Colorado

Funding Included in Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill

November 17, 2009 -- Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, U.S. Senators for Colorado, announced today that the Pueblo Chemical Depot is on track to receive $92.5 million in new federal funding for construction of a facility to destroy chemical weapons stored there.

The funding was included in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010, which was approved by the Senate by a vote of 100 to 0.

The bill now goes to a conference committee to be reconciled with the version passed in the House. The $92.5 million in funding represents a portion of the money requested for work at Pueblo Chemical Depot.    » read more »

As Overall Hunger Rates Go Down Over Three Years in Colorado, Study Shows that Problem Increased in 2009 as Economic Crisis Continues to Hurt Families

November 17, 2009 -- On the heels of a new study that found 1 in 8 Colorado households lack dependable access to adequate food, as well as recent reports showing more children in Colorado are living in poverty, Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, today pushed lawmakers to revisit the role the federal government can play in fighting child hunger and improving public health.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., Nov. 16, 2009 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged four individuals and two companies involved in perpetrating a $30 million Ponzi scheme in which they persuaded more than 300 investors nationwide to participate in purported environmentally-friendly investment opportunities.

The SEC alleges that Wayde and Donna McKelvy, who were previously married and living in the Denver area, particularly targeted elderly investors or those approaching retirement age to finance such "green" initiatives of Pennsylvania-based Mantria Corporation as a supposed "carbon negative" housing community in rural Tennessee and a "biochar" charcoal substitute made from organic waste.    » read more »

Nov. 16, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today praised the federal government's decision to purchase thousands of acres from willing sellers in Colorado, Montana and Nevada, including nearly 4,600 acres within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

"On behalf of the people of Colorado -- and the millions of people who visit our great state every year -- thank you to Secretaries Salazar and Vilsack for leading this effort," Gov. Ritter said.

"Adding nearly 4,600 acres to the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is a tremendous accomplishment that will allow us to protect one of Colorado's most treasured natural, cultural and archeological areas now and in the future.    » read more »

Nov. 12, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that the Colorado International Trade Office (ITO), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (COEDIT), is one of five recipients of the Market Development Cooperators Program (MDCP) for 2009. The ITO will receive $363,135 in matching funds over the next three years to support Colorado company exports of clean and environment-related products and services to China and Mexico.    » read more »

Bill Preserves Over 61,000 Acres in San Juan, Ouray, and San Miguel Counties; Respects Private Property Rights and Recreation Access

November 10, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet announced that they have introduced the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act of 2009 in the Senate. It is a companion bill to one introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman John Salazar (H.R. 3914).    » read more »

Permanently Extend Conservation Easement Tax Credit for Colorado Farmers and Ranchers

November 10, 2009 -- Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, announced today his support for bipartisan legislation that would protect Colorado's lands and rural heritage by permanently extending the enhanced tax incentive for farmers, ranchers and rural landowners to conserve their lands.

The legislation, the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act of 2009, would make permanent the enhanced tax incentive for conservation easements, which allows all taxpayers to deduct up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income (AGI) for donations of conservation easements and carry forward the deduction up to 15 years.    » read more »

“For the thousands of Coloradans who have gone without health care for too long”

November 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC –Today, Congressman John Salazar helped pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act. As drafted, this bill would immediately end discrimination for pre-existing medical conditions, prevent Americans from being dropped from coverage if they become sick, eliminate co-pays for preventive care, place yearly caps on what someone pays, and eliminate waste, fraud and overpayments to private insurance companies. The vote passed the House of Representatives 220-215.

In Colorado’s Third Congressional District, the Affordable Health Care for America Act will:

• Improve employer-based coverage for 362,000 residents.    » read more »

Nov. 6, 2009 -- Calling for shared sacrifice, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today submitted a $7.1 billion FY10-11 General Fund budget proposal to the legislature's Joint Budget Committee, closing a $1 billion shortfall that holds down spending to reflect weak revenue.

"While we've already closed unprecedented shortfalls, the budget I'm submitting today is our most challenging yet," Gov. Ritter said. "I'm continuing to make tough choices from very limited options -- even while the demand for many services is skyrocketing.    » read more »

In Remarks, Bennet Tells Story of Colorado Man Denied Coverage Because His Wife Was Pregnant - Even Though She Had Her Own Insurance

November 5, 2009 -- Urging health care reform that provides stability for working families, Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, today spotlighted the story of a Coloradan who was denied health insurance coverage because his wife was pregnant, even though she had her own insurance. Bennet said the story was an example of the absurd waste of time caused by the health insurance system and the current lack of stability for Colorado's working families.    » read more »

Nov. 3, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today congratulated four winning teams in the 2009 Rocky Mountain Cleantech Open in Denver, an event designed to find promising early-stage start-up companies that address today's most urgent energy and environmental challenges.

The winners moving to the next round of competition are: New Sky Energy (Boulder), Rivertop Renewables (Missoula, Mont.) and SunTrac Solar (Golden). A fourth company, Cool Energy of Boulder, won the regional sustainability award.    » read more »

Affordable Health Care for America Act holds massive benefits for rural Colorado

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman John Salazar released the list of benefits the Affordable Health Care for America Act is estimated to bring to the 3rd Congressional District of Colorado. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on Thursday, October 29. The analysis was compiled from data by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, the House Committee on Ways and Means and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Last week, in a statement announcing his support for the health care reform bill, Congressman Salazar said:    » read more »

Nov. 2, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today submitted a $1.03 billion Fiscal Year 2010-11 transportation budget proposal to the legislature's Joint Budget Committee, a 6 percent increase from this year's $973.5 million.

Colorado's new FASTER law is fueling the much-needed increase, generating an estimated $160.6 million for the state's FY10-11 budget for bridge and roadway repair and safety work. An additional $61.1 million will go directly to local agencies from FASTER. Sponsored by Sen. Dan Gibbs and Rep. Joe Rice, FASTER (Funding Advancements for Surface Transportation and Economic Recovery) also will save and create thousands of jobs statewide.    » read more »

Meets With Greeley Small Business Owner to Discuss Need for Reform that Reduces Costs, Increases Competition

November 3, 2009 -- With Colorado small businesses finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with skyrocketing costs for health care coverage, Senator Michael Bennet today kept up the fight for reform that relieves small employers from the burden of rising health care costs that affect their ability to grow, compete and create new jobs.

Bennet renewed his call for reform during a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, where he heard about the high toll health care costs take on small businesses and how those costs affect their ability to compete.

For audio from that hearing, please click here.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet joined their Senate colleagues late Thursday in passing the conference report for the Interior Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010, and sending the legislation containing key funding for Colorado's national parks, forests and public lands to the President's desk. The bill passed by a vote of 72-28.    » read more »