|
Hello everyone,
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy visited Pueblo, Colorado, to dedicate the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. During his trip, he promised Coloradans that the federal government would build the Arkansas Valley Conduit and bring clean drinking water to tens of thousands of people across Southeastern Colorado.
(Dedication of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project
Photo: National Archives)
Since I came to the Senate, I’ve fought to ensure the federal government keeps its word and finishes this vital infrastructure project. One of the very first bills I passed in the Senate was to jump start the Arkansas Valley Conduit. That legislation required the federal government to put some skin in the game so Coloradans did not have to bear the cost alone. And since 2009, we’ve delivered over $140 million to move this project forward.
This week, we joined local leaders in Pueblo to welcome $60 million from the Infrastructure Law to speed up construction and move one step closer to finishing this project.
This is what it means to invest in America. With the Infrastructure Law, we’ve secured funding for Colorado that will create jobs, rebuild our roads and bridges, and invest 100 years into the future.
I’m grateful to Senator Hickenlooper and the leaders in Pueblo who joined me on Thursday to celebrate this major investment. I look forward to turning on the tap at the end of the Arkansas Valley Conduit and delivering on this promise for Colorado.
Thanks,
Michael
P.S. Attention Colorado farmers: You can now enroll or change your election in the Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year. For more information visit the ARC and PLC webpage or contact your local USDA Service Center.
FIXING FLOYD HILL
I can't drive on I-70 without thinking about the vision it took to build the interstate’s bridges and tunnels. Those who came before us were thinking 100 years ahead – and today, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, so are we.
This week, I joined Governor Polis, Senator Hickenlooper, Representative Neguse and other local leaders at Floyd Hill to celebrate a $100 million grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law - the biggest grant that the Colorado Department of Transportation has ever received from the federal government. This funding will enable us to address the congestion that has plagued this vital corridor and invest in our future.
LOWERING DRUG COSTS FOR COLORADANS
It is outrageous that in the wealthiest country in history, our seniors are cutting their pills in half and leaving prescriptions at the counter because they can’t afford them.
When we passed the Inflation Reduction Act in August, we finally overcame special interests to save families money and save lives by capping the price of prescription drugs and insulin and requiring Medicare to negotiate drug prices. On Friday, I joined Protect Our Care, State Sen. Julie Gonzales, and advocates to highlight how this law is going to drive down health care costs for Coloradans.
This is only the beginning of the work we have to do ensure every Coloradan has access to affordable health care, and that’s what I’ll keep fighting for in Washington.
INCREASING HOME HEATING ASSISTANCE
Global energy costs are projected to rise this winter. That’s why I worked to secure an additional $1 billion in emergency funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills and stay safe during the winter months.
I joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues in urging the Biden administration to disburse the funding as soon as possible to ensure it reaches households in time for the winter heating season.
PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS
Last year, President Biden announced time-limited changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program rules that allow borrowers to receive credit for payments that previously did not qualify for PSLF. Coloradans should apply before this opportunity ends on October 31, 2022.
More information on this program is available HERE.
STUDENT DEBT RELIEF APPLICATION GOES LIVE
The application for Federal Student Loan Debt Relief is live.
This relief is available to Americans with eligible federal student loans, and will provide up to $20,000 to borrowers who were Federal Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 to other federal borrowers who meet the income eligibility criteria. To be eligible, applicants must have earned less than $125,000 as an individual or $250,000 as a household in 2020 or 2021.
The application takes less than 5 minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish on desktop and mobile devices. You don’t need to log in with an FSA ID or upload any documents to apply. For help filling out the form online or for questions related to a specific borrower situation, please contact the Department of Education at 1-833-932-3439.
The application will remain open until December 31, 2023. Apply HERE.
Click here to respond to this email.
 
Unsubscribe |