Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet introduced an amendment to the Senate's budget proposal that instructs Congress to extend expired and expiring tax credits for renewable energy. The tax credits should be extended for a reasonable period of time as a bridge until Congress completes its work on tax reform.
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the resignation of Glenn Haggstrom, the Principal Executive Director in the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The Senate today failed to pass an amendment introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today to protect Medicare for the nation's seniors for years to come. The amendment to the Senate's budget resolution would have created a point of order against any bill that would privatize Medicare, cut Medicare beneficiaries' guaranteed benefits, or raise costs on prescription drugs and preventative care in Medicare. The amendment is co-sponsored by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined a minority of senators in support of an amendment to ensure equal pay for equal work. The amendment to the budget resolution introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) is based on the Paycheck Fairness Act and would strengthen tools for women to negotiate fair wages. It would also establish protections for women who file complaints of gender-based pay discrimination.
Today, the Senate adopted an amendment introduced by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) to improve care for children with medically-complex conditions in Medicaid. The amendment to the Senate's budget resolution complements the bipartisan bill the senators introduced in January with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The amendment was approved 96-0.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) today is announcing it will alter its "40-mile rule" to improve access to health care for veterans living in rural areas. The announcement follows Bennet's request that the VA reexamine the rule's application and update it. The VA's new rule will allow more veterans who would have to travel more than 40 miles to a VA medical facility to access non-VA community care, which was Congress' intent when it passed the Veterans Choice Act.

Bennet, Gardner and Tipton Urge Bureau of Reclamation to Open Lake Nighthorse

Recreation Area Could Generate More Than $12 Million in La Plata County

Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner and Congressman Scott Tipton are requesting the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Commissioner open access to Lake Nighthorse at the earliest possible date. While the Lake Nighthorse Reservoir was completed in 2011, a recreation plan has not been agreed upon and the area has remained closed to the public. A report commissioned by the Animas La Plata Water Conservancy District found that recreation at Lake Nighthorse could stimulate upwards of $12 million in annual economic benefits for Colorado's La Plata County.