Dear Friend,

Back the Blue

Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve our communities. They are always there to help others and deserve nothing less than our gratitude and thanks. Unfortunately, Colorado and departments across the country have seen too many officer involved deaths and we must do more to protect those who protect us. Our officers should not be put in harm’s way without the absolute best equipment and that is why I have introduced legislation, which will make it easier for every officer in the country to purchase body armor that can withstand rifle bullets. I will work with members on both sides of the aisle to see this important piece of legislation signed into law.

I also took part in the National Peace Officers’ Wreath Laying Ceremony as part of National Police Week. I met with officers from Colorado and officers from around the country to thank them for their service and honor the law enforcement lives we have lost in 2017. It was a humbling experience to participate in this ceremony and remember the law enforcement lives we have lost. Colorado’s law enforcement community has experienced tremendous loss these last few months and I want every officer to know I stand with them and have their backs.

 

Recognizing Amache as a Part of the National Park System

During World War II, about 10,000 Japanese Americans passed through Amache and over 7,000 called Amache home. According to the National Park Service, “the cemetery, a reservoir, a water well and tank, the road network, concrete foundations, watch towers, the military police compound, and trees planted by the internees still remain.”

 

On Saturday, I returned to Amache and spent time with Japanese Americans who were interned there during World War II. It was a powerful experience to talk to people like Min Tonai who told me about living at Amache all those years ago. I recently introduced legislation to begin the process of making Amache a part of the National Park System so we will always remember this dark moment in our history and pledge to never let anything similar happen again. Read more here

My Trip to Afghanistan

Recently, I traveled to Afghanistan to meet with our troops and top commanders. I began my trip meeting with top U.S. military leaders that are a part of Operation Resolute Support, and visited Fort Carson-based 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Khandar, Afghanistan to receive an update on their mission. I also visited Bagram Air Force Base where I received an intelligence briefing from special operations command and met with Air Force personnel who are training Afghan pilots. In Kabul, I received security and economic briefings from U.S. embassy personnel and discussed the upcoming Afghanistan elections with John Bass, the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan.

It was incredible to visit with our men and women in uniform, many of whom are from Colorado, and see the critical mission they are carrying out to fight the global war on terror and keep us safe. I am in awe of the work they do every day and am grateful I had the opportunity to thank them for their work.

 

Fort Carson Selected for New Security Force Assistance Brigade

Late last week, Senator Bennet and I announced that the U.S. Army has selected Fort Carson to activate a new Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), a unit whose core mission is to conduct, advise, and assist operations with allied and partner nation forces. I recently met with the Secretary of the Army to highlight the importance of locating the 4th SFAB to Fort Carson. I’m thrilled that this is becoming a reality. It further demonstrates the important role Fort Carson has for our national security and military readiness as the men and women of this brigade will contribute to missions with allied nations and partners around the world.  
 
Recently, I also visited Fort Carson to meet with Major General George and his team, along with community leaders. After an aerial tour of the installation and training areas, we discussed current and future needs, key community partnerships, and the great things our brave 4th Infantry Division soldiers are doing.


Rebuilding Our National Parks

There is an urgent need to address the more than $11 billion dollar maintenance backlog on lands managed by the National Park Service, more than $220 million of which is here in Colorado. In an effort to address this problem, the Department of Interior proposed increasing the entrance fee at National Parks across Colorado and the country. I was weary of this plan and wrote to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke saying, “While I share your urgency on the need to address the park maintenance backlog, I have concerns that sudden and dramatic increases in the costs of passes for both private individuals and commercial operations could have unforeseen negative consequences on the communities that rely on visitation to these parks to keep their economies thriving.”

Read my full Op-Ed in the Coloradoan here.

Northern Colorado Honor Flight

Recently, I was honored to welcome veterans and their families from Honor Flight Northern Colorado to the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Honor Flight Northern Colorado bringing veterans to the nation’s capital. I met with Vietnam, Korea and even a few World War II veterans and thanked them for their service to our country. Our veterans are the very best America has to offer and we owe them for fighting for the freedoms we enjoy every day.

 

Continued Focus on North Korea and an Asia Strategy

The United States recently welcomed home three American hostages who had been imprisoned in North Korea. Under the previous Administration, I was a vocal opponent of their ‘strategic patience’ strategy and advocated for a maximum pressure doctrine to counter North Korea. This maximum pressure strategy began with my North Korea sanctions legislation and the Trump Administration has carried out this strategy and has brought North Korea to the negotiating table.

We must continue our maximum pressure campaign on Kim Jong Un until we achieve our ultimate goal — complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Republic of Korea is a friend and ally to the United States, and our alliance that was forged in blood remains ironclad. I support the ROK government’s desire to achieve a unified Korean Peninsula that is peaceful, democratic, and prosperous. I will continue to work with President Trump and Secretary of State Pompeo ahead of the President’s summit with North Korea and will do everything I can to guarantee a successful summit.

Farmer Suicide Prevention

As a fifth generation Coloradan who still lives in a tiny town on the Eastern Plains of Colorado that is totally dependent on agriculture, I see the hardships our farmers and ranchers experience every day. When I was a kid growing up in the 1980s, I remember Colorado farmers and ranchers facing tough times, and I’m afraid that we are seeing that same thing happen again. My friends and neighbors are filing for bankruptcy, being forced to sell their family farms, taking on more debt, and struggling to provide for their families. These stories break my heart and serve as a reminder that we need to be there for our farmers and support our rural communities during times of hardship, and that is exactly what the Farmers First Act does. This bipartisan legislation will make sure our agriculture community doesn’t feel abandoned and alone. The forgotten men and women of America must know that we have their backs, that their communities have their backs, and that we will always strive to help them. While this legislation is a good start, more must be done and I will continue to work with my colleagues on solutions to help our agriculture community.

NREL Industry Growth

I enjoyed participating in National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Industry Growth Forum fireside chat with Senator Michael Bennet. NREL's cutting-edge research ensures the U.S. remains the global leader in energy technology and grid resiliency and I'll continue to support their work.

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, Durango, 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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