The Senate today adopted an amendment introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet that increases the amount small businesses can expense or write off for capital equipment in its first year of use. The amendment, passed by a voice vote, will help ensure that they can continue to grow, invest, and hire.

The Senate today failed to pass an amendment introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today to protect Medicare for the nation's seniors for years to come. The amendment to the Senate's budget resolution would have created a point of order against any bill that would privatize Medicare, cut Medicare beneficiaries' guaranteed benefits, or raise costs on prescription drugs and preventative care in Medicare. The amendment is co-sponsored by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the resignation of Glenn Haggstrom, the Principal Executive Director in the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) today is announcing it will alter its "40-mile rule" to improve access to health care for veterans living in rural areas. The announcement follows Bennet's request that the VA reexamine the rule's application and update it. The VA's new rule will allow more veterans who would have to travel more than 40 miles to a VA medical facility to access non-VA community care, which was Congress' intent when it passed the Veterans Choice Act.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined a minority of senators in support of an amendment to ensure equal pay for equal work. The amendment to the budget resolution introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) is based on the Paycheck Fairness Act and would strengthen tools for women to negotiate fair wages. It would also establish protections for women who file complaints of gender-based pay discrimination.

Today, the Senate adopted an amendment introduced by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) to improve care for children with medically-complex conditions in Medicaid. The amendment to the Senate's budget resolution complements the bipartisan bill the senators introduced in January with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The amendment was approved 96-0.

Following new cost estimates to complete the new VA hospital in Aurora, the Colorado Congressional delegation today expressed its commitment to working together on behalf of our veterans to ensure the regional medical facility is completed.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined 18 Colorado business leaders who urged the President to quickly find a path forward to resume processing and issuing H-2B visas.

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.

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