Several Bennet-backed CO priorities included in Biden’s infrastructure proposal

Last week, Colorado U.S. Sen. Mike Bennet joined in a conversation with Mike Kopp, president and CEO of Colorado Concern – a statewide organization of CEOs devoted to promoting a pro-business environment through the political process – to discuss President Biden’s American Jobs Plan and the Colorado priorities Bennet is pushing to include in any final infrastructure package.

Broadcast on the Colorado Concern’s podcast In the Arena, Bennet discussed the importance of investing in broadband, water systems, forest and watershed restoration, 5G connectivity, and other critical infrastructure vital to Colorado and its economy.

In 2020, Colorado Concern called together a committee of Colorado business and civic leaders, non-profit organizations, local government officials and state legislative leaders to write a report titled “Together We Build: How Federal Infrastructure Investments Can Put Coloradoans Back to Work.” The report included recommendations on infrastructure investments and policies that would benefit Colorado, some of which were in alignment with Bennet’s legislative history.

In the conversation, Bennet highlighted his long-standing priorities which are either modeled or reflected in Biden’s American Jobs Plan.

Specifically, Bennet is a strong advocate for investing in restoration and resilience. The American Jobs Plan calls for $50 billion in investments to improve the resilience of land and water resources, safeguard critical infrastructure, and defend vulnerable communities, including Bennet’s Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act to invest in projects that reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health by empowering local leaders.

Bennet promotes Biden’s plan proposing $5 billion for a new Rural Partnership Program to assist rural regions with economic and infrastructure planning and development. This proposal, modeled after Bennet’s Resilient Act, proposes a partnership office to empower rural communities to upgrade their infrastructure by expanding technical assistance, strengthening local capacity, providing more flexible federal funding to rural areas.

Bennet’s Broadband Reform and Investment to Drive Growth in the Economy (BRIDGE) Act is in alignment with Biden’s plan that prioritizes future-proof networks, lifting restrictions on municipal broadband networks, and provides the necessary funding to bring those things to fruition. It also provides a set-aside for broadband deployment on tribal lands.

Drought resilience, long a Bennet priority, is also addressed in Biden’s plan, including funding for western drought resilience efforts through investments in water efficiency and recycling, tribal water settlements, and dam safety. In March, Bennet led a group of western Senators asking Biden to include western water priorities in his infrastructure proposal. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Bennet has long worked to invest in western drought resilience.

Over the past several years, Bennet and his team have traveled throughout Colorado discussing these same priorities, presenting both his ideas and legislative actions and listening to valuable input from his constituents.

Specifically, Bennet is a strong advocate for investing in restoration and resilience. The American Jobs Plan calls for $50 billion in investments to improve the resilience of land and water resources, safeguard critical infrastructure, and defend vulnerable communities, including Bennet’s Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act to invest in projects that reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health by empowering local leaders.

Bennet promotes Biden’s plan proposing $5 billion for a new Rural Partnership Program to assist rural regions with economic and infrastructure planning and development. This proposal, modeled after Bennet’s Resilient Act, proposes a partnership office to empower rural communities to upgrade their infrastructure by expanding technical assistance, strengthening local capacity, providing more flexible federal funding to rural areas.

Bennet’s Broadband Reform and Investment to Drive Growth in the Economy (BRIDGE) Act is in alignment with Biden’s plan that prioritizes future-proof networks, lifting restrictions on municipal broadband networks, and provides the necessary funding to bring those things to fruition. It also provides a set-aside for broadband deployment on tribal lands.

Drought resilience, long a Bennet priority, is also addressed in Biden’s plan, including funding for western drought resilience efforts through investments in water efficiency and recycling, tribal water settlements, and dam safety. In March, Bennet led a group of western Senators asking Biden to include western water priorities in his infrastructure proposal. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Bennet has long worked to invest in western drought resilience.

Over the past several years, Bennet and his team have traveled throughout Colorado discussing these same priorities, presenting both his ideas and legislative actions and listening to valuable input from his constituents.