Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet wrapped up his "Colorado Health Innovation: Improving Outcomes and Incomes Tour" today in Boulder, after making stops in Broomfield, Colorado Springs, and Denver.

Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson demanding that the VA swiftly present a comprehensive funding plan to Congress for completing the long-awaited VA medical facility in Aurora by identifying savings, efficiencies, and other accountability initiatives within the VA. This could include ruling out bonuses until the project is completed. The VA will also have to develop a plan that provides certainty that all options will be exhausted to complete the project. The letter comes in response to Deputy Secretary Gibson's announcement that the VA will submit a legislative plan for the hospital to Congress.

Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Deputy Secretary Sloan Gibson's visit to the Aurora VA Hospital site today.

The Senate passed an energy efficiency bill yesterday that includes a bipartisan bill introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet to boost the use of energy efficient technology by tenants in commercial buildings. Bennet originally introduced the bill with Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) in 2013.

The Senate late yesterday adopted an amendment introduced by Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet to give students the ability to use federal financial aid at innovative programs that demonstrate high-quality and strong student outcomes, such as learning, graduation and job obtainment. Bennet worked with Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) on the amendment.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today called on the Senate to quickly take up a bill to provide long-term certainty for Medicare providers and patients. The bill, which passed the House yesterday 392-37, repeals the formula, known as the "sustainable growth rate" or SGR, for how Medicare providers are reimbursed for services and replaces it with a streamlined payment system based on the quality of care.

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.

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, Sheldon Whitehouse, Joe Manchin and Heidi Heitkamp are offering an amendment to the Senate's budget proposal to promote national security, economic growth, and public health by prioritizing efforts to address climate change.

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet introduced an amendment to the Senate's budget proposal that instructs Congress to extend expired and expiring tax credits for renewable energy. The tax credits should be extended for a reasonable period of time as a bridge until Congress completes its work on tax reform.

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).