A message from Senator Michael Bennet

1 BIG THING: HELPING STUDENTS ACCESS FINANCIAL AID

What I’ve been working on: I have consistently pushed the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In 2014, I introduced a bipartisan bill to reduce the number of FAFSA questions from 108 to 2. In 2020, Congress passed legislation, based on my bill, to simplify the process and cut the number of questions in half. The new FAFSA was set to be released in 2022, but DOE delayed it to December. 

What’s happening: Operational glitches and delays in the rollout of a new FAFSA have left many Colorado students and colleges in limbo, and locked many families out of the process altogether. While DOE pledged to solve issues with the form by mid-March, many students continue to face difficulties while filing their applications and have not yet received their financial aid packages. 

What I did: Earlier this month, I joined colleagues in a letter calling on DOE to address an error in the FAFSA that prevents students and family members without a Social Security number from filling out the form. This week, I wrote to DOE again, urging officials to take urgent action to address all of the delays and operational glitches.

2. SUPPORTING COLORADO’S DREAMERS

What’s happening: Colorado is home to over 13,000 Dreamers who contribute to our economy and nation every day. However, many live in constant fear of their DACA protections being taken away due to a barrage of legal challenges. Now, many Dreamers are facing employment authorization delays, adding yet another hurdle to an already uncertain process. 

What I’m hearing: While U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reports one to two months as its median processing time, many constituents report waiting six to eight months for their renewed employment authorization.

What I did: Dreamers should be able to renew their employment authorizations in a timely manner. That’s why Colorado Representative Joe Neguse and I led a group of Colorado lawmakers to call on USCIS to investigate and fix these unacceptable delays.

3. IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY

What’s happening: Over 925,000 Coloradans rely on Social Security benefits, yet, many face long wait times and delays accessing their benefits.

What I believe: Social Security is – and should remain – a rock-solid guarantee we owe to America’s retirees and individuals with disabilities.

What I did: I wrote to Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley, urging him to prioritize customer service and swiftly resolve pending claims and applications to get Coloradans the benefits they need and deserve. During the Finance Committee hearing this week, I also asked him how we can further improve our Social Security system.

4. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

• I helped secure over $91 million for 78 Colorado infrastructure and community projects everywhere from Durango to Westminster.
• This week is National Agriculture Week. Agriculture is the backbone of Colorado's economy and central to our Western way of life and I’ll always fight to advance the priorities of our state’s farmers and ranchers.

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