Colorado

Colorado Governor Ritter Praises Release of Recovery Act Funds to Colorado Dollars Will Help Maintain Education Programs, Budget Funding

June 12, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Ritter today praised the quick release of $509 million in federal funding to help maintain K-12 and higher education programs across Colorado.

On June 10, the U.S. Department of Education approved the state's application for $760 million of State Fiscal Stabilization Fund dollars and released 67 percent, or $509 million, for use in Colorado. The state expects to receive the remaining $251 million this fall.    » read more »

New Pew Report Finds Colorado A Leader In Clean Energy Jobs

June 10, 2009 -- Colorado is home to one of the largest and fastest growing pieces of America's clean energy economy, according to a report released today by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report, titled, "The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America," is considered a groundbreaking analysis that sheds light on an increasingly important part of the nation's economic recovery.

This is the first effort by a major national organization to quantify the scale, scope and promise of clean energy jobs.    » read more »

In Letter, Udall, Bennet Urge Increase in FY2010 Loan Aid to Farmers; Funding for Agricultural Loans Would Help Colorado Farmers Struggling to Get Loans After New Frontier Bank Closure

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, as part of their ongoing effort to help Colorado farmers and ranchers struggling to get loans as a result of the economic crisis, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet wrote to Senate appropriators, urging them to increase funding for direct farm operating loans in Fiscal Year 2010, which begins on Oct. 1.    » read more »

In Letter to Appropriators, Senators Request Increase in Funding for Agricultural Loans

June 4, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet continued their push to help Colorado farmers struggling to get loans as a result of the credit crunch. In a letter to Senate and House appropriators, the Senators urged their colleagues to help struggling farmers in Colorado and throughout the nation by increasing funding for the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) loan programs in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill.    » read more »

New Transportation Laws Help Lower Fuel Bills, Reduce Pollution

June 4, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today signed into law three New Energy Economy transportation bills that will help Coloradans reduce the amount of air pollution their cars release, increase fuel economy, minimize their carbon footprint and boost energy independence.

"Building on the success of the last two years, we continued this legislative session to make Colorado a national and global leader in the New Energy Economy," Gov. Ritter said at a signing ceremony at the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado Center in LoDo. "Together, we are creating jobs, strengthening communities and spurring innovation as we lead Colorado toward a strong recovery.    » read more »

Recovery Act Funding Will Provide Much-Needed Road Maintenance, Ecosystem Restoration in San Juan National Forest, Pawnee National Grassland

June 3, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, U.S. Senators for Colorado, today announced that Coloradans can expect to benefit from safer roads and healthier, more vibrant ecosystems thanks to $7.4 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding coming to the state for forest road maintenance and associated watershed and ecosystem restoration.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper urged businesses and government agencies to join forces and save energy again this summer by participating in Cool Biz, a program to cut summer energy use by inching up building thermostats.

Several state and city buildings successfully kicked off the program last summer, raising thermostats two to four degrees, reducing energy costs related to air conditioning, cutting emissions from power plants and easing heavy daytime demands that drive up electricity costs for all.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and more than a dozen state agencies, nonprofits and service providers today hosted an opportunity and help fair at the Capitol for working families struggling to survive the economic downturn.

At the fair, Gov. Ritter also signed into law six bills that will help families through this challenging time, including measures that extend unemployment benefits and provide a foreclosure "time-out" to responsible homeowners.

"We must do everything we can to help those who are struggling, to keep Coloradans in their jobs, and to keep families in their homes," Gov. Ritter said. "Today we are providing direct and immediate assistance to working families and we will continue to do so in the months ahead.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today signed into law 10 health care and non-profit measures, including bills to help families cope with the high costs of caring for children with autism and to improve care in Colorado's rural communities.

"Health care reform is a central part of the Colorado Promise and my strategy for leading Colorado forward," Gov. Ritter said. "Over the last 2½ years, we've increased availability, improved quality and addressed costs. The bills I am signing today will help continue our efforts to build a strong, sustainable health care system for Colorado."    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today signed five bills to help protect and conserve Colorado's water and land.

"Colorado's natural resources -- our water, land and wildlife -- are a key part what make's this state so special," Gov. Ritter said. "It is a great privilege and a great responsibility to manage these resources for future generations. Conservation also is about more than just protecting our natural resources; it's also about protecting economic resources, including the $3 billion and 34,000 jobs supported by hunting, fishing and wildlife activities in Colorado each year."

The bills signed today:    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Active-duty military personnel and veterans joined Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today as he signed five bills that will help improve services for current and retired members of the armed forces and their families.

"Veterans and active-duty military are key components of Colorado's economic and social fabric, and we have a moral obligation to provide fully for them," Gov. Ritter said. "The brave men and women who serve in the military, as well as their families, sacrifice so much for us, which is why I am pleased to sign these bills into law today. They send the message that Colorado respects and cares for its active duty military, veterans and families."    » read more »

May 28, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that for the next year all decisions regarding road building and tree cutting in the nation's inventoried roadless areas will be made by the Secretary of Agriculture. The USDA will use the year to develop a national long-term roadless policy.

"I believe that this is an important step toward protecting our nation's roadless areas," Colorado Governor Bill Ritter said. "The Obama Administration has repeatedly stated that it is committed to protecting our roadless areas and I applaud this important step toward providing that protection.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter issued the following statement today, joining Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and economic development officials in welcoming the corporate headquarters for the Fortune 500 company DaVita to Colorado. DaVita will become the 12th Fortune 500 company to be based in Colorado, and the move could mean hundreds of new jobs coming to the state.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter issued the following statement today regarding President Obama's nomination of U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court:

"I applaud President Obama's historic nomination of U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- "Each year, I work to ensure that the federal government effectively serves Colorado's needs by funding important projects in our state. I do this by making funding requests to the Senate Appropriations Committee.    » read more »