Following yesterday's action to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank), Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet welcomed Congress's action to renew the bank's charter through 2019. The Ex-Im Bank is an economic engine that has helped Colorado businesses finance the export of domestically-made products to international markets for more than 80 years. The measure was included in the five-year highway and transit funding bill that passed through both houses of Congress yesterday.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet signed an amicus brief Thursday in support of the President's executive actions on immigration.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today introduced an amendment to improve access to care for veterans across the United States. The amendment provides funding to hire more doctors, nurses, social workers, and mental health professionals for facilities that serve our veterans like the one being constructed in Aurora. It will also help improve VA medical facilities that need upgrades and minor construction improvements.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement following Department of Defense Secretary Ash Carter's announcement that all combat positions will be open to women.

The U.S. Army is responding to a request from Senator Michael Bennet to conduct an investigation into recent allegations that the Army wrongfully discharged soldiers for misconduct who had been diagnosed with mental health issues after returning from deployment. Army Secretary Erik K. Fanning announced that he has instructed senior Army leaders, including the Inspector General of the Army and the Auditor General of the Army, to thoroughly review the issues raised by Bennet and 11 other senators.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today called on Congress to quickly pass the five-year surface transportation bill agreed upon by House and Senate leaders this week. The bill increases funding to states for highway and transit projects over the five-year authorization.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded House passage of a compromise bill to fix No Child Left Behind. Bennet is a member of the Senate's education committee and the conference committee that negotiated the final bill. The final language includes a number of provisions he secured during the initial drafting, the committee process, the Senate's debate, and the conference committee's final negotiations. The Senate is expected to vote next week to send the bill to the president's desk to be signed into law.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today introduced a bill with 32 other senators to designate the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness and protect the land from future development. The Coastal Plain represents 1.56 million acres of the 19.6 million-acre wildlife refuge. The introduction of the bill comes just days ahead of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife Range by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded the passage of the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Act by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill-passed unanimously by the Senate in June - will help small and rural communities comply with safe drinking water regulations. Bennet helped introduce the bill earlier this year with Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). It now heads to the White House to be signed into law.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined a bipartisan group of senators led by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to introduce a bill to strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program to help prevent terrorists from entering the United States.