|
Hello everyone,
Good news from Washington this week––the Biden Administration announced that eligible families in Colorado and across the country will begin receiving payments from the expanded Child Tax Credit on a monthly basis starting on July 15.
In Colorado, 96% of families will receive a benefit from the expanded Child Tax Credit. You can find out if your family is eligible to receive the payments by contacting either of the organizations below:
- Colorado Taxpayer Advocate:
- Colorado VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance):
The American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit for one year, but I will keep fighting to make these changes to the tax credit permanent––so that Colorado children and families can continue to benefit.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to our regional offices with questions or concerns.
Best,
Michael
P.S. Two Colorado small business funds are now accepting applications––the Colorado Revolving Loan Fund and the CLIMBER Small Business Loan Fund. Visit their websites for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
RESTORING OUR FORESTS TO MITIGATE WILDFIRES & BUILD CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Yesterday, I had the privilege of introducing Dr. Tony Cheng to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Dr. Cheng, who testified during the committee’s hearing on forestry and climate change, is the Director of the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute and a Professor of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship at Colorado State University. I’ve relied on his expertise and insights on forest restoration over and over again throughout my time in the Senate, and I am incredibly grateful for his leadership.
As Dr. Cheng noted in his testimony, climate change is delivering a double blow to forests in Colorado and across the West. Last year, Colorado experienced the three largest wildfires in state history. This puts our communities and watersheds at risk and comes at a high cost for state and local governments.
That’s why I’ve introduced several bills aimed at restoring America’s forests and protecting watersheds including the Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act, the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Act, and the REPLANT Act. Congress must act now to preserve our forests, mitigate wildfire risk, and build a more climate resilient economy.
EASING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR FAMILY CAREGIVERS
This public health crisis has shined a light on the critical role caregivers play in the lives of their loved ones. There are approximately 620,000 family caregivers in Colorado who provide $7.8 billion in unpaid care annually. They care for family members while balancing work and other responsibilities—while taking on additional expenses.
That’s why I joined a bipartisan effort this week to provide working family caregivers in Colorado with a tax credit of up to $5,000 to assist with out-of-pocket caregiving expenses. I hope this legislation will help ease the financial burden so many caregivers face—at a time when they need the relief more than ever.
STRENGTHENING MEDICAL SUPPLY MANUFACTURING, DECREASING OUR RELIANCE ON CHINA
It’s clear that our country was not prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic. In the wealthiest nation in the world, we were unable to quickly distribute medical supplies to our frontline health care workers.
To ensure our country is better prepared for future public health emergencies, Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and I introduced the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act. This will improve the Strategic National Stockpile and strengthen the domestic manufacturing of critical medical supplies, like PPE and testing supplies, to decrease our reliance on China.
MODERNIZING OUR STATE AND LOCAL TECH SYSTEMS
When Americans in Colorado and across the country visited government websites over the past year to file for unemployment or schedule a vaccine appointment, it was like going back in time to the first days of the internet. All too often, government websites and online portals are the opposite of the intuitive, user-friendly experiences Americans have come to expect in the year 2021. These outdated systems waste people's time, obstruct access to vital services, and erode confidence in government.
That’s why Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and I introduced the State and Local Digital Service Act. This is in part modeled on the Colorado Digital Service, which delivered cost-effective tech upgrades at a significant savings to taxpayers. Our legislation will fund expert digital teams to help bring government services into the 21st century––reducing costs, improving access to vital services, and helping government run more efficiently and transparently.
Click here to respond to this email.
 
Unsubscribe |