Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today announced that the U.S. Department of Education is awarding more than $43 million dollars through two grants - one to the Colorado Department of Education and another to STRIVE Preparatory Schools - to create and expand high-quality charter schools in Colorado.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today urged Congress to work quickly to avoid a government shutdown and protect Colorado's hardworking families and the state's economy. Today, after defeating a partisan funding bill, the Senate began the process of advancing a bipartisan short-term bill to fund the government for several weeks. However, less than a week remains until the deadline for both houses of Congress to send a bill to the President that keeps the government open. Bennet voted against the partisan measure but supports the bipartisan continuing resolution that awaits a Senate vote in the coming days.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today expressed frustration that reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is not included in the current stopgap funding measure and urged Congress to reauthorize the LWCF before it expires next week. LWCF supports the conservation of parks, open spaces, and wildlife habitat for the benefit of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prioritize the construction of a water treatment plant in the Upper Animas River watershed. The plant would provide a long-term solution to the acid mine drainage seeping into the watershed and contaminating downstream waterways that are crucial to the region's economy. The blowout at the Gold King Mine that caused millions of gallons of contaminated water to spill out into the Animas River brought to light the urgent need for a permanent solution.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement in response to the Fish and Wildlife Service's announcement today that listing the Greater sage-grouse as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act is not warranted.

Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, along with Representatives Ed Perlmutter and Jared Polis, introduced a bill to help communities in southwest Colorado and New Mexico recover from the Gold King Mine blowout that released acid mine drainage into the Animas and San Juan rivers.

The Senate passed a bill introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet to ensure the National Forest Foundation (NFF) will continue to have the resources it needs to enhance and protect national forests and grasslands. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

With a potential government shutdown looming at the end of the month, Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner today urged the Senate Rules Committee to expedite their bipartisan resolution to put pressure on Congress to avoid or quickly end a shutdown.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and a bipartisan group of 52 senators sent a letter to Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Reid encouraging them to take action on funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Authorization for the LWCF will expire on September 30, 2015 if no action is taken. Established in 1964, the LWCF is one of America's most successful federal conservation programs, conserving irreplaceable lands and improving outdoor recreation opportunities throughout the nation. It requires no taxpayer funding. Colorado has received approximately $239 million in LWCF funds since 1964.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded the Small Business Administration's (SBA) announcement today that low-interest disaster loans are now available to businesses and residents affected by landslides that began after April of 2015. Businesses and nonprofits can borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, and other assets. Disaster loans of up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair damaged real estate and up to $40,000 is available to replace personal property. Additional funds are available to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to prevent or minimize similar damage from occurring in the future.