Dear Friend,

Holding the EPA Accountable

This week, I introduced a bill with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) called the Gold King Accountability and Compensation for Taxpayers (ACT). This legislation requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fully and expeditiously compensate all communities impacted by the Gold King Mine spill. The legislation follows reports that La Plata County will not receive full reimbursement for the costs associated with the Gold King Mine spill, which occurred on August 5, 2015 after the EPA released millions of gallons of wastewater into the Animas River.

The EPA-born Gold King Mine disaster financially burdened families, businesses, tribal communities, and local governments not only in Colorado, but also neighboring states. The EPA is wholly accountable and therefore should be held to the same standard as private companies, and the Gold King ACT makes sure of it. I’ll continue to fight to ensure all of those affected by the Animas River spill are made whole, and encourage my colleagues to join Senator Hatch and me in rejecting Washington’s double standard and holding the EPA fully liable.

Obamacare Continues to Hurt Colorado

The Denver Post reported that 20,000 Coloradans will lose their insurance due to UnitedHealth and Humana exiting the individual market in Colorado and the state’s health insurance exchange.

The Obama Administration continues to tout the success of the President’s health care law, but at the same time ignores the reality that it is failing tens of thousands of Coloradans and Americans across the country. President Obama repeatedly promised the American public "if you like your plan, you can keep it" under his new law, but the opposite has proven true. While the Colorado Division of Insurance has called it "not too much a blow to the system," it is surely a blow to the families who are forced to find new plans before the end of the year. This is not the health care reform Coloradans were promised, and that’s why I’ll continue to work with my colleagues toward a patient-centered health care system that encourages competition to lower costs and preserve choice.

I spoke on the Senate floor about the disastrous impact the President’s healthcare law is having on Colorado. You can watch my remarks here.

Colorado Agriculture 

I joined Agri-Pulse's Open Mic to discuss my family’s history in Colorado agriculture and the importance of this industry for thousands of Coloradans. I also talked about how the EPA's WOTUS rule is an unconstitutional takeover of our local waters, which traditionally have been and should continue to be managed by states, local governments, and water districts. You can listen to the interview here.

Coloradans in D.C.

A highlight of this week was speaking with students from the University of Colorado Boulder about how federal policy can impact science and technology. I enjoyed answering their thoughtful questions and discussing ways to ensure the next generation receives the best possible education.

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

Sen. Cory Gardner's bill would force EPA to repay all Gold King spill costs 

May 18, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner on Wednesday introduced a bill to require the Environmental Protection Agency to fully reimburse all communities for costs related to the Gold King Mine spill.

The bill, titled the “Gold King Accountability and Compensation for Taxpayers” is co-sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

The legislation comes after the recent announcement that La Plata County should not expect to be fully reimbursed for costs related to the Aug. 5 spill.

“The EPA is wholly accountable and therefore should be held to the same standard as private companies, and the Gold King ACT makes sure of it,” Gardner said in a statement. “I’ll continue to fight to ensure all of those affected by the Animas River spill are made whole, and encourage my colleagues to join Senator Hatch and me in rejecting Washington’s double standard and holding the EPA fully liable.”

Read the full story here.

Bill forces EPA to pay for its toxic mess

May 18, 2016

Senate Republicans introduced a bill Wednesday to hold the Environmental Protection Agency accountable for the spill it caused in Colorado last year, dumping 3 million gallons of toxic sludge into the Animas River.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the chairman of the Finance Committee, joined with Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., in introducing the Gold King Accountability and Compensation for Taxpayers Act on Wednesday. The waterways of both senators' states were sullied by the spill that occurred at the abandoned Gold King gold mine.

...

"The EPA-born Gold King Mine disaster financially burdened families, businesses, tribal communities and local governments not only in Colorado, but also neighboring states," Gardner said.

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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