Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's announcement today that Colorado counties will receive $9,847,536 in funding from the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. Much of the funding will go to rural school districts. The SRS program was recently extended as a part of the passage of a bill to permanently fix the Medicare reimbursement system. The SRS program provides vital resources for public schools, road improvements, and maintenance projects, in more than 700 rural counties nationwide. The provision extended funding for the SRS program for two years at 95 percent of the previous year's level.

Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced a bipartisan bill, the Advancing Breakthrough Devices for Patients Act, to help bring breakthrough devices to patients in as timely a manner as possible.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet secured several amendments in the Senate Finance Committee to help strengthen enforcement tools to crack down on currency manipulation and environmental violations by U.S. trading partners.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement in recognition of Earth Day.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today filed three amendments in the Senate Finance Committee to ensure future trade deals contain enforceable protections for the environment. The Finance Committee today is considering a series of trade-related bills.

In the Senate Finance Committee today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet introduced an amendment to make poverty a negotiating objective of future trade agreements.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) released the following statement today following Senate passage of a bipartisan bill to fight human trafficking. Bennet joined 98 of his colleagues in the Senate in support of the bill.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Tom Carper (D-DE) filed an amendment today to crack down on countries like China that unfairly weaken their currency. The amendment could block a country that illegally manipulates its currency from participating in future trade agreements.

The House of Representatives today passed a bipartisan energy efficiency bill that includes legislation previously introduced by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to boost the use of energy efficient technology by tenants in commercial buildings. The Better Buildings Act encourages tenants of commercial buildings to voluntarily implement cost-effective measures that will help reduce energy consumption and ultimately utility costs for businesses. Bennet and Ayotte first introduced the bill in 2013.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has cosponsored a bill that would reconcile state marijuana laws and federal tax law. The Small Business Tax Equity Act, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), would allow marijuana businesses operating in compliance with state law to take ordinary business tax deductions.