Category: Politics & Elections

Bhatt ran CDOT under Hickenlooper’s administration

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper today introduced Shailen Bhatt at his Senate Environment and Public Works Committee confirmation hearing to be Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a critical position responsible for implementing many parts of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. President Joe Biden nominated Bhatt in July.

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For full video of Hickenlooper’s remarks, click HERE.

“As we implement this massive investment in our infrastructure, I cannot think of anyone better suited to lead the Federal Highway Administration,”said Hickenlooper at the hearing. “[Shailen Bhatt] is focused on results. He is able to bring people from all different backgrounds to the same point of compromise. He really will ensure safety and reliability on our highways at the same time he is creating efficiency and getting things built.” 

The FHWA supports state and local governments in the design, construction, and maintenance of the nation’s interstate highway system. As FHWA Administrator, Bhatt will help implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s historic investments in roads and bridges nationwide.

Bhatt served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) during Hickenlooper’s second term as Governor. He also has held senior roles at the Delaware Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation. He is currently Senior Vice President of Global Transportation Innovation and Alternative Delivery at AECOM, a multinational infrastructure consulting firm. Bhatt chairs an external advisory board for the United States Department of Energy, is a member of the Aurora Safety Advisory Board for autonomous driving, and is the Chair of the ITS World Congress Board of Directors.

Hickenlooper: “This bill will be the largest climate rescue investment in the history of the world”

Denver, CO – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined climate advocates and clean energy leaders in Denver today for a press conference to highlight the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, an ambitious bill to lower energy costs, increase clean energy production, and reduce carbon emissions roughly 40 percent by 2030.

For video, CLICK HERE. 

“This bill will be the largest climate rescue investment in the history of the world,” said Hickenlooper. “We’re going to look back in fifty years and say this was the beginning of the great transition. We can fight inflation by transitioning to a new energy economy – less expensive energy in your home, less expensive commuter costs, less expensive costs of living.”

“This act is what our planet and communities need and deserve at a time of increasingly extreme weather and rising costs hurting families across our state and our country,” said Lorena Gonzalez, Conservation Colorado Climate Advocate. “It’s an investment in our future, a lifeline for our children and for communities trying to survive the climate impacts of today.”

“As families across the country battle with soaring gas prices, devastating extreme weather and inflation, this act will bring much-needed relief with billions of dollars dedicated to environmental justice, including reducing air pollution in urban communities while supporting rural communities,” said Patricia Ferrero, Protegete Leadership Development Manager. “We all deserve to breathe clean air and have healthy environments to live in. It is time for the Senate to pass this legislation.”

“Without [Senator Hickenlooper’s] perseverance and fortitude in helping to push this in the Senate, we wouldn’t be where we are today. As Governor Hickenlooper, he put us on the map by adopting the nation’s first ever pollution rules to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector,” said Matt Garrington, Senior Manager for State Campaigns, Environmental Defense Fund. “And now, again thanks to Senator Hickenlooper, he’s taken that leadership and helped deliver, hopefully soon, on major climate change action at the federal level.”

“As a company leading the country’s clean energy transition, we’re proud to join U.S. Senator Hickenlooper to recognize what would be an historic national investment in clean energy,” said Frank Prager, Senior Vice President for Strategy, Security and External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Xcel Energy. “In Colorado, we’re on track to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 85% by 2030 as we add significant amounts of wind and solar to our system. We’ll use the clean energy tax credits in the bill to reduce costs for our customers as we continue investing in renewable energy and exploring advanced zero-emitting technologies to keep the grid strong and reliable.”

The event was at Dragonfly Noodle, whose owner Edwin Zoe has transitioned his small businesses to electric induction cooking appliances for energy savings and health. Other participants included Angelique Espinoza of Good Business Colorado, Sean Fox of Icelantic Skis, Andrew Bennett of Energy Outreach Colorado, and Jim Ramey of The Wilderness Society.

Climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act include:

• Over $100 billion in tax credits for clean energy generation and storage, as well as other clean technologies like EVs, clean hydrogen, and carbon capture.

• Broad reforms to our federal oil and gas leasing system, including Hickenlooper’s COMPETES Act, which ends the speculative practice of non-competitive leasing.

• Over $10 billion for home efficiency and electrification upgrades, which Hickenlooper fought for.

• Methane fee of $1,500/ton of leaked methane from oil and gas operations – equivalent to a $60/ton carbon fee on fugitive methane.

• Tens of billions of dollars in clean infrastructure and capacities, including solar, wind, and battery manufacturing, long-distance electrical transmission lines, and DOE Laboratory (incl. NREL) infrastructure.

• Tens of billions for environmental justice, including reducing air pollution in urban communities and supporting rural communities.

Hickenlooper has been credited with helping the deal coalesce by encouraging Senators Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer to keep trying despite many giving up on any prospect of an ambitious climate bill this year.

More than 3,000 refugees have arrived in Colorado in the past year

DENVER — Ahead of World Refugee Day on Monday June 22, the Polis-Primavera administration celebrated Colorado’s shared efforts to provide both safety and opportunity to thousands of refugees who have been welcomed to the state.  Since the advent of the U.S. resettlement program in 1980, Colorado has welcomed more than 62,000 refugees.  

“These individuals and families contribute to our thriving economy, support jobs and businesses and are part of the fabric of our communities,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Refugees bring their skills, strengths, ideas and innovative spirit and Colorado is proud to welcome refugees who have fled oppression and love our country as we continue to build a Colorado for all.” 

This year under the Polis-Primavera administration, Colorado has welcomed 3,127 refugees from 44 countries, including 70 Ukrainians and over 2,000 Afghans who supported the U.S. government and military overseas.  

Colorado refugees fuel the state’s economic growth. The economic activity of refugees in our state generated over $611 million in new salaries and wages for Colorado workers, according to the most recent Economic and Fiscal Impact of Refugees in Colorado Report. For every dollar spent on refugees, $1.68 is generated in industry activity throughout Colorado’s economy.

Governor Polis signed new legislation this year to support New Americans through:

• SB22-140 sponsored by Senators James Coleman and Bob Gardner and Representatives Judy Amabile and Barbara McLachlan which expands use of funds to support English Language Learners in equitable economic recovery through English language learning, who are often left out of career training and credentialing, and/or are not equipped with English skills to support their success
• HB22-1050 sponsored by Rep. Naqueta Hicks and Senator Janet Buckner which cuts red tape and outlines a path forward to utilize Colorado healthcare workers who are internationally trained to become licensed in the U.S. and Colorado. 

Colorado was the first state in the nation to quickly provide transitional housing and wrap-around assistance to help Afghans evacuated under Operation Allies Refuge resettle into their permanent communities in the U.S.  World Refugee Day is a day to recognize not only the plight of refugees, but their courage, strength and tenacity.

Denver – Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D) and John Hickenlooper (D) and U.S. Representatives Doug Lamborn (R) and Jason Crow (D) released the following statement regarding the Government Accountability Office’s final report on the decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama: 

 

“Over the past year, we’ve repeatedly raised concerns that the previous administration used a flawed, untested, and inconsistent process to select a location for U.S. Space Command. The reports from the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Defense Inspector General both confirm that the basing process lacked integrity and neglected key national security considerations.

 

“We now know that in a White House meeting in January 2021, senior military leadership recommended Colorado Springs as the preferred location for Space Command due to the unique ability of Peterson Space Force Base to reach Full Operational Capability significantly faster than any other potential location, and at a significantly lower cost. However,  following this meeting a different location was announced as the selection, and justified with inconsistent documentation and unclear reasoning. 

 

“We have serious concerns about how this conclusion was reached, which contradicts the military leadership’s stated goal of reaching Full Operational Capability as quickly as possible. Our national security should be the deciding factor in basing decisions.

 

“With the investigations now complete, the shortcomings of the Space Command basing process are fully available to the Biden Administration. We urge them to review the reports’ findings, and make a decision in consultation with the Joint Chiefs of Staff that prioritizes our national security and mission in space.

 

“The American people must be able to trust that this decision is objective and provides for our national security and leadership in space. Peterson remains the only and best home for U.S. Space Command.”