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Hello everyone,
I was delighted to join Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Forest Service Chief Randy Moore to announce over $33 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Colorado prevent and mitigate wildfires.
(Announcing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to help prevent and mitigate wildfires)
As climate change fuels more frequent and extreme wildfires in Colorado, this funding is an important next step. But there’s much more we need to do to address this issue. That’s why I brought together Chief Moore, Colorado leaders, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials this week to discuss ways the federal government can be an effective partner to Colorado communities. There must be collaboration at the state, local and federal level to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and help communities mitigate damage when they do hit.
(Roundtable discussion with Chief Moore, Colorado leaders, and USDA officials)
For too long, Congress has underinvested in our forests and watersheds, which has led us to these conditions. That’s why I’m fighting to pass my Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act to make an historic investment in our essential natural infrastructure and create good paying jobs across the West. Coloradans are on the front lines of climate change and face the constant threat of wildfires. That’s why I’m calling on the Biden Administration to make this sustained, long-term investment in our forests and watersheds to ensure Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West have adequate resources to prevent these megafires that are destroying our landscapes.
Read on for more highlights from my week. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact my office to share your thoughts and concerns.
Sincerely,
Michael
EXPANDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH SERVICES IN COLORADO
On Thursday, I visited the Tepeyac Community Health Center, which plans to use the $2 million in funding we secured in the recent federal funding bill to construct a new clinic. I am deeply grateful for Tepeyac’s dedication to expanding access to affordable health services in the Globeville Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. Once the new clinic is up and running, it will include a full pharmacy and a range of health services, such as behavioral health, dental, and medical services.
The clinic is a part of a mixed use development, which has been designed to expand access to affordable housing, health care, and fresh food for residents of the community. This is exactly the kind of collaborative and innovative approach we need to meet families’ needs. I hope this will serve as a model for how the private and public sectors and all levels of government –– local, state, and federal –– can work together to lower costs and improve the quality of life for people across our state.
(Visiting Tepeyac Community Health Center Construction Site)
(Photo Credit: Adam Becker, StorySpring Denver)
REITERATING CALLS TO KEEP SPACE COMMAND IN COLORADO SPRINGS
I have expressed concerns time and again that the previous administration’s decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama was not based on merit, national security, or cost concerns. After reviewing the draft Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the decision alongside Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and U.S. Representatives Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) and Jason Crow (D-Colo.), we are even more concerned about the questionable decision to relocate U.S. Space Command.
Putin’s reprehensible war on Ukraine and China’s space expansion underscore the need for U.S. Space Command to reach full operational capability as soon as possible. We should not waste time, money, or resources on moving Space Command; instead, we should build on the investments we have made to our space mission right here in Colorado. We will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to urge the Biden Administration to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs.
FILING YOUR TAXES AHEAD OF TAX DAY ON MONDAY
Don’t forget — Monday, April 18 is Tax Day. If you haven’t already, be sure to file your 2021 tax returns. Most people can file taxes for free through the IRS Free File Program. Additionally, you may qualify to receive help filing your taxes through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites. Visit Colorado VITA for assistance.
Upon filing, families can claim the second half of their expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) if they received advanced CTC payments last year. Families can claim the full value if they opted not to receive monthly checks. Eligible Coloradans can also claim their full expanded Earned Income Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. More information on eligibility is available here.
I’m thrilled we expanded these credits through the American Rescue Plan last year to help families cover the cost of everything from rent to groceries. The CTC alone cut child poverty nearly in half and reduced hunger by a quarter. As Coloradans continue to face rising costs, I’ll keep doing everything I can in Washington to extend these tax credits to help combat rising prices.
SUPPORTING REGIONAL AIRPORTS IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO
This week, I called on the Department of Transportation (DOT) to expedite the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract review process for regional airports in Colorado, including the San Luis Valley Regional Airport and Pueblo Memorial Airport. DOT’s EAS program subsidizes airline service for small, rural airports like these to ensure the surrounding communities have access to commercial flights. Recently, SkyWest Airlines announced its intention to stop operating 29 EAS routes, which include routes to the San Luis Valley Regional Airport and Pueblo Memorial Airport. I’m urging DOT to swiftly move their EAS applications along so another provider can be identified and ensure that service to this region of Colorado is not interrupted.
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