See how Michael F. Bennet actually votes — against your values.
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Prediction track record
How often we called Michael F. Bennet's passage votes correctly, from their stated positions on each bill's tagged topics. Excludes “unclear” calls and abstentions.
39 predictions on record · none have been resolved by a passage vote yet. Check back as bills move.
To prohibit the disclosure of records by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development of individuals for the purposes of immigration enforcement, and for other purposes.
Based on 5 data points across public statements and recorded votes · AI analysis of public records
119-sjres-184·Consistent
A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
92/100
What they said
Jun 23, 2026
Senator Bennet supports passage of a War Powers Resolution directing President Trump to end military operations in Iran, arguing the conflict is costly, strategically counterproductive, and lacks congressional authorization.
Voted Yea on A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.
Senator Bennet's statement explicitly supports passage of a War Powers Resolution directing the President to end military operations in Iran, citing lack of congressional authorization, strategic counterproductivity, and fiscal costs. His YES vote on S.J.Res.184, which directs removal of U.S. Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in Iran under the War Powers Resolution framework, directly aligns with the stated position. The statement and bill address the same specific question: whether Congress should compel the President to cease military operations in Iran absent formal authorization.
A joint resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Niger that have not been authorized by Congress.
35/100
What they said
Jun 23, 2026
Senator Bennet supports passage of a War Powers Resolution directing President Trump to end military operations in Iran, arguing the conflict is costly, strategically counterproductive, and lacks congressional authorization.
Voted Nay on A joint resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Niger that have not been authorized by Congress.
Senator Bennet's statement expresses strong support for War Powers Resolutions directing the President to end unauthorized military operations, citing lack of congressional authorization and strategic costs. However, he voted NO on S.J.Res.44, a joint resolution directing removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Niger—a measure that directly implements the same War Powers principle he publicly champions. The statement and bill address the identical specific question: whether Congress should direct the President to end unauthorized military operations. The vote contradicts the stated position.
A joint resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Syria that have not been authorized by Congress.
35/100
What they said
Jun 23, 2026
Senator Bennet supports passage of a War Powers Resolution directing President Trump to end military operations in Iran, arguing the conflict is costly, strategically counterproductive, and lacks congressional authorization.
Voted Nay on A joint resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in Syria that have not been authorized by Congress.
Senator Bennet's statement expresses strong support for War Powers Resolutions directing the President to end unauthorized military operations, citing lack of congressional authorization and strategic costs. However, he voted NO on S.J.Res.51, a joint resolution directing withdrawal from Syria—a conflict that similarly lacks explicit congressional authorization and involves deployed troops and casualties. The statement and bill address the same specific question: whether Congress should direct the President to end military operations lacking authorization. Bennet's stated position and his recorded vote point in opposite directions on this question.
Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.
45/100
What they said
Jul 29, 2026
Senator Bennet supports imposing sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, and entities supporting Russia's defense industrial base to pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine, and advocates for continued U.S. support including intelligence-sharing and drone cooperation.
The statement addresses sanctions on Russia to pressure Putin and support Ukraine, while the bill provides FY2024 supplemental appropriations for Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific allies. Both relate broadly to foreign policy and supporting U.S. allies against adversaries, but the statement focuses specifically on Russian sanctions legislation (the Graham Sanctioning Russia Act), whereas the vote was a cloture motion on an omnibus appropriations bill covering multiple regions and purposes. The rep's yes vote on cloture is consistent with supporting Ukraine aid generally, but cloture votes are procedural and do not directly express substantive position on the bill's specific provisions or the sanctions approach the statement emphasizes.
Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.
45/100
What they said
Jul 29, 2026
Senator Bennet supports imposing sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, and entities supporting Russia's defense industrial base to pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine, and advocates for continued U.S. support including intelligence-sharing and drone cooperation.
The statement addresses sanctions on Russia to pressure Putin and support Ukraine, while the bill provides FY2024 supplemental appropriations for Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific allies. Senator Bennet's YES vote on cloture is consistent with supporting Ukraine aid broadly, but the vote is procedural rather than substantive—it advanced debate rather than directly enacting the sanctions bill he co-sponsors. The bill's primary focus on Israel security and the cloture vote's procedural nature create ambiguity about whether the vote reflects support for the Ukraine-specific sanctions language or broader foreign aid priorities.
Pairs with ambiguous language and high uncertainty are withheld until more data is available. Procedural, cloture, and amendment votes are excluded — they don't cleanly signal substantive support or opposition.
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Crossing the aisle
No party-break passage votes recorded for Michael F. Bennet. Either they've voted with Democrats on every substantive passage vote in the corpus, or their tenure overlaps few high-threshold party-line votes so far.
Bennet Statement on Release of Final Environmental Impact Statement Outlining Future Colorado River Operations - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senator Bennet expresses disappointment that the Interior Department did not achieve a 7-state consensus agreement on Colorado River operations, arguing that a long-term consensus plan reflecting actual hydrologic conditions is necessary for a durable solution, though he acknowledges a 2-year operating plan as a minimum.
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued a statement following the release of the Bureau of Reclamation’s final environmental impact statement outlining a plan for operating the Colorado River.
“I am disappointed that the Interior Department could not develop a 7-state consensus agreement. While a 2-year operating plan is the bare minimum needed to operate the river, a long-term, consensus agreement that recognizes real hydrologic conditions is the only durable solution to bring certainty to the Colorado River.”
Bennet Statement on Senate Finance Committee Passage of the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senator Bennet supports the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act, which includes provisions to reduce burdens on low-income tax filers, modernize IRS administration, strengthen taxpayer rights, and set standards for tax preparers. He also advocates for IRS implementation of prepopulated tax returns for eligible filers.
Legislation includes four Bennet bills that would reduce burdens for low-income filers, set out important procedural requirements for multi-year bans, and adjust the penalty approval process
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, celebrated the passage of the bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service (TAS) Act. The bill contains more than 60 provisions to improve the taxpayer experience, strengthen taxpayer rights, modernize Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administration, set minimum standards for paid tax preparers, and improve judicial review. The package includes four key provisions based on Bennet’s legislation that would provide taxpayers with greater certainty, flexibility, and relief when dealing with the IRS and the tax filing process.
“Colorado families and workers don’t need more bureaucracy when they go to pay their taxes,” said Bennet. “Today’s legislation is the most significant IRS reform proposal in decades, and will bring greater transparency and accountability to the tax filing process, while also removing barriers that disproportionately affect low-income families. I am glad to see the Senate Finance Committee advance this legislation and hope to see it pass the full Senate without delay.”
During the markup, Bennet also offered an amendment that would require the IRS begin work to provide prepopulated tax returns for tens of millions of filers. Over 25 countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – nearly three-quarters of OECD members – prefilled tax returns for their citizens with some types of income. Prepopulating tax returns would enable the IRS to preemptively fill out returns for millions of people who otherwise would not file tax returns but either owe taxes or appear to be eligible for refunds and tax credits. One study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 42 to 48 percent of U.S. federal income tax returns could be accurately prepopulated at the time the research was conducted.
More detail on Bennet’s four pieces of legislation can be found below:
Installment Plan Fees: Waives installment plan fees for taxpayers below 250 percent of the poverty line. The text of the bill is available HERE.
Automatic Offset Bypass Refund: Requires the IRS to automatically process an “offset bypass refund” – which prevents the IRS from deducting past tax liabilities against a current refund – for a taxpayer’s Earned Income Tax Credit if their account has already been designated as “currently not collectible” due to demonstrated economic hardship. The text of the bill is available HERE.
Notice and Review Reform for Multi-Year Bans: Requires the IRS to explain a ban on claiming the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, or American Opportunity Tax Credit in a notice of deficiency, and provides for Tax Court justiciability of bans. The text of the bill is available HERE.
Supervisory Requirement for Penalties and Disallowance Periods: Clarifies that written approval is required by either a supervisor or the Office of Servicewide Penalties when the IRS issues a ban for certain credits. The text of the bill is available HERE.
More detail on the TAS Act can be found HERE.
Bennet Leads Colleagues to Demand Trump Administration Crack Down on Russian Crypto Sanctions Evasion Network - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senator Bennet and colleagues urge the Trump Administration to investigate and impose sanctions on A7 LLC, a Russian state-backed cryptocurrency network used to evade U.S. sanctions and fund Russia's war in Ukraine.
Washington, DC — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Finance Committee, led seven colleagues in a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent urging the Trump Administration to crack down on A7 LLC, a Russian state-backed cryptocurrency sanctions evasion network supporting Russia’s unprovoked full-scale war against Ukraine. Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I), Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Me.), Chris Van Hollen (D-M.D.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) signed the letter.
“We write to urge the Trump Administration to immediately investigate and address Russia’s ongoing, widespread evasion of U.S. and allied sanctions through the A7 LLC (A7) network. Doing so is crucial to limit the revenue Russian President Vladimir Putin has available to wage his unjustified war against Ukraine, threaten our NATO allies, and help Iran target U.S. troops, according to public reporting,” began the senators.
The Russian state-owned bank Promsvyazbank and a Moldovan oligarch convicted of stealing from Moldova’s banking system launched A7 in late 2024. The revenue Moscow accrues through the A7 network – with the A7A5 stablecoin as its backbone – directly supports the Russian military-industrial complex and thus Putin’s war on Ukraine. Even after the United States imposed sanctions on a small number of A7 entities in 2025, the network openly claimed to have over 30 shell companies enabling around 1,500 daily transactions with over 10,000 customers. As of January 2026, the A7A5 stablecoin had reportedly processed over $100 billion in transactions, accounting for nearly 19 percent of the total volume of Russian businesses’ foreign trade operations.
“Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has largely stood by and watched the growth of this large-scale evasion enterprise. Under previous administrations, the Departments of State and Treasury went beyond targeting Russia’s attempts to establish new evasion pathways by publicly and privately warning third countries to turn away such efforts. […] In contrast, the Trump Administration has not used its Russia sanctions authority or even, it seems, warned countries to root out A7,” wrote the senators.
Accordingly, Bennet’s letter urges the Department of the Treasury to:
Bennet has fought relentlessly to impose more pressure on Putin to end his unjust war of aggression against Ukraine.
Earlier this July, Bennet joined a bipartisan group of over 60 colleagues to introduce legislation, a version of which Bennet has supported for over a year, to hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. Bennet also co-sponsors the bipartisan SHADOW Fleets Act and DROP Act to impose sanctions on specific Russian oil ships and entities trading in Russian oil, respectively. In May 2026, Bennet led 14 Senate colleagues to urge Secretary Bessent to fully resume sanctions on Russian oil and use every available tool to cut into the windfall profits Russia continues to earn from the elevated energy prices stemming from President Trump’s unauthorized war with Iran.
Earlier this year, Bennet wrote an op-ed in EURACTIV urging the United States and like-minded allies to form a coalition to cooperatively and immediately wield Russian sovereign assets on Ukraine’s behalf. In December 2025, Bennet led a bipartisan letter to Belgian Ambassador to the U.S., Frédéric Bernard, expressing support for European Commission efforts to leverage Russian sovereign assets to finance a loan for Ukraine. Bennet also co-sponsors bipartisan legislation to repurpose frozen Russian sovereign assets held in the United States to support Ukraine. This would build on the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act, which Bennet co-sponsored and which President Joe Biden signed into law in April 2024.
Additionally, Bennet leads legislation in the Senate defense and intelligence bills, both of which have passed their respective committees, to bolster drone and intelligence cooperation with Ukraine.
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
We write to urge the Trump Administration to immediately investigate and address Russia’s ongoing, widespread evasion of U.S. and allied sanctions through the A7 LLC (A7) network. Doing so is crucial to limit Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ability to acquire key technology and revenue to wage his unjustified war against Ukraine, threaten our NATO allies, and help Iran target U.S. troops, according to public reporting.
Many of us have warned for over a year that the administration’s halt in the imposition of regular counter evasion sanctions allows Russia to evade restrictions meant to impede Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine. One clear example is Moscow’s development of A7, a state-enabled cryptocurrency financial system that circumvents standard international payment networks, allowing Russia and shell companies to bypass G7 sanctions.
The Russian state-owned bank Promsvyazbank and Ilan Șor, a Moldovan oligarch convicted of stealing from Moldova’s banking system, launched A7 in late 2024. The imports and revenue Russia accrues through the A7 network directly support the Russian military-industrial complex and thus Putin’s war on Ukraine. A7 appears to maintain deep ties to Putin and the Kremlin: In September 2025, Putin attended a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of A7’s Vladivostok branch.
The A7A5 stablecoin, launched in 2025, appears to be the A7 network’s backbone. The Russian ruble-pegged stablecoin enables financial activities that would otherwise be difficult following a range of sanctions that G7 partners have implemented since 2022. As of January 2026, the A7A5 stablecoin had reportedly processed over $100 billion in transactions in less than a year.
In December 2025, A7 claimed to have accounted for nearly 19 percent of the total volume of foreign trade operations of Russian businesses. While the A7A5 stablecoin claims independence from A7, as of February 2026 the stablecoin continued to advertise A7’s imitation banknotes (issued by A7 Kyrgyzstan) on its site and directs prospective buyers to A7 Russia offices.
Even after the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on a small number of A7 entities in August 2025, the network has openly claimed to have over 30 shell companies enabling around 1,500 daily transactions with over 10,000 customers. Many of these companies operate in “secrecy jurisdictions,” which, through complex legal structures, make tracing difficult. Reports indicate that the United Arab Emirates hosts several shell companies, and that Hong Kong hosts at least one suspected shell company.
Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has largely stood by and watched the growth of this large-scale evasion enterprise. Under previous administrations, the Departments of State and Treasury went beyond targeting Russia’s attempts to establish new evasion pathways by publicly and privately warning third countries to turn away such efforts. The Departments also issued alerts underscoring the sanctions risk for foreign financial institutions that chose to join Russia’s System for Transfer of Financial Messages, and for countries considering allowing the opening of new branches or subsidiaries of Russian banks.
In contrast, the Trump Administration has not used its Russia sanctions authority or even, it seems, warned countries to root out A7. The administration’s lone August 2025 sanctions rollout – in which Treasury refrained from using its Russia sanctions authority, making no effort to emphasize A7’s Kremlin ties – targeted a handful of entities, fell short of what allies and partners have done even last year, and has clearly been insufficient to address A7’s operations. There remain numerous undesignated global affiliates and A7 enablers that the administration has not sanctioned. We also note that this is only one of the alternative payment mechanisms Russia appears to have set up to acquire critical items for its war, without any administration pushback.
Our allies are again pushing forward without us. The European Union (EU) has banned A7A5, and the EU’s 20th sanctions package focused on entities that distribute tokens such as A7A5, such as exchanges and decentralized platforms that list them, and payment agents that settle the underlying trade.
President Trump and his administration must similarly employ our considerable financial tools to cut into Russia’s evasion mechanisms. Accordingly, we urge you to:
We respectfully request that you inform our offices, in writing, of your actions on these seven items by August 21, 2026. We request an unclassified summary with a classified annex, if necessary.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We stand ready to work with you in a bipartisan manner to address these important issues.
Bennet, Rosen, Klobuchar, Merkley Create and Expand Grant and Loan Programs to Monitor Air Pollution from Wildfires - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senators Bennet, Rosen, Klobuchar, and Merkley introduced legislation to establish and expand EPA grant and loan programs enabling state, local, and Tribal agencies to purchase and operate portable air quality sensors to monitor wildfire smoke pollution and support public health decision-making.
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to introduce a bill to help state, local, and Tribal government agencies monitor worsening air pollution caused by wildfires and make more informed public health decisions. The Wildfire Air Quality Sensor Expansion Act would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to create and expand new and existing grant and loan programs to allow agencies to purchase and operate portable air sensors, a low-cost technology to measure and detect harmful pollutants caused by wildfire smoke. Increasing access to air quality information is expected to help governments and communities make better public health and wildfire response decisions.
“Colorado is facing one of the most severe wildfire seasons to date, with Coloradans not only fearful of fire growth and destruction, but also the health risks that come with poor air quality,” said Bennet. “We need legislation like the Wildfire Air Quality Sensor Expansion Act to ensure all Coloradans can keep themselves safe and informed during the wildfire seasons ahead.”
“As wildfires continue to ravage Nevada and the West, it is important that we take every measure possible to protect our communities,” said Rosen. “Air sensors provide a relatively easy, low-cost solution that can help protect Nevadans from harmful pollutants and support wildfire response almost immediately – which is why my bill will help make them more available. I will continue fighting to ensure that Nevadans have the federal resources they need to access clean air and stay safe from wildfires.”
“In Minnesota, smoke from the recent wildfires in the Superior National Forest created hazy and unhealthy air quality conditions throughout the state,” said Klobuchar. “I’m supporting this legislation to help areas impacted by wildfires measure air pollutants and keep our communities healthy and safe.”
“When the 2020 Labor Day fires swept across Oregon, I drove over 600 miles and never once escaped the smoke that blanketed our state. Oregonians are facing yet another deadly fire season this year, and it is essential that our communities have all the necessary tools to respond to wildfires and smoke-related threats,” said Merkley. “Our bill helps communities plan for and cope with hazardous air quality caused by wildfire smoke, which threatens public health, disrupts daily life, and shows just how devastating climate chaos-fueled fires can be.”
Bennet has consistently fought for the support that Colorado communities need to combat wildfires. Earlier this month, Bennet and Senator John Hickenlooper joined Rosen and six Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that all communities receive the federal resources they need to respond to and prevent wildfires. Bennet and Hickenlooper also visited the Aspen Acres Fire burn scar in Beulah, Colorado, meeting with first responders and community members impacted by the devastating fire. In March 2026, Bennet urged U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to prioritize proactive wildfire mitigation efforts in the West.
In December 2025, Bennet urged Schultz to address persistent staffing shortages and mounting setbacks to wildfire risk reduction efforts across the West and the country. In September 2025, Bennet welcomed over $26 million in funding to reduce wildfire risk and protect vulnerable communities across Colorado. In response to last year’s Lee and Elk wildfires, Bennet urged President Donald Trump for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration and Public Assistance for Rio Blanco County. In May 2025, Bennet urged former U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to reconsider plans to gut FEMA ahead of the 2025 wildfire season. In March 2025, Bennet and John Curtis (R-Utah) reintroduced the Watershed Protection and Forestry Recovery Act and the Making Access to Cleanup Happen (MATCH) Act. These bipartisan bills improve and expedite emergency watershed recovery efforts by removing bureaucratic barriers that delay disaster response and empowering local partners to initiate forest and watershed recovery measures. In February 2025, Bennet reintroduced the Protect the West Act, legislation to combat intensifying wildfires and drought across the West. In January 2025, Bennet reintroduced the Cleaner Air Spaces Act to reduce the negative health effects caused by wildfire smoke in vulnerable communities. In February 2023, Bennet introduced the Protect the West Act to make a $60 billion investment in our forests to reduce wildfire risk, restore our watersheds, and protect our communities.
The text of the bill is available HERE.
Bennet Statement on Vote to Hold Russian Oil Purchasers Accountable for Supporting Putin’s War in Ukraine - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senator Bennet supports imposing sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, and entities supporting Russia's defense industrial base to pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine, and advocates for continued U.S. support including intelligence-sharing and drone cooperation.
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after voting to advance the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, legislation he co-sponsors to impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle and his enablers across Russian industry and financial institutions, the Russian shadow fleet, and firms supporting Russia’s defense industrial base:
“For the past four years, Ukraine has fought bravely against Vladimir Putin’s aggression, showing us what it looks like to fight and die for democracy, for their country, and for the West.
“Amid Putin’s intransigence at the negotiating table and daily attacks across Ukraine, our bipartisan sanctions bill will impose greater pressure on Putin to end his unprovoked war, especially as Ukraine seizes the momentum and increasingly takes the fight to Moscow. I am pleased to see the Senate take the first step today to get this done.
“We must do everything we can to back the Ukrainian people in their fight – including by passing this bill and my legislation to ensure continued intelligence-sharing and to strengthen drone cooperation. Backing Ukraine today will be our best deterrence against authoritarian ambitions tomorrow.”
Bennet, Hickenlooper, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Deschedule Marijuana, End Federal Prohibition of Cannabis - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper support federal descheduling of marijuana to end the federal prohibition of cannabis, establish a regulatory framework, address criminal justice inequities through record expungement, and enable state-level cannabis regulation.
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined 15 of their Senate colleagues to reintroduce their Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which would end the harmful federal ban of marijuana by removing cannabis from the list of federally controlled substances (descheduling) and empowering states to create their own laws.
“Congress should follow Colorado’s lead and bring our nation’s marijuana laws into the 21st century,” said Bennet. “The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act is long overdue and will help protect the legal cannabis economy as well as address historic inequities in our justice system.”
“Colorado legalized marijuana fourteen years ago and now nearly half of the states have followed our lead,” said Hickenlooper. “Yet, the federal government continues to drag its feet. We need to deschedule and decriminalize marijuana, then finish the job and expunge the records of everyone who was charged with federal marijuana crimes.”
Specifically, CAOA establishes a federal regulatory framework to protect public health and safety, prioritizes restorative and economic justice to help undo the decades of harm caused by the failed war on drugs, ends discrimination in the provision of federal benefits on the basis of cannabis use, provides major investments for cannabis research, and strengthens worker protections. By decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level, CAOA also ensures that state-legal cannabis businesses or those in adjacent industries will no longer be denied access to bank accounts or financial services simply because of their ties to cannabis.
Bennet has repeatedly advocated for the support of the legal cannabis economy. In June 2024, he urged U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations leaders to allow legal cannabis small businesses to access programs and resources from the Small Business Administration. He also introduced the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act and the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act to provide legally operating cannabis businesses access to critical banking services.
In addition to Bennet and Hickenlooper, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) cosponsored this bill.
Bennet Joins Bipartisan Legislation to Repeal Outdated Jackson-Vanik Trade Restrictions on Central Asia - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senator Bennet supports repealing Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions on Central Asian countries to strengthen U.S. relationships with regional partners and improve competitive positioning against China and Russia.
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined legislation to repeal outdated Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions on certain countries in Central Asia. The legislation is led by Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), as well as Representatives Carol Miller (R-W.V.) and Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) in the House.
The Jackson-Vanik Amendment is a set of trade restrictions in the Trade Act of 1974 that denied unconditional normal trade relations to certain countries that had non-market economies and that restricted emigration rights during the Cold War. While Congress has repealed the amendment’s application to most countries – ranging from Armenia to Vietnam – since the Soviet Union’s collapse, Jackson-Vanik still applies to Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, despite broad support for its removal.
“As China and Russia deepen their foothold across Central Asia, outdated Jackson-Vanik restrictions are undermining our relationships with key regional partners,” said Bennet. “Passing this bill will remove this Soviet-era relic – so we can compete effectively and advance U.S. interests in the region.”
Bennet has consistently worked to deepen U.S. alliances and partnerships with countries seeking to diversify their relationships beyond China and Russia, and to bolster mutually-beneficial trade to open international markets to American companies and advance U.S. interests.
Bennet and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) lead the bicameral and bipartisan Americas Act, which is the only major strategic economic plan to counter China’s geopolitical and economic influence in the Western Hemisphere. Bennet also leads the bipartisan Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act, legislation that would bolster the United States’ ability to engage in trade negotiations with partners – such as Costa Rica, Japan, and the United Kingdom – to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of critical medical goods and services to U.S. patients and providers.
In addition to Bennet, Daines, Risch, Murphy, Shaheen, Miller, and Panetta, Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.), David McCormick (R-Pa.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C), and Representatives Robert Alderholt (R-Ala.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), and Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) co-sponsor the legislation.
The text of the bill is available HERE.
Bennet Statement on Voting Against the Confirmation of Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senator Bennet opposed the confirmation of Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence, citing concerns that Clayton lacks the independence necessary to lead the intelligence community and would prioritize pleasing the Trump administration over serving the nation's security interests.
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after he voted not to approve President Trump’s nomination of Jay Clayton to serve as the Director of National Intelligence:
“I’m concerned Jay Clayton lacks the independence necessary to successfully lead our intelligence community. While I recognize his prior public service, Clayton’s repeated deference to the Trump White House – whether in indulging Trump’s false claims about the integrity of our election system or the improper issuance of subpoenas to reporters who wrote a story that President Trump disliked – suggests his top priority will be placating Donald Trump. On that basis, I cannot support his nomination. I hope he will not follow in the footsteps of other nominees who have surrendered their personal reputations to curry favor with the President. Our national security depends on it.”
Bennet Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Automate EITC Refunds for Certain Taxpayers - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senator Bennet supports legislation to automatically process Earned Income Tax Credit refunds for taxpayers whose accounts have been designated as currently not-collectible due to economic hardship, eliminating the need for a separate application.
Legislation would eliminate bureaucratic hurdles for taxpayers facing economic hardship
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.), members of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced legislation to automatically refund a taxpayer’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) if their account has been designated as currently not-collectible (CNC) – a temporary relief option that stops tax collection for taxpayers able to prove economic hardship.
Existing law allows certain taxpayers to apply for an Offset Bypass Refund (OBR), which allows the IRS, in limited situations, to issue refunds that would otherwise be deducted from past federal income tax liability. Individuals whose accounts have already been designated as CNC are also eligible for OBRs, but they require an additional application process – even though the IRS has already determined that they are facing economic hardship. This means that eligible taxpayers – all of whom are facing financial difficulties – must proactively request an OBR during filing season, straining IRS resources during the agency’s busiest work period and disadvantaging uninformed taxpayers who would otherwise be eligible but may not know about the OBR process.
“When families are faced with economic hardship, they shouldn’t have to jump through bureaucratic hoops to take advantage of programs that exist to help them,” said Bennet. “Our bipartisan legislation will ensure that some taxpayers who are already eligible to receive their EITC refunds are able to do so without unnecessary applications that have to be processed by the IRS during filing season.”
Under current law, the IRS generally deducts a taxpayer’s refund against prior-year federal income tax debts, but it may bypass such an offset and issue the refund (called an “OBR”) if the taxpayer establishes an economic hardship – such as having to pay rent or a utility bill. Taxpayers are eligible for an OBR if their income does not cover reasonable basic living expenses.
Separately, taxpayers facing economic hardship may have their accounts designated as currently not-collectible (CNC) after an IRS review. CNC status does not erase the tax debt, but temporarily delays collection. While an account is in CNC status, the IRS generally will not impose a levy against assets or income. However, it will continue to offset the taxpayer’s refunds, unless the taxpayer applies for an OBR.
To reduce economic hardship and the volume of time sensitive OBR requests that the IRS must process during the filing season, the legislation would require the IRS to automatically process an OBR with respect to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for a taxpayer whose accounts the IRS has designated as CNC.
The text of the bill is available HERE.
Bennet Statement on Advisory Council for Historic Preservation’s Vote to Gut Tribal Consultation and Protections for Historic Sites - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
Position: Senator Bennet opposes the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's proposed revisions to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, arguing that the changes would undermine tribal consultation, tribal sovereignty, and federal trust responsibilities while prioritizing executive projects over genuine historic preservation.
Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released a statement following the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)’s vote to alter Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act:
“On Friday, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) took the first step in radically altering the National Historic Preservation Act. The proposed revisions would silence the voices of states that have cared for their residents’ history for generations. The affront runs deeper for Tribes, undermining Tribal sovereignty and the federal government's trust responsibility.
“Historic and cultural sites in Colorado, from national landmarks like Mesa Verde to local treasures such as the Redstone Coke Ovens, are irreplaceable, and once they are gone, they are gone forever.
“These changes are not designed to make historic preservation better or to deliver the projects that our communities need most. They are designed to pave the way for Trump’s vanity projects in D.C., from putting his name back on the Kennedy Center to concealing his mistakes at the reflecting pool.
“I demand that ACHP work with Tribes and States to preserve and improve the consultation process –– not disregard the federal government's critical responsibilities to Tribal Nations and our history.”
Source: GDELT 2.0 GKG, filtered to a curated list of national outlets. Inclusion is not endorsement; opinion pieces and reported news are mixed.
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Periodic transaction reports filed under the STOCK Act — disclosed by the rep, sourced from public filings.
No disclosed trades on record.
Source: open-data mirrors of the Senate eFD and House Clerk financial-disclosure systems. Disclosure within 30 days of trade is required by law (45 for spouse/dependent trades).
Top PAC donors · 2026 cycle
Political action committees that gave the most to this rep's principal campaign committee this cycle. PAC giving is direct organizational support — industry, ideological, or leadership.
1.THE COLORADO WAY8 contributions$98,825
2.WIN THE WEST 20221 contribution$14,000
3.COMMON SENSE 2020-III1 contribution$13,944
4.BLUE SENATE PAC1 contribution$7,198
5.DEMOCRACY ENGINE, INC. PAC1 contribution$5,800
Source: OpenFEC (api.open.fec.gov) Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “committee.” Aggregated by contributing committee. Self-transfers from joint-fundraising / victory committees are excluded.
Top individual contributors · 2026 cycle
Itemized individual contributions over $200 to this rep's campaign committee, aggregated by donor employer. PAC giving is shown above; this section is people, not organizations.
1.ANGELO GORDON$7,000
2.BIRNAM OAK ADVISORS LP$7,000
3.BROWN-FORMAN CORP$5,000
4.NYU STERN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS$5,000
5.GOOGLE INC.$3,500
6.PISCES, INC.$3,300
7.BUTLER SNOW LLP$2,500
8.VITUITY$1,500
9.APOLLOMD$1,500
10.THIRD ROCK VENTURES$1,450
Source: OpenFEC Schedule A receipts where contributor type is “individual,” aggregated by the donor's self-reported employer. This is a geographic / industry correlation, not a corporate endorsement.
