The U.S. Senate today passed Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet's amendment to conduct a study of the effects of combat service on suicide rates and other mental health issues among members of the Armed Forces and veterans. The amendment requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work with the Department of Defense to commission a study with an independent third party. It passed as part of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to block the Administration's efforts to provide relief to certain undocumented immigrants.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bennet and several of his Senate colleagues met with the Prime Minister earlier today.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet is urging Colorado veterans to submit suggested names to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), as they have announced the formal naming process has begun for the new VA national cemetery in southern Colorado. Bennet has worked for 6 years to establish the 374-acre cemetery which will serve roughly 95,000 veterans. Currently, the nearest cemetery for veterans and their families is more than 70 miles away.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) are leading a group of 16 senators in urging President Obama to prioritize a new, strengthened Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on security assistance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Washington this week. A new MOU would help ensure Israel has the tools and resources necessary to prepare for, respond to, and defend against threats in the Middle East.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced a bill to reform the nation's antiquated hardrock mining laws. The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2015 will ensure mining companies pay royalties for the privilege of extracting mineral resources from public lands.

Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet discussed the threat of wildfire and the dysfunctional way wildfire suppression is funded, including the negative effects of "fire borrowing," at a hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. At the hearing, entitled "Wildfire: Stakeholder Perspectives on Budgetary Impacts and Threats to Natural Resources on Federal, State and Private Lands," Chris Treese of the Colorado River Water Conservation District discussed the problem of fire borrowing and the long-term effects of catastrophic wildfires.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and ten of their colleagues calling on the Army to conduct a full Army Inspector General investigation into recent allegations that the Army wrongfully discharged for misconduct soldiers who had been diagnosed with mental health issues after returning from deployment.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael today will join Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and John Cornyn (R-TX), to introduce a bipartisan resolution in the U.S. Senate in solidarity with Israel. The resolution condemns Palestinian terrorist attacks in Israel, and reaffirms support for Israel's commitment to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the final signing of a contract by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Army Corps of Engineers, and Kiewit-Turner to complete the replacement VA medical facility under construction in Aurora.