Washington, DC – Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, released the following statement after the Senate passed legislation to provide emergency resources to prevent widespread layoffs of teachers and protect access to Medicaid services for Colorado’s kids and vulnerable populations.  The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 61-39.  Bennet wrote to Senate leadership in support of both the FMAP extension and bill to preserve teacher jobs.

“Teachers and kids in Colorado and those worried about losing access to their health care can breathe a big sigh of relief,” Bennet said. “The package—which is entirely paid for—will save thousands of jobs and protect health services for kids and vulnerable populations across Colorado and the country. During this savage economy that is hurting families all over our state and our country, we cannot allow our kids and our schools to fall through the cracks.

“If we are going to ensure that we leave more opportunity for our kids than we ourselves have had then we must remain committed to education—to set the table for our kids’ futures; to prepare them for the competitive world that awaits them; and to build the foundation for a strong economy moving forward.”