Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack's announcement of $6.5 million in funding for the Ogallala Aquifer region to help conserve billions of gallons water and improve quality.

The Senate today passed a bill backed by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet to strengthen our country's enforcement of trade agreements. The bill includes several provisions authored by Bennet, including tools to strengthen environmental and labor protections and to crack down on countries like China that unfairly weaken their currency.

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), and Representative Mike Coffman (R-CO) issued the following statement today regarding the Denver Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center.

Senator Michael Bennet announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Garfield County, Moffat County, and Rio Blanco County as contiguous disaster areas due to drought. The designation makes farm operators in these counties eligible to be considered for federal assistance, including Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans.

Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with Senate co-sponsors Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT), announced today they are introducing the Therapeutic Hemp Medical Access Act of 2015 in the United States Senate to exempt from the Controlled Substances Act strains of therapeutic hemp used to fight seizures in children and adults suffering from intractable epilepsy.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) to introduce a bill to create jobs, save consumers money and reduce pollution by creating a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The legislation, which would help the United States diversify its energy sources while establishing our leadership in clean energy production, would require utilities to generate 30 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner introduced a bill to protect ten parcels within a "wedge" of land between Rocky Mountain National Park and Arapaho National Forest by incorporating the land into Arapaho National Forest. The Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2015 will also allow the U.S. Forest Service to acquire land in the "wedge" from interested landowners to preserve the region.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement after the Senate blocked a procedural motion to proceed to a partial Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislative package. Last month, in the Senate Finance Committee, Bennet voted for a bipartisan TPA package that passed 20 -6. That package included several enforcement measures and protections for workers and the environment, as well as his amendment to provide the U.S. with tools to fight currency manipulation by countries like China. Today, he voted against moving forward on a partial package that excludes stronger environmental and enforcement rules and his currency provision.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced a bill to launch a new National Laboratory Technology Maturation Program (NLTMP) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The program would facilitate successful commercialization of laboratory-developed technologies and boost regional, technology-driven economic impacts.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and seven other senators to introduce a bill to help improve the quality and consistency of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims appeals and help address the VA's oldest pending claims. Specifically, the bill would improve and expand pro bono legal services for veterans during their appeals process, and provide the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with additional authority to expedite consideration of unreasonably delayed claims.