A message from Senator Michael Bennet

The Republican Budget Bill will Hurt Coloradans

What happened: Last week, Republicans in both chambers voted to pass their disastrous budget bill, which includes the biggest cut to safety net programs in decades and adds trillions to our national debt. On July 4, President Trump signed the bill into law. 

Six numbers that show how this bill will harm Colorado: 

• 1.2 million: The number of Coloradans on Medicaid – hundreds of thousands of whom could lose coverage. 
• 202,000: The number of Colorado children currently left out of the budget bill’s extension of the 2017 Child Tax Credit because their parents’ incomes are too low. 
• 14-21%: The estimated increase in electricity rates the budget bill will cause in Colorado. On average, families in Colorado could see an annual increase in their household energy bills of $170 by 2030 and $310 by 2035.
• Over 500,000: The number of Coloradans whose food assistance is threatened by the budget bill’s historic cuts to SNAP. The bill threatens food assistance by cutting benefits for some and undermining the stability of the program for everyone.
• $257,500: The lifetime borrowing cap placed on all federal student loans. Graduate students are limited to $100,000 total for federal loans, while students pursuing professional degrees are capped at $200,000. With these limits, medical professionals may not be able to finance their education at Colorado Schools and instead will have to pay higher. 
• Less than 1%: The percentage of tax cuts that will go to the poorest 20% of Americans. Meanwhile, this bill gives the richest 5% of Americans 45% of the tax cuts.

2. Demanding the Trump Administration Release CO Education Dollars

What’s happening: The Department of Education announced that it will freeze $6.8 billion in federal funds approved by Congress to school districts across the U.S.

What this means for Colorado: Withholding Title II, III, and IV federal funds from Colorado will cost our school districts $70 million in funding to support teacher retention and professional development, family engagement programs, and initiatives that create safer school environments. Schools and after-school programs across Colorado depend on these federal funds to deliver critical services to students across the state.

What I’m doing: I led the Democratic Colorado Delegation in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, demanding answers on whether the Department will provide Colorado schools with their full funding disbursements before the 2025-2026 school year begins.

3. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

• First responders from Colorado came to the aid of flood victims in Texas. Natural disasters do not stop along state lines, and neither should our duty to our fellow Americans. Thank you to the brave men and women, and rescue dogs, of Colorado Task Force 1 who stepped up to help. 
• July 10th was Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, a reminder that Black women are paid just 64 cents for every dollar paid to their white male counterparts. It is unconscionable that this pay gap still exists. Congress must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and fight for policies that ensure equal pay for equal work. 
• This July marks 40 years of National Park and Recreation Month. To celebrate, Colorado Springs is hosting two events this month, including a silent disco and Music in the Park. Colorado's parks are a treasured part of our way of life and outdoor recreation economy – I hope everyone gets the chance to get outside and enjoy our extraordinary public spaces. 
• This weekend, Colorado Springs is hosting the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum Festival. Festivities begin on Thursday, July 10, and include free admission to the museum and the chance for Coloradans to meet Olympic and Paralympic athletes. 
   

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