Dear Friend,

This week in Washington, I focused on issues that are important to Coloradans, such as our nation's financial solvency.

As I travel around Colorado, I consistently hear my constituents express frustration with Washington’s reckless regard for the mounting debt that we’re passing on to our children and grandchildren. While I recognize the importance of preserving the full faith and credit of the United States, I could not in good conscience support the Bipartisan Budget Act as it does not include enough reforms to control long-term spending. 

My Interview with Neil Cavuto from FOX Business

Earlier this week, I joined Neil Cavuto on Fox Business to discuss the Obama Administration's lack of a coherent strategy in Syria. Watch the interview here.

North Korea Sanctions Legislation

I spoke at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where I had the chance to meet with Justice Michael Kirby, who was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate human rights violations in North Korea.

At the event, I described the United States' policy towards North Korea. I believe it's time for the United States and the world to more aggressively confront the rogue North Korean regime for its long history of military belligerence and crimes against its own people. That's why I introduced the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2015. Please read my statement to learn more about this piece of legislation here.

$15 Million Grant for Southwest Chief Rehabilitation 

I was proud to announce the Department of Transportation awarded a $15.2 million grant to the City of La Junta to add approximately 39 miles of new railway and rehabilitate an additional 20 miles of rail along the Southwest Chief Amtrak line. 

This will allow for critical maintenance and upgrades to the Southwest Chief line to move forward. When I ran for the Senate I vowed to represent all four corners of Colorado and this project is important to the economies of many communities in southeast Colorado, and keeping it well-run and well-maintained will help ensure that those communities continue to benefit from the Southwest Chief’s operation. 

Need Help with a Federal Agency? 

My staff is available to assist you with finding out the status of a case and requesting additional information from a federal agency. I have offices in Denver, Pueblo, Grand Junction, Greeley, Yuma, and Colorado Springs. Learn more about how we can help here. 

In the News

Dig Once, Gain Broadband Later

October 27, 2015.

Here’s a simple, bipartisan idea for spreading broadband to more places.

When broadband providers construct a network, they need to string wires along utility poles or bury them underground in protective tubing called conduit. And providers want to minimize the disruption to residents caused by these big builds. “Dig once” policies mandate the installation of an oversized conduit bank by any new network builder within the right-of-way, to accommodate future users when new roads are being built or opened for maintenance and conduit is not already in place.

The expense and complexity of digging up streets to install new networks may increase the cost and slow the pace of broadband network investment and deployment. In the context of the U.S. federal highway system, the U.S. GAO points out that “dig once” policies can save up to 25–33% in construction costs in urban areas and roughly 16% in rural areas. Not only is this an attractive option to providers who save the time and expense of digging, but it has the added benefit of reducing future disruption for local citizens (who probably don’t want to deal with a future road closure if it can be avoided).   

Read the full story here.

Bill would measure economics of outdoor recreation

October 29, 2015

Congress is expected to take up legislation that would measure the economic impact of outdoor recreation.

While there have been independent studies of the impact outdoor recreation has on the economy – placing it at around $646 billion in consumer spending each year – there has never been a government-driven study.

The bill, co-sponsored by Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado, would require the secretary of Commerce to conduct an assessment and analysis of the outdoor recreation economy. The study would be led by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Read the full story here.

Thank you for taking the time to read my weekly update. If I can be of any assistance to you, please contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-5941.

Sincerely,

Cory Gardner

United States Senator

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