Bennet Introduces National Forest Foundation Reauthorization Act

Foundation has support of Colorado organizations, businesses

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet introduced the National Forest Reauthorization Act of 2015 to ensure the National Forest Foundation (NFF) continues to have the resources it needs to enhance and protect national forests and grasslands.

DOI Distributes More Than $30 Million in PILT Payments to Colorado Counties

Bennet Fought to Ensure PILT Funding for Local Governments

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded the Department of Interior's announcement that $30,946,187 in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) disbursements have been issued to Colorado counties. The PILT program provides federal payments to local governments that have nontaxable federal land within their boundaries to help offset losses in property taxes. This funding is used to carry out vital services like fire and law enforcement protection and road maintenance. Bennet fought to secure these resources as part of the government funding bill and the National Defense Authorization Act.

Bennet, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Bill to Level Playing Field for Renewable Energy

Bill would give renewable energy projects access to a tax advantage currently available only to oil, gas, and coal projects

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) to introduce a bipartisan bill to level the energy playing field by giving investors in renewable energy projects access to decades-old tax incentives currently available only to investors in fossil fuel-based energy projects.

Bennet Applauds Decision to Give C-123 Veterans Agent Orange Benefits

Bennet urged VA to provide exposure benefits

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcement that flight, medical, and ground grew personnel of C-123 aircraft used during the Vietnam War will receive benefits for exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange. C-123 aircraft carried and sprayed Agent Orange during the Vietnam War, however, the VA continuously denied these veterans herbicide exposure benefits. Last year, Bennet wrote to the VA urging it to expand Agent Orange benefits eligibility to C-123 veterans.
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement in celebration of Juneteenth, which marks the day that Major General Gordon Granger brought news of the Emancipation Proclamation to the residents of Galveston, Texas. News of the proclamation had previously been suppressed by slave owners in parts of Confederate territory.
The U.S. Senate has adopted an amendment offered by Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner to give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authority to manage major construction projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016 designates the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the construction agent on all VA projects over $100 million.

Bennet, Portman Introduce Amendment to Strengthen Cybersecurity Workforce

Uniform Classifications will Help Recruit Cyber Professionals, Boost Cyber Defense

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016 to bolster the federal government's cybersecurity workforce and strengthen our nation's cyber defense. The Bennet-Portman amendment implements a uniform framework to identify and address cybersecurity personnel shortages and expedite the recruitment of highly-qualified cybersecurity personnel.