The Senate Finance Committee today approved a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Richard Burr (R-NC) to put liquefied natural gas (LNG) on equal footing with diesel fuel under the federal highway excise tax. The bill would allow LNG to compete fairly with diesel by taxing LNG on energy output rather than per gallon.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement following the announcement from Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) that they will begin bipartisan process on a bill to fix No Child Left Behind.

A bipartisan group of senators are working to ensure farmers and ranchers have access to modern and safe water infrastructure. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) and Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) today introduced the Water and Agriculture Tax Reform (WATER) Act, which seeks to reform outdated tax provisions that hinder investment in important infrastructure advances.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued contiguous disaster designations for 21 Colorado counties due to recent drought conditions in southwest Colorado and along the Eastern plains. The designations mean farmers and ranchers are eligible for assistance from the Farm Service Agency.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) introduced legislation to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which would fully realize LWCF's promise to conserve parks, open spaces, and wildlife habitat for the benefit of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security:

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Richard Burr (R-NC) reintroduced their bipartisan bill to put liquefied natural gas (LNG) on equal footing with diesel fuel under the federal highway excise tax. The bill will allow LNG to compete fairly with diesel by taxing LNG on energy output rather than per gallon.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today praised the passage of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. The bipartisan bill introduced last month offers several critical measures that would improve mental health care and suicide prevention resources for American service members. Bennet is a cosponsor of the bill.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on the President's fiscal year 2016 budget request to Congress:

Today, an amendment introduced by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) received 59 votes in the United States Senate, sending a clear signal that the Senate supports a permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). While the amendment needed 60 votes in order to meet a procedural hurdle, today's vote proves that a bipartisan majority of the Senate supports the LWCF.