Dear Friend,

Judge Gorsuch's Nomination to the United States Supreme Court

Judge Gorsuch, a fourth generation Coloradan, was recently nominated to serve on the Supreme Court and I had the opportunity to meet with him the next day. He is one of our country’s brightest legal minds with significant experience as a federal judge and a private litigator. A former Supreme Court clerk for Justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy, Judge Gorsuch has learned from some of the most exceptional, disciplined, and faithful interpreters of the law. He is an ardent defender of the Constitution and he has the appropriate temperament to serve on the nation’s highest court. Judge Gorsuch also adds to the court's Western perspective, with his understanding of uniquely Western issues like water and public lands issues. I’m enthusiastic about his nomination and will work to ensure that his confirmation process is fair, thorough, and expedient.

Click here or on the image above to watch my video statement on Judge Gorsuch.

Leading on Foreign Policy

Earlier this week, Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) and I introduced a bipartisan resolution pledging the United States’ unwavering commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

It is indisputable that NATO is the most successful military alliance in history and it is essential that we strengthen NATO for current and future challenges to maintain global peace and stability. In order to achieve this goal, it is crucial that all NATO members make good on their commitment to contribute to NATO’s defense spending. Just last month, 4th Infantry Division troops based in Fort Carson were deployed to eastern Europe to enhance U.S. military presence and to offer support to our allies in the region. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to the NATO alliance as a force for good and to deter any and all aggression from adversaries.

Read the Resolution here.

Additionally, I sent a letter to the President urging his Administration to pursue a principled and tough-minded Russia policy. We can't tolerate Russia's aggressive behavior in Ukraine, Syria, and cyberspace. I'll continue to work with my colleagues and the Administration to find solutions to Russia's belligerence.

You can read the full letter here. 

I also joined a bipartisan group of my colleagues, including Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and John McCain (R-AZ), to lead sanctions against Russia. Vladimir Putin’s continued aggression toward our allies in the region, and repeated malicious cyber activity against the United States needs to be dealt with now. Russia’s behavior must be met with strength in the form of aggressive sanctions to show the world that its actions will not be tolerated.

Learn more about the legislation here. 

Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Abe

I appreciate the opportunity to engage with Prime Minister Abe and have a discussion about Asia’s increasingly challenging security environment. I reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to our alliance with Japan and assured Prime Minister Abe that the U.S. stands ready to assist in efforts to deter aggression to counter a belligerent North Korea and China’s hostile behavior in the East and South China Seas. We also discussed trade opportunities, particularly liquefied natural gas and other energy exports from Colorado. I look forward to continuing to work with Prime Minister Abe and our Asia allies to address the political, economic, and security issues impacting our relationship with our Pacific partners.

Continuing to Approve The President's Cabinet

On Education Secretary Betsy DeVos:

As a product of public schools myself, and a father with one child - soon to be three - in the public school system, I believe it is important to have someone leading the Department of Education who will fight for public schools. When I had the opportunity to meet Betsy DeVos personally, she pledged to me that she would be an advocate for public schools, teachers and educational opportunity for all. The debate around her nomination has been a healthy exercise of our democracy, made all the more important because it involves our most precious possession, our children. As someone who believes education decisions should be left to parents and their children with policy driven locally, Congress will hold her accountable and I will work to ensure she lives up to the commitment she made to me.

The teachers in our lives play an outsized role as we grow into adults and throughout our adult life - and for good reason. They taught me that we must work together in common cause for a greater school, community and nation. I look forward to the great work ahead of us not as parents divided, but as people committed, in spite of these differences, to building a stronger education for our children and grandchildren.

On Attorney General Jeff Sessions:

Mr. Sessions has an impressive legal career and a profound commitment to upholding the rule of law. I’ve had the opportunity to work with him in the Senate and witness firsthand his strong record of bipartisanship. I’m confident in his ability to serve as the chief law enforcement officer in the country.

On Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price:

Obamacare has led to soaring premiums, diminishing choices, and hundreds of thousands of cancelled plans over the past four years in Colorado alone. It’s time to fix our broken health care system and evaluate and implement ideas that will empower patients, and Dr. Tom Price is committed to doing just that. As a physician for nearly two decades and former Chairman of the Budget Committee, Dr. Price is an ideal candidate to address the damage of Obamacare and work with Congress toward health care solutions that effectively preserve choice and keep costs down.

Meeting with a Cheyenne County Commissioner

I always enjoy sitting down and discussing rural issues with a fellow Coloradan from the Eastern Plains, Cheyenne County Commissioner Rod Pelton.