Michael Bennet

I introduced the Protect Student Borrowers Act with Senators Durbin, Warren, and Murphy to ensure that institutions take greater financial responsibility when it comes to student loan debt.

Higher education today is a jungle of red tape.

Well, they are fortunate to have you as an advocate, and we will get after it here. I want to assure you of that.

I actually wish the entire committee had been here to hear this discussion.

How is HHS, through its waivers, helping States reduce their dependence on congregate care, and what will happen in 2019 when these waivers expire?

We will work very hard to make sure that this testimony actually does result in legislation.

I do not think that is particularly excusable, but when it comes to our kids, it is even more inexcusable than anything else we do.

I think the last thing that people on this committee want is for it to be watered down.

A number of Senators, including the majority of this committee, believe that CMS is moving forward with a model that will disproportionately hurt plans serving low-income members by removing codes for chronic illnesses, conditions like…

I appreciate Senators Lamar Alexander and Michael Bennet working together on a revised and simplified format for the FAFSA.

I applaud Senators Lamar Alexander and Michael Bennet for working together on revising and simplifying the format of the FAFSA.

Senator Hatch and I reintroduced the Med Tech Act yesterday to ensure that lower-risk medical software and mobile apps are not regulated by the FDA.

If there is legislative work that needs to be done around this, I hope you'll let the committee know.

As I wrote in a letter to you a couple of weeks ago, as always, we need to balance both innovation and safety.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I just want to make one observation. When I first got here 6 years ago, I used to say that it was nobody's day job in Washington to figure out how we are going to keep a thriving bioscience industry here in the United States.

What explains that delta between what we thought was going to happen and what actually has happened?

What are the pitfalls? What are the limitations, but also the successes?

I want to thank you for working with us on that bill.

Nothing else in Washington runs as well as this Committee runs under this chairman. So, we are grateful for the example.

Bottom line: those most hurt by the VA's negligence and mismanagement are our veterans and our taxpayers who have lost faith in the VA to complete this project.

Your willingness to hold this hearing in Colorado--it is very unusual not to have it in Washington--is a real demonstration and testament to your seriousness, and it honors Colorado's veterans and the veterans of the Rocky Mountain West.

What are we going to do at the VA to ensure that that never happens again?

I am sorry to interrupt, but also include in the need access to care by the rural veterans as well.

I hope the fact that it is now in the record means he will receive an answer to that letter.