Dear Friend,

This week I traveled around the Centennial state discussing a wide range of issues that affect Coloradans. In Larimer County, I visited the Northern Colorado Regional Airport and hosted a roundtable with local and federal officials to discuss efforts to combat wildfires. In Eagle County, I toured the Colorado Army National Guard High-Altitude Aviation Training Site in Gypsum where helicopter pilots are trained to fly through mountainous terrain. I also visited Vail Mountain and hosted a roundtable in Summit County where we discussed public lands issues and my Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act. Additionally, I toured the MillerCoors barley farm in the San Luis Valley and held economic roundtables with the Upper Rio Grande Economic Development Council and local business leaders and members of the Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce.

$15 Million TIGER Grant for North I-25 Expansion

Earlier this week, I announced the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been awarded a $15 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to improve a 14-mile stretch of North I-25 between Loveland and Fort Collins, Colorado.

I’m thrilled CDOT will receive this much-needed funding, and this $15 million grant is a significant step toward expanding the roadway for the many Coloradans who rely on it every day. I was honored to join several local officials, businesses, and community leaders in support of the grant, and I’m pleased the DOT recognized how important this project is to the people of the Centennial state.

Traveling Around Colorado

I recently toured Colorado's Children’s Hospital where I had the opportunity to visit with clinicians and staff and learn about the innovative technologies in development to improve the quality of care for the children they serve. A highlight of my day was visiting with the young patients in the Seacrest Studio and answering their questions.

At the Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Loveland I met with the local and federal officials who are responsible for fighting wildfires across our state. One of the tools Colorado uses to fight wildfires is the Single Engine Air Tanker pictured below. This aircraft can hold 800 gallons of retardant or water and is critical to helping extinguish fires throughout the the state. As wildfires continue to burn across Colorado, I'm committed to making sure our state has the necessary resources it needs. 

In Eagle County, I enjoyed visiting the Colorado Army National Guard High-Altitude Aviation Training Site in Gypsum. Helicopter pilots from the different branches of our Armed Forces travel to this facility to be trained by Colorado Army National Guard pilots in Power Management, training that prepares pilots to fly through mountainous terrain. It was great to witness the impressive skill set of our men and women in uniform, and I am forever grateful for their service.

Another stop in Eagle County included touring Vail Mountain's new Epic Discovery course where I got to see some of the remarkable outdoor recreational opportunities Colorado has to offer.

In Summit County, I attended an outdoor recreation and public lands roundtable with local leaders and elected officials. We discussed my Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act, a bipartisan bill I introduced with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) that would inform policymakers and business leaders on the jobs created, and the consumer spending driven by, the outdoor recreation economy. Before this announcement, the federal government had never measured outdoor recreation’s impact on the nation’s economy despite estimations that this sector generates $646 billion in consumer spending each year and supports more than 6 million jobs.

I also stopped by the Castle Rock Rotary club for breakfast and the Elizabeth Library for an economic roundtable with local business leaders and members of the Elizabeth Area Chamber of Commerce. Washington, D.C. cannot function in a vacuum and I always appreciate the opportunity to hear from Coloradans around the state about issues that are important to them.

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

Unsubscribe