Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement regarding the VA's new cost estimates for the regional facility.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today urged the Senate to bring Loretta Lynch's nomination to serve as Attorney General up for a vote this week.

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.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) introduced a bill to help increase opportunities for hunters and recreational shooters to practice their skills. The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act would allow states to use more of their federal Pittman-Robertson wildlife funding for the development of shooting ranges.

Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner today introduced a resolution to put pressure on Congress to avoid or quickly end a government shutdown.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today pressed the Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security to resume processing H-2B visa requests as quickly as possible. The H-2B visa program allows hundreds of Colorado businesses to fill seasonal jobs.

The Colorado Congressional delegation today welcomed the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee's pledge to work with the delegation to schedule a field hearing and site visit to the Aurora VA Hospital. The delegation sent a bipartisan letter to the committee's chairman, Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and ranking member, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), last month requesting the visit to look into the mismanagement that has delayed construction of the facility.

A bipartisan energy bill introduced in the Senate today includes two bipartisan measures authored by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet designed to promote energy efficiency in homes and commercial buildings.

With the April 15th tax filing deadline approaching, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet is reminding Coloradans that the IRS' free federal tax-filing service is available for individuals making $60,000 or less in 2014.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce a bill to help small and rural communities meet safe drinking water regulations.