoids creating needless chaos before the holidays. We secured funding for major Colorado priorities including education, national security, the National Renewable Energy Lab, and the aerospace industry.\r\n\r\nThis legislation also includes achievements supporting Colorado's diverse energy economy. In return for lifting the outdated 40 year old crude export ban, we were able to extend the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit and the Solar Investment Tax Credit. The crude export ban was originally passed in the 1970's at a time when the world was facing an energy supply shortage and prices soared. Nothing could be further from the truth today which is why I believe Colorado stands to benefit from lifting the ban. That's why I've led the effort to repeal the crude oil export ban by cosponsoring legislation earlier this year to lift the ban. Technology and innovation have enabled vast energy production and the U.S. is no longer dependent on foreign sources of energy.\r\n\r\nI look forward to continuing to advocate for Colorado priorities in the year ahead.\r\n\r\nSee below for several specific items included in the Omnibus that will have a positive impact for Colorado and our country:\r\n\r\nOrion Spacecraft  Includes $1.27 billion to accelerate development of the Orion Multipurpose Crew Vehicle as well as requires NASA's future budget submissions to adequately assess the resources needed to maintain the first manned mission launch in 2021.\r\n\r\nSpace Launches  Includes a provision ensuring United Launch Alliance (ULA) can compete for national security space launches.\r\n\r\nVisa Waiver Program - Adopts visa waiver program changes, including a visa requirement for travelers who have recently visited Iraq or Syria.\r\n\r\nLand & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)  A three-year reauthorization of the Fund.\r\n\r\n9/11 First Responders Health Program - Reauthorizes a health program for police, firefighters and others who worked at the site of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.\r\n\r\nMilitary Pay Raise  Provides a 1.3% pay raise for all military personnel.\r\n\r\nClimate Change  Contributes $49.9 Million to the Strategic Climate Fund, which helps fund programs aimed at climate change mitigation and adaption.\r\n\r\nNational Institutes of Health (NIH)  Includes $32.1 billion for the nation's medical research agency.\r\n\r\nHead Start  Includes $9.2 billion for Head Start, a program that promotes school readiness of children under 5 years old and from low-income families.\r\n\r\nMortgage Servicing Asset Capital Treatment Study - Requires banking agencies to conduct a study of the appropriate capital requirements for mortgage servicing assets. This is a modified version of my bipartisan bill (H.R. 1408) which passed the House in July 2015.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=441A0F98-FD64-AA95-203B-61C36498DE1B", "Bennet, Congress Pass Year-End Bill with Colorado Priorities", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today helped pass a year-end bill to fund the government and extend tax provisions crucial to Colorado's economy. The bill includes numerous Colorado priorities Bennet helped secure in the bill.\n\"Our office fought to include many important priorities for Colorado that will help families and businesses across the state and boost our economy, but Washington must get out of the bad habit of last minute bills and manufactured crises,\" Bennet said. \"This is no way to govern. Congress must stop allowing politics to block progress for our country.\"\nBennet secured funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, PILT, crucial infrastructure projects like Eagle P3 and the Southeast Rail extension, and Colorado's schools, among other priorities for Colorado. The bill also includes extensions of important tax provisions like the wind PTC and solar ITC for our diverse energy industry, the teacher tax deduction, and the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit for Colorado's hardworking families.\nColorado Priorities Included in the Bill:\nINFRASTRUCTURE\n\tEagle P3 Project: The bill includes $150 million for the light rail project from Union Station to Denver International Airport. This is the full amount requested per RTD's Full Funding Grant Agreement.\n\tSoutheast Rail Extension: The bill has full funding at $92 million for the light rail project from I-25/Broadway to Lone Tree.\nTAXES\n\tWind Production Tax Credit (\"PTC\"): Bennet helped secure a five-year extension of the wind PTC. Earlier this year, Bennet secured a two-year extension of the PTC in a bill considered by the Senate Finance Committee. The bill passed today slowly phases down the credit over those five years.\n\tSolar Investment Tax Credit (\"ITC\"): Bennet also helped secure a five-year extension of the solar ITC, which will now be granted when projects \"commence construction.\" The \"commence construction\" language is based on a bipartisan bill Bennet introduced with Senator Dean Heller (R-NV). Any project that starts construction before January 1, 2022 and is completed before January 1, 2024 will receive the credit. The five-year extension begins after the credit expires at the end of 2016 and phases down the credit.\n\tEducator Deduction: The bill permanently extends the $250 teacher tax deduction. It also includes Bennet's improvements to index the deduction to inflation and to cover professional development expenses.\n\tChild Tax Credit (\"CTC\") and Earned Income Tax Credit (\"EITC\"): The bill makes permanent the 2009 improvements to the child tax credit, making it more refundable. It also makes permanent the 2009 improvements to the EITC, which provide additional support for larger families. Without these extensions, 264,000 Coloradans-including 129,000 children-would have been pushed into poverty or deeper into poverty. Bennet introduced a bill earlier this year to index the credit to inflation, increase the value of the credit for families with young children, and allow families to receive a larger refund from the credit on their tax returns. Bennet has also cosponsored a bill to improve the EITC for workers without children.\nNATIONAL SECURITY/DEFENSE/CYBERSECURITY\n\tVisa Waiver Program: The bill includes several provisions from the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) bill Bennet introduced with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ). The bill requires all travelers using the VWP to have an electronic passport, which are more secure and harder to tamper with, and works to prevent foreign fighters from using the program by requiring individuals who have traveled to Iraq, Syria, and other high-risk countries in the last five years to acquire a traditional visa. The traditional visa process includes an in-person interview with an American consular official and the submission of biometric information like photographs and fingerprints. The bill also requires improved information sharing between VWP countries and the United States.\n\tFederal Workforce Assessment Act: The bill includes language based on the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) approved by the Senate in October. Included in that bill is a bipartisan provision authored by Bennet with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio to strengthen the cybersecurity workforce at federal agencies.\nVETERANS\n\tSuicide Rates: The bill includes a modified version of an amendment Bennet previously passed that will require the VA to consult with the Department of Defense to conduct a study on the effect of combat service on suicide rates and other mental health issues among veterans. It also directs the VA to compare the rate and method of suicides among those veterans who have sought and received VA care and those who have not.\n\tMajor Construction Projects: The bill requires the VA to certify that an agreement is in place with a non-VA entity, like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, before major construction projects over $100 million can proceed. Bennet passed an amendment with Senator Cory Gardner to the National Defense Authorization Act earlier this year to give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to manage major construction projects for the VA following the agency's mismanagement of the replacement VA medical center being constructed in Aurora.\nJOBS/ECONOMY\n\tEB-5 Visa: The bill includes a10-month extension on the investor visa program, which is an important priority for the National Western Stockshow redevelopment project.\nSPACE\n\tOrion Space Capsule: The bill contains $1.27 billion for the Colorado-based project that is building a space capsule to bring humans to Mars.\n\tSpace Launch Systems: It includes $2 billion for the NASA vehicle that will launch the Orion capsule into space.  120 Colorado companies are involved in the project.\nEDUCATION\n\tTitle I and IDEA Funding: The bill provides an overall increase in Title I funding of $500 million and an overall increase in IDEA funding of $415 million.\n\tPell Grants: The maximum Pell grant will increase from $5,775 to $5,915.\n\tChild Care & Head Start: The bill includes a $326 million increase in child care funding and a $570 million increase in Head Start funding.\n\tCharter schools: The bill increases charter school funding by $80 million. The program is now funded at $333 million.\n\ti3 (Education Innovation Funding): The bill provides $120 million for i3 innovation funding. Bennet led efforts advocating for additional funding for the i3 program and worked to include a similar program in the recently-passed ESEA reauthorization.\nLANDS AND AGRICULTURE\n\tLand and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): It contains a three-year reauthorization through September 30, 2018 for the LWCF. The bill funds LWCF for FY2016 at $450 million. Bennet has authored multiple bipartisan bills to permanently reauthorize and fully fund LWCF.\n\tPayment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILT): The bill contains full funding for FY2016: $452 million. Since coming to the Senate, Bennet has worked to ensure Colorado counties are fully reimbursed by PILT.\n\tEmergency Watershed Protection (EWP): The bill contains $157 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection program. Following natural disasters like wildfires and floods in Colorado, Bennet has worked with the Colorado delegation to secure EWP funding.\n\tNational Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): The bill contains $62 million for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory located in Golden.\n\tConservation Easements: The bill permanently extends the increased contribution limits and carry-forward period for contributions of real property for conservation purposes.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=A8400259-944A-D9EB-EB9F-1848A2080C68", "Bennet: High-Speed Internet Will Provide New Opportunities for Silverton Kids, Community", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bennet Worked with Community to Ensure Fiber Connection Came to Silverton \nSilverton is Last County Seat to Connect to Fiber-Optic Network\nSilverton, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded news that Silverton School is now able to access high-speed Internet following the successful completion of a project to run a fiber-optic connection to the school. Following an Internet speed test this morning, they reported an extremely quick connection of 96 mbps download speed.\n\"It's great to see this project finally come to fruition for the kids at Silverton School,\" Bennet said. \"This is a result of the hard work put in by school leaders and community officials to connect these kids to the Internet. This access will help open doors and give students new opportunities to learn about the world around them.\"\nSilverton is the state's last county seat to connect to a fiber-optic network. Since 2011, Bennet has worked with federal, state, and local leaders to bring high-speed Internet to the school. He continued to raise the issue with federal officials and local stakeholders to ensure the project was completed and highlighted how improved broadband access in Silverton and along the Western Slope could benefit the entire region.\n\"We appreciate the support and work from Senator Bennet and the many, many people who have stood by us and helped us achieve our long-standing goal of a fiber connection to our community,\" said Pete McKay, San Juan County Commissioner. \"To have our public school connected to high-speed Internet is the best Christmas present our community could ever receive.\"\n\"Senator Bennet's consistent support and direct advocacy efforts over the past two years have been a critical component in helping to bring a long needed fiber connection to the Silverton School District and the Silverton community at large,\" said Kim White, superintendent of Silverton Public Schools. \"We are deeply grateful to Senator Bennet and his staff for the hours of conversation and intervention with various entities at both the state and federal levels aimed at keeping this project on track. Thanks to these critical interventions, the Silverton School will finally be able to access high speed bandwidths which will serve to create so many new opportunities for learning for our students.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=C72D33BB-59E9-4AA0-B3AD-065E24FC6A0D", "Bennet Improvements to Teacher Tax Deduction Included in Tax Extenders", "2015-12-18", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet secured improvements to the teacher tax deduction in a bill to fund the government and extend several tax provisions. The improvements stem from an amendment Bennet introduced and passed in the Senate Finance Committee earlier this year.\n\"Teachers across the country are too often underpaid, and many of them even pay out of their own pockets to provide kids in their classrooms with supplies like pencils and paper,\" Bennet said. \"This tax deduction is a modest tool to help provide a little relief. Increasing its value and making new expenses eligible for the deduction will help alleviate some of this burden that teachers should not bear in the first place.\"\nThe $250 deduction will now be indexed to inflation and will allow teachers to use the deduction for professional development expenses, which is often costly for teachers.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=352D39FC-2836-7E17-B34E-8550AC1B75E4", "Twenty-One Senators Express Profound Concern over Second Iranian Ballistic Missile Test in Letter to President Obama", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin, Chuck Schumer, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Gary Peters, Ron Wyden, Jeanne Shaheen, Debbie Stabenow, Heidi Heitkamp, Tim Kaine,  Bill Nelson, Ed Markey, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bob Casey, Mark Warner, Cory Booker, Maria Cantwell, Martin Heinrich, Barbara Mikulski, and Jeff Merkley in expressing profound concern in a letter to President Obama regarding a second ballistic missile test conducted by Iran on November 21st.\nIn the letter, the Senators write: \"We are deeply concerned by Iran's continued violations of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929 by testing a second ballistic missile on November 21, 2015...If there are no consequences for this violation, Iran's leaders will certainly also question the willingness of the international community to respond to violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and UN Security Council Resolution 2231.\"\nThe letter sent to President Obama today by the 21 U.S. Senators appears below.\nDear Mr. President:\nWe are deeply concerned by Iran's continued violations of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929 by testing a second ballistic missile on November 21, 2015.  Once again, the international community has an opportunity to demonstrate its resolve in the face of Iranian violations of its international obligations.\nOn December 15, a panel of expert monitors working on behalf of the United Nations Security Council reported that, \"On the basis of its analysis and findings the Panel concludes that the Emad launch on October 10th is a violation by Iran of paragraph 9 of Security Council Resolution 1929.\"  Unfortunately, some members of the UN Security Council failed to condemn this violation and failed to take steps collectively to enforce Resolution 1929.  If there are no consequences for this violation, Iran's leaders will certainly also question the willingness of the international community to respond to violations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and UN Security Council Resolution 2231.\nThe November test is Iran's second recent violation of UNSCR 1929, which clearly states \"Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology.\"  Clearly, the Security Council should take appropriate enforcement action against Iran in the face of this violation. On this matter, we recognize and appreciate United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power's ongoing efforts to build support to enforce consequences for the October 10 ballistic missile test by referring the issue to the Iran Sanctions Committee and advocating for a forceful response by the UN Security Council. However, in the time it took the Panel of Experts to make a determination on the first violation, Iran tested another ballistic missile.\nIn the absence of a UN Security Council commitment to enforcing UNSCR 1929, we request that you take action unilaterally, or in coordination with our European allies.  Such action is essential to make clear to Iran's leaders that there will be consequences for future violations of UN Security Council Resolutions and that the United States reserves the right under the JCPOA to take unilateral action in response to this and other significant actions by Iran in the areas of ballistic missile development, terrorism and human rights.\nSincerely,\nSenator Benjamin L. Cardin  Senator Charles E. Schumer  Senator Richard Blumenthal  Senator Christopher Coons  Senator Gary Peters  Senator Michael F. Bennet  Senator Ron Wyden  Senator Jeanne Shaheen   Senator Debbie Stabenow   Senator Heidi Heitkamp   Senator Tim Kaine  Senator Bill Nelson  Senator Edward J. Markey  Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand  Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.  Senator Mark R. Warner  Senator Cory A. Booker  Senator Maria Cantwell  Senator Martin Heinrich  Senator Barbara A. Mikulski  Senator Jeff Merkley\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=3CCD28B9-B17D-D21D-3F36-D89087937AF0", "Bennet Ensures LWCF, PILT Included in Year-End Bill", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bill Fully Funds PILT for FY 2016\nBennet Pledges to Continue Fight for Permanent Reauthorization, Full Funding for LWCF\nWashington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet secured funding for both the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program - both of which are top Colorado priorities - in a bill to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2016.\n\"We've heard from Coloradans about how important both LWCF and PILT are to their communities,\" Bennet said. \"PILT ensures that rural communities throughout our state have the resources they need to provide crucial services like road maintenance, emergency response, and law enforcement to their residents.\n\"LWCF is one of our country's most successful conservation programs. It has benefitted both urban and rural communities alike, helping to preserve parks, rivers and forests and increasing the public's access and recreational opportunities in these places. We're glad it received a three-year extension, but we will continue to fight for its permanent reauthorization and full funding in the years to come,\" Bennet added. \nSince coming to the Senate, Bennet has fought to secure funding for both LWCF and PILT. Earlier this year, he introduced a bill to permanently fund both programs. He also introduced a bipartisan bill with Republican Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire to permanently reauthorize the LWCF.\nPILT, which is fully funded at $452 million for FY 2016, provides federal payments to local governments to help offset losses in property taxes because of nontaxable federal land within their boundaries. The formula used to calculate PILT payments is based on population, receipt sharing payments, and the amount of federal land within an affected county. In late November, Senator Bennet led a bipartisan coalition of 37 Senators urging Senate leaders to fully fund PILT in the bill.\nAuthorization for LWCF expired on September 30, 2015. This bill extends the Fund for three years and provides $450 million for FY 2016. Many national parks, forests, state parks, and urban parks across Colorado have received LWCF funding. This bill provides nearly $20 million in designated funding for projects in Colorado at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Sangre de Cristo Conservation Area, Blanca Wetlands Special Recreation Management Area, the Rio Grande National Forest and the Toll Properties in Roosevelt National Forest.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=6708A757-FC86-668A-ECD6-2C286085DF2D", "Bennet Secures Extensions of Wind PTC, Solar ITC", "2015-12-17", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet secured extensions for the wind production tax credit (PTC) and the solar investment tax credit (ITC) in a bill Congress is considering to fund the government and extend several tax-related provisions. The long-term extensions finally give certainty to renewable energy manufacturers and producers in Colorado and around the country.\n\"Renewable energy like wind and solar are major parts of Colorado's diverse energy industry and support thousands of real, brick and mortar jobs up and down the supply chain,\" Bennet said. \"We're still reviewing the full bill, but these extensions would provide more certainty than we've had in some time for the wind and solar industries and the Coloradans who depend on them. This can help support thousands of jobs across the state. That being said, we need to keep working to extend the ITC for small wind projects.\"\nThe bill extends the wind PTC for five years, while phasing it down over that same period. In 2015 and 2016, wind energy producers are eligible to receive the full credit of 2.3 cents per kilowatt-hour of energy produced. In 2017, producers can take 80 percent of the credit, followed by a phase down to 60 percent of the credit in 2018 and 40 percent of the credit in 2019. Earlier this year, Bennet secured a two-year extension of the PTC in a bill considered by the Senate Finance Committee.\nThe solar ITC is also extended for five years beyond 2016 when it is currently set to expire, and it has been modified to include language from a bipartisan bill Bennet introduced to allow projects to take the credit as soon as they have \"commenced construction.\" Any project that starts construction before January 1, 2022 and is completed before January 1, 2024 will be eligible to receive the credit.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=E3B48616-D29C-275F-B205-9A3D66088D4F", "Bennet Calls for Social Media Background Checks in Visa Screening Process", "2015-12-15", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined 21 other senators in calling for the Department of Homeland Security to immediately require social media background checks as part of the screening process for all foreigners seeking an American visa. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, the senators also requested more information from the agency on the existing screening process, such as if the agency faces any resource barriers to implementing these background checks, to ensure the process is as rigorous and comprehensive as possible.\nThe letter comes in the wake of reports that the female assailant involved in the San Bernardino terrorist attack may have expressed radical jihadist sentiments on social media platforms before her fianc -- the male attacker and a U.S. Citizen -- applied for a K-1 fianc visa on her behalf.\nThe letter was led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and also signed by: Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Gary Peters of Michigan, Dianne Feinstein of California, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Barbara Boxer of California, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Angus King of Maine, and Tom Carper of Delaware.\nThe full text of the letter can be found below:\nDecember 15, 2015 The Honorable Jeh Johnson Secretary  Department of Homeland Security  3801 Nebraska Avenue NW  Washington, DC 20016 We write to express our deep concern regarding reports that critical background information of individuals participating in American visa programs has been largely omitted from the visa security screening process.   According to recent reports, the female assailant involved in the San Bernardino terrorist attack may have expressed radical jihadist sentiments on social media platforms before her U.S. citizen fianc, the male attacker, applied for a K-1 fianc visa on her behalf.  Media reports have also indicated that Department of Homeland Security officials are able to conduct social media background checks as a part of certain immigration programs, but are doing so inconsistently.  We believe these checks, focused on possible connections to terrorist activity, should be incorporated into DHS's vetting process for visa determinations, and that this policy should be implemented as soon as possible.\nTherefore, we request that you provide the following information so that we may work with you to implement a more rigorous screening process:\n\tDo you plan to integrate social media background checks into the screening process for all visas?  \tDo you face resource and/or technical barriers to implementing these background checks? If so, please describe them.  \tDoes the Administration conduct social media background checks in any of the existing screening processes for visa programs?  If so, please describe how they are conducted.\nEnsuring that the screening processes for our nation's visa programs are rigorous and comprehensive must be a top priority, as these programs are critical to our security, our economy, and for our bilateral relationships with nations around the world.   We look forward to working with you to establish a more robust social media background check process for all visitors and immigrants to the United States.\nSincerely,\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/at-planned-parenthood-shooting-commemoration-hope-for-a-new-chapter-at", "At Planned Parenthood shooting commemoration, hope for a new chapter at Colorado Capitol", "2015-12-14", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Looking to wrestle something positive from the Black Friday shooting attack at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, the organizations top regional executive said she wants to work with conservative lawmakers in Colorado to tame the escalating political rhetoric that has grown around the organization. One of the organizations top critics at the Capitol didnt reject the notion out of hand.\nVicki Cowart, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Rocky Mountains, told The Colorado Statesman that she is dedicated to opening up the conversation at the Capitol in the coming months. We look forward to meeting with the legislators, she said. We will keep talking and we will keep listening.\nCowart acknowledged that abortion and reproductive health are emotional topics, but that reproductive health is also an everyday practical matter that concerns everyone at one time or another in their lives. This fact, she argued, should help free the topic from ideological excess.\nOne in five women in Colorado has received care at a Planned Parenthood, she said. Everyone at the Capitol knows someone who has visited a Planned Parenthood. They may not know they know someone, but I bet they do.\nAnti-abortion legislators told The Statesman theyre open to greater dialogue and, in fact, are counting on it.\nState Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt, R-Colorado Springs, lauded the sentiment of Cowarts remarks.\nThats nice, he said slowly. But he was quick to point out that the Legislatures Republican Study Committee invited Planned Parenthood to appear at a hearing on the hot-button issue of fetal tissue sales and research at the beginning of November and that the organization refused to attend.\nThe executives responded through their lawyer that they were too busy to come, he said. Have they changed their position?\nKlingenschmitt, a former Navy chaplain and online preacher who has made headlines for expressing his vehement opposition to abortion, often using the language of the Old Testament, said Planned Parenthood would have to commit to action, not just words, if it hopes for a significant change in political rhetoric.\nIs (Planned Parenthood) just trying to cover over an image problem or to genuinely engage? he said.\nCowart was speaking on Saturday at a commemoration for the victims of the clinic shooting. The event drew an overflow crowd of more than 400 people to the First Plymouth Congregational Church in South Denver suburb Cherry Hills Village.\nIn her remarks at the gathering, Cowart spoke about committing herself and her organization to working to change the status quo politics around Planned Parenthood in Colorado.\nJust days after the attack, politicians weighed in with ugly comments, she said.\nThe comments that made the most press in Colorado came from state Rep. JoAnn Windholz, R-Commerce City, who said it is the violence of abortions that begets more violence.\nWe will not accept this [political rhetoric] as normal, said Cowart. We can engage in the politics of our democratic process, but the hateful rhetoric weve seen creates a poisoned environment.\nWere here today to commit to bringing real change together as we go forward.\nCecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, commended the bravery exhibited by the clinic staff in the hours of the attack and in the days since.\nIt took a lot for you to be here today and I hope that you feel the love in this room, she said. People across the country and around the globe have been in awe of your courage and commitment to the patients you serve.\nShe noted that the Cherry Hills gathering was one of 50 events taking place coast-to-coast as part of Planned Parenthoods National Day of Solidarity.\nWhat happened in Colorado Springs broke our hearts and steeled our spines, she said.\nState officials gathered together in small groups before the service; they included representatives from Gov. John Hickenloopers administration as well as Rep. Crisanta Duran, D-Denver, former Democratic Colorado Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, D-Coal Creek Canyon, and former Colorado Senate Minority Leader Mike Feeley, D-Lakewood.\nLocal police parked their dark SUVs around the church and officers stood in pairs on the front lawn surveying the crowd. Supporters dressed in pink streamed into the building.\nBefore the event, Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette told The Statesman she has watched in dismay at the way the politics around Planned Parenthood have grown hotter and hotter every year over the last decade.\nHere we are, she said, casting her eyes over the crowd settling into seats set up all the way down the church nave. I counted how many times this fall the members of the [new U.S. House Select Investigative Panel] investigating Planned Parenthood said the words body parts. It was at least 33 times, she said.\nDeGette last week lamented in a Huffington Post article that, when he announced the formation of the panel, former House Speaker John Boehner referenced the \"baby parts business\" and that the Republican members of the panel repeatedly referenced \"baby body parts\" or \"body parts.\" The Colorado Springs clinic shooter reportedly used similar language when he surrendered to authorities.\nThe House panel was looking into allegations that Planned Parenthood was illegally profiting from fetal tissue sales. The panel uncovered no illegal activity on the part of the organization, but the hearing made countless headlines. Anti-abortion state lawmakers took up investigations around the country. In Colorado, the Republican Study Committee hearing went on for nearly eight hours, and the committee members have said they are determined to follow up on the topic in the legislative session that opens in January.\nIn the days since the shooting, however, the focus of heated debate has centered less on abortion and fetal tissue sales and research and more on the political rhetoric around Planned Parenthood.\nIn her prepared remarks, DeGette elaborated the point.\nWhen we have sincere but conflicting opinions, we have to be able to engage in debate, she said. As someone who has worked on these issues for a long time, I know that discussion can be more meaningful and illuminating and lead to better ends when we avoid vitriol.\nOn Monday in Colorado Springs, residents organized around Ryan Barrys Spirituality for Justice Facebook page, delivered a petition with more than 5,800 signatures asking U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate the shootings at the local Planned Parenthood clinic as an act of domestic terrorism.\nSupporters say that officially naming the act as terrorism would place suspect Robert Dear among a network of actors involved in an intentional campaign to scare people, as Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, told reporters last Wednesday on a press call.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1272", "Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Bipartisan Mining Reform Legislation in an Underground Mining Classroom", "2015-12-14", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative field hearing in Idaho Springs, Colorado on H.R. 3734, the Mining Schools Enhancement Act, introduced by Rep. Cresent Hardy (R-NV). This bill, in combination with H.R. 3843 (Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)), the Locatable Minerals Claim Location and Maintenance Fees Act, and H.R. 3844 (Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA)), the Energy and Minerals Reclamation Foundation Establishment Act, comprise a larger mining development and reclamation bipartisan reform package.\r\n\r\nWhile all three reforms offer a proactive and positive set of solutions, they are now even more critical, in light of the EPA-caused Animas River spill, which occurred last August some 325 miles from here at the Gold King Mine not far from Silverton,CommitteeChairman Rob Bishop stated.Mr. Hardy's common sense bill  H.R. 3734  encourages and provides support to America's mining schools that produce and help train the experts needed on the technical side to do this work in the future.\r\n\r\nThe education component is particularly important given that the EPA does not employee any mining engineers and that a majority of the United States' mining industry's technical leaders will reach retirement age within the next decade.\r\n\r\nOur nation needs more mining engineers,said Hardy. To ensure that more mining engineers are produced, our mining schools must be sustained. To sustain our mining schools, they need a strong faculty. To ensure a strong faculty, new professors need to make it through the tenure process. To make it through the tenure process, new professors need to conduct research. To conduct research, professors need funding. The Mining Schools Enhancement Act will attack the shortage of mining engineers in this country head-on by supporting key educational programs, and involving more students in critical research.\r\n\r\nThe innovative three-pronged approach to mining reform legislation provides a path to clean up the more than 400,000 abandoned mines across the Western states. Today marks the second hearing on the comprehensive package as the Committee advances these long overdue reforms through the legislative process.\r\n\r\nI'm excited to be chairing what is, to my understanding, a historical first for Congress: the first congressional hearing held underground in a mine. stated Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Lamborn. What better place to gather and discuss the need for future mining engineering experts, a need felt by industry, states and federal workforces, and nonprofits alike.\r\n\r\nToday's underground hearing was very exciting and a great opportunity to showcase the Colorado School of Mines,Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure we can train and educate the next generation of mining scientists.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=38B1AB00-5ADE-419D-AD97-E97D881611EA", "Senate Passes Bennet-Backed Bill to Break Down Barriers to Energy Development in Indian Country", "2015-12-14", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - The Senate last week passed a bipartisan bill introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, along with Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Jon Tester (D-MT), to give Indian tribes more tools to develop their energy resources and to remove unnecessary barriers to economic development in Indian Country.\n\"This commonsense bill gives tribes the autonomy they should have to develop their own energy resources,\" Bennet said. \"It will cut red tape and allow tribes to create jobs and boost economic development on their lands. The House should quickly take up and pass this bipartisan bill.\"\nIn addition to Senators Bennet, Barrasso, and Tester, the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2015 (S. 209) is cosponsored by Senators John McCain (R-AZ), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Cory Gardner (R-CO).\nBackground  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 included an Indian Energy title - Title V.  Title V was enacted to deal with the delays and uncertainties inherent in the Bureau of Indian Affairs' energy leasing process. Title V was intended to provide Indian tribes with an alternative way to develop their energy resources.\nThe bipartisan bill includes a number of amendments to the process established in 2005. The legislation cuts red tape and makes it easier for Indian tribes to develop their own resources. It also improves the process for approving \"tribal energy resource agreements\" (TERAs) and makes the TERA approval process more predictable for Indian tribes.\nThe bill addresses other aspects of Indian energy development, including a \"biomass demonstration project\" for biomass energy production from Indian forest lands, rangelands and other federal lands in accordance with program requirements developed by the secretaries of Interior and Agriculture after consultation with Indian tribes. It would facilitate the development of tribal biomass projects by providing Indian tribes with access to more reliable and potentially long-term supplies of woody biomass materials.\nSenator Barrasso originally introduced the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act in 2011.\nS. 209 passed out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on February 4, 2015.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=991A3B6C-457E-7BE5-77B3-DDA83FC31988", "FRA Must Reopen Train Horn Rule Following Denial of Fort Collins Request", "2015-12-11", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Fort Collins, CO - Following news today that the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) has initially denied the City of Fort Collins' application for a waiver from federal train horn noise regulations, Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner and Representative Jared Polis are calling on the FRA to immediately reopen the train horn noise rules. The lawmakers are urging FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg to include more flexibility for Colorado communities like Fort Collins to establish quiet zones through town centers where train horn noise is stifling economic development. \"We understand and agree that safety is a top priority for your agency. Fort Collins officials have made significant investments in grade crossing improvements that have resulted in a strong safety record. They have also demonstrated a willingness to do more,\" the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Administrator Feinberg. \"Although this is not a complete denial and an opportunity remains for the City to reapply, we believe that today's decision is proof that the regulations need to be re-examined. Yet, we've been waiting for years for the agency to act. In 2013, the FRA announced its intent to reevaluate the Train Horn Rule, which your predecessor pledged to reopen it by the spring of 2015. After that deadline passed, the agency pledged to reopen it by the end of this year. Yet, two weeks before the end of the year, the FRA has not taken steps to reopen the rule. This timeline is unacceptable.\" Communities throughout Colorado, including Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Greeley, Commerce City, Arvada, Castle Rock, Westminster, and Windsor, have expressed concerns with the application of the FRA's train horn noise rules. At the request of Bennet, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) asked former FRA Administrator Joseph C. Szabo if the agency was willing to work with communities to provide flexibility around train horn noise regulations. Szabo indicated a willingness to work with Congress to ensure its train-noise and quiet-zone rules protect public safety and work for Colorado communities trying to boost economic development near rail crossings. Full Text of the Letter: December 11, 2015\nMs. Sarah Feinberg  Administrator  Federal Railroad Administration  1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.  Washington, D.C. 20590\nDear Administrator Feinberg:\nWe write to express our extreme frustration and disappointment with the Federal Rail Administration (FRA)'s denial of the quiet zone waiver for the City of Fort Collins.  The denial of the City's request underscores the need for the agency to re-open the Train Horn Rule immediately.  The rule's lack of flexibility fails to account for the unique character of communities like Fort Collins.  We understand and agree that safety is a top priority for your agency. Fort Collins officials have made significant investments in grade crossing improvements that have resulted in a strong safety record.  They have also demonstrated a willingness to do more.   Although this is not a complete denial and an opportunity remains for the City to reapply, we believe that today's decision is proof that the regulations need to be re-examined.  Yet, we've been waiting for years for the agency to act.  In 2013, the FRA announced its intent to reevaluate the Train Horn Rule, which your predecessor pledged to reopen it by the spring of 2015.  After that deadline passed, the agency pledged to reopen it by the end of this year.  Yet, two weeks before the end of the year, the FRA has not taken steps to reopen the rule.  This timeline is unacceptable.   A more flexible rule would allow communities like Fort Collins to develop a system that reduces disruptive train horn noise while maintaining high safety standards within their budget.    We appreciate your proposal to assemble an internal Fort Collins Working Group within the U.S. Department of Transportation to further assist the City with next steps.  However, the working group will be meaningless without the involvement of community officials who are working every day to ensure the safety of their residents.  We urge you to include city officials in your discussions from the outset to ensure the working group is as constructive as possible.    Finally, we also reiterate our request that you and your staff visit Northern Colorado, to see first-hand the effect of train horns on these communities.  You will also see how city officials and residents are working to manage rail traffic as it moves through the center of their towns.  We believe a visit will demonstrate how the train horn rule is stifling economic development and why an improved safety regulation with greater flexibility is necessary.  We look forward to your reply on when the rule will be re-opened, when the internal working group will convene and how it will include city officials, and when you and your staff will visit community leaders in Northern Colorado.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=F24909C1-3853-8E5F-6ED6-A23A95A9B78A", "Bennet, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Waterway LNG Parity Bill", "2015-12-11", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015. This bipartisan bill would ensure that excise taxes on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for marine transportation on the inland waterways are levied at a rate consistent with their energy output relative to diesel and gasoline, respectively. LNG is a cheaper, cleaner, domestic energy source and the current financing mechanism for the inland waterways system puts its use at a disadvantage. This legislation would change the inland waterways financing rate to provide equal treatment within the federal tax code.  \"Natural gas is a growing part of Colorado's diverse energy industry, and this bill recognizes the shift to alternative fuels in across transportation technologies,\" Bennet said. \"Providing parity to LNG for marine transportation - just as we recently did for cars and trucks - creates an opportunity to grow this market and encourages the use of domestically produced natural gas as a cleaner burning transportation fuel.\"\n\"It takes about 1.7 gallons of LNG to provide the same amount of energy as a gallon of diesel. Those who use LNG to power marine vessels would have to pay 50 cents in tax for the same amount of energy contained in a gallon of diesel fuel that is only taxed at 29 cents-that doesn't make sense,\" said Dr. Cassidy. \"By ensuring equal tax treatment for LNG, it encourages its use and its production-benefiting Louisiana's economy and workers.\"  This legislation is supported by many, including: \"The United States has the most efficient and robust natural gas transportation system in the world. We support this bill to create additional demand for natural gas, which has the potential to benefit producers nation-wide. Natural gas as a marine fuel has a dual benefit of cleaner air in our harbors and more drilling in western Colorado in the decades to come.\" - David Ludlam, Executive Director of West Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association\n\"NGVAmerica commends Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) for introducing the Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015. This common-sense legislation would remove another barrier to the greater utilization of clean-burning, low-cost domestic natural gas in the transportation sector by leveling the playing field for the taxation of LNG fuel used in marine vessels operating on inland waterways in the U.S.\"- Matt Godlewski, President of NGVAmerica \"LNG has proven to be a viable fuel alternative in the over-the-road market. It's much cleaner, costs less and comes from the U.S. If given the chance to be on parity with diesel, it will prove to be the same in the marine application as well.\" -Andrew J. Littlefair, President and CEO of Clean Energy Fuels Corp \"In Texas, there is strong interest and activity related to natural gas powered shipping, and we applaud Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) for introducing the Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015.\" - Lynn Lyon, President of Energy Connects \"The marine industry holds great promise for increased utilization of clean, affordable, and abundant natural gas.  Eliminating the disparity that currently exists between LNG and diesel fuel for marine use on inland waterways will put the two fuels on a competitive level and be consistent with the equalized tax treatment of LNG and diesel for highway use,\" - Scott Salmon, Senior Advisor at the Shell Oil Company   \"The U.S, is now the number 1 producer of natural gas in the world, and American businesses and consumers continue to take advantage of low-cost natural gas in the transportation sector.  Blu LNG applaud Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) for introducing the Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015.\" - James Burns, President and CEO of Blu LNG \"Pivotal LNG supports equalizing the tax on liquefied natural gas for inland waterway use. The excise tax for highway use was recently changed to tax LNG at the same rate as diesel. That modification made a huge difference in the trucking industry. Pivotal LNG believes that fuels should compete based on commodity cost and not be disadvantaged by an outdated tax code. The Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015 addresses this long-standing issue in the maritime industry.\"- Steve Cittadine, President, Storage and Fuels, for AGL Resources   \"Taxing LNG at a higher effective rate than diesel builds a barrier to using LNG in the marine industry. Tax policy should not penalize cleaner burning and lower carbon LNG. The Waterway LNG Parity Act of 2015 is a vital step to leveling the playing field for LNG.\" - Greg Roche, VP Sales and Marketing for Applied LNG\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397992", "President signs K-12 education bill into law", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Obama today signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replace the existing law known as No Child Left Behind.\nThe rewrite  which hasnt been done since 2001  will move states beyond the stringent, outdated policies of No Child Left Behind, help reduce the amount of testing in our nations schools, and give more decision-making power back to states and districts.\nToday is a triumphant day, Polis said. This morning, I joined President Obama as he signed the Every Student Succeeds Act into law and put the nearly 15-year era of No Child Left Behind officially in the past. Every student and every school in the country has been affected by the well-intentioned, but outdated policies of No Child Left Behind. Today, we finally replaced it with a law built on the principle that we should empower schools to help students achieve, not subject students and teachers to a one-size-fits-all system that bogs our education system down with endless red tape.\nAs a senior member of the House Education Committee, Rep. Polis was chosen last month to serve on the conference committee that negotiated the final version of the bill after separate ones passed the House and Senate over the summer.\nThe final bill includes several measures championed by Polis that reflect Colorado priorities, including:\n \n    A dual-enrollment amendment Polis successfully offered in conference committee that allows federal funds currently devoted to English language learners to be used for dual or concurrent enrollment, a model that has been employed with widespread success across Colorado.\n \n \n    A grant program for innovation and evidence-based learning modeled off a bill Polis re-introduced in February. This program has helped schools across the country, including St. Vrain Valley School District, which received a $3.6 million innovation grant in 2010 to expand programs for at-risk students in seven schools. Because of the innovation grant, St. Vrain was able to extend the school year at four elementary schools, target math students at risk of failing at two middle schools, and fully implement the STEM Academy at Skyline High School.\n \nPolis led opposition to the initial House bill on the floor in February and fought for several changes needed to help schools pursue innovative learning models and ensure school districts were accountable to all students, regardless of their race or background.\nPolis has spent his career in public service fighting for a strong education system. He is the founder and former superintendent of New America School, a network of charter schools in Colorado and New Mexico, and hes the former chair of the Colorado Board of Education. He also co-founded the Academy of Urban Learning, a charter school in Denver.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=9DAC13E2-7152-6D5D-90E0-64DC430D7A2F", "President Signs K-12 Education Overhaul into Law", "2015-12-10", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bennet Attends Signing Ceremony \nNew Law Includes Bennet-Authored Provisions Secured during Committee, Floor Debate, Conference Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today attended a bill-signing ceremony at the White House where the President signed into law a bill to fix No Child Left Behind. The bill, which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the chief federal law addressing K-12 education, reforms many of the broken policies from No Child Left Behind, the previous version of the bill, while maintaining several key provisions that have proved successful. Bennet is a member of the Senate's education committee and the conference committee that negotiated the final bill. The final language includes a number of provisions he secured during the initial drafting, the committee process, the Senate's debate, and the conference committee's final negotiations. \"For teachers and principals and for students and families in Colorado and all across the country, this new law will come as a great relief,\" Bennet said. \"Congress has finally done its job to pass a bipartisan bill that fixes No Child Left Behind. And it is proof that we can overcome our differences and come together and actually solve problems. We wrote this bill with help from people all across Colorado, and it brings us one step closer to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to receive a great education.\" As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Bennet played a significant role in writing the Senate-passed bill. The final bill includes a number of provisions he secured based on input from Colorado, including: State-Driven Accountability Systems: Reducing the prescriptive, top-down approach of No Child Left Behind; re-empowering states to design accountability systems that maintain statewide annual testing requirements and break down data to identify achievement gaps; ensuring English learners are included in state accountability systems; and requiring states to identify at least the bottom five percent of low-performing schools and make necessary changes to improve achievement at these schools Improving Equity and Addressing Inequalities: Including provisions to promote equity, address inequities and help ensure high-need schools can attract and retain great teachers and leaders by improving their support systems; including a new reporting requirement to increase transparency on the resources schools receive and to identify inequities in funding; providing flexibility to spend federal funding on early childhood education and on dual and concurrent enrollment for high school students; and provisions encouraging teacher leadership, residency programs, and improvements to district human capital systems Encouraging Innovation to Meet Challenges in Schools: Securing incentives for educators on the ground to apply their own creative thinking to address our most persistent education challenges; including funding for innovative practices to improve student achievement; revamping the Charter School Program; and allowing pay-for-success initiatives Supporting Rural Schools: Securing a package of provisions to better support schools in rural communities; providing technical assistance to rural school districts when applying for competitive federal grants; and clarifying that rural school districts or education service agencies, like a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), can join together and submit a single consolidated application for funding under ESEA\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-slaughter-lead-house-and-senate-colleagues-to-introduce", "DeGette, Slaughter lead House and Senate Colleagues to Introduce Resolutions Condemning Violence Against Womens Health Providers and Patients", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Louise Slaughter (NY-25) along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) announced resolutionsthey have introducedin the House and Senate, respectively,to condemn violence against womens health providers and patients across the United States following the horrific attack outside of a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood that left three dead and nine wounded.\nThe resolutions recognize that violence, intimidation, and threats against womens health care providers and their patients has persisted for decades, with an increase in incidents of arson, vandalism, and threats over the past six months, further recognizing the serious impact that demonizing, extreme rhetoric has on creating a climate that is dangerous for those who would provide or seek access to comprehensive health care services. The members reiterated a womans constitutional right to make her own health care decisions and have access to health care services without fear of violence or harassment.\nNo one should have to face intimidation or violence when going to the doctor, but for too many women, threats and attacks have been a reality simply because they have sought reproductive health care, said Rep. DeGette. This is simply unacceptable, and I am joining colleagues in both the House and Senate to say that such threats and attacks must stop. The recent attack in Colorado Springs and other incidents across the country underscore the urgency we all feel that this violence must stop right away.\nNo American should feel intimidated or threatened because of where they choose to access health care, said Rep. Slaughter. The violence directed toward patients and doctors at a health clinic in Colorado Springs is unconscionable, as are the hateful rhetoric and lies that have been hurled against Planned Parenthood by those who seek to do away with Americans right to choose. These despicable acts are an attack on the one-in-five women who have received basic health care from Planned Parenthood and we wont stop fighting to defend the right of all Americans to make their own health care decisions.\nThis measure recognizes the deeply insidious, perpetual threats and violence against providers of life-saving health care services to millions of women across the country, said Senator Blumenthal. I am proud to lead this resolution with my colleagues to condemn unacceptable intimidation and attacks that interfere with a womans right to safe health care. This resolution stands against the recent extremist, repugnant rhetoric that seeks to demonize the providers and their essential services to American women.\nThe violence directed at health care providers and women seeking reproductive health care services is deplorable, said Senator Shaheen. Nobody should have to live in fear for either providing or receiving reproductive healthcare thats protected under the Constitution. This resolution is an opportunity for Congress to stand united against this senseless violence and incendiary rhetoric.\nNo one should ever have to fear for their life when they walk into a clinic to receive health care, said Senator Michael Bennet. Last month in Colorado Springs, we lost three people because of one mans deranged actions. A brave police officer and two loyal individuals accompanying friends to doctors visits  all young parents in their prime were killed. Planned Parenthood offers critical care to tens of thousands of women in Colorado every year. People should know they will be safe, whether they are accessing preventative care, cancer screenings, or their constitutionally protected right to reproductive services at Planned Parenthood or any health care facility.\nCo-sponsoring the House Resolution with DeGette and Slaughter are RepresentativesAlma Adams (D-N.C.), Brad Ashford (D-Neb.), Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Ami Bera (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Lois Capps (D-Calif.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Yvette Clark (D-N.Y.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Janice Hahn (D-Calif.), Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Michael Honda (D-Calif.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), William Keating (D-Mass.), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), Ann McLane Kuster (D-N.H.), Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif), John Lewis (D-Ga.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), Donald Norcross (D-N.J.), Eleanor Norton Holmes (D-District of Columbia), Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), David Price (D-N.C.), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.), Cedric Richmond (D-La.), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Mark Takai (D-Hawaii), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Debbie Wasserman Schulz (D-Fla.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and John Yarmuth (D-Ky.).\nCo-sponsoring SenateResolution 327 with Blumenthal, Shaheen and Bennet are Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tom Carper (D-Md.), Angus King (I-Maine), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).\nFull text of resolution follows:\nResolution Condemning Violence Targeting Womens Health\nCondemningviolence against womens health care providers and patients accessing such health care\nWhereas, the constitutional right to make health care decisions about their own bodies has been an established right for over 43 years;\nWhereas Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972) confirmed the constitutional right of all women to legally access birth control;\nWhereas Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), was decided 42 years ago and reaffirmed that women have a constitutional right to comprehensive reproductive health care;\nWhereas for decades, womens health care providers and people accessing the services they provide have been subjected to intimidation, threats, and violence;\nWhereas since 1993, there have been eleven murders and numerous attempted murders of individuals associated with care provided at womens health centers;\nWhereas nearly 7,000 violent acts have been reported against providers at womens health centers since 1977, including bombings, arsons, death threats, kidnappings, and assaults, as well as more than 190,000 reported acts of disruption, including bomb threats and harassing calls;\nWhereas, within the past six months, there have been an increase in arsons, vandalisms and threats at Planned Parenthood and other womens health centers, including in Aurora, Illinois; Pullman; Washington; Louisville, Kentucky; and Claremont, New Hampshire; and on November 27, 2015, three people were killed and nine people were injured when a gunman attacked a Planned Parenthood health center in Colorado Springs, Colorado;\nWhereas, demonizing, extreme rhetoric contributes to a climate that is dangerous for those who would provide or access comprehensive health care services;\nWhereas more than 40 percent of Planned Parenthoods patients are people of color, who are therefore disproportionately impacted by attacks on womens health centers; and\nWhereas one in five women will use Planned Parenthood for health care, which in 2013, provided over 1.4 million emergency contraception kits, nearly 4.5 million tests and treatment for sexually transmitted infection and nearly 900.000 cervical cancer screenings and breast exams and continues to be the nations leading reproductive health care provider and, along with many other reproductive health providers, continues to provide expert, quality reproductive health care in safe and supportive environments across the country.\nBe it resolved, that the United States Senate:\n1. Denounces the attacks on womens health care centers, providers, and patients;\n2. Affirms that all women have the right to access reproductive health care services without fear of violence, intimidation, or harassment.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=044A3DE7-6874-95F5-56E5-18C1D011C3AE", "Bennets Bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Bill Passes Senate", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate this week passed the bipartisan Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage, or RAISE Family Caregivers Act. The bill introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet along with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish and sustain a National Family Caregiving Strategy to support family caregivers. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.\n\"The reality is that most of us will act as a family caregiver or need care at some point in our lifetimes,\" Bennet said. \"Family caregivers are providing billions of hours of unpaid care, to ensure that loved ones can perform daily activities and continue living independently. As the population continues to age the need for family care will only increase, adding to the physical, emotional, and financial stress on caregivers. This bill will help promote policies that support these caregivers.\"\nAt present, there are about 40 million family caregivers in the United States, who, in 2013, provided an estimated $470 billion in uncompensated long-term care. This is more than the total Medicaid spending that year. In addition, Americans 85 and older are the fastest growing segment of the population. This population is most at risk of multiple and interacting health problems that can lead to disability and the need for round-the-clock care. Bennet is the co-chair of the bipartisan Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) Caucus that provides education about family caregivers and ways to support people living independently in addition to advocating for action in Congress on these issues.\nLearn more about the RAISE Family Caregivers Act here.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=0FC148C1-722B-B2EA-E601-43AF57361DBD", "Senate Gives Final Approval to K-12 Education Overhaul", "2015-12-09", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined 84 of his colleagues today to give final approval to a bill to fix No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The bill, which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the chief federal law addressing K-12 education, now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. It reforms many of the broken policies from No Child Left Behind, the previous version of the bill, while maintaining several key provisions that have proved successful. Bennet is a member of the Senate's education committee and the conference committee that negotiated the final bill. The final language includes a number of provisions he secured during the initial drafting, the committee process, the Senate's debate, and the conference committee's final negotiations. \"Congress has finally done its job to pass a bill that fixes No Child Left Behind,\" Bennet said. \"This bill helps us end NCLB's top-down, one-size-fits-all approach and re-empowers those closest to our kids to make decisions about their education. This bipartisan bill makes meaningful progress to help our students, teachers, and schools across Colorado and the country, but it is just one step toward addressing the inequities in our education system. We must keep working to ensure that every child has the opportunity to receive a great education.\" As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Bennet played a significant role in writing the Senate-passed bill. The final bill includes a number of provisions he secured based on input from Colorado, including: State-Driven Accountability Systems: Reducing the prescriptive, top-down approach of No Child Left Behind; re-empowering states to design accountability systems that maintain statewide annual testing requirements and break down data to identify achievement gaps; ensuring English learners are included in state accountability systems; and requiring states to identify at least the bottom five percent of low-performing schools and make necessary changes to improve achievement at these schools Improving Equity and Addressing Inequalities: Including provisions to promote equity, address inequities and help ensure high-need schools can attract and retain great teachers and leaders by improving their support systems; including a new reporting requirement to increase transparency on the resources schools receive and to identify inequities in funding; providing flexibility to spend federal funding on early childhood education and on dual and concurrent enrollment for high school students; and provisions encouraging teacher leadership, residency programs, and improvements to district human capital systems Encouraging Innovation to Meet Challenges in Schools: Securing incentives for educators on the ground to apply their own creative thinking to address our most persistent education challenges; including funding for innovative practices to improve student achievement; revamping the Charter School Program; and allowing pay-for-success initiatives Supporting Rural Schools: Securing a package of provisions to better support schools in rural communities; providing technical assistance to rural school districts when applying for competitive federal grants; and clarifying that rural school districts or education service agencies, like a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), can join together and submit a single consolidated application for funding under ESEA\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=94100CC1-E20E-A495-91D7-215D200093B6", "Bennet Applauds Dedication of USS Arizona Relic on Behalf of Hugo Hero", "2015-12-07", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hugo, CO  - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today applauded the dedication of a piece of the wall of the USS Arizona, which sunk in Pearl Harbor, on behalf of Lincoln County resident Joe Will who was killed in the tragic attack.  Lincoln County Commissioner Greg King reached out to Bennet's office at a town hall meeting in 2014 asking for help in securing the relic.  Bennet's office worked with the Department of the Navy for more than 9 months to bring a piece of the ship to Colorado, which was recognized in a dedication ceremony Monday afternoon in Hugo.\n\"Joe Will is a hometown hero, who bravely sacrificed his life in one of the most horrific attacks on U.S. soil in our history,\"  Bennet said. \"Commissioner King and the local community did excellent work to bring a piece of this ship back to Hugo where it will serve as a memorial to Joe Will and his family.  Today, on the 74th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor we also remember the service of Joe Will and all of the brave Coloradoans who have served.\"\nBennet's office was notified in the spring of this year that the relic would be making its way from Hawaii to Hugo.  The ceremony took place at the local VFW named in Will's honor.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/planned-parenthood-supporters-gather-for-day-of-solidarity", "Planned Parenthood Supporters Gather For Day Of Solidarity", "2015-12-05", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "DENVER (CBS4) Hundreds of Planned Parenthood supporters gathered for a day of solidarity. They remembered lives lost in the deadly Nov. 27 shootout at a Colorado Springs clinic.\nLeaders of the organization said they will not be deterred by the violence, and will continue providing all services.\nPlanned Parenthoods remembrance at an Englewood church was one of nearly 50 rallies and vigils across the country Saturday.\nSupporters joined in song, and took a moment of silence to remember the victims.\n(Planned Parenthood) provides safe and compassionate care to women across this country, said Christine Breen, a longtime Planned Parenthood patient.\nCommunity leaders called for action.\nLets work together to make sure that all patients can continue to have the wonderful care that those patients in Colorado Springs two Fridays ago were receiving, said Rep. Diana DeGette, a Democrat representing Colorado.\nTo ensure that every person has the ability to make their own decision when it comes to pregnancy, parenting, and abortion, and to obtain the healthcare that we need without threats to our safety, added Cristina Aguilar of COLOR, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights.\nGarrett Swasey, a University of Colorado Colorado Springs police officer, was shot after rushing to the campus to help. The other two victims  KeArre Stewart, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, and Jennifer Markovsky, 36, a mother of two originally from Hawaii  were both accompanying friends to the clinic and its not clear where they were when they were killed.\nDuring the remembrance, pro-life activists gathered and prayed outside of a local Planned Parenthood.\nAbortion is not healthcare, said Aaron Hollst, a practicing Christian. When its called healthcare, I think thats insulting to people who are pro-life and to people who are not pro-life. Youre ending a life. Its as simple as that.\nIn the wake of the Colorado Springs attack, security at the remembrance was tight. Increased police presence scared some next door vendors away.\nIts kind of freaking some of the customers out, some of the crafters out, said craft show vendor Tracy Kreiling. They were worried about safety.\n\nDespite threats and intimidation, officials say Planned Parenthood will remain dedicated to providing access to care.\nWeve seen thousands of patients since last Friday, and will see millions this year, said Cecile Richards, of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. As we say at Planned Parenthood, these doors stay open.\nWe will not be intimidated, and we will not accept this as normal, said Vicki Cowart of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, of the attack.\nPlanned Parenthood officials say clinics nationwide are redoubling their security efforts.\nPolice say theyre adding patrols to guard against the possibility of violence.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-joins-members-of-house-and-senate-to-file-amicus-brief-in-us", "DeGette Joins Members of House and Senate to File Amicus Brief in U.S. Supreme Court to Support Obama Administrations Immigration Executive Actions", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) joined 184 House Democrats and 34 Senate Democrats to file an amicus brief last night in support of the petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court seeking review of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which blocked the Secretary of Homeland Security from implementing the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. These programs were announced by President Obama last November as part of his Executive Actions on Immigration.\nPresident Obamas decision to review immigration enforcement priorities and re-focus our resources on national security threats and violent criminals is both in line with the Constitution and with the views of the majority of Americans, said Rep. DeGette. I am proud to file this amicus brief in support of the Presidents actions, and I look forward to working with my colleagues here in the House to finally address the need for comprehensive immigration reform. Too many aspiring Americans have been forced to live in limbo while Republicans in Congress drag their feet and ignore reality; the time to fix our broken immigration system is now.\nThe brief makes the case, from the perspective of 218 Members of Congress, that DAPA and expanded DACA are consistent with Congressional intent and the Executives longstanding legal authority to establish national immigration enforcement priorities and exercise discretion in the enforcement of our immigration laws. As stated in the brief: Congress has granted the Secretary [of Homeland Security] broad discretion in determining how to carry out the immigration laws, and has explicitly directed the Secretary to establish policies and priorities for enforcement of those laws.\nRep. DeGette and her congressional colleagues are deeply concerned that the Fifth Circuit Court decision interferes with Congresss ability to grant the Executive the flexibility and discretion as necessary to enforce the law in a rational, effective, and efficient manner. The ruling would instead force Congress to specifically prescribe every priority and power with detailed enforcement instructions, the practical effect of which  if allowed to stand  would strip the Executive of broad authority to make discretionary judgments on how best to enforce the nations immigration laws where Congress has not prescribed a specific action, and would devastate millions of individuals, families, and communities across the nation.\nFull text of the amicus brief can be found here.\nAdditional Background:\nOn November 20, 2014, the Obama Administration announced plans to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and to create a new Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program to offer temporary protection from removal to the parents of American citizens and lawful permanent residents. On February 16, 2015, a federal district court in Texas blocked the implementation of those programs, and on November 9th, a divided panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this ruling. The Administration is petitioning the Supreme Court to review this decision. The Democratic Members amicus curiae brief is in support of the governments petition.\nSummary of key points: \n Congress has entrusted the Secretary of Homeland Security with broad discretion in the enforcement of the nations immigration laws.\n \n For decades, Congress has recognized the executive branchs authority to exercise discretion in the enforcement of our immigration laws.\n\tWhen the Immigration and Nationality Act was first enacted in 1952, Congress authorized the Executive to adopt regulations, issue instructions, and take other acts necessary to implement the law. \n\tWith the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002, Congress explicitly directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish national immigration enforcement policies and priorities. \n \n The Fifth Circuit decision undermines Congresss ability to place critical responsibility in the hands of the agency with the relevant expertise and capabilities.\n \n The ruling would alarmingly curtail Congresss ability to delegate discretionary authority to the Executive, forcing Congress to specifically prescribe every priority and power delegated to the Secretary of Homeland Security with detailed enforcement instructions.\n\tThe Fifth Circuit decision interferes with rational, effective, and efficient enforcement of federal law by removing the Secretarys broad authority to make discretionary judgments on how best to enforce the nations immigration laws where Congress has not prescribed a specific action.\n\tIf allowed to stand, the ruling would drastically impair effective administration of our immigration laws, throwing well-established immigration practices into disarray and harming millions of individuals around the country.\n \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397985", "President Signs Five-year Highway Bill, Includes Polis I-70 Amendment", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "An amendment authored by Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02) to designate I-70 from Denver to Utah as a Corridor of High Priority was signed into law today as part of a five-year highway transportation bill. Its the first long-term transportation bill to be signed into law in more than a decade.\nWith this Congressional designation, I-70 will now be eligible for certain federal funding streams to help with maintenance and improvements on what is a notoriously congested highway, especially during peak ski travel times. High-priority corridors are given preferential consideration when applying for discretionary grant programs like the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) and newly established Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects, as well as financing opportunities like those established under the Transportation Infrastructure and Financing Act (TIFIA).\nWe all know what its like to sit in miles of traffic heading up to, or back from, our world-class ski areas, Polis said. While this amendment doesnt fix that problem immediately, its an important first step in freeing up federal funds to help alleviate traffic and congestion, and hopefully make us all a little saner on our mountain getaways.\nIn September, Polis wrote the leaders of the House Transportation Committee outlining Colorado priorities, such as maintenance and improvement projects along I-70, in this major highway bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397986", "Polis, Amash urge House leaders to stop warrantless surveillance in year-end spending legislation", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO) and Justin Amash (R-MI) senta letter to House leaders today calling for provisions restricting warrantless government surveillance in any upcoming government-funding legislation. Thirty-five of their House colleagues also signed the letter.\nThe letter  which is addressed to Speaker Paul Ryan, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers, and Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita M. Lowey  specifically requests the inclusion of five privacy-focused amendments that passed the House earlier this year with bipartisan support. The amendments would stop taxpayer dollars from being used to fund activities including warrantless bulk data collection and backdoor searches by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Security Agency (NSA).\nThough there are many divergent views among Republicans and Democrats on a variety of spending matters, the need to safeguard the Constitutions Fourth Amendment and protect Americans rights is an issue on which there is far-reaching consensus,the representatives wrote.Republican and Democratic members of Congress  and, more importantly, the constituents we all represent  overwhelmingly agree that tax dollars should not be used to fund the warrantless surveillance of American citizens.\nThe five privacy measures for which the letter advocates all passed the House of Representatives with far-reaching bipartisan support over the summer during consideration of H.R. 2578, the Commerce, Justice Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, and H.R. 2685, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2016. Three of the measures passed on voice vote, indicating that approval in the chamber was unanimous or near unanimous. The measures are as follows:\n \n    An amendment to H.R. 2578 to prohibit the DOJ or Federal Bureau of Investigation from using federal funds to require technology companies to weaken the security of their products for the purpose of government surveillance.\n \n \n    An amendment to H.R. 2578 to prohibit the DOJ from using federal funds to engage in warrantless bulk data collection (a practice the department says it is has suspended).\n \n \n    An amendment to H.R. 2578 to prohibit the National Institute of Standards and Technology from using federal funds to consult with the NSA or Central Intelligence Agency for the purpose of setting deliberately weak cryptographic standards that can be used to enable data collection.\n \n \n    An amendment to H.R. 2578 to prohibit federal funds from being used within the United States to warrantlessly operate or disseminate a cell site simulator or IMSI catcher, which can be used to collect information about individuals locations and telephone communications.\n \n \n    An amendment to H.R. 2685 to limit the use of federal funds for warrantless searches for information pertaining to U.S. citizens collected pursuant to Sec. 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.\n \nIn addition to Polis and Amash, the letter was signed by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Andy Harris (R-MD), Mike Honda (D-CA), Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), Darrell E. Issa (R-CA), Walter B. Jones, Jr. (R-NC), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), Beto ORourke (D-TX), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ted Poe (R-TX), Bill Posey (R-FL), Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Mark Sanford (R-SC), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Marlin A. Stutzman (R-IN), Mark Takano (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=23E65266-FC5F-E63E-791B-38F72B1D0D5D", "Senate Passes Bennet-Backed National Bison Legacy Act", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today applauded the Senate's passage of the National Bison Legacy Act. The bill, cosponsored by Bennet, establishes the North American bison as the national mammal of the United States. It passed the Senate unanimously.\n\"Colorado has a rich agricultural heritage that includes a strong bison ranching tradition,\" Bennet said. \"This bill helps commemorate the legacy of these creatures and their importance to our country's heritage and our state's agricultural economy. The North American bison is a vital part of our history and bison ranchers and conservationists in Colorado have played a significant role in their resurgence.\"\n\"Senate passage of the Bison Legacy Act moves us one step closer to giving this majestic animal proper recognition as our National Mammal,\" said Dave Carter of the National Bison Association. \"Bison ranchers appreciate Senator Bennet's leadership in helping to navigate this legislation to final passage.\"\nColorado is home to more than 500 bison ranches raising more than 11,000 bison. The bison is North America's largest land mammal that once numbered 20-30 million across the continent. However, westward expansion almost reduced the bison population to extinction. Conservationists and bison ranchers have helped rejuvenate the species, bringing the current population to approximately 500,000 in North America.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=66F55CC1-1BAC-F8F4-9CDE-485C534DF4D6", "Bennet Joins 217 Congress Members to Support Presidents Immigration Executive Actions", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet signed an amicus brief Thursday in support of the President's executive actions on immigration. He joined 33 Senators and 184 members of the House of Representatives who filed an amicus brief in support of a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court seeking to review the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, which blocked the Secretary of Homeland Security from implementing the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program and expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.  These programs were announced by President Obama last November as part of his Executive Actions on Immigration.  \"There's bipartisan agreement that our immigration system is broken,\" Bennet said. \"We believe that the Supreme Court will agree that it is most important to break up threats to our national security, rather than breaking up families.  Fixing the flaws in our immigration system will strengthen our economy and our families.  The creation of DAPA and expansion of DACA will give hard-working families the relief to come out of the shadows and financially contribute to our tax base.\" The brief makes the case, from the perspective of 218 Members of Congress, that DAPA and expanded DACA are consistent with Congressional intent and the Executive's longstanding legal authority to establish national immigration enforcement priorities and exercise discretion in the enforcement of America's immigration laws.  As stated in the brief: Congress has \"granted the Secretary [of Homeland Security] broad discretion in determining how to carry out the immigration laws, and has explicitly directed the Secretary to establish policies and priorities for enforcement of those laws.\" Members of Congress are concerned that the Fifth Circuit Court decision interferes with Congress's ability to grant the Executive Branch the flexibility and discretion necessary to enforce the law in a rational, effective, and efficient manner.  The ruling would instead \"force Congress to specifically prescribe every priority and power with detailed enforcement instructions,\" the practical effect of which - if allowed to stand - would strip the Executive of broad authority to make discretionary judgments on how best to enforce the nation's immigration laws where Congress has not prescribed a specific action, and would devastate millions of individuals, families, and communities across the nation. Full text of the amicus brief can be found here.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=C87A1305-2C42-C402-6CAB-0382400F306D", "Bennet Applauds Reauthorization of Export-Import Bank through 2019", "2015-12-04", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Following yesterday's action to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed Congress's action to renew the bank's charter through 2019.  The Ex-Im Bank is an economic engine that has helped Colorado businesses finance the export of domestically-made products to international markets for more than 80 years.  The measure was included in the five-year highway and transit funding bill that passed through both houses of Congress yesterday.\n\"Today's victory is long overdue.  For the past five months, Congress denied Colorado businesses the support and expertise they needed to help them compete globally and prosper locally,\" Bennet said. \"While today's outcome is positive, we still need to address the dysfunction and partisanship in Washington that is impeding progress.  As we work to boost our economic competitiveness, we need more people to recognize that bipartisanship' is a good word, not a bad word.\"\nThough the reauthorization is an important step, the bank will not be able to approve transactions valued at more than $10 million due to vacancies on the board of directors.  Currently only two of the five director positions are filled, and at least three board members are required in order to approve large loans. President Obama has nominated a third board member, but the Senate has yet to schedule a confirmation hearing to consider the nomination.   Bennet has led the fight to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank.  In May, Bennet led a group of Colorado businesses in calling on Congressional leadership to extend the charter prior to its expiration.  More than 100 Colorado businesses have used the Bank to facilitate the sale of their products overseas, generating exports of $815 million since 2007.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1266", "Perlmutter Supports Long-Term Surface Transportation Bill", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) voted to support the bipartisan conference report on H.R. 22, Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act which included reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. In addition, Rep. Perlmutter authored two provisions included in H.R. 22 to benefit the people of the 7th Congressional District.\r\n\r\nI'm pleased Congress worked together to achieve the first long-term surface transportation bill in ten years. This bipartisan legislation will provide $281 billion in guaranteed funding for highway, transit and transportation safety programs over the next five years, including more than $3.4 billion in direct highway and transit formula funds for Colorado. This will provide certainty to help create jobs, repair our aging infrastructure, improve public transit, and strengthen oureconomy. In addition, reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank will help promote exports by U.S. companies  including at least 18 small businesses in my district  and support more than 160,000 U.S. jobs.\r\n\r\nI'm also pleased that H.R. 22 includes two provisions I authored which will have tangible benefits for the people of the 7th Congressional District. One measure will help ease the regulatory requirements placed on housing authorities and their tenants while still ensuring accountability, while the other measure will work to update and modernize train horn requirements to provide communities flexibility and keep the public safe.\r\n\r\nH.R. 22 includes two provisions Rep. Perlmutter introduced to benefit the people of the 7th Congressional District:\r\n\r\nIn March 2015, Rep. Perlmutter introduced H.R. 233, the Tenant Income Verification Relief Act to allow tenants on a fixed income have their income certified and/or verified once every three years rather than annually.The legislation helps streamline and reduce the burdens placed on tenants for purposes of determining their eligibility for certain Federal assistance housing programs, including seniors and other individuals and families who consistently maintain a fixed income. The legislation could also incentivize more privately-owned housing operators to accept vouchers, since the stock of public housing continues to face fiscal pressures providing tenants more flexibility and choice.\r\n\r\n In March 2015, Rep. Perlmutter introduced a measure to evaluate the effectiveness of the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) 2005 rule on the use of locomotive horns at rail crossings. The measure requires the Government Accountability Office to study the train horn rule to improve public safety by providing communities flexibility to establish Quiet Zones, as well as modernize regulations to allow flexibility for new technologies and innovations. This is an important issue for constituents who feel train horn noise is a nuisance and stifles economic development and can help communities invest in additional safety measures at railway crossings. Last year, Rep. Perlmutter successfully advocated for the establishment of a new Quiet Zone in Commerce City.Earlier this year, the City of Arvada also recently announced four planned railway-crossing improvements to establish Quiet Zones.\r\n\r\nLastly, the conference committee report included a requirement for states to study their automated traffic enforcement systems and report on their transparency, accountability and safety attributes.This provision is a result of increased scrutiny on the use of photo red light and photo radar systems after Rep. Perlmutter introduced H.R. 950, the Prohibiting Automated Traffic Enforcement Act. Rep. Perlmutter looks forward to these studies to better inform Congress and the states on the excessive use of these devices.   \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=01A08684-A1F4-1062-363F-F91CF16D2CC9", "Bennet: Congress Should Quickly Pass Long-Term Transportation Bill that Finally Provides Certainty", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today called on Congress to quickly pass the five-year surface transportation bill agreed upon by House and Senate leaders this week. The bill increases funding to states for highway and transit projects over the five-year authorization.\n\"For more than a decade, Congress has been stuck in neutral when it comes to passing a long-term bill to fund our highways and transit systems, only managing to pass dozens of short-term extensions,\" Bennet said. \"This bill gives Colorado communities the benefit of five years of certainty to maintain our roads and bridges and begin construction on new projects to support our growing economy. It will help complete crucial projects around the state, including the expansion of I-25 through Fort Collins and the Southeast Rail Line extension.\n\"While this bill funds our transportation needs for five years, it does not address the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Congress needs to use this time to come up with a realistic solution that will help us build and maintain the infrastructure needed to be competitive in the 21st century global economy,\" Bennet added.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=6A3FB1C8-AD65-769B-D9C2-9A819887D27C", "Bennet Statement on DOD Announcement that All Combat Positions will be Open to Women", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement following Department of Defense Secretary Ash Carter's announcement that all combat positions will be open to women: \"The Pentagon's announcement is a welcome acknowledgment that women have earned the right to serve in any military role they are qualified to perform.  It's encouraging the Pentagon has recognized both the contributions women in uniform have been making for years and their potential to make an even greater difference to our country's safety and security.  Today's announcement will make both our military and nation stronger.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=8985C2E6-F584-CD6D-78D6-AD281BF55E72", "Pentagon to Begin Investigation into Potential Wrongful Discharges of Servicemembers with Mental Health Diagnoses", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - The U.S. Army is responding to a request from Senator Michael Bennet to conduct an investigation into recent allegations that the Army wrongfully discharged soldiers for misconduct who had been diagnosed with mental health issues after returning from deployment. Army Secretary Erik K. Fanning announced that he has instructed senior Army leaders, including the Inspector General of the Army and the Auditor General of the Army, to thoroughly review the issues raised by Bennet and 11 other senators.\n\"We've heard serious concerns that soldiers have been wrongfully discharged for actions related to their behavioral health diagnoses,\" Bennet said. \"We're glad this investigation will move forward so we can learn more facts. Our brave men and women in uniform sacrifice so much in service to our country, and we need to ensure they are treated fairly and receive the quality care they need.\"\nIn November, Bennet urged the Army investigate allegations that since 2009, it has separated more than 22,000 soldiers who have been diagnosed with mental health problems or Traumatic Brain Injury. A joint investigation by National Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio reported that the U.S. Army has discharged tens of thousands of servicemembers previously diagnosed with mental health disorders or TBI.  In December of 2014, Bennet passed a bill requiring the Government Accountability Office to study whether service members are being discharged for conduct related to Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain  Injuries (TBIs), or other mental health diagnoses. The report also evaluates whether protocols, training, counseling, and treatments are in place relating to recognize and address mental health issues.  The bill stemmed from concerns brought to him by Colorado veterans, including some members of his Veterans Working Group, who believed some service members may be receiving less than Honorable discharges due to behavior related to mental trauma, such as PTS.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=F866D9B4-89F7-7CC7-A86C-3FB6787D06F3", "Bennet Introduces Amendment to Improve Veterans Access to Health Care", "2015-12-03", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today introduced an amendment to improve access to care for veterans across the United States. The amendment provides funding to hire more doctors, nurses, social workers, and mental health professionals for facilities that serve our veterans like the one being constructed in Aurora. It will also help improve VA medical facilities that need upgrades and minor construction improvements.\n\"In Colorado, our VA system has been plagued by long wait times. Across the state, we have a shortage of physicians, nurses, and mental health professionals, particularly in our most rural areas such as the San Luis Valley,\" Bennet said. \"We also know all too well in Colorado we need much more accountability within the VA and our office will continue to work to improve the horrendous bureaucracy that has plagued access to quality care. As we fight for that accountability, we owe it to the hundreds of thousands of veterans in Colorado and the 22 million across the country to provide the best care we can offer.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/house-democrats-seek-to-disband-planned-parenthood-investigative-panel", "House Democrats seek to disband Planned Parenthood investigative panel", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Pointing to Friday's shooting in Colorado Springs, congressional Democrats on Tuesday urged Republican leaders to disband a panel created just weeks ago to investigate Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.\nIn a press conference attended by the six U.S. House Democrats assigned to the Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives, the lawmakers drew a line between the rhetoric used by anti-abortion legislators and Friday's attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, in which three people were killed and 12 injured.\n\"Since July, the phrase 'baby parts' or similar phrases have been used by the eight (Republican) member of this committee  just those eight members  33 times,\" said Diana DeGette of Denver, one of the Democrats on the panel.\n\"And isn't it interesting that this lone shooter used that same phrase,\" DeGette said.\nDOCUMENT: Read the House Democrats letter to Speaker Ryan.\nAuthorities have not said publicly that the issue of abortion was what motivated accused killer Robert Lewis Dear, but a law enforcement official has been widely quoted as saying the suspect said \"no more baby parts\" following his arrest.\nRepublican lawmakers did not immediately respond to the Democratic calls to dissolve the committee, though the chair of the select panel  U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., previously has defended its creation and criticized opponents for \"playing politics\" with the killings in Colorado Springs.\n\"We are focused on a fact-finding mission into abortion practices and fetal tissue procurement and the relationship between the two businesses,\" said Blackburn in a statement.\nThe latest criticism builds on weeks of condemnation by Democrats. When Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi named the six Democrats to the panel last month she referred to it as the \"Select Committee to Attack Women's Health.\"\nIts creation has its roots in several covert videos released this summer by the Center for Medical Progress, an anti-abortion group.\nThe videos  including one filmed in Colorado  show Planned Parenthood officials talking about a controversial practice in which fetal tissue is collected for medical research. Abortion providers cannot profit from the exchange but they can receive compensation for the procedure.\nThe videos rekindled the debate on abortion, with opponents calling it nothing more than the sale of baby parts and supporters defending the practice as useful for life-saving research. Afterward, the U.S. House held at least three hearings on the topic  which included a focus on the roughly $500 million that Planned Parenthood receives annually in government funding.\n\"At my request, three House committees have been investigating the abortion business, but we still don't have the full truth,\" said then-House Speaker John Boehner when the panel was announced in late October. \"Chairman Blackburn and our members will have the resources and the subpoena power to get to the bottom of these horrific practices, and build on our work to protect the sanctity of all human life.\"\nThe reality, however, is this fight is almost certain to end in a legislative draw.\nWith a Democrat in the White House and Republicans in control of Congress, there's little chance either party will advance their agenda, especially since the panel is stacked with stalwarts on both sides of the abortion debate.\nThis circumstance, coupled with the fact that the House already has held hearings on Planned Parenthood, has led to questions as to why panel was created in the first place  in part because Blackburn has said there is no guarantee the committee will either produce legislation or hold a public hearing.\nYet one congressional expert said it's a set-up where both parties, as well as their allies, could benefit  through cash, attention or both.\n\"These things are certainly used to attract money,\" said Worth Hester of the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University.\nLess cynically, he added, is that lawmakers can use the panel to influence the abortion debate long-term, however incrementally. Given Congress' longstanding gridlock, work on Capitol Hill often is less about scoring and more about \"moving the ball down the field in the right direction from your perspective,\" he said.\nThe very existence of the Planned Parenthood committee itself is an anomaly. Rarely has Congress gone the route of creating a select committee or panel.\nPrevious examples include the Watergate committee that investigated former President Richard Nixon and the so-called Truman committee, headed by then U.S. Sen. Harry Truman, that looked at military spending during World War II.\nMore recently, the House has used the procedure to take a look at climate change (2007) and the deadly attack on Americans in Benghazi (2014).\n\"Certainly all select committees are not created equal,\" said Steve Ellis, of the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense. \"If you are going to have a select committee, the bar has to be pretty high,\" said Ellis, who noted they can cost millions of dollars.\nThe furor over Planned Parenthood came to a head this fall just as lawmakers were negotiating a major budget deal. With social conservatives threatening to block any budget that included federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which could have led to a government shutdown, Boehner created the panel, put Blackburn in charge and named seven Republicans to fill the remaining GOP seats.\nAll the GOP members have received a 100 percent rating from National Right to Life in this session of Congress and  like their Democratic colleagues  the lawmakers collectively have benefited from the support of special-interest groups involved in the abortion debate.\nAsked about her goals for the panel, Blackburn said she would focus first on research. As for legislation, Blackburn said it was too early to think about that step. \"It would be inappropriate to predetermine what we're going to find or what we think needs to be done,\" she added.\nShe was similarly circumspect about whether she planned to hold a public hearing. \"If we need one, we'll do it,\" Blackburn said.\nThe panel has been given a budget of $300,000 to start; this use of taxpayer money is one place where Democrats and their allies have concentrated their fire.\nAlready there is talk among Democrats of creating an online budget calculator to show how much it will cost  a move similar to what they have done with the select committee on Benghazi, which they see as a political attack on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.\n\"The purpose of that (committee) was just politics,\" DeGette said. \"And this committee is the same way.\"\nThe Benghazi committee so far has cost taxpayers more than $5 million, according Democrats involved with that panel. In a counterpoint, an aide to Blackburn noted the global warming committee created by Democrats cost nearly $8 million.\nIn spite of Democratic protests over Benghazi, both parties have sought to raise money off that investigation. The National Republican Congressional Committee took heat last year for encouraging potential donors to become Benghazi watchdogs.\nDemocrats have used the Benghazi committee to fire-up the base as well; a spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign said in October that the campaign had its best hour of fundraising within a day of her appearance before the panel.\nIt remains to be seen what effect the Planned Parenthood committee has on fundraising  though special-interest groups involved in the abortion debate tried to use it as a way to raise money before the Colorado Springs shooting; the lawmakers involved have a history of receiving financial support from these organizations as well.\nThat includes Mia Love of Utah and Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, who were supported last year through independent expenditures by the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion group. These buys were for $16,490 and $12,180 respectively, according to the Center for Responsive Politics  two small pieces of the nearly $746,000 in independent expenditures that the Susan B. Anthony List used for Republicans or against Democrats in the 2014 election cycle.\nIn a Nov. 23 e-mail, officials with Susan B. Anthony List mentioned the panel as part of its fundraising pitch: \"Pro-life women like Reps. Marsha Blackburn and Diane Black (are) leading the charge to expose Planned Parenthood as a part of the new congressional Panel on Infant Lives.\"\nFor its part, Planned Parenthood spent more than $6 million on federal elections in 2014, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That includes a $4,000 in donations that year to DeGette and $3,830 for the panel's top Democrat, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.\nSchakowsky's campaign recently highlighted her upcoming work in a fundraising e-mail. \"Can you contribute $5, $10, $25, $100 to help Jan stop the GOP from defunding Planned Parenthood?\" it noted.\nAsked how the Planned Parenthood committee might affect fundraising, DeGette instead pointed to Democratic opposition to its formation.\n\"Let's be really clear,\" said DeGette, who once served on the board of directors for Planned Parenthood in Colorado. \"My side opposed establishment of this select committee. This is not both sides saying we should have a select committee so we could cater to our base.\"\nShe said the potential lack of a public hearing was telling too, a sign perhaps that the only reason House leaders formed the committee was to \"mollify their far right so they could pass a budget.\"\nAbortion rights groups are using the panel as a way to raise money as well.\nIn a fundraising e-mail sent on Nov. 10, officials with NARAL Pro-Choice America made a comparison to the Benghazi committee as part of its appeal to donors.\n\"Anti-choice politicians are obsessed with restricting abortion access by any means necessary. That's why the House voted to create a special Benghazi-style committee to attack and investigate Planned Parenthood  despite how totally redundant that is,\" wrote Sasha Bruce of NARAL Pro-Choice America.\nShe promised to keep supporters \"in the loop\" of the proceedings; an orange icon at the end of the e-mail encouraged recipients to \"donate now.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-in-huffington-post-the-relationship-between-political-and-public", "DeGette in Huffington Post: the Relationship Between Political and Public Debates and Violence in Our Communities", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In a column published today in the Huffington Post, Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01) called for anti-choice activists and politicians to cease the use of vitriol that may have inspired last Fridays shootings at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. Statements by the alleged shooter to law enforcement bear close resemblance to incendiary phrases pushed by lawmakers since this summer.\nI certainly do not think that my colleagues intended to condone or encourage violence. Still, the connection between the words used by both public officials and the alleged shooter is chilling, and it demands that we examine the vitriol used in debates about womens reproductive health, particularly coming from anti-choice activists, said Rep. DeGette.\nYou can read the full piece at the link here and pasted below.\n\nWords Matter: the Relationship Between Political and Public Debates and Violence in Our Communities\nBy Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01)\nAs last Fridays attack at a Planned Parenthood facility unfolded, news reports showed a dangerous and chaotic situationone that sadly took the lives of KeArre Stewart, Jennifer Markovsky, and Officer Garrett Swasey and injured nine others. As I watched the now all-too-familiar reports, I feared this attack was connected to the controversy around Planned Parenthood that anti-choice groups created and promoted since this summer. Reports suggest that this was indeed the case, as the alleged shooter apparently made a comment about no more baby parts to law enforcement officials.\nThat this attack was carried out at a Planned Parenthood facility is sadly unsurprising. This past September, the FBI reported increased threats to reproductive health care facilities. At the same time, an FBI Intelligence Assessment warned that attacks were \"consistent with the actions of lone offenders using tactics of arsons and threats all of which are typical of the pro-life extremist movement.\" The report went on to caution that \"likely criminal or suspicious incidents will continue to be directed against reproductive health care providers, their staff and facilities.\nJust as this attack fits the profile of incidents about which the FBI warned, the alleged shooters words to law enforcement share a chilling similarity with those used by prominent anti-choice figures, including many of my colleagues in Congress. When he created a select panel after deceptively-edited videos tried to implicate Planned Parenthood in wrongdoing, former House Speaker John Boehner referenced the baby parts business. In fact, all of the Republican members of the select panel have made multiple public references to baby body parts or body parts. Since July of this year, Republicans on the select panel have used the calculated and provocative phrase at least 33 times.\nI certainly do not think that my colleagues intended to condone or encourage violence. Still, the connection between the words used by both public officials and the alleged shooter is chilling, and it demands that we examine the vitriol used in debates about womens reproductive health, particularly coming from anti-choice activists.\nWords matter, and people with sincere but conflicting opinions must be willing to engage and debate in ways that do not lead to the kinds of threats and violence that we now see directed towards womens reproductive health facilities. As someone who has worked on these issues for quite some time, I know that debates and discussions can be more meaningful, illuminating, and productive when we avoid the vitriol that leaves us investigating a crime scene, caring for nine injured shooting victims, and mourning the lives of three.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1265", "Science, Space & Technology Committee Holds Live Downlink with Astronauts from International Space Station", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hosted a showcase of NASA research exhibits and a live communications downlink with the two astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station, Capt. Scott Kelly and Dr.Kjell Lindgren.\r\n\r\nMembers had the opportunity to speak with the astronauts for about twenty minutes. They covered a range of topics such as, the challenges of long duration space travel, including the limitations of remote medical capabilities; the strength and interdependencies of the international partnership; the goal of sending humans to Mars; and the inspirational value of human spaceflight.\r\n\r\nDuring the hearing, Rep. Perlmutter thanked the Astronauts for their service to the nation and to the future, and asked them about the probability of getting astronauts to Mars by 2033.\r\n\r\nThank you to NASA Astronauts Scott Kelly and Kjell Lindgren for spending time with the Science, Space and Technology Committee this morning, said Rep. Perlmutter. I've been pushing our Committee to support getting American astronauts to Mars by 2033, and I'm pleased Commander Kelly agrees this is an achievable goal worthy of the investment and support of our nation.\r\n\r\nTo view the full conversation with Capt. Scott Kelly and Dr.Kjell Lindgren from the International Space Station, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKsrWvFpnOg&feature=youtu.be&t=55m22s\r\n\r\nFor more information about the Science, Space and Technology Committee, visit http://democrats.science.house.gov.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397987", "Sweeping K-12 education bill passes House", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On a vote of 359-64, the House of Representatives just passed a bill that would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replace the existing law known as No Child Left Behind. The bill will move states beyond the stringent, outdated policies of No Child Left Behind, help reduce the amount of testing in our nations schools, and give more decision-making power back to states and districts.\nHouse passage is one of the final steps in the process to update the nations most sweeping K-12 law, which hasnt been done since 2001. The bill now goes to the Senate, where a vote is expected next week, and if it passes that chamber, will be sent to the President to be signed into law.\n\"Todays passage is a huge milestone for improving our countrys public schools\" Polis said. Education is the single most powerful tool for creating opportunity and lifting people out of poverty. But our countrys current education policy, No Child Left Behind, while well-intentioned, has been failing our students by imposing a one-size-fits-all flawed accountability system on states. The Every Student Succeeds Act  while not perfect  represents principled compromise that will move our education system forward. It reduces the emphasis on testing, provides greater flexibility for state accountability systems, and maintains ESEAs original intent as a civil rights law first and foremost. \"The Every StudentSucceeds Act gives schools the flexibility they need to innovate and improve, but not the flexibility to do nothing and allow failing schools to continue to leave kids behind.\" Tackling big challenges like fixing No Child Left Behind is exactly what our constituents sent us to Washington to do and Im proud to work across the aisle with my colleagues in the House to finally get this done, Polis added.\nAs a senior member of the House Education Committee, Rep. Polis was one of seven House Democrats chosen earlier this month to serve on the conference committee charged with crafting the bill. The conference committee negotiated the final version of the bill after separate ones passed the House and Senate over the summer.\nThe final bill includes several measures championed by Polis that reflect Colorado priorities, including:\n A dual-enrollment amendment Polis successfully offered in conference committee that allows federal funds currently devoted to English language learners to be used for dual or concurrent enrollment, a model that has been employed with widespread success across Colorado.\n A grant program for innovation and evidence-based learning based off a bill Polis re-introduced in February. This program has helped schools across the country, including St. Vrain Valley School District, which received a $3.6 million innovation grant in 2010 to expand programs for at-risk students in seven schools. Because of the innovation grant, St. Vrain was able to extend the school year at four elementary schools, target math students at risk of failing at two middle schools, and fully implement the STEM Academy at Skyline High School.\n A measure that allows federal funds to be used for open education resources, based off an amendment Polis successfully included in the House version of the bill. Several schools in Colorados second Congressional district are transitioning to one-to-one classrooms where each student has his or her own iPad or Chromebook and this bill would encourage effective ed tech programs like these.\nPolis led opposition to the initial House bill on the floor in February and fought for several changes needed to help schools pursue innovative learning models and ensure school districts were accountable to all students, regardless of their race or background.\nPolis has spent his career in public service fighting for a strong education system. He is the founder and former superintendent of New America School, a network of charter schools in Colorado and New Mexico, and hes the former chair of the Colorado Board of Education. He also co-founded the Academy of Urban Learning, a charter school in Denver.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=294B1FE7-64CD-2F06-5029-86F499324B25", "Houses Passes Final Bill to Overhaul K-12 Education, Bill Heads to Senate", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded House passage of a compromise bill to fix No Child Left Behind. Bennet is a member of the Senate's education committee and the conference committee that negotiated the final bill. The final language includes a number of provisions he secured during the initial drafting, the committee process, the Senate's debate, and the conference committee's final negotiations. The Senate is expected to vote next week to send the bill to the president's desk to be signed into law.\n\"Today's vote in the House brings us one step closer to ending No Child Left Behind's top-down, one-size-fits-all approach and re-empowering those closest to our kids to make decisions about their education,\" Bennet said. \"This bill represents meaningful progress to help our students, our teachers, and schools across Colorado. Passing this bill has been a long time coming, and it's encouraging we've been able to do it with overwhelming bipartisan support.\"\nAs a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Bennet played a significant role in writing the Senate-passed bill. The final bill includes a number of provisions he secured based on input from Colorado, including:\nState-Driven Accountability Systems: Reducing the prescriptive, top-down approach of No Child Left Behind; re-empowering states to design accountability systems that maintain statewide annual testing requirements and break down data to identify achievement gaps; ensuring English learners are included in state accountability systems; and requiring states to at least identify the bottom five percent of low-performing schools and make necessary changes to improve achievement at these schools\nImproving Equity and Addressing Inequalities: Including provisions to promote equity, address inequities and help ensure high-need schools can attract and retain great teachers and leaders by improving their support systems; including a new reporting requirement to increase transparency on the resources schools receive and to identify inequities in funding; providing flexibility to spend federal funding on early childhood education; and provisions encouraging teacher leadership, residency programs, and improvements to district human capital systems\nEncouraging Innovation to Meet Challenges in Schools: Securing incentives for educators on the ground to apply their own creative thinking to address our most persistent education challenges; including funding for innovative practices to improve student achievement; revamping the Charter School Program; and allowing pay-for-success initiatives\nSupporting Rural Schools: Securing a package of provisions to better support schools in rural communities; providing technical assistance to rural school districts when applying for competitive federal grants; and clarifying that rural school districts or education service agencies, like a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), can join together and submit a single consolidated application for funding under ESEA\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=3ED0FEB3-1F36-81A4-8009-EB980EFF861F", "Bennet, Markey Introduce Bill to Protect Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge", "2015-12-02", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today introduced a bill with 32 other senators to designate the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness and protect the land from future development. The Coastal Plain represents 1.56 million acres of the 19.6 million-acre wildlife refuge. The introduction of the bill comes just days ahead of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Range by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. \"Coloradans and Westerners take seriously the need to protect our nation's pristine landscapes - like the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Yosemite Valley in California, and the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado. Among other benefits, these lands drive a $700 billion outdoor recreation economy, a sector that includes a many Colorado-based companies,\" Bennet said. \"The Arctic Refuge in Alaska is one of these pristine landscapes. Sportsmen, birders, and outdoor enthusiasts from across the political spectrum have long supported protections for this iconic area. With this bill, supported by more than one-third of the Senate, we continue the proud bipartisan conservation tradition started over 50 years ago by President Eisenhower.\" \"The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of the natural wonders of America, worthy of the highest level of protection as wilderness. Its pristine landscape, ecological integrity, wildlife, recreational opportunities, and Alaska Native cultural and subsistence values are unmatched,\" Markey said. \"Action is long overdue to fully realize President Eishenhower's visionary action in first protecting the Arctic Refuge in 1960. The Coastal Plain is the biological heart of the Refuge, and I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to pass legislation that would ensure full wilderness protection for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge forever.\" The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest unit in the National Wildlife Refuge System. In 1960, President Eisenhower established the original refuge, which comprised 8.9 million acres, as the Arctic National Wildlife Range. It was later expanded in 1980 to its current 19.6 million acres and renamed the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. However, the 1.56 million acres that make up the Coastal Plain were not protected in the Refuge's expansion. Oil and gas leasing on the Coastal Plain was prohibited absent authorization by Congress, but the area was not given a wilderness designation. The bill would designate the Coastal Plain as a wilderness area. The 1.56 million-acre Coastal Plain represents a small fraction of the total acreage in Alaska and the Arctic Ocean open oil and gas development. It is considered the biological heart of the refuge, supporting more than 250 species, including caribou, polar bears, grizzly bears, wolves, muskoxen, wolverines, and migratory birds. \"The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the crown jewel of the National Wildlife Refuge System, something that benefits sportsmen in Colorado and across the country,\" said Bill Dvorak, Colorado fishing and rafting guide, hunter, and public lands organizer with the National Wildlife Federation. \"A number of birds, including snow geese and sand hill cranes, breed in the Arctic Refuge and fly to or through the Arapaho and Monte Vista wildlife refuges and other parts of Colorado. We applaud Senators Bennet, Markey and others for stepping forward to protect this iconic landscape for future generations.\" \"Senators Bennet and Markey are setting the right course to permanently protect the wonder of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and essence of wild it represents. Americans from all walks of life have long supported protecting this pristine wilderness,\" said Emily Norton, Director of Sierra Club Massachusetts.\n\"The Gwich'in Nation has been working tirelessly to protect The Sacred Place Where Life Begins' - the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, for over 25 years now. We are so grateful to Senators Bennet and Markey for showing bold leadership by introducing the Arctic Refuge Wilderness Bill and we hope that other Senators will see that protection of the Refuge is truly a moral choice for the United States,\" stated Bernadette Demientieff of the Gwich'in Steering Committee. \"We applaud Senators Michael Bennet and Ed Markey for continuing the tradition of congressional support for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This bill would ensure that one of the most imperiled pieces of our natural heritage will be protected now and for future generations of Americans,\" said Cindy Shogan, Executive Director of Alaska Wilderness League. \"The Arctic Refuge is one of our most iconic landscapes and one of the last truly wild places in America. It's time to move beyond drilling and provide the strongest protections possible for this natural wonder.\" Additional cosponsors of the bill include: Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Harry Reid (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tom Udall (D-NM), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Al Franken (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI).\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1264", "Perlmutter Recaps 2015 Activities in End of the Year Video", "2015-12-01", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Perlmutter Recaps 2015 Activities in End of the Year Video \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Lakewood, CO,\r\n        December 1, 2015\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\nLAKEWOOD, CO  Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) released a video recapping his activities throughout 2015. The 2015: Year in Review video showcases Rep. Perlmutter's work on behalf of the people of the 7th Congressional District, including securing $148,686 in owed benefits and savings and $33 million in grants supporting organizations, research and jobs in the 7th District. The video also highlights a variety of events hosted by Rep. Perlmutter's office which attracted more than 18,900 constituents over the course of the year. Click below to see the full video.\r\n\r\n\r\nRep. Perlmutter was first elected to represent the 7th Congressional District in Congress in 2006 and is currently serving in his fifth term. In the 114th Congress, Rep. Perlmutter is proud to serve on both the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and the Financial Services Committee.\r\n\r\n###\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397988", "Polis responds to House Judiciary Committee Hearing on His Email Privacy Act", "2015-12-01", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) released the following statement today following the House Judiciary Committees hearing on H.R. 699, the Email Privacy Act, which would require the government to obtain a warrant before searching Americans emails. With 304 cosponsors, the bipartisan bill, which is sponsored by Polis and Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS), is the most popular legislation in Congress not to receive a vote on the House floor.\nTodays hearing reinforced the overwhelming support the Email Privacy Act has gained across the technology sector, among civil liberties advocates, and from lawmakers on all sides of the political spectrum. It simply makes no sense that our homes, cars, and mailboxes are protected from unwarranted government searches but the government can sift through our email inboxes with impunity. This morning we also heard from federal officials who are asking for special carve-outs that would allow federal agencies to continue to subpoena Americans private emails without a warrant based on probable cause. The far-reaching support for the Email Privacy Act as written both inside and outside Congress suggests that, save for a handful of government bureaucrats, there is no support for undermining the reforms in the bill in this way. Moreover, there is simply no constitutional basis for exempting digital correspondence from our privacy laws. The Email Privacy Act is a simple, bipartisan, and broadly popular way to protect Americans from warrantless government intrusion when they go online. The Judiciary Committee should favorably report this bill so that it can finally receive a vote on the House floor, where it will pass with overwhelming support from both parties.\nBecause of a loophole included in the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, the government is not required to get a warrant in order to access emails stored on third-party servers if the emails are older than 180 days. The Email Privacy Act eliminates that loophole and brings the protections afforded to Americans digital correspondence into alignment with the protections afforded to paper mail.\nPolis submitted written testimony to the Judiciary Committee at todays hearing, which read in part:\nThere are some federal officials calling for special carve-outs and lower burdens of evidence in order to access Americans old emails. I urge the committee to resist these efforts to undermine the bill for several reasons.\nFirst, the sheer volume of support for this bill suggests that Americans and their representatives in Congress overwhelmingly support the legislation as written and do not believe electronic correspondence should be subject to a lower standard of evidence than physical documents when it comes to government searches.\nSecond, the authors of ECPA clearly did not anticipate a future in which Americans have access to nearly unlimited storage space that allows us to store our emails on the cloud in perpetuity. In asking for a special carve-out from warrant requirements, these federal agencies are asking for broad new search authorities that would go far beyond the intent of the 1986 legislation and significantly undercut the intended reforms of the Email Privacy Act.\nThird, the federal officials asking for these broad new authorities have not put forward compelling evidence that the 180-days loophole has served a legitimate law-enforcement purpose.\nAnd finally, it is impossible to square a lower standard of evidence for emails older than 180 days with the Constitutions 4th amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=23305CF2-DB0B-9151-D35D-6D9D8ABB82A8", "Bennet Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Security of Visa Waiver Program", "2015-12-01", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined a bipartisan group of senators led by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to introduce a bill to strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program to help prevent terrorists from entering the United States.\n\"Our visa waiver program contains vulnerabilities that terrorists and our enemies could exploit to enter this country. This bill addresses those security gaps. The House-passed refugee bill is inadequate to solve the problem. If we are serious about protecting our borders and keeping the country safe, we should strengthen the process where it is weak. We can protect our national security and maintain our American values,\" Bennet said. \"We should also enact the 2013 Senate-passed immigration bill that would significantly enhance border security and internal enforcement so we can tell who is in this country and who means to do us harm. That legislation includes a $40 billion investment to double the number of border agents, expand fencing, implement new technology and resources, and provide for full monitoring of our southern border.\"\nThe Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act would improve the security of the Visa Waiver Program. It would:\n \nRequire individuals who have traveled to Syria or Iraq in the past five years to acquire a traditional tourist visa instead of traveling without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. This process requires an in-person interview with an American consular official and the submission of the traveler's biometric information.\nRequire travelers using the Visa Waiver Program to submit biometric information, in the form of fingerprints and a photograph, before they travel to the United States.\nRequire all visa waiver travelers to use an electronic passport, which are more secure and harder to tamper with.\nRequire increased intelligence-sharing between Visa Waiver Program countries and the United States.\nSecurity enhancements in the bill would be paid for by increasing the Visa Waiver traveler fee, which is currently $14. Only $4 supports Visa Waiver Program security. In comparison, the fee for a traditional tourist visa is $160.\n \nThe bill is cosponsored by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Dan Coats (R-IN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\nAddressing security gaps \nThe bill would strengthen the Visa Waiver Program in the following ways:\n1. Preventing foreign fighters from using the Visa Waiver Program: An estimated 5,000 European citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight.  More than 1,500 of them are from France. If they return to their home countries, these individuals may be able travel to the United States without a visa.\n \nLegislative solution: Require individuals who have traveled to Syria and Iraq in the past five years to go through the traditional visa process, which includes an in-person interview, to come to the United States.\n \n2. Requiring additional biometric information: In cases where the foreign national has never been to the United States before, U.S. law enforcement cannot run biometric information from that visa waiver program traveler against key databases in advance of the person's first arrival in the United States.\n \nLegislative solution: Require biometric data to be provided by a foreign national prior to travel to the United States using the Visa Waiver Program.\n \n3. Requiring electronic passports for participation in the Visa Waiver Program: Although electronic passports with built-in chips carrying biometric data are now required to be issued by Visa Waiver Program countries, some existing designated countries are effectively allowed to phase-in this requirement over several years because older passports can remain valid.\n \nLegislative solution: Require all Visa Waiver Program travelers have electronic passports within 90 days of enactment. Only individuals with machine-readable passports may travel using the Visa Waiver Program.\n \n4. Requiring additional information sharing between countries: Information-sharing with the United States is a means of protecting national security while allowing individuals to travel without a visa. Information-sharing must be improved to ensure threats are detected.\n \nLegislative solution: Improve information sharing by participating countries in the following ways:\nRequire participation in the Visa Waiver Program be contingent on countries' full implementation of information-sharing agreements, including agreements on foreign terrorists and those who have committed crimes.\nIncrease contribution to, and screening against, INTERPOL's lost and stolen documents database.\nRequire DHS to consider a country's ability to collect, analyze and share passenger data concerning dangerous individuals.\nImprove biometric information sharing about, and screening of, refugees and asylum seekers.\nRequire DHS to consider a country's ability to share information about foreign fighters with multiple countries and multilateral organizations, like INTERPOL.\n \n5. Increasing security in the air: All Visa Waiver Program countries should have signed federal air marshal agreements, which provide legal protection to air marshals in situations where they need to take action.\n \nLegislative solution: Require completion of a federal air marshal agreement.\n \n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=8B592E0F-53D2-38FB-0B81-471BEB1112FD", "House Passes Bennet-Backed Rural Water Bill", "2015-12-01", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded the passage of the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill-passed unanimously by the Senate in June - will help small and rural communities comply with safe drinking water regulations. Bennet helped introduce the bill earlier this year with Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). It now heads to the White House to be signed into law.\n\"In their efforts to provide clean drinking water to Coloradans, rural water providers often don't have access to the tools and resources needed to comply with drinking water regulations,\" Bennet said. \"This bill ensures that technical assistance and training is available to help these providers find the support they need and provide clean drinking water for Colorado families.\"\nThe bipartisan bill reauthorizes the Safe Drinking Water Act's technical assistance and training provisions for $15 million per year over the next six years - the same as was previously authorized - to assist small and rural public water systems in complying with drinking water standards.\nMore than 50,000 small and rural communities, comprising more than 90 percent of the drinking water supplies in the country, are responsible for providing safe, clean water to their citizens. The Environmental Protection Agency's technical assistance and training programs assist these communities in securing the necessary technical expertise to improve and protect their water resources. Colorado has approximately 2,200 small rural water systems, and the Colorado Rural Water Association has provided technical assistance through this program to more than half of them. The last authorization of the bill expired in 2004.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=F6B3734A-9AF6-6B40-D397-70142D9E0B26", "Bennet Remembers Victims of Colorado Springs Shooting", "2015-12-01", "2015", "2015-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bennet Remembers Victims of Colorado Springs Shooting \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\tDecember 01, 2015", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397989", "House, Senate Education Committees Release Text of No Child Left Behind Rewrite", "2015-11-30", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the House Education and Workforce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee released final, legislative text for a bill that would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and replace the existing law known as No Child Left Behind. The release is the next step in a process to update the nations most sweeping K-12 law, which hasnt been done since 2001.\nAs a senior member of the House Education Committee, Rep. Polis was one of seven House Democrats chosen earlier this month to serve on the conference committee for the bill. The conference committee negotiated the final version of the bill after separate ones passed the House and Senate over the summer.\nIm thrilled that were now one step closer to making an historic improvement to our nations most important education law, Polis said. This bill corrects the many flaws of No Child Left Behind while preparing our students for the demands of a 21st century global economy. It also successfully maintains the original intent of ESEA as a civil rights law first and foremost  one that provides a world-class education to all students, no matter their zip code or economic background.\nThe House plans to vote on the negotiated bill later this week while the Senate is expected to take up the bill next week.\nPolis has spent his career in public service fighting for a strong education system. He is the founder and former superintendent of the New America School, a network of charter schools in Colorado and New Mexico, and hes the former chair of the Colorado Board of Education. He also co-founded the Academy of Urban Learning, a charter school in Denver.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=0E923651-60DD-668B-0AD1-2079334395EC", "Conference Committee Releases Final Language of Bill to Fix No Child Left Behind", "2015-11-30", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - The conference committee charged with reconciling the House- and Senate-passed versions of legislation to fix No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has released the final bill to be approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives. Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the conference committee, secured several key Colorado priorities in the final bill. The conference report is expected to be approved by the conference committee, and a vote in the House of Representatives could occur later this week followed by final approval in the Senate.\n\"Reaching this long overdue bipartisan agreement to fix No Child Left Behind is a significant step toward helping teachers and schools ensure our kids are receiving a great education,\" Bennet said. \"The updates to this law roll back NCLB's massive federal overreach, while maintaining its core strengths. There are teachers and kids all over Colorado and the country working as hard as they can to teach and to learn. It's time Congress does its job to provide them with the support they need to succeed.\"\nAs a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Bennet played a significant role in writing the Senate-passed bill. The final bill includes a number of provisions he secured based on input from Colorado, including:\nState-Driven Accountability Systems: Reducing the prescriptive, top-down approach of No Child Left Behind; re-empowering states to design accountability systems that maintain statewide annual testing requirements and break down data to identify achievement gaps; ensuring English learners are included in state accountability systems; and requiring states to at least identify the bottom five percent of low-performing schools and make necessary changes to improve achievement at these schools\nImproving Equity and Addressing Inequalities: Including provisions to promote equity, address inequities and help ensure high-need schools can attract and retain great teachers and leaders by improving their support systems; including a new reporting requirement to increase transparency on the resources schools receive and to identify inequities in funding; providing flexibility to spend federal funding on early childhood education; and provisions encouraging teacher leadership, residency programs, and improvements to district human capital systems\nEncouraging Innovation to Meet Challenges in Schools: Securing incentives for educators on the ground to apply their own creative thinking to address our most persistent education challenges; including funding for innovative practices to improve student achievement; revamping the Charter School Program; and allowing pay-for-success initiatives\nSupporting Rural Schools: Securing a package of provisions to better support schools in rural communities; providing technical assistance to rural school districts when applying for competitive federal grants; and clarifying that rural school districts or education service agencies, like a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), can join together and submit a single consolidated application for funding under ESEA\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=42678376-10A5-2E8B-5EEF-9B0C1F311DEA", "Bennet Statement on Tragic Colorado Springs Shooting", "2015-11-27", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Denver, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement in response to the tragic shooting in Colorado Springs today: \"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, Planned Parenthood, the Colorado Springs Police Department, and the City of Colorado Springs. We are grateful to the first responders who kept the situation from becoming worse and saved lives. Our office is in touch with local officials and has offered any assistance we can provide the community.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=79976BB3-EEE4-DB41-046E-919362F95892", "Bennet Statement on Medal of Freedom for Japanese American", "2015-11-24", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today, Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement regarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom award for Mr. Minoru Yasui:  \"Our thoughts are with the proud family of Minoru Yasui today, as he posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  The Japanese American lawyer fought for the civil and human rights of the marginalized and oppressed.  He spent time in Japanese internment camps while he was a U.S. citizen.  Today President Barack Obama awarded him the highest honor a civilian can receive, and one he surely deserves.\"  In December 2014, Bennet sent a letter to the White House in support of Yasui's nomination for the prestigious award.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/colorados-degette-strict-screening-adequate-to-allow-syrian-refugees", "Colorado's DeGette: Strict Screening Adequate to Allow Syrian Refugees", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette said the vetting process to keep terrorists from infiltrating Syrian refugees coming to the United States is stringent and adequate.\n\"As it stands today, America has strict screening processes for refugees coming in,\" the Democrat from Denver said Friday morning near the foot of statue of former Colorado Gov. Ralph Carr, who was the lone politician who opposed Japanese internment during World War II.\nThursday the U.S. House voted overwhelmingly to raise the requirements for refugees from Iraq and Syria in the wake of the Paris terrorist assault on Nov. 13.\nDeGette, who opposed the legislation, said those who supported it were caving in to the goals of terrorists and changing policies based of fear.\n\"Demagoguing the issue of refugees is not an American value,\" she said. \"We need to stand together and open our arms even wider.\"\nU.S Rep. Mike Coffman, a Republican from Aurora, was not at DeGette's event but was pleased to vote Thursday for the so-called Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act, which also got support from Democratic Rep. Jared Polis of Boulder.\n\"The first obligation of the federal government is to ensure the safety and protection of the American people,\" he said. \"That is why I voted 'yes' on the SAFE Act.\n\"While this is a step forward in ensuring a security check for any refugee admission into the U.S., there is still much to be done. Safe zones' are needed to protect innocent Syrian civilians so that they can safely remain in their own country.\"\nDeGette was flanked Friday morning by Imam Abdur-Rahim Ali, leader of the Northeast Denver Islamic Center and a member of the Colorado Imam's Council.\n\"We deplore the opinions and comments that have been made by some of our governors here in our country, and some of the presidential candidates,\" he said. \"We are 100 percent with the American people in stamping out terrorism and anyone who wants to come against our great country and government.\"\nGov. John Hickenlooper said Colorado would continue to welcome refugees. A specific number coming to the state is not yet known, but President Obama has said he would allow up to 10,000 into the United States by 2017.\nNathan Woodruff-Stanley, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, applauded Hickenlooper and DeGette for \"standing strong against fear-mongering.\"\n\"We're hearing too many people who are willing to trade our nation's values for fear and toss aside our civil liberties and our constitution,\" he said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397990", "McConnell, Wyden, Polis, Massie Join To Advance Industrial Hemp Research", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) today sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to clarify that industrial hemp research programs are eligible for existing federal research dollars. The letter was signed by a total of 12 Senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives.\nIt appears that USDA has the authority to award competitive grants for the development of industrial hemp, the members wrote in the letter. Nevertheless, it seems the USDA has provided conflicting information regarding whether the agency is willing to exercise its authority to award existing federal grant dollars for the research of industrial hemp.\nIndustrial hemp is used throughout the world in thousands of products, including paper, fabrics, lotions, canvas, rope, and construction material. Under the Agricultural Act of 2014, institutions of higher education and state departments of agriculture are permitted to launch industrial hemp research pilot programs if certain conditions are met. Twenty-six states have authorized industrial hemp pilot studies or production.\nHowever, USDA has yet to clarify whether these programs are eligible for research dollars as other research programs that focus on the industrial uses of commodities are. Some individuals seeking clarity from the USDA on this issue report being told by USDA officials that it is not worth it to apply for research funds, whereas a Dec. 23, 2014 internal USDA memo suggests that the USDA is supportive of industrial hemp research and may be willing to award funds for that purpose.\nDue to this lack of consistency, researchers are reluctant to apply for federal funds because of the large amount of time, effort, and cost that goes into any grant application, the members wrote in the letter.\nThe members asked Secretary Vilsack:\n \n    Does USDA interpret current law as providing the agency with the authority to award existing and competitive federal funds for the research of industrial hemp?\n    If the answer is yes, what steps is USDA taking to disseminate that information and work with interested parties in the competitive grant process?\n \nThe signed text of the letter is available here. Signatories include Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), and Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Rod Blum (R-IA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Ral Grijalva (D-AZ), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Beto ORourke (D-TX), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Mark Takai (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ed Whitfield (R-KY), John Yarmuth (D-KY), and Ryan Zinke (R-MT).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=AB48F549-EC4E-C969-E468-5265D8590492", "Bennet, Crapo Lead Bipartisan Letter on County Payments", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO and Mike Crapo (R-ID) today led a bipartisan coalition urging Senate leaders to fully fund the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program in any end-of-year legislation.\nPayments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) provide federal payments to nearly 1,900 local governments across 49 states to help offset losses in property taxes because of nontaxable federal land within state boundaries.  PILT payments are critical to rural counties across the country and are used to fund services such as police, fire protection, and emergency response.\n\"Counties throughout Colorado, particularly those with vast expanses of public lands, consider PILT an essential part of their budgets,\" Bennet said. \"This funding helps pay for road maintenance, emergency services, and law enforcement. Full funding for PILT will ensure these counties have the resources they need to provide these crucial services to Coloradans.\"\n\"PILT funding is an important resource for many counties in Idaho and across our nation and is not exclusive to rural or western communities,\" said Crapo. \"The strong showing of bipartisan senators on this letter is evidence that PILT payments are critical to communities nationwide.  I look forward to working with all my colleagues to restore funding to this important program in a fiscally-responsible manner.\"\n\"Without full funding for the PILT program before the end of the year, counties across the nation will be unable to provide essential services such as education, law enforcement, search and rescue, road maintenance and public health to residents and millions of federal lands visitors alike,\" the lawmakers wrote to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Harry Reid. \"However, as the end of the year approaches, enacting full-funding for PILT in FY 2016 is essential in order to provide counties with the certainty they need to plan their own budgets and continue providing essential county services.\"\nThe lawmakers added, \"Moving forward, we hope Congress can work together to enact a fiscally responsible long-term sustainable solution to fully fund this important program and eliminate the ongoing funding uncertainty PILT counties face.\"\nIn addition to Bennet and Crapo, the letter is also signed by Dan Sullivan (R-AK); Jeff Sessions (R-AL); John Boozman (R-AR); Jeff Flake (R-AZ); John McCain (R-AZ); Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); Barbara Boxer (D-CA); Cory Gardner (R-CO); Bill Nelson (D-FL); James Risch (R-ID); Joe Donnelly (D-IN); Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); Al Franken (D-MN); Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); Jon Tester (D-MT); Steve Daines (R-MT); John Hoeven (R-ND); Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND); Martin Heinrich (D-NM); Tom Udall (D-NM); Dean Heller (D-NV); Jim Inhofe (R-OK); Jeff Merkley (D-OR); Ron Wyden (D-OR); Mike Lee (R-UT); Orrin Hatch (R-UT); Mark Warner (D-VA); Tim Kaine (D-VA); Maria Cantwell (D-WA); Patty Murray (D-WA); Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV); Joe Manchin (D-WV); Michael Enzi (R-WY); John Barrasso (R-WY).\nThe full text of the letter follows.\nNovember 20, 2015\nThe Honorable Mitch McConnellMajority LeaderUnited States SenateU.S. Capitol Building, Room: S-230Washington, DC 20510 \nThe Honorable Harry ReidMinority LeaderUnited States SenateU.S. Capitol Building, Room: S-221Washington, DC 20510 \nDear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Reid,\nAs Members of Congress representing counties containing federal public lands within their boundaries, we write to request that Congress include full funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for FY16 along with responsible budget offsets in any legislation likely to pass the House and Senate and be signed into law before the end of the year.\nPILT provides critical resources to nearly 1,900 counties across 49 states to offset lost property tax revenue due to the presence of tax-exempt federal lands within their jurisdictions.  Without full funding for the PILT program before the end of the year, counties across the nation will be unable to provide essential services such as education, law enforcement, search and rescue, road maintenance  and public health to residents and millions of federal lands visitors alike.\nMoving forward we hope Congress can work together to enact a fiscally responsible long-term sustainable solution to fully fund this important program and eliminate the ongoing funding uncertainty PILT counties face.  However, as the end of the year approaches, enacting full-funding for PILT in FY 2016 is essential in order to provide counties with the certainty they need to plan their own budgets and continue providing essential county services.  We look forward to working with you to resolve this pressing issue facing our communities in FY16 and in the coming years.\nSincerely, [Signed by Sens. Bennet, Crapo, and others]\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=FE629F1A-2C71-DA77-30A2-5BDE1770E64E", "Bennet, Portman Welcome CMS Decision to Reverse Proposed Cuts to Clinical Lab Fees for Medicare Beneficiaries", "2015-11-20", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Ron Portman (R-OH) today welcomed the announcement from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that the agency would restore dramatic cuts to several personalized medicine diagnostics. Bennet and Portman led a group of senators earlier this month urging CMS to reconsider its proposed reimbursement cuts for these crucial tests.\n\"This decision has led to a beneficial decision for Colorado patients and jobs. It recognizes these innovative tests that can provide doctors with specific information for managing the care of patients with complex conditions, like cancer, heart transplants, cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis,\" Bennet said. \"Preventing these cuts will help Colorado's bioscience sector move forward and our seniors have access to the care they need.\"\n\"The decision to allow local Medicare contractors to price these tests is good for patients, good for physicians and, in the age of precision medicine, is good for the Medicare program,\" said Portman. \"We must ensure that there is continued investment in the research and development of these cutting edge precision medicine tests so that Ohioans and patients across the country have access to the most innovative and life-saving technologies.\"\nEarlier this month, Senators Bennet and Portman were joined by six of their Senate Finance Committee colleagues on a letter to Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt requesting the Agency reverse the proposed cuts for CY2016 which ranged from 30-90%. Many national patient advocacy groups like the Society for Women's Health and the Bonnie Addario Lung Cancer Foundation also weighed in with the Agency along with the National Venture Capitalists Association, the American Medical Association, the Coalition for 21st Century Medicine and the American Clinical Laboratory Association.\nClick here to read the letter Bennet and Portman sent to Administrator Slavitt.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1259", "Perlmutter Votes to Strengthen Security Screening of Syrian Refugees", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) released the following statement after voting to strengthen the security screening of Syrian refugees in to the U.S.\r\n\r\nThe attacks in Paris are frightening and a tragic reminder of the barbaric acts being carried out by Islamic State terrorists. Understandably, after those devastating attacks there's a lot of anxiety and fear right now here at home. The U.S. has the strongest and most capable counterterrorism operations in the world. We continue to take the fight to ISIS and destroy their capabilities with over 3,000 advisors and special operations forces on the ground and conducting airstrikes every 2  hours. Our goal should be to determine how best to balance the security of the American people while helping some of the world's most vulnerable people fleeing a civil war and brutal regime.\r\n\r\nToday, Congress was presented with two different pieces of legislation to address the issue of Syrian refugees coming to the U.S. I supported the Democratic alternative, the Secure Refugee Process Act because it makes our existing security screening process stronger and more rigorous. While adding another level of scrutiny, it will take 18-24 months before anyone is allowed in to the U.S.The 18-24 month process is a reasonable period of time to effectively screen a refugee's application while ensuring we are able to maintain our responsibilities as part of an international coalition that has committed to providing refuge for the most vulnerable, especially women and children.\r\n\r\nRepublicans openly admit their goal is to completely stop the flow of Syrian women and children into the country. That is against our values of who we are as a nation. The current security process in place for screening refugees coming to the U.S. is one of the most robust and extensive in the world. It requires all Syrian and Iraqi refugees to be reviewed by at least five federal agencies and denies any application that indicates a national security or criminal threat. In addition, the current resettlement application process already triggers an additional layer of security, known as the Syria Enhanced Review.\r\n\r\nI took an oath to protect Americans at home and abroad and to defend the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. We must continue to stay vigilant but also work to address the root of the problem behind the flow of refugees: the threat of ISIS. As Americans and as part of an international coalition, I believe we can both provide refuge for some of these most vulnerable people while also protecting the security of the American people.\"\r\n\r\nPresident Obama has announced the U.S. will accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in fiscal year 2016. Of the 10,000, about 2,000 have already been admitted - almost half are women and children and another quarter are over 60 years old. To date, zero refugees that have resettled in the U.S. have been arrested or removed on terrorism charges.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=B413EB58-5F9A-B2EA-138E-EB6E8683AB2D", "Bennet, Portman Introduce Bill to Help Finance Carbon Capture and Storage Projects", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Allows Facilities to use Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds\nMore CCS Technology would Boost our Energy Industry and Produce Cleaner Air\nWashington, DC - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today introduced a bill to help power plants and industrial facilities finance the purchase and installation of carbon capture and storage equipment. The carbon that is captured can be used for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) or stored underground.\nThe Bennet-Portman Carbon Capture Improvement Act would allow businesses to use tax-exempt private activity bonds to finance the high upfront capital costs associated with installing carbon capture equipment.\n\"This bill would reduce upfront costs, one of the largest impediments to carbon capture technology. It is good for the economy and good for the environment,\" Bennet said. \"In Colorado it would enhance our diverse energy portfolio. The captured carbon dioxide can be used by oil producers to extract more oil out of current wells - improving our energy security and boosting domestic energy production. It also reduces emissions from power plants and industrial facilities to help keep our air clean - which is something that Coloradans value and makes our state an attractive place to live. This bipartisan bill is a market-based, technology-neutral approach to attacking the problem that carbon dioxide creates.\"\n\"I'm pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will have real environmental benefits, but also allow states like Ohio to continue to utilize our natural resources,\" Portman stated. \"We've developed a solution that will allow us to capture carbon, but also protect Ohio jobs. This is a commonsense idea and that's why it's supported by business groups, energy groups, and environmental groups alike. This is something that people on both sides of the aisle can get behind and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.\"\nThe Bennet-Portman bill allows businesses to use private activity bonds (PABs) issued by local or state governments to finance a carbon capture project. These bonds are beneficial to consumers and businesses because of their tax-exempt status and because they can be paid back over a longer period of time. If more than 65 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from a given facility are captured and injected underground, then 100 percent of the eligible equipment can be financed with PABs. If less than 65 percent is captured and sequestered, then tax-exempt financing is permitted on a pro-rated basis.\nThe Carbon Capture Improvement Act will:\n\n \nMake CCS projects more economically feasible: The ability to use tax-exempt PABs to retrofit power plants and industrial facilities will help decrease the costs for these types of projects.\nBoost oil production, while conserving land and reducing emissions: By conducting EOR with recycled carbon dioxide from power plants, we can increase oil production from already-drilled wells, using less new land. Additionally, carbon dioxide that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere is instead captured and stored.\nProvide greater energy security in the 21st century: The 21st Century Energy Institute at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found in 2014 that Enhanced Oil Recovery already accounted for 350,000 barrels a day of domestic oil production.\n \n\n\"CCS is a crucial tool for reducing carbon emissions, and deploying additional projects will make it more affordable in the US and around the world,\" said Armond Cohen, Executive Director of the Clean Air Task Force. \"Private activity bonds can reduce the cost of financing projects, which will help lower the hurdles to getting more steel in the ground.\"\n\"Enactment of this bill can help pave the way for carbon capture utilization and storage projects in the U.S. to be built which in turn will make more CO2 available for enhanced oil recovery and securely storing that CO2,\" said Mike Moore, Executive Director of the North American Carbon Capture Storage Association, which is comprised of entities including the American Petroleum Institute, Kinder-Morgan, Occidental Petroleum, Shell, British Petroleum, and the International Energy Association. \"Just in the mature fields alone, recoverable oil with CO2 could be over an additional 20 billion barrels. In turn, these barrels add to the growing self-sufficiency of the U.S., augmenting national and economic security as well as the environmental benefits of building clean energy systems and capturing CO2 before it is released.\"\nIn addition, the National Enhanced Oil Recovery Initiative (NEORI), a coalition representing major energy producers, environmental, labor, and state representatives, said the following:\n\"We thank Senators Michael Bennet and Rob Portman for their leadership and support for deployment of carbon capture technologies at power plants and industrial facilities, and for their introduction of legislation to authorize private activity bonds (PABs) for carbon capture projects. Access to tax-exempt private activity bonds will provide project developers an important tool in a broader toolkit of measures needed to help attract private investment and finance carbon capture projects.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=BB2C93F4-15B8-2D7D-03CE-F45649D56498", "Senate Committee Advances Bennet Bill to Protect Land Wedged between Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapaho National Forest", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today advanced a bill introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet that would protect ten parcels within a \"wedge\" of land between Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapaho National Forest by incorporating the land into Arapaho National Forest. The Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2015, cosponsored by Senator Cory Gardner, passed by a voice vote.\n\"These parcels of land are part of a spectacular landscape that attracts millions of visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand County. They are also crucial for the continued protection of the Colorado River headwaters,\" Bennet said. \"Adding this land to the Arapaho National Forest allows us to preserve it for future generations and helps ensure the Forest Service can manage this land more effectively.\"\nThe Forest Service currently owns seven of the ten lots that comprise the \"wedge.\" The Forest Boundary has never been adjusted to include them within the Arapaho National Forest because that would require legislative action.\nThe bipartisan bill also allows the U.S. Forest Service to acquire land in the \"wedge\" from interested landowners to preserve the region. This bill is supported by the Grand County Board of County Commissioners, the Town of Grand Lake, the Headwaters Trails Alliance, and Conservation Colorado, along with all of the affected private landowners.  It was sponsored in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Jared Polis and Scott Tipton.  That bill passed the House on April 28 with an overwhelming majority.\nThe committee also approved another bill led by Gardner and cosponsored by Bennet.  The Crags, Colorado Land Exchange Act is a federal land exchange where the Forest Service would acquire an important inholding in the Pike National Forest, allowing for more recreation access near Pikes Peak.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=D6E87C44-2B55-BBA8-EC0B-A6C80A3AA379", "Bennet, ESEA Conference Committee Approve Framework for K-12 Education Overhaul", "2015-11-19", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the House-Senate conference committee to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), today voted to approve the bipartisan, bicameral framework to fix No Child Left Behind. The agreement represents the conference committee's work to reconcile the differences between the House- and Senate-passed bills.\nAs part of the agreement, the conference committee adopted Bennet's amendment that allows states to set a target limit on the amount of time devoted to testing.\n\"It is long past time to reauthorize this law,\" Bennet said. \"There are teachers and kids all over Colorado and the country working incredibly hard, often under adverse circumstances, trying to teach and trying to learn. Fixing No Child Left Behind is just one step, but this bill represents meaningful progress to help our students, our teachers, and schools all across Colorado.\"\nAt a conference committee meeting yesterday, Bennet highlighted the need to fix No Child Left Behind's one-sized-fits-all approach, while maintaining its core strengths. This includes provisions that forced us to face the facts about how kids in poverty are doing in our schools and to take action when schools consistently fail our kids.\nA summary of the framework approved by the conference committee can be found here.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1258", "Perlmutter Works to Preserve Affordable Financing for Millions of Americans", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", ">U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) released the following statement regarding H.R. 1737, the Reforming CFPB Indirect Auto Lending Guidance Act. The legislation encourages the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to reissue a March 2013 bulletin through a transparent process by soliciting stakeholder input through a formal notice and comment period, study the costs and impacts on consumers and businesses, and involve other relevant agencies including the Federal Reserve, Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission.\n\n>The Fourteenth amendment of the United States Constitution allows for due process and equal protection under the law. What we have before us today is a conflict of these two principals. The CFPB rushed through a formal policy change while not giving affected parties the ability to comment and be heard. H.R. 1737 encourages the CFPB to reissue their auto lending bulletin under a more transparent and open process in order to promote access to credit for all hardworking Americans when they purchase a vehicle.\n\n>I support the CFPB and its mission to protect consumers, and do not condone discrimination in the marketplace. Where we see discrimination, I want it rooted out immediately. The legislation in no way prohibits, disrupts or affects the enforcement of fair lending laws, but rather asks the CFPB to use a more informed process under their existing authority.\n\n>H.R. 1737 passed the U.S. House of Representatives today 332-96 and with 65 Democratic co-sponsors.\n\n>Rep. Perlmutter has a strong record of standing up for consumers. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, he worked to secure passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act because our country cannot afford to go through another financial crisis. For years Wall Street and big banks were not held accountable for their actions, and this brought our country to its worst financial downturn since the Great Depression. Dodd-Frank established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) which restores accountability and responsibility to American taxpayers and protects consumers.\n\n>To date, the CFPB's enforcement actions have resulted in $365 million being paid in civil penalties and $248 million to be provided to consumers as a result of CFPB supervisory actions. Payday lenders are now under federal supervision for the first time  protecting the 12 million consumers who take out payday loans every year. More than 50 million consumers now have free and regular access to their credit score as a result of the CFBP's credit score initiative designed to engage and educate consumers.\n\n>Rep. Perlmutter has continued to oppose efforts to undermine or weaken the CFPB while supporting hard working Coloradans and their families by helping secure a better future for themselves and their families. Click here to learn more about Ed's work on behalf of Coloradans and the people of the 7th Congressional District.\n\n>###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=30A58906-2819-FFDE-9CAF-5DA9458BB4AD", "Bennet, Burr Lead Senators Urging LWCF Reauthorization, Funding Before End of the Year", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Richard Burr (R-NC) today led a bipartisan coalition of 14 senators requesting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) include the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) along with full mandatory funding in one of the bills Congress must pass before adjourning for the year.\nIn a letter to Senators McConnell and Reid, the lawmakers wrote, \"The LWCF is funded with offshore oil royalties and was designed not to use taxpayer dollars. However, since the creation of LWCF in 1965, more than $18 billion has been taken from the LWCF trust fund and diverted from its original conservation purpose. Because authorization for the LWCF expired on September 30th, offshore oil royalties are no longer being directed into the fund and there is no longer any guarantee that Congress will provide it the necessary funds.\n\"For the economy, sportsmen, veterans, wildlife, and our kids and grandkids, we must permanently reauthorize LWCF - it is America's most successful conservation program. We also strongly request that you include mandatory full funding in any must-pass year end legislation,\" the lawmakers added.\nSenators Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Susan M. Collins (R-ME), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jon Tester (D-MT), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kelly A. Ayotte (R-NH), Tom Udall (D-NM), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Steve Daines (R-MT) also signed the letter.\nFull Text of the Letter:\nNovember 18, 2015\nMajority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Reid:\nWe write to request that you permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (\"LWCF\") and provide it with full mandatory funding in one of the bills that Congress must pass before the end of the session.  As you know, this critical initiative has been expired since the end of September.\nThe LWCF is one of the country's best conservation programs, preserving public lands in rural and urban areas.  For the last 50 years, it has protected lands, historic sites, national parks, wilderness areas, and urban parks in every state.  LWCF has supported more than 41,000 state and local projects.  It is critical to protecting natural resource lands and working forests, providing outdoor recreation opportunities and hunting and fishing access, ensuring wildlife habitat, creating urban parks, and protecting our cultural heritage.  Continued investments in this program help our nation's outdoor recreation, conservation, and preservation businesses, which support millions of American jobs and contribute billions of dollars annually to the economy.\nThe LWCF is funded with offshore oil royalties and was designed not to use taxpayer dollars.  However, since the creation of LWCF in 1965, more than $18 billion has been taken from the LWCF trust fund and diverted from its original conservation purpose.  Because authorization for the LWCF expired on September 30th, offshore oil royalties are no longer being directed into the fund and there is no longer any guarantee that Congress will provide it the necessary funds.\nFor the economy, sportsmen, veterans, wildlife, and our kids and grandkids, we must permanently reauthorize LWCF - it is America's most successful conservation program.  We also strongly request that you include mandatory full funding in any must-pass year end legislation.  We look forward to working with you to resolve this pressing issue.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=6971A568-018A-3C7F-5D2A-42BAFB52082C", "Bennet Selected to Serve on Conference Committee for K-12 Education Overhaul", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today was named a member of the conference committee charged with reconciling the differences between the House- and Senate-passed bills to fix No Child Left Behind. Once passed by both the House and Senate, the final bill will reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the chief federal law addressing K-12 education.\nBennet, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, was instrumental in writing and passing the bill in the Senate. He will work to preserve the provisions in the bill that are priorities for Colorado kids, schools districts, and educators.\n\"We are on the precipice of finally fixing the problems with No Child Left Behind. We must maintain the strengths from that law which allow us to monitor our kids' progress and ensure we are preparing them for future success while re-empowering those closest to our kids to make decisions about their education,\" Bennet said. \"Our chief priority on this conference committee will be to produce a final bill that promotes equity and helps provide great educational opportunities for our kids in poverty. It must create and support new opportunities for teachers and schools to expand upon the innovative strategies that are helping kids learn and grow in the classroom. While this bill is just one step to addressing the challenges facing kids living in poverty, we will work to ensure it includes important tools to help our states, school districts, principals, and teachers prepare our kids for the 21st century.\"\nThe Senate bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in July, includes dozens of provisions authored by Bennet that were inspired by his time as superintendent of Denver Public Schools and from a number of conversations with parents, students, teachers, and administrators from around Colorado.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=FABBE885-4920-3604-5862-D653BA3FC02D", "Bennet Statement on BLMs Draft EIS for White River National Forest Oil and Gas Leases", "2015-11-18", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Denver, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement regarding the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) announcement today: \"Today's BLM announcement underscores the need to pass a balanced bill to give energy companies and communities certainty, while providing the common sense safeguards that Colorado counties and towns have been requesting for years. Many counties have put forth and endorsed thoughtful proposals that strike the necessary balance between conservation and oil and gas development.  Rather than waiting for a regulatory outcome that will likely lead to protracted litigation, we should look toward these local proposals as a path forward.  As we learned after more than a decade of debate over leasing on the Roan Plateau, it's possible and preferable to find a compromise solution supported by all the parties involved.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-joins-with-colleagues-to-applaud-presidential-medal-of-freedom", "DeGette Joins with Colleagues to Applaud Presidential Medal of Freedom Award Winner Minoru Yasui", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Representative Diana DeGette (CO-01) applauded President Obamas announcement that Minoru Yasui, a lifelong champion of freedom and equal rights who challenged the constitutionality of laws that directly targeted Japanese Americans during World War II, will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.\nOur country needs brave men and women like Minoru Yasui precisely at its darkest and most difficult moments, said Rep. DeGette. I am proud to have joined with Congressman Honda and many others to nominate Mr. Yasui for this well-deserved recognition. His devotion to the ideals of our constitution teaches an important lesson to all Americans: that while it may take time, the rule of law and our legal system will always overcome the power of fear and racial discrimination.\nMr. Yasui was a civil and human rights leader who, after graduating from the University of Oregon School of Law, intentionally defied the military curfew imposed upon American citizens of Japanese descent to serve as a test case on its constitutionality. Mr. Yasui was ultimately convicted and spent nine months in solitary confinement before losing his appeal in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1943.\nAfter the war, Mr. Yasui dedicated his life to advocating for equality within Denver and across the nation. His commitment to justice went well beyond the Japanese American committee, extending to rights for Latinos, African Americans, Native Americans, young people, seniors, people with disabilities, and many others. In that work he helped found the Urban League of Denver, the Colorado Latin Leadership, Advocacy and Research Organization, and the Denver Indian Center. His lifetime of advocacy exemplifies what is possible within our democratic process.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397977", "Polis Selected to ESEA Conference Committee", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) was one of seven House Democrats chosen today to serve on the conference committee to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind. ESEA, the nations most sweeping K-12 law, has not been updated since 2001.\nAs the founder of two charter schools, I have seen firsthand the power of innovation and choice to provide better educational opportunities to all families, Polis said. When I was the chairman of the Colorado State Board of Education, I witnessed the shortcomings of No Child Left Behind up close as we sought to implement a flawed law, and Im excited now to have the opportunity to correct those flaws.\nIm honored to have this chance to shape the education system that will serve the next generation of kids. When ESEA was originally passed, it was first and foremost a civil rights law, and its critical that this years reauthorization maintain that original intent.\nIn July, the Senate passed a major rewrite of ESEA  the Every Child Achieves Act  with a bipartisan 81-17 vote, and the House passed its version of the bill, the Student Success Act, on a narrow, party-line vote of 218-213.\nAs a member of the conference committee, Polis will work with his colleagues to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill and ultimately produce a bill that can pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law.\nWhen ESEA initially came before the House this year, Polis submitted a number of amendments to improve the Student Success Act, two of which were included in the final passage of the bill: an amendment to improve collaboration between public and charter schools and an amendment to allow federal funds to be used for open source textbooks and open educational resources.\nPolis has spent his career in public service fighting for a strong education system. He is the founder and former superintendent of New America School, a network of charter schools in Colorado and New Mexico, and hes the former chair of the Colorado Board of Education. He also co-founded the Academy of Urban Learning, a charter school in Denver.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=3218333E-4DFF-583E-061F-6F18661DDE72", "Bennet Statement on Release of Draft BLM Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Roan Plateau", "2015-11-17", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Denver, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement today regarding the release of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) draft supplemental environmental impact statement for the Roan Plateau: \"The release of this draft is another step towards implementing the historic Roan Plateau settlement.  After more than a decade-long impasse, the local communities, leaseholders, sportsmen, conservationists, and the state of Colorado came together to craft an agreement that worked for all sides.  We urge BLM to keep the promise of this settlement for all parties.  This is another example of Coloradans coming together to find common ground and craft collaborative common sense solutions to balance natural resource conservation and development.  We look forward to watching this process move forward in a timely manner and hearing from affected groups once they have had time to review the draft.\" The 90-day public comment period for the Draft SEIS will begin November 20, 2015 and run through February 18, 2016.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397975", "Polis: DOL Home Care Rule a long-overdue victory for millions of working families", "2015-11-12", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, released the following statement today regarding the Department of Labors (DOLs) Home Care Final Rule, which took effect with enforcement this morning:\nAfter years of legal battles, home care workers are finally receiving the bedrock minimum wage and overtime protections that members of all other industries are afforded. Thats a long-overdue victory for millions of working families throughout the country. While this rule does not fix the problems of low wages and inadequate workplace protections that American workers in all industries face, it will help two million low-wage home care workers provide for themselves and their families and enable seniors and those with disabilities to have a more stable support system. I thank the DOL for their efforts on behalf of the growing ranks of home care workers in the United States, and Im proud to have worked with them to bring this important rule to fruition.\nPolis signed an amicus brief earlier this year in support of the Home Care Final Rule in a federal appeals court.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=C3E921F4-322A-9657-EB26-BF7936CBAB88", "Bennet Praises Service of Medal of Honor Recipient Captain Florent A. Groberg", "2015-11-12", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today praised the bravery and service of U.S. Army Captain Florent A. Groberg who is being awarded the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony today. Capt. Groberg was a Fort Carson soldier, assigned to the 4th Infantry Division as a platoon leader. \"Captain Groberg is a deserving recipient of our nation's highest honor,\" Bennet said. \"The bravery and heroism he displayed in Afghanistan, risking his life to protect and save more than two dozen Americans and Afghans, is representative of his selfless character. Our country will forever owe Captain Groberg our thanks. His service is a testament of the honor and sacrifice that has been the hallmark of the Medal of Honor since its creation.\" Capt. Groberg is credited with tackling a suicide bomber in Assassabad, Afghanistan, where he was tasked with protecting a group of American and Afghan officials. As a result of his selfless actions, Capt. Groberg suffered the loss of close to half of his left calf muscle, a blown eardrum, and traumatic brain injury. CLICK HERE to read more about Capt. Groberg's story.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=CED42585-84F8-77CB-16D7-38A134E8B8F4", "Bennet Introduces Bill to Improve Child Tax Credit", "2015-11-12", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet introduced a bill to update and modernize the child tax credit for hardworking middle-class and low-income families. The Child Tax Credit Improvement Act would index the credit to inflation, increase the value of the credit for families with young children, and allow families to receive a larger refund from the credit on their tax returns. \"Colorado's economic recovery is as strong as any state's in the nation, but decades of flat wages is squeezing working families,\" Bennet said. \"We've heard from parents across the state who are doing everything they can to pay the bills, put food on the table, and afford the rising costs of housing and education. They don't want to work less or take something for free. They are committed to working hard, moving their families forward, and providing opportunity for their kids. Congress needs to find ways to support that commitment. This bill will makes commonsense changes to ensure the child tax credit is helping millions of American families boost their financial security when they need it most.\" According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, in 2013, the child tax credit kept 3.1 million people out of poverty. This includes approximately 1.7 million children. In Colorado, approximately 307,000 households qualified for the child tax credit. Between 2000 and 2014, median household income in Colorado dropped by approximately $5,000. The Child Tax Credit Improvement Act would increase the credit for families with young children. The bill would triple the credit to up to $3,000 for children under the age of six. A recent analysis by the Center for American Progress shows that child-related costs account for nearly 70 percent of the increasing living expenses for middle-class families. Increasing the value of the credit for younger children will help parents account for the needs of children early in their lives. The bill also enables taxpayers to receive the refundable portion of the child tax credit for every dollar earned. Under the current law, an individual is entitled to receive the refundable portion of the child credit totaling 15 percent of his or her earnings in excess of $3,000 (totaling up to $1,000). Bennet's bill would eliminate the $3,000 threshold to enable all working parents to take advantage of the credit. Parents with children under six would receive a credit totaling 45% of their earnings if the full credit exceeds their income tax liability.   Finally, the bill indexes the amount of the credit for inflation, which ensures that the credit retains its value over time.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1255", "Perlmutter Honors Veterans", "2015-11-11", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LAKEWOOD, CO  Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) released the following statement in honor of Veterans Day and Military Families Appreciation Month:\r\n\r\nThis Veterans Day, I would like to extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to all our Veterans and their families for their continued service to our community and to our country. Today and everyday it's important to pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. military, and their families, for their sacrifice and courage to preserve our freedom and ensure our national security.\r\n\r\nWe made a promise to take care of our Veterans when they return home. That is why providing our Veterans with the best medical care possible and securing their hard earned benefits is. I remain committed to ensuring the Aurora VA medical center opens to serve Veterans across the Rocky Mountain region as quickly as possible.\r\n\r\nMy office is also committed to honoring the history of Veterans. This Veterans Day and holiday season, I encourage everyone to record the stories of Veterans you know so we can continue to hear their stories and preserve their contribution to our country. Learn more about how to record veterans stories and preserve their records and mementos with the Library of Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=0B147A25-65E6-F99C-AB29-30760C508921", "Bennet Statement in Honor of Veterans Day", "2015-11-11", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Denver, CO - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement today in honor of Veterans Day:\n\"Colorado is fortunate to be home to a large and proud veteran community. Tomorrow, Captain Florent A. Groberg will be awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary acts protecting a group of American and Afghan officials while serving with the 4th Infantry Division out of Fort Carson. His story is just one example of the many stories of bravery and self-sacrifice our veterans bring home with them after serving our country. Today is a special opportunity to take the time to stop and recognize the service of veterans in Colorado and throughout the country. It is also a day to think about what else we can be doing to fulfill our responsibility to make sure veterans have access to the care, support, and appreciation they earned and the opportunity they fought to protect.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397973", "Polis statement on Appeals Courts deferred action ruling", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuits decision not to lift the preliminary injunction that has temporarily halted the implementation of the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program:\r\nYesterdays decision was disappointing, but completely unsurprising. Fortunately, and after an inappropriately long delay, the decision finally cleared the way for the Department of Justice to appeal this matter to the U.S. Supreme Court, and Im pleased that the Administration has announced its intention to do so immediately.\r\nNearly a year ago, after decades of negligent inaction by Congress, the President announced a series of meaningful changes that will help align our immigration system with our values as a nation and meet the needs of a 21st-century economy. Since then, however, various governors who have chosen to prioritize their political aspirations over fixing our broken immigration system have done everything they can to derail these changes.\r\nThe deferred action policies in question are practical measures that are in line with actions taken by other presidents from both parties. Every president since Eisenhower  including Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush  has taken executive action to shape immigration priorities over the last 50 years. Setting enforcement priorities is a basic function of the presidency that is done in every arena, not just in immigration enforcement. The President should be allowed to prioritize the removal of criminals who represent threats to our communities over the parents of American kids or young people who came to this country as infants.\r\nI am confident that the high court will ultimately hold that this is a dispute that must be resolved by Congress, not by the courts. If members of Congress disagree with the Presidents actions, then they will ultimately have to do their jobs and move legislation addressing the myriad problems with our current immigration system.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=1A9913A4-1855-42BF-1077-D3F383123132", "Bennet Statement on Meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bennet and several of his Senate colleagues met with the Prime Minister earlier today.\n\"Today we had a very positive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu.  There is a strong consensus that we need to work together to address the threat that Iran poses to the region.  I am confident that this process will allow for us to continue to build on our strong relationship and shared values with Israel.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=5E3C2669-989E-AAD5-8FFB-4B2C38AA5070", "Bennet Statement on 5th Circuit Decision to Block Administrations Immigration Relief Efforts", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to block the Administration's efforts to provide relief to certain undocumented immigrants:\n\"This decision is another delay against efforts to advance commonsense reforms to our broken immigration system that will help our economy and keep families together. It means more limbo for DREAMers. It means kids will continue to worry that one day they'll come home from school to find their parents gone - deported. It means our antiquated immigration laws will continue to hold back our economy. Congress could solve all of these problems and more by passing a bill to fix our immigration system. The Senate passed a bill more than two years ago with broad bipartisan support. It would secure our borders, boost the economy, and protect millions of families.\n\"Every day that Congress fails to act, our borders remain less secure, our visa system keeps us less competitive, our economy suffers, and millions of families remain in the shadows. Farmers, high-tech businesses, and the tourism industry are left without the workers they need, students educated here are denied a chance to contribute to our economy, and kids who grew up here live in fear of watching their parents get deported. It's no wonder that people in Colorado are frustrated that Washington isn't working.\"\nIn Colorado, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) would increase the state's GDP by $3.3 billion over the next 10 years. Colorado has about 84,000 DACA and DAPA eligible individuals in the state.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=A2598C2E-633F-DB2A-7223-31857A17D6D1", "Bennet Statement on Lt. Governor Joe Garcia Stepping Down", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on Lt. Governor Joe Garcia's decision to step down to pursue a new job as President of Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education:\n\"Although we are excited for Lt. Governor Garcia, his departure is certainly a loss for the state of Colorado and for the Governor's office - which is definitely now a little less cool. They were an incredibly effective team that built on one another's skillsets. Our office has had the pleasure of working with the Lt. Governor many times over the years, especially on higher education. We were always impressed by his dedication, intelligence, and charisma.  He has a profound appreciation for the people who paved the way for his success and is committed to paving the way for the next generation. Joe cares deeply about increasing college access and affordability for all kids in Colorado. His passion for education and determination to create a better future make him an ideal choice for this next venture.  We wish him luck.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=CE5A2738-0344-E5E4-D3B7-3A2289A538F1", "Bennet Passes Amendment to Study Effects of Combat Service on Suicide Rates, Mental Health", "2015-11-10", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet's amendment to conduct a study of the effects of combat service on suicide rates and other mental health issues among members of the Armed Forces and veterans. The amendment requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work with the Department of Defense to commission a study with an independent third party. It passed as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016.\n\"We simply don't know enough about the effects of combat on mental health issues among servicemembers and veterans both during and after service,\" Bennet said. \"This study will work to fill that critical gap in knowledge and data. In order to strengthen efforts to prevent suicide and to provide servicemembers and veterans the mental health care and support services they need, our medical, military, and veterans communities need more research.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=9301D5E4-3ED0-AA01-7FB5-CE5F7843C53F", "Bennet, Blumenthal, Cardin and Colleagues Urge President to Prioritize Strengthened MOU with Israel", "2015-11-09", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) are leading a group of 16 senators in urging President Obama to prioritize a new, strengthened Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on security assistance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington this week. A new MOU would help ensure Israel has the tools and resources necessary to prepare for, respond to, and defend against threats in the Middle East.\nIn a letter to President Obama, the lawmakers wrote, \"In the face of this evolving and uncertain environment, U.S. support for and assistance to Israel is urgently required. In addition to concluding a new MOU for security assistance to Israel we encourage you to provide the necessary and appropriate measures to deter Iran, including applicable ordnance and delivery systems, and to enhance Israel's QME over countries in the region.  These measures are necessary to deter conventional and asymmetric threats to Israel.  We also support providing missile defense funding, as necessary and appropriate, to accelerate the co-development of missile defense systems, and increased bilateral cooperation on cyber, intelligence, and research and development for tunnel detection and mapping technologies.\n\"As threats in the region continue to evolve, we urge you to engage at the highest levels to continue a process to develop a shared understanding of the threat environment confronting Israel, and to take bold steps to strengthen the MOU that serves as the foundation of our bilateral security efforts.\"\nSenators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Edward Markey (D-MA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Jon Tester (D-MT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Bill Nelson (D-FL) also signed the letter.\nFull Text of the Letter:\nNovember 9, 2015\nPresident Barack Obama  The White House  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW  Washington, D.C.  20500\nDear Mr. President:\nDuring your upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, we urge you to prioritize  a new, robust Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)  to help Israel  prepare for, respond to, and defend against threats in an uncertain regional environment and to enhance its Qualitative Military Edge (QME). Assuring Israel's QME lies at the heart of our bilateral security cooperation relationship. We support making the next MOU a truly transformational investment to deepen the U.S.-Israel strategic partnership based on a shared understanding of the threats Israel faces in the region.\nIsrael is a major strategic partner in an unpredictable region. Just last month, Iran conducted a ballistic missile test in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929, calling into question the Iranian government's willingness to abide by its international commitments.  Meanwhile, Hamas and Hezbollah are rebuilding their terrorist infrastructure in preparation for the next conflict with Israel. The Russian military has escalated its involvement in the Syrian civil war, worsening the conflict on Israel's border and exacerbating the violent extremist threat that present serious security challenges to Israel.  The regional humanitarian crisis and refugee exodus is jeopardizing stability and security in the region, as are terrorist threats in the Sinai Peninsula.\nIn the face of this evolving and uncertain environment, U.S. support for and assistance to Israel is urgently required. In addition to concluding a new MOU for security assistance to Israel we encourage you to provide the necessary and appropriate measures to deter Iran, including applicable ordnance and delivery systems, and to enhance Israel's QME over countries in the region.  These measures are necessary to deter conventional and asymmetric threats to Israel.  We also support providing missile defense funding, as necessary and appropriate, to accelerate the co-development of missile defense systems, and increased bilateral cooperation on cyber, intelligence, and research and development for tunnel detection and mapping technologies.  We commend your commitment to an unprecedented level of military, intelligence, and security cooperation with Israel to address new and complex security threats. We applaud your steadfast implementation of the current MOU, which provides $30 billion in assistance to Israel through Fiscal Year 2018. As threats in the region continue to evolve, we urge you to engage at the highest levels to continue a process to develop a shared understanding of the threat environment confronting Israel, and to take bold steps to strengthen the MOU that serves as the foundation of our bilateral security efforts.  The United States and Israel have an unparalleled history of friendship and cooperation. We look forward to the successful conclusion of a new MOU with Israel as a lasting legacy of your presidency.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=FEE81C8D-B369-2040-9BFD-7A21CF22CB5F", "Bennet: Naming Process Begins for New VA Cemetery in Southern Colorado", "2015-11-09", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet is urging Colorado veterans to submit suggested names to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as they have announced the formal naming process has begun for the new VA national cemetery in southern Colorado. Bennet has worked for 6 years to establish the 374-acre cemetery which will serve roughly 95,000 veterans.  Currently, the nearest cemetery for veterans and their families is more than 70 miles away.  \"The veteran and military community has been working for years toward a new national VA cemetery in southern Colorado.  We're happy to be part of those efforts and excited that the naming process has begun,\" Bennet said. \"The Pikes Peak region has one of the highest concentrations of veterans in the country, and now local veterans and their families will be able to bury their loved ones closer to home.  Veterans should submit their recommendations to the VA over the next few months. It should reflect the proud history of southern Colorado.\" The VA announced it will send formal letters to local veterans and the military community so that suggestions for names may be submitted during the following 60 days. It will compile a list of suggested names that comply with VA guidance for naming new national cemeteries. The Interim Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs will then submit a recommended name to the Secretary, who has the final responsibility for naming new national cemeteries.    In general, names for VA national cemeteries must first and foremost help to nationally identify the location, while also having broad appeal to the veteran population, and provide a positive impression through its relation to history, region, community, or other notable geographic features.   Bennet worked with former Senator Mark Udall and Congressman Doug Lamborn to bring a national cemetery to southern Colorado.  In 2009, he sponsored legislation with then-Senator Udall to create the cemetery and in 2010 the President's budget request included language that reduced the population threshold used to determine where new national veterans cemeteries could be built from 170,000 to 80,000 veterans living within 75 miles of a potential site. This language, which followed a meeting Bennet held with then-VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, allowed the VA to build a cemetery in southern Colorado.  In October 2013, following a rigorous review process that included public meetings and a public comment period, the VA announced it had agreed to purchase land for this preferred site in Colorado Springs. This will be the third VA national cemetery in Colorado.\nQuestions or concerns can be submitted to Glenn Madderom, Chief of the Cemetery Development and Improvement Service at glenn.madderom@va.gov or 317-916-3797.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1253", "Perlmutter Statement on Surface Transportation Bill", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) released the following statement after he voted to support a six-year highway and transit bill which also reauthorized the expired Export-Import Bank: \r\n\r\nAfter 34 short-term extensions, today the House proved it can work in a bi-partisan fashion toward a long-term Surface Transportation bill.Passing a long-term bill will go a long way to rebuild and strengthen our roads, bridges, and transit systems.This legislation is important to creating jobs, rebuilding America, and strengtheningtheeconomy.\r\n\r\nWhile this legislation will improve our aging infrastructure, I still believe Congress needs to have a debate about the long-term sustainability of the Highway Trust Fund.The fact is, due to innovations such as fuel efficiency standards and hybrid or electric vehicles, the gas tax revenues do not go as far as they once did.\r\n\r\nLastly, I'm pleased to see the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank included in this legislation.After repeated attacks from Republicans to shut down the bank, I remain hopeful we can successfully reauthorize the bank to help U.S. companies sell their goods, products and services abroad.I call on House and Senate Conferees to work quickly to agree on text so this long-awaited Surface Transportationbill can be signed into law.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1254", "Provisions of Polis-Perlmutter bill to prevent marijuana-impaired driving pass House of Representatives", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LUCID Act measure calling for research into detection, prevention of impaired driving included in transportation bill\r\n\r\n A measure calling for federal research into the most scientifically sound methods for stopping marijuana-impaired driving, originally proposed by Reps. Jared Polis (CO-02) and Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), was included in the comprehensive transportation reauthorization bill that passed the House today.\r\n\r\nNo matter what side of the legalization debate you fall on, we all agree on the importance of keeping our roads safe from impaired drivers, Rep. Polissaid. Unfortunately, we've failed to make studying marijuana-impaired driving a priority, and as a result, the science on this issue is badly underdeveloped. The new research this bill calls for is a great first step that will help state lawmakers develop the best strategies possible for preventing impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel of a car.\r\n\r\nThere are now some 213 million Americans who live in the 23 states plus the District of Columbia where some form of marijuana is legal and it's critical we pursue public safety measures that keep people and communities safe, Rep. Perlmutter said. These provisions are a step forward in ensuring local enforcement officials are able to detect and prevent marijuana-impaired driving and keep our roads safe.\r\n\r\nOn June 1, 2015, Polis and Perlmutter introduced the Limiting Unsafe Cannabis-Impaired Driving (LUCID) Act, which calls on the Department of Transportation to conduct research on the most effective methods for detecting and preventing marijuana-impaired driving. The bill also calls for states that have legalized recreational or medical marijuana to develop laws prohibiting marijuana-impaired driving. Under the bill, states are encouraged to use the results of the federal research to determine how best to define impairment and how to detect it at the roadside.\r\n\r\nThe DRIVE Act, the comprehensive transportation bill that passed the House today, directs the Department of Transportation to conduct the research into marijuana-impaired driving that is called for under the LUCID Act, including an investigation of devices that can physiologically measure marijuana impairment, the impacts of poly-drug impairment, and the role of marijuana impairment in motor vehicle accidents.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397970", "Notorious Ski Highway Gets Critical First Step on Road to Relief", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "An amendment authored by Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) to designate I-70 from Denver to Salt Lake City as a Corridor of High Priority passed the House of Representatives today as part of a major transportation bill that funds the countrys roads, bridges, and highways.\nWith this Congressional designation, I-70 will now be eligible for certain federal funding streams to help with maintenance and improvement on what is a notoriously congested highway, especially during peak ski travel times. High-priority corridors are given preferential consideration when applying for discretionary grant programs like the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER)and newly established Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects, as well as financing opportunities, like those established under the Transportation Infrastructure and Financing Act (TIFIA).\nAnyone who has sat in traffic on a Sunday afternoon on I-70 East knows that highway is in need of major improvements, Polis said. Traffic along I-70 has far outpaced our ability to expand and maintain it, and at this point Colorado cant do it alone. This designation will give expansion and maintenance projects along I-70 broader, more competitive access to federal funds  which is a critical first step in tackling the highways major challenges and improving quality of life, regional tourism, and national commerce.\n\"On behalf of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), I want to thank Congressman Polis for his amendment to designate Interstate 70 between Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah as a High Priority Corridor,\" Shailen Bhatt, Executive Director of CDOT, said. \"This amendment rightfully recognizes what the people of Colorado already know, that Interstate 70 is not only important regionally, but nationally as well.\"\nThe I-70 Coalition appreciates the leadership of Representative Polis and the support of the Colorado delegation to designate Interstate 70 as a Corridor of High Priority, Margaret Bowes, Director of the I-70 Coalition, said. This designation recognizes the importance of the I-70 Mountain Corridor as the economic engine of Colorado's tourism and outdoor recreation sector. I-70 is the state's only continuous east-west interstate, serves as a main street for many mountain communities, and is a critical regional corridor providing access to some of this country's greatest outdoor amenities.\nEarlier this week, Polis offered three additional amendments to the transportation bill that addressed longstanding problems affecting Coloradans: one aimed to reduce train horn noise by giving conductors more discretion in using their horns; one aimed at reducing train blockages in population centers by fining rail operators for extended blockages; and one would have codified preference for high priority corridors when applying for Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Project funding. Those amendments were not included in the final bill.\nThese amendments followed a letter Polis wrote in September to leaders of the House Transportation Committee outlining Colorado priorities for the major highway bill, and several months Polis has spent working with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to see these priorities included in the final bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397971", "Provisions of Polis-Perlmutter bill to prevent marijuana-impaired driving pass House of Representatives", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A measure calling for federal research into the most scientifically sound methods for stopping marijuana-impaired driving, originally proposed by Reps. Jared Polis (CO-02) and Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), was included in the comprehensive transportation reauthorization bill that passed the House today.\nNo matter what side of the legalization debate you fall on, we all agree on the importance of keeping our roads safe from impaired drivers, Rep. Polis said. Unfortunately, weve failed to make studying marijuana-impaired driving a priority, and as a result, the science on this issue is badly underdeveloped. The new research this bill calls for is a great first step that will help state lawmakers develop the best strategies possible for preventing impaired drivers from getting behind the wheel of a car.\nThere are now some 213 million Americans who live in the 23 states plus the District of Columbia where some form of marijuana is legal and its critical we pursue public safety measures that keep people and communities safe, Rep. Perlmutter said. These provisions are a step forward in ensuring local enforcement officials are able to detect and prevent marijuana-impaired driving and keep our roads safe.\nOn June 1, 2015, Polis and Perlmutter introduced the Limiting Unsafe Cannabis-Impaired Driving (LUCID) Act, which calls on the Department of Transportation to conduct research on the most effective methods for detecting and preventing marijuana-impaired driving. The bill also calls for states that have legalized recreational or medical marijuana to develop laws prohibiting marijuana-impaired driving. Under the bill, states are encouraged to use the results of the federal research to determine how best to define impairment and how to detect it at the roadside.\nThe DRIVE Act, the comprehensive transportation bill that passed the House today, directs the Department of Transportation to conduct the research into marijuana-impaired driving that is called for under the LUCID Act, including an investigation of devices that can physiologically measure marijuana impairment, the impacts of poly-drug impairment, and the role of marijuana impairment in motor vehicle accidents.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=9605037E-E549-C4D7-A648-69A04C93B11D", "Colorado, New Mexico Lawmakers Lead Introduction of Bill to Reform Hardrock Mining Law", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced a bill to reform the nation's antiquated hardrock mining laws. The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2015 will ensure mining companies pay royalties for the privilege of extracting mineral resources from public lands.  The bill helps ensure that taxpayers aren't on the hook for cleaning up abandoned mines, many of which are continuously leaking toxic chemicals into rivers and streams and have the potential for catastrophic disasters like the recent Gold King Mine blowout. The Gold King Mine accident spilled 3 million gallons of toxic wastewater into the Animas and San Juan rivers, and communities in New Mexico and Colorado are still struggling to recover from the impact to businesses, farms, and local governments. Current mining law dates back to 1872 and allows companies to take gold, silver, copper, uranium and other minerals from public land without paying any royalties. The lawmakers' bill would impose a commonsense royalty - similar to that paid by oil and gas and coal companies for decades - to help pay for abandoned mine cleanup and prevent future disasters. There are up to 500,000 abandoned mines across the West, and cleanup is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars. In Colorado alone, there are an estimated 7,100 abandoned mines, including 200 that are leaking thousands of gallons of acid mine drainage per minute, which is equal to at least one Gold King disaster every two days. More than 1,600 miles of the San Juan, Big Thompson, Rio Grande, Mancos, and Arkansas River drainages are affected by untreated mines. \"Three months ago, the Gold King Mine spill provided a sudden and devastating reminder of the dangers that abandoned mines pose in Colorado and across the West,\" Bennet said. \"Mining has been intrinsically linked to our history, economy, development and culture, but it's also left scars across Colorado and other states. More than 200 mines in Colorado are leaking acid mine drainage that is polluting headwaters and affecting water quality for communities downstream.  Our bill will help clean up these mines and prevent the possibility of future tragedies like the Gold King Mine.\" \"Hardrock mining companies have enjoyed a sweetheart deal for nearly 150 years, leaving taxpayers on the hook to clean up hundreds of thousands of abandoned mines leaking toxins and threatening communities across the West,\" said Udall, who has pushed for mining reform since he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998 and passed a unanimous amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013 budget resolution calling on Congress to enact a royalty for mining on public lands. \"The Gold King Mine blowout proves that the status quo just isn't working, and New Mexico and Navajo Nation communities are suffering the consequences. Gold and silver on public lands are a natural resource, just like oil and gas. Taxpayers deserve their fair share of the profit - and communities across the West need that money to clean up abandoned mines.\"  \"Disastrous spills like the Gold King Mine blowout are easy to see. But the unnoticed toxins leaking out of thousands of abandoned gold, silver, copper, and uranium mines are doing enormous damage to our watersheds every day,\" said Heinrich, who recently toured uranium legacy sites in the Navajo Nation. \"We must come together and pass commonsense reforms to our outdated and ineffective federal policy on abandoned mines and hardrock mining.\" Rep. Ben Ray Lujn (D-N.M) is a cosponsor of H.R. 963, a similar bill that has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Bennet, Udall, Heinrich, Lujn, and members of the Colorado delegation also joined together to introduce the Gold King Mine Spill Recovery Act in the House and Senate to ensure the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) compensates those who were impacted by the accident. The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2015 will:  \n \nSet a 2 to 5 percent royalty rate for new mining operations, based on gross income on production.\nUse royalty revenue and a separate fee of 0.6 to 2 percent to pay for abandoned mine cleanup.\nAllow states and tribes to receive funding for hardrock reclamation programs, and establish a grant program for other organizations that want to carry out restoration projects.\nRequire permits for non-casual exploration and mining on federal land, and outline requirements for a permit like avoiding acid mine drainage.\nRequire annual rental payments for claimed public land, thereby permanently eliminating patenting and characterizing mine operators as other public land users.\nGive the Secretary of the Interior the authority to grant royalty relief if economic factors require it.\nPermit states and tribes to petition the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw lands from mining, and require an expedited review of certain lands to determine whether they are appropriate for future mining.\n \nA summary of the legislation can be found HERE.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=A93082EE-7CBA-EF22-8E76-E7A8639F67DC", "Bennet Highlights Dysfunction of Wildfire Funding at Agriculture Committee Hearing", "2015-11-05", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet discussed the threat of wildfire and the dysfunctional way wildfire suppression is funded, including the negative effects of \"fire borrowing,\" at a hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. At the hearing, entitled \"Wildfire: Stakeholder Perspectives on Budgetary Impacts and Threats to Natural Resources on Federal, State and Private Lands,\" Chris Treese of the Colorado River Water Conservation District discussed the problem of fire borrowing and the long-term effects of catastrophic wildfires. During the hearing Bennet said: \"What comes through to me is that there is a compelling consensus that what we are doing now does not work and that we have got to change and it's long overdue... In the name of fiscal responsibility we are managing our forests in the most fiscally irresponsible way we can manage them. Which is to say we are taking the money that could be spent on mitigation and restoration, and we're using it to suppress fires and then there's no money left to mitigate or restore. It's penny wise and pound foolish. Nobody at the local level would accept this way of managing their resources, and we shouldn't accept it either.\"\nCLICK HERE FOR VIDEO FROM TODAY'S HEARING\nWildfire is a growing threat throughout the west and the cost of fighting wildfires and the resulting fire borrowing is one of the biggest problems facing the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Wildfire spending has more than doubled since the 1990s, climbing from $1.6 billion in 1994 to $3.9 billion in 2014.  In seven of the past ten years, the USFS has exceeded its budget for wildfire suppression, requiring the Agency to conduct fire borrowing to cover suppression costs.  The borrowed funds come from accounts that should be used for hazardous fuels treatment and other forest management activities. Bennet is co-sponsoring the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act to fund wildfires like other natural disasters through a separate disaster funding cap. In May of this year, Bennet invited Senator Cory Gardner to join him at a Fire and Forestry Summit to receive recommendations from a report Bennet previously commissioned on steps the federal government can take to better support Colorado's wildfire mitigation efforts.  Bennet and Gardner heard from Colorado experts in forestry and fire mitigation to discuss their real-world experiences working in Colorado forests and communities.  The recommendations were then send to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.  Bennet also included many of the recommendations in the revised PREPARE Act he reintroduced with Senator Mike Crapo in August to provide targeted investments for wildfire mitigation. During the Senate's consideration of the 2014 Farm Bill, Bennet secured several provisions to address wildfire mitigation and suppression efforts, including one to extend Good Neighbor authority to all states.  Yesterday, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) announced that they finalized a Good Neighbor Authority agreement with the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS). The collaborative agreement will create a federal-state partnership that will leverage state resources to protect water supplies, manage bark beetle, reduce wildfire, and other forest management activities.  Bennet also successfully passed several other measures as a part of the Farm Bill to improve forest health and reduce fuel loads to mitigate the cost and damage of wildfires.  These include stewardship contracting which supports public-private partnerships to maintain national forests and streamlining the treatment of beetle-killed forests by designating new national forest acreages for expedited treatments.  The USFS has currently designated approximately 46.7 million acres of National Forest System lands across 36 states as potentially eligible for expedited treatment, and two fast-tracked projects are currently underway in Colorado.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-joins-with-colleagues-will-serve-on-gop-select-committee-to", "DeGette Joins with Colleagues, Will Serve on GOP Select Committee to Attack Womens Health", "2015-11-04", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Representative Diana DeGette (CO-01) joined five of her Democratic colleagues who will serve on the House Republicans new Select Committee to Attack Womens Health.This new, select, committee is the fourth in the House to investigate Planned Parenthood over alleged sales of fetal tissue by Planned Parenthood Affiliates.\nI am proud to join a group of my Democratic colleagues and look forward to working with them to conduct an honest investigation that upholds the Energy and Commerce Committees long tradition of legitimate oversight, said Rep. DeGette. After multiple investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing or unlawful activity by Planned Parenthood, I will work to ensure this select committee pursues the facts and avoids, yet another, taxpayer funded witch hunt. The stakes for the over five million men and women who receive reproductive health care from Planned Parenthood every year are simply too high for partisan foolishness.\nPlanned Parenthood has provided education, information, and services to men and women across the country for 98 years. Their affiliates and doctors serve over five million patients every year, preventing an estimated 516,000 unintended pregnancies annually.\nRep. DeGette will be joined by Democratic Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) on the Select Committee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397969", "Bernie Sanders Introduces Polis Bill to Lift Federal Ban on Marijuana", "2015-11-04", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Bernie Sanders today introduced the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act, a bill to lift the federal ban on marijuana. The bill is companion legislation to H.R. 1013, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, a bipartisan bill that Polis introduced in February along with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and nine other original cosponsors. Polis has led the same measure in each of the last two sessions of Congress.\nJust as alcohol prohibition failed in the 1920s, its clear marijuana prohibition is failing today, Polis said. For decades, the federal ban on marijuana has wasted tax dollars, impeded our criminal justice system, lined the pockets of drug cartels, and trampled on states ability to set their own public health laws.\nIt makes no sense for marijuana to be grouped together with drugs like heroin and LSD, and we must continue working to end this misguided policy. Todays introduction of the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act in the Senate is a huge step forward in the movement to enact the commonsense drug laws needed to grow our economy and restore fairness to our justice system.\nStates like Colorado that have successfully legalized recreational and medical marijuana have proven that thoughtfully regulating marijuana works much better than banning it. The federal government needs to get out of the way.\nThe Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act would remove marijuana from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act and enable every state to decide whether to regulate or prohibit the sale and use of marijuana within its own borders.\nPolis and Blumenauer first introduced this bill in the 113th Congress as H.R. 499 on February 5, 2013. In the 114th Congress, Polis and Blumenauer reintroduced the bill as H.R. 1013 on February 20, 2015, and renamed the bill the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act.\nThough Sanders bill is companion legislation to H.R. 1013, there are noteworthy differences. In particular, H.R. 1013 includes provisions to insert marijuana into the section of the U.S. Code that regulates intoxicating liquors and establish a permitting system for commercial producers overseen by the Treasury Department, which are not present in the Senate version of the bill.\nThe Senate introduction of H.R. 1013 caps off a year of milestones in the movement to reform our nations drug policies.\nEarlier this year, the House renewed a measure authored by Rohrabacher and Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and cosponsored by Polis to prohibit the federal government from interfering in the cultivation, sale, or use of medical marijuana. It also passed an amendment sponsored by Polis and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) to shift $9 million from the Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEAs) failed Cannabis Reduction and Eradication program to anti-domestic violence and anti-child abuse programs. And the House passed a Polis-authored amendment to prohibit the DEA from restarting its warrantless bulk data collection program. Finally, the House held a historic vote on an amendment sponsored by Polis and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) to prohibit the federal government from interfering in state laws pertaining to either medical or recreational marijuana.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=2F4A2D45-EE69-26A8-F6AB-74F333729711", "Bennet, Colleagues Call for Investigation into Potential Wrongful Discharges of Servicemembers with Mental Health Diagnoses", "2015-11-04", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and ten of their colleagues calling on the Army to conduct a full Army Inspector General investigation into recent allegations that the Army wrongfully discharged for misconduct soldiers who had been diagnosed with mental health issues after returning from deployment.\n\"We've heard serious allegations, and an independent investigation is needed,\" Bennet said. \"We must ensure that servicemembers suffering from mental health conditions like PTS and from TBIs receive the quality care they need both during and following their service, and a fair evaluation when being considered for discharge.\"\nA joint investigation by National Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio reported that the U.S. Army has discharged tens of thousands of servicemembers previously diagnosed with mental health disorders or TBI.  In December of 2014, Bennet passed a bill requiring the Government Accountability Office to study whether service members are being discharged for conduct related to Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain  Injuries (TBIs), or other mental health diagnoses. The report also evaluates whether protocols, training, counseling, and treatments are in place relating to recognize and address mental health issues.  The bill stemmed from concerns brought to him by Colorado veterans, including some members of his Veterans Working Group, who believed some service members may be receiving Less than Honorable discharges due to behavior related to mental trauma, such as PTS.\nThe full text of the letter written to Acting Under Secretary of the Army, Eric Fanning, and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General Mark A. Milley is below: The Honorable Eric Fanning                                                         Acting Under Secretary of the Army                                                                                      1000 Army Pentagon                                                                            Washington, DC 20305-1000                          General Mark A. Milley  Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army  1500 Army Pentagon  Washington, DC 20310-1500 Dear Honorable Fanning and General Milley: We are troubled by recent allegations that the U.S. Army is forcefully separating for misconduct servicemembers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). We encourage you to conduct a full U.S. Army Inspector General investigation into these recent allegations that the U.S. Army is violating the intent of Section 512 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. Recent media reports indicate that since January 2009, the U.S. Army has separated over 22,000 soldiers for misconduct after they returned from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan and were diagnosed with mental health problems or TBI. As a result, many of the dismissed soldiers have not received crucial retirement benefits, health care benefits, and post-service employment eligibility that soldiers receive with an honorable discharge. Soldiers who deploy are at an increased risk for mental health issues and the forceful separation of servicemembers post-deployment only further denies treatment and support at a critical moment in any soldier's life.  Additionally, fear of dismissal may discourage servicemembers from seeking the medical treatment they require. Section 574 of the FY14 NDAA called for a GAO report to look into these kinds of dismissal cases. That report was delivered to Congress in February of this year recommending that the services develop a method to identify the number of servicemembers separated for non-disability mental conditions and take actions to ensure that servicemembers are appropriately separated for non-disability mental conditions in accordance with DoD's separation requirements.  Serious gaps in DoD policies have been identified and any investigation going forward should take this into consideration. We are concerned that it may be easier to discharge servicemembers for minor misconduct-possibly related to mental health issues-than to evaluate them for conditions that may warrant a medical discharge. We know that the health and safety of our servicemembers and their families is your top priority and we are confident that you will investigate these recent allegations.  Thank you again for your service to our country and we look forward to working with you to rectify this grave offense to the men and women that serve in our armed forces. Sincerely, Christopher S. Murphy  Barbara Boxer  Ron Wyden  Jon Tester  Tammy Baldwin  Ed Markey  Richard Blumenthal  Gary Peters  Sherrod Brown  Michael Bennet  Amy Klobuchar  Tim Kaine\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397968", "Polis fights for Colorado priorities in House transportation bill", "2015-11-03", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jared Polis", "P000598", "polis.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02) today introduced several amendments to H.R. 22, a six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill, to address longstanding problems affecting Coloradans. The amendments follow a letter Polis sent in September to the leaders of the House Transportation Committee outlining Colorado priorities for the upcoming highway bill. \nPolis-authored measures included:\n \n    An amendment to reduce train horn noise in Fort Collins, Loveland, and other areas of Northern Colorado. Poliss proposal calls for giving train operators traveling at 25 MPH or less the discretion to only sound their horns when doing so is necessary to ensure safety.\n    \n    An amendment to designate I-70 between Denver and Salta Lake City as a Corridor of High Priority. This designation would make the highway eligible for federal funding for badly-needed maintenance and improvement projects.\n    \n    An amendment that would give high-priority corridors, such as I-25, preference in consideration for funding under the newly created Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program. This would help make I-25 more competitive when applying for federal funds under this new program to make repairs and improvements.\n \nThe federal government needs to do a better job at improving and managing our highways, railroads, and bridges, Polis said. Transportation challenges are a huge quality of life issue for thousands of Coloradans every day, making our state less efficient, less productive, and less attractive to visitors and potential residents. These measures take a targeted approach to easing some of these challenges.\nIn September, Polis sent a detailed, six-page letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Transportation Committee outlining specific federal programs and budget line-items that could help fund priority transportation projects in Colorado. Programs that Polis highlighted included the Projects of National Significance grant program, Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation (TIFIA), and freight corridor funding.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-joins-fellow-committee-leaders-to-call-on-vw-to-fully-come-clean", "DeGette Joins Fellow Committee Leaders to Call on VW to Fully Come Clean", "2015-11-02", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Rep. DeGette (CO-01) joined her fellow House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders to make the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is expanding its investigation of Volkswagens emissions issues to include additional Porsche, VW, and Audi models, with three liter diesel engines. The EPA investigation began in September when EPA announced that certain models of VW Diesel Engines (Model Years 2009-2015) had been fitted with so-called defeat-devices to allow these vehicles to beat state and federal emissions testing standards.\nThe latest revelations raise the question, where does VWs road of deceit end? The EPA expanding its investigation prompts questions regarding the prevalence of the emissions cheating and how it went undetected for so long, said Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Ranking Member Diana DeGette, Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA), full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). Our bipartisan investigation continues - its time for Volkswagen to fully come clean.\nThe Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on Volkswagens Emissions Cheating Allegations: Initial Questions in October. The leaders also requested documents from VW and information from EPA to assist the committees ongoing investigation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=C6981FEA-17D0-CF67-2F2F-EC9D97DCAB66", "Bennet, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution in Solidarity with Israel, Condemning Palestinian Terror Attacks", "2015-11-02", "2015", "2015-11", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael today will join Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and John Cornyn (R-TX), to introduce a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. Senate in solidarity with Israel.  The resolution condemns Palestinian terrorist attacks in Israel, and reaffirms support for Israel's commitment to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount.\nSince the beginning of October, conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has drastically escalated, with terror attacks wounding, and killing, innocent Israeli civilians. Two Americans have been killed in these gruesome attacks.\n\"These attacks against innocent Israeli civilians are senseless and abhorrent.  They must be condemned and the terror must stop,\" Bennet said. \"Republicans and Democrats are supporting this resolution to send a strong, clear message that we continue to stand with Israel and will continue to bolster its security.  The Palestinian Authority should be held accountable for its role in incitement, and this swell of violence must end.\"\nSpecifically, the bipartisan resolution:\n(1) Condemns these brutal attacks in the harshest terms possible;  (2) Welcomes Israel's commitment to the continued maintenance of the status quo on the Temple Mount;  (3) Urges the President and the international community to join in forcefully condemning these Palestinian terror attacks;  (4) Clarifies that there is no justification for these types of attacks and that there is a direct correlation between the recent upsurge in violence and Arab incitement regarding the Temple Mount;  (5) Stands with the people of Israel during these difficult days;  (6) Supports Israel's right to self-defense and rejects any suggestion of the moral equivalence of Israeli security personnel protecting its citizens from senseless violence and terrorists intent to deliberately take innocent lives;  (7) Supports the agreement reached to install surveillance cameras on the Temple Mount according to the arrangements to be determined between the parties;  (8) Calls upon President Abbas to stop all incitement by Palestinian officials and by Palestinian media, to strongly and unequivocally demand an end to the violence, and to take all steps necessary to halt these attacks;  (9) Expresses support and admiration for individuals and organizations working to encourage cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians;  (10) Encourages President Abbas to continue strengthening and maintaining security cooperation with Israel;  (11) Reiterates that Palestinian political goals will never be achieved through violence; and  (12) Calls on all parties to return to the negotiating table immediately and without preconditions, as direct discussions remain the best avenue to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1251", "Perlmutter Statement on Signing of Long-Term Contract to Complete Construction of Aurora VA Medical Facility", "2015-10-30", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) issued the following statement on the long-term contract signed today to complete the replacement VA medical facility under construction in Aurora, CO:\r\n\r\nI'm pleased to see a long-term contract signed today between the Army Corps of Engineers and Kiewit Turner to complete the VA medical facility in Aurora. With this contract, the Army Corps will officially take over as project manager, the number of people working on site will double, and a new target opening date is set for February 2018. In addition, the Army Corps has a rigorous oversight plan in place and will provide regular reports to Congress regarding cost and schedule to ensure the project stays on track.\r\n\r\nLast month, Congress did its part to finish this project by lifting the spending cap and securing the full remaining balance to complete the facility. I will continue to monitor the project to make sure this world class facility is completed to serve our Veterans as quickly as possible.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=31A08A5A-B181-AE79-A894-E3652F52D22A", "Final Crowdfunding Rules Released, Bringing New Potential for Small Business, Retail Investors", "2015-10-30", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today welcomed the long-awaited announcement from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it has approved final rules for crowdfunding. Crowdfunding will provide a new avenue for Colorado small businesses and start-ups to acquire capital while ensuring strong protections for individuals who make small investments in these businesses. Bennet was a lead sponsor of the CROWDFUND Act, which was signed into law in 2012, that initiated the SEC's rulemaking process.\n\"We look forward to reviewing the final rule. Crowdfunding has the potential to be a powerful tool for small businesses and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, the economy, and create new jobs,\" Bennet said. \"It can help these businesses raise the capital they need and provide new opportunities for individuals to make investments while ensuring them proper safeguards. As new technologies quickly evolve and advance, we must find new ways to build our innovation economy and support the nascent industries and businesses that will create jobs in the 21st century.\"\nThe crowdfunding provisions signed into law provide an alternative to the process for small businesses to raise capital. They allow companies to raise up to $1,000,000 annually through internet websites registered with the SEC. The law requires the SEC to implement basic marketplace protections for the retail investors seeking to take advantage of this new marketplace. Websites seeking to list companies must register with the SEC and provide investors the basic information about the companies they list.  Crowdfunding companies themselves must provide basic disclosures to investors.\nBennet co-authored the CROWDFUND Act with Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Scott Brown (R-MA).\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=6DED60BB-2E6E-0AFF-B4AA-501BF535DC1E", "Bennet Statement on Signing of Final Contract to Complete Construction of Aurora VA Medical Facility", "2015-10-30", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the final signing of a contract by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Army Corps of Engineers, and Kiewit-Turner to complete the replacement VA medical facility under construction in Aurora:\n\"After years of delay, there is finally a resolution that will allow the VA medical center to be completed. The Colorado delegation will continue to push the VA and Army Corps to ensure the project is on time and on budget, and to hold the VA accountable. Congress, taxpayers, and veterans have no appetite for additional setbacks or funding issues. The veterans of our state and the Rocky Mountain region have been waiting long enough for the world-class facility they have earned.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=C49CCB71-3079-89F9-79D0-1DE6F267086D", "Bennet, Gardner, Tipton Urge EPA to Ensure Full Reimbursement to Local Governments for Gold King Mine Spill Costs", "2015-10-30", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington D.C. - Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner and Congressman Scott Tipton are urging EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to assure local governments and tribes that they will be fully reimbursed for all costs related to the Gold King Mine spill. Currently, if affected local governments have not executed an agreement with the EPA by November 3, they may not be able to fully recover costs associated with the spill. Both La Plata County and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe have expressed concerns about the current deadline. Below is the text of a letter the Colorado lawmakers sent to Administrator McCarthy:  October 30, 2015 The Honorable Gina McCarthy  Administrator  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW  Washington, DC 20460 Dear Administrator McCarthy: We write to strongly urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide immediate written assurances to the affected jurisdictions that the costs associated with the Gold King Mine on August 5, 2015 will be fully reimbursed regardless of the future award date.  Without this assurance, local governments and tribes in southwest Colorado may not be able to recover all of the costs they incurred due to the spill.  The attached correspondence from La Plata County and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe explains their concerns in detail.  Specifically, they understand that there is a November 3rd deadline for action to be taken on this matter.  We urge you to act immediately to resolve these concerns and fulfill your commitment to cover the costs incurred by local governments and tribes as a result of the spill. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-calls-for-rigorous-hydraulic-fracturing-study-by-epa", "DeGette Calls for Rigorous Hydraulic Fracturing Study by EPA", "2015-10-29", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01) urged Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to conduct a more thorough undertaking than the EPAs initial draft assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources.\nThe American people deserve to know how their drinking water could be affected by hydraulic fracturing, said Rep. DeGette. But instead of an answer to that question, they are being handed a report that lacks scientific rigor. Without access to well site data and prospective studies of hydraulic fracturing operations this assessment cannot draw conclusions of any significant value.\nThe limitations of this study are not due to a failure of the EPA to perform thorough scientific research, but rather they are due to constraints in their ability to access necessary data. I have advocated for years to increase disclosure requirements of all hydraulic fracturing fluid data and this studys limitations all but prove the necessity of these requirements. This studys limitations demonstrate clearly that the safety of our drinking water cannot simply rely on industrys willingness to share either information on the harmful chemicals they use or provide access to the sites they are used at. I urge the EPA investigators to continue their investigation of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water. They can rest assured knowing my work to provide them the tools to fully conduct their investigation is far from over.\nThe EPAs Draft Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources was commissioned in 2009 by Rep. DeGette and former Rep. Maurice Hinchey. It was commissioned in order to provide a substantive, scientific assessment of hydraulic fracturing to better inform policy decisions.\nThe full text of the letter is available below and at thislink.\n10/29/2015\nThe Honorable Gina McCarthy\nAdministrator\nEnvironmental Protection Agency\n1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW\nWashington, DC 20460\nRe: Draft Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources\n\nDear Administrator McCarthy:\nThank you for undertaking an assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on our drinking water resources. Former Representative Maurice Hinchey and I secured funding for this study in 2009, and I have been carefully watching its progress since. It is important for the American people and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fully understand the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on human health and the environment. As a representative of a western state with limited water resources, any threat to drinking water is of concern.\nEPA found in this assessment that while there are mechanisms by which hydraulic fracturing activities could impact drinking water resources, the practice has not led to widespread, systemic impacts to the drinking water of the United States. This characterization of the overall impact of hydraulic fracturing, however accurate, is not particularly useful to policymakers and does not add to our scientific understanding. Rather, the draft assessments value lies in its research to characterize currently little understood or unknown pathways to contamination of drinking water from hydraulic fracturing. Even in these areas, however, EPAs assessment has serious limitations because agency researchers were stymied in their attempts to gather new data.\nThe report makes clear that the limited amount of data collected before and during hydraulic fracturing activities reduces the ability to determine whether hydraulic fracturing affected drinking water resources in cases of alleged contamination.[1] But it fails to mention that EPAs findings were limited due to obstruction by oil and gas companies. Their obstruction prevented EPA from directly observing the hydraulic fracturing lifecycle for research purposes, as well as collecting any data at those sites. Oil and gas companies initially agreed to work with EPA on prospective studies as outlined in the assessments work plan, but ultimately did not grant EPA access to well sites to gather data and samples prospectively.[2] The lack of industry cooperation is disappointing but not surprising.\nEPA also planned retrospective case studies to investigate reported instances of drinking water contamination by hydraulic fracturing.[3] These studies were completed but not included in the draft assessment and were instead published separately. It is unclear why these highly anticipated elements of EPAs research were removed from the draft assessment and are now not part of the assessments public review and comment. Yet again, a significant area of research was cut from the draft assessment, and the utility of the draft assessment was circumscribed.\nEPA also sought to identify the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and assess how spills might affect drinking water. EPA identified 1,076 different chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids, with 147 identified as significantly toxic, based on an analysis of disclosures to FracFocus.[4] As an advocate of disclosure of all hydraulic fracturing fluid data and as a lead cosponsor of the Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act, I would be remiss not to point out that this portion of EPAs analysis is also limited not only by what chemicals well operators claim as confidential business information, but also more broadly by what companies have chosen to voluntarily disclose in some states. Again, EPAs ability to study the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing is at the mercy of what the industry chooses to divulge.\nThe limitations of this assessment for policymakers are not for lack of attempts by EPA to initiate new research that would expand our understanding of hydraulic fracturing. A recently published study in the Proceedings of the National Academies that implicated hydraulic fracturing fluids in groundwater contamination reckoned that the public cannot ascertain the cause of most shale gas-related problems because the full datasets are often not released publicly and explained.[5] I remain concerned that EPA does not know and cannot estimate the potential impacts of drinking water contamination due to hydraulic fracturing. The assessment identifies several mechanisms by which a spill, leak, or migration of hydraulic fracturing fluids could potentially contaminate drinking water, but it does not evaluate how these events would affect human health and the environment.[6]\nEPAs report should more clearly emphasize that Americas drinking water resources are at risk from potential spills of hydraulic fracturing fluids, and that EPA is unable to clearly track these potential impacts due to insufficient reporting requirements. The lack of data to inform this high-profile assessment demonstrates how little we know about this widespread practice, and highlights the need for more sophisticated, independent research in order to gain the understanding of hydraulic fracturing that policymakers need. I will continue to work for changes in current law to give EPA the tools they need to make a more significant assessment of the impacts of hydraulic fracturing. In the meantime, I urge EPA to use every tool available to enlarge to our scientific understanding of hydraulic fracturing as it works toward finalizing this assessment.\n###\n\n\t  \n\t\t[1] U.S. EPA (2015) Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources (pp. 22) [Executive Summary]. (EPA/600/R-15/047c) Washington, D.C.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[2] U.S. EPA (2011) Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources (pp.66). (EPA/600/R-11/122) Washington, D.C.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[4] U.S. EPA (2015) Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources (pp. 12) [Executive Summary]. (EPA/600/R-15/047c) Washington, D.C.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[5] Llewellyn G, Dorman F, Westland JL, Yoxtheimer D, Grieve P, Sowers T, Humston-Fulmer E, Brantley S (2015) Evaluating a groundwater supply contamination incident attributed to Marcellus Shale gas development. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112(20): 6325-6330.\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[6] U.S. EPA (2015) Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources (pp. 4) [Executive Summary] (EPA/600/R-15/047c) Washington, D.C.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1249", "Perlmutter Supports Bipartisan Budget Agreement", "2015-10-28", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Perlmutter Supports Bipartisan Budget Agreement \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, DC,\r\n        October 28, 2015\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\nToday, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) voted to support a bipartisan budget agreement which allows our country to move forward and work on the important priorities of Americans:\r\n\r\nThis two-year bipartisan budget agreement breaks through partisan gridlock and provides relief from harmful automatic budget cuts so we can invest in programs that will grow our economy while keeping America safe.The agreement reflects Colorado values by ensuring it is paid for in a balanced way that is fully offset. The agreement protects certain seniors from increases to their Medicare Part B premiums while preventing a 20 percent cut in disability benefits and making needed reforms that extend the solvency of Social Security Disability Insurance. With this agreement, the full faith and credit of the United States is affirmed and we can ensure America can pay the bills we've already incurred and provide certainty for financial markets, businesses and families.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, the agreement helps us move away from quick fixes that prolong harmful budget cuts and economic uncertainty for businesses and families. While not a perfect deal, I hope this kind of bipartisan compromise continues as we move forward with funding the government in December to avoid another harmful government shutdown. I will continue to work on the important priorities of Coloradans and do what's right for the hard working people in the middle.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=6AABA090-BFAF-27C4-7327-898805EF318C", "Bennet Presses Colleagues to Pass Bill to Combat Childhood Hunger", "2015-10-28", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Following a discussion in the Senate Agriculture Committee about childhood hunger and the summer meals program with actor Jeff Bridges, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet is pressing his colleagues to pass his bipartisan bill to improve access to child nutrition programs during the summer months. The bill, introduced with Senator John Boozman (R-AR) in August, would make the summer meals programs more effective and flexible to help them reach more children in need, particularly children in rural communities.\n\"Every teacher in this country will tell you that kids who are eating nutritious meals are better prepared to excel in school and live happy and healthy lives,\" Bennet said. \"But for too many students, a majority of their meals come from free and reduced meal programs at school. Many kids don't currently have access to these vital meals during the summer months, and as a result, go hungry. Our bill gives states more flexibility to extend these programs when school isn't in session to ensure kids aren't going hungry.\"\nThe U.S. Department of Agriculture currently operates its Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to offer children from low-income families free lunch and snacks during the summer. Unfortunately, in Colorado only nine percent of children eligible for free or reduced school lunch receive summer meals. This includes the 31 percent of low-income kids who live outside of areas eligible for an open summer meals site.  The Hunger Free Summer for Kids Act would provide states with two additional options for addressing child hunger during the summer months including:  \n \nAuthorizing summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and providing eligible families up to $30 per summer month per child to purchase eligible food items. In United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pilot programs, Summer EBT reduced the most severe forms of food insecurity for children by 33 percent.\nAllowing states the flexibility to choose what makes the most sense in their communities by giving states the option to provide summer meals without a centralized feeding site when a certain condition exists, such as in a rural area, in an area that is not eligible to operate an open summer meals site, during a time of extreme weather, or when there are public safety concerns.\n \n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=7E78F0FE-8583-47A9-6725-BEA76A75F7CF", "USDA Designates Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, and Montrose Counties as Disaster Areas Due to Severe Freeze", "2015-10-28", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Senator Michael Bennet announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Delta County as a primary disaster area due to damage caused by severe periods of freezing that took place April 2nd through the 19th . Gunnison County, Mesa County, and Montrose County have been designated as contiguous disaster areas.  Both of these  designations make farm operators in these counties eligible to be considered for federal assistance, including Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. \"The freeze in April of this year was severely damaging to crops and caused losses for producers on the western slope,\" Bennet said. \"These disaster designations will allow farmers to access critical assistance to help them recover from the damages.\" Producers in counties designated as primary or contiguous disaster areas are eligible to be considered for FSA emergency loans. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of the disaster declaration to apply for assistance. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers and ranchers with additional information.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perlmutter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1248", "Perlmutter Votes to Reauthorize Export-Import Bank", "2015-10-27", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Ed Perlmutter", "P000593", "perlmutter.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) voted to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import (EX-Im) Bank, which promotes exports by U.S. companies and supports more than 160,000 U.S. jobs.\r\n\r\nMy district, the suburbs of Denver, 18 small companies benefit from the Export-Import Bank and the guaranteed support it provides. Hundreds and hundreds of jobs, and these are jobs in plastics, scientific equipment, food manufacturing, wood products, electrical equipment,said Rep. Perlmutter in his floor remarks in support of reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank. Those are the forgotten people in this argument. Those are real jobs and real people.\r\n\r\nTo watch Rep. Perlmutter's full remarks, see below or click here.\r\n\r\n\r\nRep. Perlmutter has long advocated for the Ex-Im Bank. The Bank has created and maintained U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers and actually returns money to the Treasury for deficit reduction every year. In FY 2014 alone, the Ex-Im Bank supported more than 164,000 private-sector jobs and $27.4 billion worth of U.S. exports, generating a $675 million surplus. Almost every developed country has an Ex-Im Bank to help its businesses, and not having one puts the U.S. economy at a severe disadvantage.\r\n\r\nThe vote to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank was a result of more than 40 Republicans and Democrats working together to sign a discharge petition demanding that legislation come to the House floor for a vote, marking the first successful discharge petition since 2002. The Ex-Im Bank expired July 1, 2015 after Republican congressional leaders refused to bring it up for a reauthorization vote.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=43F4D69C-5977-1040-139E-704ECCFC3C25", "Senate Passes Bennet, Portman Measure to Strengthen Federal Cybersecurity", "2015-10-27", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Measure Included in Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA) \nWould Ensure Federal Agencies Have Skilled, Trained Workforce to Combat Cyber Threats\nWashington, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate passed a provision written by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) to strengthen federal cybersecurity by implementing a consistent framework for identifying cyber-related positions and recruiting qualified personnel across the federal government. The measure was included as part of the bipartisan Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA), which allows public and private sector entities to share cyber threat data through a centralized Department of Homeland Security (DHS) portal.\n\"Cyber attacks are a growing national problem that will only increase as we rely more heavily on the Internet, mobile devices, and other new technologies,\" Bennet said. \"Recent attacks, like the Office of Personnel Management breach, have exposed federal cyber vulnerabilities.  We need to take steps to pinpoint our weaknesses and deploy the resources and personnel to combat these evolving threats.  Our measure will implement a uniform system for identifying areas where we are susceptible to attacks and ensure that federal agencies have the highly-trained personnel that they need.\"\n\"Recent hacks have exposed the need to improve the federal government's ability to protect sensitive information and infrastructure,\" Portman stated. \"To keep us secure, we need world-class, highly-trained cybersecurity employees in the right places in the federal workforce. Our bill takes important steps towards accomplishing that goal and I am pleased that it has passed the Senate today.\"\nOver the past several decades, agencies across the federal government have established individual hiring processes and approaches to manage federal IT systems and infrastructure.  As cybersecurity threats have increased across the government, it has become increasingly clear a uniform system to better educate, recruit, train, develop, and retain a highly-qualified workforce is essential.  In 2011, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported on the significant challenges federal agencies face to determine the size and composition of their cybersecurity workforce because of the wide variations in how the work and workforce is defined.\nThe National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) together launched the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), which is working to uniformly classify cybersecurity job functions. This new framework will help agencies assess their current workforce to identify skill shortages, and provide a comprehensive look at the cybersecurity workforce across the entire federal government.\nThe Bennet-Portman provision will help move the initiative forward by defining specific tasks, milestones, and timelines for agencies to follow, and directing agencies to assess where their cybersecurity workforces are weakest. The bipartisan proposal will help ensure that the necessary federal departments and agencies are meeting key deadlines and reporting to Congress on time.\nThis provision follows on a narrower measure Portman and Bennet passed as an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Workforce Recruitment and Retention Act that extended these security reforms to the Department of Homeland Security.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=5D2DD170-80BB-3762-841E-EF594E1DF1EE", "Bennet Announces Bipartisan Selection Advisory Committee to Fill Federal Court Vacancy", "2015-10-27", "2015", "2015-10", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - Today, Senator Michael Bennet announced the formation of a bipartisan advisory committee that will implement an open process to recommend highly qualified applicants to fill an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. District Court in Colorado, created by Judge Robert Blackburn's taking senior status on April 12, 2016.\nGiven the overwhelming dockets the court currently faces and the need to provide access to timely and efficient justice, Senator Bennet is moving forward with a bipartisan committee in advance of Judge Blackburn taking senior status. This bipartisan process reflects Senator Bennet's interest in a nonpartisan, merit selection system that is consistent with the University of Denver's Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System's (IAALS) recommendations.\nHal Haddon, former co-chair of previous advisory panels and a Denver lawyer, and Candy Figa, a prominent attorney in the Denver metro area, who has also been active in civic affairs, including serving as a City Councilmember and Mayor Pro tem of Greenwood Village and on the 18th Judicial Nominating Commission, will serve as bipartisan co-chairs.\nCo-chairs Haddon and Figa are seeking highly qualified individuals to apply. Application forms can be found on Senator Bennet's website and are due to Senator Bennet's office by November 23, 2015.\n\"We look forward to the expert advice and counsel of this advisory panel in evaluating potential nominees for this vital appointment. I am confident we will identify outstanding candidates to submit to the President for consideration,\" Bennet said.\nCommittee Chairs:   Candy Figa, Burns, Figa, and Will  Hal Haddon, Haddon, Morgan, and Foreman\nMembers:  R. Stanton Dodge, DISH Network Corporation  April Jones, Jones Law Firm, PC  Frances Koncilja, The Koncilja Law Firm  Cynthia Mares, Arapahoe County Public Trustee   Gordon W. Netzorg, Sherman & Howard L.L.C.  Ken Spann, Spann Ranches, Incorporated  Shannon Stevenson, Davis Graham & Stubbs  Michael Theis, Hogan Lovells US LLP  Carolynne C. White, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP   \nFAQ's and Procedures\nWhere can I find an application for consideration? Qualified individuals should obtain application forms and instructions here:  (Application or Instructions)  When are applications due back to the Senator's office? To ensure consideration, applications must be received by November 23, 2015.\nIf I applied to Senator Gardner's Committee, do I need to reapply for consideration? Applicants interested in consideration for a recommendation for nomination from this committee must submit an application by the deadline of November 23, 2015.\nIs this application the same as the application used for Senator Gardner's Advisory Panel? Both committees used a modified version of the U.S. Judiciary Committee's Application for Judicial Nomination and therefore are substantially the same.   Please resubmit your application to this committee with an updated signed affidavit.\nHow should I submit my completed application, attachments, and letters of reference? Applicants will submit their entire completed application with all attachments and letters of reference as a single PDF to a confidential Dropbox. To obtain instructions on uploading to Dropbox, please use the following link: (Instructions).\nHow will I know if I am granted an interview? Senator Bennet's staff will notify interviewees the week of December 7 of their selection for an interview with the committee and schedule interview times.\nWhen will interviews take place and for how long? Currently, interviews will take place on December 15 - 16, 2015 in Central Denver. Each interview will be 30 minutes in length.\nIf I have further questions, who can I contact for assistance? Please email Senator Bennet's office at judicial_noms@bennet.senate.gov or call Sarah Hughes at 303-455-7600.\nTimeline:  Application Due: November 23  Committee Interviews Applicants: Dec 15 - 16", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 615, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "CO", "p2": "2015"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=CO&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 615, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CO&year=2015", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=CO&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 615, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=CO&year=2015&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=CO&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "CO", "label": "CO", "count": 615, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2015", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=CO&year=2015", "results": [{"value": "2015", "label": "2015", "count": 615, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=CO", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2015-10-27,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ebennet~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpublic~2Findex~2Ecfm~2Fpress-releases~3Fid~3D5D2DD170-80BB-3762-841E-EF594E1DF1EE", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=CO&year=2015&_next=2015-10-27%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ebennet~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fpublic~2Findex~2Ecfm~2Fpress-releases~3Fid~3D5D2DD170-80BB-3762-841E-EF594E1DF1EE&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 185.96224300563335, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}