The U.S. Senate has adopted an amendment offered by Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner to give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to manage major construction projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016 designates the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the construction agent on all VA projects over $100 million.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the tragic shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016 to bolster the federal government's cybersecurity workforce and strengthen our nation's cyber defense. The Bennet-Portman amendment implements a uniform framework to identify and address cybersecurity personnel shortages and expedite the recruitment of highly-qualified cybersecurity personnel.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the three-year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that provides deportation relief for children who were brought to this country through no fault of their own and know no other country but the United States.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today praised the passage of a bipartisan bill by the House of Representatives that allows for continued construction of the Aurora VA hospital. The bill - introduced by Bennet and Gardner and unanimously passed by the Senate yesterday - gives the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) authority to use $150 million it currently has to continue construction of the Aurora VA hospital.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement on the plan passed by the Senate to allow for continued construction of the Aurora VA hospital.

Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner have filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016 to give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to manage major construction projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The amendment would designate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the construction agent on all VA projects over $100 million.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet praised passage of the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Act by the Senate. The bill - which passed unanimously - would help small and rural communities comply with safe drinking water regulations. Bennet helped introduce the bill earlier this year with Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND).

Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner sent the Innovations in Forestry and Fire Mitigation report to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The report commissioned by Bennet details recommendations from Colorado fire and forestry experts on the steps the federal government can take to better support Colorado's wildfire mitigation efforts. The senators presented these recommendations by representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State University, the Colorado Water Congress, County Commissioners from across the Front Range and West Slope, and other members of the forestry, conservation, and wildfire prevention community in May of this year.

Bipartisan legislation championed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to protect the retirement accounts of federal public safety officers who are eligible for early retirement passed the Senate unanimously yesterday.