Dear
Friend,
Preventing
Guantanamo
Detainees
from
Being
Transferred
to
Colorado
Earlier
this
week,
I
learned
the
Department
of
Defense
(DoD)
spent
federal
funds
studying
sites
in
Colorado,
Kansas,
and
South
Carolina
to
relocate
prisoners
held
at
Guantanamo
Bay
(GTMO)
despite
specific
prohibitions
of
such
spending
in
the
National
Defense
Authorization
Act
signed
into
law
by
President
Obama.
The
DoD
spent
the
most
money
-
$11,064.33
-
surveying
the
facility
in
Florence,
CO
as
a
possible
relocation
site.
The
Obama
Administration’s
use
of
federal
funds
to
survey
potential
relocation
sites
for
Guantanamo
Bay
detainees
is
in
direct
contradiction
to
current
law.
This
represents
a
blatant
abuse
of
power
and
disregard
for
a
law
that
President
Obama
himself
signed.
Nearly
one
year
ago,
I
wrote
President
Obama
asking
what
legal
basis
he
has
for
transferring
prisoners
from
Guantanamo
Bay
to
the
United
States,
and
have
yet
to
receive
a
response.
I
will
pursue
all
potential
options
available
to
hold
the
Administration
accountable
for
its
illegal
action,
and
continue
to
work
to
ensure
that
the
terrorists
in
Guantanamo
Bay
stay
in
Cuba
and
out
of
our
backyards.
Obamacare's
Devastating
Impact
on
Coloradans
This
week,
Coloradans
learned that
insurance
premiums
for
the
individual
market
in
Colorado
will
increase
by
20.4%
on
average
in
2017.
Once
again,
Coloradans
will
be
faced
with
skyrocketing
premium
increases
thanks
to
a
law
that
was
sold
to
them
on
the
premise
of
affordability,
choice,
and
access
to
care.
President
Obama
repeatedly
told
the
American
people
that
“if
you
like
your
plan,
you
can
keep
it”
and
stated
the
average
family
of
four
would
pay
$2,500 less
annually
by
the
end
of
his
first
term
under
his
signature
health
care
law.
Now,
these
broken
promises
are
having
a
dramatic
effect
on
hardworking
families
in
Colorado
and
throughout
the
country.
This
week's
news
is
devastating
for
the
thousands
of
Coloradans
who
now
may
face
difficult
choices.
It’s
critical
that
we
work
together
toward
real
solutions
that
address
the
unintended
consequences
of
the
President’s
health
care
laws
and
the
negative,
visible
impact
it’s
having
on
individuals,
families,
and
small
businesses.
I’ll
continue
to
fight
for
an
approach
that
aims
to
deliver
real
health
care
reform
by
controlling
costs
and
protecting
the
doctor-patient
relationship.
Click
here or on
the
image
below
to
watch
my
remarks
on
the
Senate
floor.
Congressional
Oversight
of
the
Department
of
Veterans
Affairs
Earlier
this
week,
the
U.S.
Department
of
Veterans
Affairs
(VA)
Office
of
Inspector
General
released
a
report
that
follows
an
investigation
into
the
Aurora
VA
hospital
construction
project. The
report
confirms
what
Coloradans
have
long
suspected:
the
VA
grossly
mismanaged
the
project
from
day
one
and
ignored
warning
signs
that
the
project
would
be
over
budget.
According
to
the
OIG,
Glenn
Haggstrom,
the
VA
official
responsible
for
overseeing
the
project,
failed
to
disclose
to
Congress
during
Congressional testimony
in
2013
and
2014,
never
disclosing
that
the
project
would
likely
surpass
its
budget
of
$800
million.
The
VA
also
prematurely
started
construction
without
completed
design
plans,
and
rejected
cost
reduction
plans
that
would
have
resulted
in
approximately
$400
million
in
savings.
Hundreds
of
millions
of
taxpayer
dollars
evaporated
due
to
the
VA’s
incompetence,
and
the
people
who
have
suffered
most
are
the
Colorado
veterans
who
have
been
forced
to
wait
for
the
new
facility
they
were
promised
for
far
too
long.
Now
that
the
OIG
investigation
is
complete,
the
VA
officials
responsible
for
the
blatant
systemic
failures
and
enormous
cost
overruns
that
plagued
the
project
must
be
held
accountable.
No
more
get
out
of
jail
free
cards.
I
was
proud
the
Senate
passed
legislation
that
would
prevent
the
VA
from
managing
construction
projects
over
$100
million,
and
I
will
continue
to
work
to
ensure
that
this
VA-born
disaster
is
not
replicated.
During
a
visit
to
the
construction
site
earlier
this
month,
I
was
assured
the
project
will
meet
the
new
time
and
budget.
I
will
continue
to
request
updates
on
the
project’s
progress
and
look
forward
to
when
the
state-of-the-art
facility
opens
its
doors.
Veterans
deserve
the
best
medical
care
this
country
has
to
offer,
and
I’ll
continue
to
fight
to
see
the
VA
deliver
on
its
promise.
Additionally,
Senator Ron
Johnson
(R-WI)
and
I
wrote
to
Department
of
Veterans
Affairs
Inspector
General
Michael
Missal
on
Monday
requesting
that
he
open
an
inquiry
into
a
whistleblower
report
of
possible
“wait
lists”
that
may
have
contributed
to
a
veteran's
suicide
while
waiting
for
PTSD
treatment
at
a
Colorado
Springs
VA
facility.
This
whistleblower
has
alleged
the
facility
might
have
falsified
the
veteran’s
medical
records
following
his
death.
You
can
read
the
letter
here.
Celebrating
the
Air
Force's
69th
Birthday
I
spoke
on
the
Senate
floor
to
congratulate
the United
States Air Force on
their
69th
Birthday
and
recognized
that
this
year
marks
the
40th
anniversary
that
women
cadets
have
enrolled
in
the
U.S.
Air
Force
Academy.
Colorado
is
proud
to
host
the
Air
Force
Academy,
and
I
thank
all
of
our
men
and
women
in
uniform
for
their
service.
Aim
High.
Fly,
Fight,
Win!
Watch
my
remarks
here.
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,
Fort
Collins,
Greeley,
Yuma,
and
Colorado
Springs.
Learn
more
about
how
we
can
help 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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