Washington, D.C. – Last week, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined In the Arena with Colorado Concern to discuss President Joe Biden’s American Jobs Plan and the Colorado priorities he is pushing to include in any final infrastructure package. In the episode titled “Federal Infrastructure Investments,” 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.
Last year, Colorado Concern convened a committee of Colorado business and civic leaders, non-profit organizations, local government officials and state legislative leaders to write a report with recommendations on infrastructure investments and policies that would benefit Colorado. Bennet backs several policies in line with recommendations from the report.
Bennet discussed many of his infrastructure priorities that were included in the American Jobs Plan with Mike Kopp, President and CEO of Colorado Concern and host of In the Arena:
- 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. The proposal includes Bennet’s Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act to invest in projects that reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health by empowering local leaders, and is consistent with priorities identified by Colorado leaders who developed and presented the Western Climate Resilience Framework to Bennet earlier this year.
- Rural Infrastructure: Biden’s plan proposes $5 billion for a new Rural Partnership Program to assist rural regions with economic and infrastructure planning and development. This proposal is modeled after Bennet’s RESILIENT Act, which 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.
- High-Speed Broadband: Biden’s plan aligns with Bennet’s Broadband Reform and Investment to Drive Growth in the Economy (BRIDGE) Act by prioritizing future-proof networks, lifting restrictions on municipal broadband networks, and providing them with funding. It also provides a set-aside for broadband deployment on tribal lands. The plan also aligns with Bennet’s Broadband Transparency and Accountability Act by requiring internet service providers to disclose prices charged.
- Drought Resilience: Biden’s plan proposes 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.
The full podcast is available HERE.