Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed a government funding bill that includes critical resources for Colorado:

"Last year, Colorado experienced its three largest wildfires in state history, and since then, I’ve fought for critical funds to help our communities recover and rebuild. I’m glad that we are sending more resources to Colorado and the West as we battle the effects of our changing climate. We need to continue to make meaningful investments in Colorado's landscape for our economy, our way of life, and our future generations."

Bennet-led Efforts in the Government Funding Bill

Disaster Supplemental Funding

• $1.36 billion for the Forest Service to help states, including Colorado, recover and rebuild from wildfires and other natural disasters. Bennet first called for these funds last November. 
• $275 million for the USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) to support ongoing projects in Colorado to protect private property and water supplies in Northern Colorado. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Bennet has consistently worked in Congress to improve EWP project delivery and invest in wildfire mitigation and recovery.                   

Mental and Behavioral Health Resources

• $77.6 million for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which aligns with Bennet’s Suicide and Crisis Outreach Prevention Enhancement (SCOPE) Act he introduced earlier this year with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas).