2 weeks Ago
Welcome to Briefly, Colorado Politics' daily news briefing. Here's what's going on today: $129 million in federal grants for CO rail projects Democratic U.S.
Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S.
Reps. Joe Neguse and Brittany Petterson, along with Gov. Jared Polis announced four rail projects in Colorado will receive $129 million in federal funds as part of the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements Grant Program .
Last month, the lawmakers wrote the U.S. Department of Transportation a letter asking them to fund the Colorado Department of Transportation's rail project along the Front Range.
Hickenlooper also urged the department to fund CSU Pueblo and OmniTRAX's projects “After years of working to secure federal support for the Front Range Passenger Rail Project, I am excited to see the Department of Transportation heed our calls and commit to modernizing Colorado’s passenger rail system—not just for communities along the Front Range but for residents throughout the entire state. This is a once-in-a-generation investment in our passenger rail infrastructure, creating countless new opportunities for communities to connect, grow, and thrive—and we will continue to work together to ensure this momentum leads to lasting benefits for all Coloradans,” said Neguse. Pettersen said, “Today, I am incredibly grateful to see this federal funding coming to Colorado to strengthen our railway systems, enhance safety, and modernize our infrastructure.
After a train derailment in Boulder injured workers and put our communities at risk, I supported funding to reinforce public safety and restore trust in Colorado’s rail infrastructure. I’m pleased to see these federal dollars coming to our state to help ensure we have safe, reliable infrastructure for generations to come.” The Colorado Department of Transportation received $66.
4 million, while OmniTRAX Holdings received $50,570,400, CSU Pueblo received $11,671,81, and The San Luis Central Railroad Co. received $1,077,000. Bennet, Hickenlooper push for more temporary work visas to help small businesses Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper also joined 39 other lawmakers in urging the U.
S. Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security to release the maximum allowable number of additional temporary, non-agricultural visas, known as H-2B visas, for Fiscal Year 2025, saying the increase in employment opportunities will support local economies and fill needed roles for small businesses. “Many employers turn to the H-2B program to meet their workforce needs to not only sustain their businesses, but also support their American workers,” the senators wrote.
“The H-2B program places requirements on employers to recruit U.S. workers, who are intentionally prioritized by the program and also receive demonstrated, positive impacts from their seasonal colleagues.
In fact, a 2020 Government Accountability Office report concluded that ‘counties with H-2B employers generally had lower unemployment rates and higher average weekly wages than counties that do not have any H-2B employers.” Nearly 8,500 H-2B visas were requested by over 250 Colorado employers in 2021. In their letter, the senators noted that recent data from DOL's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows ongoing staffing challenges for seasonal businesses and an increase in job openings across top H-2B occupations in fields like landscaping hospitality, and the ski industry, all of which are vital to Colorado's economy.
Bennet and Hickenlooper have pushed DHS and DOL to increase the number of H-2B visa in the past; in 2022, the agencies welcomed an additional 35,000 H-2B visas nationwide. Caraveo releases ad "setting record straight" on efforts to keep Colorado safe Democratic U.S.
Rep. Yadira Caraveo has released a new campaign ad, titled " Tragedies ." The ad highlights Caraveo's background as a pediatrician and her efforts in Congress to secure the border, fully fund law enforcement, and back tougher fentanyl penalties.
“As a pediatrician, I've taken care of hundreds of kids who have been born addicted," she says in the 30-second spot. "I’ve seen the tragedies of fentanyl firsthand. It’s heartbreaking and part of why I ran for office.
I broke with my own party to back tougher fentanyl penalties. I’m working with both parties to stop the flow of fentanyl and fully fund police." Caraveo is running for reelection in Colorado's 8th Congressional District against Republican Rep.
Gabe Evans in a race that could not only be close, but also decide power in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Denver-area food pantries receive over $2.6 million in state funding Eighty-three food pantries and five food banks in the Denver area have received a total of over $2.6 million in state funding through the state's Community Food Grants program in partnership with the Colorado Department of Human Services.
“Thanks to partnerships, like the one we have with the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, children and families are able to get nutritious food when they need it the most and right in their own communities," said Kathy Underhill, food distribution programs manager at the Colorado Department of Human Services. “This critical State funding makes sure Coloradans have the resources they need to thrive.” The Community Food Grants program provides funding to food pantries and food banks for the procurement and distribution of healthy, culturally relevant foods, with a focus on local agriculture.
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