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Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press

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461 rows where chamber = "Senate", state = "CO" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending

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url title date ▲ year month party chamber state member_name bioguide_id domain scraper source date_source text has_text collected_at updated_at
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/31/bennet-hickenlooper-slam-trumps-veto-of-their-finish-the-avc-act/ Bennet, Hickenlooper Slam Trump’s Veto of Their Finish the AVC Act 2025-12-31 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed their bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act: “Nothing says ‘Make America Great Again’ like denying 50,000 rural Coloradans access to clean, affordable drinking water. President Trump’s first veto of his second term blocks a bipartisan bill that both the House and Senate passed unanimously, costs taxpayers nothing, and delivers safe, reliable water to rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him. Trump’s attacks on Southern Colorado are politics at its worst—putting personal and political grievances ahead of Americans. Southeastern Coloradans were promised the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit more than 60 years ago. With this veto, President Trump broke that promise and demonstrated exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington. We will keep fighting to make sure rural Coloradans get the clean drinking water they were promised.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/31/bennet-statement-on-federal-intervention-at-northwest-colorado-power-plant/ Bennet Statement on Federal Intervention at Northwest Colorado Power Plant 2025-12-31 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement following the Department of Energy’s 202(c) 90-day order to require Craig Station’s Unit 1, a 427 MW coal-fired power plant in Northwest Colorado, to remain operational past its planned 2025 retirement: “President Trump’s so-called “energy emergency” is being used to justify tying the hands of utilities, forcing them to keep aging, outdated power plants open, often at high cost to the consumers they serve, whether or not it makes sense for energy reliability. It is unacceptable to burden ratepayers with these unnecessary costs. The Department of Energy (DOE) should be focused on doing everything it can to partner with transitioning communities and make energy more affordable. Instead, this administration is overriding business decisions and ignoring the costly consequences for Coloradans. “The DOE order is the latest in a string of attacks against Colorado, because we refuse to bend to the President. President Trump continues to take out his personal and political grievances on Coloradans who are already struggling to make ends meet. Federal intervention like this makes long-term planning impossible – this is not how you operate a business, plan an electric grid, or help a community stay prosperous. I am disappointed but not surprised by this continued revenge tour.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-slam-trumps-veto-of-their-finish-the-avc-act/ Hickenlooper, Bennet Slam Trump’s Veto of Their Finish the AVC Act 2025-12-31 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper DENVER — U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed their bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act: “Nothing says ‘Make America Great Again’ like denying 50,000 rural Coloradans access to clean, affordable drinking water. President Trump’s first veto of his second term blocks a bipartisan bill that both the House and Senate passed unanimously, costs taxpayers nothing, and delivers safe, reliable water to rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him. Trump’s attacks on Southern Colorado are politics at its worst—putting personal and political grievances ahead of Americans. Southeastern Coloradans were promised the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit more than 60 years ago. With this veto, President Trump broke that promise and demonstrated exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington. We will keep fighting to make sure rural Coloradans get the clean drinking water they were promised.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/23/icymi-bennet-fights-back-against-trumps-targeted-attacks-on-colorado/ ICYMI: Bennet Fights Back Against Trump’s Targeted Attacks on Colorado 2025-12-23 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet slammed President Trump for canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants from the Departments of Transportation and Energy, dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and denying Colorado’s request for two emergency declarations following extreme flooding and wildfires. Before the Senate adjourned for the year, Bennet blocked the appropriations package from advancing before the holidays to demand funding to protect NCAR. “After more than a week of targeted actions against Colorado, it’s clear President Trump has turned his sights on our state because we refuse to go along with his corrupt demands,” said Senator Bennet. “This holiday season, hundreds of NCAR employees face uncertainty about their jobs and communities across the state are worried they won’t get the support they need to rebuild their lives after historic flooding and wildfires. Colorado deserves better, and I am doing everything in my power to fight back and protect our state from the President’s vindictive chaos.” Here’s how Senator Bennet is fighting for Colorado: KKCO 11: Colorado Senator Bennet accuses Trump of retaliating against Colorado over Tina Peters Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., is accusing President Donald Trump of taking punitive actions against Colorado that Bennet describes as political retaliation. During a press call, Bennet criticized several recent decisions tied to the federal government’s relationship with the state — including the administration’s reported call to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Bennet also warned of broader consequences beyond Colorado if NCAR were dismantled. “I think that Colorado deserves much better from our federal government. Our entire country deserves better from our federal government. We will not stand by while President Trump attacks Colorado and puts our communities in danger. We’ll use every tool at our disposal to fight back against this reckless political attack,” he said. Co… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/2025-in-review-hickenlooper-defends-colorado-against-trump-chaos/ 2025 in Review: Hickenlooper Defends Colorado Against Trump Chaos 2025-12-23 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – It’s been a hell of a year, Colorado. Here are just a few of the ways Senator Hickenlooper fought this administration’s chaos and stood up for Coloradans in 2025. DEFENDING SCIENCE Last week, Senator Hickenlooper blocked a federal appropriations package in the Senate after President Trump announced his plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder and cancel millions intransportation grants designated for Colorado. Hickenlooper demanded Republicans add an amendment to the package guaranteeing that all funding for NCAR be fully spent. After blocking the bill on the Senate floor, Hickenlooper joined protesters outside of NCAR in Boulder on Saturday to raise public pressure against cuts to critical environmental research. PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS Hickenlooper also led the fight against Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to force the BLM to sell up to 1.2 million acres of public lands in Colorado and 10 other Western states. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm in April, when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. In May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park. The public pressure campaign worked. Following mounting opposition from Western senators and their constituents, Senator Lee stripped the public lands sale provision from the bill in June. PROTECTING HEALTH CARE Since the beginning of the year, Hickenlooper has railed against Republicans’ manufactured health care crisis and worked closely with state leaders to protect Coloradans’ care. In July, congressional Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cutting more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for huge tax cuts for the… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-hurd-mobilize-bipartisan-coalition-to-protect-ncar/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, Hurd Mobilize Bipartisan Coalition to Protect NCAR 2025-12-22 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representatives Joe Neguse and Jeff Hurd led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to protect funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. They mobilized 76 lawmakers to demand top congressional appropriators include language in the government funding package to prevent the dismantling of NCAR and ensure NCAR can maintain its core capabilities and continue delivering vital Earth system science that promotes public safety and improves national security. “Donald Trump’s vengeful plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research is not only illegal, it’s indefensible,” said Hickenlooper. “It will have devastating consequences not only for Colorado, but across the country. Colorado won’t be intimidated by the bully in the White House. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to fight back.” “Last week, I blocked the Senate appropriations process to demand full funding for NCAR in response to President Trump’s threat to dismantle it,” said Bennet. “NCAR’s work is indispensable for communities, decision-makers, and emergency responders. From predicting extreme weather conditions to supporting disaster preparedness to understanding how wildfires spread, the elimination of NCAR would be catastrophic for public safety and national security. I am grateful to Representatives Neguse and Hurd for their partnership on the effort to protect NCAR. We will explore every avenue to ensure we don’t lose this vital institution.” “The work being done at NCAR is vital to our state, our country, and our planet. The breathtaking advancements these scientists and researchers are making every day play a critical role in alerting communities to extreme weather conditions and the advanced modeling systems they are creating are vital to our national security. Any attempt to dismantle this institution is dangerous, reckless, and would, ultimately, put the United States at a very deep competitive disadvantage,” said Ne… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-polis-call-on-president-to-reverse-denial-of-colorados-disaster-requests/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Polis Call on President to Reverse Denial of Colorado’s Disaster Requests 2025-12-21 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper This Saturday, President Trump denied Colorado’s requests for FEMA funding to help communities rebuild from devastation fires and floods WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Governor Jared Polis called on President Trump to reverse his decision to deny Colorado’s Major Disaster Declaration requests for the Elk and Lee Fires and the flooding in Western Colorado. These federal declarations would have unlocked FEMA funding to support the recovery efforts for each of these disasters, providing critical aid to impacted Western Colorado residents and businesses. “Coloradans are trying to rebuild their lives after fires and floods destroyed homes and communities across our state. Trump’s decision to reject our disaster requests, and therefore withhold resources as our communities continue to recover, is unacceptable. This isn’t a game. These are people’s lives,” said Hickenlooper. “President Trump’s decision to deny Colorado’s request for critical federal assistance is unacceptable,” said Bennet. “Communities in Western Colorado are in serious need of help after the life-threatening flooding and historic wildfires earlier this year. Trump continues to use Coloradans for political games; it is malicious and obscene. A disaster is a disaster, regardless of what state in the country it took place. Together with Governor Polis and the Colorado delegation, I will take every available step to appeal this decision.” “Coloradans impacted by the Elk and Lee fires and the flooding in Southwestern Colorado deserve better than the political games President Trump is playing. One of the most amazing things to witness as Governor has been the resilience of Coloradans following a natural disaster. Their courage, strength, and willingness to help one another is unmatched – values that President Trump seems to have forgotten. I call on the President’s better angels, and urge him to reconsider these requests. This is about the Coloradans who need this support, and we won’t stop fighting for them t… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/19/bennet-hickenlooper-hold-appropriations-package-to-demand-ncar-funding/ Bennet, Hickenlooper Hold Appropriations Package to Demand NCAR Funding 2025-12-19 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper issued the following joint statement on their hold to the Senate Appropriations Package to demand funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR): “President Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration. His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country. We are holding the Senate’s appropriations package to demand full funding for NCAR. As Trump’s rampage continues, we will pull every lever available to do what is right for Colorado.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-colleagues-demand-answers-on-trump-vas-plan-to-eliminate-tens-of-thousands-of-health-care-jobs/ Hickenlooper, Colleagues Demand Answers on Trump VA’s Plan to Eliminate Tens of Thousands of Health Care Jobs 2025-12-19 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Richard Blumenthal, along with 36 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins demanding answers about the Trump administration’s plans to eliminate as many as 35,000 jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “Unfilled positions are not reflective of unnecessary positions, and the length of time a position is vacant is not a suitable data point for determining need. At a time when veterans are already facing widespread cuts in their access to health care from H.R. 1, skyrocketing health insurance premiums from expiring enhanced premium tax credits, and forced closures of rural hospitals, VA needs to be expanding its capacity and staffing levels, not reducing them. Veterans deserve a VA staffed according to their needs and a Secretary who works to fill needed positions, not abolish them,” the senators wrote. This follows recent reporting on the Administration’s plans to eliminate tens of thousands of unfilled mission-critical health care positions at the VA, including for doctors, nurses, and support staff. The VA already lost more than 40,000 employees between January and September of this year as a result of President Trump’s hiring freeze, deferred resignations, early retirements, and many have quit as a result of this administration’s reckless policies. The VA had at least 42,000 vacancies across the Department as of March 31, 2025, and that number is estimated to have grown significantly since then. The removal of these positions would put VA at pre-PACT Act staffing levels. More than one million veterans newly enrolled in VA health care as a result of expanded eligibility under the PACT Act, and millions more have increased reliance on VA because of toxic exposure-related illnesses and injuries. These continued cuts of VA health care follow widespread health care cuts initiated by Republicans across the government. Senate Republicans have failed to join Democratic efforts to extend Affordable Ca… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-reintroduces-bill-to-prepare-federal-government-for-cannabis-legalization-2/ Hickenlooper Reintroduces Bill to Prepare Federal Government for Cannabis Legalization 2025-12-19 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper PREPARE Act would develop framework federal legalization based on Colorado’s Task Force The President announced plans to reclassify marijuana to Schedule III WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper reintroduced the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulated Environment (PREPARE) Act to prepare the federal government for federal legalization of cannabis. Following the President’s announcement to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, Hickenlooper welcomed the decision and pushed the admin to support his bill: “Another example of Colorado blazing the trail,” Hickenlooper posted on Twitter/X. “Now release and expunge records for everyone who was charged with federal marijuana crimes – and let’s pass our bill to prepare us for federal legalization while we’re at it.” Hickenlooper has consistently advocated for the federal government to change the classification of marijuana. Hickenlooper previously urged the DEA to completely deschedule marijuana. He co-sponsors the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, which would deschedule marijuana. Though cannabis is currently illegal at the federal level, many states have followed Colorado’s safe and legal model. The PREPARE Act establishes a federal commission, modeled after Colorado’s regulatory commission, to advise the government on proper safeguards for federal cannabis legalization. On December 10, 2012, a month after Colorado voted to legalize marijuana, then-Governor Hickenlooper convened the Amendment 64 Task Force to provide recommendations for the development of regulations. Those regulations led to the thriving, safe, marijuana industry in Colorado today. The PREPARE Act would replicate the Amendment 64 Task Force at the federal level. Specifically, the PREPARE Act-established federal commission would: Advise on the development of a federal regulatory framework modeled after state cannabis regulations. Consider barriers and suggestions for regulating Cannabis similar to alcohol. Identify ways to remedy the disprop… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/18/bennet-leads-bipartisan-colleagues-in-support-of-european-plans-to-leverage-russian-sovereign-assets-for-ukraine/ Bennet Leads Bipartisan Colleagues in Support of European Plans to Leverage Russian Sovereign Assets for Ukraine 2025-12-18 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, led a bipartisan letter to Belgian Ambassador to the U.S. Frédéric Bernard expressing support for European Commission efforts to leverage Russian sovereign assets to finance a loan for Ukraine. “As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to wage his unjust and unprovoked war against Ukraine – all while carrying out a variety of hybrid attacks against Europe and the United States – we write to express our support for European Commission (EC) proposals to raise up to $244 billion via leveraged frozen Russian sovereign assets to provide a loan to Ukraine, which Kyiv will repay only if Moscow pays reparations after the war,” said the Senators. The Senators emphasized the importance of moving quickly to leverage Russian sovereign assets to enable Ukraine’s purchase of essential defense systems and alleviate looming fiscal challenges. “Putin will not stop if he wins in Ukraine but will continue testing NATO’s resolve, posing risks to our collective security. Providing additional financial support is of paramount importance for the sake of Ukraine, for a Europe that is whole and free, and one day at peace – and for the defense of democracy everywhere,” concluded the Senators. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter. The text of the letter is available HERE and below. Dear Ambassador Bernard: As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to wage his unjust and unprovoked war against Ukraine – all while carrying out a variety of hybrid attacks against Europe and the United States – we write to express our support for European Commission (EC) proposals to raise up to $244 billion via leveraged frozen Russian sovereign assets to provide a loan to Ukraine, which Kyiv will repay only if Moscow pays reparations after the war. European Union (EU) officials have neg… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-hold-appropriations-package-to-demand-ncar-funding/ Hickenlooper, Bennet Hold Appropriations Package to Demand NCAR Funding 2025-12-18 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet issued the following joint statement on their hold to the Senate Appropriations Package to demand funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). “President Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration. His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country. We are holding the Senate’s appropriations package to demand full funding for NCAR. As Trump’s rampage continues, we will pull every lever available to do what is right for Colorado.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-slams-new-republican-effort-to-open-national-parks-for-sale/ Hickenlooper Slams New Republican Effort to Open National Parks for Sale 2025-12-18 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper This latest effort follows Senate Republicans’ push to sell off three million acres of public lands this summer WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper called out the latest Republican effort to erase protections for national parks and public lands in a Senate spending package and open them to being sold. On Twitter/x, he posted: “Right before the holidays, Republicans keep looking for sneaky ways to sell off our public lands and national parks – this time as an amendment to the Interior appropriations bill. “We stopped them before, and we’re ready to do it again. “OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE NOT FOR SALE.” Specifically, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) Chairman Mike Lee proposed an amendment to the proposed spending package for the Department of Interior to remove provisions that prevent the Trump administration from selling off national parks and require the administration to keep ownership and maintain all existing National Park Service units and national historic trails. Hickenlooper has been outspoken against Trump administration cuts to public lands and helped lead the fight against Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off more than three million acres of public lands this summer. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm back in April when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment with colleagues to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. In May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park. He also led an effort against the admin’s plans to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule. In March, he introduced legislation to reinstate the thousands of National Park Service and Forest Service workers the Trump administration illegally fired. ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/17/bennet-hickenlooper-statement-on-trump-administrations-vengeful-attack-on-colorado/ Bennet, Hickenlooper Statement on Trump Administration’s Vengeful Attack on Colorado 2025-12-17 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper released the following joint statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder and cancel millions in transportation and energy grants designated for Colorado: “Donald Trump’s vengeful plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research and cut millions in federal grants is the latest in a list of indefensible attacks against Colorado. The announcement of NCAR’s closure comes after the administration’s plans to cancel federal grants from the Departments of Transportation and Energy—making clear this is not policy, but political retribution against a state that refuses to bend to the president’s will. “We will not stand by while Donald Trump weaponizes the federal government to punish Colorado. These reckless, politically motivated decisions put lives and livelihoods at risk, and we will use every tool at our disposal to fight back.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/17/bennet-hickenloopers-dolores-river-national-conservation-area-and-special-management-area-act-passes-senate-committee-with-bipartisan-support/ Bennet, Hickenlooper’s Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act Passes Senate Committee with Bipartisan Support 2025-12-17 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), celebrated the Committee’s unanimous passage of their Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act out of ENR. “For the people of Southwest Colorado, the Dolores River is more than just a landmark – it’s the lifeblood of their communities and way of life,” said Bennet. “This bill was written by Coloradans who live, work, and depend on the Dolores River. It represents a balanced, sensible way forward to resolve many long-standing disagreements, protect the river for all parties, and provide long-term certainty for generations. I am glad to see that it has once again passed out of Committee unanimously, and I will keep pushing to ensure this becomes law.” “Southwestern Coloradans care deeply about the Dolores River,” said Hickenlooper. “Leaders on the ground have spent years deciding how to best protect and invest in the Dolores. We worked with them side by side to design a bipartisan bill to preserve this landscape.” The Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act, which passed the ENR Committee today by a unanimous bipartisan voice vote, would protect over 68,000 acres of public lands in three Colorado counties of Montezuma, Dolores, and San Miguel. For over a decade, Senator Bennet has led congressional engagement with local stakeholders to craft legislation that could garner broad support. As a result, more than two dozen stakeholder groups and local and Tribal governments have sent letters to Senator Bennet in favor of the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act. In 2021, Bennet invited Coloradans to share suggestions to improve the bill during a 45-day comment period and introduced the bill in July 2022 with Senator Hickenlooper. This is the second time the bill has been passed out of the Senate ENR Committee with a unanimous bipartisan voice vote. Statements of… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/17/bennet-neguse-hickenlooper-statement-on-trump-administrations-plan-to-dismantle-national-center-for-atmospheric-research-in-boulder/ Bennet, Neguse, Hickenlooper Statement on Trump Administration’s Plan to Dismantle National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder 2025-12-17 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representative Joe Neguse issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado: “The National Center for Atmospheric Research and its 830 employees are leading the nation’s climate science research, delivering life-saving breakthroughs that provide early warnings for natural disasters and deepen our understanding of Earth’s systems. They are a core component of our state’s economy and an integral part of the fabric of Colorado. Efforts to dismantle this institution and its essential programs are deeply dangerous and blatantly retaliatory. This reckless directive would have devastating consequences for families in Colorado and communities across the nation. We intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge research institution with every tool we have.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-slam-trump-admins-plan-to-dismantle-national-center-for-atmospheric-research-in-boulder/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Slam Trump Admin’s Plan to Dismantle National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder 2025-12-17 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Congressman Joe Neguse released the following joint statement after it was reported that the Trump administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado: “The National Center for Atmospheric Research and its 830 employees are leading the nation’s climate science research, delivering life-saving breakthroughs that provide early warnings for natural disasters and deepen our understanding of Earth’s systems. They are a core component of our state’s economy and an integral part of the fabric of Colorado. “Efforts to dismantle this institution and its essential programs are deeply dangerous and blatantly retaliatory. This reckless directive would have devastating consequences for families in Colorado and communities across the nation. We intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge research institution with every tool we have.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-slam-trump-admins-vengeful-attack-on-colorado/ Hickenlooper, Bennet Slam Trump Admin’s Vengeful Attack on Colorado 2025-12-17 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet released the following joint statement following reports that the Trump administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, as well as cancel millions in transportation and energy grants designated for Colorado: “Donald Trump’s vengeful plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research and cut millions in federal grants is the latest in a list of indefensible attacks against Colorado. The announcement of NCAR’s closure comes after the administration’s plans to cancel federal grants from the Departments of Transportation and Energy—making clear this is not policy, but political retribution against a state that refuses to bend to the president’s will. “We will not stand by while Donald Trump weaponizes the federal government to punish Colorado. These reckless, politically motivated decisions put lives and livelihoods at risk, and we will use every tool at our disposal to fight back.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennets-dolores-river-national-conservation-area-and-special-management-area-act-passes-senate-committee-with-bipartisan-support/ Hickenlooper, Bennet’s Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act Passes Senate Committee with Bipartisan Support 2025-12-17 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet celebrated unanimous passage of their Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which Hickenlooper sits on. “Southwestern Coloradans care deeply about the Dolores River,” said Hickenlooper. “Leaders on the ground have spent years deciding how to best protect and invest in the Dolores. We worked with them side by side to design a bipartisan bill to preserve this landscape.” “For the people of Southwest Colorado, the Dolores River is more than just a landmark – it’s the lifeblood of their communities and way of life,” said Bennet. “This bill was written by Coloradans who live, work, and depend on the Dolores River. It represents a balanced, sensible way forward to resolve many long-standing disagreements, protect the river for all parties, and provide long-term certainty for generations. I am glad to see that it has once again passed out of Committee unanimously, and I will keep pushing to ensure this becomes law.” The Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act would protect over 68,000 acres of public lands in Montezuma, Dolores, and San Miguel counties. The bill follows nearly two decades of local discussion and collaboration on the Dolores River and twelve years of work to find a legislative compromise. In 2004, the Dolores River Dialogue began as a forum for all stakeholders to discuss their perspectives on Dolores River management. In 2008, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management requested that the Dolores River Dialogue – a coalition of diverse interests in the region – convene a broad-based community group to study pressing management issues in the Dolores River corridor from McPhee to Bedrock, including the possibility of a Wild and Scenic River federal designation. Through consensus agreement, the working group, known as the Lower Dolores Plan Working Group, decided to explore the possibility of an NCA and… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/new-study-finds-hickenlooper-methane-rules-cut-colorado-oil-and-gas-emissions-by-70/ New Study Finds Hickenlooper Methane Rules Cut Colorado Oil and Gas Emissions by 70% 2025-12-17 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper cheered new findings from the Environmental Defense Fund showing that methane rules Hickenlooper pioneered as governor reduced methane emissions fromColorado’s oil and gas sector by a whopping 70% between 2010 and 2017. Under Hickenlooper’s leadership, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission brought together environmentalists and the oil and gas industry to establish the world’s first methane regulations in 2014. Those regulations were used by President Obama as a model for national standards, which in turn formed the basis of the international methane pledge in 2021. “Colorado was the first state to enact smart methane rules,” said Hickenlooper. “The data proves they work, delivering cleaner air for our communities and making real progress in confronting the climate crisis.” “Under the leadership of then-Gov. John Hickenlooper, Colorado led the nation in tackling the methane problem by adopting the first set of standards to address emissions from oil and gas operations. Analyzing the satellite data indicates that emissions fell dramatically following the adoption of the 2014 rules,” said Nini Gu, Senior Regulatory & Legislative Manager for the West Region. “Smart energy policy design and rigorous data collection are the key to a thriving climate and a thriving economy, in Colorado and beyond.” The findings are based on data collected by Japan’s Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite, also known as GOSAT, between 2010 and 2019. They are reinforced by independent aircraft studies over the Denver-Julesburg Basin that find similar downward trends in the basin’s emissions intensity. As senator, Hickenlooper has championed stronger federal methane rules modeled on Colorado’s. In 2021, he led members of the Colorado congressional delegation in urging the EPA to strengthen methane regulations for the oil and gas sector. He helped negotiate and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which created a $4.7 billion federal program to plug orphaned wells on Federal, S… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/what-theyre-saying-hickenlooper-is-right-to-oppose-trumps-latest-blm-nominee/ What They’re Saying: Hickenlooper is Right to Oppose Trump’s Latest BLM Nominee 2025-12-17 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Hickenlooper: “His nomination is proof that the Trump administration still views our public lands as assets for sale.” WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper announced at the beginning of the month that he would oppose President Trump’s nomination of former U.S. Representative Steve Pearce to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). He was the first senator to publicly oppose Pearce’s nomination and has been sounding the alarm about his nomination. Here’s what they’re saying: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: Hick is right to oppose BLM nominee early Denver 7: WATCH: Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper pushing back against the President’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management Colorado Politics: Colorado’s John Hickenlooper says he’ll oppose BLM nominee Durango Herald: Our view: Reject Pearce “Americans deserve a BLM director who will be a true steward of the millions of acres under the agency’s care. Steve Pearce is NOT that person. While in Congress, he attacked environmental protections and fought to sell off public land,” said Hickenlooper. “His nomination is proof that the Trump administration still views our public lands as assets for sale. On behalf of Colorado, I will vote NO because our public lands are NOT for sale.” Pearce marked his time in Congress working to undermine environmental protections, open public lands for oil and gas operations, and sell public lands. Hickenlooper is a former geologist and one of the only scientists in the Senate. He has been outspoken against Trump administration cuts to public lands and led an effort against the admin’s plans to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule. In March, he introduced legislation to reinstate the thousands of National Park Service and Forest Service workers the Trump administration illegally fired. Hickenlooper also helped lead the fight against Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off more than three million acres of public lands. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm b… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/16/bennet-cassidy-pettersen-salazar-reintroduce-tax-credit-to-help-families-and-small-businesses-prepare-for-natural-disasters/ Bennet, Cassidy, Pettersen, Salazar Reintroduce Tax Credit to Help Families and Small Businesses Prepare for Natural Disasters 2025-12-16 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.), alongside U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) and Maria Salazar (R-Fla.), reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Shelter Act to help families and small businesses protect their homes and properties from future natural disasters and combat rising insurance costs. The legislation would create a first-of-its-kind disaster mitigation tax credit for families and business owners in disaster-prone areas. “Coloradans are all too familiar with increasingly devastating wildfires and other natural disasters that threaten their homes and businesses and drive up insurance costs,” said Bennet. “We can’t focus solely on helping communities recover after these disasters. Congress must do more to help them prepare. This bill helps taxpayers invest in tools and materials to safeguard their homes, businesses, and families from natural disasters before they occur.” “Everybody in my state has lost someone or something they love because of flooding. This is another tool for families to minimize that loss,” said Cassidy. “In Colorado, wildfire season has become a year-round problem and extreme weather events continue to harm more communities every year,” said Pettersen. “Our small businesses and families shouldn’t have to pay the price for the costly impact of wildfires, especially when rising costs are already squeezing Coloradans. As we combat the climate crisis, one of the best things we can do is make sure people can protect their homes and businesses before disaster strikes.” “A single storm shouldn’t be able to erase a lifetime of work. The Shelter Act empowers families and small businesses to fortify their property before disaster strikes, making our communities safer, stronger, and more resilient,” said Salazar. “Miami families know the cost of preparedness all too well, and this bill helps ensure they’re not facing those challenges alone.” The Shelter Act allows Americans to write off 25 percent of qualifying mitigation expen… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/16/bennet-hickenlooper-bill-to-finish-the-arkansas-valley-conduit-heads-to-presidents-desk/ Bennet, Hickenlooper Bill To Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Heads to President’s Desk 2025-12-16 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper’s Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act unanimously passed the Senate today, and will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The legislation will reduce interest payments on all non-federal cost share funds and provide greater flexibility in repayment terms. Further, this bill will ensure underserved communities in Southeastern Colorado can access clean drinking water and repay the federal government. In the last few years, the project cost estimate has nearly doubled due to inflation and increased labor costs. “Over six decades ago, President Kennedy came to Pueblo, Colorado and promised to build the Arkansas Valley Conduit,” said Bennet. “Now, I am pleased to see my Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. This bill will ensure the federal government makes good on its promise to Southeastern Coloradans to deliver a safe and reliable water supply.” “Water has been the lifeblood of Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley since long before JFK promised to deliver them clean drinking water,” said Hickenlooper. “Shovels are in the ground and we’re now on the way to completing the AVC to deliver reliable drinking water to Southeast Colorado.” The Arkansas Valley Conduit is the final component of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, a water diversion and storage project in the lower Arkansas Valley, which Congress approved in 1962. Once constructed, the Conduit will deliver clean drinking water from the Pueblo Reservoir to more than 50,000 families, producers, and municipalities throughout 39 communities in the Lower Arkansas River Valley. Since joining the Senate, Bennet has fought for the Arkansas Valley Conduit. Bennet and Hickenlooper reintroduced the Finish the AVC Act in January of this year. The Senators helped deliver $500 million in funding for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the AVC, including $250 million earlier this year, $9… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/16/bennet-statement-on-president-trumps-executive-order-blocking-state-level-ai-laws/ Bennet Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order Blocking State-Level AI Laws 2025-12-16 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement on President Trump’s executive order restricting current and future state laws regulating the artificial intelligence (AI) industry. “President Trump’s executive order to block state laws regulating artificial intelligence is a dangerous overreach of power that will only make it more difficult to keep our communities safe while promoting innovation. While AI has enormous potential to increase productivity and grow our economy, this unilateral action weakens Colorado’s ability to protect children and consumers. Congress can and must pass bipartisan legislation that supports AI development while protecting the American people. Until then, states must be allowed to develop common-sense frameworks to safeguard their communities while preserving conditions that allow businesses and start-ups to thrive.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/16/bennet-statement-on-president-trumps-nominee-to-lead-bureau-of-land-management/ Bennet Statement on President Trump’s Nominee to Lead Bureau of Land Management 2025-12-16 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on President Trump’s nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management: “Steve Pearce’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Land Management is an insult to Colorado and anyone who cares about the lands that sustain our economy and Western way of life. “Pearce’s views on public lands are completely out of touch with Colorado’s values. He will be the first to sell off our public lands, promote Trump’s misguided ‘drill baby drill’ policies, and demolish the protections that ensure our kids and grandkids will benefit from public lands as we do now. “He is unfit for this position and a threat to Colorado. For these reasons, I will oppose his nomination.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-bill-to-finish-the-arkansas-valley-conduit-heads-to-presidents-desk/ Hickenlooper, Bennet Bill to Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Heads to President’s Desk 2025-12-16 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet’s Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act unanimously passed the Senate, and will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Their bill will lower costs and complete the AVC, a water project that will deliver clean, reliable water to Southeast Colorado communities. “Water has been the lifeblood of Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley since long before JFK promised to deliver them clean drinking water,” said Hickenlooper. “Shovels are in the ground and we’re now on the way to completing the AVC to deliver reliable drinking water to Southeast Colorado.” “Over six decades ago, President Kennedy came to Pueblo, Colorado and promised to build the Arkansas Valley Conduit,” said Bennet. “Now, I am pleased to see my Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. This bill will ensure the federal government makes good on its promise to Southeastern Coloradans to deliver a safe and reliable water supply.” The Arkansas Valley Conduit is the final component of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, a water diversion and storage project in the lower Arkansas Valley, which Congress approved in 1962. Once constructed, the Conduit will deliver clean drinking water from the Pueblo Reservoir to more than 50,000 families, producers, and municipalities throughout 39 communities in the Lower Arkansas River Valley. The Finish the AVC Act would remove interest payments on all non-federal cost share funds and extend the repayment period from 50 to 100 years. This bill helps make sure that underserved communities of Southeastern Colorado can access clean drinking water and repay the federal government. The estimated cost of the project more than doubled from the 2019 estimate of $640 million to $1.3 billion due to increased inflation and labor costs. Hickenlooper and Bennet have long advocated for increased federal funding for the AVC and reintroduced the bipartisan Finish the AVC Act in January this year. Both senat… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/15/bennet-hickenlooper-wyden-democratic-colleagues-demand-answers-from-trump-administration-and-drug-companies-as-health-care-costs-skyrocket/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Wyden, Democratic Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Administration and Drug Companies as Health Care Costs Skyrocket 2025-12-15 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and five Senate Democratic colleagues to demand four major pharmaceutical companies provide specific details about agreements they announced with President Donald Trump to lower drug costs as millions of Americans see the cost of health care skyrocket. On September 30, the Trump Administration announced new agreements with drug manufacturers to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Now, as millions of Americans brace for their health care premiums to double, triple, or even quadruple, the Trump Administration and drug manufacturers have provided few details about how and when Americans will see lower drug costs. “The deep Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1 have put states in the impossible position of trying to figure out how to keep our Medicaid programs afloat and ensure continued patient access across the health care system writ large,” wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, Wyden, and the senators. The letters, sent to Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly ask for specific pricing information on which drugs will be affected by the announcements, what the “most favored nation” price is for those drugs, and what state Medicaid programs will pay in the wake of these announcements. “Critical details about the GENEROUS model also remain unclear, including whether manufacturers can seek exemptions for the drugs where this model could potentially have the greatest impact. It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about what pricing manufacturers will have to offer states under the model and on which drugs,” continued the senators. Hickenlooper and Bennet have been vocal opponents of the Trump Administration’s massive cuts to health care. Earlier this year, Republicans passed President Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which slashes over $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Last week, Senate Democrats put forward a proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/15/bennet-murray-colleagues-demand-answers-from-ice-on-racial-profiling-of-tribal-members-refusal-to-accept-tribal-ids/ Bennet, Murray, Colleagues Demand Answers from ICE on Racial Profiling of Tribal Members, Refusal to Accept Tribal IDs 2025-12-15 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and 10 Senate colleagues in urging U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to provide answers regarding recent incidents of Tribal citizens being mistreated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. In their letter, the lawmakers pointed to reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason apart from their physical appearance, and urged Secretary Noem to develop policy and trainings to ensure that all ICE agents are trained to recognize Tribal IDs, regardless of whether they are working on Tribal lands. “We write to share our alarm over the completely unacceptable treatment of U.S.-born citizens of federally recognized Tribes, who have been stopped and questioned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on suspicion of being undocumented,” wrote Bennet, Murray, and the senators. “In February, several Senators wrote to you following reports of ICE agents improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens. In June, you replied with a letter in which you failed to respond to the majority of the questions raised in the letter. Over the past month, we have heard additional alarming reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason aside from their physical appearance. The disrespect and harassment of U.S.-born Tribal citizens by ICE is outrageous and inexcusable, and we request that you take immediate steps to put an end to it.” In November, Elaine Miles, an Indigenous actor, was approached by four men who identified themselves as ICE agents while waiting for a bus in Redmond, Washington. When she handed them her Tribal ID issued by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, the immigration agents reportedly claimed that her ID was “fake” and that “anyone can make that.” When she attempted to call the Umatilla Tribal enrollment office phone number to verify her ID to the of… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/15/jewish-senate-democrats-statement-on-deadly-attack-against-sydney-hanukkah-celebration/ Jewish Senate Democrats’ Statement on Deadly Attack Against Sydney Hanukkah Celebration 2025-12-15 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), alongside Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), issued the following statement after the murder of 15 people at a menorah lighting in Sydney, Australia celebrating the first night of Hanukkah: “The Festival of Lights commemorates and celebrates the resilience of the Jewish people, our identity and heritage. As we moved into the first night of Hanukkah, that tenacity was tested once again as we mourn those murdered in Sydney during a menorah lighting. Our prayers go out to the Jewish community in Australia, whom we embrace in their terrible hour of suffering. “We are horrified by the brutality of this attack, which comes at a time when Australia has seen a terrible rise in antisemitism. The disturbing wave of antisemitism around the globe has struck anxiety and fear into the hearts of every Jewish community. Some have faced harassment, vandalism, and discrimination. Others, violence as brutal as what we saw yesterday in Sydney. “This attack is the latest reminder of the work that remains to end the scourge of hatred towards Jews. To combat this disease of antisemitism, we must summon the strength to take action against this ancient hatred, and the courage to press on in the face of such violence against Jewish people at home and abroad. “We must speak out against all discrimination, from heinous acts like today to the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric, and the attempts to blur the line between political disagreement and antisemitic hate. And we give thanks to the bravery of people like Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit shop owner, who risked his own life on Bondi Beach to stop others from losing theirs. “May the memory of those we lost be a blessing, and may courage flow through the hearts of every Jewish family that lit their first candle last night and over th… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-democratic-colleagues-demand-answers-from-trump-admin-and-drug-companies-as-health-care-costs-skyrocket/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Democratic Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Admin and Drug Companies as Health Care Costs Skyrocket 2025-12-15 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Letter comes as 15 million Americans – and 241,000 Coloradans – brace to lose health care under cuts in Trump’s tax and spending bill WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet recently joined six of their Democratic Senate colleagues to demand four major pharmaceutical companies provide specific details about agreements they announced with President Trump to lower drug costs as millions of Americans see the cost of health care skyrocket. On September 30, the Trump administration announced new agreements with drug manufacturers to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Now, as millions of Americans brace for their health care premiums to double, the Trump administration and drug manufacturers have provided few details about how and when Americans will see lower drug costs. “The deep Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1 have put states in the impossible position of trying to figure out how to keep our Medicaid programs afloat and ensure continued patient access across the health care system writ large,” the senators wrote. “Critical details about the GENEROUS model also remain unclear, including whether manufacturers can seek exemptions for the drugs where this model could potentially have the greatest impact. It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about what pricing manufacturers will have to offer states under the model and on which drugs,” they continued. The letters, sent to Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly ask for specific pricing information on which drugs will be affected by the announcements, what the “most favored nation” price is for those drugs, and what state Medicaid programs will pay in the wake of these announcements. Hickenlooper and Bennet have been vocal opponents of the Trump administration’s massive cuts to health care. Earlier this year, Republicans passed President Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act which slashes over $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Last week, Senate Democrats put forward a proposal to extend the Affordable C… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-cornyn-cheer-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-satellite-data-sharing/ Hickenlooper, Cornyn Cheer Senate Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Expand Satellite Data Sharing 2025-12-15 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Legislation would ensure partnerships between NASA and the private sector to boost satellite-enabled research WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and John Cornyn applauded the unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries (ASCEND) Act, which would codify NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program and continue shared access to commercial small-satellite (SmallSat) datasets that prove crucial for Earth science research and applications. The bill passed the Senate last week and now heads to the House of Representatives. “Scientists rely on satellite data to understand Earth and beyond. We’re one step closer to signing our ASCEND Act into law to strengthen our private-sector partnerships for satellite data and drive new discoveries,” said Hickenlooper. “Investing in satellite data and imagery gives us a deeper understanding of everything from agricultural yields to weather forecasting and disaster response,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would create a permanent program through NASA to expand the data pool available to us and build on prior success.” Alongside the unprecedented growth of the commercial space industry, technological advancements have enabled the development of SmallSats with novel capabilities. Commercial SmallSats provide high-resolution data to complement the suite of Earth observations acquired by NASA, other U.S. Government agencies, and international partners. Earth observation data supplied by satellites in orbit provide important information for a variety of purposes, including increasing agricultural crop yields, informing forest conservation, improving disaster mitigation and response, forecasting space weather, advancing science, and more. NASA established CSDA as a pilot program in 2017 to identify and evaluate commercial capabilities, establish new processes to onramp vendors, and enable broad sharing and use of acquired data products. The CSDA pilot program proved to be a success, with particip… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/12/bennet-leads-colorado-democrats-in-demanding-dhs-implement-the-law-to-protect-religious-communities/ Bennet Leads Colorado Democrats in Demanding DHS Implement the Law to Protect Religious Communities 2025-12-12 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet led his Colorado Democratic colleagues – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Diana DeGette, Brittany Pettersen, and Jason Crow – on a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urging the DHS to protect religious communities in Colorado and across the country by implementing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act, legislation passed through the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill made necessary improvements to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which organizations use to deploy physical security enhancements and emergency preparedness capabilities. These improvements include expanding the eligible uses of grant funding and reauthorizing the NSGP at higher funding levels. “The NSGP provides at-risk nonprofit organizations – like places of worship, schools, and community centers – with critical resources to bolster protections amid heightened risk of attack. The NSGP Improvement Act provided necessary funding and strengthened FEMA’s ability to administer the program, directing FEMA to establish an office dedicated to overseeing the NSGP. That office would be responsible for publishing important information about grant applications, conducting outreach, and providing technical assistance to states and nonprofit organizations. To date, neither FEMA nor DHS has released information on the creation of this office,” wrote the lawmakers. Additionally, the letter urges DHS to allow organizations to use NSGP funds to pay permanent salaried employees or personnel expenses. The lawmakers emphasized that without this flexibility, nonprofits are forced to rely on security contractors who are unreliable and often hard to procure. “In light of the recent surge in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and other violent hate-based incidents in the United States, the importance of this program cannot be overstated. We urge DHS and FEMA to do more to ensure NSGP allows nonprofi… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-degette-neguse-crow-pettersen-demand-dhs-protect-religious-communities/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, DeGette, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen Demand DHS Protect Religious Communities 2025-12-12 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON— U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen on a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urging the DHS to protect religious communities in Colorado and across the country by implementing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act, legislation passed through the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill made necessary improvements to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which organizations use to deploy physical security enhancements and emergency preparedness capabilities. These improvements include expanding the eligible uses of grant funding and reauthorizing the NSGP at higher funding levels. “The NSGP provides at-risk nonprofit organizations – like places of worship, schools, and community centers – with critical resources to bolster protections amid heightened risk of attack. The NSGP Improvement Act provided necessary funding and strengthened FEMA’s ability to administer the program, directing FEMA to establish an office dedicated to overseeing the NSGP. That office would be responsible for publishing important information about grant applications, conducting outreach, and providing technical assistance to states and nonprofit organizations. To date, neither FEMA nor DHS has released information on the creation of this office,” wrote the lawmakers. Additionally, the letter urges DHS to allow organizations to use NSGP funds to pay permanent salaried employees or personnel expenses. The lawmakers emphasized that without this flexibility, nonprofits are forced to rely on security contractors who are unreliable and often hard to procure. “In light of the recent surge in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and other violent hate-based incidents in the United States, the importance of this program cannot be overstated. We urge DHS and FEMA to do more to ensure NSGP allows nonprofits and religious organizations to better protect the people they se… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-shaheen-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-restore-u-s-support-for-un-reproductive-health-agency/ Hickenlooper, Shaheen, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Restore U.S. Support for UN Reproductive Health Agency 2025-12-12 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Jeanne Shaheen, along with 15 of their Senate colleagues introduced the Support UNFPA Funding Act to resume U.S. contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN agency that provides access to family planning, supports the prevention of maternal death, and responds to gender-based violence. “The Trump admin’s reckless decision to cut funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) jeopardized life-saving care for women around the world,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill reaffirms the United States’ commitment to providing support that helps global communities become safer, stronger, and more secure—and in turn, helps keep Americans safe.” “U.S. investment in UNFPA saves lives, advances women’s rights and directly supports global stability and security,” said Shaheen. “When the United States abruptly halted funding, clinics closed, women lost access to basic health care and preventable maternal deaths increased, particularly in conflict zones and humanitarian emergencies. This bill restores a common-sense, bipartisan approach: supporting voluntary, rights-based family planning and maternal health while ensuring full compliance with U.S. law. Undermining proven programs like UNFPA weakens our global leadership and creates unnecessary instability that ultimately affects Americans too.” This year, the Trump administration halted U.S. funding for UNFPA, forcing the closure of health centers, cutting off lifesaving maternal and reproductive health care, and leaving millions of women and girls in danger. UNFPA operates in more than 150 countries and is the only U.N. agency mandated to provide reproductive and maternal health care in humanitarian crises. UNFPA ensures women and families can access voluntary family planning, safe childbirth services and protection from gender-based violence. Specifically, the Support UNFPA Funding Act would recognize the important work of UNFPA; establish as U.S. policy that financial support for UNFPA aligns w… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/11/bennet-rosen-colleagues-introduce-resolution-to-overturn-trump-rule-rescinding-automatic-work-permit-renewal/ Bennet, Rosen, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Overturn Trump Rule Rescinding Automatic Work Permit Renewal 2025-12-11 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Work Permits Allow Immigrants With Legal Status To Work, But Long USCIS Processing Times Are Placing U.S. Employers and Workers At Risk Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and nine Senate colleagues to introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn a recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rule that ends automatic extensions of work permits, making it so that previously-vetted immigrants with legal status cannot work while they wait for their work permit renewals to be approved. “In Colorado and across the country, immigrant workers strengthen our economy and richen our communities,” said Bennet. “This legislation will reverse the Trump Administration’s unfair rule change, ensuring that immigrants who are here legally can continue to work while they wait for their work permits to be renewed.” “Immigrants who work and contribute to our economy are central to Nevada’s prosperity, and they’re the backbone of the U.S. economy,” said Rosen. “This unfair rule change by the Trump Administration will cause chaos — forcing thousands of immigrants with legal authorization to stop working or be fired by their employer. This will hurt our economy and harm thousands of families, so I’m urging my colleagues to join me in overturning this rule.” USCIS’s interim final rule, announced on October 30, ended automatic extensions for 18 different categories of immigrants. Due to long USCIS processing wait times, immigrants who submitted work permit renewal applications on time will be left without work authorization while they wait for their application to be processed – sometimes for many months at a time – risking their ability to legally work, through no fault of their own. Prior to this new rule, if an immigrant who is legally present in the United States filed their work permit renewal request on time, they would automatically receive a work permit extension to ensure they don’t lose their authorization while USCIS processes their re… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/11/bennet-schiff-wyden-demand-answers-from-usfs-on-stalled-hazardous-fuel-reduction-projects/ Bennet, Schiff, Wyden Demand Answers from USFS on Stalled Hazardous Fuel Reduction Projects 2025-12-11 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, California U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, and Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz demanding information on the number of hazardous fuels projects that have completed environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but have not yet been implemented – commonly referred to as “shelf stock.” “Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) work to reduce hazardous fuels across the national forest system in Fiscal Year 2025 was down nearly 40% from its previous four-year average. In a letter to Congress on August 6, 2025, you attributed your constrained “capacity to treat additional acres” in part to “significant resource and personnel” needs elsewhere at the agency. Given these issues, and the Trump administration’s reduction of nearly 5,000 USFS staff, we are concerned that the decline in hazardous fuels projects stems from insufficient staffing needed to implement already-approved projects, including for mechanical thinning and prescribed fire,” wrote the lawmakers. The lawmakers highlight that the Trump Administration has failed to complete hazardous fuels reduction projects at the same pace and scale as in prior years or at the rate needed in their communities. “As you know, the best measures to protect lives and property from wildfire is preparedness – reducing fire risks before a conflagration ignites,” concluded the lawmakers. The text of the letter is available HERE and below. Dear Chief Schultz: We write to request information regarding the number of hazardous fuels projects that have completed environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but have not yet been implemented (also known as “shelf stock”). Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) work to reduce hazardous fuels across the national forest system in Fiscal Year 2025 was down nearly 40% from its previous four-year average. In a… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/11/bennet-statement-on-the-national-defense-authorization-act/ Bennet Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act 2025-12-11 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement after voting to not advance the National Defense Authorization Act: “Today, I voted no on advancing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Over the last several months, we have witnessed President Trump deploy U.S. troops into American cities, carry out reckless and unauthorized actions in the Caribbean, and embolden our adversaries around the world at our allies’ expense. We have witnessed his Defense Secretary leak classified battle plans and withhold information about the Administration’s strikes in the Caribbean. I have voted for 15 previous NDAAs under Democratic and Republican Presidents, but I could not in good conscience vote to support President Trump’s national security agenda under these circumstances. “Last week, the President released a National Security Strategy dripping with disdain for our closest allies, allies whose cooperation and trust we need to better compete with China and deal with Russia, Iran, and North Korea. President Trump envisions a diminished America, one that is abandoning its political and moral leadership to the detriment of our security and prosperity in the years to come. The challenges and threats in the world are why the United States continues to need allies, stand for democracy and the rule of law, and lead international cooperation to tackle shared challenges. If we don’t solve those challenges out there in the world, they soon will find us here at home. America’s retreat from our alliances and from international cooperation will hasten the arrival of those threats to our shores. “The NDAA contains important measures I fought hard to secure, including a pay raise and expanded parental leave for servicemembers, hundreds of millions for Colorado military bases, funding for Ukraine’s defense against Putin’s war, overdue oversight of Secretary Hegseth’s strikes in the Caribbean, and banning American investments in China’s military… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/11/bennet-statement-on-vote-to-extend-affordable-care-act-premium-tax-credits/ Bennet Statement on Vote to Extend Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits 2025-12-11 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement following the Senate’s vote on a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits: “Today, Republicans blocked a chance to prevent a looming health care crisis and extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire in just three weeks. As a result, 24 million Americans, and hundreds of thousands of Coloradans, could see their premiums double, triple, or even quadruple in 2026. For many, that’s the difference between getting care and going without it. Health care is a right, and it should be universal. But with Trump in the White House and Republicans running the Senate, meaningful action to lower health care costs is nearly impossible. Their proposals do nothing to lower costs and only serve Trump’s agenda of chaos. “The road ahead will be hard, but we cannot give up. I will never stop fighting to make health care truly affordable, reliably accessible, and a right that every Coloradan can count on.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-fy26-ndaa-vote/ Hickenlooper Statement on FY26 NDAA Vote 2025-12-11 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) with a 75-22 vote: “Illegally deploying troops to cities. Deporting service members. Conducting illegal military operations. Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth continue to carry out their disastrous agenda domestically and abroad.” Hickenlooper said. “For the first time, we successfully forced Republicans to agree to hold this administration accountable — all while supporting Colorado defense priorities like NORTHCOM, NORAD, and more.” The NDAA includes several bipartisan guardrails on the Trump administration’s reckless actions including: Pressures Hegseth to release unedited videos of strikes in the South Caribbean: Reduces Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until the Department of Defense provides Congress with the unedited video of the illegal and unauthorized strikes against boats in the South Caribbean Repeals Authorizations of Use of Military Force (AUMFs): Repeals past AUMFs that administrations can use to overstep Congressional authority for military action Supports the headquarters of United States Northern Command in Colorado Springs: Prevents unauthorized funds from being used to modify or combine missions, responsibilities, or force structure of combatant commands Reaffirms U.S. commitment to NATO: Places new restrictions on reducing troop levels in Europe without express certification to Congress, in a clear rebuke of the Trump administration’s decision to scale back U.S. military presence in Europe and pull back from our international alliances. Ukraine Military Assistance: Provides $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine in the face of the Trump administration pulling back support for Ukraine’s battle for democracy Reaffirms U.S. commitment to historic allies: Upholds U.S.-South Korea defense cooperation and requires that Secretary Hegseth maintain troop levels in South Korea after Trump has threatened to… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-senate-republicans-vote-against-protecting-millions-of-americans-health-care/ Hickenlooper Statement on Senate Republicans Vote Against Protecting Millions of Americans’ Health Care 2025-12-11 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Bill would extend tax credits that help 225,000 Coloradans afford health care WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the Democratic proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits to protect Americans’ health care costs from skyrocketing. “Once again, Trump and Republicans turned their backs and denied working families affordable health care after THEY created a health care crisis and increased prices with their Big Bad Betrayal Act this summer. “We won’t stop fighting until every American receives the health care they deserve.” Senate Democrats proposed a simple extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits for three years without any changes to save more than 24 million Americans from paying double for their health costs or losing their insurance entirely. Last month, Hickenlooper voted NO on the Republicans’ so-called “continuing resolution” to fund the government after Trump and MAGA Republicans shut down the federal government instead of addressing the health care crisis they created. Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress but still shut down the government for 43 days instead of working with Democrats to lower costs and protect Americans’ health care. During the shutdown, the White House cut food assistance for needy families, blocked solutions for air travel disruptions, fired federal employees, and let the House of Representatives take a weeks-long paid vacation to avoid the release of the Epstein Files. Hickenlooper has been outspoken since before the government shutdown that Republicans need to address the health care crisis they created. Premiums for nearly 225,000 Coloradans will at least double next year unless Republicans work with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. In July, Congressional Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for huge tax… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/10/bennet-neguse-celebrate-final-passage-of-bill-to-reauthorize-rural-schools-program/ Bennet, Neguse Celebrate Final Passage of Bill to Reauthorize Rural Schools Program 2025-12-10 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Colorado U.S. Representative Joe Neguse celebrated the final passage of their Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The SRS program provides vital funds to rural and mountain communities that are home to federal lands, which are tax-exempt. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. “The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act is a lifeline for Colorado counties that steward our public lands and shoulder the responsibilities that come with them. These resources help rural communities keep teachers in classrooms, maintain safe roads, and provide public safety services that counties rely on,” said Bennet. “The Secure Rural Schools program is a vital lifeline for the communities I serve across Western Colorado, and I’m proud that our efforts to build a bipartisan coalition in support of the program have enabled my legislation to get across the finish line. My top priority is always to deliver for the people I represent, forging common ground to advance the common good for our communities — from Grand County to Eagle County and everywhere in between. That’s why I’m incredibly proud to see my proposal to reauthorize SRS make its way to the President’s desk, continuing this crucial program for rural counties,” said Neguse. The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act passed the Senate in June by unanimous consent. The SRS program supports investments in local infrastructure, public safety, and public education. For communities in Colorado, this includes funding for wildfire mitigation, search-and-rescue operations, and trail and road maintenance. Rural school districts can also use SRS payments to improve school transportation services, ensure high-quality instructional materials, create new extracurricular activities, and more. Bennet has long supported reauthorizing and funding SRS. In 2017, he introduced legislation to reauthorize SRS and secured a two-year r… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-celebrate-final-passage-bill-to-reauthorize-secure-rural-schools-program/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Celebrate Final Passage Bill to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program 2025-12-10 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Representative Joe Neguse celebrated the final passage of their Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The SRS program provides crucial funds to rural and mountain communities that revolve around federal lands, which are tax-exempt. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law. “Rural Colorado counties are home to millions of acres of public lands, which means they don’t receive the tax revenue other counties rely on to fund their schools, roads, and emergency services,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill makes sure rural communities get the dependable funding they need.” “The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act is a lifeline for Colorado counties that steward our public lands and shoulder the responsibilities that come with them. These resources help rural communities keep teachers in classrooms, maintain safe roads, and provide public safety services that counties rely on,” said Bennet. “The Secure Rural Schools program is a vital lifeline for the communities I serve across Western Colorado, and I’m proud that our efforts to build a bipartisan coalition in support of the program have enabled my legislation to get across the finish line. My top priority is always to deliver for the people I represent, forging common ground to advance the common good for our communities — from Grand County to Eagle County and everywhere in between. That’s why I’m incredibly proud to see my proposal to reauthorize SRS make its way to the President’s desk, continuing this crucial program for rural counties,” said Neguse. The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act passed the Senate in June by unanimous consent. The SRS program supports investments in local infrastructure, public safety, and public education. For communities in Colorado, this includes funding for wildfire mitigation, search-and-rescue operations, and trail and road maintenance. Rural school district… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-cortez-masto-introduce-bill-to-create-fee-free-days-of-public-service-on-federal-lands/ Hickenlooper, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Create Fee-Free Days of Public Service on Federal Lands 2025-12-10 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Last week, President Trump removed MLK Day, Juneteenth from list of Fee-Free Days, included his birthday instead WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Catherine Cortez Masto, along with five of their Senate colleagues, introduced the Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act to codify six days where visitors to National Parks and other federal lands can enter free-of-charge. This legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to officially designate Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, the first day of National Park Week, Juneteenth, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day as fee-free entry days. “Celebrating our national parks is part of the Colorado way of life,” said Hickenlooper. “Taking away days where people can visit our parks for free is another example of Trump’s attacks on our public lands.” “Free entry days were created as a way for our National Parks to encourage public service and volunteer work,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “It’s our national responsibility to protect and maintain our public lands – so let’s recommit to ensuring free entry days promote this patriotic act of service, not stroke the President’s ego.” Since the National Park System and other land management agencies began collecting entry and recreation fees, the Department of the Interior has offered fee-free days to promote America’s public lands, especially on select federal holidays where many Americans already have the day off. Last week, the Trump administration cut Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday and Juneteenth, two holidays honoring Black history, from its list of free entrance days and replaced them with his birthday. The legislation would restore these two holidays to the list of free entrance days and make a list of public service days permanently fee-free. Additional free entry days would be possible at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior. The dates are as follows: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, the third Monday in January … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-help-committee-democrats-call-for-secretary-mcmahon-to-testify-before-committee/ Hickenlooper, HELP Committee Democrats Call for Secretary McMahon to Testify Before Committee 2025-12-10 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Senators demand Secretary of Education to answer for efforts to dismantle Department of Education WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, along with all the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Democratic senators, called on Chairman Bill Cassidy to immediately hold an oversight hearing with Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon about the illegal efforts to dismantle the Department. “At a time when U.S. students rank 34th in the world in math and academic outcomes have sharply declined since the early 2010s, it is outrageous that the Trump administration is trying to dismantle the only agency dedicated to improving outcomes for all students,” Hickenlooper and his colleagues wrote. “Burying education programs in other federal agencies will not help students or support schools and colleges.” The senators’ letter follows McMahon’s latest effort to undermine the Department of Education by transferring core elementary, secondary and postsecondary education programs out of the Education Department without congressional authority. Hickenlooper voted against McMahon’s nomination and has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on the Department of Education. He also fought to get the admin to release $7 billion in federal funding for K-12 schools and adult literacy programs across America, including $70 million for Colorado schools which was released. Full text of letter HERE and below: Dear Chair Cassidy, On November 18, 2025, the Department of Education (Department) announced it had entered into six interagency agreements (IAAs) to transfer over 50 elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education programs covering over $30 billion in annual funding to federal agencies that do not have the expertise or capacity to administer them. This transfer is an alarming and illegal step toward fulfilling President Trump’s threat to eliminate the entire Department. At a time when U.S. students rank 34th in the world in math and academic outcomes have sha… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/09/bennet-coons-young-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-american-leadership-in-digital-trade/ Bennet, Coons, Young, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Strengthen American Leadership in Digital Trade 2025-12-09 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to introduce the Digital Trade Promotion Act, legislation to strengthen America’s global leadership in digital trade. Digital trade is a driving force in our everyday economy, from the buying and selling of goods in online marketplaces to the digital services that enable smart manufacturing and modern agricultural practices. While the United States has historically led the development of rules and standards for digital trade, China continues to advance digital trade policies that would undermine American businesses and workers. The Digital Trade Promotion Act would authorize the president to negotiate and enforce digital trade agreements with trusted partners and allies, thereby bolstering opportunities for businesses and workers, strengthening our economic security, and ensuring that American values power the digital world. “The United States’ digital sector is the envy of the world, but we cannot allow China to write the rules of the road for the next generation of emerging technology,” said Bennet. “This legislation will ensure the U.S. can work closely with our allies and partners to establish a strong international framework for innovation and consumer protection in the digital age.” “From farmers in Sussex to fintech startups in New Castle County, digital tools help every entrepreneur compete around the world. I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Digital Trade Promotion Act to help businesses big and small compete on a level playing field and ensure the global rules of the road are rooted in American values of openness, transparency, and fairness,” said Coons. “China and other strategic competitors are pushing digital regimes that create new barriers and tilt the field against U.S. companies and workers. To ensure American workers, businesses, and consumers can succeed in the digital age, we must cement U.S. leaders… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-help-committee-democrats-call-for-secretary-kennedy-to-testify-before-committee/ Hickenlooper, HELP Committee Democrats Call for Secretary Kennedy to Testify Before Committee 2025-12-09 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, along with all the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Democratic senators, called on Chairman Bill Cassidy to immediately hold an oversight hearing with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Since assuming office, Secretary Kennedy has waged an unprecedented war on science and vaccines that have saved millions of lives,” Hickenlooper and his colleagues wrote. “Vaccination rates across the country are falling. Children are dying from illnesses that vaccines could have prevented.” “Secretary Kennedy’s response to these crises has been to spread misinformation, end campaigns encouraging flu vaccinations, fire officials who disagree with him, and place individuals with significant conflicts of interest in positions of power – completely undermining Americans’ faith in our nation’s public health institutions,” continued the senators. “It has been seven months since Secretary Kennedy last testified in front of our Committee… The time has come for the HELP Committee to hold Secretary Kennedy accountable for his actions.” The senators called for Chairman Cassidy to schedule an oversight hearing following the disastrous vote by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to end the decades-long recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This year, RFK Jr. replaced all 17 non-partisan experts on CDC’s top vaccine committee with ideologues who have a history of undermining vaccines. Hickenlooper has been a fierce critic of the admin’s senseless attacks on American science and voted against RFK Jr.’s nomination. Earlier this year, he also questioned RFK Jr. on his public anti-science views and plans regarding transparency in NIH studies during RFK Jr.’s HELP confirmation hearing. Last week, he led eight other senators to introduce the Family Vaccine Protection Act to protect Americans’ access to vaccines and to safeguard proven… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/08/bennet-shaheen-coons-national-security-democrats-statement-on-president-trumps-decision-to-allow-the-export-of-advanced-nvidia-h200-ai-chips-to-china/ Bennet, Shaheen, Coons, National Security Democrats Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Allow the Export of Advanced NVIDIA H200 AI Chips to China 2025-12-08 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Committee; Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee; Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations; Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance; and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, to issue the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision to allow NVIDIA to sell its H200 AI chips to China: “The Trump administration’s announcement that it will allow the export of advanced H200 AI chips to China is a colossal economic and national security failure. The H200s are vastly more capable than anything China can make and gifting them to Beijing would squander America’s primary advantage in the AI race. “Access to these chips would give China’s military transformational technology to make its weapons more lethal, carry out more effective cyberattacks against American businesses and critical infrastructure, and strengthen their economic and manufacturing sector. Chinese AI giant DeepSeek said as recently as last week that the lack of access to advanced American-designed AI chips is the single biggest impediment to its ability to compete with U.S. AI companies. With this decision, President Trump is poised to remove that barrier. “Senate Democrats and Republicans both know that the 21st century will be defined by whether the leading AI systems are built on values of free societies and free markets or the repressive, authoritarian values of the Chinese Communist Party. The Trump administration clearly doesn’… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-colleagues-slam-trump-admins-latest-effort-to-dismantle-the-department-of-education/ Hickenlooper, Colleagues Slam Trump Admin’s Latest Effort to Dismantle the Department of Education 2025-12-08 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined 35 Senate colleagues in a letter demanding U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reverse her recent decision to further dismantle the ED by illegally transferring core programs and funding to other federal agencies. “Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department—including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding—will undermine public education,” the senators wrote. “Let’s be very clear: You are choosing to create even more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families. We urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students,” they continued. In March of this year, President Trump signed an executive order announcing plans to shut down the ED. Despite federal law requiring an act of Congress to close any federal agency, the Trump administration has gutted the department through sweeping layoffs and cuts to programs and critical funding. Text of the letter is available HERE and below: Dear Secretary McMahon: The actions you announced on November 18 to continue hollowing out the U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”) are outrageous, illegal, and will jeopardize the funding and support that tens of millions of students, teachers, and families across the country rely on. Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department—including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and seconda… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/05/bennet-honors-mikaela-naylon-renames-the-give-kids-a-chance-act/ Bennet Honors Mikaela Naylon, Renames the Give Kids A Chance Act 2025-12-05 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet renamed the Give Kids a Chance Act to the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act in honor of Mikaela, a Colorado teenager who tirelessly advocated for children’s access to cancer treatment throughout her brave battle with cancer. Mikaela Naylon was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2020, when she was just ten years old. Following her diagnosis, she traveled across the country pursuing treatment and advocating for other children with cancer. Mikaela tragically lost her battle with cancer on October 29. As a final act of advocacy in the hopes that other kids wouldn’t have to go through what she did, Mikaela donated her body to science to help find a cure. “Even in the midst of her own battle with cancer, Mikaela fought tirelessly to increase other children’s access to life-saving care,” said Bennet. “Children with cancer deserve access to the most advanced medicines possible, and we must ensure our medical professionals have every tool at their disposal to treat them. I am glad to rename this bill in honor of Mikaela, and I will keep fighting for young cancer patients to access life-saving trials and therapies to battle this disease.” Earlier this year, Senator Michael Bennet, alongside U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act to improve outcomes for children with cancer by ensuring they can participate in clinical trials and have access to essential treatments. This bill will allow children to participate in combination trials that include targeted medicines for pediatric cancer. It also extends the Pediatric Priority Review Voucher Program, which encourages companies to develop treatments and therapies for pediatric diseases. Bennet previously introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act in 2022. The text of the bill is available HERE. ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-banks-hassan-husted-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-better-forecast-ais-impact-on-workforce/ Hickenlooper, Banks, Hassan, Husted Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Better Forecast AI’s Impact on Workforce 2025-12-05 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Jim Banks, Maggie Hassan, and Jon Husted introduced the bipartisan AI Workforce PREPARE Act to assess AI’s impact on America’s workforce and make education and job training programs more effective. “We can’t sit in the backseat while AI transforms our workforce,” said Hickenlooper, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. “Workers, employers, and educators need a roadmap to understand these new directions. Our bipartisan bill will help deliver that map so that we can leverage AI and make sure American workers lead the way.” “We have to understand how AI is changing the workforce so we can equip American workers with the skills necessary to stay ahead of China and lead the world,” said Banks. “There is no question that AI will significantly transform the way we work in the coming years, and it’s important that we have the facts on how our workforce will be impacted and evolve,” said Husted. “America must lead and win the global innovation race, and this bill ensures our workforce not only avoids being left behind, but is prepared to lead the way in developing and using new technology.” The legislation directs the Department of Labor (DOL) to work with NIST, NSF, and the Census Bureau to create a framework for measuring and forecasting AI’s workforce impacts. Key provisions would: Solicit ideas from the public and convene researchers, technical experts, business, and labor to improve data collection on AI and the workforce Enhance the Labor Department’s authorities to hire a core group of AI experts Create an AI Workforce Research Hub to help implement the White House’s AI Action Plan Carry out a pilot project to produce statistics on workers’ movements between occupations as they are affected by AI Increase researchers’ access to the federal government’s workforce data Conduct prize competitions to better understand AI adoption, job impacts, labor-market outcomes, and how AI s… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-colleagues-push-forest-service-to-immediately-address-understaffing-wildfire-mitigation-concerns/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Push Forest Service to Immediately Address Understaffing, Wildfire Mitigation Concerns 2025-12-05 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Public data indicates the Forest Service is significantly behind in hazardous fuels reductions 27% of Forest Service wildland firefighting positions remain vacant WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet recently joined ten of their Senate colleagues to press U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to confront understaffing and mounting setbacks to wildfire risk reduction efforts across the West and nation. Their inquiry follows an independent analysis of publicly available data indicating that the Forest Service is approximately 38% behind on hazardous fuels reduction work, as compared to the previous four calendar years. “An analysis of publicly available data indicates that for calendar year 2025 the Forest Service is significantly behind in hazardous fuels reduction across National Forest System lands. When compared to the previous four calendar years, there has been a 38% reduction in wildfire risk reduction in 2025,” the senators wrote. “The steep decline in hazardous fuels reduction efforts on Forest Service lands poses a serious risk to public safety, public health, and the economy. It is imperative that the Forest Service works closely with Congress to address shortfalls in wildfire mitigation and ensure staffing and budgetary resources are sufficient to fulfill the agency’s mission,” they continued. Hickenlooper and Bennet have been vocal critics of the Trump administration’s cuts to public lands. Following the administration’s reckless decision to fire 3,400 USFS employees earlier this year, Hickenlooper and Bennet immediately sounded the alarm and called on Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reinstate them. Hickenlooper also introduced two bills to reinstate the thousands of NPS and USFS workers the Trump administration illegally fired. Full text of the letter is available HERE and below: Dear Chief Schultz: We write with significant concerns regarding the persistent wildland firefighter staffing shortages at the U.S. Forest Service, leading to … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-blocks-88-trump-nominees/ Bennet Blocks 88 Trump Nominees 2025-12-04 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet took to the Senate floor to block Republicans’ improper attempt to push through a slate of 88 Trump nominations. Bennet: Thank you, Mr. President. The precedent of September 11, 2025, that established a majority vote – threshold vote – for cloture on an executive resolution that provided for the en bloc consideration of nominations, excluded nominations at level one of the executive schedule under 5 USC 5312, or Article 3 judges. Is that correct, Mr. President? Senate President: That is correct. Senate President: That is correct. Bennet: Mr. President, I’m sorry to say this slate of nominations in S.Res.520 includes Calendar No. 476, Sarah Bailey of Texas, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy. That position is among those listed in 5 USC 5312. Therefore the threshold for cloture on this vote would be three fifths of those duly chosen and sworn. Is that correct, Mr. President? Bennet: I object. Earlier this year, Republicans exercised the nuclear option to allow for the Senate to pass nominations en bloc. Today, Republicans attempted to approve 88 nominations – including the nomination of Sarah Bailey for Director of National Drug Control Policy, a position that is not eligible for inclusion in this package under the new Senate rules. Following Bennet’s opposition, Republicans pulled their nomination package and will have to refile without Bailey’s nomination. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-hickenlooper-cortez-masto-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-unaccompanied-migrant-children-reverse-republicans-fees-on-children-seeking-asylum/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children, Reverse Republicans’ Fees on Children Seeking Asylum 2025-12-04 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and 19 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act, legislation to reverse the provisions in Republicans’ so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” that harm children seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries. “All too often, our immigration system fails to protect unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum,” said Bennet. “This legislation will protect unaccompanied children fleeing violence by reversing cruel provisions in Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill. I won’t stop pushing the Trump Administration to ensure that these children are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.” “MAGA Republicans created new fees and recurring charges for unaccompanied children fleeing violence as their cases are stuck being processed,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s a betrayal to our original promise of justice and freedom. We’re working to stop it.” “As members of Congress, it’s our duty to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves,” said Cortez Masto. “That includes the unaccompanied children who come to the United States after escaping trafficking and abuse. It’s essential that we reverse the Republican tax law’s cruel provisions and protect these kids.” This summer, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans passed the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” into law, which imposed a new $5,000 Border Apprehension Fee on any child who arrives to the U.S. between ports of entry. The bill also required children to pay a mandatory asylum application fee and new annual asylum maintenance fees for every year their case remains pending in the government’s yearslong backlog. For children fleeing human trafficking and extreme violence, these fees are often impossible to pay. Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill also provides funding for intrusive body examinations of minors, who are oft… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-joins-crapo-wyden-colleagues-to-introduce-bipartisan-pharmacy-benefit-manager-legislation/ Bennet Joins Crapo, Wyden, Colleagues to Introduce Bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Legislation 2025-12-04 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to introduce the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Price Transparency and Accountability Act. This legislation will fix market distortions and increase transparency in federal prescription drug programs to lower patient costs at the pharmacy counter. “We live in the wealthiest country in the world, yet lifesaving medicine is still unaffordable for far too many Americans. This bill is an important step toward increasing accountability and transparency in drug pricing and making prescriptions more affordable for Coloradans,” said Bennet. “Pharmacy benefit managers should not profit from overcharging patients for their prescriptions,” said Crapo. “This bipartisan legislation is a decisive step toward making the prescription drug market easier to navigate for both patients and pharmacies. These proposals form a strong foundation for additional efforts to promote pharmacy access, demystify drug pricing and reduce costs for both taxpayers and seniors.” “It’s long past time to go after middlemen who are making Americans’ prescription drugs more expensive,” said Wyden. “The Finance Committee has put forward a comprehensive approach to stop the pharmacy benefit manager business practices that are harming seniors and taxpayers who count on Medicare to deliver affordable prescription drugs. It’s time to get this done.” Specifically, the PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act would: Delink PBM compensation from their negotiated rebates to disincentivize PBMs from promoting higher-priced medications; Increase PBM reporting requirements to Medicare Part D plan sponsors and to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and empower Part D plan sponsors to audit their PBM for compliance with contract requirements; Reinforce existing requirements that plan sponsors contract with any willing … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-kaine-colleagues-reintroduce-medicare-x-choice-act-to-achieve-universal-health-care/ Bennet, Kaine, Colleagues Reintroduce Medicare-X Choice Act to Achieve Universal Health Care 2025-12-04 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper A Public Health Insurance Plan Would Provide An Affordable Option for Families Across Colorado, Virginia, and the Country Washington, D.C. –– U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) announced the reintroduction of their legislation, the Medicare-X Choice Act, which would create a public option by building on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicare frameworks as over 14 million Americans are set to lose their health care coverage as a result of Republicans’ $1 trillion cut to Medicaid and the expiration of critical premium tax credits. The Medicare Exchange (Medicare-X) plan would offer families, individuals, and small businesses affordable health insurance, decrease the number of uninsured Americans, control the cost of health care, and increase competition in the health insurance market. “Our health care system repeatedly fails to give working Americans the care they need,” said Bennet. “Now, millions face even greater barriers to accessing affordable health care due to the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. Countless families are also grappling with the possibility of losing their coverage due to skyrocketing premiums as time runs out to extend critical ACA tax credits. In the wake of a looming health care crisis, Medicare-X will give everyone an affordable option regardless of where they live, reduce health care costs, and improve the quality of available insurance. We have a responsibility to create the best health care system possible, achieve universal coverage in our country, and save millions of Americans from being thrown off their health insurance. We can do that through Medicare-X.” “Access to high-quality and affordable health care is essential to the health and well-being of our communities. This year, Republicans have decimated health care and have yet to come to the table to extend critical enhanced premium tax credits to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing. My hope is that in the coming days, my Republican colleagues will join us in voting for legislation to ex… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-renews-calls-for-hegseth-to-resign-following-pentagon-inspector-general-report/ Bennet Renews Call for Hegseth to Resign Following Pentagon Inspector General Report 2025-12-04 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement after reviewing the Department of Defense Inspector General’s report on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sharing sensitive operational information over an unsecure personal Signal chat: “The Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General has now confirmed what I said months ago: Secretary Hegseth created unacceptable risks to U.S. troops and our military objectives by sharing sensitive operational battleplans in a Signal group chat. “The Inspector General’s report, following recent reports that Secretary Hegseth may have given orders resulting in unlawful strikes in the Caribbean, only further demonstrates his recklessness and incompetence. “He is unfit to lead our men and women in uniform and should resign immediately. Every day that he remains in this position endangers our troops and our national security.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-statement-on-blocking-88-trump-nominees/ Bennet Statement on Blocking 88 Trump Nominees 2025-12-04 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement after blocking 88 Trump nominees on the Senate floor: “I just blocked 88 Trump nominees from confirmation— including Sara Carter Bailey, a former Fox News contributor nominated to be our country’s Drug Czar. “Bailey was nominated by Trump, who just pardoned the former President of Honduras, as he served 45 years in prison for conspiring to distribute over 400 tons of cocaine. “At the same time, Pete Hegseth, another unqualified Fox News host Trump hand-picked for a role far above his station, is running the Pentagon. This week, we found out that he ordered potentially unlawful strikes in the Caribbean, while the Pentagon watchdog found that he potentially risked servicemembers’ lives by sharing battleplans via Signal. “I will not allow unqualified nominees, this White House, or the President to undermine the rule of law and our national security.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-cortez-masto-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-unaccompanied-migrant-children-reverse-republicans-fees-on-children-seeking-asylum/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children, Reverse Republicans’ Fees on Children Seeking Asylum 2025-12-04 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Trump’s Big Ugly Betrayal Act imposes a $5,000 fee for children seeking asylum as well as annual fees while their cases are reviewed WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, Catherine Cortez Masto, and 19 of their Senate Democratic colleagues introduced the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act to reverse the provisions in Trump’s Big Bad Betrayal Act that cruelly punish children seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries. “MAGA Republicans created new fees and recurring charges for unaccompanied children fleeing violence as their cases are stuck being processed,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s a betrayal to our original promise of justice and freedom. We’re working to stop it.” “All too often, our immigration system fails to protect unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum,” said Bennet. “This legislation will protect unaccompanied children fleeing violence by reversing cruel provisions in Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill. I won’t stop pushing the Trump Administration to ensure that these children are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.” “As members of Congress, it’s our duty to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves,” said Cortez Masto. “That includes the unaccompanied children who come to the United States after escaping trafficking and abuse. It’s essential that we reverse the Republican tax law’s cruel provisions and protect these kids.” This summer, Trump and congressional Republicans jammed through their Big Bad Betrayal Act which cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for his huge tax cuts for the richest Americans and largest corporations. Their reckless bill also imposed a new $5,000 Border Apprehension Fee on any child who arrives to the U.S. between ports of entry while also requiring children to pay a mandatory asylum application fee and new annual asylum maintenance fees for every year their case remains pending in the government’s yearslong backlog. For children flee… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-rejects-trumps-latest-blm-nominee/ Hickenlooper Rejects Trump’s Latest BLM Nominee 2025-12-04 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement regarding his opposition to President Trump’s nomination of former U.S. Representative Steve Pearce to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM): “Americans deserve a BLM director who will be a true steward of the millions of acres under the agency’s care. “Steve Pearce is NOT that person. While in Congress, he attacked environmental protections and fought to sell off public land. “His nomination is proof that the Trump administration still views our public lands as assets for sale. “On behalf of Colorado, I will vote NO because our public lands are NOT for sale.” Pearce marked his time in Congress working to undermine environmental protections, open public lands for oil and gas operations, and sell public lands. Hickenlooper is a former geologist and one of the only scientists in the Senate. He has been outspoken against Trump administration cuts to public lands and led an effort against the admin’s plans to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule. In March, he introduced legislation to reinstate the thousands of National Park Service and Forest Service workers the Trump administration illegally fired. Hickenlooper also helped lead the fight against Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off more than three million acres of public lands. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm back in April when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment with colleagues to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. In May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park. ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/03/bennet-cornyn-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-increase-housing-availability-and-affordability/ Bennet, Cornyn, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Bill to Increase Housing Availability and Affordability 2025-12-03 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and bipartisan Senate colleagues to introduce the More Homes on the Market Act. This bill will make housing more available and affordable by amending the tax code to allow sellers to exclude additional funds from capital gains taxes, incentivizing homeowners to sell their homes and increasing market supply. “Too many families in Colorado struggle to find affordable homes in their communities that meet their needs. At the same time, seniors are struggling to sell their homes for fear of a massive tax bill,” said Bennet. “This bill addresses this problem and updates outdated tax rules so more homes can come on the market and more Coloradans can find a place to call their own.” “The American dream is rooted in owning a home and raising a family, but an outdated tax code not only prevents the next generation from being able to afford a home, but it also prevents seniors seeking to downsize from selling theirs,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would update the tax code to incentivize sellers and make homes more affordable, and I’m glad to support it.” The current tax code allows homeowners who sell their primary home to exclude $250,000 in gains from capital gains taxes, or $500,000 in the case of a couple filing jointly. However, this exclusion has not been updated since 1997, nor is it indexed for inflation. Because of this, millions of homeowners in Colorado and across the country face overly burdensome taxes from the sale of their homes, leading many homeowners – especially seniors who have lived in their home for decades – to choose not to sell. The More Homes on the Market Act would increase the exclusion to $500,000 for single filers and $1 million for joint filers, making it more financially desirable for homeowners to sell and increasing housing turnover. The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Realtors and AARP. In addition to Bennet and Cornyn, U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Adam … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/03/bennet-hickenlooper-welcome-420-million-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding-to-deliver-internet-across-colorado/ Bennet, Hickenlooper Welcome $420 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Deliver Internet Across Colorado 2025-12-03 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed the announcement that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Colorado’s proposal to invest more than $420 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in affordable, high-speed internet. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is the largest broadband investment in American history, and provides funding to build essential infrastructure and connect communities to high-speed internet. The BEAD program is based on Bennet’s bipartisan BRIDGE Act. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s BEAD program, based on my bipartisan BRIDGE Act, will bring high-speed internet to communities across Colorado, helping close the digital divide and ensuring every Coloradan can participate in the 21st century economy,” said Bennet. “We must build upon this important funding announcement – I will continue pushing to ensure that the full $826 million allocation is made available to connect Coloradans to affordable, high-speed internet.” “We wrote the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to connect every American to high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet,” said Hickenlooper. “This funding will unlock better access to health care, greater work opportunities, and more connected lives for thousands of Coloradans. We’re disappointed that the millions of dollars in potential budget cuts to the program could leave behind thousands of families and small businesses.” Following NTIA’s revised policy guidance, Colorado’s new BEAD proposal request was for a partial amount of the originally allocated $826 million dollars the state received in 2023. Bennet and Hickenlooper will continue to work to ensure that the full allocation is made available to Colorado. Bennet recently led the Colorado Democratic delegation in a letter to the NTIA Administrator supporting Colorado’s application to retain its full allocation. Over the summer, Bennet and Hickenlooper condemned Secr… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/03/bennet-schiff-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-prevent-inexperienced-temporary-immigration-judge-appointments-close-loopholes-exploited-by-trump-administration/ Bennet, Schiff, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Prevent Inexperienced Temporary Immigration Judge Appointments, Close Loopholes Exploited by Trump Administration 2025-12-03 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and 15 Senate colleagues to introduce the Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act, legislation to prevent inexperienced temporary immigration judge appointments in light of the Trump Administration’s abuse of loopholes under current regulations. U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the House. “The Trump Administration’s inhumane immigration policies are only made worse by its mass firing of immigration judges, creating an even greater backlog of immigration cases,” said Bennet. “As families and community members languish in detention centers, our immigration courts are unable to efficiently enforce due process rights. This bill addresses this crisis created by the Administration and puts qualified judges back on the bench to ensure our courts fulfill their duty.” “The Trump Administration’s willingness to fire experienced immigration judges and hire inexperienced or temporary “deportation judges,” especially in places like California, has fundamentally impacted the landscape of our justice system,” said Schiff. “Given the Administration’s unlawful terminations of qualified judges, and their plan to leverage the power of temporary positions to speed up their mass deportation agenda, the risks of grave injury to families, fairness, and due process have expanded. The Administration’s unlawful mass firing of immigration judges at an alarming rate is their latest aggressive enforcement tactic that jeopardizes our judicial workforce. Amidst the growing number of pending cases in immigration courts, this legislation will ensure that only experienced and trained temporary immigration judges will have the privilege of adjudicating cases that have permanent consequences for millions of people.” “After purging over 100 permanent immigration judges from the DOJ, the Trump Administration is now looking to push attorneys with limited to no prior immigration law experience into these… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-alsobrooks-blumenthal-blunt-rochester-heinrich-kim-markey-schiff-van-hollen-introduce-bill-to-protect-scientific-standards-safeguard-acip-vaccine-committee/ Hickenlooper, Alsobrooks, Blumenthal, Blunt Rochester, Heinrich, Kim, Markey, Schiff, Van Hollen Introduce Bill to Protect Scientific Standards, Safeguard ACIP Vaccine Committee 2025-12-03 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Senators introduce bill ahead of ACIP’s meeting tomorrow to revisit hepatitis B, other childhood shots This year, HHS Secretary replaced all 17 non-partisan experts on CDC’s top vaccine committee, attacked settled science WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Angela Alsobrooks, Richard Blumenthal, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Martin Heinrich, Andy Kim, Ed Markey, Adam Schiff, and Chris Van Hollen introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to protect Americans’ access to vaccines and to safeguard proven science from recent Trump administration efforts to undermine vaccines. The senators’ bill comes as the CDC’s top vaccine panel meets tomorrow to discuss – and potentially vote on – updates to the childhood vaccine schedule, including the hepatitis B vaccine. “Vaccine decisions should be grounded in facts – not conspiracy theories,” said Hickenlooper, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. “This administration’s senseless attacks on science erodes Americans’ trust in public health and undermines families’ access to safe vaccines. Our bill protects science and restores Americans’ confidence that vaccine recommendations are rooted in data, not politics.” “I became the first Senator to call on RFK Jr. to resign or be fired because he is unqualified and his dangerous agenda was clear from day one: politicize our life-saving immunization schedule. In the meantime, I will fight tooth and nail to keep our families healthy and safe despite the Secretary’s efforts to the contrary. That’s why the Senate must pass our Family Vaccine Protection Act – to protect families from vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Alsobrooks. “This legislation protects access to essential vaccines and counters the Trump Administration’s senseless corruption of science. By prioritizing conspiracy theories over science, Trump is depriving Americans of basic public health. Vaccines save lives—it’s simple. Americans need them,” said Blumenthal. “I’m proud to be joining my colleagues in introducing… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-welcome-420-million-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding-to-deliver-internet-across-colorado/ Hickenlooper, Bennet Welcome $420 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Deliver Internet Across Colorado 2025-12-03 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper 96,000 Coloradans are expected to get connected Trump admin’s last-minute overhaul of BEAD funding resulted in millions less for Colorado, falls short of potential WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet welcomed the announcement that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Colorado’s proposal to invest more than $420 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is the largest broadband investment in American history, and provides funding to build essential infrastructure and connect communities to high-speed internet. However, the Trump administration delayed and overhauled the BEAD program, leaving millions of dollars on the table. Hickenlooper and Bennet recently led the Colorado Democratic delegation in a letter to the NTIA Administrator, supporting Colorado’s application to retain its full allocation. They’ll continue pressing for the rest of Colorado’s allocation. “We wrote the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to connect every American to high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet,” said Hickenlooper. “This funding will unlock better access to health care, greater work opportunities, and more connected lives for thousands of Coloradans. We’re disappointed that the millions of dollars in potential budget cuts to the program could leave behind thousands of families and small businesses.” “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s BEAD program, based on my bipartisan BRIDGE Act, will bring high-speed internet to communities across Colorado, helping close the digital divide and ensuring every Coloradan can participate in the 21st century economy,” said Bennet. “We must build upon this important funding announcement – I will continue pushing to ensure that the full $826 million allocation is made available to connect Coloradans to affordable, high-speed internet.” In 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) awarde… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/02/bennet-hickenlooper-colleagues-push-forest-service-to-immediately-address-understaffing-wildfire-mitigation-concerns/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Colleagues Push Forest Service to Immediately Address Understaffing, Wildfire Mitigation Concerns 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Public data indicates the Forest Service is significantly behind in hazardous fuels reductions 27% of Forest Service wildland firefighting positions remain vacant Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined ten of their Senate colleagues to press U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to address persistent staffing shortages and mounting setbacks to wildfire risk reduction efforts across the West and the nation. “We write with significant concerns regarding the persistent wildland firefighter staffing shortages at the U.S. Forest Service, leading to a significant decline in planned wildfire prevention work in high-risk, fire-prone areas. We are asking you to provide clear answers regarding the Forest Service’s efforts to ensure adequate staffing and reduce wildfire risk in the West during this challenging fire season,” wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, and the senators. The senators’ letter follows an independent analysis of publicly-available data indicating that USFS is approximately 38 percent behind on hazardous fuels reduction work compared to the previous four calendar years. “The steep decline in hazardous fuels reduction efforts on Forest Service lands poses a serious risk to public safety, public health, and the economy. It is imperative that the Forest Service works closely with Congress to address shortfalls in wildfire mitigation and ensure staffing and budgetary resources are sufficient to fulfill the agency’s mission,” continued the senators. Bennet and Hickenlooper have been vocal critics of the Trump Administration’s layoffs to USFS staff. In April, Bennet and Hickenlooper urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reinstate the roughly 3000 USFS staff who hold Incident Qualification Cards, commonly called red cards, ahead of peak wildfire season. In February, the senators led their Colorado Democratic Congressional colleagues in urging Secretary Rollins to reinstate 3,400 USFS employees, including at least 90 in Colorado, after the agenc… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/02/bennet-hickenlooper-neguse-cheer-progress-senate-hearing-on-bill-to-expand-sarvis-creek-wilderness/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse Cheer Progress, Senate Hearing on Bill to Expand Sarvis Creek Wilderness 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse applauded progress on their Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, which received a hearing today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. The bill would expand the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest by 6,817 acres, protecting sub-alpine wilderness habitats and wildlife while preserving access to outdoor recreation. “Colorado’s public lands are the cornerstone of our Western way of life, and for decades, Sarvis Creek Wilderness has deserved further protection,” said Bennet. “Local elected officials and outdoor recreation, agriculture, water, and environmental leaders came together to craft this bill that protects critical watersheds, enhances wildlife habitat, and safeguards outdoor exploration for Coloradans. I look forward to getting this important legislation across the finish line for our state.” “Sarvis Creek Wilderness has outdoor recreation opportunities and landscapes that are hard to imagine anywhere but where you see them there. Coloradans across the state want to make sure that that’s protected,” said Hickenlooper. “I’m excited to see the Senate consider our critically important bill, the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, which would expand protections in the Routt National Forest, helping preserve public lands, support wildlife, and more. I remain committed to advancing the bill in the House and look forward to continuing our bicameral efforts to usher it across the finish line,” said Neguse. Specifically, the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act: Fulfills the community’s vision for the entire Sarvis Creek wilderness area by adding 6,817 acres on to the existing 44,556 acres, which had originally been excluded due to a plan to develop a ski area; Extends wilderness protection to the Harrison and Green Creek watersheds – rare, pristine su… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/02/bennet-hickenlooper-neguse-support-core-act-at-senate-energy-and-natural-resources-committee-hearing/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse Support CORE Act at Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Video of Bennet’s Testimony is available HERE. Video of Hickenlooper’s Remarks is available HERE. Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, testified during a Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining hearing in support of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act. The Senators have worked with Colorado U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse and Colorado counties, in close coordination with Tribes, businesses, recreation groups, sportsmen, ranchers, and conservationists, to develop this bill over the last decade. The legislation protects approximately 420,000 acres of public land, establishes new wilderness areas, and safeguards existing outdoor recreation opportunities to boost the economy for future generations. “County commissioners across the political spectrum, outfitters, ranchers, hunters and anglers, and local businesses rolled up their sleeves to find the best way forward to preserve our special places. These Coloradans know how fundamental public lands are to our identity and economy, and they did the hard work to ensure the CORE Act reflects the diverse interests of our diverse state,” Bennet said during his testimony. “Public lands power our economy and connect our communities in Colorado,” said Hickenlooper. “A decade’s worth of partnerships built these common-sense measures to protect our public lands and invest in our outdoor recreation economy. We won’t let up until we get the CORE Act signed into law.” “The CORE Act is a transformational bill that would protect our treasured public lands for generations to come,” said Neguse. “During my time in Congress, I’ve been proud to work with Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper to usher components of the bill across the finish line, including successfully securing the establishment of the historic Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument. But our fight continues. And I’m heartened to see the Senate take up this bill once again… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/02/bennet-hickenlooper-pettersen-degette-neguse-crow-demand-answers-from-the-department-of-education-on-ending-grants-for-minority-serving-institutions/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Pettersen, DeGette, Neguse, Crow Demand Answers from the Department of Education on Ending Grants for Minority-Serving Institutions 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, and Jason Crow sent a letter to Secretary Linda McMahon in opposition of the Department of Education’s decision to end several discretionary grant programs for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). “MSIs serve a broad range of students for whom a college degree is often out of reach, like first-generation college-goers, English language learners, parents, and transfer students, as well as students in rural communities. There are roughly 800 MSIs in the United States, including 14 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and 1 Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution in Colorado. Funds from these programs support vital activities, including academic support services, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and helping prepare students for the workforce,” wrote the lawmakers. “MSIs, and specifically HSIs, have a proven track record of success when it comes to setting up graduates for economic security and success. HSIs are especially effective at providing social mobility for students from low-income families. In 2023, eight of the top 10 colleges in the Social Mobility Index rankings were HSIs. We have heard strong concerns from Colorado colleges and universities that have received termination notices from the Department. The loss of millions of dollars will mean fewer opportunities for students and will only cause harm to the communities these institutions serve,” continued the lawmakers. The lawmakers emphasized that ending these programs will cause widespread detrimental effects on students, not just in Colorado but all over the country. They underscored that they remain ready and willing to work with the Trump Administration to ensure that the United States has an education system that allows every American student to succeed. The text of the letter is available HERE and below. Dear Secretary McMahon: We write today in op… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/02/bennet-statement-on-reports-concerning-u-s-strikes-in-the-caribbean/ Bennet Statement on Reports Concerning U.S. Strikes in the Caribbean 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on U.S. strikes on suspected narcotics vessels in the Caribbean: “As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am alarmed by reports that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the U.S. military to ‘kill everybody’ on an alleged drug vessel in the Caribbean. Hegseth’s order apparently resulted in a military strike – a second strike on survivors of an initial strike – that may violate both the law of armed conflict and the Department of Defense’s own Law of War manual. “I’m glad to see leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees announce bipartisan oversight inquiries into the strikes. These efforts must determine if laws or conventions were broken. The responsible parties must be held accountable. “Secretary Hegseth has repeatedly demonstrated that he was never qualified to lead the Pentagon. I have long called for his resignation, and continue to believe that he must step aside.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/02/bennet-van-hollen-cassidy-colleagues-introduce-bicameral-bipartisan-resolution-recognizing-50th-anniversary-of-the-individuals-with-disabilities-education-act/ Bennet, Van Hollen, Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the historic step this legislation took by mandating that every child with a disability in America be given equal access to public education. U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), and John James (R-Mich.) introduced companion legislation in the House. “For fifty years, IDEA has provided landmark civil rights protections for students with disabilities, guaranteeing that all students have equal access to education,” said Bennet. “We must continue fighting to ensure every student receives the support they need to succeed in school and build their future.” “Since its passage fifty years ago, IDEA has opened the doors to a quality education for millions of students with disabilities across America. On IDEA’s anniversary, we honor all those who fought to make IDEA a reality and celebrate the dedicated educators who support students with disabilities in and out of the classroom. While we take stock of the progress that has been made because of this landmark legislation, I remain committed to the fight to fully fund IDEA – to move us closer to delivering greater, more equal access to high-quality education for every student in this country,” said Van Hollen. “All children deserve an education that gives them the resources they need to reach their full potential,” said Cassidy. “By empowering parents to partner in their child’s education and equipping teachers with resources, IDEA ensures children with disabilities have the opportunity to succeed in the classroom.” The resolution is endorsed by The School Superintendents Association (AASA), Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), Council for Exceptional Children, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and Nation… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-degette-neguse-crow-pettersen-demand-answers-from-department-of-education-on-ending-grants-for-minority-serving-institutions/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, DeGette, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen Demand Answers from Department of Education on Ending Grants for Minority-Serving Institutions 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet andU.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen sent a letter to Secretary Linda McMahon in opposition of the Department of Education’s decision to end several discretionary grant programs for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). “MSIs serve a broad range of students for whom a college degree is often out of reach, like first-generation college-goers, English language learners, parents, and transfer students, as well as students in rural communities. There are roughly 800 MSIs in the United States, including 14 Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and 1 Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution in Colorado. Funds from these programs support vital activities, including academic support services, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, and helping prepare students for the workforce,” wrote the lawmakers. “MSIs, and specifically HSIs, have a proven track record of success when it comes to setting up graduates for economic security and success. HSIs are especially effective at providing social mobility for students from low-income families. In 2023, eight of the top 10 colleges in the Social Mobility Index rankings were HSIs. We have heard strong concerns from Colorado colleges and universities that have received termination notices from the Department. The loss of millions of dollars will mean fewer opportunities for students and will only cause harm to the communities these institutions serve,” continued the lawmakers. The lawmakers emphasized that ending these programs will cause widespread detrimental effects on students, not just in Colorado but all over the country. They underscored that they remain ready and willing to work with the Trump Administration to ensure that the United States has an education system that allows every American student to succeed. The text of the letter is available HERE and below. Dear Secretary McMahon: We write today in opposition to the Depart… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-cheer-progress-senate-hearing-on-bill-to-expand-sarvis-creek-wilderness/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Cheer Progress, Senate Hearing on Bill to Expand Sarvis Creek Wilderness 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper In hearing, Hickenlooper spoke in support of his Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act and CORE Act WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse applauded progress on their Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, which received a hearing today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. The bill would expand the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest by 6,817 acres, protecting sub-alpine wilderness habitats and wildlife while preserving access to outdoor recreation. “Sarvis Creek Wilderness has outdoor recreation opportunities and landscapes that are hard to imagine anywhere but where you see them there. Coloradans across the state want to make sure that that’s protected,” said Hickenlooper, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in his remarks during today’s hearing. “Colorado’s public lands are the cornerstone of our Western way of life, and for decades, Sarvis Creek Wilderness has deserved further protection,” said Bennet. “Local elected officials and outdoor recreation, agriculture, water, and environmental leaders came together to craft this bill that protects critical watersheds, enhances wildlife habitat, and safeguards outdoor exploration for Coloradans. I look forward to getting this important legislation across the finish line for our state.” “I’m excited to see the Senate consider our critically important bill, the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, which would expand protections in the Routt National Forest, helping preserve public lands, support wildlife, and more. I remain committed to advancing the bill in the House and look forward to continuing our bicameral efforts to usher it across the finish line,” said Neguse. State, Tribal, and local leaders—including Colorado Governor Polis, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Routt County Board of Commissioners, and several local towns—have expressed their support for the legislation. The bill … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-support-core-act-at-senate-energy-and-natural-resources-committee-hearing/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Support CORE Act at Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Hearing 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Video of Hickenlooper’s Remarks is available HERE. Video of Bennet’s Testimony is available HERE. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, testified during a Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining hearing in support of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act. The Senators have worked with Colorado U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse and Colorado counties, in close coordination with Tribes, businesses, recreation groups, sportsmen, ranchers, and conservationists, to develop this bill over the last decade. The legislation protects approximately 420,000 acres of public land, establishes new wilderness areas, and safeguards existing outdoor recreation opportunities to boost the economy for future generations. “Public lands power our economy and connect our communities in Colorado,” said Hickenlooper. “A decade’s worth of partnerships built these common-sense measures to protect our public lands and invest in our outdoor recreation economy. We won’t let up until we get the CORE Act signed into law.” “County commissioners across the political spectrum, outfitters, ranchers, hunters and anglers, and local businesses rolled up their sleeves to find the best way forward to preserve our special places. These Coloradans know how fundamental public lands are to our identity and economy, and they did the hard work to ensure the CORE Act reflects the diverse interests of our diverse state,” Bennet said during his testimony. “The CORE Act is a transformational bill that would protect our treasured public lands for generations to come,” said Neguse. “During my time in Congress, I’ve been proud to work with Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper to usher components of the bill across the finish line, including successfully securing the establishment of the historic Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument. But our fight continues. And I’m heartened to see the Senate take up this bill once again, continu… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-colleagues-celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-the-individuals-with-disabilities-education-act/ Hickenlooper, Colleagues Celebrate 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Members of Congress introduced bicameral, bipartisan resolution recognizing landmark legislation WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined Senators Chris Van Hollen and Bill Cassidy to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the historic investments IDEA has made to ensure every child with a disability in America gets equal access to public education. “Every student in America deserves high-quality and accessible education,” said Hickenlooper. “IDEA invests in that promise and has delivered quality education and resources to millions of students. Our work isn’t finished until IDEA is fully funded and every child gets the education they deserve.” “Since its passage fifty years ago, IDEA has opened the doors to a quality education for millions of students with disabilities across America. On IDEA’s anniversary, we honor all those who fought to make IDEA a reality and celebrate the dedicated educators who support students with disabilities in and out of the classroom. While we take stock of the progress that has been made because of this landmark legislation, I remain committed to the fight to fully fund IDEA – to move us closer to delivering greater, more equal access to high-quality education for every student in this country,” said Van Hollen. “All children deserve an education that gives them the resources they need to reach their full potential,” said Cassidy. “By empowering parents to partner in their child’s education and equipping teachers with resources, IDEA ensures children with disabilities have the opportunity to succeed in the classroom.” The senators’ resolution is endorsed by The School Superintendents Association (AASA), Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), Council for Exceptional Children, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, and National PTA. “IDEA’s promise has always been about more than access – it’s about opportunity. It opened doors to p… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-ossoff-launch-inquiry-into-dhs-obstruction-of-congressional-oversight/ Hickenlooper, Ossoff Launch Inquiry into DHS’ Obstruction of Congressional Oversight 2025-12-02 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Letter follows Trump admin refusal to release a Durango father and children who reported abuse in ICE detention WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined Senator Jon Ossoff and 11 of their Senate colleagues to demand that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stop obstructing congressional oversight. Specifically, the senators are pushing ICE to end its unlawful, arbitrary policies – including forcing members of Congress to wait seven days before entering ICE facilities and blocking them and their staff from bringing doctors, attorneys, or other experts on detention facility tours. “Congressional oversight protects detainees’ human rights and delivers transparency and accountability to Americans,” the senators wrote. “Members of Congress and their staff must be allowed, pursuant to Congress’s inherent oversight authority and as required by Federal law, to access any facility where individuals are held in federal custody to monitor and prevent these abuses and ensure accountability and compliance with standards for detention,” they continued. The letter comes after Senator Hickenlooper urged DHS Secretary Noem in November to release a Durango father and two children from ICE custody after they reported being physically abused while in ICE detention. Despite having active asylum claims and no criminal record, DHS refused to release them. Since the beginning of 2025, there have been numerous, publicly reportedexamples of members of Congress and their staff facing obstructed access to ICE facilities nationwide, including ICE field offices where people are being detained. Hickenlooper has consistently pressed ICE to follow the law, including due process and humane treatment of detainees. In August, Hickenlooper visited the ICE detention center in Aurora to conduct routine oversight and push for more transparency from ICE. During the visit, he raised concerns to ICE officials regarding delayed communication with congressional offices, irregular process changes, reports of ICE pressuring detainees to … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/01/bennet-statement-on-the-national-renewable-energy-laboratorys-name-change/ Bennet Statement on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Name Change 2025-12-01 2025 2025-12 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s new name: “For decades, Colorado has been home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and its global leadership on renewable energy and energy efficiency. As the Lab transitions to its new name, it should continue its groundbreaking work to achieve an affordable, net-zero energy economy. President Trump’s ‘Drill Baby Drill’ slogan will never solve our nation’s most complex energy challenges. Instead, we must pursue innovation so America’s energy economy continues to compete effectively in the world and ultimately leads the global energy transition. I will continue working to ensure that the Lab’s core capabilities and unrivaled expertise remain among the best in the world, and that Colorado continues to lead the way on energy innovation.” ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/25/bennet-hickenlooper-celebrate-over-60-million-for-colorado-transportation-projects/ Bennet, Hickenlooper Celebrate Over $60 Million for Colorado Transportation Projects 2025-11-25 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper LocationProject NameApplicantAmount AwardedDescriptionCity of PuebloPueblo Transit LOW Fleet TransitionCity of Pueblo$15,687,944The City of Pueblo (Pueblo Transit) will receive funding to buy hybrid buses to replace aging diesel buses.Crested ButteThe Mountain Express Bus Storage, Maintenance, and Operations FacilityColorado Department of Transportation on behalf of Mountain Express$14,400,000The Colorado Department of Transportation, on behalf of Mountain Express (MX), will receive funding for the construction of a bus storage, maintenance, and operations facility to support the delivery of public transit services in the Crested Butte, Colorado region.City of Colorado SpringsMountain Metropolitan Transit Hybrid Bus ExpansionCity of Colorado Springs (Mountain Metropolitan Transit)$7,623,000The City of Colorado Springs (Mountain Metropolitan Transit) will receive funding to implement two express bus networks and to buy new hybrid buses for its fixed‑route fleet.Rural Western ColoradoRFTA – Rural Transit Diesel Bus ReplacementColorado Department of Transportation on behalf of The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority$6,745,942The Colorado Department of Transportation, on behalf of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) in rural western Colorado, will receive funding to buy buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life.City of Fort CollinsTransfort Fleet Replacement and Modernization ProjectCity of Fort Collins$4,838,610The City of Fort Collins (Transfort) will receive funding to buy CNG buses to replace older buses to improve reliability and operational flexibility.Roaring Fork ValleyRFTA – Rural Transit Hybrid Electric Bus ReplacementColorado Department of Transportation on behalf of The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA)$3,745,800The Colorado Department of Transportation, on behalf of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) will receive funding to buy hybrid buses to replace aging buses that have reached their useful life.Mesa CountyGrand Valley Transit Bus Replacem… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-celebrate-over-60-million-for-colorado-transportation-projects/ Hickenlooper, Bennet Celebrate Over $60 Million for Colorado Transportation Projects 2025-11-25 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper LocationProject NameApplicantAmount AwardedDescriptionCity of PuebloPueblo Transit LOW Fleet TransitionCity of Pueblo$15,687,944The City of Pueblo (Pueblo Transit) will receive funding to buy hybrid buses to replace aging diesel buses.Crested ButteThe Mountain Express Bus Storage, Maintenance, and Operations FacilityColorado Department of Transportation on behalf of Mountain Express$14,400,000The Colorado Department of Transportation, on behalf of Mountain Express (MX), will receive funding for the construction of a bus storage, maintenance, and operations facility to support the delivery of public transit services in the Crested Butte, Colorado region.City of Colorado SpringsMountain Metropolitan Transit Hybrid Bus ExpansionCity of Colorado Springs (Mountain Metropolitan Transit)$7,623,000The City of Colorado Springs (Mountain Metropolitan Transit) will receive funding to implement two express bus networks and to buy new hybrid buses for its fixed‑route fleet.Rural Western ColoradoRFTA – Rural Transit Diesel Bus ReplacementColorado Department of Transportation on behalf of The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority$6,745,942The Colorado Department of Transportation, on behalf of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) in rural western Colorado, will receive funding to buy buses to replace older buses that have reached their useful life.City of Fort CollinsTransfort Fleet Replacement and Modernization ProjectCity of Fort Collins$4,838,610The City of Fort Collins (Transfort) will receive funding to buy CNG buses to replace older buses to improve reliability and operational flexibility.Roaring Fork ValleyRFTA – Rural Transit Hybrid Electric Bus ReplacementColorado Department of Transportation on behalf of The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA)$3,745,800The Colorado Department of Transportation, on behalf of the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) will receive funding to buy hybrid buses to replace aging buses that have reached their useful life.Mesa CountyGrand Valley Transit Bus Replacem… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/24/bennet-heinrich-hickenlooper-and-lujan-urge-trump-administration-to-protect-taxpayers-and-ensure-oil-and-gas-companies-pay-for-site-cleanup/ Bennet, Heinrich, Hickenlooper, and Luján Urge Trump Administration to Protect Taxpayers and Ensure Oil and Gas Companies Pay for Site Cleanup 2025-11-24 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) urged U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Bureau of Land Management Acting Director Bill Groffy to maintain the federal oil and gas bonding requirements in the 2024 Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Rule to hold developers accountable for the costs of site cleanup on federal lands. The Trump Administration has proposed rescinding the 2024 rule, and the Senators strongly oppose the potential repeal of the federal bonding requirements included in that rule, which could cost taxpayers over $15 billion to clean up orphaned wells and put local communities at risk from harmful methane leaks, water contamination, and degraded habitat across the West. “For years, we have championed stronger bonding standards to make sure oil and gas companies—not taxpayers—pay the true costs of cleaning up oil and gas drilling on federal lands. In 2022, the Oil and Gas Bonding Reform and Orphaned Well Remediation Act was introduced in the Senateto increase woefully outdated bonding rates. The 2024 Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Rule built directly on these efforts by modernizing federal bonding requirements for the first time since the 1950s and 1960s to better reflect the actual cost of reclamation, which frequently exceeds $300,000 per well,” said Bennet, Heinrich, Hickenlooper, and Luján. The Senators emphasized that rescinding the 2024 bonding requirements would undo the first meaningful step in decades to ensure fiscal accountability for oil and gas operations on federal lands. They also highlight the overwhelming public support for the rule, with 90 percent of Westerners believing oil and gas companies should pay to clean up their own drilling sites. “The bonding requirements in the Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Rule represent a balanced, responsible approach to energy development, which is grounded in fiscal prudence, environmental stewardship, fairness to the American people, and a respon… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-gallego-colleagues-call-for-emergency-funding-to-support-wildfire-recovery-on-federal-lands/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Gallego, Colleagues Call for Emergency Funding to Support Wildfire Recovery on Federal Lands 2025-11-24 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Senators requested funding to aid recovery efforts in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, and Ruben Gallego, along with seven of their Senate colleagues, called on the Senate Appropriations Committee leadership to back additional funding to support wildfire recovery on federal lands. “Our nation’s public lands have tremendous intrinsic, economic, and ecological value,” wrote the senators in their letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins and Vice Chair Patty Murray. “We write to request that any emergency disaster appropriations bills drafted this year include funding for wildfire recovery on federal lands. Repairing wildfire damages to National Parks, National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management Lands is vital for the safety and economies of the entire country.” The senators pressed for additional resources to help National Parks, National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands recover from this year’s devastating wildfires. Since damage to federal lands is not covered by FEMA funding, federal land agencies are responsible for cleanup and restoration on their own. Nearly one million acres of BLM land burned across the West in 2025 alone, including the fire at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado. Full text of the letter available HERE and below: Dear Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray: We write to request that any emergency disaster appropriations bills drafted this year include funding for wildfire recovery on federal lands. Repairing wildfire damages to National Parks, National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management lands is vital for the safety and economy of the entire country. Just as our forests and parks require restoration, so too do the surrounding counties and communities that bear the economic and infrastructure impacts of these disasters; their recovery is inseparable from that of the federal lands themselves. Unfortunately, federal lands in each of our states have recently … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-heinrich-lujan-urge-trump-admin-to-protect-taxpayers-ensure-oil-gas-companies-pay-for-site-cleanup/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Heinrich, Luján Urge Trump Admin to Protect Taxpayers, Ensure Oil, Gas Companies Pay for Site Cleanup 2025-11-24 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Senators demand oil and gas companies pay the true costs of cleaning up drilling on federal lands, not taxpayers WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, Martin Heinrich, and Ben Ray Luján urged Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Bureau of Land Management Acting Director Bill Groffy to maintain the federal oil and gas bonding requirements to hold developers accountable for the costs of site cleanup on federal lands. “Reversing oil and gas bonding requirements would undo the first meaningful progress in decades toward ensuring fiscal accountability for oil and gas operations on federal land,” wrote the senators. “Weakening these standards would ignore the will of the American public and reward irresponsible use of public lands – which Westerners have consistently rejected. Rolling back the 2024 bonding requirements would also worsen the public safety risks and fiscal threats of orphaned wells.” As of September 2024, more than 10,000 idle wells sit on our national public lands, and as an oil and gas executive acknowledged in a recent industry survey, that number is expected to grow over time. Colorado has 625 abandoned wells, and as many as 19,000 oil and gas wells that are producing less than the equivalent of two barrels of oil per day. The Trump administration has proposed rescinding the 2024 rule, a move which could end up costing taxpayers over $15 billion to clean up orphaned wells and put local communities at risk from harmful methane leaks, water contamination, and degraded habitat across the West. The senators also highlighted the overwhelming public support for the rule, with 90 percent of Westerners believing oil and gas companies should pay to clean up their own drilling sites. Hickenlooper cosponsored the Oil and Gas Bonding Reform and Orphaned Well Remediation Act to increase woefully outdated bonding rates and helped negotiate the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which created a $4.7 billion federal program to plug, remediate, and reclaim orphaned wells on Feder… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/21/bennet-ernst-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-bolster-natos-anti-drone-defenses/ Bennet, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster NATO’s Anti-Drone Defenses 2025-11-21 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced a bipartisan bill to strengthen the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s air defense capabilities against unmanned aerial systems, including military drones. In recent months, Russian drones have entered the airspace of several NATO allies, including Romania and Poland; Russia also deployed fighter jets into the airspace of Estonia, another NATO ally. “Putin is not satisfied with attacking Ukraine, and instead continues to test NATO’s resolve by deploying drones and fighter jets across the borders of key allies, including Estonia, Romania, and Poland,” said Bennet. “The United States must work hand-in-hand with our allies to deter this threat and defend every inch of NATO territory.” “In the face of Russian aggression, strengthening NATO’s ability to counter drone incursions is essential to deterring the threats of today and stopping Putin in his tracks,” said Ernst. “I’m proud to work with Senator Bennet to prepare our partners to close potential gaps. Through a more strategic air defense plan, Russian drones can be kept at bay and prevented from encroaching on a single inch of NATO territory.” The bill requires the Secretary of Defense to engage NATO to develop and implement a strategy to field a multi-layered, integrated air defense system to defeat unmanned aerial systems and deter Russian aggression, particularly against NATO’s eastern flank. The bill further requires this strategy to identify gaps – and steps the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to take to fill these gaps – in NATO’s defense against unmanned aerial systems, particularly with regard to using mass-produced, lower-cost technologies and next-generational technologies. Additionally, the bill requires the Pentagon to identify plans the United States will take to produce more of these mass-produced, lower-cost technologies, including thro… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/21/bennet-gallego-colleagues-call-for-emergency-funding-for-wildfire-recovery-on-federal-lands/ Bennet, Gallego, Colleagues Call for Emergency Funding for Wildfire Recovery on Federal Lands 2025-11-21 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Denver — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and eight Senate colleagues in calling on Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Mich.) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) for additional funding to support wildfire recovery on federal lands. In their letter, the senators pressed for additional resources to help National Parks, National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands recover from this year’s devastating wildfires. Since damage to federal lands is not covered by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding, federal land agencies are responsible for cleanup and restoration on their own. “We write to request that any emergency disaster appropriations bills drafted this year include funding for wildfire recovery on federal lands,” wrote Bennet, Gallego, and the senators. “Repairing wildfire damages to National Parks, National Forests, and Bureau of Land Management Lands is vital for the safety and economies of the entire country. Just as our forests and parks require restoration, so too do the surrounding counties and communities that bear the economic and infrastructure impacts of these disasters; their recovery is inseparable from that of the federal lands themselves.” Nearly one million acres of BLM land burned across the West in 2025 alone. The Lee Fire, Colorado’s fourth-largest wildfire which burned approximately 138,000 acres, and the Elk Fire, which burned approximately 15,000 acres, were devastating for Colorado communities in Rio Blanco County earlier this year. In addition, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Joshua Tree National Park in California, the Gila National Forest in New Mexico, and the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Oregon have all had wildfires this year. “As you know, unlike wildfire response activities on state, tribal, or private lands which are coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), wildfire response on federal … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/21/bennet-hickenlooper-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-stop-stalling-toxic-pfas-cleanups-protect-military-families-and-communities/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Stop Stalling Toxic PFAS Cleanups, Protect Military Families and Communities 2025-11-21 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined 26 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to demand that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reverse the Department of Defense’s (DoD) decision to delay the cleanup of toxic chemicals at military installations across the country and take action to protect military families and nearby communities by addressing contamination at the affected sites. In their letter, Bennet, Hickenlooper, and the senators called on the Trump Administration to immediately restore the previous timetable for remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at U.S. military bases and to reverse plans that would further delay long-overdue cleanups, including at eight installations in Colorado such as Buckley Space Force Base, Petersen and Schriever Space Force bases, and Fort Carson. “For years, communities contaminated by PFAS from nearby DoD installations in our states have waited for the DoD to take action. We request that the Department reverse its decision, return to the previous timetable released in December 2024, and accelerate efforts to remediate confirmed PFAS contamination,” wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, and the senators. PFAS chemicals are widespread contaminants found in many industrial applications, especially around U.S. military installations. PFAS exposure is linked to an array of health problems, including various cancers, reduced immune function, reproductive challenges, birth defects, thyroid issues, and more. The use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam at facilities, and the subsequent stormwater runoff, is a significant source of drinking water pollution. This contamination poses serious health risks to servicemembers, their families, and surrounding communities. At least 700 military sites in the United States are known or suspected to have PFAS contamination from DoD activities. The DoD’s delayed timetable would postpone cleanup efforts by years for over 140 of these sites. Specifically, the DoD pushed back the time… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/21/bennet-hickenlooper-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-reverse-snap-cuts-restore-food-security-for-millions-of-americans/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Reverse SNAP Cuts, Restore Food Security for Millions of Americans 2025-11-21 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus to introduce the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act, which would repeal all the devastating Republican cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) made in the Republican “One Big Beautiful Bill”. “Across Colorado, families tell me they’re working hard but still can’t keep up with the cost of groceries,” said Bennet. “SNAP is an essential lifeline for more than 600,000 Coloradans. But in a moment of rising need, the devastating cuts Republicans passed this summer are already taking hold, with even deeper reductions ahead. That means parents skipping meals so their kids can eat, seniors choosing between groceries and prescriptions, farmers losing customers, food pantries stretched to the brink, and local grocers seeing fewer sales. This won’t only harm families, it will strain entire communities and local economies. With this bill, we can reverse that damage and make sure Colorado families can put food on the table.” “We’re the wealthiest country in the world, yet families are struggling to afford groceries,” said Hickenlooper. “Republicans pushed through the Big Ugly Betrayal bill, gutting SNAP to fund tax cuts for the richest Americans. Their cuts will take meals away from thousands of Coloradans. It’s cruel, and we need to fix it.” SNAP is the nation’s largest food assistance program and serves 42 million Americans, including children, seniors, veterans, workers, and people with disabilities. This past July, Republicans voted to strip $186 billion from SNAP in their “One Big Beautiful Bill”, marking the largest cut to the program in history. Additionally, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” creates a massive unfunded mandate on state governments by shifting a portion of benefit costs to states and increasing the amount of funding states must pay to administer the program. In October, Bennet and Hickenlooper called on U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Broo… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-colleagues-demand-trump-admin-stop-stalling-toxic-pfas-cleanups-protect-military-families-and-communities/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Demand Trump Admin Stop Stalling Toxic PFAS Cleanups, Protect Military Families and Communities 2025-11-21 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Holdups are affecting PFAS cleanup at seven bases in Colorado and the U.S. Air Force Academy WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined 26 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to demand that the Trump administration reverse its decision to delay the cleanup of toxic chemicals at military installations across the country and take action to protect military families and nearby communities by addressing contamination at the affected sites. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Hickenlooper, Bennet, and the senators called on the Trump administration to immediately restore the previous timetable for remediating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination at U.S. military bases and to reverse plans that would further delay long-overdue cleanups, including at seven bases in Colorado and the U.S. Air Force Academy. “According to reporting, DoD’s new timetable delays cleanup of PFAS pollution at approximately 140 sites, and in some instances, the delay will be nearly a decade. Studies confirm that residents living near many of these sites have dangerously high levels of PFAS in their drinking water, putting them at risk for serious health issues linked to PFAS exposure. PFAS from these sites have also contaminated surrounding groundwater and soil, hurting the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers. Further delaying cleanup will only increase the health and economic costs to servicemembers and communities across the country,” wrote Hickenlooper, Bennet, and the senators. “For years, communities contaminated by PFAS from nearby DoD installations in our states have waited for the DoD to take action. We request that the Department reverse its decision, return to the previous timetable released in December 2024, and accelerate efforts to remediate confirmed PFAS contamination.” At least 700 military sites in the United States are known or suspected to have PFAS contamination from Department of Defense (DoD) activities. DoD’s delayed timetable would postpone cleanup effort… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-reverse-snap-cuts-restore-food-security-for-millions-of-americans/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Reverse SNAP Cuts, Restore Food Security for Millions of Americans 2025-11-21 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Effort to protect SNAP comes as grocery prices increase, Trump admin attempted to leverage shutdown to undermine SNAP programs WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus to introduce the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025, which would repeal all the devastating Republican cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) made in the Republicans’ Big Ugly Betrayal bill. “We’re the wealthiest country in the world, yet families are struggling to afford groceries,” said Hickenlooper. “Republicans pushed through the Big Ugly Betrayal bill, gutting SNAP to fund tax cuts for the richest Americans. Their cuts will take meals away from thousands of Coloradans. It’s cruel, and we need to fix it.” “Across Colorado, families tell me they’re working hard but still can’t keep up with the cost of groceries,” said Bennet. “SNAP is an essential lifeline for more than 600,000 Coloradans. But in a moment of rising need, the devastating cuts Republicans passed this summer are already taking hold, with even deeper reductions ahead. That means parents skipping meals so their kids can eat, seniors choosing between groceries and prescriptions, farmers losing customers, food pantries stretched to the brink, and local grocers seeing fewer sales. This won’t only harm families, it will strain entire communities and local economies. With this bill, we can reverse that damage and make sure Colorado families can put food on the table.” SNAP is the nation’s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million Americans. This past July, Republicans voted to strip $186 billion from SNAP in their “Big Ugly Betrayal Bill”, marking the largest cut to the program in history, even as grocery prices rise and President Trump’s tariff costs increase. In Colorado, over 600,000 people – or 10% of the state population – rely on SNAP benefits. These Republican cuts will take meals from millions of Americans, including children, seniors, ve… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/20/bennet-demands-department-of-the-interior-grant-backpay-to-furloughed-national-park-service-seasonal-employees/ Bennet Demands Department of the Interior Grant Backpay to Furloughed National Park Service Seasonal Employees 2025-11-20 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum demanding the Interior Department grant backpay to National Park Service (NPS) seasonal employees who were furloughed during the recent government shutdown. “As you know, the NPS relies on thousands of seasonal employees each summer and shoulder season to fill essential roles across the agency. They serve as rangers, camp hosts, maintenance crews, researchers, and staff for visitor centers, campgrounds, trails, waysides, and entrance stations. Seasonal staff are often the first and last points of contact for visitors at more than 430 national park units, making them an indispensable part of the agency’s workforce and the overall visitor experience at America’s most iconic destinations,” wrote Bennet. “These employees remained available during the shutdown. They choose this work not for financial gain, but out of dedication to America’s national parks and a desire to preserve and share our nation’s history. These realities make reports that your Department may not issue backpay for seasonal employees especially troubling. Not only does withholding pay irreparably harm some of the NPS’s most vulnerable staff at a time of immense difficulty and uncertainty, it discourages future applicants and further strains the NPS’s ability to recruit the skilled, committed employees the agency and the American public depend on,” continued Bennet. Secretary Burgum consolidated all human resource (HR) functions at the Department of the Interior’s bureaus, including the NPS, under the Office of the Secretary’s jurisdiction, giving the Secretary sole HR responsibility across the Department. Bennet emphasized that federal law requires agencies to grant furloughed employees retroactive pay, and if NPS continues to refuse to grant backpay, it will be in violation of existing law. The text of the letter is available HERE and below. Dear Secretary Burgum: I am writing to express serious concern about reports that the U.S. … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/20/bennet-joins-bipartisan-group-of-senators-to-designate-november-20th-as-national-rural-health-day/ Bennet Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators to Designate November 20th as National Rural Health Day 2025-11-20 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Denver — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), all co-chairs of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, introduced and passed a bipartisan resolution declaring November 20, 2025 as National Rural Health Day. The resolution, which passed the Senate unanimously, reaffirms Congress’s commitment to improving health care access and affordability for rural communities across the country. “Rural Coloradans face enormous challenges to access quality health care – from aging infrastructure, staffing shortages, and rising health coverage costs,” said Bennet. “National Rural Health Day is an opportunity for us to shed light on the barriers they face and recommit to making sure every American can access the care they need, no matter where they live.” “The rural and frontier providers across Wyoming and the West have a long record of ensuring patients receive the care they need close to home,” said Barrasso. “As a doctor, one of my top priorities is ensuring all patients have access to high-quality care wherever they live. Our resolution honors the hard work of providers in rural communities and reinforces Congress’s bipartisan support of their work to serve patients throughout rural America.” “78 of Tennessee’s 95 counties are rural, making rural health care a critical issue for our state,” said Blackburn. “As co-chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, I have worked tirelessly to ensure access to quality and affordable health care in rural areas. The Senate’s passage of our resolution recognizing November 20th as National Rural Health Day highlights our renewed focus on lowering costs and increasing access to care for people in rural communities.” In addition to Bennet, Barrasso, Blackburn, and Smith, U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hickenlooper (D… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/20/bennet-statement-on-cwcbs-vote-to-approve-shoshone-water-rights-acquisition/ Bennet Statement on CWCB’s Vote to Approve Shoshone Water Rights Acquisition 2025-11-20 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s vote to approve the Shoshone Water Rights Acquisition: “I’m glad to see the Colorado Water Conservation Board move forward with the acquisition of an interest in the Shoshone Water Rights for instream flow use. This is a historic step that brings a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect flows in the Colorado River Basin closer to fruition. “The State of Colorado and local communities have already provided $60 million for this critical project. The Trump Administration must now heed the bipartisan, statewide support and release the already-approved $40 million in federal funding to get this project across the finish line.” 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-colleagues-introduce-senate-resolution-to-commemorate-transgender-day-of-remembrance/ Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Introduce Senate Resolution to Commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance 2025-11-20 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, Mazie K. Hirono, and 14 of their Senate colleagues introduced a resolution commemorating November 20, 2025 as Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). “Hate and bigotry have no place in America. Everyone deserves the right to be who they are without fear, and that includes the trans community,” said Hickenlooper. “In the face of rising discrimination, we won’t stop fighting to make this country a better place for all.” “On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the Americans we have lost to violence and those who continue to suffer discrimination and hate for simply being who they are,” said Bennet. “We must commit to protecting the rights and safety of the transgender community and ensure everyone can live with dignity and respect.” “As anti-transgender hate continues to rise across the country, it is crucial that we do everything in our power to protect and support transgender and gender-nonconforming communities,” said Hirono. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution to educate people about the discrimination and dangers that transgender communities face, as well as to honor the lives of transgender and gender-nonconforming people who were lost to violence. Transgender rights are human rights, and I’ll continue fighting so no one has to live in fear for simply existing as who they are.” Following the still-unsolved murder of Rita Hester, a transgender woman of color, Gwendolyn Ann Smith founded TDOR to honor Hester and other transgender people whose lives were lost to violence. The resolution this year also commemorates Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a Black genderqueer transgender rights advocate who passed away last month. Miss Major was a trailblazer of the transgender rights movement and one of this country’s most celebrated transgender rights activists, spending over 50 years fighting at the forefront of the movement and providing a sanctuary for transgender and gender-nonconforming people in her home state of Arkan… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bipartisan-colleagues-air-ambulance-providers-at-risk-without-federal-action/ Hickenlooper, Bipartisan Colleagues: Air Ambulance Providers at Risk Without Federal Action 2025-11-20 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Jeff Merkley, Susan Collins, Ron Wyden, Angus King, and Steve Daines called on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to address issues plaguing air ambulance providers and other emergency medical services in Colorado, Oregon, Maine, Montana, and across the nation. “Each year, air ambulance teams treat and transport hundreds of thousands of critically ill and injured patients nationwide, serving as a vital link in our emergency care system. Congress recognized the unique nature of these services by including dedicated provisions for air ambulances in the NSA, yet significant regulatory and operational gaps remain that make it difficult for air ambulances to provide care to patients,” wrote Hickenlooper, Merkley, Collins, Wyden, King, and Daines. “We urge you to address these gaps in the final rule related to certain provisions of the No Surprises Act regarding the federal independent dispute resolution (IDR) process.” More than 550,000 Americans use air ambulance services each year, and people across the country count on them to be there when they need them. However, air ambulance providers have been struggling to navigate financial challenges because of some insurance companies increasingly delaying or denying claims and exploiting the IDR process under the No Surprises Act. In addition, air ambulance providers have seen a lack of enforcement and accountability, even though HHS has clear enforcement authority. The senators directed, “We urge the Department to act swiftly to address these issues and restore the [No Surprises Act’s] promise of fair, timely, and transparent reimbursement for air ambulance services, along with its objective to protect patients from surprise medical bills. Strengthening these protections is essential to safeguarding patient access and the sustainability of critical care providers nationwide.” Full text of the letter can be found HERE and below: Dear Secretary Kennedy: We write to b… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-crapo-reintroduce-bill-to-protect-night-sky-aid-research/ Hickenlooper, Crapo Reintroduce Bill to Protect Night Sky, Aid Research 2025-11-20 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Mike Crapo reintroduced their bipartisan Dark and Quiet Skies Act, which would preserve the night sky from unintentional light and radio interference that disrupts industry and academic space research. “There’s bipartisan agreement that we need a strong space economy and cutting-edge scientific research to unlock the mysteries of our universe,” said Hickenlooper. “The Dark and Quiet Skies Act helps us do both. This is a no-brainer solution, and we’re pushing to get it done.” “The vastness of Idaho’s wilderness allows for truly magnificent wonders in the night sky,” said Crapo. “The advancement of space technology has made these majestic spaces fewer, and collaborative approaches to mitigate interference is vitally needed.” Scientific and commercial space observations can be disrupted by the light and radio transmission of passing satellites. In the last five years, the number of satellites in orbit increased from 2,200 to over 9,000 satellites. By 2030, current estimates predict there will be over 500,000. The Dark and Quiet Skies Act would create a Center of Excellence overseen by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop best practices to reduce light and noise interference. The Center would boost collaboration between the astronomical community, industry, and Federal agencies to protect federally funded scientific research that observes the sky and celestial bodies. “According to data from the citizen science project Globe at Night, the night sky is growing about 10% brighter each year. In addition to the aesthetic value of dark and quiet skies, there is tremendous educational and scientific value. Senator Hickenlooper’s Dark and Quiet Skies Act will provide essential infrastructure and resources needed to preserve and protect scientific space observations,” said David Brain, Chair of the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. “Senators Hickenlooper and Crapo are to be commend… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/19/bennet-cornyn-coons-celebrate-senate-passage-of-bill-to-strengthen-state-departments-taiwan-strategy/ Bennet, Cornyn, Coons Celebrate Senate Passage of Bill to Strengthen State Department’s Taiwan Strategy 2025-11-19 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) to celebrate Senate passage of their Taiwan Assurance Implementation Act, which will require the U.S. Department of State to review and update its policy guidance regarding Taiwan no less than every five years and report to Congress within 90 days amid China’s coercive behavior across the Taiwan Strait. The bill already passed the House and now heads to the President’s desk. “The United States must continue deepening our ties with Taiwan, a vibrant democracy and key economic partner whose survival is crucial to Indo-Pacific security and to stemming the tide of global democratic backsliding,” said Bennet. “As the Chinese government escalates military, economic, and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan, this legislation will ensure that the State Department adapts U.S. policy to meet threats to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. I am glad the Senate passed this important bipartisan bill.” “The threat China poses to the stability of the Indo-Pacific, including our friend and ally Taiwan, is ever-evolving, and our diplomatic guidance must be able to keep up,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would help reinstate a strong Taiwan strategy at the State Department at a time when we need it most, and I’m glad it is now headed to President Trump’s desk for signature.” “When I traveled to Taiwan earlier this year, I saw first-hand its importance for securing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Coons. “Congress has long supported strong United States-Taiwan relations. The Taiwan Assurance Act continues that tradition by supporting our shared values and reinforcing stability in the region, and I’m glad to see the Senate take up and pass this crucial bill.” Bennet has long advocated for stronger U.S.-Taiwan ties. He has also repeatedly warned that allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to claim victory in Ukraine would embolden autocrats … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-cornyn-kelly-wicker-lujan-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-bolster-american-space-research-exploration/ Hickenlooper, Cornyn, Kelly, Wicker, Luján Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster American Space Research, Exploration 2025-11-19 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Space RACE Act would create new space research institute to ensure competitive edge over foreign adversaries Legislation comes as International Space Station (ISS) nears retirement WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, John Cornyn, Mark Kelly, Roger Wicker, and Ben Ray Luján introduced the bipartisan Space Research And Continuing Exploration (RACE) Act to bolster America’s space exploration and research capabilities and ensure America is equipped to lead in the next space race by creating a National Institute for Space Research. “We can’t let the International Space Station’s retirement leave a gap in American research in outer space,” said Hickenlooper. “The Space RACE Act ensures our scientific research and innovation activities secure new opportunities on space stations of the future.” “As our foreign adversaries continue to make advancements in space research and exploration, it is critical for America to have every tool and competitive advantage at our disposal to launch into the next space race,” said Cornyn. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation to create the National Institute for Space Research, which will help strengthen our nation’s research capabilities and bolster our influence in the global space economy.” “America won the first Space Race, and we will win the second. The National Institute for Space Research would help accomplish that mission,” said Wicker. “By combining the talents of industry leaders, government officials, and academic researchers, the Institute would extend the capabilities of U.S. space technology.” “From my time on the International Space Station, I saw how the research our astronauts conduct drives innovation here on Earth and strengthens America’s long-term competitiveness,” said Kelly. “As China and other countries expand their space programs, the United States can’t afford to lose ground. Our bipartisan bill makes sure that when the ISS reaches the end of its service, we continue the groundbreaking work it began and maintain America’s leadership in … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-news-of-durango-familys-return-to-colombia-without-wife-and-mother/ Hickenlooper Statement on News of Durango Family’s Return to Colombia Without Wife and Mother 2025-11-19 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper Hickenlooper: “The Trump administration turned Fernando and his children’s dream into an American tragedy.” WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement following Compañeros: Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center’s announcement that Fernando Jaramillo-Solano and his two minor children, Jana, age 12, and Kewin, age 15, agreed to return to Colombia. Fernando and his two children have been in ICE detention, separated from his wife and their mother, since October 27th. “The Trump administration turned Fernando and his children’s dream into an American tragedy. “They forced a father and his 15- and 12-year-old kids to make an impossible choice: leave their wife and mother behind and return to a country where they don’t feel safe; or remain indefinitely isolated in detention, separated from her. “They didn’t care that they had been accepted into the asylum process and had no criminal history. They didn’t care that Denver’s third-ranking ICE official admitted that their arrest was a mistake. “Our office worked day in and day out demanding answers from ICE, advocating for this family, and even spoke directly to Sec. Noem to demand they be released. They refused. “Our fight is not over. We will continue to demand transparency from DHS regarding allegations of violence, and about what they did to this family. “Two innocent children will carry this trauma for the rest of their lives.” On October 27th, Fernando and his two children were arrested by ICE in Durango while Fernando was driving them to school. The children’s mother wasn’t notified of their arrest, and was unable to make contact with her son for several hours. When she finally spoke with her son, he described that he and his father experienced physical abuse while in ICE custody. Fernando’s daughter, Jana, also reported physical abuse while in ICE detention. Fernando and his children are currently being held in an ICE detention center in Texas. Gregory Davies, a senior ICE official in Denver, testified that this was… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/18/bennet-hickenlooper-hurd-boebert-crank-crow-degette-evans-neguse-pettersen-urge-president-trump-to-declare-a-presidential-major-disaster-declaration-following-extreme-flooding-in-southwest-co/ Bennet, Hickenlooper, Hurd, Boebert, Crank, Crow, DeGette, Evans, Neguse, Pettersen Urge President Trump to Declare a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration Following Extreme Flooding in Southwest Colorado 2025-11-18 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Jeff Hurd, Lauren Bobert, Jeff Crank, Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Gabe Evans, Joe Neguse, and Brittany Pettersen sent a letter in support of Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ request to President Donald Trump for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and activation of Public Assistance for La Plata County, Archuleta County, and Mineral County, Colorado, in response to the historic and devastating flooding that began in mid-October. “Communities throughout La Plata County, Archuleta County, and Mineral County have suffered significant damage and losses as a result of heavy rainfall and severe, record-breaking flooding, including debris and mud flows that occurred from October 11 through October 14, 2025. These events destroyed homes, businesses, and private property, and caused extensive damage to wastewater systems and miles of county roads,” wrote the lawmakers. “Successful recovery is essential to restoring the County’s economy, which has already faced a devastating fire season in addition to the catastrophic effects of flooding on infrastructure and private property. Without additional support, residents could face drinking water disruptions, unsafe homes and businesses, and challenges accessing their property. In addition, residents are facing ongoing hazards from the flooding, including dangerous debris, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure,” continued the lawmakers. The lawmakers stressed that the historic flooding destroyed public and private property, in addition to causing extensive damage to wastewater systems and miles of county roads. They underscored that Southwest Colorado needs federal assistance to recover. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks additional loans, insurance relief, and other critical assistance. This is the second Presidential Major Disaster Declaration request from Governor Polis that the full Congressional Colorado Delegation has s… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-colorado-congressional-delegation-urge-president-trump-to-declare-major-disaster-declaration-help-communities-recover-from-extreme-flooding/ Hickenlooper, Colorado Congressional Delegation Urge President Trump to Declare Major Disaster Declaration, Help Communities Recover from Extreme Flooding 2025-11-18 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, and Representatives Jeff Hurd, Lauren Bobert, Jeff Crank, Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Gabe Evans, Joe Neguse, and Brittany Pettersen sent a letter to President Trump in support of Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and the activation of Public Assistance to help Colorado communities recover from the historic and devastating flooding that began in mid-October. “Communities throughout La Plata County, Archuleta County, and Mineral County have suffered significant damage and losses as a result of heavy rainfall and severe, record-breaking flooding, including debris and mud flows that occurred from October 11 through October 14, 2025. These events destroyed homes, businesses, and private property, and caused extensive damage to wastewater systems and miles of county roads,” wrote the Colorado lawmakers. “Successful recovery is essential to restoring the County’s economy, which has already faced a devastating fire season in addition to the catastrophic effects of flooding on infrastructure and private property.” The lawmakers stressed that the historic flooding destroyed public and private property, in addition to causing extensive damage to wastewater systems and miles of county roads. They underscored that Southwest Colorado needs federal assistance to recover. A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks additional loans, insurance relief, and other critical assistance. This is the second Presidential Major Disaster Declaration request from Governor Polis that the full Congressional Colorado Delegation has supported. President Trump has not yet responded to Governor Polis’s Major Disaster Declaration request for the Lee and Elk fires in Colorado during August. Full text of the letter available HERE and below: Dear Mr. President: We strongly support Governor Jared Polis’s request on November 12, 2025, for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and Public Assistance for La Plata Count… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-senate-passage-of-bill-to-release-epstein-files/ Hickenlooper Statement on Senate Passage of Bill to Release Epstein Files 2025-11-18 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO John W. Hickenlooper H000273 www.hickenlooper.senate.gov hickenlooper https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/ scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement following the Senate passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which he co-sponsors, to direct the Department of Justice to publicly release all files relating to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. “Trump could have released the Epstein files and held Epstein’s associates accountable months ago. Instead, he tried to suppress them until he realized Americans weren’t backing down. “Trump needs to sign this bill and release the files already.” For months the Trump administration refused to release the Epstein files after reports surfaced that Attorney General Pam Bondi told President Trump that he is named in the files and additional reporting highlights Trump’s friendship with Epstein. In February, the Attorney General touted that the files were on her desk for review. Hickenlooper has consistently advocated for the Trump admin to release the files and the House of Representatives to take up the legislation. Earlier today, following the House passage of the bipartisan bill, Hickenlooper called on Senate Majority Leader Thune to not delay further and quickly vote on the legislation in the Senate. ### 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/11/17/bennet-murray-warren-gillibrand-colleagues-call-on-trump-administration-to-immediately-halt-plans-to-upend-key-homelessness-program/ Bennet, Murray, Warren, Gillibrand, Colleagues Call on Trump Administration to Immediately Halt Plans to Upend Key Homelessness Program 2025-11-17 2025 2025-11 Democrat Senate CO Michael F. Bennet B001267 www.bennet.senate.gov bennet https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/ scraper Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and 38 Senate Democratic colleagues to urge Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner to immediately halt reported plans to make drastic changes to the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which could result in nearly 200,000 Americans being forced out of their housing and back into homelessness. In their letter, the senators called on Secretary Turner to use the authorities that Congress has given him to renew existing CoC grants for Fiscal Year 2025 to prevent massive disruption and uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Americans in the coming months. “We write to express our deep concerns regarding the instability the entire homeless support system could face if funding delays, uncertainty, and rushed policy changes continue,” wrote Bennet, Murray, Warren, Gillibrand, and the senators. “HUD must immediately reconsider these harmful and potentially illegal changes that could result in nearly 200,000 older adults, chronically homeless Americans with disabilities, veterans, and families being forced back onto the streets. As Secretary, you have the authority to avoid this worst-case scenario by carrying out the previously planned and Congressionally authorized two-year [Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)], and we strongly urge you to do so expeditiously.” The lawmakers noted that the potentially illegal plans to upend the program, which is the largest source of federal grant funding to prevent homelessness, would cause sudden and significant shortfalls across the country. “The most troubling of these changes is a new, arbitrary cap on the amount of funds that may be used for permanent housing. Currently, 87 percent of CoC funds support permanent housing, but the new NOFO reportedly limits the amount of funding for permanent housing to only 30 percent. This appears to be in contravention of… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-04-06T19:52:45Z

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