Summary
Current Position: US Senator since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2021 US Senator
He began serving in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2005 where he spent time as the Minority Whip and became known for his expertise in natural resource and agriculture policy. Cory was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010.
As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Cory championed a true all-of-the-above energy strategy that promoted traditional resources as well as renewable energy. In addition, Cory is a national leader on energy efficiency initiatives and founded a bipartisan energy efficiency caucus in the House.
Source: Government page
OnAir Post: Cory Gardner
About
Source: Government page
Senator Cory Gardner is a fifth-generation Coloradan who was born and raised in Yuma, a small town on the Eastern Plains of Colorado where his family has owned a farm implement dealership for over a century. He lives in the same house his great-grandparents lived in. Cory graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University and received his law degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. After working at his family implement business and the National Corn Growers Association, Cory took a position as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) and quickly advanced to his Legislative Director.
He began serving in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2005 where he spent time as the Minority Whip and became known for his expertise in natural resource and agriculture policy. Cory was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Cory championed a true all-of-the-above energy strategy that promoted traditional resources as well as renewable energy. In addition, Cory is a national leader on energy efficiency initiatives and founded a bipartisan energy efficiency caucus in the House.
Experience
Education
- Bachelor
Colorado State University - J.D.
University of Colorado, Boulder
Offices
Denver
1961 Stout Street, Suite #12-300
Denver, CO 80294
Phone: (303) 391-5777
Colorado Springs
102 S. Tejon Street, Suite 930
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: (719) 632-6706
Pueblo
503 N. Main Street, Suite 426
Pueblo, CO 81003
Phone: Phone: (719) 543-1324
Grand Junction
400 Rood Avenue, Federal Bldg., Suite 220
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Phone: (970) 245-9553
Greeley
801 8th Street, Suite 140A
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 352-5546
Web
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Government Page
Politics
Source: none
Recent Elections
2014
| Cory Gardner (R) | 983,891 | 48.2% |
| Mark Udall (D) | 944,203 | 46.3% |
| TOTAL | 1,928,094 |
Source: Ballotpedia
Finances
GARDNER, CORY has run in 6 races for public office, winning 5 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $28,628,633.
Source: Follow the Money
Committees
Committees
Committee on Foreign Relations
The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. The Foreign Relations Committee is generally responsible for overseeing (but not administering) and funding foreign aid programs as well as funding arms sales and training for national allies. The committee is also responsible for holding confirmation hearings for high-level positions in the Department of State.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
The United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has jurisdiction over matters related to energy and nuclear waste policy, territorial policy, native Hawaiian matters, and public lands.
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has jurisdiction over matters relating to the Coast Guard, coastal zone management, communications, highway safety, inland waterways, interstate commerce, marine and ocean navigation, safety, and transportation, nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences , oceans, weather, and atmospheric …
Voting Record
See: Vote Smart
Issues
Economy
Our economy recovered slowly from the severe recession in 2008, but it has begun to turn a corner. Americans are returning to work, corporate earnings are high, and the stock market has risen to record levels. However, these gains mask the fact that middle class Coloradans and Americans are still struggling to make ends meet. With labor force participation still unnervingly low and workers’ hourly earnings just beginning to show signs of growth, we still have a long way to go until the middle class feels like the recovery is real.
I’ve called this our “veneered economy”, and you don’t have to scratch too far below the surface to see American families hurting. The urban-rural divide in this country is a heartbreaking example of unbalanced economic growth that has changed the small towns and main streets that once served as vital community hubs. More must be done to ensure that all Americans benefit from our country’s economic prosperity.
Education
I strongly believe quality in education stems from the state rather than the federal government, because local school boards, communities, and parents best understand the needs of their students and are therefore better equipped to make decisions that will lead to excellence in education. I support reducing the federal role in education and returning authority to where it belongs: state and local community’s authority. Coloradans know best what their students need and Washington bureaucrats do not need to interfere.
It’s absolutely critical, therefore, that we get Congress out of the classroom.
Environment
The United States is entering a new phase of energy history, and the nation is at the cusp of energy independence as we continue to produce our own secure supply of energy. Meeting our country’s energy demands will include an all-of-the-above strategy. Policies that allow us to fully unleash our energy potential in this country, in a safe and responsible manner, lead to greater economic opportunity.
In Colorado, we are blessed with abundant and diverse natural resources, and the state is on the cutting edge of energy production and research, due in large part to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) located in Golden, Colorado. I support developing and utilizing American energy of all kinds. This includes the use of traditional power like coal, oil, nuclear, natural gas, along with the use of renewable energy such as wind, solar, hydroelectric power, and geothermal. Keeping our nation at the forefront of energy research and development must be a goal of any federal energy policy.
Health Care
t is my belief that all Americans deserve access to quality and affordable health care, and I am committed to supporting common sense solutions that expand coverage and contain costs. According to an independent study, the United States has the most expensive health care system in the world, and due to the so-called “Affordable Care Act” the situation continues to worsen and costs continue to soar. In 2015, more than 126,000 Coloradans had to pay a fine for not complying with Obamacare’s individual mandate. Congress was able to repeal Obamacare’s individual mandate that forced people to buy insurance they could not afford but more needs to be done. Fixing our healthcare system will require repealing the Affordable Care Act and replacing it with patient-centered solutions, which empower Americans and their doctors.
Infrastructure
Transportation and Infrastructure
Transportation infrastructure is critical to Colorado’s economy, whether it’s commuting in and around Denver, the thousand-plus daily flights through Denver International Airport, or the millions of pounds of freight passing through on our highways.
With Colorado’s population growing at one of the fastest rates in the country, it is critical that we are making necessary investments in our state’s infrastructure to keep up with this growth. Some of our existing highways date back to the 1960s and were not designed to handle the millions who have moved into Colorado over the past several decades. In order to remain economically competitive, Coloradans must be able to seamlessly travel and commute throughout the state.
Just like I believe in an all-of-the-above strategy on energy, I believe we need an all-of-the-above strategy on transportation. This includes the traditional modes of travel on our roads and highways combined with new modes like bus-rapid-transit and rail.
In the Senate, I am proud to be the first Colorado Senator in forty years to sit on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. As part of my responsibilities, I sit on the Subcommittee on Aviation and Space. With Colorado touting one of the largest airports in the world combined with countless more commercial and general aviation airports, I am fighting to ensure our airports have the resources they need to be competitive in a global economy.
Safety
National Security and Foreign Policy
he United States must have an assertive and principled foreign policy to rise to the challenge of the growing threats of international terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and authoritarian regimes that threaten global peace and security.
While we are focused on the ongoing crises in the Middle East and in Europe, we must also look to strengthen our existing alliances and build new partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region. This region is home to the world’s most dynamically-growing economies, but also the challenges and opportunities presented by a rising China and the existential threat of a belligerent North Korea. We must pursue policies to ensure the United States remains the leading force in that strategically-important region.
I authored the North Korea Sanctions Policy and Enhancement Act. Signed into law by President Obama in February of 2016, the legislation marked the first time Congress imposed stand-alone mandatory sanctions on North Korea. I have called for additional steps –including my bipartisan legislation that would ban any entity that does business with North Korea or its enablers from using the United States financial system.
Our Constitution obligates us to “provide for the common defense”. As home to Fort Carson, Peterson, Schriever, and Buckley Air Force bases, Cheyenne Mountain Air Station, and the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado is at the forefront of our military’s mission to protect our nation and to train our nation’s young leaders. We must consistently and responsibly invest in our military to ensure the safety and security of Americans and our friends and allies around the world.
Veterans
The United States military is the most powerful force for good in the world, and troops and facilities in Colorado are a big reason why. All of Colorado’s military installations, including Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, and Buckley, Peterson, and Schriever Air Force Bases, are on the cutting edge of military readiness and protecting our national security.
I will always fight to protect and grow the presence of the United States military in Colorado and will work to ensure that these bases, which are essential to both national security and Colorado communities, remain strong.
We must also ensure that our commitment to our men and women in uniform goes beyond active service. Colorado is home to over 400,000 veterans, and there is no more important mission of our federal government than to provide for those who served our country in uniform. We must uphold our commitments to our veterans and ensure they are receiving the care they need and deserve. Additionally, I will continue to hold federal agencies accountable for waste and abuse of resources devoted to veterans.
Public Lands, Sportsmen, and the Outdoors
Public lands are some of our most cherished national treasures, and as a fifth generation Coloradan I understand the importance of preserving iconic landscapes in my state and across the nation. Public lands in Colorado help create an outdoor recreation economy that contributes hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity to the state and local communities, and supports jobs.
Many conservation programs, like the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), have created protections for lands that current and future generations will be able to enjoy. The LWCF and other programs are often critical tools in expanding access to our public lands. Keeping these lands open for all to enjoy activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and other recreational opportunities is something I support.
We must be good stewards of our natural environment, and this includes being responsible for the lands placed into parks, historic sites and trails, monuments, and recreation areas. The wildlife and wilderness that can be seen within these areas is something that cannot be taught in our classrooms. We need to work together to help preserve and promote these sites for the millions of visitors each year.
Space, Science, and Research
Colorado’s role in science and space is recognized globally, from the ORION program which aims to take humans to Mars, to NORAD and its famous Santa Claus tracker. Our state is a leader in this field and I am committed to expanding these efforts.
Colorado has positioned itself as a hub of space exploration. We have the third largest aerospace sector and are first per capita in the country for private aerospace employees. Colorado companies are out front, conducting research and creating the infrastructure to get humans to Mars and beyond.
Second Amendment
I am proud to support and protect an individual’s right to keep and bear arms. Colonial-era state charters recognized this vital protection well before the framers enshrined it in the Second Amendment of our Constitution, and the right is just as fundamental to our American identity today as it was centuries ago.
Despite a long, rich tradition, the Second Amendment has been repeatedly attacked and undermined. These misguided campaigns against a fundamental American right only seek to limit the freedoms of law-abiding citizens. Americans must have the ability to determine the best way to protect and defend themselves. It is vital that Congress follow the principles of personal liberty that guided our founding fathers and protect the Second Amendment from needless government overreach. This individual right must not be eroded in any capacity.
For centuries, Americans have exercised their Second Amendment rights responsibly, and I’m committed to pursuing policies that encourage such responsible firearm usage. By focusing on mental health services and stopping dangerous individuals from obtaining firearms, we can prevent heinous, criminal acts from occurring. We must also continue to emphasize the importance of firearm training and safety, ideals often passed down from generation to generation of responsible gun owners. By exercising Second Amendment rights responsibly, we honor this centuries-old tradition that has served as a bedrock of American society.
