House Passes Bennet-Ayotte Better Buildings Act, Heads to President’s Desk

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Boost Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings

The House of Representatives today passed a bipartisan energy efficiency bill that includes legislation previously introduced by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to boost the use of energy efficient technology by tenants in commercial buildings. The Better Buildings Act encourages tenants of commercial buildings to voluntarily implement cost-effective measures that will help reduce energy consumption and ultimately utility costs for businesses. Bennet and Ayotte first introduced the bill in 2013.
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has cosponsored a bill that would reconcile state marijuana laws and federal tax law. The Small Business Tax Equity Act, introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), would allow marijuana businesses operating in compliance with state law to take ordinary business tax deductions.

Bennet, HELP Committee Advance Bill to Fix No Child Left Behind

Bennet Secures Key Provisions in Bill, Pledges Continued Push for Additional Changes

Senator Bennet helped to pass the Every Child Achieves Act, a bill to fix No Child Left Behind, out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The bill, approved 22-0 by the committee, reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the chief federal law addressing K-12 education. It reforms many of the policies from No Child Left Behind, the previous version of the bill, while maintaining several key policies that have proved successful.

Bennet Secures Key Amendments During ESEA Markup

Committee Adopts Bennet Amendments to Support Innovation, Teacher Leadership, Rural Schools, Financial Aid Awareness

Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today secured several key amendments during the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee's consideration of the Every Child Achieves Act. Bennet's amendments will help improve equity, support teachers, spur innovation, and provide for greater flexibility in our schools.

Bennet Marks Equal Pay Day, Calls for Passage of Paycheck Fairness Act

Equal Pay Day Marks How Far Into a Year a Woman Must Work, On Average, to Earn as Much as a Man Earned the Previous Year

On Equal Pay Day, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet called on his Senate colleagues to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to help close the pay gap between women and men working the same jobs. Equal Pay Day represents how far into the year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year.

Bennet Secures Amendment to Reduce Data Burden on Colorado School Districts

Also Pushes to Close Comparability Loophole, Improve Low-Performing Schools, Measure Student Growth

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet today secured an amendment to a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that would help reduce the burden of data reporting requirements for local school districts. The amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act was approved by voice vote in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee today.
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet applauded the passage of a bill that will provide long-term certainty for Medicare providers and patients. The bill repeals the outdated formula, known as the "sustainable growth rate" or SGR, for reimbursing Medicare providers for services. It replaces SGR with a streamlined payment system based on the quality of care.