{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", party = \"Democrat\" and state = \"CO\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-earns-perfect-score-on-stop-corruption-now-congressional-scorecard", "Crow Earns Perfect Score on Stop Corruption Now Congressional Scorecard", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), co-chair of the End Corruption Caucus, earned a perfect 10/10 score from anti-corruption, pro-democracy group Democracy Defenders Action on their Stop Corruption Now Congressional Scorecard. The legislative score reflects Crow\u2019s work to end corruption, defend the rule of law, and protect free and fair elections.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump has turned our government into a racket to enrich himself, his family, and his billionaire donors. Their corruption isn\u2019t just an abstract concept. It\u2019s stealing from taxpayers, making things more expensive, and costing the American people every day,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cColoradans deserve leaders focused on making life easier for working people, not catering to special interests, the elite, or wealthy. I\u2019m fighting to take on a broken system in Washington, clean up corruption, and make government work better.\u201d\n\nCrow has also received an A+ from good governance group End Citizens United for his work to root out corruption in politics, the only member of Colorado\u2019s House delegation to receive the grade.\n\nThroughout his time in Congress, Crow has stood up to special interests and has not taken a dime of corporate PAC money. He is an original cosponsor of the TRUST in Congress Act to ban members of Congress and their families from owning or trading stocks and has led the call to ban members of Congress and their staff from insider trading on prediction markets. Crow is leading the fight to root out corruption in our elections, including through his End Dark Money Act and SHINE Act to crack down on dark money\u2019s influence on U.S. elections.\n\nCrow is also leading the charge against this Administration's corruption. He\u2019s demanding answers about potential corruption and favoritism with federal contracts benefiting the Trump family; uncovering conflicts of interest at the Pentagon stemming from Pete Hegseth\u2019s special adviser Tim Parlatore; and is leading a slate of historic pro-democracy reforms aimed at preventing presidential abuses of power, rooting out corruption, strengthening checks and balances, and protecting American elections against foreign influence.", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-introduces-legislation-to-innovate-care-for-military-trauma", "Crow Introduces Legislation to Innovate Care for Military Trauma", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced the Cooperative Overseas Military Battlefield Advancement in Trauma (COMBAT) Care Act to ensure our military is innovating and developing new approaches to trauma care on the battlefield.\n\nHis bipartisan bill authorizes the establishment of joint education and training programs with foreign countries to develop new techniques that can save lives on the battlefield. It will allow for groundbreaking research to be conducted alongside partners around the world who have made advancements in the space. As warfare evolves, so must the care American servicemembers receive.\n\nCrow introduced his bipartisan bill alongside Congressman Jeff Crank (R-CO). It was endorsed by the University of Colorado Anschutz.\n\n\u201cThe future of warfare is changing, as we are seeing in Ukraine right now. The United States must be ready for the new challenges we face, and ensure that our servicemembers receive world-class care when they need it most,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with the University of Colorado Anschutz to introduce legislation that will help take care of the men and women who keep our country safe.\u201d\n\n\"It is important that the advancement in education and research partnerships regarding military trauma continues to grow, so that we can take care of the men and women who serve our country. The COMBAT Care Act works to grant the Department of War and the State Department the authority to work together to study military trauma and look towards better treatment options for our service members and veterans. Pleased to work with my Colorado colleague Congressman Jason Crow to get this bill introduced,\u201d said Congressman Crank.\n\n\u201cEstablishing joint education and training programs with foreign allies is crucial to ensure our military trauma teams are best equipped to care for our warfighters,\u201d said Vik Bebarta, MD, founding director of the CU Anschutz Combat Medicine Research Center (COMBAT) and chair of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz. \u201cWe are grateful to Representatives Crow and Crank for introducing the COMBAT Care Act and their leadership in investing in our nation\u2019s military trauma care capabilities.\u201d\n\nAs a combat veteran and member of the Armed Services Committee, he has voted for pay raises for servicemembers and fought to get them other benefits that improve their quality of life, including expanding dental care to reservists and access to quality healthcare for servicemembers and their families. He\u2019s also worked to improve care for active-duty servicemembers suffering from traumatic brain injuries. Crow led the charge demanding that the Administration answer for horrible conditions reported aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Crow has also introduced legislation to prevent the Secretary of Defense from manipulating government data on troop casualties, which could impact the benefits troops and their families may receive.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1941", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, Congressman Joe Neguse Lead Bill to Permanently Fund Payments to Rural Counties with Federal Lands", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2014 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) this week introduced the Permanently Authorizing PILT Act to guarantee reliable federal payments to Colorado counties that provide essential services on and around tax-exempt federal lands. Without predictable mandatory funding, counties will never have the true assurance of the federal revenue that they receive.\n\nThe Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program provides payments to counties, including 56 in Colorado, and other local governments with non-taxable federal lands within their borders to offset lost property tax revenue. These payments are key for local governments to fund services including transportation infrastructure projects, education, law enforcement, healthcare, and emergency services. While PILT has operated under reauthorizations for previous fiscal years, this legislation would make the program a mandatory funding effort by Congress not subject to the federal appropriations process. A permanent authorization will provide certainty for counties, ensuring they can maintain their services without disruption.\n\n\u201cOur rural communities provide essential services on and around federal lands\u2014from roads and schools to emergency response\u2014and they deserve funding they can count on. These counties shouldn\u2019t have to wonder every year whether the federal government will provide needed support for these services,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with my friend, Rep. Neguse, to make PILT permanent so these counties can plan for the future and keep delivering for Coloradans.\u201d\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s 2nd District spans from the Front Range to the Western Slope, including many communities that rely on federal PILT payments for essential local services \u2014 from firefighting and search-and-rescue operations to the construction of public schools and roads. Our bill, the Permanently Authorizing PILT Act, makes this program permanent, ensuring local governments can rely on a consistent stream of federal support to keep their communities thriving,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse.\n\n\u201cMany Western Counties depend on PILT to balance our budgets. The services, (Search and Rescue, Fire, law Enforcement, Road maintenance etc.) we must provide on public land are a huge strain on our budgets,\u201d said Dwayne McFall, Fremont County Colorado Commissioner and National Association of Counties Western Interstate Region President, \u201cWithout PILT many services would have to be cut. Permanent funding of PILT would create a long-term sustainable solution for counties.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic lands may be national treasures, but their footprint is local. In Chaffee County approximately 80% of the land is federally owned and is completely exempt from local property taxes. PILT is a crucial tool of fairness and fills the structural revenue gap so our small taxpayer base isn't forced to single-handedly foot the bill for essential services, from rural road maintenance, to emergency response and public safety for millions of visitors each year. I greatly appreciate Congresswoman Pettersen\u2019s efforts in pushing to make PILT a reliable and permanent fixture in the appropriations process.\u201d said Gina Lucrezi, Chaffee County Commissioner.\n\n\u201cCounties with federal public lands are responsible for delivering essential services \u2014 from public safety and search and rescue to roads, infrastructure and wildfire mitigation \u2014 even though they cannot collect property taxes on those lands,\u201d said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. \u201cPILT helps counties offset those lost revenues and meet these responsibilities in the 62 percent of America\u2019s counties with federal lands. We applaud Representatives Pettersen and Neguse for introducing the bipartisan Permanently Authorizing PILT Act, which would give public lands counties the long-term certainty they need to plan, budget and deliver for their residents and visitors. We urge Congress to pass this critical legislation into law quickly.\u201d\n\nThe Department of Interior makes PILT payments to over 1,850 counties in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Counties have used these payments for more than 40 years to fund essential county services. In 2026, Colorado was compensated more than $53 million through the PILT program.\n\nCongresswoman Pettersen previously introduced the bipartisan Permanently Authorizing PILT Act of 2023. She has led a bipartisan letter to the Appropriations Committee requesting full and robust funding for the PILT program in every Appropriations cycle since being elected to Congress. She has advocated and secured funding for local and county governments, including for rural communities, to ensure they have the funding and support to address the needs of all residents.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/the-hill-colorado-democrat-introduces-bill-to-bolster-battlefield-trauma-care-research", "The Hill: Colorado Democrat introduces bill to bolster battlefield trauma care research", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a former Army Ranger, will introduce a bill Friday to help the U.S. military continue developing new approaches to provide service members and veterans battlefield trauma care by learning lessons from conflict overseas.\n\nCrow, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, will introduce the Cooperative Overseas Military Battlefield Advancement in Trauma (COMBAT) Care Act, which would authorize the defense secretary, in consultation with the secretary of State, to establish a joint training and education program with foreign militaries to study and learn from prior wars.\n\n\u201cThe future of warfare is changing, as we are seeing in Ukraine right now. The United States must be ready for the new challenges we face and ensure that our servicemembers receive world-class care when they need it most,\u201d Crow said in a statement.\n\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) and was endorsed by the University of Colorado Anschutz, located in Aurora.\n\nAn identical provision was included in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act.\n\nAs part of the education program, the U.S. and other countries in the program can conduct joint conferences, symposia and professional exchange programs involving medical professionals, according to a copy of the bill, which was first shared with The Hill.\n\nThe Pentagon\u2019s Joint Trauma System (JTS), which was established in 2016, looks to improve trauma readiness and outcomes through \u201cevidence-driven performance improvement.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur vision is to support the combatant commands by ensuring every service member injured in any theater of operation will be provided with the optimum chance for survival and maximum potential for functional recovery,\u201d the JTS says on its website.\n\nCrank said it is \u201cimportant\u201d that the improvements in education and research partnerships in regards to military trauma continue to improve so that the U.S. can take care of its service members.\n\n\u201cThe COMBAT Care Act works to grant the Department of War and the State Department the authority to work together to study military trauma and look towards better treatment options for our service members and veterans,\u201d Crank said in a statement, using the Trump administration preferred name for the Department of Defense.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1939", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen's Statement on Her Latest Bill Passed by Both Chambers", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cI am thrilled to see my bill, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, passed out of the Senate last night. Romance scams don\u2019t just steal people\u2019s savings\u2014they exploit their trust and leave lasting emotional damage. As more Americans turn to online dating to find meaningful relationships, scammers are increasingly using these platforms to target vulnerable people and families. If a dating platform removes someone for fraud, the people they contacted deserve to know so they can protect themselves before it\u2019s too late.\n\n\u201cIf signed into law, this will be my sixth bill enacted during this Trump Administration \u2013 proof that we can fight hard against his lawlessness, cruelty and corruption, while also working to find common ground where we can. I\u2019m proud of my record and I will keep working to deliver for the people in our district.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1940", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Leads Sanctions Effort to Reduce Fentanyl Trafficking into United States", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2014 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced the introduction of legislation that will extend critical sanctions against foreign fentanyl traffickers and strengthen the federal government\u2019s ability to disrupt the financial networks fueling the illicit opioid trade. The bipartisan Fentanyl Sanctions Reauthorization Act of 2026, which is co-led by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), reauthorizes the Fentanyl Sanctions Act, which is set to expire in December, and ensures Treasury officials can continue targeting foreign jurisdictions, financial institutions, and illicit transactions tied to fentanyl trafficking.\n\n\u201cLike far too many families, mine has been impacted by the opioid crisis. My mom struggled with a prescription drug addiction that ultimately led to heroin and fentanyl. She overdosed 20 times in one year alone before we were finally able to get her the medical care she desperately needed, but too many people are not as lucky. Fentanyl is the most potent and lethal drug on the black market, and it has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across our country. We are facing an overdose crisis that demands urgent action to stop the influx of these dangerous drugs from being trafficked to our country,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cThis bill gives the US the tools we need to disrupt the financial networks behind the illicit opioid trade and hold foreign traffickers accountable so more families don\u2019t have to go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one to an overdose.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe fentanyl crisis affects communities across the country. As a border state, Texas has seen the devastation caused by fentanyl and cartels,\u201d said Congressman Roger Williams. \u201cWe must reauthorize the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to ensure the United States has the tools it needs to crack down on the deadly drugs and crime entering our country from overseas.\u201d\n\nSynthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, were involved in nearly 48,000 American deaths in 2024, leaving families and communities grieving lives cut short. Reauthorizing the Fentanyl Sanctions Act would preserve critical tools to pursue the financial networks behind the drugs reaching Colorado and communities across the country. By restricting illicit payments and targeting institutions that facilitate trafficking, these authorities can make it harder for foreign traffickers to pay suppliers, launder profits, and finance future shipments. Renewing them would sustain financial pressure on the illicit opioid trade as part of the broader effort to prevent overdoses and save lives.\n\nFederal officials have already used these authorities to target the financial infrastructure behind the illicit opioid trade. In June 2025, the United States Treasury invoked the Fentanyl Sanctions Act and the FEND Off Fentanyl Act to prohibit certain fund transfers involving three Mexico-based financial institutions identified as being of primary money laundering concern in connection with opioid trafficking. These actions demonstrate how the authorities can restrict traffickers\u2019 ability to move money through the U.S. financial system.\n\nMotivated by her own mother\u2019s struggle with a substance use disorder, this bill is just the latest in Congresswoman Pettersen's ongoing work addressing the drug epidemic in the United States. These include measures to prevent the import of illicit drugs, and prevent overdose deaths by ensuring airplanes, law enforcement, and hospitals are able to distribute naloxone when necessary.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1937", "Congresswoman Pettersen Introduces Bill to Expand Financial Literacy Resources for High School Students", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) today announced her introduction of a bill to expand financial literacy resources for high school students. The bipartisan Promoting Financial Literacy in Secondary Schools Act, which Pettersen introduced with Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), would give high schools access to voluntary, expert-developed resources that teach students how to budget, manage credit, and avoid costly debt. According to Junior Achievement USA, in 2024, 68% of teens in Colorado want a financial literacy class, but only 31% reported having access to those resources.\n\n\u201cI know how hard it can be to navigate our financial system, especially for people like me who were the first in their family to graduate from high school and college. Too many young people enter adulthood without anyone ever teaching them how to build credit, manage a budget, or protect themselves from financial decisions that can follow them for years,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cEvery one of our students should have access to the resources they need to make informed financial decisions, regardless of their path after high school. I\u2019m so proud to join Congressman Valadao to introduce this common-sense, bipartisan bill that will help high schools better prepare our young people to achieve financial security, avoid costly mistakes, and set them up for success.\u201d\n\n\u201cFiling taxes, managing a budget, building savings, and understanding credit are all important life skills, yet too many students graduate high school without the financial knowledge they need to make informed decisions,\u201d said Congressman David Valadao.\u201cInstead of trying to navigate a complicated financial system on their own, students should have a strong foundation in financial literacy. The bipartisan Promoting Financial Literacy in Secondary School Act would give students these critical tools before they graduate and help prepare the next generation for success\u2014whether they choose to attend college, pursue a trade, or enter the workforce.\"\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would create a voluntary program for high schools and require the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) to include these schools when creating their best practices for students about budgeting, financial securities, credit, evaluating financial products, and student loan borrowing.\n\nThe FLEC is an office within the U.S. Department of the Treasury that is tasked with creating best practices for teaching financial literacy. Currently, FLEC only creates guidance for institutions of higher education. As more students continue to seek alternatives to college, they are therefore currently missing out on these foundational financial literacy programs.\n\nCongresswoman Pettersen serves on the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees agencies that deal with the banking, credit card, insurance, and housing sectors. She has consistently pushed for financial transparency for working families, and has championed legislation such as theImproving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act and the Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act as part of her broader effort to provide families and communities with the financial tools they need to succeed.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/hoodline-aurora-could-land-156m-to-fix-flood-prone-northwest-streets", "Hoodline: Aurora Could Land $15.6M to Fix Flood-Prone Northwest Streets", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Northwest Aurora\u2019s proposed flood-control work is tied to about $15.6 million in federal support under the Water Resources Development Act. The House passed the measure Tuesday by a 415-9 vote, but it still needs Senate approval. Even if approved, the authorization alone would not provide all the funding needed for construction.\n\nA Long-Awaited Fix for Chronic Street Flooding\n\nThe bill, as reported by Sentinel Colorado, sets aside funding for Aurora to construct new storm sewers and expand the city's stormwater capacity, with planned improvements expected to help prevent flooding on East 11th Avenue, Alton Street and East 14th Avenue in northwest Aurora. Among the specific projects called out is a new storm sewer at the intersection of East 14th Avenue and Yosemite Street, an area residents have watched flood repeatedly.\n\nRep. Jason Crow advocated for the Aurora funding, according to the same report. He said the investment would address aging sewer infrastructure and flood-related safety problems, while helping the city respond to climate change. Crow also said he would continue seeking federal resources for Colorado communities.\n\nWhat Else Is Riding on the Bill\n\nAurora is one part of a broader water-resources package. The legislation dedicates $150 million to protect rural water infrastructure nationwide, a provision noted in the article and by CPR. It also includes funding for several Colorado projects, and Colorado\u2019s House members voted for the measure.\n\nSeparately, Crow has introduced the Protect the West Act, which would invest in wildfire mitigation, and sponsors the bipartisan Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience Act, which would let states establish and maintain resiliency offices to address climate-change effects. Neither measure was part of Tuesday\u2019s House vote.\n\nNext Stop: The Senate\n\nFor now, the Water Resources Development Act awaits approval from the Senate, and the article notes the National Association of Counties reported on both the House passage and the bill's pending Senate status. Whether Aurora's flood-prone streets get their new storm sewers ultimately hinges on what happens next in that chamber.\n\nAuthorization Is Not the Final Funding Step\n\nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers guidance explains that authorization alone is not enough for a project to proceed; congressional appropriations are also required. So even after Senate approval, Aurora would still need appropriated funding for the construction work to move forward, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-passes-funding-authorization-to-upgrade-water-infrastructure-in-aurora", "Crow Passes Funding Authorization to Upgrade Water Infrastructure in Aurora", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) recently voted and secured authorization for millions of dollars in federal funding to improve water infrastructure and help prevent flooding in Colorado.\n\nThe House of Representatives recently passed the Water Resources Development Act. Included in the bill was authorization for $15.6 million championed by Congressman Crow for the construction of a new storm sewer line and additional stormwater inlets around 14th Avenue and Yosemite Street in Aurora to better capture stormwater during large downpours, helping to prevent flooding on at least three roads in the city\u201411th Avenue, Alton Street, and 14th Avenue. During storms, excess flooding in these areas can damage property and make roads impassable, creating hazards for drivers and first responders. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate.\n\n\u201cI am proud to secure federal funding to help improve water infrastructure, prevent flooding, and address the impact of climate change in Colorado,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cIn Aurora and many other communities, old sewers cause frequent street flooding and unsafe conditions. In Congress, I will continue to bring home critical funds to better Colorado and our communities.\u201d\n\nCrow has also helped prepare Colorado against the impacts of climate change. He introduced the Protect the West Act with Senator Bennet to make critical investments that would mitigate intensifying wildfires, and he is leading the bipartisan Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act to empower states nationwide to establish and maintain resiliency offices to combat the worst effects of climate change.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-bilirakis-announce-new-diabetes-caucus-co-chair-120th-congress", "DeGette, Bilirakis Announce New Diabetes Caucus Co-Chair for 120th Congress", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representatives Diana DeGette(CO-01) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, announced that Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) will serve as the new Democratic Co-Chair of the Caucus in the 120th Congress. Co-Chair-Designate Schrier will join Co-Chair Bilirakis in leading the 246-member Diabetes Caucus, one of the largest and most influential bipartisan member organizations in the United States Congress.\n\n\u201cI am proud to announce my friend, Rep. Kim Schrier, as the incoming Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus,\u201d said Rep. DeGette. \u201cDiabetes impacts millions of Americans across every district in this country, crossing all political lines. Those who live with diabetes in this nation need strong advocates on their behalf in the years to come. Rep. Schrier brings her expertise as a pediatrician and as someone with direct personal experience with diabetes to her work every day. She is a tough, practical legislator and will drive bipartisan work to expand access to life-saving treatments, bring down insulin costs, and fund the biomedical research that will ultimately lead to a cure.\u201d\n\n\u201cDiana is a dear friend and one of the fiercest advocates I have ever had the privilege of working alongside,\u201d said Rep. Bilirakis. \u201cFor years, we have put politics aside and worked together toward a shared goal: improving the lives of Americans living with diabetes and, ultimately, finding a cure. Her leadership, tenacity and compassion have helped drive tremendous progress in diabetes research, treatment and prevention. I am deeply grateful for her friendship and partnership, and for the lasting legacy she has built through her leadership of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. I am also pleased that Dr. Kim Schrier will join me in leading the Caucus in the 120th Congress, should voters place their continued trust in us to serve. As a pediatrician who also lives with Type 1 diabetes, she brings firsthand experience to the issues facing patients and families. I look forward to continuing the Caucus\u2019s bipartisan work to improve diabetes care, lower costs, advance lifesaving research and pursue our ultimate goal of finding a cure.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a doctor with Type 1 diabetes, it is a priority of mine in Congress to help patients with diabetes manage their condition and afford their medications,\u201d said Rep. Schrier. \u201cI am extremely excited to co-chair the Congressional Diabetes Caucus alongside Congressman Bilirakis. Congresswoman DeGette has championed the Diabetes Caucus for over twenty years, and I am honored to continue her work to bolster diabetes research, lower costs for patients, and ensure quality care for all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Diabetes Association is thrilled that Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D., will be the next co-chair of the Diabetes Caucus, said American Diabetes Association Chief Advocacy Officer Lisa Murdock. \u201cCongresswoman Schrier has demonstrated her leadership on behalf of those with diabetes, including commitment to ensuring access to medicines and technology. Her experience living with diabetes and as a pediatrician enable her to have valuable insight into the needs of the diabetes community and the policies necessary to support them. We look forward to working in partnership with Congresswoman Schrier as she takes on this new role. As we welcome Congresswoman Schrier, we want to express our gratitude to Congresswoman Diana DeGette for her leadership of the Diabetes Caucus who has tirelessly advocated for legislation to improve diabetes research, education, and treatment, as well as contributed to efforts that resulted in growing the Diabetes Caucus into the largest caucus in Congress. Her many years of service to those living with diabetes cannot be overstated.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) are thrilled that Congresswoman Kim Schrier is becoming a House Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus,\u201d said George Huntley, CEO of the Diabetes Leadership Council & Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. \u201cThis is a natural extension of the critical work she is doing on behalf of the diabetes community, including introducing the bipartisan INSULIN Act to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Congresswoman Schrier in her new role. We also want to thank Congresswoman Diana DeGette for her many years of service leading the Caucus and for all that she has done for people with diabetes.\u201d\n\n\u201cRep. Kim Schrier's leadership, clinical perspective and personal experience will be a tremendous asset to the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. The Endocrine Society is grateful to Rep. Diana DeGette for her tireless efforts to elevate diabetes as a national priority and improve care for people living with the disease,\u201d said Endocrine Society President Nanette Santoro, MD, E. Stewart Taylor Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado. \u201cDiabetes affects tens of millions of Americans and places an enormous burden on individuals, families, and our healthcare system. As an organization dedicated to improving hormone health, the Endocrine Society prioritizes diabetes prevention, treatment and research, and we look forward to partnering with Reps. Schrier and Bilirakis to advance policies that help people living with diabetes.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt has been an honor to work with Congresswoman DeGette,\u201d said Breakthrough T1D Chief Global Advocacy Officer Lynn Starr. \u201cHer legacy for the T1D community is unparalleled. From the Special Diabetes Program to the 21st Century Cures Act, stem cell research, and the INSULIN Act, her vision and determination have saved lives, transformed care, and significantly advanced the pursuit of cures. She has truly been a steadfast champion for everyone affected by T1D, and even now in her final months in Congress, she is working tirelessly to accomplish as much as possible for the community she has served for so long. She is an inspiration, and we will deeply miss her and her powerful voice in Congress. Congresswoman Schrier is a worthy successor who has her own legacy as a leader for the T1D community on Capitol Hill. As a pediatrician and the only sitting member of Congress living with type 1 diabetes herself, she understands the stakes and the day-to-day realities of managing this disease. She knows firsthand the needs of the community. We are grateful to her for taking on this new role and responsibility and look forward to working alongside her and her fellow caucus members to accelerate cures and improve the lives of all those affected by T1D.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe mission of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus is to educate members of Congress and their staff about diabetes and support legislative activities that improve diabetes research, education and treatment. Since Rep. DeGette assumed leadership as Co-Chair in 1999, the Diabetes Caucus has been the driving force behind some of the most significant advancements in diabetes care, prevention, and research in modern history. Over the last two and a half decades, her leadership has yielded bipartisan achievements, including:\n\n\u00b7 Historic Funding Increases for Dedicated Programs: Led the successful, multi-year push to increase funding for the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes (SDP) and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) from $30 million a year to $200 million a year.\n\n\u00b7 Significant Investments in National Research: Championed the expansion of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) budget, increasing its appropriations from under $1 billion to over $2.3 billion to accelerate the search for a cure.\n\n\u00b7 Expanded Access to Lifesaving Technology: Successfully pushed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve coverage and access for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), revolutionizing daily care for seniors with diabetes.\n\n\u00b7 Groundbreaking Prevention Initiatives: Led the effort to establish the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) and successfully put the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program into statute, focusing federal efforts on stopping the disease before it starts.\n\n\u00b7 Tackling the Root Causes of High Insulin Costs: Spearheaded some of the earliest Congressional investigations into how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) drive up the cost of insulin. These early efforts laid the crucial groundwork for major PBM reforms and advanced policies to make it easier to bring lower-cost biosimilar insulins to the market.\n\nAs the Caucus enters this new chapter, its leadership will remain committed to passing legislation that improves the lives of the over 40 million Americans living with diabetes and over 115 million living with prediabetes.\n\nFor more information on the Congressional Diabetes Caucus and its ongoing initiatives, please visit diabetescaucus-degette.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-introduces-bill-to-stop-trump-and-hegseth-from-hiding-the-human-toll-of-their-war-with-iran", "Crow Introduces Bill to Stop Trump and Hegseth from Hiding the Human Toll of Their War with Iran", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced the Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act to prevent the Secretary of Defense from manipulating government data on troop casualties and therefore hiding the human cost of war.\n\nSecretary Pete Hegseth recently recategorized the death of four servicemembers and the injuries of more than 200 others in an attempt to downplay the damage done by the President\u2019s reckless war with Iran. Not only does his move shamelessly disrespect these servicemembers\u2019 service to our country, but it could also impact the benefits they and their families receive. The Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act prevents the Pentagon from hiding the human cost of this war going forward, fixes the records they\u2019ve already changed, and restores any benefits stripped from troops and their families as a result.\n\nJoining Congressman Crow on this bill are Representatives and fellow Democratic veterans Pat Ryan (D-NY), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Ted Lieu (CA-36), and Salud Carbajal (CA-24).\n\n\u201cThe men and women who step up to serve and defend our country deserve respect, and their families deserve to know they\u2019ll get the full benefits earned in service. It\u2019s wrong for Pete Hegseth to play politics with their service so he can hide the human toll of Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cThis Administration has proven time and again that they don\u2019t care about our servicemembers or our military families.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Patriot deployed to this war in Iran \u2013 the 50,000 still in theater, the hundreds wounded, and especially the 18 killed \u2013 are American heroes. They deserve to be honored as such \u2013 not swept under the rug by a President and SecDef so humiliated by their failure that they\u2019d rather dishonor the troops than tell the truth,\u201d said Congressman Ryan. \u201cIt\u2019s a total betrayal of our armed forces by the very people that swore to protect and do right by them. I\u2019m proud to lead so many of my fellow veterans in Congress to make it clear we will not stand for the Trump Administration\u2019s disgraceful disrespect of American heroes \u2013 before, during, or after their deployments.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by VoteVets and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).\n\nCrow has repeatedly condemned Trump\u2019s illegal war of choice with Iran. He successfully forced congressional votes on two of his War Powers Resolutions to rein this war in, both of which passed the House on a bipartisan basis. Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war, and he has demanded that the Trump Administration reveal the full, true cost of this war on the American people. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1932", "Congresswomen Pettersen, Sewell, & Underwood Demand Trump Administration Reinstate Wrongfully Cancelled Minority Health Grants", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswomen Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), led 35 of their colleagues in demanding the Trump administration immediately reinstate more than 16 minority and maternal health grants totaling $38 million that were canceled following a \u201cshift in administration priorities.\u201d These grant cancellations would affect programs meant to address that and other socioeconomic health disparities, including vital maternal and infant health outcomes, health care access in rural communities, treatment and prevention strategies for substance use disorder, and food insecurity for underserved communities. These cancellations come as data report that Black women continue to face a maternal mortality rate nearly 3.5 times that of white women.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration just canceled 16 grants for essential funding used to support moms during pregnancy, babies when they are most vulnerable, and treatment programs for mothers who are struggling with addiction,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cI\u2019m absolutely heartbroken to think of the Coloradans who will be left behind and the impact on our most vulnerable kids. And to top it off, they are using this money to instead support things like treatment for erectile dysfunction in the name of family values. Absolutely reprehensible.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the administration has directed the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Office of Minority Health (OMH) to redirect funding historically used to support maternal health toward what it describes as the \u201croot causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions,\u201d including low sperm count, reduced sperm motility, low testosterone, and erectile dysfunction, impounding funds specifically meant to support minority communities.\n\nIn the letter, the Members wrote: \u201cOMH was established to confront and eliminate health disparities nationwide, by elevating community partnerships and establishing programs to support health outcomes across U.S. minority populations. That mission remains urgent. It is alarming that, instead of addressing the continued need for services that make a life-and-death difference in American communities, your office will redirect this funding to prioritize only \u201caddressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions and promoting physical activity.\u201d This shift overlooks the continued, critical need for comprehensive health equity programs that directly support the communities OMH was created to serve.\n\nThe Members continued: \u201cOMH plays a critical role in providing national leadership, engaging community partners, and deploying resources to eliminate health disparities across this nation. This mission has historically supported a broad range of services that have filled critical care voids across our communities. The reprioritization of discretionary funding is not only incredibly concerning, but demonstrates a stark break from the comprehensive programs and services that these grants have previously supported.\u201d\n\nThe grants canceled by the Administration threaten to disrupt long-standing infrastructure that employs community health workers, collects data, maintains relationships with patients and communities, and provides reliable health and nutrition services that residents depend on. Abruptly terminating these investments will not only interrupt essential care but also erase years of progress toward reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for mothers, infants, and underserved communities. Moreover, the recipients of these grants had already been awarded funding appropriated by Congress, with some being two years into a four year grant period, raising serious concerns about the Administration\u2019s authority to abruptly terminate funds that have already been earmarked.\n\nThe signers of the letter include: Rep. Sewell (D-AL), Rep. Underwood (D-IL), Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ), Del. Holmes-Norton (D-D.C.), Rep. Ivey (D-MD), Rep. Kelly (D-IL), Rep. H. Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Espaillat (D-NY), Rep. Matsui (D-CA), Rep. Bell (D-MO), Rep. Watson-Coleman (D-NJ), Rep. Salinas (D-OR), Rep. Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Rep. Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Thanedar (D-MI), Rep. Crockett (D-TX), Rep. Carter (D-LA), Rep. Beatty (D-OH), Rep. McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Jackson (D-IL), Rep. Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA), Rep. Chu (D-CA), Rep. Brown (D-OH), Rep. Lee (D-PA), Rep. Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Jacobs (D-CA), Rep. McClain-Delaney (D-MD), Rep. Stansbury (D-NM), Rep. Vargas (D-CA), Rep. Torres (D-NY), Rep. Randall (D-WA), Rep. McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Rep. Tonko (D-NY), Rep. Simon (D-CA)\n\nSee the full text of the letter HERE and below.\n\nDear Captain Mofidi:\n\nWe write to express our deep concern regarding the termination of 16 grants administered by the Office of Minority Health (OMH).1 On August 25th, 2026, grantees \u2014 with services supporting advancing vital maternal and health outcomes, promoting health care access in rural communities, supporting treatment and prevention strategies for substance use disorder, and reducing food insecurity \u2014 received notice from OMH that federal awards were to be terminated, effective immediately, pursuant to 2 C.F.R. \u00a7 200.340(a)(4). Historically, grants under OMH have significantly reduced health disparities by targeting areas with an existing, but unmet need. The termination of these grants not only threatens the health outcomes of communities nationwide, but will destabilize the services that American families rely on today, at the intersection of rising costs and continued attacks on health care.\n\nWe are also deeply concerned about OMH stated intentions to redirect attention towards discretionary funding priorities. In a note to grantees, OMH noted that funding would now prioritize, \u201c...(1) reducing overmedicalization in health care by addressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions, such as\u2026low sperm count, low sperm mobility, low testosterone levels, and erectile dysfunction.\u201d OMH was established to confront and eliminate health disparities nationwide, by elevating community partnerships and establishing programs to support health outcomes across U.S. minority populations. That mission remains urgent. It is alarming that, instead of addressing the continued need for services that make a life-and-death difference in American communities, your office will redirect this funding to prioritize only \u201caddressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions and promoting physical activity.\u201d This shift overlooks the continued, critical need for comprehensive health equity programs that directly support the communities OMH was created to serve.\n\nThis redirection of funding is a severe disservice to existing grants that have consistently delivered measurable results. If OMH\u2019s priority is to support growing families, all while addressing existing health disparities, then your office must uphold the responsibility of continuing to fund the entities that implement strategies proven to narrow health disparities and improve outcomes across this country.\n\nWe ask that OMH immediately reinstate the grant funding for these 16 entities. We additionally request the answers to the following questions no later than October 2, 2026.\n\nPlease provide a detailed analysis of every grant that was terminated across the Office of Minority Health. Please include information regarding how this decision was made, include the names of any officials that played a role in termination decisions, and the total amount of unexpended funds for each grant.\n\nPlease provide a detailed description that outlines any known violations, underutilization metrics, or program failures, that would require OMH to redirect funds away from active and ongoing grants that facilitate programs with demonstrated outcomes.\n\nPlease provide detailed information regarding existing opportunities for grantees to submit an appeal. Please include:\n\na. OMH\u2019s deadline for appeal submissions;\n\nb. Any supplementary materials that OMH directly requested;\n\nc. How OMH will review the appeals, including any provided documentation; and\n\nd. When corresponding decisions will be communicated to grantees.\n\nPlease provide any questions or feedback that OMH has received from any entity that received a termination notice. Please include detailed information regarding OMH\u2019s response and support they have offered these stakeholders.\n\nOMH plays a critical role in providing national leadership, engaging community partners, and deploying resources to eliminate health disparities across this nation. This mission has historically supported a broad range of services that have filled critical care voids across our communities. The reprioritization of discretionary funding is not only incredibly concerning, but demonstrates a stark break from the comprehensive programs and services that these grants have previously supported. We urge OMH to reinstate this funding immediately to mitigate any severe consequences to the health of our communities. We appreciate your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-outlines-vision-for-the-future-of-us-national-security-ending-forever-wars", "Crow Outlines Vision for the Future of U.S. National Security, Ending Forever Wars", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, gave keynote remarks at both New America and the Center for American Progress, where he discussed the decades of conflict in the Middle East and how the lessons he learned during his three combat tours shape his work in Congress, including his opposition to President Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran.\n\nAt New America & Arizona State University\u2019s \u201cFuture Security Forum,\u201d Crow was in conversation with Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and New America\u2019s Anne-Marie Slaughter. At the Center for American Progress\u2019 \u201cReforming National Security for the Future\u201d conference, he spoke alongside Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).\n\n\u201cSome of our best foreign foreign policy successes in our history are as much stories of restraint as they are of action,\u201d said Congressman Crow in his remarks at the Center for American Progress. \u201cIt's not inevitable, in my view, that we have to be in an endless cycle of conflict.\u201d\n\nImage\n\n\u201cThink about what the world may have looked like had we chosen a law-enforcement based response to 9/11 as opposed to an exclusively militarized response to 9/11\u2026[If] we had built coalitions, we had collaborated with international law enforcement operations, we had used precise special operations to go after our adversaries, to go after terrorists, and we had built a network to go after terrorism long-term, instead of going in and occupying Afghanistan and then going to Iraq. Well, we would\u2019ve saved trillions of dollars, we would\u2019ve saved tens of thousands of lives, both our lives and the lives of others around the world, we would\u2019ve preserved that goodwill, and it would\u2019ve led to a drastically different response,\u201d said Congressman Crow in his remarks at New America\u2019s Future Security Forum.\n\nImage\n\nThis week, the House passed Congressman Crow\u2019s War Powers Resolution to end Trump\u2019s war with Iran. It passed the House with bipartisan support. At a press conference and floor debate before the vote, Crow spoke about the cost of forever wars like Trump\u2019s conflict with Iran on working class Americans.\n\nCongressman Crow continues to lay out his affirmative vision for Colorado and the country, including on the Future of American Foreign Policy. He is looking to build a future that brings Americans together, protects our democracy, and ensures leaders are accountable to working class Americans\u2014his vision for New American Patriotism.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-neguse-bacon-introduce-bipartisan-safe-spaces-all-act", "Reps. Neguse, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Safe Spaces for All Act", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Nebraskan Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) teamed up to introduce the Safe Spaces for All Act, a bipartisan bill that provides at-risk places of worship and community centers with critical resources to bolster their security. The lawmakers spearheaded this effort amid a heightened risk of attack for worshipers across the country and after a series of high-profile attacks at synagogues, churches, and other gathering sites have intensified anxiety and fear among Americans of all religions.\n\nRep. Neguse, who proudly represents Boulder County in the House of Representatives, witnessed firsthand the devastation that comes with faith-based violence and the scourge of antisemitism last summer when a terrorist hurled Molotov cocktails at a group of Jewish members of the community that were taking part in a peaceful walk and vigil calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, killing one individual and severely injuring more than a dozen others.\n\nNeguse has led multiple efforts to combat the antisemitism that is metastasizing across the country, including working across party lines to secure overwhelming passage of a resolution reaffirming Congress\u2019s commitment to stopping antisemitism in all forms.\n\n\u201cWe must do far more to combat the scourge of antisemitism, and to ensure that synagogues, temples and community centers have the resources to ensure that they are safe as hateful threats and violent actions metastasize in Colorado and across the country,\u201d said Congressman Neguse. \u201cThe Safe Spaces for All Act bolsters security for our communities, and ensures that under these incredibly trying circumstances, members of the community can feel protected and supported.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Representative Neguse in introducing the Safe Spaces for All Act, because every nonprofit, especially faith-based and community organizations, deserves to safely serve their communities. This bipartisan bill strengthens the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) by allowing grants to cover on-site security staff, including off-duty law enforcement, and support for navigating the grant process itself. As threats increasingly target our vital civic and religious institutions, this straightforward, pragmatic measure ensures we\u2019re providing the tools needed to keep Americans safe\u2014without creating a new bureaucracy,\u201d said Congressman Bacon.\n\nThe Safe Spaces for All Act expands the capabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), allowing grant funds to be used to hire permanent salaried onsite security guards, employ personnel to both apply for and administer NSGP grants, and hire off-duty law enforcement officers to provide security. Under current law, NSGP funds cannot be used to pay permanent salaried security personnel or cover the cost of staff responsible for preparing grant applications.\n\nThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program is especially important for faith-based organizations facing a troubling rise in threats, prejudice, and acts of violence. In addition to strengthening security, this bill will help organizations in rural and remote communities where it can be logistically challenging to find enough qualified private security vendors to meet their security needs.\n\nThe Safe Spaces for All Act is supported by JEWISHcolorado, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the Jewish Federations of North America.\n\n\u201cSecurity is not one-size-fits-all. For many houses of worship, community centers, and other nonprofits \u2013 trained personnel and the capacity to manage security funding are just as critical as the cameras, barriers, and other physical improvements. The Safe Space for All Act would provide institutions the flexibility to use NSGP funding where it can have the greatest impact - making the program more accessible, responsive, and effective. JEWISHcolorado and the Jewish Community Relations Council thank Congressmen Neguse & Bacon for their continued leadership in strengthening this vital program and helping communities gather, worship, learn, and serve safely,\u201d stated the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of JEWISHcolorado.\n\n\u201cWalk into most American synagogues today, and the first person you meet isn't a rabbi, it's a security guard. That is the reality of Jewish life in America. Cameras, reinforced doors and metal detectors are essential, but with threats continuing to evolve and escalate, so must our defenses,\u201d said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. \u201cThe Safe Spaces for All Act meets that reality head-on by modernizing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program so at-risk organizations can protect the people they serve. We commend Reps. Neguse and Bacon for their bipartisan leadership on this important legislation, and we urge Congress to act swiftly.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt-risk community institutions face persistent security threats and require flexible, practical tools to keep communities safe. This act clarifies eligible uses under the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, ensuring organizations can use these resources to address their evolving security needs. We are thankful this bill takes the steps to codify these necessary improvements,\u201d said the Honorable Eric D. Fingerhut, President & Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Federations of North America.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-introduces-bill-mandating-all-representatives-senators-hold-monthly", "Rep. Neguse Introduces Bill Mandating All Representatives & Senators Hold Monthly, Public Town Halls", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse introduced the Town Halls for All Act, a bill to ensure Members of Congress are staying connected to the communities they serve. Neguse himself has made hosting in-person, public town halls a priority for his office since first being elected to represent Colorado\u2019s 2nd District in Congress. During his time in public office he\u2019s hosted over 100 public town halls, 28 of which have fallen within the current legislature \u2014 a grand total that surpasses every member of Colorado\u2019s congressional delegation combined.\n\nAs fewer elected officials from both sides of the aisle hold in-person town halls \u2014 opting for virtual gatherings or avoiding community conversations altogether \u2014 Neguse\u2019s legislation would require all Members of both the House and Senate to hold at least 12 public town halls within their congressional district every calendar year. The bill also provides admittance, accessibility, and awareness guidelines to ensure that every individual interested in attending one of these meetings has the opportunity to do so.\n\n\u201cWhen you represent one of the largest congressional districts in the country \u2014 bigger than eight states and spanning 12,000 square miles \u2014 you understand how vital it is to spend time meeting directly with your constituents. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve hosted over 100 town-halls since first being elected, in rural, suburban and urban towns and communities across Western and Northern Colorado \u2014 to better understand their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. It is time for all public officials to do the same, which is why I\u2019ve introduced the Town Halls for All Act, which creates a gold standard for constituent access, and requires all Representatives and Senators to host at least 12 public town halls a year and ensures that the public officials Americans elected are responsive to the needs of their constituents,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse.\n\nClick HERE to read the bill text.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by Indivisible, an organization working to connect Americans with opportunities to attend town hall meetings in congressional districts across the country.\n\n\u201cIn a democracy that works, elected officials should be accountable to the people they represent \u2014 and that means showing up, listening to constituents, and answering for their actions. Town halls are a crucial way for voters to engage directly with the people elected to serve them, and the Town Halls for All Act would make that kind of direct accountability the norm, not the exception,\u201d said Andrew O\u2019Neill, National Advocacy Director of Indivisible.\n\nBackground\n\nAt 42-years-old, Congressman Joe Neguse is the youngest Democrat in his state\u2019s federal delegation, and as such he\u2019s been working to rally a coalition of next-generation lawmakers in an effort to put power back in the hands of the American people. In addition to the newly introduced Town Halls for All Act, his efforts include introducing a measure to overturn the disastrous Citizens Uniteddecision, preventing unrestrained spending and dark money in elections; championing multiple proposals to ban Members of Congress from trading stocks, including co-leading the bipartisan consensus Restore Trust in Congress Act; and spearheading the End Corruption Now legislative agenda, seven bills that effectively stop the selling of access and influence in our nation\u2019s capital.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-the-passage-of-his-war-powers-resolution", "Crow Statement on the Passage of His War Powers Resolution", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement following the U.S. House of Representatives passing his War Powers Resolution to end Donald Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran:\n\n\u201cSix months into a war that Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, and JD Vance said would last six weeks, there\u2019s no end in sight.\n\n\u201c18 servicemembers are dead, hundreds more are wounded, and taxpayers have spent billions of dollars on a war that has raised prices and not made them any safer.\n\n\u201cTrump campaigned on ending conflicts abroad. As President, he did the opposite, starting a new forever war in the Middle East.\n\n\u201cConstant war and constant conflict is neither inevitable nor necessary. The American people are over it. They want their taxpayer dollars going toward cheaper healthcare and better schools at home, not forever wars abroad.\n\n\u201cWe must end this war. I won\u2019t stop fighting for accountability and for Congress to rein in this President and his failed military adventurism.\u201d\n\nAt a press conference and floor debate before the vote on his War Powers Resolution, Crow spoke about the cost of forever wars like Trump\u2019s conflict with Iran on working class Americans.\n\nThis is the second time Crow has forced a vote on a War Powers Resolution. In July, the U.S. House of Representativespassed Crow\u2019s bipartisan resolution to disapprove of President Trump\u2019s war with Iran. Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war, and he recently demanded that the Trump Administration reveal the full, true cost of this war on the American people. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-urges-congress-to-support-his-war-powers-resolution-end-trump-s-reckless-war-with-iran", "Crow Urges Congress to Support His War Powers Resolution, End Trump's Reckless War with Iran", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, urged Congress to pass his War Powers Resolution reining in Donald Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran, which will be voted on Tuesday evening by the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nWatch Congressman Crow\u2019s remarks at the U.S. Capitol below:\n\n\u201cThank you, Representative Jayapal, Representative Deluzio, and our friends with the Committee on National Legislation, Concerned Veterans for America, Common Defense, and Win Without War. You all are our voice and our supporters as we take this issue over and over to Americans who know, who know very clearly, that constant war and constant conflict is neither inevitable nor necessary.\n\n\u201cWhat I learned years ago when I went to Iraq and Afghanistan, is that when there's saber rattling and people pound the war drums in Washington, D.C., and they talk tough here or at the White House, it's almost never them, or their kids, or their grandkids that have to jump into a plane, or a tank, or a helicopter, or pick up a rifle and do the tough work. It's working class kids around this country, like me and the kids that I grew up with that have to do the tough stuff.\n\n\u201cBecause you see what happens when Congress gives a blank check in the form of a limitless [Authorization of Military Force] AUMF that never expires, is president after president then goes to cash that check. But they're not the ones that have to honor it. It's working class folks that have to honor it. They do the fighting, they do the dying, and they pay for it. Because working class people are apparently the only ones that are paying their taxes, not Donald Trump and his cronies, we know they're not paying their taxes. They're not doing anything to fund this.\n\n\u201cSo yeah, we're mad. Americans are mad, and they should be. After 25 years, three trillion dollars, over seven thousand American servicemembers dead, hundreds of thousands of others died throughout the world, and look what's happened. Our infrastructure has fallen apart, our schools don't have enough money, our teachers aren't getting paid, people are losing their healthcare, farms are going under, and yet, Donald Trump and the war profiteers continue to cash in year after year.\n\n\u201cWell, we have had enough. We're pushing to repeal these AUMFs. Replace them with sunsets, narrow them, reform the War Powers. And until we can do that, we're going to push for vote, after vote, after vote. And we're not going to stop because Americans\u2014Republicans and Democrats alike, by the way\u2014this is one of the most bipartisan issues in America\u2014Republicans and Democrats alike have had enough. And we're going to push for votes so that they know, just like we're going to do today, they know where their Representative stands.\n\n\u201cAre people willing to continue to send your sons and daughters into another endless quagmire in the Middle East? Or are we going to bring our kids home and start rebuilding America? That's what this is about. I'm proud to stand with you today. We're going to call it like we see it, and we're never going to stop.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/assistant-leader-neguse-chair-litigation-task-force-leads-150-current-and", "Assistant Leader Neguse, Chair of Litigation Task Force, Leads 150+ Current and Former House Democrats & Republicans in Urging Supreme Court to Block Trump DHS Voter Purge Database", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 For the second time in two weeks, current and former Members of the House of Representatives are challenging the Trump administration\u2019s ongoing attempt to unconstitutionally exercise control over election administration and create chaos in the upcoming midterm elections. Today\u2019s action follows the Litigation Task Force\u2019s successful advocacy before the Supreme Court and the denial of Donald Trump\u2019s attempts to restrict mail-in ballots.\n\n154 current and former Members from the House of Representatives, Democratic and Republican, filed an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to halt the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to build and make available a massive illegal database containing the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans. The expanded system, which links information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration, unlawfully puts Americans\u2019 most sensitive personal information at risk while relying on questionable data that federal agents have raised concerns may be inaccurate. Those errors could result in eligible U.S. citizens being improperly flagged and removed from voter rolls, potentially denying an untold number of Americans their constitutional right to vote.\n\nThe coalition filed its amicus brief in League of Women Voters v. Department of Homeland Security, arguing that the administration\u2019s efforts to create and use this database violate the law on two main grounds. First, the database violates the Privacy Act, enacted by Congress in the 1970s in part to prevent the creation of a \u201ccentralized Federal information system\u201d that would consolidate Americans\u2019 sensitive information stored across federal agencies. And second, Congress has repeatedly declined to authorize the creation of state-by-state citizenship lists, most recently by failing to advance the SAVE Act and SAVE America Act, and so the Trump Administration is unconstitutionally violating the separation of powers by attempting to achieve through lawless executive action what it failed to achieve through legislation.\n\nClick HERE to read the brief in its entirety.\n\nThe bipartisan group is led by Assistant House Minority Leader Joe Neguse, who leads the House Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force; Task Force Co-Chairs Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin; as well as House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle, and Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson.\n\nThe Republican lawmakers that joined this court filing include former Representatives Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (2005-2017), Barbara Comstock (2015-2019), Mickey Edwards (1977-1993), James C. Greenwood (1993-2005), Steve Gunderson (1981-1997), John LeBoutillier (1981-1983), Susan Molinari (1990-1997), Claudine Schneider (1981-1991), Peter Smith (1989-1991), and David Trott (2015-2019).\n\nKeep scrolling to see what the leading lawmakers had to say about the matter:\n\n\u201cHouse Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force will continue to vindicate our constitution and fight back against Donald Trump efforts to disenfranchise American citizens,\u201d said House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse. \u201cThe president\u2019s plan to create federal lists that dictate who can and cannot vote in elections is not only violative of laws enacted by Congress but also relies on questionable data Homeland Security agents themselves have said will result in an untold number of lawful citizens losing their right to vote. It is an attempt to sow chaos ahead of the 2026 midterms and must be struck down by the Supreme Court \u2014 immediately.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s asking the courts to let his Administration create the very federal database Congress repeatedly declined to authorize: a comprehensive Orwellian system that collects and shares Americans\u2019 most sensitive personal information while creating the risk of wrongly purging eligible voters from the rolls. I\u2019m proud to stand strong with my colleagues urging the Supreme Court to protect individual Americans\u2019 privacy and voting rights\u2014and the integrity of our free and fair elections\u2014from this outrageous and illegal power grab,\u201d said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration is trying to create a massive database of Americans\u2019 sensitive personal information that could disenfranchise voters across the country. This system relies on incomplete data that directly targets the right to privacy and the right to vote. We are urging the Supreme Court to stop this immediately and protect Americans\u2019 right to vote,\u201d said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.\n\n\u201cNo matter how hard he tries, Donald Trump will never succeed in taking over our elections,\u201d said Leader Jeffries. \u201cI am grateful to Reps. Neguse, Garcia, Raskin, Morelle and Bennie Thompson and the Litigation Task Force for leading House Democrats in this latest effort to stand up to Donald Trump\u2019s ongoing unlawful and unconstitutional effort to sow chaos ahead of the midterms, deny eligible Americans the right to vote and exert undue federal control over our elections.\u201d\n\n\u201cDemocrats and Republicans agree - this Administration cannot ignore Congress. Once again, Trump is mounting a wildly illegal attack on our elections. Presidents do not control our elections. The American people do,\" said Ranking Member Joe Morelle.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a reason our Constitution gives states and Congress the power to manage our elections: to stop despots like Donald Trump,\u201d added Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson. \u201cThe Supreme Court must stop Trump\u2019s illegal actions to create error-ridden citizen databases to disenfranchise voters and rig our elections.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe Litigation Task Force launched in the first month that followed President Donald Trump\u2019s chaotic return to office. We immediately set out to push back against an administration showing no respect for the Constitution or rule of law\u2014and haven\u2019t stopped since.\n\nI the fight to protect American election security: last Tuesday, the Task Force urged the Supreme Court to block Trump\u2019s Executive Order seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. As noted above, less than a week later, the Court agreed and barred the USPS from putting the challenged mail-ballot requirements into effect for the 2026 midterm election.\n\nFor more information on the Litigation Task Force\u2019s efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1928", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Joins Effort Calling Out Trump\u2019s Attempt to Dismantle Head Start", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), today joined fellow members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus in calling out the Trump Administration\u2019s latest effort to dismantle Head Start, a critical program that provides early education, health services, and other support to children and families across the country. In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the lawmakers push back on the administration\u2019s proposed rule that would roll back longstanding health, safety, staffing, and educational standards, putting the quality and reliability of Head Start services at risk for families who depend on them.\n\n\u201cHead Start ensures our most vulnerable kids have access to the care, nutrition, and health services they need in those early years. I am proud to be a voice for the parents, like me, who are enraged by the anti-family, backward agenda of this administration,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \"I will fight every effort by Trump to dismantle this program and work to protect Colorado families and kids across the country.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the Members write,\u201cin strong opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) proposed rule Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs.\u201d They continue, \u201cthis proposed rule guts an essential early childhood program and its services for hundreds of thousands of women and families nationwide, which would increase their costs and burden to replace those services. In today\u2019s environment of rising costs, it is cruel to make life more difficult and expensive for these families.\u201d\n\nMore than 11,000 Colorado children depend on Head Start, not to mention the massive shortfall in child care slots across the state \u2013 which is short of more than 82,000 total child care slots, with nearly 14,000 children actively on waitlists.\n\nNevertheless, Trump\u2019s proposed rule would diminish Head Start quality of services by rolling back vital HSPPS which outline certain program requirements and define quality standards. Therefore, the removal of these uniform federal safeguards allow programs to reduce staffing, qualifications, service hours, screenings, and support services. It does not directly order every program to provide worse care, but it permits\u2014and financially anticipates\u2014reductions that current rules prohibit. It will undermine its ability to develop evidence-based programs that improve education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and social services\u2014forcing families to either lose these resources or turn to more expensive options elsewhere. Head Start could no longer connect families to jobs, education, and housing opportunities or effectively help children succeed in school.\n\nFor 60 years, Head Start has served over 40 million families and children with accessible social services, healthcare, and improved early learning standards. The program provides low-income children, children with disabilities, dual language learners, and children experiencing homelessness with the resources needed to succeed in school. Even after six decades, Head Start remains popular, with four in five Americans saying they\u2019re in support of the program\u2014 evidence that Trump\u2019s efforts to gut it are out of step with what Americans want.\n\nU.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) has consistently pushed back against federal rollbacks targeting the Head Start program. Most recently, Pettersen introduced the Supporting Our Military Childcare Workforce Act, which would take steps to address the childcare workforce crisis. She is a member of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus and is a member of the House Financial Services Committee.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy:\n\nWe, as members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, write in strong opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) proposed rule Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs [RIN 070-AD0].1 This proposed rule would strip the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) of more than 90 percent of its standards, likely taking away vital services from children and families.2 It eliminates and substantially weakens federal\n\nrequirements governing early learning, health, mental health, and dental services, safety standards family engagement and family social services, and other services that have defined Head Start for six decades. This proposed rule guts an essential early childhood program and its services for hundreds of thousands of women and families nationwide, which would increase their costs and burden to replace those services. In today\u2019s environment of rising costs, it is cruel to make life more difficult and expensive for these families.\n\nI. Undermining Congressional Intent\n\nThis proposed rule is not modernization. It is the largest rollback of Head Start quality\n\nprotections in the program\u2019s history, and it will fall hardest on low-income children, children with disabilities, dual language learners, and children experiencing homelessness who Head Start was created to serve. The administration claims to be removing red tape and saving money. In reality, this proposed rule would override Congressional intent by removing standards that make Head Start the program that it is today and that Congress explicitly directed HHS to create based on research and consultation with experts. Congress established Head Start as a comprehensive program that goes beyond child supervision and offers life-changing early education, access to healthcare and food, and works with families to connect them to jobs, education, housing, and other social services that strengthen families. Since its founding, Head Start has served over 40 million families and children. Congress directed HHS to establish evidence-based performance standards covering education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and social services, because these high-quality services are all important for helping achieve Head Start\u2019s goal of promoting school readiness and helping children succeed in school and beyond. Children\u2019s well-being should not depend on the state in which a child happens to live.4 Preserving the statutory shell of Head Start while removing the federal standards that give those requirements meaning would undermine congressional intent and diminish the quality of services for women and families who rely on Head Start.\n\nII. Compromising Program Consistency\n\nThe program\u2019s federal to local foundation\u2014that this proposed rule seeks to diminish\u2014is critical to achieve Head Start\u2019s mission to provide quality care no matter where the child lives. Head Start works because of its nationwide standards, not despite them. Rigorous research has found that Head Start generates substantial long-term economic benefits, including an estimated $1.86 in benefits for every dollar invested.5 That return depends on strong teachers, strong ratios, and strong services\u2014qualified staff, appropriate classroom size and teacher to child ratios that support learning, developmental screening and follow-up, health and mental health services, family engagement and support services, and evidence-based early learning\u2014not a patchwork of state requirements that would create different standards throughout the country.\n\nIII. Eroding Quality and Safety\n\nThe proposed rule would eliminate Head Start\u2019s specific federal requirement that children be supervised at all times, reduce mandatory annual staff training on preventing abuse and neglect, repeal the prohibition on corporal punishment, shaming, humiliation, and seclusion practices, and remove the timelines that ensure a child\u2019s developmental, dental, and medical needs are actually screened and followed up on. The proposed rule would not only poorly impact children, it would further harm the Head Start workforce by changing teacher-child ratios and class sizes. The Department\u2019s own analysis assumes this rule will let programs put 16 to 32 percent more children in front of each teacher, and HHS is counting on that to book $668 million a year in \u201csavings.\u201d The Children\u2019s Equity Project found that approximately 80 percent of children currently enrolled in Head Start could face larger class sizes and worse teacher-child ratios if programs defaulted to state requirements instead of the current federal requirements.6 That means these children would be in larger classroom sizes without additional teacher assistance. Fewer teachers per child is not simply a matter of flexibility. It means fewer adults available to provide individualized attention, support learning, respond to developmental needs, and keep children safe. These proposed changes also come after HHS released a rule in 2024, \u201cRestoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access [RIN 0970-AD21].\u201d RIN 0970-AD21 repealed the higher wages and improved benefits established for Head Start staff in 2024. This new proposed rule would increase Head Start staff\u2019s workload without additional pay or benefits to reflect the greater stress. Both rules result in more work and less pay for the Head Start workforce at a time when staffing challenges are prevalent.\n\nThe proposed rule would also rollback Head Start\u2019s requirement for certain staff qualifications. Specifically, the rule would remove the minimum required qualifications for program directors, classroom coaches, and disability management staff. For education staff, the rule would\n\neliminate requirements for training on curriculum, behavior management, disability student support, and dual language learner support. Head Start\u2019s federal requirements implement these qualifications and training to protect the integrity of each classroom across the country. Weakening Head Start\u2019s federal workforce and credentialing standards would further reduce classroom quality, at the very time programs are already struggling to recruit and retain qualified educators. It is critical to equip Head Start staff with the necessary skills to sustain Head Start\u2019s comprehensive, high-quality educational programming.\n\nIV. Rolling Back Student Support Systems\n\nThis proposed rule would strip Head Start\u2019s ban on expelling children and its strict limits on suspension which is deeply concerning. These protections exist because preschoolers are already suspended and expelled at rates far above K-12 students. Additionally, disparities in suspension and expulsion are already significant for children of color, boys, and children with disabilities. Federal data show that children of color account for a disproportionate share of preschool suspensions, while children served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) make up 23 percent of enrollment but 74 percent of expulsions.7 Removing these federal protections will not close those gaps. It will widen them.\n\nThe proposed rule would also substantially change how Head Start programs support children who are learning English. It would require Head Start instruction to be conducted in English, with an exception for Tribal programs. This action would reverse dual-language and home- language supports that have been part of the standards since 1975\u2014even though the evidence consistently shows dual language learners in Head Start make larger gains than their English- speaking peers when supported in both languages.8 The Department\u2019s own estimate puts the cost of this single mandate at nearly $240 million, including real harm to Head Start teachers who will lose their jobs. We should not weaken an evidence-based practice that helps children build English proficiency while maintaining the language skills they develop with their families and sets a strong foundation for them to succeed in school.\n\nV. Conclusion\n\nIt is vital that Head Start has an uncompromised framework of established quality standards. It needs the Department to fund what already works and to ensure programs have the resources and workforce necessary to meet the standards Congress established. We urge HHS to withdraw this proposal in full.\n\nSincerely,\n\nSigners of the letter include Reps. Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (NM-03), Chair Democratic Women's Caucus; Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Co-Chair, Caregiving Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Co-Chair, Caregiving Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Co-Chair, Caregiving Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08); Jan Schakowsky (IL-09); Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Co-Chair, Communications Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12); Diana DeGette (C0-01); Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04); Madeleine Dean (PA-04); Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24); Deborah K. Ross (NC-12), Co-Chair, Policy Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congressional Asian Pacific, American Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Co-Chair, Communications Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-12); Julia Brownley (CA-26); Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03); Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25); Joyce Beatty (OH-03), National Leaders & Advocacy, Organizations Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Chellie Pingree (ME-01); Rashida Tlaib (MI-12); Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Co-Chair, Member Services Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05); Lucy McBath (GA-06), Congressional Black Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07); Nikema Williams (GA-05), Chief Whip, Democratic Women's Caucus; Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01); Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Co-Chair, Policy Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Julie Johnson (TX-32), Equality Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Lois Frankel (FL-22), Chair Emerita, Democratic Women's Caucus; Doris Matsui (CA-07); Judy Chu (CA-28), Co-Chair & Liaison, Reproductive Freedom Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06); Nellie Pou (NJ-09); Summer L. Lee (PA-12); Terri A. Sewell (AL-07); Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03); LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), New Member Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Betty McCollum (MN-04); Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09); Emily Randall (WA-06), Whip, Democratic Women's Caucus; Dina Titus (NV-01); Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Whip, Democratic Women's Caucus; Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Co-Chair, Member Services Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Gwen S. Moore (WI-04); Analilia Mejia (NJ-11); Sarah Elfreth (MD-03); April McClain Delaney (MD-06); Valerie P. Foushee (NC-04); Marilyn Strickland (WA-10); Jahana Hayes (CT-05); Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29); Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01); Marcy Kaptur (OH-09); Laura Friedman (CA-30); Robin L. Kelly (IL-02); Nancy Pelosi (CA-11); Val Hoyle (OR-04); Haley M. Stevens (MI-11); Norma J. Torres (CA-35), New Democrat Coalition Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14); Maggie Goodlander (NH-02); Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Progressive Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Lori Trahan (MA-03); Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08); Kathy Castor (FL-14); Steven Horsford (NV-04); Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03); Nikki Budzinski (IL-13); Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44); Grace Meng (NY-06); Angie Craig (MN-02); Salud Carbajal (CA-24); Becca Balint (VT-AL); Veronica Escobar (TX-16); Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13), Vice Chair, Democratic Women's Caucus; Luz M. Rivas (CA-29); Gabe Amo (RI-01); Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair & Liaison, Reproductive Freedom Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Sharice L. Davids (KS-03); Jared Moskowitz (FL-23); Ilhan Omar (MN-05); Hillary J. Scholten (MI-03), Vice Chair, Democratic Women's Caucus; Lauren Underwood (IL-14); and Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/washington-examiner-iran-war-powers-resolution-passes-house-with-seven-republican-defections", "Washington Examiner: Iran war powers resolution passes House with seven Republican defections", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Crow continued, \u201cWe\u2019re not going to stop because Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, by the way, this is one of the most bipartisan issues in America \u2014 Republicans and Democrats alike have had enough, and we\u2019re going to push for votes so that they know, just like we\u2019re going to do today, they know where their representative stands.\u201d\n\nThe vote came the same day that Massie, who lost his primary bid in May, introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, largely for the secretary\u2019s role in the Iran war.\n\nMassie\u2019s articles against Hegseth accuse him of abusing the power of his office, saying he \u201cknowingly\u201d executed and implemented \u201cunlawful orders to initiate war against a foreign nation\u201d without the authorization of Congress, an attack endangering national security, or an imminent threat requiring action.\n\nThe Kentucky Republican said by fulfilling the orders, Hegseth has demonstrated that he \u201cwill remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with the rule of law.\u201d\n\nPublic support for the Iran war is low, with 71% of Americans saying the United States should not be involved in Iran, according to an Ipsos poll released in April.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/assistant-leader-neguse-issues-statement-after-supreme-court-blocks-trumps", "Assistant Leader Neguse Issues Statement After Supreme Court Blocks Trump\u2019s Plan to Limit Mail-In Voting", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, Chair of House Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cHouse Democrats took our fight against Donald Trump\u2019s disastrous attempt to impose unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting to the highest court in the land\u2014and won. We\u2019ll never stop fighting to vindicate our Constitution and put a stop to this administration\u2019s efforts to disenfranchise American citizens. No party, and certainly no president, is above the rule of law.\u201d\n\nNeguse led more than 250 current and former Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, in filing an amicus brief challenging the legality of President Donald Trump\u2019s efforts to impose new restrictions on mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The coalition argued that the U.S. Postal Service lacked the authority to implement the Final Rule, which imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on voting by mail and is contrary to law.\n\nFor more information on the Litigation Task Force\u2019s efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-reflects-on-25-years-since-the-september-11th-attacks", "Crow Reflects on 25 Years Since the September 11th Attacks", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a three-time combat veteran of the Global War on Terror, released a new video reflecting on 25 years since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.\n\nFollowing the September 11th attacks, Crow joined active duty military service. He deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan as a paratrooper and Army Ranger with the 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment. He received the Bronze Star for his leadership in Iraq.\n\nOn this solemn anniversary in a new video, Crow recounts his memories of September 11th and how the events of that day altered the trajectory of his life. He also provides his thoughts on America\u2019s response to the attacks and what Americans should take from that day and the ensuing conflicts.\n\nWatch the Congressman\u2019s remarks below.\n\nA full transcript can be viewed below:\n\nWhere were you on September 11, 2001?\n\n\u201cI had just started my senior year at college at the University of Wisconsin. I was in my first week back at classes, and that morning I was actually in my car on my way to campus for classes and heard on the radio the news. So immediately, turned around, went back to my house, and turned on the TV like many Americans that morning, and saw the chaos and the tragedy unfolding.\u201d\n\nHow do you remember those who lost their lives that day?\n\n\u201cI always try to observe on 9/11 the sacrifices of first responders, the police, the firefighters, the EMTs and others who gave their life on 9/11. But those who are serving our community today and their willingness to meet moments of tragedy. To literally run into the fire to save Coloradans, to save Americans. It's incredible. And we should all honor that service.\u201d\n\nHow did September 11th affect your life?\n\n\u201cIt completely changed my life, like millions of Americans. I didn't realize it at the time, but what happened that day would completely change the trajectory of my life. Very quickly we were a nation at war, for the first time in a long time. And I was unwilling to let other people go and do my fighting for me. You know, I grew up in a working class family, and I wasn't going to have other working class kids go and bear the burden on my behalf. And I was also angry. I was angry about being attacked, I wanted to do my part, I wanted to fight back. Like many people did.\n\n\u201cLater, my views changed about what that means and what fighting back actually looks like, and how to do that the right way versus the wrong way, but at the time, that's what it meant to me. So I had just started the last year of my ROTC, and I had a National Guard contract, so I was going to be commissioned in the National Guard as an officer, and I went into my ROTC unit commander and asked for a transition to an active duty contract and asked for infantry, and airborne, and Ranger training, and the Army was happy to oblige all those requests. So less than a year later, I was an infantry officer going through all the training and getting ready to go to war.\u201d\n\nWhat has stayed with you most about that day?\n\n\u201cWell, you know those images of that day seeing people, husbands, wives, parents make that decision to jump out of those towers instead of burn is just seared into my mind, and the horror of being faced with that decision. That's a big one. Seeing the towers collapse, the imagery of the towers collapse, and the first responders who gave their lives.\n\n\u201cAnd then I think about not just the tragedy of that day, but then what happened in the years that followed and how we chose to respond. And now, as a member of Congress, as a legislator, as a policymaker, I think deeply about not just what happens when a country faces tragedy or comes under attack and how that defines us in our immediate response, how America came together, how we unified, but also how we respond in the months and years that follow, and the sacrifices that go into that. You know, the 7,000 Americans that then gave their lives and the ensuing two decades, the hundreds of thousands that did combat deployments who were wounded, who bear the visible and invisible scars of that day. The hundreds of thousands of others around the world who died in the ensuing conflicts.\n\n\u201cAnd whether or not we're really safer now, right. We're still fighting terrorism around the world. And what does an effective terrorism response look like? You know, do we respond militarily, or should we have taken a law enforcement response? And if we had chosen that path, what that would have looked like, would that have made us safer? Would that have required less sacrifice, less cost in lives, and also in treasure?\n\nWhat do you hope Americans remember and carry forward today?\n\n\u201cWell, that America still has the ability, I think, to come together, to support each other in the face of tragedy. That we have more in common than maybe our differences might suggest, I still believe that, I still deeply believe that. And even though we are divided, there's partisanship, families are divided by politics, I think we can get beyond that point.\n\n\u201cWe have seen great tragedy and great challenges as a nation over our 250 years, and we've been tested many times before. I really believe we can get beyond this and we can come out of it better, but it requires leadership. It requires us to look at our common humanity. It requires us to reconnect with each other, and get to know each other as friends, as neighbors, as colleagues, not just as Republicans and Democrats. And I don't say that, being naive about the real challenges we face and the threats that we face right now to our our system, I know those deeply, but I say that as somebody that served three combat tours, I have seen people, known people who have given their life to this country, and still believe in our common humanity and the ties that really do bind us.\n\n\u201cAnd the last is a personal and relentless pursuit for us to learn the lessons that we need to learn. We have just been through cycles where it's sometimes hard for us to learn tough lessons about how to use our military and what to do and what not to do. I wouldn't hesitate to use our military to protect us again if it's necessary, but there's a very strong argument to be made for more restraint. Not doing certain things that are outside of our interests. Pulling back from some of our conflicts and engagements and focusing on home. Focusing on the needs of Americans, and our military and our military families.\n\n\u201cWe should not be in an endless cycle of conflict. Since 9/11, we have been engaged in armed conflict every day for 25 years now. And I don't think that's inevitable. I don't think that needs to happen. And I think we have to have a national conversation about it.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1917", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Introduces Legislation to Uncover How Trump\u2019s Mass Federal Workforce Firings Have Delayed Constituent Casework", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced her legislation to uncover how Trump\u2019s federal workforce cuts have impacted her constituents\u2019 ability to resolve their federal casework issues. This effort comes after it was brought to Pettersen\u2019s attention that there are just three federal case managers at the Department of Education processing all cases, and just five total case managers at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), causing extraordinary delays for her constituents.\n\nPettersen\u2019s Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act requires a comprehensive review of Trump\u2019s federal workforce reduction efforts and their impact on agencies\u2019 constituent services \u2013 including but not limited to delayed benefits at the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and impediments to disaster relief coordination within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).\n\n\u201cOne of the most important roles of our congressional office is helping our constituents navigate issues with federal agencies and ensure they get the help and answers they need. But we are seeing firsthand the devastating consequences of Trump and Elon Musk\u2019s mass firings and our constituents are the ones who are paying the price - facing exponentially longer wait times or not being able to get any answers at all,\" said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cIn some cases, this can be the difference between families having access to lifesaving care, seniors being able to pay their bills and keep a roof over their head, or students being able to pursue a higher education. Trump and Elon Musk took a hatchet to the critical services we depend on and the American people deserve to know the real costs to our country and a clear roadmap to recover from their disastrous policies.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Pettersen\u2019s legislation would require a comprehensive study of the scope of the federal workforce reduction, including understanding impacted constituent services at regional field offices, altered response times, and delayed services and benefits, as well as how it has caused impediments to federal, state, and local disaster relief coordination.\n\nAfter Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration, in January 2025, he selected trillionaire technology CEO Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unrestrained council engineered to aggressively shrink the federal government. Operating without Congressional authorization, DOGE moved to impose sweeping federal agency workforce reductions, implementing aggressive measures to dismantle the federal workforce. Widespread federal layoffs disproportionately affected probationary employees at federal agencies including the SSA, the IRS and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others.\n\nLast year, Rep. Pettersen joined 50+ House Democrats in letters to the IRS and SSA, and co-led the Securing Assurance for Federal Employees (SAFE) Act to block the Trump Administration from carrying out mass federal layoffs during a government shutdown. She is a member of the House Financial Services Committee where she has been a leading voice on government effectiveness and supporting federal workers, increasing affordability, addressing the housing crisis, and expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.\n\n\u201cFederal workers deliver essential services directly to Americans every single day. The Trump Administration has dealt a body blow to the federal workforce through indiscriminate mass firings, making it much harder for government employees to do their jobs. This legislation would instruct the GAO to study the impact of federal firings on service delivery, shedding light on the harm they have caused to taxpayers and the people who rely on government programs,\u201d said AFGE National President Everett Kelley\n\n\"The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) is proud to support the Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act. From day one of President Trump\u2019s second term, this administration has led a reckless campaign to gut the federal workforce, resulting in severe reductions in the services that federal agencies provide to the American people. These are critical services that we all rely on every single day. This legislation will ensure Congress, as well as Americans across the nation, understand the true scope of the damage President Trump and his supporters have done to public services throughout the country,\u201d said NFFE National President Randy Erwin\n\n\"NTEU is proud to endorse The Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act and applauds Representative Pettersen for her leadership on this important issue. The recent misguided efforts to gut the federal workforce are harmful to the American people and the services they rely on. If passed into law, this bill would provide valuable insight and transparency into the real and tangible damage that occurs when federal agencies and programs are underfunded and inadequately staffed. I urge the House of Representatives to swiftly pass this commonsense legislation,\u201d said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald\n\n\"The current Administration\u2019s federal workforce cuts through Reductions in Force (RIFs) have lacked justification and an established process and resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of highly qualified, skilled, and dedicated federal employees. Congress needs a comprehensive assessment, and the American public deserves a full accounting of how this Administration\u2019s RIF actions have impacted the delivery of public services, government efficiency, and accountable agency operations. We thank Congresswoman Pettersen for introducing the Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act, and we urge Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to cosponsor this important measure,\u201d said IFPTE International President Matt Biggs\n\nBill text can be found HERE.\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/the-washington-post-these-congressmen-went-to-war-after-911-it-changed-them-in-different-ways", "The Washington Post: These congressmen went to war after 9/11. It changed them in different ways.", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Jason Crow and Troy Downing rushed to serve in the weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Crow \u201cwas angry\u201d and wanted to \u201cfight back.\u201d Downing felt \u201cthe sense of violation\u201d and wanted to be the \u201ctip of the spear\u201d in the country\u2019s military response.\n\nBoth men were changed by the attack. Downing said it caused him to \u201cwake up\u201d to the nation\u2019s greatness, while Crow said the terrorist attack altered \u201cthe entire trajectory of my life.\u201d\n\nAnd after multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, these two men from different political parties \u2014 Crow is a Colorado Democrat, Downing is a Montana Republican \u2014 found their way to Congress, inspired by their service and the lessons they took from it.\n\nIt\u2019s their distinct takeaways, however, where their similarities end, highlighting how the terrorist attacks that sparked wars in Iraq and Afghanistan changed the nation\u2019s politics but did not leave its leaders with monolithic views of their meaning. Crow and Downing emerged from the conflict with disparate views on war and service, and have since, like the rest of the country, had to make sense of the 25 years that have passed since the Sept. 11 attacks.\n\n\u201cPeople do take different lessons,\u201d Crow said. \u201cAnd I think the lessons that I took out ... are a different lesson than some of my comrades and my brothers and sisters in arms.\u201d\n\nThe politics of the post-9/11 wars have changed dramatically in the last 25 years. Under President George W. Bush (R), Democrats and Republicans in Congress authorized military force in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Only one Democrat \u2014 Rep. Barbara T. Lee (California) \u2014 voted against authorizing action in Afghanistan. And while far more voted against authorizing military action in Iraq, 81 House Democrats and 29 Senate Democrats authorized military force.\n\nBut as the wars dragged on and the intelligence underpinning the conflict in Iraq proved untrue, Democrats began to sour on the prolonged entanglements, sparking a fervent anti-war, anti-intervention movement. That upended the 2006 midterms, seeing Democrats sweep into control of the House and Senate, and helped elect Sen. Barack Obama to the presidency in 2008. That sentiment later began to creep into the Republican Party, culminating in 2016 when Donald Trump won the presidency by pledging to end foreign entanglements and lambasting Bush and Obama for their handling of the conflicts. Trump, however, has overseen multiple new foreign interventions, most notably the ongoing war with Iran, a conflict that has undercut his pledge of \u201cno new wars\u201d and created tension with the Republican Party\u2019s more anti-war factions.\n\nNeither Crow, now 47, nor Downing, now 59, is an avatar for their party\u2019s views on war. According to the Military Times, more than 30 veterans in Congress began their military careers after January 2000, bringing diverse experiences to the legislative body.\n\nBut Crow\u2019s and Downing\u2019s disparate perspectives on the current Iran conflict echo the diverse opinions of those who served: Downing calls it a just conflict where Iran has been \u201cat war with us\u201d for nearly 50 years, while Crow labels it a \u201cwar of choice\u201d pushed by a president who is \u201ccavalier with other people\u2019s lives.\u201d\n\nDowning was deep in the Alaskan bush on a moose-hunting trip on Sept. 11, 2001, and didn\u2019t learn of the attack until the pilot who picked up his group recounted it five days after the towers fell. \u201cI was one of the last people on the planet to find out about it,\u201d he observed. Welling up with anger, Downing, who had been professionally successful with a web-based calendar company that eventually merged with Yahoo in the late 1990s, asked himself what he did to deserve his life of privilege.\n\n\u201cIt really bugged me, because I didn\u2019t have a good answer,\u201d he recalled, so at 34 and with no military experience, he enlisted at a recruiter\u2019s office in Montana and was sworn into a combat search-and-rescue squadron because he had a pilot\u2019s license.\n\nDowning, under the call sign \u201cYahoo,\u201d served eight years in the Air Force and the Air National Guard, including two tours in Afghanistan, where he and his crew rescued soldiers injured in battle. \u201cThere are guys that made it home to their families because we were there to get them and I\u2019m incredibly proud of that service,\u201d he said.\n\nCrow, unlike Downing, was on a path toward military service before Sept. 11, 2001. The senior at the University of Wisconsin was headed to classes when he heard on the radio that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. He remembers sitting in shock as people jumped out of the twin towers and wrestling with the \u201cdecision those people faced and the number of people that were killed on that day.\u201d As a member of the university\u2019s ROTC program, Crow already had a National Guard contract to be commissioned as an officer, but he asked to transition to active duty once the nation went to war.\n\n\u201cI wanted to do my part,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was the mentality at the time.\u201d\n\nCrow went on to serve three tours with the Army \u2014 one in Iraq leading a platoon of paratroopers in the March 2003 invasion and two in Afghanistan \u2014 earning the Bronze Star.\n\nWhile Crow entered the war angry and eager to \u201cdefend this country,\u201d he said the invasion of Iraq and his role in it \u201cdrastically changed my worldview about what this conflict and conflicts like it really mean.\u201d\n\nHe realized early on that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that the nation \u201chad been led into this war based on lies and manipulated intelligence and that what we had been told we were fighting for was not really what we were fighting for.\u201d People in his unit then began dying, he said, including a noncitizen Filipino soldier who was posthumously granted citizenship.\n\n\u201cIt was a time of massive change and evolution in terms of what I saw and the impact that it had on me and now how I legislate,\u201d he said, specifically citing that noncitizen soldier\u2019s death as a reason for his views on immigration.\n\nThe war changed Downing, too, but in different ways. He called the invasion of Afghanistan \u201cjustified\u201d as a way to \u201chit back\u201d for 9/11 and recalled the work he and his team did to help advance the rights of women and children. That service led him to Congress, where he said his goal was to \u201cprotect all of those things that make America great\u201d and \u201cmake that American Dream possible.\u201d And his work in Afghanistan made him \u201cincredibly disappointed and somewhat angered\u201d by the chaotic end to the conflict under President Joe Biden, a withdrawal he labeled \u201ca huge miscalculation that is a stain on America.\u201d\n\nDowning took issue with those, like Crow, who refer to the Iran conflict as a \u201cwar of choice,\u201d defending the Trump administration\u2019s position that the war is needed to defend the U.S. and Israel from a nation that has been \u201cfighting us for almost 50 years.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnybody saying that this is something new is not looking at that whole history,\u201d he said. \u201cWe did not pick this war.\u201d\n\nDowning\u2019s steadfast support stands in contrast to how many of his Republican colleagues, including those who served in wars, spoke about foreign entanglements before Trump began the Iran war earlier this year.\n\nVice President JD Vance, who spent four years in the Marines and deployed to Iraq for six months as a public affairs specialist, is a clear example. Vance was an outspoken Republican critic of foreign wars long before he ran for Senate in 2022. In 2024, before Vance became Trump\u2019s running mate, he reflected on how he deployed to Iraq and learned that \u201cI had been lied to\u201d about the reasons for the war.\n\n\u201cHave we learned nothing?\u201d he asked during a debate in the Senate over funding for Ukraine\u2019s war against Russia.\n\nSince then, however, Vance has defended the war in Iran, despite remaining a \u201cskeptic of foreign military interventions.\u201d\n\nThat kind of thinking has led Downing to believe that the Republican Party is not as anti-interventionist as Trump promised during his 2016 campaign.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t see that as a firm plank in the party right now because I definitely know colleagues that have differences of opinion,\u201d Downing said.\n\nCrow said he sometimes speaks with Republican veterans in Congress who privately oppose the U.S. getting involved in another conflict in the Middle East, a position, he said, he has little time for.\n\n\u201cI struggle mightily with this dissonance between what some of my colleagues say publicly and what they\u2019ll tell me privately,\u201d Crow said. \u201cI tell them that: \u2018Don\u2019t tell me. I don\u2019t care what you think. I want you to say it publicly because the country needs to hear it, and we need courageous leadership right now.\u2019\u201d", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1915", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Solemnly Marks One Year Since Evergreen High School Shooting", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "EVERGREEN \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (C0-07) today solemnly marked the one year anniversary of the tragic Evergreen High School shooting, introducing a bipartisan congressional resolution signed by all members of the Colorado U.S. House delegation honoring the shooting victims, and expressing gratitude to first responders, law enforcement, educators, faculty, and neighbors who acted swiftly to protect students and staff during last year\u2019s shooting. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) is leading a companion resolution in the Senate.\n\n\u201cToday, we honor the students, staff, first responders, families, and entire Evergreen community for their extraordinary resilience in the face of the tragedy after the Evergreen High School shooting one year ago today. Their strength, courage, and resilience continue to inspire all of us but also reminds us of the urgent need for change,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cOur country\u2019s gun violence epidemic has shattered countless lives and is now the leading cause of death for our kids - a reality none of us should accept. As a mom, I understand the fear so many parents live with when they drop their kids off at school. Today, we stand with the Evergreen community and promise to keep fighting in Congress to ensure our kids are safe at school and in our communities. They deserve so much better.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne year ago today, the Evergreen community experienced an unthinkable act of gun violence,\u201d said Senator Michael Bennet. \u201cThe fear and trauma that Evergreen High School students, families, educators, and first responders experienced that day have not disappeared. We owe it to them \u2013 and all of Colorado \u2013 to act and to build a future where no child has to experience this kind of violence at school. I am glad to lead the Colorado Congressional Delegation in this resolution, and will continue to fight against senseless acts of gun violence.\u201d\n\n\"It is unacceptable that gun violence has become normal in America. A year ago, Coloradans experienced another tragic school shooting, this time at Evergreen High School, which left two students injured and an entire community traumatized. I'm proud to join my colleagues in recognizing the brave first responders and Evergreen\u2019s resilient survivors and residents, but more must be done. Congressional action to stop gun violence is long overdue\u2014it's past time we pass legislation to protect our kids. Enough is enough,\" said Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01).\n\n\u201cA year later, our hearts remain with the people of Jefferson County as they continue to heal from the tragic shooting at Evergreen High School. No parent should ever have to receive the kind of call that far too many parents in our country have received\u2014and no child should have to be marched out of their classroom, hide under their desk, or fear gunshots in their school. Enough is enough. We must stand together against senseless acts of gun violence,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02)\n\n\u201cOne year after the tragic shooting at Evergreen High School, our heart is with the students, families, and first responders who faced unimaginable horror that day. As a combat veteran and father of two kids, I refuse to accept that our classrooms should function like war zones. We can honor the resilience of the Evergreen community not just with our thoughts, but by elected officials of both parties acting to pass common-sense gun safety laws to protect our children, communities, and Colorado,\u201d said Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)\n\n\u201cI continue to pray that God strengthens Evergreen High School and the Jefferson County community. I am honored to join my colleagues on the bipartisan memorial resolution and to keep working with them to direct federal dollars toward more School Resource Officers so we can protect our children against evil acts. My heart remains with everyone in Evergreen.\u201d said Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04).\n\n\u201cAs a father of five, I cannot imagine the fear and heartbreak the Evergreen community experienced that day. One year later, we remember the victims, stand with the students, families, and educators who still carry the weight of what happened, and recognize the first responders who ran toward danger to protect others. I\u2019m proud to join Congresswoman Pettersen and my colleagues in the Colorado delegation in honoring the strength and resilience Evergreen has shown over the past year,\u201d said Congressman Jeff Hurd (CO-03)\n\n\"One year ago, the Evergreen community lived through something no community should. We pray God continues to give them comfort, and we thank the deputies and teachers who ran toward danger and saved lives,\u201d said Congressman Jeff Crank (CO-05)\n\n\"Today, we remember the students, their families, and an entire community that continues to heal from the horrific act of violence that took place just one year ago at Evergreen High School. We also honor the first responders, law enforcement officers, educators, health care workers, and neighbors who acted without hesitation to protect students and save lives. As a father and former police officer, I\u2019m proud to join the Colorado delegation in making sure their courage is remembered and that the Evergreen community knows Colorado continues to stand with them,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08)\n\nSpecifically, the resolution honors the two victims who were wounded, and recognizes the lasting trauma carried by students, staff, families, and the broader community. It also pays tribute to the first responders, law enforcement officers, educators, school staff, neighbors, and hospital workers who stepped up with courage and compassion in the aftermath.\n\nSee the full text of the resolution here.\n\nThis resolution comes after, earlier this year, Congresswoman Pettersen introduced three pieces of legislation responding to the tragedy at Evergreen High School last year:\n\nThe Evergreen Community Safety Act which requires social media companies to respond to warrants and subpoena requests regarding potential threats of violence within 72 hours.\n\nBill text is available HERE.\n\nThe Community Firearm Safety Act, which creates a permissible use under the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow grants for localities to procure and distribute safe firearm storage boxes to community members.\n\nBill text is available HERE.\n\nThe Community Risk Training and Response Act, which creates a grant program through the Office of the Attorney General for up to $500,000 for localities to provide technical assistance and training to law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and court staff, healthcare providers, educators, and agencies designated to coordinate Extreme Risk Order Implementation and to develop standardized extreme risk protection order training and curriculum nationwide.\n\nBill text is available HERE.\n\nSince the Columbine tragedy in 1999, more than 390,000 students in the United States have experienced gun violence at school, killing at least 203 and injuring 441 students, educators, and other individuals on K-12 campuses. Colorado has been touched by gun violence before, with spaces of community such as schools, movie theaters, night clubs, and houses of worship affected.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-delivers-bill-cap-insulin-cost-35-month", "DeGette Delivers Bill to Cap Insulin Cost at $35 Per Month", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representative Diana DeGette (CO-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, along with Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Kim Schrier(WA-08), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), and Angie Craig (MN-02), introduced the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (\u201cINSULIN\u201d) Act. This bill will cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for insured individuals.\n\n\u201cInsulin insecurity is not a partisan issue. It\u2019s a life-or-death issue,\u201d said Rep. DeGette. \u201cI have fought for years to lower the price of insulin for the over 40 million Americans living with diabetes. I have met with too many Coloradans who have shared their painful experience of rationing their insulin so they could afford groceries. No one in America should be forced to choose between their life-saving medication or feeding their families.\u201d\n\n\"As a doctor, I have spent my career fighting for patients, and I've watched too many of them ration a hundred-year-old medicine because the price tag made it impossible to afford,\u201d said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D.. \u201cThat's not right, and it never should have taken this long to fix. I'm proud to lead this effort in the House, and I won't stop until every American with diabetes can afford the insulin that keeps them alive.\"\n\n\u201cAs a doctor with Type 1 diabetes who depends on insulin, I understand the immediate need to bring down the cost of insulin \u2013 especially at a time when so many Americans are already struggling with high costs,\u201d said Rep. Schrier. \u201cI am proud to introduce this groundbreaking bipartisan legislation that will cap the price of insulin for all Americans and make a meaningful difference in the lives and the health of everyone in our districts.\u201d\n\n\u201cDiabetes stole the lives of 100,000 Americans last year. Tens of millions of Americans are living with diabetes, and for many, insulin is a matter of life and death,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cNo American should have to choose between paying the bills and getting the insulin they need, or risk their life rationing the doses they have left. This legislation isn\u2019t just a Band-Aid on the problem. It delivers immediate relief for patients and reforms that will increase competition and drive down prices over the long term. Lowering the cost of insulin puts money back where it belongs: in the pockets of working families who need every dollar they earn. Middlemen and big corporations shouldn\u2019t be making extra cash off the backs of working people who rely on insulin to survive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThrough the Inflation Reduction Act, we made great strides toward lowering the cost of prescription drugs by capping the cost of insulin for our nation\u2019s seniors,\u201d Rep. Craig said. \u201cNow, it\u2019s time to extend that benefit to all Americans. I\u2019m proud to be joining my colleagues in introducing this critical bill that will ensure no Minnesotan has to choose between putting food on the table and picking up lifesaving medication.\u201d\n\nView the bill text here.\n\nBackground:\n\nWith more than 40.1 million Americans estimated to be living with diabetes, the INSULIN Act is the result of Rep. DeGette\u2019s commitment to making health care affordable for more Americans.\n\nThe INSULIN Act will:\n\nCap out-of-pocket patient cost-sharing for individuals with insurance at $35 a month;\n\nProhibit health care plans from applying any deductible to select insulin products;\n\nHelp uninsured people with diabetes get access to insulin; and\n\nGet biosimilar insulin to market more quickly.\n\nAs co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, Rep. Diana DeGette has championed a multi-year, comprehensive effort to address the skyrocketing cost of insulin and improve care for millions of Americans living with diabetes, and she has worked to ensure people with diabetes have access to the latest standard of care in medicine and technology.\n\nBefore becoming the top Democrat on the Health subcommittee, Rep. DeGette launched the first-ever Congressional study to find legislative solutions for the worsening insulin pricing crisis.\n\nBuilding on the study's framework, Rep. DeGette convened a historic Congressional hearing in April 2019. For the first time, all three U.S. insulin manufacturers and the nation's three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) were called to testify jointly about surging costs. Following nearly three hours of testimony, Rep. DeGette declared the current pricing system \"fully broken\" and issued a mandate to the executives to immediately develop collaborative cost-lowering solutions.\n\nA similar bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA).\n\nThis bill has broad support among diabetes advocates.\n\n\u201cThe American Diabetes Association (ADA) appreciates and applauds the House\u2019s bipartisan introduction of the INSULIN Act, which would limit out-of-pocket insulin costs for patients at $35 a month,\u201d said Lisa Murdock, Chief Advocacy Officer of ADA. \u201cA recent survey, commissioned by ADA, showed that 40% of insulin users currently pay $150 each month, and there is widespread bipartisan support across the U.S. for making insulin affordable. The INSULIN Act would ensure no one has to choose between paying for insulin and other necessities. This bill puts people first and is a commonsense way to lower health care costs for Americans depending on insulin to live.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor the millions of Americans who rely on insulin every day, no one should have to choose between paying for their medication and meeting other basic needs, said Dr. Robert Lash, Chief Medical Officer with the Endocrine Society. \u201cThe Endocrine Society applauds Representatives DeGette, Schrier, Miller-Meeks, Bresnahan, and Craig for introducing the INSULIN Act, which would help make insulin more affordable for people with private insurance while connecting uninsured patients to resources that can help them access this lifesaving medication. This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward ensuring that all people who need insulin can obtain it and stay healthy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) applaud and thank Representatives DeGette, Miller-Meeks, Schrier, Bresnahan, and Craig for introducing the INSULIN Act of 2026,\u201d said George Huntley, CEO. \u201cThis legislation will greatly improve access to affordable insulins for people living with diabetes, and it is time that the $35 monthly insulin co-pay cap apply to everyone as it does to Medicare beneficiaries today. We look forward to working to get this legislation across the finish line before the end of the 119th Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor the more than 1.5 million Americans with type one diabetes (T1D), insulin access is life-or-death,\u201d said Lynn Starr, Breakthrough T1D Chief Global Advocacy Officer. \u201cBy capping out-of-pocket cost at $35, the INSULIN Act ensures that people have dependable, affordable access to the insulin they require to live. We applaud Representatives DeGette, Miller-Meeks, Schrier, Bresnahan, and Craig for introducing the House INSULIN Act and urge their colleagues to stand with them on the side of all those living with T1D. While there is still more work to be done, we are hopeful that, together with the Senate, we will finally have the access to affordable insulin the entire T1D community deserves and depends on.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-and-gov-polis-call-immediate-cease-wild-horse-helicopter-roundups", "Rep. Neguse and Gov. Polis Call for an Immediate Cease to Wild Horse Helicopter Roundups in Colorado", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Neguse and Governor Jared Polis called on the Department of the Interior\u2019s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to immediately halt wild horse helicopter roundups in Colorado. Their letter comes on the heels of public reports that in the month of August alone 800 wild horses were captured and hauled away from public lands in the northwestern part of the state. This is part of a costly federal plan to thin the state\u2019s herds, with the next roundup in the region scheduled to begin as soon as September 10th, 2026.\n\nIn their letter, Neguse and Polis labeled the use of helicopters in herd management inhumane and unnecessary. Six horses have died so far during the helicopter roundups in other parts of the state.\n\nBLM has been responsible for protecting and managing wild horse herds for decades, however, under the Trump administration there\u2019s been a troubling uptick in the U.S. government\u2019s sale of these animals. According to records reviewed by The New York Times, in 2025, sales of wild horses more than doubled and traders are using a legal loophole to increase profits when selling them for slaughter.\n\nThey lawmakers echoed pleas from Coloradans across the state who are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of these horses.\n\nThe letter is co-signed by Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Dianna DeGette (CO-01), and Jason Crow (CO-06).\n\nThe full letter is available HERE and below:\n\nSeptember 3, 2026\n\nSecretary Burgum and Deputy Director Heinlein,\n\nWe write with grave concern regarding recent wild horse helicopter roundups in Northwest Colorado and urge your agencies to implement an immediate freeze on upcoming roundups. Our wild horses provide significant benefit to the region and State of Colorado and should be treated with care.\n\nThis month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has captured around 800 wild horses in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area, six of which died during the roundups. Another roundup in the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area (HMA) is scheduled for early September, which will reduce the size of the herd by more than 60 percent. While we understand the need to reduce the size of these herds in accordance with the level that can be sustained on the land, the current methods being used by your agencies, including helicopter roundups, are inhumane and unnecessary. Helicopter roundups are known to cause extreme panic, exhaustion, and frequent and severe injuries to the animals. Coloradans themselves have voiced deep concern over the safety and well-being of these horses, whose risks only multiply during roundups of this scale and continue long after the gathering ends.\n\nWe would encourage you to consider postponing the scheduled roundups in order to have a more thorough and robust stakeholder and community engagement process, and work with local and state partners \u2013 such as the state\u2019s Wild Horse Advisory Committee \u2013 to craft a solution for the long-term wellbeing of these horses. We also request any evidence your agencies may have that supports the need for continued use of helicopter roundups as a more effective means for horse control against other more humane methods.\n\nWe look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-passage-continuing-resolution", "DeGette Statement on the Passage of the Continuing Resolution", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after voting for the stopgap funding bill:\n\n\u201cI supported the Senate\u2019s stopgap funding bill that passed in the House today. Not only will it avert a harmful government shutdown, but it also delays a dangerous rule proposed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that allows politics to influence federal grantmaking. This proposal would be devastating for the integrity of American biomedical research, which must follow science above all other considerations.\n\n\u201cAdditionally, the funding bill blocks funds to further Trump\u2019s cruel immigration agenda and restores funding to Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides necessary health care to patients in Colorado and across the country.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nOn July 13th, Congresswoman Diana DeGette led a comment letter signed by all the Democratic members on the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee urging OMB to withdraw the proposed rule.\n\nRead the July press release here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1862", "At the Start of Suicide Awareness Month, Congresswoman Pettersen Introduces Legislation to Increase Awareness for 988 Crisis Helpline", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase awareness for the 988 helpline with a public awareness campaign for those experiencing mental health crisis. The Public Transit Mental Health Awareness Act which Pettersen introduced with Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), specifically increases awareness by placing information about this lifesaving, existing resource in front of millions of Coloradans in places they travel every day: public transit vehicles, stations, and facilities.\n\nThe Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) found that over a two-year period, the state\u2019s overall rate of youth suicide decreased by 11% following the 2022 launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline. This legislation would help save even more lives.\n\n\u201cColorado has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the nation, and suicide has become the leading cause of death for our kids. The 988 crisis help line has proven to be a significant driver to reducing those rates across the country, and providing a lifeline to millions of Americans. It\u2019s imperative that we take action to support behavioral health services and increase awareness with a tool that already exists,\u201d said Congresswoman Pettersen. \u201cI lost my brother, Justin, to suicide over 15 years ago \u2013 there isn\u2019t a day that goes by that I don\u2019t think of him and wish he was still here with us. It\u2019s because of him and the millions of Americans who are facing a crisis like him, and the families who are left to honor their memories that I led the introduction of a bill that increases awareness of this vital resource, especially in places used frequently by millions of Americans, no matter where they live. It\u2019s critical that we meet people where they are, and this makes it possible for us to provide connections for people and families who need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery life is precious, and we have a responsibility to ensure that anyone facing a crisis knows they are not alone and that help is available. The 988 on Public Transit Act is a commonsense, low-cost way to make sure New Yorkers and Americans across the country know that support is just three digits away, free, confidential, and available 24/7. With a small investment, we can make a real difference and connect people with the resources they need when they need them most,\u201d said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).\n\n\u201cEveryone should know that help is available when they are experiencing a mental health crisis,\" said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). \"The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential, 24/7 support, and making information about 988 visible on public transportation can help ensure that more people know where to turn when they need support. NAMI is proud to support this legislation and thanks Rep. Pettersen for her efforts to increase awareness of 988 and connect people with lifesaving crisis services.\u201d\n\n\u201c988 saves lives \u2013 but only if people know it\u2019s there for them,\u201d said Dr. Marketa M. Wills, American Psychiatric Association CEO & Medical Director. \u201cDisplaying 988 information on public transit will put this vital resource in front of millions of people and help connect more Americans to free, confidential, and timely support when they need it most. APA applauds Representative Pettersen for championing this commonsense, urgently needed legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAwareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline continues to grow, with more than 26.2 million calls, texts, and chats since July 2022,\u201d said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). \u201cWe commend Representatives Pettersen and Lawler for introducing the bipartisan Public Transit Mental Health Awareness Act, which would promote awareness of 988 through signage on public transportation. Expanding awareness of 988 is a powerful way to connect more people with this life-saving resource and provide hope to those experiencing a suicidal, mental health, or substance use crisis, as well as to loved ones seeking resources. By making 988 more visible, we can help ensure that more people know where to turn when they need support.\u201d\n\nBill text can be found HERE.\n\nThis bill has been endorsed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Psychiatric Association, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.\n\nThe original cosponsors of this legislation include Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Deborah Ross (D-NC).\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1910", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Hosts More Than 18,000 Constituents on Telephone Town Hall Focused on Affordability, Fighting Back Against Trump, Democracy, and Other Issues", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Last night, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) hosted a telephone town hall with more than 18,000 constituents from across the Seventh Congressional District to hear their concerns and discuss her work in Washington. On the call, Pettersen spoke to many issues, including continued rising costs, how she is fighting back against Donald Trump's disastrous policies, protecting our communities from data centers, and protecting people\u2019s right to vote.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m hearing directly from people how challenging these times are and how difficult it is to make ends meet. That\u2019s why we want to reach out and support you with the questions you have right now,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen last night to her constituents. \u201cIn our office, we often say we focus on three paths. One, is doing what we can do to mitigate the pain and suffering people are going through: signing on to lawsuits, demanding answers from the Trump administration, pushing back with letters, bringing bills, forcing votes on the House floor, and telling your stories.\u201d\n\nAt a time when Republican Members of Congress have shied away from talking to their constituents directly, Pettersen is committed to engaging with her constituents directly. She has held 22 town halls this Congress alone.\n\nSince the 119th Congress began, Pettersen has been focused on delivering results and fighting back for her constituents, including:\n\nBills introduced: 43\n\nBills signed into law: 5\n\nAmicus briefs signed standing up to the administration\u2019s cruelty and lawlessness: 28\n\nLetters Led: 15\n\nDirect actions in the 7th Congressional District during the 119th Congress:\n\nMore than $9,738,019 returned to constituents\n\nResolved federal casework issues: 2,415+\n\nTown Halls: 22\n\nConstituent letters responded to: 200,000\n\nGrants delivered to CO-07: $227,734,717.16+\n\nMobile office hours, resource fairs, and constituent service events hosted: 59+\n\nCommunity project funding delivered to CO-07: $3 million+\n\nIn the wake of the Aspen Acres and Willow Fires which devastated families and communities across the district, Congresswoman Pettersen provided valuable information to constituents, including directing them to her Wildfire Resource Hub. Earlier this summer, in response to these fires Pettersen introduced a suite of legislation aimed at helping communities prepare, respond to, and recover from increasingly destructive wildfires.\n\nDuring the town hall, constituents also expressed concern about Donald Trump\u2019s attempts to interfere with mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm election. As a member of the Colorado state legislature, Pettersen helped build one of the strongest and most secure mail in voting systems in the nation, She assured voters that despite the Trump Administration\u2019s attempts to sow confusion ahead of this year's election, mail in voting is safe, secure, and a critical tool to ensuring that all Coloradans\u2019 access to the ballot box. Pettersen has used her position in Congress to push the United States Postal Service to ensure that all voters, particularly those in rural areas, receive their mail in ballots on time and promised to continue fighting against the Trump Administrations\u2019 attempts to restrict voting access.\n\nPettersen also answered questions from constituents concerned about the impacts of data centers. She is a cosponsor of the Power for the People Act of 2026, which would set commonsense guardrails on the proliferation of data centers near communities, including ensuring data centers pay their fair share of energy costs, protecting energy grid stability, and requiring that data centers mitigate their pollution through clean energy resources.\n\nRepresentative Pettersen has also consistently voted against Donald Trump\u2019s agenda, including opposing over $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act.\u201d She has consistently voted against authorizing Donald Trump\u2019s war in Iran. Pettersen has joined two War Powers Resolutions to check executive power in regards to military action in Iran: H.Con. Res. 38, led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, and H.Con. Res. 40, introduced by Reps. Greg Meeks, Jim Himes, and Adam Smith, the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Armed Services Committees.\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1861", "Congresswoman Pettersen Introduces Bipartisan Resolution to Designate Overdose Awareness Day Ahead of National Recovery Month", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), alongside Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), introduced a resolution designating August 31st as Overdose Awareness Day. The Task Force intends to increase awareness of the continued overdose crisis, honor the lives lost, and pledge action to curb it. Pettersen\u2019s family, like too many families in Colorado, has been personally affected by the opioid crisis \u2013 with her mom celebrating nine years in recovery. According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health, more than 1,700 Coloradans tragically passed from drug overdoses in 2025.\n\n\u201cFar too many American families, including my own, have felt the devastating impacts of the opioid epidemic. In the fight to save my mom\u2019s life, I realized just how broken our health care system was. She was one of the lucky ones, and my mom was able to get the help she needed, but everyone doesn\u2019t get that chance,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cDeaths from overdose are preventable, and passing this resolution will help us continue to reduce stigma and better confront this crisis. I\u2019m proud to have passed previous legislation that will give real support to those who need it, but we need to do so much more. Congress needs to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services, so fewer families are left with an empty chair at the dinner table because of this crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cFar too many families in the Commonwealth and across our country know the devastating pain of losing a loved one to an overdose. This bipartisan legislation aims to ensure every person affected by addiction knows that they are not alone,\u201d said Congresswoman Lori Trahan \u201cAddiction doesn\u2019t check party affiliation or nationality. It strikes in silence and no family should be forced to fight it alone. By formally recognizing Overdose Awareness Day, we remember the lives lost to addiction and honor the families and communities impacted by this crisis. We must continue working to reduce stigma and expand access to lifesaving treatment and care.\u201d\n\n\u201cMuch of what guides my work in Congress on addiction and recovery has been shaped by sitting across the table from families whose lives have been forever altered by this crisis, and by working alongside the first responders, treatment providers, advocates, and community leaders who devote themselves every day to saving lives and helping people rebuild theirs,\u201d said Congressman Fitzpatrick. \u201cThere is no single policy that will solve this crisis, and no place for partisanship when lives are at stake. But together, we can continue to make meaningful progress by strengthening prevention, expanding education and awareness, improving access to treatment and sustained recovery, and confronting the deadly threat of illicit fentanyl. With this resolution, we remember those we have lost, stand with the families who carry their absence, and renew our resolve to prevent the next loss.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan resolution honors the lives lost to overdose and strengthens prevention, treatment, harm-reduction, and recovery services. It also calls for continued collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, health care providers, community organizations, businesses, patients, and families to prevent overdoses and support those affected by substance use disorder.\n\nIn 2025, nearly 70,000 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose, a decrease of almost 14% from the 81,313 deaths estimated in 2024. It was the third straight annual drop, making it the longest decline in decades and a return to pre COVID-19 levels. However, fentanyl and other illicit synthetic opioids continue to fuel the overdose epidemic.", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-on-six-months-of-iran-war", "Crow on Six Months of Iran War", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA\u2014Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a combat veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the six-month mark of President Trump\u2019s reckless and illegal war with Iran:\n\n\u201cSix months ago, Donald Trump launched a reckless war of choice with Iran, with no plan, no strategy, and no endgame. Six months later, 18 servicemembers are dead, hundreds more are wounded, and American taxpayers have spent billions of dollars on a war that has not made them safer and that has only raised their prices at home.\n\n\u201cTrump campaigned on ending wars in the Middle East. As someone who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan as a paratrooper and Army Ranger, I shared this goal. But since taking office, the President has done the exact opposite of what he campaigned on. He started new conflicts abroad. Now Coloradans and the American people have paid the price.\n\n\u201cWorking families can\u2019t afford gas, groceries, and housing. The Iran war has raised prices. We have to stop the madness and end the endless cycle of conflict. Back home, I\u2019ve heard loud and clear from Coloradans that they don\u2019t want their tax dollars going toward more military adventurism in the Middle East.\u201d\n\nCrow has repeatedly condemned Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran. His War Powers Resolution to disapprove of the war recently passed the U.S. House. Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war, and he recently demanded that the Trump Administration reveal the full, true cost of this war on the American people. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1854", "Congresswoman Pettersen Continues Fight to Support Those Impacted by Radiation & Toxic Waste at Rocky Flats", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation that will uphold our nation\u2019s obligation to support and compensate communities harmed by the US nuclear testing. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 (RECRA), which Pettersen introduced alongside Representative James Moylan (R, GU-AL), would ensure Colorado residents impacted by radiation and toxic waste from Rocky Flats receive justice, financial restitution, and critical healthcare coverage.\n\n\u201cFor too long, Coloradans have been impacted by radiation from U.S. nuclear weapons production, testing, and uranium mining at Rocky Flats and Cotter Mill without the compensation they deserve. This bipartisan legislation could finally offer some relief for communities that have suffered without federal support despite decades of documented exposure,\u201d said Rep. Brittany Pettersen. \u201cI'm going to continue to do all I can to push not only to extend existing support, but to expand it so that everyone who has been affected by these radioactive sites in my district and across the country gets the care they deserve.\u201d\n\n\"This legislation brings together a strong bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress, survivors, advocates, and communities who have refused to give up this fight,\u201d said Congressman Moylan. \u201cTogether, our voices are stronger, and together, we will keep fighting until every American harmed by radiation exposure receives the justice they have been denied. I\u2019m not backing down until we get this across the finish line for the people of Guam who were impacted and all those still left behind.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 would:\n\nExpand eligibility to additional impacted communities.\n\nExtend the filing deadline by fifteen years.\n\nIncrease compensation.\n\nAuthorize reimbursement of medical expenses.\n\nBroaden the list of eligible diseases.\n\nStreamline the claims process through the use of affidavits where records are unavailable.\n\nEstablish a process for adding future classes of eligible individuals without requiring additional acts of Congress.\n\nRecognize the unique challenges faced by many rural, Tribal, Native, and territorial communities.\n\nExpand eligibility for atomic cleanup veterans.\n\nDirect a comprehensive study into the long-term and multi-generational health effects of radiation exposure.\n\nFor Colorado, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 would:\n\nAdd 57 ZIP codes surrounding Rocky Flats and Cotter Mill to eligibility under RECA Manhattan Project Waste Claims.\n\nExpand downwinder eligibility to individuals living in Colorado for a period of at least one year from 1951 to 1992.\n\nPettersen was an original co-sponsor of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments. The bill proposed to extend RECA for 19 years after the bill\u2019s enactment and expand eligibility for compensation payments to cover additional diseases and downwinder communities in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Guam.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available HERE.\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/nbc-news-house-democrats-demand-trump-administration-provide-full-accounting-of-iran-war-costs", "NBC News: House Democrats demand Trump administration provide full accounting of Iran war costs", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "NBC News reported last month that the Defense Department\u2019s internal overall cost for the war so far is $80 billion to $100 billion, including the cost of repairing damaged U.S. military bases, replacing destroyed aircraft and fully replenishing American weaponry, according to three U.S. officials.\n\n\u201cNearly six months ago, Donald Trump launched us into yet another war with no strategy and no endgame,\u201d Crow said in a statement. \u201cAs Trump, his family, and his friends in the oil industry use this conflict to pad their pockets, the cost on American taxpayers has grown by the day. Gas, groceries, and everyday goods have all gotten more expensive, with no end in sight.\u201d\n\nThe Democrats\u2019 letter also criticizes Trump\u2019s response to questions about the war\u2019s economic impact on Americans.\n\nIn May, the president was asked whether Americans\u2019 financial situation was motivating him to make a deal with Iran. \u201cNot even a little bit,\u201d he replied.\n\n\u201cThis is appalling and unacceptable,\u201d the letter states.\n\nIn addition to asking for the Pentagon price tag for the war, the letter demands specifics on the economic impact on Americans, including the effects on inflation, employment and wages.\n\n\u201cAmericans are being asked to write a blank check for a war they never asked for \u2014 a war that has jacked up costs on everyday goods and made us less safe,\u201d Goodlander said in a statement. \u201cPresident Trump and Secretary Hegseth owe the American people a full accounting: where every taxpayer dollar has gone, how this war is affecting hardworking families, and when it will end.\u201d\n\nThe letter, which sets a deadline of Sept. 11 for the administration to provide a detailed war accounting, ends by telling Trump and Hegseth: \u201cAmericans did not ask for this war, and they cannot afford it. They do not have the luxury of ignoring their financial situation, and you shouldn\u2019t either.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1851", "Pettersen Joins Entire Colorado Congressional Delegation in Support of Presidential Major Disaster Declaration Request for Colorado Wildfires", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen joined Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Jeff Hurd and the entire Colorado Congressional delegation \u2013 Senator John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank, and Gabe Evans \u2013 in a letter to President Trump expressing strong support for Governor Jared Polis\u2019 request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Pueblo, Custer, and Ouray Counties in Colorado. This request comes in response to more than $18 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency validated damages from Colorado\u2019s Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires.\n\nIn June, Colorado experienced two large, destructive fires within 48 hours, the Aspen Acres Fire and Gold Mountain Fire, due to prime wildfire conditions including high winds, extreme heat, and prolonged drought. These fires burned over 140,000 acres collectively across Pueblo, Custer, and Ouray Counties and destroyed hundreds of homes and structures and energy and water infrastructure. The burn scars left by these fires also contributed to significant post-fire flooding and debris flows that led to one fatality in Beulah, Colorado.\n\nSummer is peak tourism season for Colorado, and the fires and subsequent flooding caused major disruptions to transportation, lodging, recreation, hospitality, outfitter, and guide businesses. They also damaged the operations of agricultural producers who lost livestock, fencing, and grazing lands. Several rural communities were also affected by road closures, which made accessing work, school, healthcare, or essential services extremely difficult. State and federal emergency response officials state that they expect disruptions to continue through the remainder of the summer season.\n\n\u201cSuccessful recovery is essential to restoring the counties\u2019 economies, which depend on clean drinking water, tourism, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing. Without additional support, residents could face potentially insurmountable barriers to rebuilding homes and businesses, increased drinking water and electric utility costs, and the loss of important habitat and grazing lands. In addition, these communities face ongoing hazards from the post-fire burn scars, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201c[...] a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks federal assistance programs, including Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants, that are indispensable to recovery, mitigation, and long-term resilience. These communities urgently need federal relief to rebuild. We thank you in advance for your expedited review and approval of the Governor\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration,\u201d concluded the lawmakers.\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nWe strongly support Governor Jared Polis\u2019 request on [TK August 24, 2026] for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Public and Individual Assistance for Custer and Pueblo Counties, Colorado, in response to the Aspen Acres Fire and Public Assistance for Ouray County in response to the Gold Mountain Fire. Both fires burned during June, July, and August 2026. As part of this request, Governor Polis has also requested the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for the affected counties.\n\nIn June 2026, extreme heat, prolonged drought, and high winds up to 100 miles per hour contributed to two mega fires in Colorado within 48 hours. The Gold Mountain Fire burned approximately 40,000 acres in Ouray County, Colorado, and the Aspen Acres Fire burned over 102,000 acres across Custer County and Pueblo County, Colorado. Together, these fires destroyed drinking water and electric utility infrastructure, and over 800 structures and 324 homes. The burn scars from both fires contributed to significant post-fire flooding and debris flows that destroyed additional homes, buildings, and electric, water, and transportation infrastructure. On August 16, a significant rain event resulted in one fatality in Beulah, Colorado.\n\nBoth fires occurred immediately before the Fourth of July during the summer\u2019s peak tourism season, disrupting lodging, recreation, hospitality, outfitter, and guide businesses. Repeated fire, flood, and debris flow closures have limited visitation and disrupted tourism along the U.S. 550 corridor in Ouray and San Juan Counties, and in Beulah, Rye, and Westcliffe, Colorado. State and federal emergency response officials expect these disruptions to continue through the remainder of the summer season, with flood warnings and business closures continuing to cause cancellations while agricultural producers lose livestock, fencing, and grazing lands. In already isolated rural communities, the ongoing road closures are limiting access to work, schools, pharmacies, medical care, and other essential services.\n\nGovernor Polis has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the Aspen Acres Fire and Gold Mountain Fire. With over $17 million in validated damages, and with significant gaps in private insurance coverage, the Aspen Acres Fire meets the Federal Emergency Management Administration\u2019s threshold for both Public and Individual Assistance. Losses incurred due to the Gold Mountain Fire meet FEMA\u2019s threshold for Public Assistance.\n\nSuccessful recovery is essential to restoring the counties\u2019 economies, which depend on clean drinking water, tourism, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing. Without additional support, residents could face potentially insurmountable barriers to rebuilding homes and businesses, increased drinking water and electric utility costs, and the loss of important habitat and grazing lands. In addition, these communities face ongoing hazards from the post-fire burn scars, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure.\n\nAs you are aware, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks federal assistance programs, including Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants, that are indispensable to recovery, mitigation, and long-term resilience. These communities urgently need federal relief to rebuild. We thank you in advance for your expedited review and approval of the Governor\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-to-trump-administration-reveal-true-cost-of-war-with-iran", "Crow to Trump Administration: Reveal True Cost of War with Iran", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a combat veteran and Co-Chair of House Democrats\u2019 National Security Task Force, is demanding the Trump Administration provide a full and transparent update to Coloradans and the American people about how much the war with Iran is costing taxpayers.\n\nIn a new letter to President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Crow demands an accounting of operational costs placed on the Department of Defense; effects on the oil and energy market; and impacts on inflation, supply chains, and consumer prices, as American families continue to shoulder the cost of this conflict.\n\nJoining him in his letter are fellow National Security Task Force Co-Chairs Congressman Derek Tran (D-CA) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), along with 45 of their House colleagues.\n\n\u201cNearly six months ago, Donald Trump launched us into yet another war with no strategy and no endgame. As Trump, his family, and his friends in the oil industry use this conflict to pad their pockets, the cost on American taxpayers has grown by the day. Gas, groceries, and everyday goods have all gotten more expensive, with no end in sight,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cThis Administration owes working families an accounting of what this reckless war is costing them and what they are doing to end it.\u201d\n\nDuring a July appropriations hearing, Secretary Hegseth testified that the estimated cost of the Administration\u2019s war with Iran was $37.5 billion. Independent estimates place the figure much higher, surpassing $100 billion. The Trump Administration and Republicans now want Congress to approve another $88 billion funding package for the war.\n\nWorking families have been forced to pay more as a result of this war. Energy costs have skyrocketed, making gas, travel, groceries, and goods cost more. If gas prices remain at or above $4 per gallon, which the President has said is \u201cokay\u201d and that he \u201cwill never apologize\u201d for, American families will spend at least $90 billion more at the pump this year.\n\nCrow, Tran, Goodlander, and their colleagues wrote, \u201cWhat was billed as a two-week operation is now a full-scale war that has lasted for over 150 days, cost over $37 billion, and claimed the lives of 18 servicemembers. At the same time, prices across the country have gone up significantly, placing the burden of this conflict on American families. By June 9, you had claimed that the war in Iran was almost over 38 times. Instead, the war has continued, leaving Americans across the country with no idea when this war will come to an end and when prices will come down. This uncertainty, and the months of higher costs, have taken a toll, impacting Americans\u2019 ability to budget, plan, and save for the future. These costs are untenable, and the American people deserve better.\u201d\n\nCrow has repeatedly condemned Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran. His War Powers Resolution with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) to disapprove of the war recently passed the U.S. House, and Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:\n\nPresident Trump and Secretary Hegseth,\n\nWe write about the significant cost of the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran. What was billed as a two-week operation is now a full-scale war that has lasted for over 150 days, cost over $37 billion, and claimed the lives of 18 servicemembers. At the same time, prices across the country have gone up significantly, placing the burden of this conflict on American families. By June 9, you had claimed that the war in Iran was almost over 38 times. Instead, the war has continued, leaving Americans across the country with no idea when this war will come to an end and when prices will come down. This uncertainty, and the months of higher costs, have taken a toll, impacting Americans\u2019 ability to budget, plan, and save for the future. These costs are untenable, and the American people deserve better.\n\nSince the war started, everything from food to gas to medicine has become more expensive. Experts say that if gas prices remain at or above $4 per gallon, as is expected, American families will spend at least $90 billion more at the gas pump this year. This, coupled with the 4.2% increase in food prices over last year, the increased prices of consumer goods due to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the already high prices caused by tariffs, has put significant financial strain on Americans across the country. Despite your insistence that prices will \u201ccome crashing down\u201d after the war in Iran is over, experts warn that consumers won\u2019t see relief for months, as production facilities rebuild and ships travel to their destinations. This has forced families to make compromises to afford basic necessities or dip into emergency funds to make ends meet.\n\nWhile the American people are struggling, Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought has asked Congress for an $88 billion supplemental budget request, writing that \u201cmost of this request will address urgent needs related to Operation Epic Fury\u201d. More will be needed to replenish the stockpiles we have wasted on this war of choice. It is unconscionable that the Administration is asking for more to fund the very thing that is raising costs for Americans. The Administration should be focused on ending the conflict and addressing the very real financial concerns of the American public. But when asked if he is weighing Americans\u2019 financial situations as he considers whether to make a deal with Iran, President Trump responded \u201cnot even a little bit....I don\u2019t think about Americans\u2019 financial situations.\u201d This is appalling and unacceptable.\n\nWe demand that you provide the American people with a public, comprehensive assessment of the full economic impact of this war no later than September 11, 2026. This accounting must go beyond simple Pentagon spending and should include:\n\nAll Department of Defense operational costs, including:\n\nPersonnel costs\n\nOperation and maintenance costs\n\nProcurement costs\n\nContractor support costs\n\nReadiness and sustainment costs\n\nOil and energy market effects, including:\n\nImpact on global oil supply and shipping\n\nStrategic Petroleum Reserve usage and replacement costs\n\nEstimated gasoline and diesel price increases\n\nEffects on electricity and industrial energy costs\n\nMacroeconomic impact assessment, including:\n\nEffects on GDP growth\n\nInflation impacts\n\nSupply chain disruptions\n\nConsumer price impacts\n\nEffects on employment and wages\n\nEffects on investment and capital markets\n\nWe expect this assessment to also include economic and inflation assumptions, forecasting models, and confidence assessments, so that the American people can anticipate how long they will be shouldering the costs of your war of choice.\n\nAmericans did not ask for this war, and they cannot afford it. They do not have the luxury of ignoring their financial situation, and you shouldn\u2019t either.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1841", "On First Day of School, Congresswoman Pettersen Leads 6 Democratic Members in Calling Out Donald Trump for Skyrocketing Costs Families Are Paying During Back-to School Season", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2013 On the first day of school in Jefferson County, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) led an effort with six Democratic Members directly calling out Donald Trump for the impacts his tariffs are having on the rising costs of back-to-school supplies. According to the Groundwork Collaborative, school supplies are up 11% this year, forcing families to spend an estimated $4000 per child this school year alone, thanks to Donald Trump\u2019s disastrous trade and defense policies driving up the price of goods and gas.\n\n\u201cThe cost of everything is going up, including school supplies. From the grocery store to the gas station and the office supply store, I know every family is feeling the crunch,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cAnd yet, this President has consistently said he doesn\u2019t care. That\u2019s why I\u2019m leading this effort calling him out directly. I will not let him ignore everyday families who are struggling while he uses the presidency to enrich himself and his billionaire friends on the backs of the rest of us.\n\nPettersen and the signers write in the letter that they wish to \u201cexpress our alarm at the damage that your administration\u2019s policies are having on American families as they prepare to send their kids back to school. Time and time again, you have proven that you do not care about the affordability crisis, calling it a \u201choax\u201d and declaring that affordability \u201cdoesn\u2019t mean anything to anybody.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Pettersen has also consistently voted against Donald Trump\u2019s agenda, including opposing the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act\u201d and the recent GOP reconciliation package that would have authorized $73 billion for the war in Iran. She has consistently voted against authorizing Donald Trump\u2019s war in Iran. Last August, Pettersen sent a letter regarding his tariff policies and the impacts on families that received no response from the administration. Pettersen is a longtime champion for children and families, including recently introducing the Supporting Our Military Childcare Workforce Act, defending Colorado LGBTQ youth against the administration\u2019s discriminatory policies, and voting against House Republicans\u2019 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill that cuts nutrition assistance programs that millions of families, children, and seniors rely on. Congresswoman Pettersen is a member of the House Financial Services Committee.\n\nCongresswoman Pettersen led the letter which was also signed by Reps. Nikema Williams (GA-05), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Derek Tran (CA-45), George Whitesides (CA-27), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (CA-31).\n\nSee the full text of the letter HERE and below:\n\nDear President Trump:\n\nWe write to express our alarm at the damage that your administration\u2019s policies are having on American families as they prepare to send their kids back to school. Time and time again, you have proven that you do not care about the affordability crisis, calling it a \u201choax\u201d and declaring that affordability \u201cdoesn\u2019t mean anything to anybody.\u201d\n\nAs of June 2026, the average household in the United States has had to spend roughly $3,500 more on goods and services, including an average of $695 more on housing costs, $310 more for groceries, and $504 more on gas. Families already straining to keep food on the table and gas in the tank are being pushed to the brink as back\u2011to\u2011school costs rise beyond reach. The cost of typical school items, including notebooks, lunch boxes, and index cards, is up nearly 8% this year compared to 2025, while the cost of packed lunches is up almost 11%. Estimates show that families will spend roughly $175 on school supplies and $3,800 on packed lunches this year per student.\n\nMany back-to-school essentials are manufactured overseas, leaving parents to shoulder the higher prices caused by your reckless tariffs. When a company has to pay a fee to import a product to the United States, they often are forced to pass the cost directly to the consumer. Over the course of 2025, nearly 90 percent of the tariffs\u2019 economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers. This is painfully clear to parents, one-third of whom say they can\u2019t afford back-to-school shopping this year, and as a result, nearly half expect to sacrifice essentials like groceries or bills to make room in their budgets.", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-bennet-lead-colorado-democrats-calling-on-geo-to-comply-with-public-health-orders", "Crow, Bennet Lead Colorado Democrats Calling on GEO to Comply with Public Health Orders", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), joined by all Democrats in the Colorado Congressional delegation, are calling on the GEO Group to comply with public health orders issued by the Adams County Health Department (ACHD) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) related to an active tuberculosis case at the ICE detention facility in Aurora.\n\nGEO failed to comply with CDPHE\u2019s August 17th deadline asking them to hand over information related to a tuberculosis case confirmed at the facility in June. GEO has also failed to comply with the Adams County order that was issued on June 25th, raising concerns that state and local public health officials have been unable to investigate potential exposures and ensure the health and well-being of Coloradans.\n\nIn their letter, Crow and lawmakers express concern that the GEO Group is \u201crefusing to cooperate\u201d with ACHD and CDPHE, preventing officials from independently verifying \u201cthat everyone potentially exposed [to tuberculosis] was appropriately identified, tested, evaluated, and connected with necessary treatment or follow-up.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic health officials need full transparency\u2013not summary statements\u2013to investigate because this threatens the safety of detained individuals, facility staff, and our surrounding community,\u201d Crow and his colleagues write. \u201cWe demand the GEO Group comply with the PHOs issued by ACHD and CDPHE and encourage the resumption of cooperation with state and local officials so experts can address any public health risk at the facility in a timely manner. It is only by acting in concert, through rigorous and continuous oversight at the federal, state, and local level, that we can protect the health and well-being of detainees, facility personnel, and the broader community.\u201d\n\nCongressman Crow and his congressional office have conducted more than 100 oversight visits to the Aurora detention facility since being sworn into office in 2019. In their most recent visit on August 14, staff at the facility said there were no current active cases of tuberculosis. During that visit, Crow\u2019s staff noted that eight people were being monitored in the medical section, but ICE and GEO would not elaborate on why.\n\nCongressman Crow has led efforts to promote transparency and oversight of federal immigration detention centers. He previously introduced bipartisan legislation guaranteeing Members of Congress the right to conduct unannounced, in-person oversight visits of ICE detention facilities. He has also led the charge calling for the end to private for-profit immigration detention facilities. Since 2019, Crow and his staff have visited the GEO facility in Aurora more than 100 times to conduct oversight. Public reports of such visits, along with conditions at the facility, are published on Crow\u2019s website.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:\n\nDear George C. Zoley:\n\nWe write to express profound concern with the lack of transparency in response to public health and safety issues at the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado, operated by the GEO Group. Through consistent oversight visits and good-faith engagement with local facility personnel, our offices have worked to address prior public health and safety concerns at this facility. However, mounting bureaucratic hurdles threaten our ability to conduct oversight.\n\nAt the same time, the GEO Group is refusing to cooperate with the State of Colorado and Adams County, despite a long-standing history of cooperation between the facility and Colorado public health officials. Most recently, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Adams County Health Department (ACHD), and Denver Health have attempted to respond to a confirmed active tuberculosis case involving an individual at the facility after receiving a positive lab result on June 21, 2026. Despite repeated requests for additional information, state and local public health officials have been unable to independently verify that everyone potentially exposed was appropriately identified, tested, evaluated, and connected with necessary treatment or follow-up.\n\nOn June 25, 2026, ACHD issued a Public Health Order (PHO) to conduct a disease control investigation in response to the confirmed tuberculosis case. The PHO, in part, relies on longstanding state and local authority to \u201cuse every available means to investigate immediately and ascertain the existence of all reported or suspected cases of active tuberculosis.\u201d On August 13, 2026, CDPHE issued a PHO to direct the GEO Group to provide information to CDPHE and the Denver Health Tuberculosis Clinic needed for a public health investigation. The deadline to submit information outlined in that order has now passed and the GEO Group declined to comply.\n\nThe refusal to cooperate fully with requests from ACHD, CDPHE, and Denver Health belies a history of cooperation in which the facility\u2019s medical team has previously met regularly with ACHD and Denver Health to share relevant epidemiological and medical information, and to coordinate access when needed, in order to investigate specific public health issues. This constructive cooperation is essential to ensuring the health and well-being of individuals held in detention at this facility. Public health officials need full transparency \u2013 not summary statements \u2013 to investigate because this threatens the safety of detained individuals, facility staff, and our surrounding community.\n\nWe demand the GEO Group comply with the PHOs issued by ACHD and CDPHE and encourage the resumption of cooperation with state and local officials so experts can address any public health risk at the facility in a timely manner. It is only by acting in concert, through rigorous and continuous oversight at the federal, state, and local level, that we can protect the health and well-being of detainees, facility personnel, and the broader community.", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/denver7-colorado-congressman-demands-answers-on-uss-abraham-lincoln-conditions-after-260-day-deployment", "Denver7: Colorado congressman demands answers on USS Abraham Lincoln conditions after 260-day deployment", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "DENVER \u2014 Colorado Congressman Jason Crow is demanding answers about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been deployed in the Middle East during the conflict with Iran for over 260 days \u2014 a record.\n\nOver 200 family members voiced concerns about food shortages, low hygiene supplies, and broken toilets that have led to mental health challenges among sailors and reports of multiple attempts to jump overboard.\n\nCrow joined a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Navy asking what additional resources are being provided for the sailors.\n\n\"We haven't received a response yet, which unfortunately is more common than not these days with the Trump administration, where they don't even respond to requests for information by Congress,\" Crow said. \"Sometimes don't even show up to provide testimony and briefings on really important matters, which of course makes it hard for us to do our job, which is appropriate money, build a military, purchase new equipment, do all the things that Congress is obligated to do.\"\n\nCrow, a veteran Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, also addressed how adversaries are responding.\n\n\"It's not a great situation, and it sends a message of weakness,\" Crow said. \"Iran has come right out and said they're just going to wait us out. They think they're in the power position here because they've seen how we've reduced our ammunition stockpiles, how our ships and our aircraft carriers and our fighter wings are way past their time on station.\"\n\nPresident Donald Trump dismissed concerns about deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, saying the deployment had in fact not nearly been long enough.\n\nThere is still no return date or news of a resupply for the aircraft carrier.\n\nThis story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-introduces-bill-expanding-access-breast-cancer-screenings-americans", "Rep. Neguse Introduces Bill Expanding Access to Breast Cancer Screenings for Americans 30 & Over", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse introduced the Screen to Save Act, a bill that changes federal insurance guidelines to ensure mammograms, X-ray imaging tests used to screen for and diagnose breast cancer, are covered with zero out-of-pocket costs for individuals 30 and older.\n\nThe Affordable Care Act currently requires most health plans to cover screening mammograms at age 40. However, the rate of breast cancers in individuals under 40 is on the rise, and Americans diagnosed with cancer in this age group are more likely to have features that contribute to poorer prognoses and outcomes\u2014including larger tumor size and advanced tumor stage. Since routine mammograms are not standard for Americans under 40, tumors are most often found by the patients themselves.\n\nSeveral years ago, Congressman Neguse\u2019s wife, Andrea, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36, and courageously and successfully fought the disease\u2014she is now in remission.\n\n\u201cAccess to breast cancer screening can mean all the difference for families battling this terrible disease\u2014and mammography remains the most effective way of increasing the odds of survival, opening the door to better and simpler treatments. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce the Screen to Save Act, a critical piece of legislation that expands access to early detection technology, lowering the age range of individuals eligible for regular screening with no out-of-pockets costs from 40 to 30,\u201d said Congressman Neguse.\n\n\u201cLike so many Americans, my family has been impacted by the scourge of breast cancer. My wonderful wife Andrea, over a year ago, battled this terrible disease for roughly 18 months, and every day I saw the grit, the determination, and the strength that it took for her to ring the bell and end her battle with cancer. I continue to be incredibly grateful to the many doctors, nurses, family, and friends who helped us throughout this journey. It's on her behalf and on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of individuals diagnosed each year that we recommit to ensuring folks have the resources and information they need to fight cancer and win.\u201d\n\nThe Screen to Save Act is endorsed by the Breast Cancer Early Detection Coalition.\n\n\u201cThis bill will provide access to the earlier screening, risk assessment, and awareness needed to help younger women save lives. When caught early, breast cancer has a 99 percent survival rate. With the incidence of breast cancer among younger women increasing by roughly one percent each year, and Black women between the ages of 20 and 29 facing a 53 percent higher risk of breast cancer than white women in the same age group, the need for earlier screening is clear,\u201d said Liz Powell, Esq., MPH, Founder of the Breast Cancer Early Detection Coalition and Women\u2019s Health Advocates.\n\nView the full bill text HERE.\n\nCongressman Neguse has been outspoken in his support for ensuring adequate healthcare coverage for cancer patients. In June, he took to the House Floor to demand the Trump administration rescind the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) so-called \u201cmedical frailty\u201d rule that would allow Americans battling cancer to be kicked off Medicaid.\n\nShortly following this speech, Neguse led the entire House Democratic Caucus in a letter to CMS urging them to immediately reverse course.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-demands-answers-from-pentagon-about-conditions-aboard-uss-abraham-lincoln", "Crow Demands Answers from Pentagon about Conditions Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, is demanding answers from Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao on horrible conditions reported aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The aircraft carrier has been at sea for more than 260 consecutive days, breaking the record for most consecutive days at sea in modern U.S. naval history. Disturbing reports have emerged about food shortages, broken toilets, lack of basic supplies, and limited port access. Reports also indicate major mental health challenges among sailors, including multiple attempts to jump overboard.\n\nCrow was joined in the letter to Cao by Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) and 50 other House Democrats.\n\n\u201cThe strain being put on our sailors and their families is completely unacceptable. It\u2019s not only hurting the health and well-being of our servicemembers, it's affecting military readiness and making us less safe,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cDonald Trump has shown time and time again that he does not care about our servicemembers. The President owes our servicemembers, their families, and the American people a plan to end his reckless war with Iran.\u201d\n\nCrow, Courtney, and their colleagues wrote that the challenges with the USS Lincoln \u201chave become a pattern in the Administration\u2019s handling of its war against Iran\u2026 The reported conditions on the Lincoln\u2026leave both Congress and the public concerned that the Department is not adapting quickly enough to the conditions in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, nor taking the appropriate steps to mitigate the continued challenges in our fleet.\u201d\n\nThey call on Cao to explain measures being taken to ensure the safety of sailors, the effects caused by resource strain, and the communication from the Department that families of those aboard can anticipate, among other issues. They also ask Cao to clarify whether the Department considers there to be a food shortage or chronic hygiene issues aboard the Lincoln.\n\nCrow has repeatedly condemned Trump\u2019s illegal war of choice in Iran. His War Powers Resolution with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) to disapprove of the war recently passed the U.S. House, and Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:\n\nDear Secretary Cao:\n\nWe write to express deep concern for the personnel and material readiness of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and request information on the ship\u2019s deployment and future. The Lincoln and her crew have been deployed for more than 8 months, twice extended and still performing at a high level under constant combat conditions. The carrier deployed from San Diego on November 21, 2025, and was originally scheduled to return from deployment in May. Carrier crews are always prepared for extended deployments at sea due to potential operational requirements. However, this crew has been extended multiple times and is still deployed in a combat zone 3 months after their originally scheduled return date \u2013 with no anticipated redeployment date in sight. Furthermore, the Lincoln has reportedly only pulled into port twice since deploying, once in December 2025 and a second time for a one-day port call in July 2026. This 208-day period without pulling into port was a modern-day record and uncharted territory for a Navy aircraft carrier and her crew. We recognize the severe logistical challenges that come with operating in a warzone. We also note that these challenges, including the inability to make port calls as frequently and the increased mental strain on sailors in a war environment, should be foreseeable and actions should be taken to mitigate the effects to the extent possible.\n\nLike the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) before it, the Lincoln\u2019s extended deployment is accompanied by deeply troubling reports about sailors\u2019 mental health and living conditions. These reports are not political conjecture; they come from sailors\u2019 worried family members. Numerous sailors have reportedly attempted to jump overboard, in an escalation of challenges the Ford faced. In one instance, the wife of one of these sailors initially received a call from the carrier\u2019s ombudsman but has not received more information from the Navy in the last few weeks. Other family members have sounded the alarm on food shortages or quality issues since April. These concerns reached fever pitch at an August 6 townhall in San Diego, where they were raised by family members of the Lincoln\u2019s crew to Acting Secretary Cao and other Navy leadership. Navy leadership took the appropriate step in meeting to address families\u2019 concerns, but there remains more to be done to ensure that the families and the public have faith that these sailors are being taken care of and that the Department is appropriately managing the fleet and its readiness for Operation Epic Fury.\n\nThe Ford and Lincoln\u2019s successive overextended deployments and subsequent challenges have become a pattern in the Administration\u2019s handling of its war against Iran. As of August 13, the USS George Washington (CVN-73) is reported to replace the Lincoln at some point in the future.3 The reported conditions on the Lincoln, following so soon after the reported conditions on the Ford, leave both Congress and the public concerned that the Department is not adapting quickly enough to the conditions in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, nor taking the appropriate steps to mitigate the continued challenges in our fleet. As such, we urge the Department to continue communicating with these sailors\u2019 families and the appropriate congressional committees, and we respectfully request the following information:\n\nWhat additional resources is the Department providing for sailors who are serving under more difficult conditions on extended deployments?\n\nWhat additional measures are being taken to ensure the safety of sailors who may be struggling with their mental health while on extended deployment?\n\nWhat measures did the Department take to mitigate the effects caused by foreseeable strain on standard replenishment procedures in a contested or combat environment?\n\nWhat specific measures did the Department take to overcome unanticipated resource strains caused by adversaries in the CENTCOM AOR?\n\nWhat methods of communication can family members and the public anticipate the Department will use to share information about conditions or other developments on board? Does the Department plan to use the same methods for future extended deployments for Operation Epic Fury, if applicable?\n\nAt time of writing, does the Department consider there to be a food shortage or chronic hygiene issues on the Lincoln during this stage of deployment?\n\nWhat lessons learned, related to either personnel or material readiness from the extended deployment of the Ford, were put into practice to mitigate strain on the Lincoln personnel?\n\nWhat new procedures, both for personnel and material readiness, can be informed by the extended deployments of the Ford and the Lincoln and how may they be implemented for a potential deployment of the George Washington or other carriers facing lengthy deployments?\n\nWhat lessons learned, related to the Ford\u2019s post-deployment, can be put into practice when the Lincoln returns for its maintenance availability?\n\nIf the George Washington shifts to CENTCOM to relieve the Lincoln, what are the Navy\u2019s plans to maintain its current force posture in INDOPACOM?", 1, "2026-08-16T05:26:31Z", "2026-08-16T05:27:49Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-demands-hegseth-address-corruption-at-the-pentagon", "Crow Demands Hegseth Address Corruption at the Pentagon", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, is demanding that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth address possible corruption and conflicts of interest at the Pentagon stemming from his special adviser Tim Parlatore.\n\nDuring an April 29th hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, Hegseth denied that Parlatore had any influence over the promotion of senior officers in the Secretary\u2019s office\u2014a concern given that Parlatore, in addition to his government work, maintains a private legal practice and continues to represent private clients. Under questioning from Crow, Hegseth denied Parlatore\u2019s involvement in senior military promotions, including representing individuals under consideration for promotion.\n\nNew reporting contradicts Hegseth's testimony before Congress. According to TheNew York Times, Admiral Daryl Caudle hired Parlatore to resolve an investigation by the DoD Office of the Inspector General to clear the way for his promotion to Chief Naval Officer (CNO). Parlatore, who had also been tapped by Secretary Hegseth to serve as a special adviser, had previously recommended the Admiral to lead the Navy. According to the Times\u2019 report, when Hegseth was presented with a list of potential CNOs that did not include Caudle, he directed his staff to speak with Parlatore about the matter.\n\nIn his letter to Hegseth, Crow demands that Hegseth clarify his testimony before the Committee and remedy inconsistencies as they relate to Parlatore\u2019s conflicts of interest. Crow also reminds Hegseth of his obligations to preserve all documents, communications, and electronically stored information relevant to the issue.\n\n\u201cPete Hegseth is not fit to lead. He has politicized our military, corrupted the highest office at the Pentagon, and now seems to have misled the public and Congress,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cOur military leaders make decisions of life and death nearly every day, and the American people must see that those leaders are chosen with integrity, merit, and their safety top of mind. Undermining this process puts our national security at risk. Hegseth must set the record straight before the American people.\u201d\n\nPart of the exchange from the April hearing can be read below and viewed in full here.\n\nCROW: \u2026Does he [Parlatore] represent any senior officers who are currently under consideration for promotion by you or your office?\n\nHEGSETH: The only person that makes determinations about senior officers is me.\n\nCROW: Answer the question. Does he represent senior officers who are under consideration for promotion by you?\n\n[Crosstalk]\n\nHEGSETH: No, I'm the one that makes decisions about choosing\u2026\n\nCROW: Does he represent them, Mr. Secretary?\n\nHEGSETH:\u2026and finding senior officers.\n\nCROW: Does he represent them?\n\nHEGSETH: He doesn\u2019t represent anyone. He's a legal adviser and always has been.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:\n\nSecretary Hegseth,\n\nI write regarding serious concerns that recent reporting by The New York Times calls into question the veracity of testimony you provided before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) earlier this year with respect to the influence of your special adviser, Timothy Parlatore, on the promotions of senior officials in the United States military.\n\nOn April 29, 2026, you appeared before HASC to provide testimony on the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2027 budget request. During that hearing, I asked you about potential ethical and organizational conflicts of interest regarding Mr. Parlatore, who currently serves in your office as a special adviser. While serving in this position, Mr. Parlatore still maintains a private legal practice. In response to my questions about whether Mr. Parlatore represents any senior officers under consideration for promotion, you denied it on all occasions.\n\nAccording to recent reporting, Mr. Parlatore has played an influential role in advising on senior military promotions and personnel decisions within the Pentagon. If accurate, this arrangement raises significant questions about potential conflicts of interest, adherence to federal ethics standards, and the integrity and impartiality of the military\u2019s promotion system. Further, when questioned before HASC regarding Mr. Parlatore\u2019s possible involvement in senior military promotions, you stated that he played no role in those decisions. The reporting appears to contradict your statements before HASC, raising serious concerns about the credibility and accuracy of your testimony.\n\nAccording to the article, Mr. Parlatore played a significant role in the process leading to Admiral Daryl Caudle\u2019s selection as the Navy\u2019s 34th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). However, while serving in your office, Mr. Parlatore represented Admiral Caudle in a matter pertaining to an ongoing Office of the Inspector General (OIG) investigation, clearing the way for his nomination. Meanwhile, Mr. Parlatore was apparently actively involved in discussions surrounding Admiral Caudle\u2019s promotion. According to the public reporting, Mr. Parlatore spoke to you about selecting Admiral Caudle as the next CNO, and you directed your staff to consult with Mr. Parlatore about Admiral Caudle\u2019s position within the military.\n\nIt appears that Mr. Parlatore\u2019s involvement extended well beyond that of a special adviser and into matters traditionally reserved for Department leadership and established military personnel processes. These serious allegations raise questions regarding the scope of Mr. Parlatore\u2019s authority and the role he plays in recommending or influencing promotions of senior military officers. These allegations also raise concerns that appropriate ethics safeguards and personnel procedures are not being followed and that your testimony before HASC may not have been complete or accurate. Given these concerns, I request that you provide a written response no later than September 10, 2026, clarifying your testimony and remedying any inconsistencies.\n\nI would also remind you of your legal obligation to preserve all documents, communications, and electronically stored information that may be relevant to these issues. As Secretary of Defense, you are obligated to ensure compliance with all applicable federal records preservation requirements. The Federal Records Act requires the Department of Defense to create and preserve records documenting official government business, including communications, directives, deliberations, and decision-making related to the Department's operations.These obligations extend to records regardless of format, including emails, text messages, encrypted messaging applications, and other electronic communications.\n\nI look forward to your timely response and expect it to provide the transparency and accountability that these matters demand.", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-leads-bipartisan-effort-imploring-defense-department-reverse-nato", "Rep. Neguse Leads Bipartisan Effort Imploring Defense Department Reverse NATO Force Cuts", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cNATO is the most successful defensive military alliance in history, having served as the cornerstone of trans-Atlantic peace and U.S. national security for over seven decades. Now is the time to recommit to this alliance\u2026not to pull back and create vulnerabilities that risk implicating the United States.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, alongside Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Representative Don Bacon (R-NE), penned a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth regarding reports that the Department of Defense plans to reduce contributions to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations in Europe, undermining allied security and emboldening Russia at a particularly divisive time for trans-Atlantic stability.\n\n\u201cSince Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the United States has maintained an increased presence in Central and Eastern Europe to deter Russia\u2019s potential aggression against NATO allies. Earlier this summer, however, the United States European Command announced plans to scale back the number of forces committed to NATO, including a 30 percent cut to fighter jets, a decrease in reconnaissance planes, and the withdrawal of aerial refueling tankers,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\n\u201cThis decision will severely undermine allied surveillance and intelligence coordination, leaving NATO allies vulnerable as President Vladimir Putin weighs aggression against our NATO allies \u2014 whom the United States is legally obligated to defend, if called upon under Article 5. Deterring Russia through strong support for NATO is far less costly than potentially fighting a war with Russia in the future.\u201d\n\nThe bipartisan trio urged reconsideration of the proposed cuts to NATO resources and requested the Defense Department share its plans for how the United States would uphold long-standing commitments to allied security. Neguse, Bennet, and Bacon also stressed that now is the time to reaffirm America\u2019s leadership within NATO, not to introduce uncertainty or risk the alliance\u2019s collective strength.\n\n\u201cWe understand your Department\u2019s efforts to ensure Europe pays more for its own defense so the United States can spend more of our own resources deterring China across the Indo-Pacific. This is a long-running and bipartisan priority. But your planned reduction cuts deep across NATO capabilities and will take effect far earlier than European allies had been preparing for. This decision and its rapid implementation will weaken our shared deterrence posture in Europe by sending a troubling signal \u2014 both to our NATO allies and to Putin \u2014 about the U.S. commitment to this alliance at precisely the wrong moment.\u201d\n\nThe letter concludes: \u201cNATO is the most successful defensive military alliance in history, having served as the cornerstone of trans-Atlantic peace and U.S. national security for over seven decades. Now is the time to recommit to this alliance, particularly as NATO itself expands cooperation with Indo- Pacific partners to address the China challenge \u2013 not to pull back and create vulnerabilities that risk implicating the United States. Accordingly, we urge you to immediately reconsider the planned reduction of resources to NATO.\u201d\n\nClick HERE to read the full letter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/neguse-succeeds-urging-nsf-restore-full-funding-quantum-center-cu-boulder", "Neguse Succeeds in Urging NSF to Restore Full Funding for Quantum Center at CU Boulder", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has reversed its planned 22% reduction to the University of Colorado Boulder\u2019s JILA Physics Frontiers Center (JILA-PFC), restoring the center\u2019s full award. For more than twenty years, JILA-PFC has been foundational to quantum research and training, helping cement Colorado\u2019s position as a leader in quantum science and innovation. The proposed reduction would have exacerbated the quantum industry\u2019s talent shortage, not only in Colorado, but across the nation, and undermined the nation\u2019s competitiveness in quantum science.\n\nRep. Neguse and his office contacted NSF in early July to oppose the proposed cuts and urge the agency to fully fund the center. NSF has since informed CU Boulder that it will provide the full amount of funding for the grant's upcoming fourth year.\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s research institutes and laboratories are central to the fabric of our state and our nation, and I\u2019m proud to see the NSF heed our calls and follow through on their commitment to provide critical funding for CU Boulder\u2019s barrier-breaking JILA Physics Frontiers Center. The hardworking scientists, researchers, and students at this institution have made groundbreaking advances in quantum that drive not only our state\u2019s economy, but also America\u2019s standing on the global stage. We must continue to support their work\u2014for the development of the next generation of scientists and to ensure that the benefits of their discoveries reach every American,\u201d said Congressman Neguse.\n\n\u201cCU Boulder is grateful to Congressman Neguse and Colorado's congressional delegation for their leadership in supporting the JILA Physics Frontier Center and sustained investment in quantum research,\u201d said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes. \u201cFor more than two decades, the JILA Physics Frontier Center has advanced the frontiers of quantum science while training the scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of this critical field. This restored funding will strengthen that mission by supporting pioneering research and the development of the quantum workforce that Colorado and the nation need.\u201d\n\nCongressman Neguse has forcefully worked to protect Colorado\u2019s scientific institutions, including opposing plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder and successfully protecting funding for vital programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-celebrates-opening-of-project-worthmore-s-roots-community-hub", "Crow Celebrates Opening of Project Worthmore\u2019s Roots Community Hub", "2026-08-10", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) and leaders from Project Worthmore opened the new Roots Community Hub in Aurora, a center that provides resources to new immigrant and refugee families. Congressman Crow secured $4 million in federal Community Project Funds that helped ensure necessary renovations to the building and allowed Project Worthmore to expand the programs and resources they offer.\n\nProject Worthmore has been serving Coloradans since 2011. They offer services to help immigrant families find jobs, healthcare, and education; navigate public benefits; learn English; and access food, legal counsel, and medical care.\n\n\u201cWe are a community of immigrants and refugees,\u201d Congressman Crow said at the ribbon-cutting. \u201cAbout 20 percent of the people that I represent were born outside of the United States. We have over 130 languages spoken in this community. It makes us one of the most diverse communities in the nation, and it makes us stronger. It makes us more vibrant, it makes us more prosperous, and it makes us the wonderful, beautiful place that we call home and that we are so proud of. I will never back down from telling the story to this country and to the world about what the community of Aurora, Colorado, really is and really looks like, and who we are.\u201d\n\n\u201cPart of that is a recognition of the very difficult time that we are in and we will continue to be in for the foreseeable future,\u201d Crow continued. \u201cPeople will come at our community. They will attack us. They will try to tear us apart. They will target the immigrant and refugee community. And my message to those folks is that we will not let them do that. We protect our own in this community, and if you're going to come at our families, you're going to have to come through all of us to do that. I will fight like hell to protect this community, and to protect the folks who are here today, and to protect the folks who aren't here today. We will not let them get at our community.\u201d\n\nCongressman Crow has led efforts to support and protect the immigrant community in Aurora and across Colorado. That includes fighting back against mass deportation campaigns for immigrants and suing the Trump Administration when they tried to block his oversight of federal immigration detention centers. He previously introduced bipartisan legislation guaranteeing Members of Congress the right to conduct unannounced, in-person oversight visits of ICE detention facilities. He has also led the charge calling for the end to private for profit immigration detention facilities. Since 2019, Crow and his staff have visited the GEO facility in Aurora more than 100 times to conduct oversight. Public reports of such visits, along with conditions at the facility, are published on Crow\u2019s website.", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-pushes-republican-leadership-to-hold-vote-to-ban-stock-trading-for-high-ranking-government-officials", "Crow Pushes Republican Leadership to Hold Vote to Ban Stock Trading for High-Ranking Government Officials", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), Co-Chair of the End Corruption Caucus, is demanding Speaker Johnson bring the Restore Trust in Government Act to the House floor for a vote. Unlike House Republicans\u2019 recent bill that fails to truly crack down on stock trading, this bill would actually ban Members of Congress, the President and Vice President, and their immediate families from trading and owning individual stocks. Despite overwhelming public support for greater accountability and transparency, Speaker Johnson refuses to bring the Restore Trust in Government Act to the floor.\n\n\u201cPeople at the highest level of our government should not be able to use their office for profit. I don\u2019t own or trade stocks, I ban my office from betting on prediction markets, and I refuse money from corporate special interests because we have to begin restoring trust in our government,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cSpeaker Johnson needs to bring the Restore Trust in Government Act to the floor. Republicans\u2019 fake stock trading ban doesn\u2019t actually solve the problem. Instead, it creates loopholes that allow Members of Congress and the President to keep enriching themselves while in office. The American people want real transparency and reform in Washington, and we should give it to them by passing this bill.\u201d\n\nCrow was joined in this letter by Congressman Seth Magaziner (D-RI) and 32 other House Democrats.\n\nIn the letter, Crow, Magaziner, and their colleagues wrote, \u201cWe urge you to bring H.R. 6731, the Restore Trust in Government Act to the floor immediately for a vote when the House of Representatives returns from the August recess. The American people deserve a real stock trading ban for politicians in Washington, to end the corruption that lets politicians get rich off of inside information while working people struggle.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cThe American people are sick of the corruption in Washington. They are sick of paying more for gas, groceries, and healthcare, and Congress doing nothing about it because politicians get rich by profiting from the industries and corporations that keep prices high. They want an end to the corruption and we have a responsibility to deliver on that.\u201d\n\nCrow is an original cosponsor of the TRUST in Congress Act to ban members of Congress and their families from owning or trading stocks. Crow has stood up to special interests and has not taken a dime of corporate PAC money. He has also led outreach to House leadership urging them to ban members and their staff from insider trading on prediction markets. He is leading the fight to root out corruption in our elections, including through his End Dark Money Act to crack down on dark money\u2019s influence on U.S. elections and his bipartisan Shell Company Abuse Act to limit foreign interference in U.S. elections.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:\n\nDear Speaker Johnson,\n\nWe urge you to bring H.R. 6731, the Restore Trust in Government Act to the floor immediately for a vote when the House of Representatives returns from the August recess. The American people deserve a real stock trading ban for politicians in Washington, to end the corruption that lets politicians get rich off of inside information while working people struggle.\n\nThe bill you have put forth is not that. It is a voter suppression bill and a half-measure on the issue of stock trading in Congress that has no chance of becoming law. It would upend mail-in voting that seniors, rural Americans, and many other Americans rely on, and would throw our elections into chaos right before election day while people are already casting their ballots. We are disappointed that playing politics and attempting to make it harder for eligible Americans to vote has taken precedence over delivering real reform to end the insider trading in Washington.\n\nThe \u201cStop Insider Trading Act\u201d is a ruse that does not end corruption in Washington. It is a watered-down bill that would still allow Members of Congress to own and sell stocks. Washington will never work for the American people if Members of Congress can continue to own and sell stocks in the very industries they are tasked with regulating. And this bill does nothing to stop the biggest stock trader in Washington: President Trump, who in the last year made millions of dollars by trading more stocks than all Members of Congress.\n\nThe American people are sick of the corruption in Washington. They are sick of paying more for gas, groceries, and healthcare, and Congress doing nothing about it because politicians get rich by profiting from the industries and corporations that keep prices high. They want an end to the corruption and we have a responsibility to deliver on that. The Restore Trust in Government Act does that by fully banning stock trading by Members of Congress and the President and Vice President. We urge you to find the courage to bring this bill forward for a vote when we return on August 31, 2026.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/top-democrats-house-natural-resources-and-agriculture-committees-introduce", "Top Democrats on the House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees Introduce the Wildfire Response and Readiness Act", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "A comprehensive legislative package comprising 25 bills that together outline a plan to respond to wildfires\u2014protecting our lands, readying our communities, and giving federal firefighters the support they need and the benefits they deserve.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Colorado Congressman and Federal Lands Subcommittee Ranking Member Joe Neguse (CO-02), Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02), Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee Ranking Member Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Congressman George Whitesides (CA-27) introduced the Wildfire Response and Readiness Act, a comprehensive package of wildland fire policy that meets the moment for Americans facing increasingly active, destructive, and life-threatening wildfires.\n\nSo far this year, wildfires have burned more than 5.5 million acres across the United States. Coupled with extreme weather conditions, including record-breaking drought across the West, and communities across the country are continuing to face increasingly dangerous wildfire conditions.\n\nPresident Donald Trump and his administration have responded by gutting the public land management agencies and institutions responsible for keeping our lands resilient and accessible and our communities safe from catastrophic wildfire. This reckless approach places the United States in an untenable position, where the threat of wildfire has never been greater and federal land management agencies are less prepared than ever before.\n\nThe Wildfire Response and Readiness Act is House Democrats\u2019 affirmative response to the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires. It includes practical, collaborative solutions that aim to better protect the people and places we love while ultimately saving lives.\n\n\u201cColorado has experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in the country\u2014and as we\u2019ve worked together to recover and rebuild, we\u2019ve also drawn from hard-earned lessons in the wake of these disasters to introduce this comprehensive package of policy proposals,\u201d said Subcommittee Ranking Member Neguse. \u201cThe Wildfire Response and Readiness Act advances critical prevention, mitigation, and response strategies while delivering long-overdue support for our brave and heroic wildland firefighters, who risk life and limb to protect our communities and deserve fair compensation and benefits.\u201d\n\n\u201cHotter summers and drier forests mean wildfires are burning more intensely and reaching towns that never used to worry about them. President Trump watched some of the worst fire seasons this country has seen. His response? Fire the people who run toward the flames for the rest of us. He hollowed out the agencies, ignored the warnings, and left towns across the West more exposed than they've been in decades. Democrats see what families in fire country are up against, and we refuse to leave them on their own. The Wildfire Response and Readiness Act delivers what Americans need: fair pay and job security for wildland firefighters, real help for families fire-proofing their homes, and healthier forests that stop small fires from becoming catastrophes. This is the fight of our time, and we will not let up until every community has the protection they need,\u201d said Ranking Member Huffman.\n\n\u201cMinnesotans are tired of waking up to smoky skies and of witnessing their beloved public lands, like the Boundary Waters, quite literally go up in flames. This critical legislation will help protect rural communities, restore healthy forests and fairly compensate the firefighters serving on the frontlines,\u201d said Ranking Member Craig.\n\n\u201cOregon is already experiencing one of our worst wildfire seasons on record. Families are living with smoke, farmers and small businesses are facing disruptions, and rural communities are shouldering the burden of increasingly costly fires. We owe Oregon\u2019s firefighters the tools they need to respond safely, and we owe our communities a government that prepares before disaster strikes. The Wildfire Response and Readiness Act brings together a comprehensive plan to strengthen prevention, improve coordination, protect homes and working lands, and help communities recover. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this effort to make Oregon and communities across the country safer and more resilient,\u201d said Subcommittee Ranking Member Salinas.\n\n\u201cWildfires are a large and growing threat that will only get worse if we do not take decisive action at the federal level,\u201d said Congressman Whitesides. \u201cFrom making our homes safer to better managing our forests to bolstering firefighter resources and pay, this package would make us more resilient and significantly improve our ability to manage the national wildfire crisis.\u201d\n\nThe Wildfire Response and Readiness Act has three main pillars. They are outlined below.\n\nResilient Lands: The bill invests in wildfire prevention and post-fire restoration and recovery so that the forests and public lands around our homes and communities stay healthy and resilient to catastrophic fires. It also requires federal agencies to develop a 10-year wildfire plan so that the federal government coordinates with the people most impacted.\n\nFire-Safe Communities: The bill helps families make their homes more resistant to fires and gives communities the tools to plan ahead so they are ready before a fire breaks out. It also encourages the development of new tools to spot fires faster and takes steps to address the harmful impacts of wildfire smoke, making sure we have clean air.\n\nWildland Firefighter Safety and Workforce Security: Wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us safe. This bill honors that work with better pay, leave, and retirement benefits. It also trains the next generation of wildland firefighters and expands the workforce. And after more than a quarter of land management agency staff were fired or left their jobs since January 2025, this bill prevents any more firings and keeps key wildfire and forestry research facilities open and running.\n\nTo learn more, click HERE.\n\nFull bill text can be found HERE, and a section-by-section HERE.\n\nThe Wildfire Response and Readiness Act is endorsed by American Forests, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice Action, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, Megafire Action, National Federation of Federal Employees, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Trust for Public Land, and Western Fire Chiefs Association.\n\nTo view their statements of support, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/colorado-newsline-ban-stock-trading-colorado-democrats-urge-us-house-speaker", "Colorado Newsline: Ban stock trading, Colorado Democrats urge U.S. House speaker", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Democrats from Colorado are urging U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring a floor vote on a measure to ban members of Congress, the president and vice president from trading stocks.\n\nThe letter signed by more than 30 House Democrats follows the July passage of the Stop Insider Trading Act, which would restrict members of Congress, their spouses and close family members from purchasing certain stocks, and require a public notice and waiting period prior to selling stocks.\n\nRepublicans in the House added unrelated voter ID requirements to the bill \u2014 part of President Donald Trump\u2019s broader goal to increase federal involvement in elections. It would require voters to present a current state-issued driver\u2019s license or identification card, passport, valid military or veteran ID, or tribal government-issued ID card to vote.\n\nThe letter asks Johnson to bring the Restore Trust in Government Act for a floor vote when Congress returns from its August recess. That measure only has Democratic sponsors and would entirely ban stock ownership for members of Congress, the president and the vice president. It\u2019s an expanded version of the Restore Trust in Congress Act, which has bipartisan support, but does not include the executive branch.\n\n\u201cThe American people are sick of the corruption in Washington,\u201d the letter says. \u201cThey are sick of paying more for gas, groceries, and healthcare, and Congress doing nothing about it because politicians get rich by profiting from the industries and corporations that keep prices high.\u201d\n\nU.S. Rep. Jason Crow, an Aurora Democrat, pushed the letter as a co-chair of the End Corruption Caucus. He does not own or trade stocks and prohibits his staff from betting on prediction markets. The Republican measure creates loopholes that allow members of Congress and the president \u201cto keep enriching themselves\u201d while in public office, Crow said.\n\n\u201cPeople at the highest level of our government should not be able to use their office for profit,\u201d Crow said in a statement. \u201cThe American people want real transparency and reform in Washington, and we should give it to them by passing this bill.\u201d\n\nU.S. Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse of Lafayette and U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Lakewood also signed the Aug. 4 letter.\n\nThe Stop Insider Trading Act does not explicitly ban members of Congress from trading stock, and seven good government advocacy groups wrote to Congress in February urging members to reject the legislation. The Campaign Legal Center renewed that opposition ahead of the House vote in July. The measure now awaits action in the Senate.\n\nDeGette, Neguse, Pettersen and Crow all voted against it, while Colorado\u2019s four Republicans in Congress \u2014 U.S. Reps. Jeff Hurd of Grand Junction, Lauren Boebert of Windsor, Jeff Crank of Colorado Springs and Gabe Evans of Fort Lupton \u2014 all voted for it.\n\nU.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, owns stocks in companies affected by his Senate committee assignments. He defended the purchases since they were made by a blind trust, so he isn\u2019t involved in day-to-day purchasing and selling decisions. He and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet sponsor a measure that would require members of Congress to place all of their stocks into a qualified blind trust, which must be approved by the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-hickenlooper-demand-answers-from-dhs-on-shooting-outside-aurora-ice-facility", "Crow, Hickenlooper Demand Answers from DHS on Shooting Outside Aurora ICE Facility", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) and Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) are leading Colorado\u2019s Democratic Congressional delegation to demand answers from the Trump Administration on a recent shooting outside a GEO-operated ICE facility in Aurora. During demonstrations outside the detention center, a GEO group employee shot a 21-year-old woman with his personally-owned firearm, striking her in the foot.\n\nIn their letter to Department of Homeland Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Crow, Hickenlooper, and their colleagues push DHS and ICE to uphold the right of lawful protestors and press the Secretary to answer how his Department will do that. They ask for clarity on how the Department is protecting peaceful protestors outside federal detention facilities; what types of de-escalation, use-of-force, and crowd management training are required for agents and contractors; what screening and vetting processes are in place for contractors before they are assigned to ICE facilities; and how the agency is cooperating with law enforcement around this incident.\n\n\u201cImmigration enforcement officers and the contractors supporting them have an obligation to protect public safety while exercising restraint and professionalism. Protests outside immigration detention centers are routine occurrences. An agency responsible for operating secure facilities should be equipped to maintain safe access, communicate with employees, coordinate with local law enforcement, and prevent confrontations between the community and facility personnel from escalating. Just as we believe law enforcement should never be targeted with violence, we believe lawful protesters should be protected \u2013 not attacked \u2013 by federal officials or those contracted by the government,\u201d the group wrote.\n\n\u201cThe incident in Aurora, and the broader pattern of shootings involving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel across the country, undermine public trust and threaten community safety,\u201d they continued. \u201cAs members of the Colorado Congressional delegation, we are responsible for defending the constitutional rights of our constituents and protecting our communities and our law enforcement. The events in Aurora raise questions about whether current DHS policies and practices keep communities, protesters, and law enforcement safe.\u201d\n\nSince his election to Congress, Crow has fought to promote transparency, oversight, and accountability in federal immigration detention centers. He introduced bipartisan legislation guaranteeing Members of Congress the right to conduct unannounced, in-person oversight visits of ICE detention facilities, including to check on any concerns related to public health and the humane treatment of detained individuals. He has also led the charge calling for the end to private for profit immigration detention facilities. Crow regularly conducts oversight of Aurora\u2019s immigration detention facility. Since 2019, Crow and his staff have visited the facility to conduct oversight more than 100 times. Public reports of such visits, along with conditions at the facility, are published on Crow\u2019s website.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:\n\nSecretary Mullin,\n\nWe write to express our concern over the July 16, 2026 shooting of a 21-year-old woman near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Aurora, Colorado. While we are relieved that her injuries were not life-threatening, we must ensure that personnel operating at federal immigration detention facilities are adequately screened and trained to prevent incidents like this one. According to the Aurora Police Department, GEO Group employees reporting for their shifts that day were unable to enter the facility because of protest activity. Police allege that two protesters verbally confronted GEO employees and photographed their vehicles before walking away. One employee then retrieved a personally owned firearm and fired in their direction, striking one woman in the foot. He has been charged with seven offenses, including attempted second-degree murder.\n\nImmigration enforcement officers and the contractors supporting them have an obligation to protect public safety while exercising restraint and professionalism. Protests outside immigration detention centers are routine occurrences. An agency responsible for operating secure facilities should be equipped to maintain safe access, communicate with employees, coordinate with local law enforcement, and prevent confrontations between the community and facility personnel from escalating. Just as we believe law enforcement should never be targeted with violence, we believe lawful protesters should be protected \u2013 not attacked \u2013 by federal officials or those contracted by the government.\n\nThe incident in Aurora, and the broader pattern of shootings involving Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel across the country, undermine public trust and threaten community safety. As members of the Colorado Congressional delegation, we are responsible for defending the constitutional rights of our constituents and protecting our communities and our law enforcement. The events in Aurora raise questions about whether current DHS policies and practices keep communities, protesters, and law enforcement safe. We believe a thorough review of the Department's policies is necessary to ensure that similar incidents do not recur.\n\nGiven this urgent need, we request written responses to the following questions by August 14, 2026:\n\nWhat coordination has DHS and ICE undertaken with state and local law enforcement to manage public demonstrations while ensuring employees can safely access their places of work? What will that coordination look like moving forward?\n\nWhat de-escalation, use-of-force, crisis intervention, threats against employees, and crowd-management training is required for DHS personnel and contractor employees assigned to ICE facilities? What training has been provided to the employees at the Aurora facility concerning de-escalation, use-of-force, crisis intervention, threats against employees, and crowd-management training? Which of these trainings did the employee charged in the July 16 shooting complete and on which dates did he complete them?\n\nWhat screening and vetting procedures does DHS require for contractor personnel before they are assigned to ICE facilities? What screening was conducted for the individual charged in the July 16 shooting?\n\nWhat policies and operational plans do DHS and ICE have in place to protect both protesters and employees outside DHS and ICE facilities, including contracted facilities? Does ICE require its detention contractors to designate alternative entrances, transportation arrangements, or other measures for employees during demonstrations or other disruptions to access?\n\nGEO Group has placed the employee on unpaid leave and stated that it is cooperating with law enforcement. Beyond the ongoing investigation, what additional steps will DHS and ICE take to determine whether similar vulnerabilities exist at other contracted detention facilities? How will DHS and ICE strengthen oversight of its personnel and contractors and prevent similar incidents from occurring?\n\nIn addition to providing the information above, we urge the Department to conduct an independent review of its security procedures, contractor oversight, employee training, and firearms policies, especially as they relate to anticipated confrontations, and to make its findings and recommendations publicly available.\n\nWe appreciate your prompt attention to this urgent matter and look forward to your response.", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-democratic-veterans-demand-transparency-on-troop-casualties", "Crow, Democratic Veterans Demand Transparency on Troop Casualties", "2026-07-31", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, along with 14 other Democratic veteran Members of Congress, are demanding the Trump administration release accurate information regarding all troop deaths and injuries during his reckless war with Iran.\n\n\"As veterans of America's wars, we have serious concerns about reports that the Department of War is delaying, removing or otherwise mischaracterizing the release of information about wounded and killed U.S. servicemembers,\" wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\"The U.S. government owes U.S. servicemembers, their families, and every American the truth about all U.S. casualties in the war with Iran. It is imperative that these reports are timely, accurate and adequately explain the reason for amended or delayed reports,\" they continued. \"We urge you to commit to releasing timely and accurate information on all injuries and deaths of U.S. servicemembers.\"\n\nAfter public reporting uncovered that the Pentagon lowered the number of troop deaths during the war with Iran from 18 to 14, the Department of Defense quietly restored the names. The Administration has provided conflicting explanations as to why the servicemembers names were removed to begin with. The reporting also detailed that DoD has misled the public about the number of troops injured and wounded during the war.\n\nJoining Congressman Crow are Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Derek Tran (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jared Golden (D-ME), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Eugene Vindman (D-VA).\n\nCrow has repeatedly condemned Trump\u2019s illegal war of choice in Iran, and helped lead a war powers resolution that passed the House last week. As an Army Ranger who grew up in a working-class family and served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow saw firsthand the repercussions of forever wars on servicemembers and hard-working Americans. He has demanded answers on how this administration is protecting troops in the region, and on recent civilian deaths, including a U.S. strike on an Iranian girls\u2019 elementary school where at least 175 civilians, many of them children, were killed.\n\nA PDF of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-08-01T07:27:26Z", "2026-08-01T07:28:22Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1827", "In Response to the Aspen Acres and Willow Fires, Rep. Pettersen Leads Bipartisan Wildfire Mitigation Package", "2026-07-30", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2013 Today, Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) introduced a suite of six bills aimed at helping communities prepare, respond to, and recover from increasingly destructive wildfires. This comes after the Aspen Acres and Willow fires have been raging across the state of Colorado, scorching over a hundred thousand acres of land, claiming over 300 homes, and upending the lives of families and small businesses in the state.\n\n\u201cThe recent Aspen Acres and Willow fires were devastating to our communities and natural environment. Our Colorado families understand that wildfire season is no longer just a few months of the year. The threat is constant and increasing due to climate change, and we need an all-hands-on-deck approach,\u201d said Rep. Pettersen. \u201cThese bills will help us turn wildfire research into action, streamlines and removes partisanship from our processes, protect every firefighter exposed to dangerous conditions, combat the devastating mountain pine beetle outbreaks that make our forests more vulnerable to destructive fires, and ensure communities receive the disaster-mitigation resources they need on time, when it matters.\u201d\n\nPettersen continued, \u201cMy heart is with all those who lost their homes and businesses in these devastating fires and are now preparing to start over. I am deeply grateful to all the first responders who worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe and the four wildland firefighters who gave their lives protecting the communities we love.\u201d\n\nThe 6 bills in the bipartisan package include:\n\nWildfire Research Coordination Act, Representatives Pettersen and Mike Lawler (R-NY)\n\nSupports increased collaboration among federal agencies to improve wildfire research and prevention strategies.\n\nBill text can be found here.\n\nWildfire Responder Protection Act, Representatives Pettersen and Mike Lawler (R-NY)\n\nEnsures all those who fight fires are entitled to the proper health care coverage when they are exposed to hazardous conditions.\n\nBill text can be found here.\n\nEmergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response Act, Representatives Pettersen and Joe Neguse (D-CO)\n\nProvides grant opportunities to on-the-ground partners working in coordination with the Forest Service to mitigate mountain pine beetle threats.\n\nBill text can be found here.\n\nMountain Pine Beetle Coordination Act, Representatives Pettersen and Joe Neguse (D-CO)\n\nDirects the Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements with states specifically to prevent, monitor, and respond to mountain pine beetle outbreaks.\n\nBill text can be found here.\n\nGuaranteed Disaster Assistance Act, Representative Pettersen\n\nEnsures that Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding is distributed to states following a major disaster or when Fire Management Assistance Grant funding is provided to respond to a wildfire.\n\nBill text can be found here.\n\nHUD Disaster Information Improvements Act, Representatives Pettersen and Tim Moore (R-NC)\n\nRequires the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to work seamlessly with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration to support families and businesses when a disaster strikes.\n\nBill text can be found here.\n\nColorado\u2019s wildfire seasons have grown longer, more intense, and more destructive as hotter, drier conditions coupled with record low snowfall increase the risk of catastrophic fires across the state. Since 2012, Colorado has experienced 17 of its top 20 wildfires in history, and in total, nearly 2,800 homes in Colorado have been lost to fires in the past 14 years. Communities are facing unprecedented threats to homes, businesses, critical infrastructure, and natural resources, while firefighters and emergency personnel are being asked to respond in increasingly dangerous conditions. These disasters are worsening year after year. This requires urgent investment in prevention, improved coordination, and efforts that ensure responders and communities have the resources they need before, during, and after a wildfire.\n\nIntroduced by Representatives Pettersen and Mike Lawler (R-NY), the Wildfire Research Coordination Act directs the Department of Defense\u2019s (DOD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program to coordinate with the Department of Interior\u2019s Joint Fire Science Program when establishing fire-research priorities. This will support increased collaboration among federal agencies to improve wildfire research and prevention strategies, and to better ensure that recommendations are deployed in the field when wildfires strike.\n\nRepresentatives Pettersen and Lawler also introduced the Wildfire Responder Protection Act, which will expand the definition of \u201cfirefighter\u201d to include all personnel who support fire activities and are exposed to fire-related hazards to ensure all those who fight fires are entitled to the proper health care coverage when they are exposed to hazardous conditions. This will empower the firefighting workforce by supporting the health and safety of first responders.\n\nThese bills are endorsed by the Alliance for Wildfire Resilience.\n\n\"Wildfires continue to threaten our communities, public lands, and military installations across the country. We must make sure our firefighters have the tools, resources, and protections they need as they put their lives on the line to keep Americans safe. These two pieces of legislation take important steps to strengthen wildfire research and coordination while ensuring the brave men and women who perform critical fire prevention and suppression duties, including burn bosses, fuels specialists, and prescribed fire crews, have access to the workers\u2019 compensation protections they deserve,\" said Congressman Lawler.\n\nRepresentatives Pettersen and Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response Act, which would establish a Mountain Pine Beetle Emergency Response Program within the U.S. Forest Service. The program would provide grant opportunities to on-the-ground partners working in coordination with the Forest Service to mitigate mountain pine beetle threats on National Forest System land. Mountain pine beetle outbreaks can kill large numbers of trees, damage watersheds and outdoor recreation areas, and create dangerous conditions that can worsen the threat of wildfires.\n\nRepresentatives Pettersen and Neguse also introduced the Mountain Pine Beetle Coordination Act, which would direct the Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements with states specifically to prevent, monitor, and respond to mountain pine beetle outbreaks. This will allow localities additional resources and a stronger framework for responding to emerging outbreaks before they cause widespread and lasting damage.\n\nThese bills are endorsed by Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and the Colorado State Forest Service.\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s forests are under increasing strain from hotter, drier conditions, and now devastation caused by the spread of mountain pine beetles,\u201d said Congressman Neguse. \u201cAs Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, I\u2019ve seen firsthand how critical it is to ensure our communities and land managers have the resources they need to respond to emerging threats. Protecting our public lands as we face an outbreak of mountain pine beetle along Colorado's Front Range requires strong coordination at every level of government. I\u2019m proud to work with Representative Pettersen to strengthen federal-state partnerships and ensure Colorado has the tools needed to confront this challenge head-on.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Pettersen introduced the Guaranteed Disaster Assistance Act, which will ensure that Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding is distributed to states following a major disaster or when Fire Management Assistance Grant funding is provided to respond to a wildfire. Currently, access to certain long-term hazard-mitigation resources can depend on whether the President issues a major disaster declaration. This legislation would ensure that mitigation funding is automatically made available, allowing states and communities to begin recovering and reducing future risks without waiting for an additional presidential declaration.\n\nRepresentatives Pettersen and Tim Moore (R-NC) also introduced the HUD Disaster Information Improvements Act, which would require the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to support families and businesses when a disaster strikes. This increased government coordination will allow federal support to be funneled into communities affected by wildfires and natural disasters more efficiently, allowing communities to better rebuild after disasters.\n\n\u201cIn the wake of Hurricane Helene, it became clear that we need better coordination between agencies to get disaster assistance to communities faster,\u201d said Congressman Tim Moore. \u201cThe GAO and HUD\u2019s Inspector General have identified serious challenges with data sharing, duplication-of-benefits determinations, and improper payments. This legislation strengthens transparency and coordination between agencies, helping reduce waste, fraud, and abuse while ensuring disaster relief gets to folks more efficiently.\u201d\n\nDuring her time in Congress, Rep. Pettersen has been actively bolstering federal support for wildfire prevention and mitigation. Recently, the House passed her bipartisan Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act. She also introduced the Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act and Natural Disaster Property Protection Act and helped introduce the SHELTER Act. These bills would help communities reduce wildfire risks, detect fires earlier, protect homes and businesses, and restore landscapes after disasters. Rep. Pettersen also launched a Wildfire Resource Hub on her website to help Colorado families prepare for, track, and recover from wildfires.\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-07-31T07:49:23Z", "2026-07-31T07:50:48Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/neguse-bennet-hickenlooper-raise-concerns-over-forest-service-proposal-lease", "Neguse, Bennet, Hickenlooper Raise Concerns\u00a0Over Forest Service Proposal to Lease Nearly 14,000 Acres for Potential Oil and Gas Development", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 Yesterday, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper penned a letter opposing the proposed lease of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands in Routt and Moffat Counties to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In doing so they joined a number of local leaders who have similarly raised concerns about the Forest Service\u2019s plans to lease nearly 14,000 acres of USFS lands to the BLM, a decision that would open the door to future oil and gas development in the area and could jeopardize critical wildlife habitats, sensitive watersheds, and outdoor recreational opportunities.\n\nThe Colorado lawmakers have been steadfast in their efforts to protect Colorado's public lands, teaming up to stop President Trump and Congressional Republicans\u2019 plan to mandate the sale of millions of acres of public land across the American West through the budget reconciliation process, while also introducing landmark legislation like the CORE Act to establish new wilderness areas and safeguard outdoor recreation in these treasured landscapes.\n\nNeguse, who has represented Routt County since 2023 and currently serves as the Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, also recently introduced a bill to protect the right of local communities to provide input into proposed oil and gas lease sales on national public lands. The Local Input Act restores the Department of the Interior\u2019s discretion to incorporate public comments and defer nominated parcels that conflict with the public interest.\n\nChanges enacted under the Trump administration last year effectively stripped local communities, landowners, and state and local officials of a meaningful voice in leasing decisions on public lands by eliminating BLM\u2019s authority to defer lease parcels even if legitimate conflicts are identified.\n\nThe proposed federal oil and gas lease sale underwent a 30-day public comment period that began June 18 and ran through July 17. As the Colorado lawmakers have made clear, it\u2019s imperative the administration considers local feedback.\n\nRead their full letter HERE and below:\n\nJuly 27, 2026\n\nForest Supervisor Dawn Laybolt\n\nMedicine Bow-Routt National Forests and\n\nThunder Basin National Grassland\n\n3838 Cherrywood East Loop\n\nLaramie, WY 82070\n\nDear Forest Supervisor Laybolt,\n\nWe write to express our concern with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)\u2019s Routt National Forest Draft Environmental Assessment (EA), proposing to lease 10 parcels in northwest Routt and Moffat Counties in Colorado, to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The USFS has received Expressions of Interest to lease these 13,850 acres to the BLM for potential future oil and gas lease, exploration, and development, and initiated a public comment period last month.\n\nLocal leaders, including Routt County, members of the Steamboat Springs City Council, and the Western Resilience Center, have expressed concerns with this proposed lease. Six of the 10 parcels currently under consideration within the EA contain sensitive watersheds, and two contain cutthroat trout habitat. These proposed parcels also overlap significantly with habitat and migration corridors for elk, mule deer, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, golden eagles, and more.\n\nThe proposed lease of these areas for future oil and gas development threatens to disrupt critical wildlife habitats and wildlife migrating and living throughout the region, in addition to degrading important watersheds. These parcels overlap with the California Park Special Interest Area, an area of critical ecological significance for Northwest Colorado and where there is active watershed restoration work underway in collaboration with the USFS.\n\nThese areas are also important for recreation, and the outdoor recreation economy is a significant economic driver for Routt County and the surrounding communities. Several existing multi-use trails overlap with the proposed parcels, in addition to areas that are valuable for hunting and fishing. Prior oil and gas development efforts within Routt County have historically not been economically viable or demonstrated commercial viability in the areas proposed for lease. We are concerned that this proposed action would significantly jeopardize the existing economic drivers for the region, including outdoor recreation.\n\nWe are also concerned that Routt County was not notified of this proposed action prior to the agency\u2019s announcement. Any proposed leasing actions should be accompanied by significant and meaningful public and community engagement, including with the local jurisdictions that would be impacted.\n\nAs you consider the proposed lease of these lands to the BLM, we request you take full and fair consideration of the concerns raised by the impacted community and the highest and best use of these public lands.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/time-jason-crow-s-road-from-paratrooper-to-democratic-power-player", "TIME: Jason Crow's Road From Paratrooper to Democratic Power Player", "2026-07-27", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "The death threats arrived almost immediately.\n\nRepresentative Jason Crow, along with five other Democrats in Congress with national-\u00adsecurity backgrounds, had recorded a video last November reminding those working in military and intelligence roles that they did not have to follow illegal orders. A message careful to stick to the letter of the law prompted President Donald Trump to call for its makers to be arrested and charged with treason. \u201cHANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!\u201d read a social media post that Trump publicly shared. A federal grand jury in Washington declined the Justice Department\u2019s effort to indict the lawmakers. That victory hasn\u2019t mitigated Crow\u2019s anger at how he believes the President\u2019s response put his family\u2019s safety at risk.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m really bad at sitting in a foxhole and having people lob grenades at me,\u201d Crow, a former paratrooper and Army Ranger, tells TIME on a June afternoon at Democratic National Committee headquarters. \u201cI\u2019m going to lob them back.\u201d\n\nThe fallout from the viral video placed Crow, 47, in the strongest national spotlight since 2019, when he was a House freshman tapped to be a prosecutor in Trump\u2019s first impeachment trial. In the interim, his stature on Capitol Hill has steadily grown, as Crow emerged as a go-to voice for his party on national security. The midterm elections could further elevate his standing, as he\u2019s helped lead candidate recruitment for House Democrats, prioritizing veterans and others with backgrounds in national security.\n\nIn Crow\u2019s mind, these elections will show voters that Democrats have learned how to run effectively on national-\u00adsecurity issues, while still hammering Republicans on the twin tentpoles of cost and corruption. At the same time, Crow says his party is in need of a hard reset before 2028\u2014though, like many, he is still workshopping ideas for what might work.\n\n\u201cThere is actually an opportunity to build something new\u2014not rebuild, not go back, not try to reconstitute what once was, because Americans don\u2019t want that,\u201d he says.\n\nShould Democrats take the House this fall, Crow is in prime position to be a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee\u2019s \u00admajority. Should a Democrat reclaim the White House in 2028, his name is likely to come up on the short lists for Cabinet positions. He also has his eye on Colorado\u2019s Senate seat, and is not shy about a possible White House run down the line.\n\nFirst, though, Crow has to navigate this tricky political moment, one that has Democrats feeling ascendant but still staring down low approval ratings. It\u2019s not entirely unfamiliar terrain for Crow, who rode an earlier anti-Trump wave while vowing to stand up to party leaders he viewed as failing to meet the moment. Only this time, he\u2019s on the inside.\n\nImpeachment and Iran\n\nEight years ago, Crow was one of House Democrats\u2019 top recruits\u2014a lawyer and veterans\u2019 advocate who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.\n\nEven still, he was far from a sure thing when he challenged Representative Mike Coffman, a fixture in Colorado Republican circles since Crow was in middle school. \u201cThis was an unwinnable race, remember?\u201d Crow recalls with a smirk.\n\nTo show he wasn\u2019t running against just Trump, but Washington writ large, Crow vowed not to vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker if Democrats won a House majority, which they did. When it came time for the vote, Crow defied the most powerful Democrat in Washington by casting his ballot for Tammy Duckworth, a fellow veteran representing Illinois in the Senate.\n\n\u201cI explained that this was not personal. This was part of a larger effort to usher in that next generation,\u201d Crow recalls.\n\nTen months later, when it became clear that the Trump impeachment train was leaving the station for its first go-round, Pelosi rang up her former detractor. It was, Crow said later, \u201clike being called into the principal\u2019s office.\u201d Pelosi needed someone with his skill set and temperament to convey the stakes of Trump\u2019s attempts to pressure Ukraine without coming off as a partisan hack. While the House voted to impeach, the Senate declined to convict.\n\nFor Crow during that period, death threats became routine. He had an armed guard outside his house. A security detail walked his kids to school. Which brings him to last year. The security had to be called back. His \u201cillegal orders\u201d video brought about another round of threats\u2014including some from Trump that Crow\u2019s office referred to the Capitol Police, according to an email obtained by TIME.\n\nCrow\u2019s national-\u00adsecurity background has helped propel his reach in Congress, where he\u2019s a top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee as well as the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee\u2019s spy panel. When House Democrats needed someone to run point on a panel investigating the failed assassination against Trump in Butler, Pa., they tapped Crow. Last week, Crow and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, forced a House vote to halt the war in Iran, with the measure passing 214-208.\n\nRecruiting \"streetfighters\" to Congress\n\nBut it\u2019s his work helping Democrats win back the House that may win him the most chits. As a leader in candidate recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Crow has his hands in just about every contested race in the country, and is making a point of finding people he believes voters will view as \u201cstreet fighters.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe oath of service I took doesn\u2019t expire,\u201d says JoAnna Mendoza, a retired Marine Corps drill sergeant and Crow recruit who is taking on Representative Juan Ciscomani, an Arizona Republican, in one of the top toss-up races in the country.\n\nMendoza has the support of Crow and the DCCC well before her primary. It\u2019s a different story in some House races in other states where the DCCC either professed neutrality or backed a different candidate from whomever Crow endorsed through his political action committee, Service First.\n\nCrow\u2019s theory is that some of his preferred candidates\u2014Marine drill sergeants, federal prosecutors\u2014are more likely to excite those who are down on both parties.\n\nThe DCCC's chair, Rep. Suzan DelBene from Washington state, is hardly trying to curb his instincts.\n\n\u201cJason brings a servant leadership ethos and a soldier\u2019s discipline to the job. He knows that voters want fighters who put their local communities first, not undying loyalty to partisan ideology,\" she tells TIME. \"His tireless work at recruiting, mentoring, and raising money to support candidates has been essential in our path back to the majority.\u201d\n\nIf his instincts prove right, Crow may bring a whole raft of newcomers to Congress who are loyal to a mentor who helped get them there. Whatever Crow\u2019s future ambitions, a cohort of fellow street fighters might come in handy.\n\n\u201cI have an independent streak to me,\u201d he concedes. \u201cBut, you know, when we win, people will be pretty happy about that.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-hosts-annual-job-fair-in-aurora-largest-to-date", "Crow Hosts Annual Job Fair in Aurora, Largest to Date", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) hosted his annual job fair for Coloradans. Dozens of local employers from across the Denver metro area and nearly 450 jobseekers attended the job fair. This was Crow\u2019s largest job fair to date.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to host an annual job fair that brings our community together, connecting Coloradans with new job opportunities. I\u2019m thankful to Coloradans and dozens of local employers who showed up to make this our largest job fair ever,\u201d said Congressman Crow.\n\nVeterans and spouses of servicemembers were granted early access to the job fair. The event included employers from a number of industries, including: Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado Children\u2019s Hospital, Amazon, City of Aurora, Southwest, Colorado Laborers & Contractors Education & Training, UCHealth, and more.\n\nThroughout his time in Congress, Congressman Crow has made it a priority to connect Coloradans with important community resources through annual job fairs. This was his second job fair of 2026.", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1818", "As Trump Moves to Politicize Federal Grants, Rep. Pettersen Leads Push to Protect Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Funding", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) led 45 members in calling on the Trump Administration to reverse course on their policy effort to politicize the federal grantmaking process, allowing political appointees to have the final say on whether or not communities receive taxpayer funding. In her letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russel Vought and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pettersen specifically highlights the importance of non-partisan grant making for programs under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which would also be at risk under the administration's proposal.\n\n\u201cMy mom, like far too many Americans, struggled with substance abuse disorder for decades until she was finally able to get the help she needed and enter recovery. In the fight to save her life, I realized just how broken our health care system is, especially for mental health and substance use. I\u2019ve spent 15 years in elected office building up our behavioral health system, and it has worked. Colorado recently saw a 35% reduction in fentanyl-related deaths,\u201d said Rep. Pettersen. \u201cBut Trump wants to backtrack on all the progress we have made. SAMHSA performs critical work, and its grants make sure communities in Colorado, especially our rural areas, have access to high-quality care when they need it. I am so lucky that my mom was able to get help, but that opportunity should be open to everyone who needs it. Federal grants are existential for many of these treatment programs, and we must ensure they continue to be awarded based on evidence, not by Trump's political goals and vendettas.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the members wrote, \u201cThe proposed rule would fundamentally alter how federal grants are awarded by shifting decision-making away from an established, neutral criteria. Instead of relying on statutory requirements, expert agency review, and merit\u2011based evaluation, the rule would allow appointed officials to decide which communities, institutions, and programs receive federal support. It\u2019s a sharp break from long\u2011standing Uniform Guidance.\u201d\n\nThe members continued, \u201cThe proposed rule would undermine the longevity of vital programs, including those that support care for mental health and substance use disorder in the United States. By destabilizing the very framework that enables sustained federal investment in these services, the rule threatens the backbone of our national response and the programs that rely on predictable, reliable grant administration to reach the communities most in need.\u201d\n\nSAMHSA operates grant programs that help states and local communities prevent and treat substance use disorder, expand mental health services, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, and support crisis response and suicide prevention efforts. These efforts have shown incredible success, with preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing a 14% drop in overdose deaths in 2025. But earlier this year, SAMHSA terminated over 2,000 grants \u2014 totaling more than $2 billion \u2014 deepening widespread insecurity across our federal grantmaking system. After pressure from Congresswoman Pettersen, the Trump Administration reversed this decision.\n\nTrump\u2019s Office of Management and Budget\u2019s (OMB) so-called \u201cRegulation for Federal Financial Assistance\u201d would fundamentally alter how federal grants are awarded by shifting away from an established, neutral criteria, instead allowing political appointees to determine which communities, institutions, and programs receive federal support. This is an unprecedented move, which would further their efforts to use the federal government as a tool to settle political scores against certain states and communities rather than a non-partisan support for the American people.\n\nColorado has been a consistent target of the Trump Administration\u2019s politically motivated funding attacks. The Administration has moved to freeze more than $300 million for child care and other essential services, $94 million from Jefferson County Public Schools, and canceled $109 million in transportation grants for rail safety improvements, public transit, and electric vehicle infrastructure. These were resources already approved to help Colorado families and communities, but the Administration withheld them because Colorado would not fall in line with its political agenda. This proposed rule would give the Administration broad authority to deny federal funding from specific communities and localities, further jeopardizing the services and development projects that Coloradans rely on.\n\nThis rule also comes in the aftermath of over two years of grant instability caused by widespread impoundment, cancellations, and delays of federal funding under the Trump Administration. Millions of organizations, local governments, and providers in every state depend on federal funding through the grantmaking process to perform essential services and critical scientific and medical research. One-third of nonprofits reported experiencing a disruption in government funding in the first months of 2025, including 21 percent that lost funding and 27 percent that experienced a delay, pause, or freeze. These disruptions have forced child care providers, schools, local governments, health care organizations, and research institutions to operate under constant uncertainty, threatening the services families rely on and the research that drives American innovation and strengthens our global standing.\n\nRather than correcting the instability of recent years, this rule risks deepening it \u2014 creating new barriers, injecting additional uncertainty into the grantmaking process, and undermining the ability of communities to plan and deliver the programs Americans depend on.\n\nRep. Pettersen has consistently spoken out against the Trump Administration\u2019s politicization of federal funding and its targeting of Colorado and the resources families rely on. Rep. Pettersen led 83 members of the Democratic delegation alongside Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in demanding that the Trump Administration immediately reverse course on its freeze of over $10 billion in child care funding for five Democratic-led states. After this pressure, the Trump Administration recently announced that it would lift its freeze.\n\nThe full version of Pettersen\u2019s latest letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Director Vought:\n\nWe write to express our deep concerns with the Office of Management and Budget\u2019s (OMB) proposed rule, \u201cRegulation for Federal Financial Assistance,\u201d released on May 29, 2026. This rule would revise Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, otherwise known as \u201cUniform Guidance,\u201d and it carries significant implications for our mental health and substance use disorder services and systems. Uniform Guidance has existed for over a decade. It serves as the framework for managing financial assistance while also consolidating OMB requirements for federal awards. This guidance has historically supported the financial and physical security of federal grant operations, providing a durable oversight structure that safeguards federal dollars, preserves interagency integrity, and anchors the stability that the proposed rule now places at risk.\n\nThe proposed rule would fundamentally alter how federal grants are awarded by shifting decision-making away from an established, neutral criteria and toward processes that could allow for political influence over funding determinations. Instead of relying on statutory requirements, expert agency review, and merit\u2011based evaluation, the rule would invite political actors to decide which communities, institutions, and programs receive federal support. It\u2019s a sharp break from long\u2011standing Uniform Guidance.\n\nThe proposed rule would undermine the longevity of vital programs, including those that support care for mental health and substance use disorder in the United States. By destabilizing the very framework that enables sustained federal investment in these services, the rule threatens the backbone of our national response and the programs that rely on predictable, reliable grant administration to reach the communities most in need. Our concerns arise from recent instances that have demonstrated the importance of safeguarding the foundation, stability, and predictability of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants.\n\nIn January 2026, SAMHSA announced the abrupt termination of over 2,000 grants, totaling more than $2 billion. Upon notification, awardees received minimal justification regarding the cancellation. Only twenty-four hours later, administration officials rescinded this decision confirming that all impacted grant funding would be restored. Despite this reinstatement, the unanticipated announcement sent awardees across the country into widespread alarm. The whiplash of termination, reinstatement, and subsequent recovery time demonstrated how fragile program stability becomes when foundational guardrails are weakened, underscoring the critical need to safeguard predictability for SAMHSA grantees and the communities they serve.\n\nFunding for substance use disorder treatment and mental health services is not a partisan priority; it is a responsibility of the government and must not be left to the priorities of political actors. All fifty states and the District of Columbia offer programs and strategically invest in resources and services to support individuals with substance use disorder and those living with mental health conditions. Combatting this epidemic and reducing overdose deaths remains a collaborative effort. Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrates a 13% decline in U.S. overdose deaths this year. This decline is the result of long-term investment in substance use disorder funding and resources, and further progress must not be delayed or threatened. Individuals, communities, and families across the nation are depending on reliable resources that are anchored to dependable funding sources, including the federal investments that sustain critical mental health and substance use disorder programs.\n\nGiven the overwhelming support to preserve and protect grant funding that expands access to treatment and resources for mental health and substance use disorder, we request that OMB immediately repeal any proposed changes to Uniform Guidance. At a moment when progress against overdose deaths is finally emerging and demand for mental health services continues to rise, it is essential that we maintain, not weaken, the foundation that allows these lifesaving programs to operate. Fracturing that foundation would jeopardize the future of critical services that individuals, families, and communities depend on every day.\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-introduces-bill-to-grant-vulnerable-afghans-temporary-protected-status", "Crow Introduces Bill to Grant Vulnerable Afghans Temporary Protected Status", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, introduced the Afghanistan TPS Act, legislation that will protect Afghan nationals already in the United States against the threat of deportation by granting them Temporary Protected Status (TPS).\n\nCrow\u2019s bill provides certainty and stability for Afghans currently in the United States. This comes as conditions in Afghanistan remain extremely dangerous, and follows a previous decision by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to terminate TPS for Afghanistan.\n\nThis bill would designate Afghans under TPS until July 2029. TPS allows foreign nationals fleeing violence, conflict, and instability to live and work in the United States. Under TPS, individuals are rigorously and continuously vetted before they can receive this status.\n\n\u201cWhen I served in combat in Afghanistan, I fought alongside brave Afghans. Without their help, I may not be here today. After more than 20 years of war, we promised we\u2019d protect those who protected us. The U.S. must live up to that commitment,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cAs many face violence and persecution in Afghanistan by the Taliban if they are sent back, our legislation would protect Afghans already here in the United States.\u201d\n\nCrow introduced this bill alongside Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Maria Salazar (R-FL). It is endorsed by AfghanEvac, No One Left Behind, Global Refuge, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and Refugees International.\n\n\u201cThousands of Afghans risked their lives alongside our troops, fighting for freedom from a brutal regime,\u201d said Congressman Liccardo. \u201cAbandoning our promise to protect them does not merely stain the Trump administration, but it betrays the honor of every American. We regain that honor by supporting those who fight tyranny, by keeping our word, and by reclaiming our American identity as a radiant beacon of liberty to a dark world.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica should not turn its back on Afghan allies who risked everything to support our troops and our mission, especially after the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan,\u201d said Congressman Don Bacon. \u201cMany of these individuals were our allies who served bravely alongside American servicemembers, came here through lawful or humanitarian pathways, and are still going through the legal process here in the United States. The Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026 provides temporary protection and work authorization for eligible Afghans who are already here, while requiring biometric and biographic information and criminal and national-security background checks. This is not a permanent immigration status, but a responsible bridge for vetted allies and families who stood with America and could face persecution or death if forced back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. I\u2019m grateful to work with Reps. Crow, Liccardo, and Salazar on this effort to keep America\u2019s promise to those who stood with us.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfghanistan remains under Taliban control, and thousands of Afghans who sought refuge in the United States cannot safely return. Among them are families who stood shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers, risked everything to support our country, and would face persecution if forced to return,\u201d said Congresswoman Salazar. \u201cI am proud to co-lead legislation extending Temporary Protected Status for vetted Afghans already in the United States while maintaining strict criminal and national-security screening. TPS exists for moments like this.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfghan allies risked everything for this country. They deserve to rest easy and pursue the American dream while their paperwork catches up, not live with fear hanging over every doctor\u2019s appointment, every lease signing, every school drop-off,\u201d said Shawn VanDiver, President and Board Founder of AfghanEvac. \u201cAfghanEvac is proud to endorse the bipartisan Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026, introduced by Representatives Crow, Liccardo, Salazar, and Bacon, and we urge Congress to pass it without delay.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur Afghan allies did not stop being our allies when their status changed. Afghan partners took extraordinary risks on our behalf for twenty years, and the ongoing threats to their lives in Afghanistan are well documented. How we treat them now determines whether America has the same support in the next national security conflict,\u201d said Andrew Sullivan, Executive Director of No One Left Behind. \u201cSending people who worked and sacrificed for the United States back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan hands our adversaries a propaganda win and unnecessarily puts our allies at risk. This bill promotes national security by enforcing rigorous vetting and thorough security checks while protecting vetted Afghan nationals. No One Left Behind is proud to endorse this legislation, and we thank Representatives Crow, Bacon, Salazar, and Liccardo for the bipartisan work behind it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe termination of TPS for Afghanistan remains as indefensible today as it was a year ago. Conditions in Afghanistan have only deteriorated, and it is simply not safe to force Afghans who have lived lawfully and peacefully in the United States to return,\u201d said Krish O\u2019Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge. \u201cNearly five years after the fall of Kabul, we are grateful for the leadership of this bipartisan group of lawmakers urging restored humanitarian protections and efficient processing of applications for protection and work authorization. Their action is essential to ensuring Afghan families are not pushed back into harm\u2019s way.\u201d\n\n\u201cIAVA will always stand by our Afghan Allies. Our national security and credibility as a moral nation depends on how we treat those who saved countless lives of men and women in uniform for over two decades in Afghanistan combat,\u201d said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). \u201cWe are encouraged by Representatives Crow, Liccardo, Salazar, and Bacon for their leadership in the fight to uphold our promise to our Allies. While this bill offers a narrowly scoped, time-limited reprieve, we are hopeful that it can be a meaningful stepping stone towards a lasting pathway to citizenship. We are proud to support the steps this legislation makes, and Congress for recognizing that it\u2019s long overdue to fulfill that promise.\u201d\n\nCongressman Crow has been a long-standing champion of our Afghan allies. Crow has highlighted the importance of the SIV program in U.S. Congressional hearings and worked to ensure the authorization of 12,000 additional Afghan SIVs in the State Department's foreign operations funding bill. He has demanded the Trump Administration answer for reported plans to transfer Afghan refugees to unsafe third-country destinations. He introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act to provide a legal adjustment process for Afghan allies already in the United States, helped introduce the Afghan Allies Protection Act to expand and extend the SIV program, and started the Honoring Our Promises Working Group following the announcement of the withdrawal to help expedite SIVs and U.S. Refugee Admissions Programs.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-neguse-senator-lujan-introduce-local-input-act", "Congressman Neguse, Senator Luj\u00e1n Introduce the Local Input Act", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, and New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n introduced the Local Input Act. This bicameral bill seeks to protect the right of local communities to provide input into proposed oil and gas lease sales on national public lands, and would restore the Department of the Interior\u2019s discretion to incorporate public comments and defer nominated parcels that conflict with the public interest.\n\nThe bill\u2019s introduction comes at a critical moment for the country, particularly for communities in the American West. Changes enacted by Congress in 2025 effectively stripped local communities, landowners, and state and local officials of a meaningful voice in leasing decisions on public lands by eliminating the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM) authority to defer lease parcels even if legitimate conflicts are identified, including when proposed leases threaten water supplies, wildlife habitat, hunting and fishing, recreation, tourism, and cultural resources. The Department of the Interior is also currently proposing changes to the BLM\u2019s oil and gas leasing rule that would further reduce public input in this process to a mere 10-day protest period.\n\n\u201cIn Colorado, we\u2019ve seen the value of giving local communities a seat at the table. From farmers and ranchers to conservationists, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and Tribal communities, the people who live, work, and recreate on these lands should have a meaningful say in how they\u2019re managed. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce the Local Input Act. Together with Senator Luj\u00e1n, we\u2019re working to put public lands back in public hands,\u201d said Congressman Neguse.\n\n\u201cIn New Mexico and across the country, our public lands belong to the people, and everyone deserves a meaningful voice in how they are managed,\u201d said Senator Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m introducing the Local Input Act, commonsense legislation that ensures local communities are not sidelined when decisions affecting their water, lands, livelihoods, and way of life are made. I\u2019m proud to partner with Representative Neguse on this bill and will continue fighting to ensure every voice is heard when it comes to managing our public lands.\u201d\n\nThe Local Input Act is a common-sense, targeted fix that restores balance, accountability, and community input to the management of America's public lands. It reestablishes the Bureau of Land Management's authority to meaningfully consider public feedback and defer oil and gas lease parcels when legitimate conflicts are identified, reversing unintended consequences created by Congress. By ensuring that local communities, landowners, hunters, anglers, ranchers, Tribal Nations, and other stakeholders once again have a meaningful voice in public lands decisions, the bill helps protect water supplies, wildlife habitat, tourism and recreation, private property rights, ranching and grazing operations, and other economic, ecological, and cultural values that are vital to Western communities.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Colorado Fiscal Institute, Conservation Colorado, Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship, Montana Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Nevada Conservation League, Nevada Wildlife Federation, New Mexico Voices for Children, New Mexico Wild, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Nuestra Tierra, Public Land Solutions, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Save The Aurora Reservoir, Taxpayers for Common Sense, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Trout Unlimited, Western, Colorado Alliance, The Wilderness Society, Wilderness Workshop, Wild Montana.\n\nStatements of support can be found HERE.\n\nView the full bill text HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1813", "Rep. Pettersen Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Address Child Care Crisis for Military Families", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced bipartisan legislation that would address the military child care crisis for families. The Department of Defense (DOD) oversees the nation\u2019s most expansive employer-backed child care system, but a severe staffing deficit has stranded more than 7,800 military children on waitlists. This workforce crisis has forced classroom closures at various installations and has resulted in a persistent attrition rate of 50%. The Supporting Our Military Childcare Workforce Act, which Pettersen introduced alongside Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07), would address staff shortages, retention, and an underpaid workforce which has caused a crisis for families who have already sacrificed much in the name of duty and their country.\n\n\u201cMilitary families put everything on the line for our country. The least we should do for them is ensure they get the basic care and services they need. But the reality is, our service families are struggling \u2013 over 40% are food insecure, up to a third of families maintain $500 or less in emergency funds, and more than 10,000 children remain on childcare waitlists. That\u2019s unacceptable,\u201d said Rep. Pettersen. \u201cThese are all problems we need to urgently address in a bipartisan way, which is why I\u2019m proud to be working with my friend, Congressman Mackenzie, to solve part of this puzzle.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerican servicemembers and their families depend on access to high-quality child care,\u201d said Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), co-lead for this bipartisan legislation. \u201cAt a time when providers are grappling with a nationwide shortage of staff, it\u2019s essential that the Department of Defense step up to provide competitive wages for its child care workers. That\u2019s why this legislation provides a clearer understanding of the military\u2019s capacity to offer the child care benefits that families in our armed forces deserve. Thank you to Rep. Pettersen for working to ensure that American servicemembers have access to high-quality child care for their families.\u201d\n\nUnder the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act the DOD was mandated to establish a revised pay structure for our child care workforce. While these vital changes were slated for a nationwide rollout on April 1, 2025, the Army remains the sole branch to have publicly announced the implementation.\n\nThe bipartisan Pettersen/Mackenzie legislation would stabilize all our service members' families, who are having to make difficult decisions around quality child care, and also rising costs that are plaguing civilian families. Colorado is a leader in recruiting and keeping our military childcare workforce.\n\nRep. Pettersen has been a strong advocate for our service members and veterans since coming to Congress, championing critical initiatives to broaden healthcare availability and address the housing affordability crisis. Her legislative agenda prioritizes the establishment of rural veterans affairs (VA) clinics and advances bipartisan solutions to ensure greater transparency within the VA home-loan system, providing the direct support our heroes deserve.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the First Five Years Fund.\n\nText of the legislation is available HERE.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/aurora-sentinel-house-again-passes-a-resolution-seeking-to-halt-military-action-in-iran-as-the-conflict-escalates", "Aurora Sentinel: House again passes a resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran as the conflict escalates", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON | The House on Thursday narrowly passed a resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran, sending a warning to President Donald Trump for the second time as the war has escalated and the future of the conflict is increasingly uncertain.\n\nThe 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war came just before the Senate narrowly rejected a similar resolution, 47-49. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they are meant as a signal to the Republican president that his support on Capitol Hill is chipping away as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties have questioned his administration\u2019s endgame.\n\nAurora Democratic Rep. Jason Crow offered harsh criticism for the administration\u2019s handling of the war.\n\n\u201cAmericans are done with endless conflict in the Middle East,\u201d Crow said in a statement. \u201c18 American servicemembers have been killed since this war began. Hundreds more have been injured. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent. The President\u2019s war with Iran has been an unmitigated disaster. The costs are rising every day, yet the President is choosing to double down on his failures.\u201d\n\nOther Democrats agreed.\n\nThe war has had \u201cno clear mission, no strategy, no end goal,\u201d said Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat who led the resolution on the House floor.\n\nThe House resolution passed after a handful of Republicans voted with Democrats to end the war. But the vast majority of Republicans in both chambers voted to back the war and cede congressional war powers to Trump.\n\nJoint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes launched the war in late February. A tenuous ceasefire deal was reached in April, but Trump declared the ceasefire was \u201cover\u201d earlier this month.\n\nTrump has insisted that continued U.S. attacks against Iran do not mean a return to war or long-term action. After the first House vote to halt the war in early June, he posted on social media that it was \u201cunpatriotic\u201d and \u201cmeaningless.\u201d\n\nA statement of administration policy issued by the White House on Thursday noted that the resolutions don\u2019t have the force of law and encouraged lawmakers to vote against them.\n\n\u201cThe President has the Constitutional authority to defend the United States and our citizens from the danger posed by the Iranian regime,\u201d the policy statement said. \u201cThis requires the ability to act decisively to ensure it never obtains a nuclear weapon.\u201d\n\nContinued American airstrikes are occurring even as diplomatic efforts show little public sign of progress and officials on both sides have dug in on the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy that remains largely closed. The unpopular war threatens further worldwide economic disruption and is sending fuel prices up ahead of midterm U.S. elections this fall.\n\n\u201cWe are in this new escalatory phase where Americans have been killed, and Americans are experiencing the rising costs \u2014 I think it\u2019s important that people be held accountable,\u201d said Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat who led the Senate effort on Thursday. \u201cAnd this is a very unpopular war.\u201d\n\nMost Republicans vote to cede congressional powers\n\nAs the House debated the resolution Wednesday evening, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., read out names of 18 service members killed since the war began.\n\n\u201cTo belittle this mission is to belittle and demean the very service these members gave their life for,\u201d Mast said. \u201cTheir sacrifice was not meaningless. This operation is bringing reckoning for the hundreds of times Iran has attacked and killed people of the United States of America.\u201d\n\nThe top Democrat on the panel, New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, said that presidents are supposed to make the case to Congress.\n\nThe service members who died made the ultimate sacrifice for \u201can illegal unauthorized war that the American people don\u2019t want,\u201d Meeks said.\n\nDemocrats said they would continue to force Republicans to vote on the issue.\n\n\u201cIf Donald Trump won\u2019t listen to the people and end this war then Congress must,\u201d said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.\n\nTrump is watching Iran votes closely\n\nRepublicans on both sides of the Capitol know that voting against the war can have a political cost, even as many of them have privately questioned the Trump administration\u2019s handling of the conflict.\n\nIn his post after the June House vote, Trump called the four Republicans who voted with Democrats \u201cGRANDSTANDERS!\u201d and said they should be \u201cashamed of themselves.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories,\u201d he said.\n\nWhen the Senate passed a war powers resolution on Iran for the first time in June, Trump called the four Republicans who voted for it \u201closers\u201d and then reprimanded them at a Senate GOP luncheon that he attended the next day.\n\nLouisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the Republicans who had voted with Democrats, said afterward that he had clashed with Trump over the issue. He said he told Trump directly that he needed to give more details to the public about the conflict.\n\n\u201cThis was supposed to last four weeks. It\u2019s lasted four months,\u201d said Cassidy, who had just lost reelection in a primary after Trump endorsed one of his opponents. \u201cOur original objectives have not been achieved.\u201d\n\nTrump argued back, Cassidy later told reporters, and he told the president that he wouldn\u2019t change his vote until he got a briefing. The White House later relented, giving Cassidy a one-on-one meeting, and the Louisiana Republican changed his vote in a late-night do-over vote before the Senate left for a two-week recess.\n\nCassidy voted against the resolution again on Thursday.\n\nPolling finds Americans disapprove of the war\n\nMost Americans disapprove of the way Trump is handling the situation with Iran, according to recent polling. A Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted in July found that few Americans think the war in Iran has been worth fighting, and most aren\u2019t confident that the U.S. military action in Iran and negotiations to end the war will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.\n\nOnly about two-thirds of Republicans approve of Trump\u2019s handling of the situation in Iran, according to the poll. Most Republicans, about 6 in 10, think the war has been worth fighting and are confident that the military action and ensuing negotiations will prevent Iran from development nuclear weapons, but a sizable share \u2014 about one-third \u2014 are unconvinced.\n\nSen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said that if Congress can\u2019t force Trump to seek congressional authorization then lawmakers should block war funding. The House on Wednesday adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal, including money for the Iran war, but its future is uncertain in the Senate.\n\n\u201cHe wants to break the law, fine, let him break the law, but we control the appropriations process, and that\u2019s what we need to use,\u201d Kaine said.\n\nAssociated Press writers Steven Sloan and Amelia Thomson DeVeaux contributed to this report.", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/politico-bipartisan-group-of-lawmakers-introduces-bill-to-grant-afghan-nationals-in-us-protected-status", "POLITICO: Bipartisan group of lawmakers introduces bill to grant Afghan nationals in US protected status", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "A bipartisan group of lawmakers is introducing a bill Thursday that could restore Temporary Protected Status for many Afghan nationals in the U.S., providing them an avenue to stay in the country.\n\nA rejection of the DHS view: The announcement comes after the Department of Homeland Security terminated the designation for Afghans last year, saying the country's security and economic conditions had stabilized.\n\nThe coalition \u2014 which includes Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Rep. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) \u2014 now argue that more protections are needed for Afghans worldwide, as they continue to face dangers at home. The bill would grant protected status until 2029 to Afghans in the U.S. who have fled dangers in their country.\n\nA promise to Afghan allies: \u201cWhen I served in combat in Afghanistan, I fought alongside brave Afghans. Without their help, I may not be here today. After more than 20 years of war, we promised we\u2019d protect those who protected us. The U.S. must live up to that commitment,\u201d Crow said. \u201cAs many face violence and persecution in Afghanistan by the Taliban if they are sent back, our legislation would protect Afghans already here in the United States.\u201d\n\nNot safe: In recent months, conditions in Afghanistan have only worsened driven by poverty, climate shocks and harsh policies of the Taliban.\n\n\u201cThe termination of TPS for Afghanistan remains as indefensible today as it was a year ago. Conditions in Afghanistan have only deteriorated, and it is simply not safe to force Afghans who have lived lawfully and peacefully in the United States to return,\u201d said Krish O\u2019Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge.\n\nGlobal Refuge has endorsed the bill, along with a number of other humanitarian groups.\n\nEric Bazail-Eimil contributed to this report.", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-national-defense-authorization-act", "Crow Statement on National Defense Authorization Act", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after voting against the annual National Defense Authorization Act on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives:\n\n\u201cI cannot support a bill to give Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth over a trillion dollars as they pursue reckless military adventurism overseas.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump\u2019s war with Iran has resulted in the deaths of American servicemembers, billions of taxpayer dollars spent, and America being less safe. The costs of this war of choice are rising every day.\n\n\u201cI am a proud veteran and national security Democrat. I will never hesitate to use our military power to defend our nation. But I will not give a blank check, to any President, to fund more endless wars. The American people are done with endless conflict in the Middle East while they struggle to get by at home.\u201d\n\nDuring this year's NDAA markup in the House Armed Services Committee, Crow led provisions to combat corruption at the Pentagon; support Ukraine and NATO; improve accountability and transparency around military operations in Iran and the Caribbean; ensure the protection of civilians in conflict zones; and improve the lives of Colorado servicemembers and support Colorado businesses.", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-republican-budget-bill", "Crow Statement on Republican Budget Bill", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after his vote against the Republican budget bill:\n\n\u201cRepublicans keep telling us we can't afford to lower the cost of healthcare, food, and housing. Yet they can magically find nearly $100 billion dollars of taxpayer dollars to fund Trump\u2019s Iran war and the President\u2019s vanity projects. I\u2019m a hell no.\n\n\u201cRepublicans already cut healthcare and food assistance in order to give a massive tax cut to billionaires and corporations. Now they\u2019re pushing another reckless budget bill that hurts working people. I\u2019m fighting back against their corrupt and reckless policies.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-republican-s-fake-stock-trading-ban", "Crow Statement on Republican\u2019s Fake Stock Trading Ban", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), Co-Chair of the End Corruption Caucus, released the following statement after voting no on Republican\u2019s so-called \u201cStop Insider Trading Act\u201d:\n\n\u201cMembers of Congress should be banned from trading stocks. Full stop.\n\n\u201cThis Republican bill doesn\u2019t prevent insider trading or ban stock trading. Instead, it creates loopholes that allow Members of Congress and the President to keep enriching themselves while in office. I voted no because the American people deserve real reforms to take on corruption in Washington, not political stunts.\n\n\u201cRepublicans should immediately bring up my bill, the TRUST in Congress Act, to truly ban Members of Congress and their families from owning or trading stocks. I don\u2019t own or trade stocks, I ban my office from betting on prediction markets, and I refuse money from corporate special interests because we have to begin restoring trust in our government.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-war-powers-resolution-vote", "Crow Statement on War Powers Resolution Vote", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in advance of a House vote on his War Powers Resolution, along with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), to disapprove of President Trump\u2019s war with Iran:\n\n\u201cAmericans are done with endless conflict in the Middle East. Folks are struggling to get by at home and don\u2019t want their taxpayer dollars being sent to fight more wars abroad.\n\n\u201c18 American servicemembers have been killed since this war began. Hundreds more have been injured. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent. The President\u2019s war with Iran has been an unmitigated disaster. The costs are rising every day, yet the President is choosing to double down on his failures.\n\n\u201cCongress has already voted once to stop this reckless war. The American people oppose this war and want our leaders to end forever wars.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1810", "Rep. Brittany Pettersen Voted No on Republican\u2019s Latest Attempt to Drive Up Costs for American Families", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) voted against the first steps to the third reconciliation package put forth by House Republicans that includes $73 billion to cover the cost of Donald Trump\u2019s unconstitutional war in Iran.\n\n\u201cHouse Republicans just chose Trump\u2019s illegal war over American families. They voted to pour another $73 billion into the war with Iran while the rest of us foot the bill. They're making America less safe and everyday life has never been harder. It\u2019s shameful,\u201d said Rep. Brittany Pettersen.\n\nThe fast track budget resolution bill, popularly being called Reconciliation 3.0, allows Republicans to spend $95 billion, without a single way to pay for it. The bill includes $73 for military operations in Iran, $12 billion for aid for farmers struggling due to Donald Trump\u2019s ongoing and absurd trade war, and $10 billion for election-related grants to states for voter-ID implementation for the Republican voter suppression campaign known as the SAVE America ACT. Americans are not blind, they know this bill does little to save Americans, but does much in its attempt to wage war and silence their voices.\n\nWhile the Congresswoman supports providing aid to farmers, she cannot support a bill that includes poison pills like aid to continue an illegal war, and funding to disenfranchise millions of American voters, especially women and communities of color. The Senate has signaled that these pieces of funding streams included are unacceptable as well, and further demonstrates how unserious Republicans are about governing when they have the reins of power.\n\nInstead of working with Democrats to bring down the costs of gas and groceries and other basic necessities, the Republicans have once again put forth a budget that shows that their priorities lie with Donald Trump, exclusively, and not with American families. Voters were clear in our last election, they sent representatives to Washington to deliver results, and not messaging.\n\nRepresentative Pettersen has also consistently voted against Donald Trump\u2019s agenda, including opposing over $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act.\u201d She has consistently voted against authorizing Donald Trump\u2019s war in Iran. Pettersen has joined two War Powers Resolutions to check executive power in regards to military action in Iran: H.Con. Res. 38, led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, and H.Con. Res. 40, introduced by Reps. Greg Meeks, Jim Himes, and Adam Smith, the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Armed Services Committees.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1811", "As Illegal War with Iran Drags On, Rep. Pettersen Votes Against Republican Defense Authorization Bill That Includes Voter Suppression Provisions", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement after voting against Republicans\u2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027:\n\n\u201cOur service members put everything on the line to serve our country and keep us safe. We have an obligation to honor their sacrifice showing them the utmost respect and ensuring they always have access to exceptional resources when they come home. Unfortunately, this bill fails to do that, and abandons the long-standing tradition of bipartisanship in honoring that service.\n\n\u201cTrump has bypassed Congress to singlehandedly drag us into a war with Iran and continues to put our servicemembers in harm's way. He told us the war would be over within 3 weeks, but it\u2019s been months. Congress passed a War Powers Resolution to stop this unauthorized war. Even so, he\u2019s digging in further and pressing the war forward \u2014 now using that vote to justify asking for a $1 trillion blank check. This war has made all of us more vulnerable to foreign threats. We cannot authorize more money for the Pentagon to continue this war while families here in Colorado are dealing with higher costs after Republicans cut their health care and nutrition assistance.\n\n\u201cRepublicans have also loaded this bill with provisions attacking transgender servicemembers and the LGBTQ+ community \u2013 policies that have no place in a defense bill. Trump has already put us in increased danger with his illegal war in Iran, and these provisions will force out qualified servicemembers and damage our military readiness during this critical time. Transgender Americans have faced relentless attacks from Trump and Republicans, but they deserve the same basic dignity as anyone else \u2013 the freedom to serve their country and live openly and authentically without fear or discrimination. And supporting our transgender servicemembers is not only the right thing to do, it is essential to building the strongest and most capable military possible.\n\n\u201cAdditionally, this bill includes the SAVE America Act, which raises unnecessary and burdensome documentation requirements for voters to prove their citizenship before they can vote. This is Donald Trump\u2019s attempt to sway the midterm elections before they happen by disenfranchising millions of American voters and sowing doubt in our election system. The inclusion of SAVE shows just how desperate Trump and Congressional Republicans are to remain in power at any cost. SAVE would rob 70 million women of the right to vote, and deepen barriers to voting access for communities of color. Republicans wanted to send a message to Americans by including SAVE here, and that is that only some voters matter, those that vote for them and their dangerous agenda.\n\n\u201cDespite my amendment that would benefit Colorado being included in this bill, I could not in good conscience vote for a bill that otherwise undermines our values and laws, empowers the Administration to put our troops in harm\u2019s way, and fails to support the servicemembers who put their lives on the line for this country.\u201d\n\nOne of Rep. Pettersen\u2019s amendments were included in the FY 2027 NDAA:\n\nRequires the Department of Defense (DOD) to report on how it will maintain consistent optical communications and networking standards as Space Development Agency programs are transferred to other defense and intelligence agencies.", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-republicans-fake-stock-trading-ban", "Crow Statement on Republicans' Fake Stock Trading Ban", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), Co-Chair of the End Corruption Caucus, released the following statement after voting no on Republicans' so-called \u201cStop Insider Trading Act\u201d:\n\n\u201cMembers of Congress should be banned from trading stocks. Full stop.\n\n\u201cThis Republican bill doesn\u2019t prevent insider trading or ban stock trading. Instead, it creates loopholes that allow Members of Congress and the President to keep enriching themselves while in office. I voted no because the American people deserve real reforms to take on corruption in Washington, not political stunts.\n\n\u201cRepublicans should immediately bring up my bill, the TRUST in Congress Act, to truly ban Members of Congress and their families from owning or trading stocks. I don\u2019t own or trade stocks, I ban my office from betting on prediction markets, and I refuse money from corporate special interests because we have to begin restoring trust in our government.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1808", "Rep. Pettersen Introduces Legislation to Stop Trump\u2019s $1.78B Anti-Weaponization Slush Fund", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced her legislation that would ban Trump\u2019s effort to use taxpayer funding to compensate convicted January 6th insurrectionists and others who were charged and convicted of crimes during the Biden Administration. The Weaponization Claims Ban Act specifically blocks the fund by making claims made under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), a backdoor method to be awarded these payments, illegal.\n\nPettersen\u2019s effort comes as the Administration continues to dodge questions around the fund, with even Republican senators today seeking written answers to their questions.\n\n\u201cWhile American families are struggling to pay for housing, gas, and groceries, this President is trying to pay out our taxpayer dollars to insurrectionists. Everyday Americans are working hard and following the law. But Trump said it himself \u2014 he doesn\u2019t think about our financial situations. He\u2019s too busy settling his political scores and using our money to do it,\u201d said Rep. Pettersen. \u201cTime and again, we have seen that we cannot trust this Administration. I\u2019m fighting for accountability and to ensure your hard-earned money is not used to reward the people who stormed the Capitol.\u201d\n\nIn May, the Trump Administration\u2019s Department of Justice unveiled a nearly $1.8 billion slush fund as part of a settlement agreement, contingent upon the President withdrawing a $10 billion legal challenge against the IRS concerning the disclosure of his personal tax records. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the initiative was designed to offer financial awards, public admissions of wrongdoing, and compensation to individuals the administration characterized as being targeted by the former government\u2019s alleged political weaponization, like former Mesa County, Colorado County Clerk, Tina Peters, and rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 to subvert the 2020 election.\n\nFollowing its introduction, the fund encountered immediate judicial hurdles and intense congressional opposition, which ultimately resulted in the initiative's termination. However, the DOJ has resisted calls to offer formal, sworn declarations from its high-ranking leadership to guarantee that this illegitimate $1.8 billion slush fund will not be established. Lawmakers, including Rep. Pettersen, have grown concerned that after President Trump\u2019s national address last week \u2014 where he again hammered baseless claims about the 2020 election, aired personal grievances about investigations and political opponents, and cast doubt on the integrity of the upcoming November election \u2014 individuals like Tina Peters are being emboldened to seek taxpayer\u2011funded remedies through channels that were never intended for this purpose.\n\nRecent reports show that legal counsel for numerous January 6 defendants\u2014as well as individuals attempting to overturn election results\u2014are signaling plans to pursue awards under the FTCA. These individuals' pursuit of retribution has increased in the wake of Trump\u2019s unlawful Anti\u2011Weaponization Fund being terminated.\n\nPettersen has also consistently fought for accountability, and against the Trump Administration\u2019s aims to subvert the Constitution, and its election denial claims. She is a member of the Financial Services Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, and consistently fights for good governance and the effective use of taxpayer dollars. In June, Congresswoman Pettersen led a letter with Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, demanding answers about these backdoor payments. They have not received a response to their request.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-degettes-bill-boosting-down-syndrome-research", "House Passes DeGette\u2019s Bill Boosting Down Syndrome Research", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3491, the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act, which would advance innovative research into Down syndrome. Representative Diana DeGette (CO-01), who led the bill, along with Representatives Richard Hudson (NC-09), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Tom Cole (OK-04), and Pete Stauber (MN-08) released the following statement:\n\n\"Today\u2019s passage of the INCLUDE Project Act shows what we can achieve when we make Down syndrome research a true bipartisan priority,\" said DeGette. \"By advancing this critical legislation, we are showing our commitment to improving health outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome. Colorado is already leading the way as home to the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and their affiliate, the Linda Crnic Institute\u2014the largest institute for Down syndrome research in the world. When this bill becomes law, we will be doubling down on our commitment to groundbreaking science and to the Down syndrome community.\"\n\n\u201cPeople with Down syndrome enrich our families and communities in so many ways,\u201d said Hudson. \u201cI\u2019m proud the House passed my bill to support research that can help them live longer, healthier lives and reach their full potential without barriers standing in their way.\u201d\n\n\u201cBiomedical research is essential,\u201d said DeLauro. \u201cWe must do all we can to strengthen the resources that lead to lifesaving medical breakthroughs and help folks with Down syndrome live long, fulfilling lives. Since 2018, as the Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee, I am proud to have worked on a bipartisan basis to provide more than $400 million in funding for the more than 200 INCLUDE Project research grant awards at the National Institutes of Health. We must fight to protect that funding, and this legislation is a needed step to ensure there are no barriers to this important research.\u201d\n\n\u201cAdvanced medical research has the potential to change lives \u2013 and the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act will do just that. Specifically, this legislation will strengthen the collaboration among institutes at the NIH, advance medical breakthroughs, and support Americans with down syndrome,\u201d said Cole. \u201cI\u2019d like to thank Representative DeGette for taking the lead on this legislation, as we must do all we can to improve the lives of those with down syndrome.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a father of a son with Down syndrome, I understand the important role research plays in improving the lives of those with disabilities,\u201d said Stauber. \u201cI\u2019m proud to help lead this effort to ensure continued investment in these life-changing discoveries. Every individual deserves a chance to thrive, and this legislation brings us one step closer to that goal.\u201d\n\n\u201cI have known Diana for 30 years, and throughout that time I have witnessed her extraordinary tenacity, bipartisan leadership, and ability to turn ambitious ideas into consequential legislation, and today\u2019s unanimous House passage of the DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act adds to her legacy,\u201d said Michelle Sie Whitten, CEO & Co-founder of the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. \u201cGLOBAL\u2019s advocacy, along with our allies in Congress, helped catalyze the NIH INCLUDE Project into existence as the first NIH-wide Down syndrome research program, and it is already transforming the field\u2014driving important breakthroughs in inflammation and immune system dysregulation, Alzheimer\u2019s disease, sleep apnea, hearing loss, cancer, and more. We are enormously grateful to Diana and her Republican lead partner, Congressman Richard Hudson, for bringing both sides of the aisle together and moving the bill one step closer to becoming law. Diana\u2019s leadership sends a powerful message: people with Down syndrome matter, their health matters, and their futures are worth fighting for.\u201d\n\n\u201cNDSC strongly supports the INCLUDE Act and applauds the bipartisan leadership behind this important legislation,\u201d said Jim Hudson, National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) Executive Director. \u201cContinued investment in Down syndrome research is essential to improving health outcomes, expanding our understanding of co-occurring conditions, and enhancing quality of life for people with Down syndrome across the lifespan.\u201d\n\nThe DeOndra Dixon INCLUDE Project Act formally authorizes the INCLUDE (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE) Project, which was launched in June 2018 at the direction of Congress to conduct research on critical health and quality-of-life needs for individuals with Down syndrome. The project investigates conditions that affect individuals with Down syndrome and the general population, such as Alzheimer\u2019s disease and dementia, autism, cataracts, celiac disease, congenital heart disease, and diabetes.\n\nThe bill would expand clinical trials, investigate biomedical mechanisms of trisomy 21, and address the high prevalence of co-occurring conditions like Alzheimer\u2019s and autoimmune diseases in this population.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/neguse-wasserman-schultz-lead-entire-democratic-caucus-demanding-cms-reverse", "Neguse, Wasserman-Schultz Lead Entire Democratic Caucus in Demanding CMS Reverse Course on Rule Threatening Medicaid Access for Cancer Patients", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Between 5 million and 10 million people could lose Medicaid coverage in 2028 due to the new CMS rule.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representatives Joe Neguse and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz led the entire House Democratic Caucus in a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), urging the agency reverse course on a new rule requiring certain Medicaid applicants and enrollees to meet conditions of eligibility in order to access critical healthcare services. The framework implements work requirements mandated by the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), and has the potential to lock American families facing some of the most dire health conditions out of lifesaving care.\n\nNeguse and Wasserman-Schultz, who have each been impacted by cancer as a caregiver and patient, respectively, also called on CMS to establish, at a minimum, automatic exemptions for patients with cancer and other aggressive illnesses.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our profound concern regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services\u2019 (CMS) interim final rule titled \u2018Medicaid Community Engagement Requirement for Certain Individuals.\u2019 This interim rule will create an undue burden for beneficiaries with serious health care needs and put people at risk of losing coverage, while also creating significant implementation challenges for states. Therefore, we urge CMS to revise this rule, and until such changes are made, call on CMS to authorize states to delay implementation,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nMore specifically, CMS\u2019s new rule makes it harder for cancer patients and survivors to qualify for Medicaid\u2019s \u201cmedical frailty\u201d exemption\u2014stating that a medical condition must significantly impair a person\u2019s ability to comply with the 80-hour per month work requirement. In their letter, the lawmakers argue this framework does not adequately consider the complex nature of illnesses like cancer, which can exhibit periodic or intermittent symptoms often relating to side effects of treatment or the disease itself.\n\nThe requirement also forces individuals to prove they can\u2019t work, in an exhaustive process that increases barriers between struggling Americans and access to basic healthcare.\n\n\u201cForcing vulnerable patients to exhaustively document their symptoms simply to maintain access to basic healthcare is both imprudent and inconsistent with Federal law. Diagnoses such as an aggressive cancer require patients to receive care as soon as possible, and as you know, any delays to treatment put patients at heightened risk. These and other rapidly progressing conditions become significantly less amenable to treatment in their later stages, meaning a patient's current capacity to work does not reflect the urgency of their medical needs.\u201d\n\nThe House Democratic Caucus, led by Neguse and Wasserman-Schultz, also called attention to the fact that this rule will create significant administrative and financial burdens for states. It departs from a previous definition and requires a rushed change in implementation plans.\n\nThey closed by stating that the rule goes even further than Congressional Republicans intended in their disastrous One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which already strips health care coverage from at least 17 million Americans while driving up health care costs for millions more.\n\nThe letter concluded: \u201cWhile there is no way to prevent some eligible people from losing coverage due to the flawed nature of the underlying policy, which in and of itself exacts draconian cuts to healthcare programs and strips access to affordable care for millions of Americans, CMS has an obligation to implement the law in question as written. And, as noted, the new rule appears to be inconsistent with the plain language of H.R. 1, adding a new, restrictive standard that will add to the number of people losing coverage. Indeed, the evidence clearly demonstrates that creating more documentation requirements and adding complexity to the enrollment process will have a devastating effect. Therefore, in sum, we urge CMS to reconsider its interim rule to protect people with serious medical needs. CMS should also delay implementation of the new work requirements pending these changes.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter HERE.\n\nIn a speech on the House Floor in June, Neguse made an urgent request of the Trump administration, demanding they rescind the CMS rule that would potentially strip healthcare coverage from cancer patients and imploring his colleagues\u2014Democrats and Republicans alike\u2014to join him in doing the right thing and standing up for countless families that rely on Medicaid coverage to survive.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/assistant-democratic-leader-neguse-only-person-america-whos-getting-richer", "Assistant Democratic Leader Neguse: \u201cThe only person in America who's getting richer these days is Donald Trump\u201d", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 In case you missed it, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse was joined by Ranking Members Robert Garcia, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Richard E. Neal, Committee on Ways and Mean, for his monthly news conference earlier this week. The Members spoke of President Donald Trump\u2019s pervasive self-dealing and House Democrats\u2019 efforts to put a stop to this administration\u2019s unparalleled corruption.\n\nClick HERE to watch the full press conference.\n\nFind a transcription of Rep. Neguse\u2019s opening remarks below.\n\nNEGUSE: I'm here today with two of our most prominent Ranking Members in the House Democratic Caucus\u2014Ranking Member Richie Neal, of course, of the prestigious Ways and Means Committee, and Ranking Member Robert Garcia of the Oversight Committee.\n\nAnd we're here to convey a very simple message to the American people. There's a lot going on right now, but something that I believe was lost in the news over the course of the last several weeks is the simple fact that in the history of our country, no president has profited off of public office more than Donald Trump. According to financial disclosures released just a few weeks ago, roughly, I believe, 15 days ago, the president's income in 2025 soared to over $2.2 billion. Think about that $2.2 billion with a \u201cb,\u201d more than half of which was generated by his crypto empire that him and his family have been busily building.\n\nHow do we know that Donald Trump is using the White House to increase his personal wealth? Because, besides the fact that these brazen self-enrichment schemes are happening in broad daylight, the numbers, the empirical data, tell the story. In 2024, before returning to office, Trump's profits were just under a third of what they were in his first year back in Washington, D.C.\n\nMeanwhile, the American people are struggling\u2014from Massachusetts to California to Colorado, where I have the privilege of serving. Under the Trump Administration, gas prices are up, groceries are more expensive, affordable health care is out of reach for millions. Not to mention the social safety net, meant to support families and communities across our country, has been ripped out from under them.\n\nAt the end of the day, the Congress has a constitutional obligation to hold this President and his administration accountable and to root out corruption wherever we see it. And I am grateful that we have two incredibly talented Ranking Members who are committed to doing precisely that.\n\nContinue reading for additional quotes from Representatives Neal and Garcia:\n\n\u201cTax laws are supposed to apply equally, whether you're a school teacher, a small business owner, or indeed the President of the United States. The administration continues to try to bend the institutions of governance to their will for the purpose of advancing his own interest,\u201d said Ranking Member Neal. \u201c[A federal judge in Florida] has spoken, and now Congress has a responsibility to continue to demand clear accountability. And if we don't put our eyes and scrutiny of these matters, it ill serves our constitutional function and it allows this enrichment that we\u2019re witnessing to continue. The American people deserve more.\u201d\n\n\u201c[A]s Americans are struggling with gas, groceries, the cost of goods, paying the rent, Donald Trump and their family are enriching themselves\u2026The crypto scheme might be the most blatant corrupt thing that the folks and people in the community can see, but what we're not seeing are the real estate deals being done by the sons, we're also not seeing the direct work that Jared Kushner is doing to enrich himself and his family with an investment fund that the Saudis pumped $2 billion in, we're not seeing the corruption of selling pardons, the corruption of selling pay-to-play at the White House, literally ticketed events at the People's House. And so, whether it's the crypto scheme, whether it's the real estate deals, whether it's the selling of pardons, whether it's the sons enriching themselves off real estate deals after their father's doing diplomacy, all of that comes back to a White House that is centered on enriching themselves and at the same time taking away from taxpayers,\u201d said Ranking Member Garcia.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1801", "Rep. Pettersen Leads CO Dem Delegation in Again Demanding Answers From Trump Admin on New Colorado ICE Facility as DHS Continues to Dodge Lawmakers\u2019 Questions", "2026-07-17", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) led Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Jason Crow (D-CO) in again pressing the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for accountability following the announcement of a 5-year GEO Group contract to operate a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Hudson, doubling the capacity for immigrant detention in the state of Colorado.\n\nDHS dodged answering the lawmakers\u2019 questions from a February 24, 2026 letter which raised serious, and unresolved, concerns about the Hudson facility. The Department\u2019s lack of response has deepened the lawmakers\u2019 concerns about the Administration's lack of transparency regarding this facility.\n\nIn the letter, the Lawmakers wrote: \u201cThe reports of this new facility moving forward are particularly concerning with the continued rise of deaths in ICE detention and at the hands of ICE agents acting with impunity in communities across the country. The agency\u2019s documented pattern of unlawful detentions, failure to comply with Congressional oversight, and harm to our communities makes this expansion not just misguided, but dangerous. Against this backdrop, we strongly oppose any increase in detention capacity in Colorado.\u201d\n\nPettersen has consistently voted against Donald Trump\u2019s anti-immigrant agenda, including opposing over $45 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act\" and over $70 billion in the second partisan reconciliation package. As we have witnessed the surge in ICE killings nationwide, she has also supported legislation to require DHS and ICE officers to clearly identify themselves during enforcement actions. After reports of individuals being detained in short-term holding facilities for as long as 39 days, she introduced legislation to ensure detainees cannot be held in those facilities for longer than 12 hours.\n\nSee the full text of the letter HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella:\n\nWe write to express our profound concern at the announcement of a 5-year contract with the GEO Group to operate a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Hudson, Colorado. The reports of this new facility moving forward are particularly concerning with the continued rise of deaths in ICE detention and at the hands of ICE agents acting with impunity in communities across the country . The agency\u2019s documented pattern of unlawful detentions, failure to comply with Congressional oversight, and harm to our communities makes this expansion not just misguided, but dangerous. Against this backdrop, we strongly oppose any increase in detention capacity in Colorado.\n\nThe operation of the so-called Big Horn facility as an ICE detention facility will dramatically expand ICE\u2019s detention capacity in Colorado, increasing the available detention beds from 1,532 at the Aurora GEO Detention Facility to more than 2,700 beds across the state. As we stated in our February 2026 letter, we are deeply concerned that the remote location of the facility will hinder oversight and reduce access to legal representation for individuals in detention. The Hudson site is difficult to reach by public transportation and far from legal service providers and local service organizations.\n\nThe GEO Group and ICE have a proven track record of obstructing congressional oversight of the Aurora GEO Detention Facility, refusing Members of Congress\u2019 ability to access to the facility, withholding answers to oversight questions, and failing to respond to congressional casework inquiries. We are concerned that these actions will continue at the Big Horn Facility. Your agency did not respond to the February 24, 2026 letter from members of the Colorado delegation addressed to then-Secretary Noem and then-Acting Director Lyons \u2014 a letter raising serious, unresolved concerns about the Hudson facility . Once again, we are demanding answers.\n\nThe Department\u2019s lack of response only deepened our concerns about transparency and oversight of this facility. We request your response to the following by July 31, 2026:\n\n1. What steps did the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) take to share its plans for the new facility with relevant local leaders, community members, advocacy groups, and other relevant partners? 2. What steps will be taken to ensure that the Big Horn Facility will consistently meet adequate health and safety standards, as required by the Performance- Based National Detention Standards 2008, the Performance-Based National Detention Standards 2011, the National Detention Standards 2019, and the Family Residential Standards?\n\n3. What steps will DHS take to ensure that the new facility will respond appropriately to congressional oversight as required under Pub. L. No. 118-47, div. C, tit. V 527 (a), 138 Stat 460, 619, and affirmed by Case No. 25-cv-2463?\n\n4. How will DHS ensure that detainees within the Big Horn Facility maintain adequate access to family visitation and meetings with relevant counsel and representatives?\n\n5. Are there any other contracts or anticipated new contracts with the GEO Group for ICE Department of Homeland Security detention facilities in Colorado?", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:31:57Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-trump-lies", "Crow Statement on Trump Lies", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on President Trump\u2019s partisan speech of election denialism:\n\n\u201cTonight the American people heard more lies from an unwell President.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump is obsessed with staying in office so he can enrich himself and his billionaire donors\u2013disregarding the will of the voters. He\u2019s desperately trying to cling to power and distract from his unpopular war, skyrocketing prices, incompetent leadership, and rampant corruption.\n\n\u201cOur election system has been and remains safe and secure. Thousands of elections have happened all over the country at every level of government during the President\u2019s time in office. Yet Trump only has a problem with one election, the one he lost.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I have seen no credible evidence of successful foreign interference with prior elections or foreign threats to the current election. The President\u2019s attempt to cherry-pick intelligence or rewrite history does not change that.\n\n\u201cDespite his lies and assault on our democracy, he will not succeed. The American people are fed up with failed leadership. Accountability is coming.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1804", "Pettersen, Van Hollen Lead Lawmakers in Introducing Legislation to Bring Transparency to Corporate Abuse of Tax Havens, Job Offshoring", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (Md.) led their colleagues in reintroducing the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, legislation to provide transparency around corporations\u2019 use of tax havens and incentives to offshore jobs. This bill would require public companies to disclose their financial reporting on a country-by-country basis. Ensuring public access to this information would both provide investors the tools they need to understand the tax structures and risks of the businesses in which they invest and give Americans insight into the extent to which the tax system is incentivizing the outsourcing of American jobs or enabling corporations to dodge U.S. taxes. Senator Van Hollen and Representative Pettersen were joined in introducing this legislation by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).\n\n\u201cAs everyday families struggle to find jobs and pay for basic necessities, corporations are dodging taxes by shifting profits outside the country and making the rest of us pay. I'm proud to support this legislation that will require companies to disclose foreign operations, and ensure corporations pay into the system here at home,\u201d said Congresswoman Pettersen. \u201cThe Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act will increase transparency, and make corporations start paying their fair share.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile working Americans struggle to get by, large corporations continue to ship jobs overseas and take advantage of tax loopholes to hide their profits. This bill will provide critical transparency to both the American public and investors as to how these corporations abuse our broken tax system and the risks they are taking in the use of offshore tax havens. We must stand up for American workers, end incentives for big corporations to offshore jobs, and unrig our broken corporate tax code. Sunlight is the best disinfectant \u2013 shining a light on this issue is the first step,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.\n\nWhile the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established a new global tax framework, it also introduced incentives for large U.S. companies to shift profits and jobs overseas. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act largely preserved those incentives. New research shows that in 2025, large corporations reduced their tax liability by more than $11 billion through the use of tax havens. Firms continue to benefit from shifting profits because they can pool income and foreign taxes across affiliates in both high- and low-tax countries, while foreign income remains subject to a significantly lower U.S. tax rate than domestic income.\n\nThe Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act would ensure there is more transparency in these tax practices by requiring large corporations to disclose basic information on each of their subsidiaries, and country-by-country financial information that sums together all of their subsidiaries in each country \u2013 including profits, taxes, employees, and tangible assets.\n\nAll of this information is already reported to the Internal Revenue Service, under an international Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development framework, but this legislation would ensure public disclosure to provide data on how international tax laws are working and where corporations are locating their business activities and taxes. Thus, when a corporation sends jobs overseas, their country-by-country financial report would show the extent to which the U.S. tax system is rewarding their behavior.\n\nThis legislation is supported by the Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition, Public Citizen, Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).\n\nPettersen has also consistently fought for corporate accountability, including authoring legislation as a Colorado state senator that closed offshore tax loopholes corporations were using to dodge state taxes, recovering millions of dollars for Colorado's public schools. She serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where she continues pushing for financial transparency on behalf of working families, and has championed the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act in previous sessions of Congress as part of her broader effort to ensure corporations pay their fair share.\n\nA one-page summary of this bill is HERE.", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:31:57Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-degette-neguse-pettersen-statement-on-massie-amendment-to-the-republican-budget", "Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) released the following statement after voting in favor of Congressman Massie\u2019s amendment to the Republican budget:\n\n\u201cToday we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s government.\n\n\u201cWe support Israel\u2019s right to exist and defend itself. We believe that both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to safety, security, and self-determination.\n\n\u201cWe should not be giving military aid to any country that does not comply with our own laws and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet these standards.\n\n\u201cThe status quo is not tenable. We need a different path forward for America\u2019s foreign policy rooted in values and consistent application of the law.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1798", "Pettersen, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Jason Crow (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Joe Neguse (D-CO) released the following statement after voting in favor of Congressman Massie\u2019s amendment to the Republican budget:\n\n\u201cToday we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s government.\n\n\u201cWe support Israel\u2019s right to exist and defend itself. We believe that both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to safety, security, and self-determination.\n\n\u201cWe should not be giving military aid to any country that does not comply with our own laws and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet these standards.\n\n\u201cThe status quo is not tenable. We need a different path forward for America\u2019s foreign policy rooted in values and consistent application of the law.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-crow-neguse-pettersen-statement-massie-amendment-republican", "DeGette, Crow, Neguse, Pettersen Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jason Crow (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) released the following statement after voting in favor of Congressman Massie\u2019s amendment to the Republican budget:\n\n\u201cToday we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s government.\n\n\u201cWe support Israel\u2019s right to exist and defend itself. We believe that both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to safety, security, and self-determination.\n\n\u201cWe should not be giving military aid to any country that does not comply with our own laws and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet these standards.\n\n\u201cThe status quo is not tenable. We need a different path forward for America\u2019s foreign policy rooted in values and consistent application of the law.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-moves-eradicate-hepatitis-c-bipartisan-legislation", "DeGette Moves to Eradicate Hepatitis C with Bipartisan Legislation", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Congressman Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson (GA-04), and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced the Cure Hepatitis C Act, which would implement a national test-and-treat program to help eliminate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States.\n\n\u201cThanks to the tireless efforts of biomedical researchers and innovators, hepatitis C is curable. Yet far too many people remain undiagnosed or unable to access treatment, and dozens die from the disease every day,\u201d said DeGette. \u201cThis is simply unacceptable. We have the tools to stop this epidemic and curb the human and financial costs of this disease going untreated. I am pleased to work with my colleagues on this legislation, which will have the greatest positive impact to public health of any bill passed this Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a physician, I have seen what happens when a curable disease goes untreated simply because a patient couldn't access care,\u201d said Dr. Miller-Meeks. \"Hepatitis C is beatable. We have the tools to eliminate it, and this bill puts them within reach of the Americans who need them most. This is a commonsense, fiscally responsible effort that will save lives and save taxpayer dollars. I am proud to lead it alongside my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am asking that we work together to raise awareness about hepatitis C \u2013 a silent killer \u2013 so that others at risk can get tested and treated,\u201d said Johnson.\n\n\"This legislation represents a rare opportunity to improve health outcomes while reducing long-term health care costs,\" said Tim Leshan, Chief External Relations and Advocacy Officer at Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. \"We commend Representatives Miller-Meeks, DeGette, Johnson and Bacon for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to ending hepatitis C in the United States. By investing in testing, treatment, and coordinated public health efforts today, Congress can prevent liver cancer, cirrhosis, and liver transplantation tomorrow while also strengthening our nation's public health infrastructure.\"\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s vital to the health of the American people that Congress passes the Cure Hepatitis C Act,\u201d said Saul J. Karpen, MD, PhD, FAASLD, President of American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. \u201cHepatitis C affects 4 million Americans, many of whom are not aware of their disease or the ready availability for a cure, leading to a gap for these Americans regarding their future health. This bill directly addresses these gaps with practical, rapid and effective approaches that will save lives and reduce costs. We are thankful that Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Congressman Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson (D-GA), and Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) seized this opportunity to move this forward on behalf of patients living with hepatitis C.\u201d\n\nEstimates show that between 2.4 million and 4 million Americans are infected with HCV, with between 69,000 to 100,000 new cases of infection added each year. The virus is often asymptomatic, leaving many of those infected unaware of their condition.\n\nHCV is curable with oral medication, which makes this bill even more consequential. Using a treatment course of direct-acting antivirals, more than 95 percent of people with the infection are cured in approximately 8-12 weeks. If HCV is left untreated, it can lead to lifelong chronic health issues and even death.\n\nAdditionally, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects this policy could save the country more than $6 billion over the next decade.\n\nRead the bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-leads-call-withdrawal-proposed-rule-threatens-biomedical", "DeGette Leads Call for Withdrawal of Proposed Rule that Threatens Biomedical Research", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01), Full Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and all Democratic members of the Health Subcommittee urged Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought to withdraw the proposed rule \u201cRegulation for Federal Financial Assistance (OMB-2026-0034).\u201d\n\nIn a letter sent to Director Vought, the members outlined their concerns with the proposed rule.\n\n\u201cThe proposed rule threatens a world-leading biomedical research enterprise that has taken decades to build. It adds unnecessary bureaucracy to a federal grantmaking process that has already slowed precipitously under the Trump Administration,\u201dthe letter reads.\n\nThe OMB rule would significantly change the awarding, management, and termination of federal grants and cooperative agreements across the federal government, placing unprecedented power in the hands of political appointees and shifting it away from scientists and career professionals.\n\nThe members illustrated the impact the proposed rule would have on biomedical research, scientific discovery, and public health. As a result, the rule would mean fewer new cures and fewer Americans in need receiving care.\n\nThe letter urges Director Vought to consider Congress\u2019 intention that grantmaking be first in service of science and public health, not the political whims of any administration. It also emphasizes that Congress designed the grantmaking process to center peer review and merit, a system the proposed rule would obliterate, if implemented.\n\nReps. Diana DeGette (CO-01), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Kim Schrier (WA-08), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Troy Carter (LA-02), and Greg Landsman (OH-01), who comprise the Democratic membership of the Health Subcommittee, all signed the letter.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-election-assistance-commission-firings", "Crow Statement on Election Assistance Commission Firings", "2026-07-10", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement in response to the White House abruptly firing the commissioners on the Election Assistance Commission that helps state and local officials run safe and secure elections:\n\n\u201cThe President\u2019s firing of federal election officials should concern every American.\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s approval rating is at an all-time low. His healthcare cuts, tax breaks for the rich, and war with Iran are deeply unpopular. He knows he can\u2019t win fair and square, so he\u2019s trying to cheat\u2014sowing doubt in the integrity of our elections, firing officials, and pushing bills to make it harder for Americans to vote.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump refuses to acknowledge he lost the 2020 presidential race. Now he\u2019s trying to undermine the next election. He\u2019s already pushed bogus conspiracy theories, conducted FBI raids of local elections offices, pressured Republicans to pursue partisan gerrymandering, and cut federal agencies tasked with election security.\n\n\u201cHis efforts will fail, because the American people are fed up with his corruption and failed leadership. Accountability is coming.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-11T07:10:48Z", "2026-07-11T07:14:29Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-warren-demand-answers-on-dismantling-of-civilian-protections-by-defense-department", "Crow, Warren Demand Answers on Dismantling of Civilian Protections by Defense Department", "2026-07-09", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, along with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), pressed the U.S. Department of Defense for answers about why they are defunding and deprioritizing programs that protect civilians during armed conflict. This has jeopardized the safety of servicemembers and civilians and potentially violated federal law.\n\nTheir letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth follows a new report by the DoD Inspector General that the Trump Administration defunded congressionally-mandated programs that are meant to protect civilians in combat. It finds that under Hegseth\u2019s leadership, DoD has put both servicemembers and civilians at risk and has potentially violated federal law. The letter also follows what could be one of the largest civilian casualty events in modern U.S. military history, the strike on an Iranian girls\u2019 elementary school that killed at least 175 civilians, many of them children. Since then, additional U.S. military strikes targeted Iranian water treatment facilities, damaging civilian infrastructure.\n\nJoining Crow and Warren on the letter were Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA).\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s military adventurism overseas, combined with its obvious disregard for civilians, do not make the American people or our service members safer. We, therefore, request clarification about the steps the Department is taking to address these deficiencies and to protect civilians in line with the Department\u2019s strategic, legal, and moral obligations,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe DoD\u2019s Inspector General report includes a review of DoD\u2019s implementation of its Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP), which outlines what steps will be taken to prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian harm. The report confirms that all of the objectives of the plan are \u201cat risk\u201d under Hegseth\u2019s leadership. The report states that the Trump administration\u2019s failure to implement the plan means that the administration may have violated federal law by defunding and blocking civilian protection efforts. The report also revealed that DoD failed to cooperate with the OIGs investigation, including by blocking investigators from observing meetings and withholding access to DoD\u2019s implementation tracking tools.\n\n\u201cThese revelations make real the concerns that we have previously raised about your complete \u2018disregard for the strategic, legal, and moral imperative to minimize civilian harm,\u2019\u201d the lawmakers said. \u201cThe Department\u2019s failure to implement the CHMR-AP has profound consequences for civilians in conflict zones and makes service members\u2019 jobs harder and riskier,\u201d they continued.\n\nThe lawmakers pressed Secretary Hegseth to explain DoD\u2019s failure to implement civilian protection policies, account for changes in resourcing and staffing for civilian protection efforts, explain what DoD is doing to comply with federal law requiring civilian protection policies and institutions, and provide any analysis DoD has done on the impact of recent strikes on civilian infrastructure in Iran by July 19, 2026.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be viewed here.\n\nCrow, Co-Chair of the Protection of Civilians in Conflict Caucus, previously led 120 House colleagues demanding answers on civilian deaths during the Trump Administration\u2019s Operation Epic Fury. His time in Iraq and Afghanistan informs much of his work in Congress aimed at increasing civilian protection in combat. He helped pass legislation codifying the creation of the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, and has passed major portions of his Protection of Civilians in Military Operations Act and Department of Defense Civilian Harm Transparency Act.", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-neguse-and-obernolte-launch-bipartisan-space-weather-caucus", "Congressmen Neguse and Obernolte Launch Bipartisan Space Weather Caucus", "2026-07-08", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Representative Jay Obernolte (R-CA) announced the launch of the Bipartisan Space Weather Caucus, which aims to advance scientific research on space weather, address security risks, and develop strategies to protect critical infrastructure from space weather-related disruptions. As Co-Chairs Neguse and Obernolte will coordinate with members from across the political spectrum on efforts to ensure resilience against disruptions to GPS systems, emergency response networks, electrical grids, and satellites vital for weather forecasting and telecommunications.\n\nThe Caucus also recognizes that space weather poses serious risks to astronauts in space. The group will support improvements in space weather forecasting to help usher in a new era of American space exploration, enabling astronauts to safely venture beyond Earth\u2019s magnetic field for the first time in generations.\n\n\u201cColorado is a hub for aerospace, space weather forecasting and scientific research\u2014with folks across our state making ground-breaking advancements in our understanding of how space weather affects different technologies on Earth, including satellite electronics, radio communications, GPS signals, spacecraft orbits, and even electrical power grids. All systems and infrastructure we rely on daily,\u201d said Congressman Neguse. \u201cAs our national security and economy become more dependent on these systems and advanced telecommunication networks, it\u2019s important that we stay ahead of new challenges and enhance our understanding of the constantly changing conditions in the environment in space. And the Bipartisan Space Weather Caucus aims to do exactly that\u2014ensuring our nation is prepared and ready to lead in the 21st century and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cSpace weather can disrupt the communications, GPS, electric grid, and satellite systems Americans rely on every day,\u201d said Congressman Obernolte. \u201cAs our economy and national security become increasingly dependent on space-based technology, Congress has an important role to play in supporting better forecasting, research, and preparedness. I am proud to launch the Bipartisan Space Weather Caucus with Congressman Neguse to help strengthen our resilience and support the future of American space exploration.\u201d\n\nOther members of the Caucus include Representatives George Whitesides (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Nick Begich (R-AK), and Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN).\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-host-longmont-town-hall", "Rep. Neguse to Host Longmont Town Hall", "2026-07-08", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Longmont, CO \u2014 On Thursday, July 9, Congressman Joe Neguse will host an in-person town hall meeting in Longmont, Colorado. Neguse will give a legislative update and take live questions from audience members.\n\nThis will be his 26th public town hall of the 119th Congress\u2014more than all members of Colorado\u2019s House delegation combined.\n\nWhat: Longmont Town Hall\n\nWhen: Thursday, July 9 @ 6:00 p.m. MT\n\nWhere: To Be Announced\n\nRSVP for this community gathering HERE.\n\nCongressman Neguse has represented Colorado\u2019s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019. Covering more than 12,000 square miles, the district is one of Colorado\u2019s largest and most rural, spanning twelve counties: Boulder, Weld, Clear Creek, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Larimer, Summit, Jackson, Routt, and Broomfield.\n\nIn 2025 alone, Neguse visited 50 cities and towns across the district.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-anniversary-of-trump-s-big-ugly-bill", "Crow Statement on Anniversary of Trump's Big Ugly Bill", "2026-07-06", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) released the following statement one year since Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans pushed through their One Big Ugly Bill:\n\n\u201cAmericans won\u2019t forget that Republicans cut healthcare to pass a massive tax cut for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans.\n\n\u201cAs Republicans pad the pockets of the elite and Donald Trump personally profits billions of dollars off the presidency, working families can\u2019t afford healthcare, housing, and groceries.\n\n\u201cThe corruption under this Republican Congress and reckless Administration is staggering and completely unacceptable. The American people are rightfully angry and want accountability. Colorado families deserve better.\u201d\n\nCongressman Crow voted against H.R. 1, Republicans\u2019 One Big Ugly Bill. This law cut healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, is bankrupting rural hospitals, and is adding trillions of dollars to the national debt. In one year alone, thousands of Coloradans who had healthcare under Medicaid, CHIP, and the Affordable Care Act have lost it. As working Americans saw their healthcare and food assistance slashed because of it, the One Big Ugly Bill provided a massive tax cut to giant corporations and the top 1 percent.", 1, "2026-07-07T08:20:12Z", "2026-07-07T08:22:09Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/neguse-bennet-hickenlooper-urge-usda-bolster-screwworm-preparedness-actions", "Neguse, Bennet, Hickenlooper Urge USDA to Bolster Screwworm Preparedness Actions", "2026-07-06", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 As New World Screwworm (NWS) cases continue to spread through New Mexico and Texas, raising concerns across Western states, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper penned a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) imploring the agency to swiftly expand surveillance and response activities to prevent the pest's further spread.\n\nThe New World Screwworm is a destructive pest that threatens livestock, wildlife and rural economies. It\u2019s been nearly 60 years since the last outbreak of NWS on U.S. soil, and recent confirmed cases in states bordering Colorado have increased concerns for local farmers and ranchers.\n\n\u201c[W]e urge the USDA to take additional swift actions to expand surveillance and response activities and resources to prevent further spread, protecting ranchers and livestock across both Colorado and the country. As you know, NWS pose a serious threat to our wildlife, farmers, and ranchers, and overarching impacts to rural economies. We are concerned by the spread of cases from Texas to New Mexico, and encourage you to take strong steps to prevent further spread. Screwworm infestations can cause severe injury, illness, and even death in cattle and other livestock\u2014causing significant economic losses for agricultural producers and disruptions to animal health,\u201d wrote Neguse, Bennet, and Hickenlooper.\n\nIn their letter, the Colorado lawmakers request USDA take steps to bolster surveillance activities and inspections across the state, noting that an infestation could be catastrophic for rural and ranching communities.\n\n\u201cProtecting Colorado\u2019s agricultural economy from New World Screwworm is intrinsically tied to our nation\u2019s food security. Preventing the northward spread of this pest shields supply chains, maintains system stability, and ensures that our ranchers remain resilient. It must be noted that if this parasite breaches Colorado borders, the financial and operational burden of response and mitigation activities would be catastrophic to our producers and our state.\u201d\n\nColorado agriculture officials have already activated measures to prevent and control a potential outbreak, including coordinating the release of sterile flies to carry out the sterile insect technique. The letter from Neguse, Bennet, and Hickenlooper encourages continued cooperation between state and federal agencies.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded, \u201c[W]e urge the USDA to take swift action to enhance surveillance and response efforts, expand available resources, and plan for necessary state support to keep our nation and our agricultural communities safe from further infestations.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter HERE and below:\n\nThe Honorable Brooke Rollins\n\nSecretary\n\nU.S. Department of Agriculture\n\n1400 Independence Avenue, SW\n\nWashington, DC 20250\n\nDear Secretary Rollins,\n\nWe write to express our growing concern regarding the recent New World Screwworm (NWS) outbreak in the United States. As members of the Colorado congressional delegation, we urge the USDA to take additional swift actions to expand surveillance and response activities and resources to prevent further spread, protecting ranchers and livestock across both Colorado and the country.\n\nAs you know, NWS pose a serious threat to our wildlife, farmers, and ranchers, and overarching impacts to rural economies. We are concerned by the spread of cases from Texas to New Mexico, and encourage you to take strong steps to prevent further spread. Screwworm infestations can cause severe injury, illness, and even death in cattle and other livestock\u2014causing significant economic losses for agricultural producers and disruptions to animal health.\n\nWe urge the USDA to bolster surveillance activities, enhance animal inspections, ensure animal traceability, and prioritize expanding sterile fly production capabilities. Concurrently, we request collaboration with producers, veterinarians, and other stakeholders in Colorado to provide clear guidance and technical assistance on NWS prevention, detection, treatment, and reporting. Robust outreach, surveillance, and coordinated response efforts are essential to limiting the spread of infestations. We also support USDA's continued use of sterile fly releases, coordination with the State of Colorado\u2019s animal health officials, and assistance to Colorado and other states to enhance prevention and response efforts. Further, improving early detection can help animal recovery and help minimize potential losses for producers.\n\nProtecting Colorado\u2019s agricultural economy from New World Screwworm is intrinsically tied to our nation\u2019s food security. Preventing the northward spread of this pest shields supply chains, maintains system stability, and ensures that our ranchers remain resilient. It must be noted that if this parasite breaches Colorado borders, the financial and operational burden of response and mitigation activities would be catastrophic to our producers and our state. In the event of an outbreak, Colorado would need immediate and significant USDA financial assistance to execute a successful response and recovery effort. Therefore, we urgently request that USDA establish emergency cooperative agreements to ensure the necessary state financial aid.\n\nIn sum, we urge the USDA to take swift action to enhance surveillance and response efforts, expand available resources, and plan for necessary state support to keep our nation and our agricultural communities safe from further infestations.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-10T08:20:04Z", "2026-07-10T08:21:18Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-introduces-legislation-to-help-stop-wildfires", "Crow Introduces Legislation to Help Stop Wildfires", "2026-07-02", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced the Wildfire Response Modernization Act to expand tools to detect, track, and combat wildfires. The legislation allows the FireGuard program\u2014a National Guard-operated program that detects and monitors wildfires\u2014to access commercial and non-profit wildfire satellite data and disseminate it to federal and state agencies. Crow\u2019s proposed update would expand its early detection and continuous monitoring capabilities to help fight fires as they break out in Colorado and across the country.\n\nCongressman Crow introduced this bill alongside Congressmen George Whitesides (D-CA), Lance Gooden (R-TX), John Garamendi (D-CA), and Salud Carbajal (D-CA).\n\n\u201cColorado is facing a high risk of wildfires after one of the warmest and driest winters in history. By allowing local communities to have fast and accurate data about wildfires, including from space-based satellites, we can better equip local communities to respond to emergencies. We have to do everything we can to keep Coloradans safe this fire season,\u201d said Congressman Crow.\n\n\u201cFireGuard is one of the most important ways the federal government can utilize technology to fight fires quicker and more effectively, and the program should have access to every piece of data available,\u201d said Congressman Whitesides. \u201cParticularly in Southern California, where wildfires have destroyed thousands of lives and livelihoods, the government must meet this challenge head on, using every tool at our disposal. We can make FireGuard, an already successful program, even stronger, by strengthening its partnership with non-profit and commercial sources to improve around-the-clock monitoring, and the potential for even earlier detection.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs states like California face increasingly frequent and intense wildfires, tools like FireGuard help us meet that threat. Using space-based commercial data will only make this program more effective. This is one of the many ways that space benefits Americans every day,\u201d said Congressman Carbajal. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen how capable this program has been in early detection and this legislation builds on that success. Protecting our communities from wildfires is not a partisan issue \u2014 it\u2019s an urgent one, and I\u2019m proud to be co-leading this effort.\u201d\n\nCongressman Crow has a long track record of helping Colorado respond to wildfires and other extreme weather events. Congressman Crow helped enshrine Colorado as part of the FireGuard program, and, along with Senator Michael Bennet, pushed for the declassification of certain satellite imagery so it could be used by FireGuard. He previously introduced the Protect the West Act with Senator Bennet to make critical investments that would mitigate intensifying wildfires, and he is leading the bipartisan Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act to empower states nationwide to establish and maintain resiliency offices to combat the worst effects of climate change.\n\nCrow is also standing up to the Trump Administration\u2019s attacks on federal wildland firefighting. He has demanded the Trump Administration reinstate thousands of U.S. Forest Service employees who keep Coloradans safe but were fired last year, and he joined Senator Bennet to press the Administration for answers on its proposed reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service during fire season.", 1, "2026-07-03T08:00:00Z", "2026-07-03T08:01:30Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-decision", "Crow Statement on Supreme Court Birthright Citizenship Decision", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled to uphold the longstanding constitutionality of birthright citizenship:\n\n\u201cThis week, we celebrate 250 years since America\u2019s founding. So much of our shared history has been shaped by Americans born in this country who went on to do extraordinary things. Together, we\u2019ve shared in our nation\u2019s successes and challenges, while fighting generation after generation for a more perfect union.\n\n\u201cThe right to birthright citizenship is in our Constitution. It\u2019s who we are as Americans. It\u2019s been that way for generations, despite Donald Trump\u2019s attempts to change that. Today\u2019s ruling underscores that fundamental truth: people born on American soil are Americans, with all the rights and responsibilities we share as fellow citizens.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-supreme-court-siding-with-corrupt-special-interests", "Crow Statement on Supreme Court Siding with Corrupt Special Interests", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) released the following statement after the Supreme Court eliminated longstanding caps on election spending, opening the doors for more corruption in our politics:\n\n\u201cOur political system is broken, and the Supreme Court is making it worse.\n\n\u201cGiving billionaires and special interests even more influence in our elections won\u2019t make things better. Americans are sick and tired of a corrupt political system that works for elites, but not for them.\n\n\u201cWe must get the corrupt influence of money out of politics. To begin rebuilding trust, Congress must overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision, which has resulted in a massive surge in dark money. We must also elect leaders who answer to their constituents, not corporations or corrupt special interests.\u201d\n\nThroughout his time in Congress, Crow has stood up to special interests and has not taken a dime of corporate PAC money. As the co-chair of the End Corruption Caucus, he is leading the fight to root out corruption in our elections, including through his End Dark Money Act to crack down on dark money\u2019s influence on U.S. elections.", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1788", "During Colorado\u2019s Primary Election Week, Rep. Pettersen Leads Push For USPS to Ensure Timely Delivery of Mail in Ballots", "2026-06-29", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 During Colorado\u2019s primary election week, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) led an effort with Representative Kim Schrier (WA-08) pushing for more reliable delivery for mail-in ballots, particularly for rural communities, which have experienced longstanding mail service delays. In a letter sent today to the United States Postal Service (USPS), the Members demanded answers on the specific steps USPS has been taking to ensure the timely and reliable delivery of election mail.\n\nColorado and Washington are both universal mail in ballot states, where every registered voter automatically receives a ballot in the mail. But rural and mountain communities across Colorado\u2019s Seventh District, such as Silver Cliff and Poncha Springs, have faced persistent mail delivery challenges, including longer wait times, delayed delivery, and the unexpected closures, leaving entire communities without postal service. As millions of voters prepare to cast their votes this week in the upcoming primary elections, many depend on reliable access to mail in ballots to ensure that their votes are cast and counted on time.\n\nThe Members\u2019 effort also comes on the coattails of mounting threats to mail\u2011in voting systems nationwide, punctuated by recent testimony from Postmaster General David Steiner indicating the USPS could withhold mail ballots from states that do not provide the federal government with lists of voters who have requested absentee or mail ballots.\n\nIn their letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, the lawmakers requested detailed information on USPS's election mail preparedness, including how the agency is addressing persistent service gaps in rural areas, mitigating workforce and transportation challenges, coordinating with state and local election officials, and ensuring ballots are delivered on time so every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.\n\n\u201cMillions of Coloradans depend on voting by mail, especially in our rural communities where polling locations can be few and far between. We\u2019re proud to have one of the most secure election systems in the nation, one that I helped build during my time in the State Legislature. These primaries are the voters\u2019 first chance this year to make their voices heard on Trump\u2019s disastrous policies for the past two years, but our rural communities have been dealing with delays that could jeopardize their ability to make sure their votes are counted on time.\u201d said Pettersen. \u201cOur democracy works best when everyone has a chance to have their voice heard. At a time when Trump is trying to attack mail in voting and rig both the primaries and the upcoming midterm elections by making it harder for people to vote, we should be doing everything we can to make sure that rural voters don\u2019t get left behind just because of where they live.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe ability to participate freely and fairly in elections is not only a core principle of democracy, but is central to who we are as Americans,\u201d said Schrier. \u201cRight now, the Trump Administration\u2019s attack on mail-in ballots, voter eligibility, and local election systems threatens the ability of my constituents to vote \u2013 especially those who live in rural communities far away from in-person voting options. Washington state\u2019s mail-in voting system is one of the best in the country and, for decades, has increased the ability of all Washingtonians to make their voices heard each November. I am proud to lead the effort to ensure USPS is taking the necessary steps to deliver timely, reliable, and secure election mail for rural Americans.\u201d\n\nThe full version of the letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Postmaster General Steiner,\n\nWe write to request information regarding the United States Postal Service\u2019s preparedness to ensure the timely and reliable delivery of election mail leading up to the upcoming federal elections, with particular attention to service in rural and mountain communities.\n\nAcross the country, the Postal Service plays an essential role in connecting communities, supporting local economies, and ensuring access to critical services. That role is especially important in rural areas, where residents often depend on USPS as their primary and sometimes only reliable connection to mail delivery, including medications, essential goods, and election materials.\n\nHowever, persistent service gaps in rural communities continue to raise serious concerns. In many areas, residents experience longer delivery times, inconsistent service, and limited access to postal facilities. These challenges are often compounded by workforce shortages, delivery route constraints, transportation delays, and geographic barriers such as mountainous terrain and long travel distances between delivery points. In some communities, post offices operate with reduced hours or limited staffing, further restricting access for residents who already face fewer alternatives.\n\nRecent oversight findings and constituent reports have highlighted that mail delivery performance in certain rural areas has fallen below national averages, with delays in both letter mail and packages. These service gaps can have real consequences for families and small businesses, but they are particularly concerning in the context of elections. When voters rely on the mail to receive and return their ballots, even modest delays can create barriers to participation, especially in communities where in-person voting options are limited or far away.\n\nThe reliability of postal delivery is directly tied to the ability of voters to participate in free and fair elections. During recent outreach in rural and mountain communities, we consistently heard concerns about delayed mail delivery, inconsistent service, and uncertainty about whether ballots would arrive and be counted on time. These concerns emphasize the need for clear and proactive planning to address known service gaps ahead of the election.\n\nWe recognize and appreciate the dedication of USPS employees who serve rural communities under challenging conditions every day. At the same time, it is essential that USPS take targeted and transparent steps to address longstanding disparities in service and ensure that all voters, regardless of geography, have equal access to timely and reliable mail delivery.\n\nTo better understand USPS\u2019s preparedness and planning efforts, we respectfully request responses to the following questions:\n\nWhat specific operational steps is USPS taking to ensure all election mail, including ballots, is delivered in a timely and reliable manner for the upcoming election?\n\nHow does USPS define, track, and publicly report delivery performance for election mail, particularly for ballots sent to and from rural communities?\n\nWhat targeted actions are being implemented to address persistent delivery delays in rural and hard-to-reach ZIP codes, including those with known staffing or transportation challenges?\n\nHow is USPS addressing workforce shortages, route coverage gaps, and logistical constraints that may disproportionately impact rural mail delivery?\n\nWhat protocols are in place to identify, prioritize, and expedite election mail within USPS processing and delivery systems?\n\nHow does USPS coordinate with state and local election officials to ensure alignment on ballot mailing timelines and delivery expectations, particularly in rural jurisdictions?\n\nHas USPS provided updated guidance to election officials and the public regarding recommended mailing deadlines to account for potential delays in rural delivery networks?\n\nHow does USPS handle ballots that are processed or delivered after applicable state deadlines due to postal delays, and what safeguards are in place to minimize these occurrences?\n\nIn light of recent federal actions affecting voter records and mail-in voting processes, how will USPS ensure that ballots are delivered accurately and on time to eligible voters, including in cases where address records may be incomplete, outdated, or inconsistent?\n\nWhat were USPS\u2019s on-time delivery rates for election mail during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles, including a detailed breakdown by rural and urban areas, and what lessons learned from those cycles are being applied to current preparations?\n\nA reliable and accessible postal system is fundamental to ensuring that all Americans, regardless of where they live, can fully participate in our democratic process. Addressing longstanding service gaps in rural communities is critical to maintaining trust in both our postal system and our elections. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your detailed response.\n\nSincerely,\n\nRep. Pettersen is the founder of the bipartisan Delivering Postal Solutions Caucus, established to improve mail service in communities experiencing persistent delivery challenges. Throughout her time in Congress, she has consistently pushed USPS leadership for greater transparency and accountability, leading oversight efforts with both former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and current Postmaster General David Steiner to address chronic mail delays affecting rural and mountain communities across Colorado. Her advocacy helped secure the reopening of postal service in Poncha Springs through the establishment of a new post office. Rep. Pettersen also introduced H.R. 448, the Silver Cliff Community Act, to resolve the town's longstanding ZIP code issue and pave the way for a local post office to better serve the community.", 1, "2026-06-30T06:29:10Z", "2026-06-30T06:30:42Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1786", "Rep. Pettersen Demands Answers After Trump Administration Leaves EPA Region 8 Employees Without Reliable Emergency Communications", "2026-06-26", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), alongside Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Representative DeGette (CO-01), demanded answers from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin after a series of alarming safety failures at the EPA Region 8 Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. These failures \u2014 including the mishandling of a bomb threat, removal of hardwired emergency phones, and the absence of clear emergency protocols \u2014 have left federal employees without reliable means to contact emergency services.\n\nBefore a recent bomb scare next to the building, EPA employees received vague warnings about threats to the office and to the State of Colorado, but management provided no specific details, safety guidance, or answers during a subsequent all-hands meeting. When the scare occurred roughly a week later, employees received no evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions, and local management allowed people to freely enter and exit the building. In addition, following 2025 Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) actions, hardwired desk phones were replaced with computer \"soft phones\" that employees have not been trained to use, leaving them reliant on personal cell phones in a building with poor cellular service and no reliable way to contact emergency services.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers wrote, \"It has been brought to our attention that EPA employees lack a clear understanding of who alerts whom during an emergency and how management becomes aware of incidents occurring in or around the building\u2026When asked for specific details about the nature of the threats and the steps EPA was taking to protect staff, management did not respond.\"\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \"The following day, there was a bomb threat against EPA Region 8 employees. Employees received no direction on whether to evacuate or remain home, and reports indicated even the Deputy Regional Manager was unaware of the situation occurring near the building. It appeared management was reluctant to make decisions, and their priority was keeping employees in the building.\"\n\nIn a letter, the Members ask the Department to explain:\n\nWhat the process is for notifying employees of emergencies in the vicinity of the building, and what specific information is provided in those notifications;\n\nWhat specific steps the EPA took in response to the threats made against the Denver office;\n\nWhy standard emergency communication protocols were not followed during the bomb scare incident;\n\nWhy hardwired emergency phones were removed, and whether the Administrator agrees their removal creates unsafe working conditions;\n\nHow the EPA plans to ensure reliable access to emergency services given that parts of the building lack cell service;\n\nWhat training has been or will be provided to employees on the soft phone software, and whether it can successfully call 911.\n\nThe full letter is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T06:16:17Z", "2026-06-27T06:17:30Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-joyce-advance-medicare-advantage-cost-transparency-act", "DeGette, Joyce Advance Medicare Advantage Cost Transparency Act", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health passed the Medicare Advantage Cost Transparency Act, a bill introduced by Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Congressman John Joyce (PA-13). The bill will now go to the full committee for further action.\n\nThis bill would require Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to incorporate additional data, including cost information, in encounter data submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to facilitate Medicare payment validation and to identify improper MA practices.\n\n\u201cUnderstanding what Medicare Advantage plans actually pay for care and what they force patients to pay out of their own pockets is critical to ensuring those plans are working for Americans,\u201d said Congresswoman DeGette. \u201cIf we want to make sure these plans are working for the seniors who rely on them, we have to see how they operate. This bill shines a light on their business practices so we can hold them accountable and protect the people Medicare is supposed to serve.\u201d\n\nUnder this legislation, plans would be required to include the following in encounter data:\n\nWhat the plan paid for an item or service furnished;\n\nThe cost sharing amount (deductibles, copay, and coinsurance) imposed for each item or service;\n\nInformation about whether an MA plan facilitated a health risk assessment for the beneficiary.\n\nThe Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has identified instances of MA plans using at-home risk assessments to add questionable enrollee diagnoses that ultimately increase risk-adjusted payment from CMS without providing services related to the additional diagnoses.\n\nMedicare Advantage plans have been criticized for their high out-of-pocket cost for patients and the shifting provider networks.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-democratic-colleagues-federal-wildland-firefighters-call-congress", "Rep. Neguse, Democratic Colleagues, Federal Wildland Firefighters Call on Congress to Take Action Amid Historic Wildfire Year", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cCongress has to work together to advance a comprehensive approach to addressing the wildfire crisis.\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 In case you missed it, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands, stood alongside federal lawmakers and current and former wildland firefighters as they called on Congress to take action amid an already historic wildfire year.\n\nThe group criticized the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle federal agencies responsible for addressing wildfire challenges across the country, including the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). They also emphasized the need for Congress to advance legislation that protects communities, strengthens land resilience, and provides adequate support for the people and programs leading wildfire prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and suppression efforts.\n\nIn addition to Neguse, Natural Resources Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Representatives Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Josh Harder (CA-09), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) pledged to stand up for America's public lands and national forests by investing in the workforce, resources, and partnerships needed to protect communities from increasingly severe wildfires.\n\n\u201cThe United States is already experiencing its worst wildfire year in nearly a decade. Almost 3 million acres burned. Record-breaking drought conditions in Colorado, and far beyond. Rising temperatures,\u201d said Congressman Neguse. \u201cUnfortunately, tragically, right now, there are federal agencies responsible for key wildfire prevention, mitigation, and management programs that are experiencing irresponsible and reckless staffing and budget cuts that have dramatically, in my view, worsened working conditions for our wildland firefighters\u2014creating unsustainable workloads, inadequate pay and benefits, and a dwindling trust in agency leadership\u2014leading to three out of every four active wildland firefighters at the federal level considering leaving the workforce. This cannot stand. Congress has to intervene, and we have to work together to advance, as I said, a comprehensive approach to addressing the wildfire crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal government should be taking urgent action\u2014right now. And at the very least, we shouldn't be making things worse. But that's not the case under this administration. This administration has been firing staff, dismantling agencies, attacking the science that informs firefighting efforts. Public lands, communities, and firefighters have been pushed to the brink\u2014and as you've heard from several people already, we're heading into what may be one of the worst fire seasons in recent history. We have to do better. We must do better, and Democrats under the leadership and my colleague Joe Neguse and the other colleagues, you see with me here today, believe that we have the ideas ready to go to help us meet this moment. Policies that can keep our communities safe, our lands resilient, and our workforce strong. Bills to combat climate change, to make wildfires less extreme in the first place. Bills to make sure firefighters have good pay, healthcare, and the equipment that they need,\u201d said Congressman Huffman.\n\n\u201cProtecting wildland firefighters is one of my top priorities in Congress, because I know exactly what's at stake. That is why I'm proud to announce forthcoming legislation that I developed in direct partnership with our firefighters, with NFFE, and with health experts who want to close these gaps. This legislation is built around a simple idea: protecting firefighters' health should be treated as operational certainty, not an afterthought. It strengthens coordination across the federal government, makes permanent the Wildland Firefighters Health and Well-Being program, directs OSHA to develop occupational health standards specifically tailored to the risks wildland firefighters face, and invests in the research needed to optimize respiratory protection in the field,\u201d said Congresswoman Dexter, M.D. \u201cThe firefighters standing behind me have done their job. They have protected our communities. They have protected our forests. They have protected our families. Now it's time for us to do our job and protect theirs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere are two things that we really need to be able to fight these fires better. One, we need to prepare and prevent. We need to do a lot more fuel management than we're doing right now. And two, we need more people. We need the researchers. We need the scientists. And of course, we need the frontline firefighters that are out there risking their lives in these fires, running to the danger to keep our homes and community safe. Right now, we're working backwards on both of those issues,\u201d said Congressman Harder. \u201cWe have to keep our duty and our promise to those who stand between our families and disaster.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm not here just to talk about the problems. I'm here to put forward solutions. It's why I support Representative Neguse\u2019s bipartisan legislation, the Wildfire Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act, which will increase and protect the pay we authorized in the bipartisan Infrastructure, Jobs and Investment Act. It's also why I authored and introduced the Support Our Firefighters Act, so that we can permanently lift the cap on overtime pay for federal firefighters and make sure there is a proper rest and recuperation after the fire fight,\u201d said Congressman Panetta. \u201cI realized that in Washington, D.C., yes, of course, especially with this administration, we see a lot of disagreement. We see a lot of division. But I believe that there are certain solutions. There are bills out there that we've worked, yes, and even in a bipartisan basis, like the ones I've talked about that actually demonstrate that we agree that it's not just federal firefighters who should get paid, but that their pay should be equal and commensurate with the dangers that they face, the service that they provide, and the protection that they give to us, to our communities, to our home, and absolutely, to the safety for our families.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll of us standing here today know wildfires pose more and more of a threat to our communities each year. And as representatives from states with dangerous wildfire seasons, we understand how important it is to address this threat early and that there's no reason for this to be a partisan issue,\u201d said Congresswoman Bynum. \u201cI've worked across the aisle to address this issue by introducing and passing bills to prevent drones from delaying wildfire response, and also to help victims rebuild after disaster strikes. But the truth is, if we're not adequately prepared, those efforts can only go so far. And so now, now is not the time to make life harder on our firefighters and our families. Now is not the time to ask firefighters to do more with less. And now is not the time for Washington to take its eye off the ball.\u201d\n\nThe Members spoke alongside current and former federal wildland firefighters and USFS researchers, as well as representatives from the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE).\n\n\u201cI\u2019m calling on members of Congress to do your job. Pump the brakes on this out-of-control administration before another cherished institution, the US Forest Service, is destroyed,\u201d said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE). \u201cOnce disrupted, that investment is lost\u2014lost forever. The taxpayers' investment made over decades lost and gone, you know, for no reason whatsoever. And this is not efficiency, it is the reckless destruction of institutional knowledge, scientific capacity and operational readiness. If this demolition of the Forest Service is allowed to happen, it will be a national travesty that we will regret for generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are currently witnessing the biggest threat to our public lands in our lifetime. The actions that are currently taking place by this administration and the agencies that they control are jeopardizing the safety of American communities and the preservation of our public lands and natural resources,\u201d said Max Alonzo, National Secretary-Treasurer, NFFE. \u201cThey're slashing budgets. They're firing critical employees. They're forcing these workers to move across the country or just quit their careers that they've spent a lifetime investing into\u2026As we go into one of the possibly the roughest years of fire that we've seen in decades. This is not what efficiency looks like, okay. This is what it looks like when you are setting something up to fail.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen they come for one of us, they come for all of us\u2014the land steward, the scientist, the firefighter, the colleague three doors down whose name is on the list to be cut,\u201d said Genny Koytk, President, NFFE Forest Service Council, USFS Environmental Services. \u201cToday, I ask you all, especially our elected representatives, to call to action\u2026And to our Senators and Congressional Representatives, please demand the answers and hard facts about the reorganization and what [the impacts] will have on our mission. Demand clear sources of funding that meet your congressionally appropriated intended for those funds, require independent cost benefit analysis before implemented. And please, as you did last year, take a hard look at the 2027 budget, and keep our Forest Service funded.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe do this job because we love our public lands. I don't see how cutting budgets for the Forest Service, reorganizing, shuffling people around and then potentially pulling firefighters out of the biggest wildland fire agency and putting them under DOI is actually going to make anything more efficient. It seems like it's just a step-by-step road towards dismantling the agencies that care for our public lands. And I know every single person that works for the federal government, within these agencies, as well as a majority of the public, wants to keep our public lands. They want them to be run efficiently,\u201d said Justin Brown, Wildland Firefighter, USFS, Lassen National Forest, CA.\n\n\u201cThe public lands, I think, should be, basically, you know, managed for future generations. It's not just for us. This is for future generations to ensure that we have, you know, proper forest management, clean water, clean air, things that Congress is also very, very interested in. They want this as well. And I think that we should get more bipartisan support for this. And, yeah, we just cannot let [Forest Service research] fall to the wayside. It's just too important for our management and for the American public and for all future generations,\u201d said Buzz Hettick, Biological Scientist, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1779", "On Dobbs Anniversary, Reps. Pettersen Introduces Resolution to Stop Government Surveillance of Reproductive Health Care Medication", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, on the anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced a resolution to prohibit the government from surveilling water systems, including groundwater, surface water, wastewater, or drinking water, to monitor essential medications used in Americans\u2019 reproductive health care. The resolution comes amid growing concerns that anti-abortion lawmakers and federal officials are exploring ways to use public health infrastructure to track reproductive health care decisions.\n\nRecent reports revealed that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials discussed developing methods to detect abortion medication in wastewater systems. Soon after, Texas lawmakers introduced legislation that would require wastewater facilities to test for mifepristone \u2013 the medication commonly used in abortion and miscarriage care \u2013 as well as ingredients found in certain forms of contraception.\n\nThis resolution comes on the 4th anniversary of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which held that access to abortion and reproductive care is not protected under the constitutional right to privacy. After this decision, many states across the country began to pass extreme measures to ban reproductive care such as abortion, abortion pills, birth control, and IVF. States that have outlawed access to abortion have also taken steps to track the movements of potential patients in and across state lines, which raises concerns on what additional surveillance tools may be utilized to identify the use of reproductive health care.\n\nPettersen\u2019s resolution makes clear that tools designed to protect public health should never be weaponized to surveil Americans seeking legal health care or to target patients, providers, and communities based on deeply personal medical decisions.\n\n\u201cThe idea that government agencies could use public health surveillance tools to monitor deeply personal medical decisions is a disturbing draconian tactic that is alarming and something that we should all be terrified of,\u201d said Pettersen. \u201cPeople should be able to make decisions about their reproductive health care without the government interfering. This resolution affirms that tools designed to protect public health cannot be weaponized to control women\u2019s health care decisions.\u201d\n\nResolution text is available HERE.\n\nThis resolution has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood.\n\nBackground:\n\nWastewater surveillance became an important public health tool during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping communities identify disease outbreaks and protect public health. However, experts have warned that the same technology could be weaponized to monitor the use of medications used in abortion care.\n\nRep. Pettersen has also consistently supported access to reproductive health care. As states across the country have adopted restrictive measures on abortion, reproductive care, and gender affirming care, Rep. Pettersen joined an amicus brief before the Supreme Court to defend access to mifepristone, an abortion pill that is FDA approved.", 1, "2026-06-25T06:30:03Z", "2026-06-25T06:31:21Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1777", "Rep. Pettersen Delivers Major Housing Affordability Wins for Colorado Families as Landmark Bipartisan Package Heads to the President\u2019s Desk", "2026-06-23", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) applauded House passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the most significant housing legislation in 30 years, which now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law. The landmark package is the result of months of bipartisan negotiations and includes several Pettersen-led bills to address housing affordability in Colorado and across the country.\n\nRep. Pettersen was a key negotiator in shaping the package, successfully pushing to revise a harmful provision that would have blocked Built-to-Rent homebuilding projects and undermined efforts to address the nation\u2019s housing supply and affordability crisis.\n\nThe final package includes Pettersen\u2019s Streamlining Rural Housing Act, which will reduce duplicative federal housing requirements that slow affordable housing development in rural communities; her Housing Supply Frameworks Act, which will help develop best practices on zoning and land-use policies; and the full version of her VALID Act, which will improve the mortgage lending process for servicemembers and veterans. Pettersen successfully secured inclusion of the full VALID Act after only an amended version was included in the previous House-passed package.\n\nIn Colorado, there is currently a housing shortage of over 100,000 homes and apartments. The state also needs to build over 30,000 units in the next decade to make up for the shortfall given the population growth. Due to this shortage, Colorado has seen median rents climb by more than 80% over the last decade. Pettersen\u2019s bills take important steps forward to address that shortage and encourage policies that help new housing development.\n\n\u201cAll across Colorado, families are being squeezed by the rising cost of housing. Whether in the Denver metro area or our rural mountain communities, there simply aren\u2019t enough homes, and that shortage is driving up costs for everyone,\u201d said Pettersen. \u201cHousing affordability is one of the top issues I hear about from constituents, which is why I fought to include three of my bills in the most significant housing legislation in 30 years. This represents meaningful progress on one of the biggest challenges facing working families. It will help boost housing supply, remove barriers to construction, and expand access to homes families can actually afford. It\u2019s rare these days, but this is an example of what Congress can \u2014 and should \u2014 be doing: rolling up our sleeves and working together to address the urgent issues facing the American people. While I know there\u2019s still a lot more work we need to do, I\u2019m proud to have helped shape this legislation and get it across the finish line, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.\u201d\n\nPettersen\u2019s legislation that passed in 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act \u2013 and will soon become law \u2013 are listed below:\n\nThe Streamlining Rural Housing Act: Introduced alongside Congressman Stutzman (R-IN), the bill directs HUD and USDA to enter a memorandum of understanding, a formal interagency agreement to coordinate housing standards, reducing redundant reviews that increase costs and slow affordable housing development in rural communities.\n\nThe Housing Supply Frameworks Act: Introduced with Congressman Mike Flood (R-NE), the bill directs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop frameworks for best practices on zoning and land-use policies to confront barriers to housing development and construction.\n\nThe VALID Act: Would update Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage disclosures to include VA Home Loans alongside FHA and conventional loan options. The bill would also ensure lenders are provided with important information regarding an applicant\u2019s military service so they can provide information about VA loans early in the homebuying process.\n\nOver her 14 years in elected office, Representative Pettersen has made expanding access to housing that families can afford a cornerstone of her work in Colorado and in Congress. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee and Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, as well as a Co-Chair of the Real Estate Caucus and the Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) Caucus, she is currently leading the charge to tackle the national housing shortage by championing policies that cut through regulatory red tape and streamline the development of innovative, low-cost homes.\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-06-25T06:30:03Z", "2026-06-25T06:31:21Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-leads-resolution-to-encourage-secure-firearms-storage-to-protect-kids-save-lives", "Crow Leads Resolution to Encourage Secure Firearms Storage to Protect Kids, Save Lives", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced a Congressional resolution designating June 21 as National Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Day, a day to encourage safe firearms storage and to urge parents to ask if their children will be in a home with an unsecured gun. Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in this country. More than 6.7 million children live in homes with access to unsecured guns, which plays a role in thousands of injuries and deaths among kids every year. 90% of unintentional shooting deaths of children occur in the home, and more than 76% of school shootings involve access to unsecured and/or unsupervised firearms from homes.\n\nCongressman Crow was joined by Congressman Joe Morelle (D-NY) and 11 others in introducing this resolution.\n\n\u201cFar too many children in this country die as a result of gun violence. We must do everything we can to keep our kids safe from it,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cI\u2019m leading this resolution to encourage every parent to ask if there\u2019s an unlocked gun where their child plays. It's a question that could save a life and a reminder to take commonsense action that\u2019ll protect our kids.\u201d\n\n\u201cKeeping children safe starts with taking simple precautions,\u201d said Congressman Joe Morelle. \u201cThe ASK Day Resolution encourages parents and caregivers to ask an important question: is there an unsecured firearm in the home? That conversation can save lives. I\u2019m proud to support this effort with Congressman Crow to promote safe firearm storage and help prevent tragic accidents involving children.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur children are our nation\u2019s future. Yet, today, 6.7 million children live in homes with access to an unlocked or unsupervised gun, and thousands of kids are injured or killed as a result every year. It is vital that gun owners securely store their firearms to reduce these childhood tragedies, which is why for over two decades, Brady has hosted Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Day on June 21 to spread awareness about the vital nature of asking about unlocked guns where children play,\u201d said Brady President Kris Brown. \u201cBy asking neighbors, trusted adults, and other parents about their firearm storage habits, parents and guardians can protect children and teens from unnecessary tragedy. Brady greatly thanks Representatives Crow and Morelle for highlighting the importance of secure firearm storage and for honoring ASK Day 2026.\u201c\n\nThe ASK Campaign was first established by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000 and is currently administered in partnership with Brady: United Against Gun Violence, a leading organization in the fight for gun safety.\n\nThis resolution builds on Congressman Crow\u2019s long-standing fight to end gun violence in our communities. He voted for and vocally supports the proper implementation of the Bipartisan Safer Communities law \u2013 the first comprehensive gun safety reform package in nearly 30 years. Additionally, Congressman Crow has long demanded congressional action and the growing need for meaningful legislation in the 25 years since the tragic Columbine High School massacre. He has previously led the National Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Day resolution in Congress.\n\nRead the full text of the resolution here.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/neguse-bennet-colorado-democrats-demand-answers-daca-renewal-backlog", "Neguse, Bennet, Colorado Democrats Demand Answers on DACA Renewal Backlog", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Senator Michael Bennet led the state\u2019s Democratic Congressional delegation in demanding the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) immediately expedite DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, renewal applications for Coloradans currently in limbo. They are joined by Senator John Hickenlooper and Representatives Diana DeGette, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen.\n\nAs the son of hardworking refugees and naturalized citizens, Rep. Neguse has been at the forefront of Congress\u2019 fight against the Trump administration\u2019s cruel immigration actions, including fighting to protect DACA recipients. Last week, he announced legislation with Senator Bennet pushing back against the Trump administration\u2019s immigration policies, and in July 2025 he became the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit (Neguse et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement et al.) successfully challenging the administration\u2019s attempt to unlawfully block Members of Congress from conducting critical oversight at detention facilities.\n\nColorado is home to more than 12,000 DACA recipients. Under the Trump administration, USCIS review of DACA applications has slowed to a crawl, with wait times for renewal applications increasing from 15 days in Fiscal Year 2025 to more than two months in Fiscal Year 2026. That\u2019s a 360% increase in processing times in just the first five months of the fiscal year. These delays are causing job losses and workforce disruptions, as DACA recipients are left without valid work permits through no fault of their own.\n\n\"We write to express our deep concerns about the growing backlog of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal applications for hundreds of Coloradans that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet processed...Colorado is home to over 12,000 DACA recipients. They are Americans in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute to this nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Our constituent services teams regularly hear from hardworking Coloradans concerned about the status of their renewal applications and the threat that the ongoing delays pose to their families,\" wrote Neguse, Bennet, and fellow Colorado lawmakers.\n\nFor 14 years, DACA recipients (\u201cDreamers\u201d) have strengthened communities across the country, fueled the economy, and built lives in the United States. 87% of DACA recipients nationwide are in the workforce, and they contribute approximately $17 billion annually to the economy.\n\nIn Colorado, from the Front Range to mountain and rural towns, Dreamers are pillars of their communities.\n\n\"The USCIS backlog of DACA renewal requests is hurting many students, health care workers, first responders, law enforcement officers, and wildland firefighters during what is expected to be a severe wildfire season. These DACA recipients are pillars of their communities, and their lives are now on hold while their DACA renewal applications remain pending with USCIS. These delays affect not only DACA recipients themselves, but all Coloradans.\"\n\nThe state\u2019s Democratic congressional delegation closed their letter by reiterating their call for the agencies to streamline processing and seeking answers regarding any changes in policy or procedure that may be contributing to delays, as well as the extent to which immigration enforcement actions have the ability to impact these individuals.\n\nRead the full letter HERE and below.\n\nJune 18, 2026\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Director Edlow,\n\nWe write to express our deep concerns about the growing backlog of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal applications for hundreds of Coloradans that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has not yet processed. We urge USCIS to expedite the processing of these applications.\n\nColorado is home to over 12,000 DACA recipients. They are Americans in every way but their immigration status. Many only know this country as their home, and they contribute to this nation by paying taxes and serving in critical roles, such as police officers, teachers, and nurses. Our constituent services teams regularly hear from hardworking Coloradans concerned about the status of their renewal applications and the threat that the ongoing delays pose to their families.\n\nAs you know, the DACA program grants two-year, renewable work permits to undocumented adults who were brought to the United States as children. DACA recipients must comply with strict background checks and maintain clean criminal records, and they must re-apply to renew their status every two years. Since its creation fourteen years ago this week, the DACA program has allowed more than 800,000 previously undocumented individuals to remain active, contributing members of their communities without fear of deportation.\n\nUnder the Trump administration, USCIS review of DACA applications has slowed to a crawl. Reports show wait times for renewal applications have increased to a median of 70 days between October 2025 and February 2026, up from a median of 15 days in fiscal year 2025. This leaves DACA recipients in legal limbo and undermines the intent of the DACA program.\n\nThe USCIS backlog of DACA renewal requests is hurting many students, health care workers, first responders, law enforcement officers, and wildland firefighters during what is expected to be a severe wildfire season. These DACA recipients are pillars of their communities, and their lives are now on hold while their DACA renewal applications remain pending with USCIS. These delays affect not only DACA recipients themselves, but all Coloradans.\n\nWe urge you to expedite all DACA renewal applications without delay, and we request answers to the below questions no later than June 30, 2026:\n\nHow long is the current average USCIS review period for a DACA renewal application?\n\nWhat is the scope of the recent delays, and what are the primary drivers? Has anything significant changed in how DACA renewal applications are processed that has contributed to the backlogs or delays?\n\nIs there guidance we should provide to constituents who contact our offices about DACA renewal delays?\n\nFor individuals whose DACA renewal has lapsed due to processing delays, are they at risk of accruing Unlawful Presence (ULP) which may lead to removal, detention, or other enforcement actions?\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-hosts-community-roundtable-challenges-facing-families-northern", "Rep. Neguse Hosts Community Roundtable on Challenges Facing Families in Northern Colorado", "2026-06-18", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cAs communities across Colorado struggle to fill the gaps left in key programs due to the Trump administration\u2019s reckless policies, our kids are the ones facing the consequences.\u201d\n\nLafayette, CO \u2014 Earlier this week, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse hosted local leaders from across Larimer County for a roundtable discussion about the challenges impacting families in Northern Colorado, including the consequences of draconian federal aid cuts on kids across the state.\n\nAccording to recent public reports, Colorado\u2019s children will face the brunt of cuts to federal support for healthcare, childcare, and education and food assistance programs enacted by President Trump and Congressional Republicans\u2019 so-called \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs communities across Colorado struggle to fill the gaps left in key programs due to the Trump administration\u2019s reckless policies, our kids are the ones facing the consequences. Hundreds of thousands of Colorado children rely on federal healthcare support, and hundreds of thousands more rely on food assistance programs,\u201d said Congressman Neguse. \u201cI\u2019m incredibly grateful to the folks across Larimer County who are stepping in \u2014 ensuring families have access to the resources they need to thrive. As we continue to see the dire consequences of Trump\u2019s policies, it is imperative that we adopt an all-hands-on-deck approach to setting the next generation up for success.\u201d\n\nAmong the programs on the Trump administration\u2019s chopping block, more than 600,000 kids in Colorado receive health insurance through Medicaid or the Child Health Plan Plus; 355,000 people depend on food assistance through SNAP; roughly 51,000 receive monthly cash assistance through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; and nearly 28,000 rely on federal child care assistance dollars.\n\n\u201cAbout 50% of SNAP recipients in Colorado are children. So, children are disproportionately impacted by these cuts.\u201d said Amy Pezzani, Food Bank of Larimer County. \u201cAs well, and I think this is shocking, $500,000 a month was lost in just our Larimer County economy due to those SNAP benefits being cut so money no longer being spent at our local farmers markets and grocery stores.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt's not just the children and families that are getting impacted. More than 15% of early educators across the state of Colorado with and below the poverty line, these are people that are already struggling with basic needs and are trying to show up for children day in and day out to help raise them and grow them into our next generation,\u201d said Christina Taylor, Northern Colorado Kids Thrive. \u201cAnd these are folks that are getting heavily impacted by SNAP and Medicaid cuts, housing insecurity, food insecurity.\u201d\n\n\u201cRegarding H.R. 1, the biggest challenges are fewer resources, administrative burden, and uncertainty. For example, the federal government provides unclear direction regarding the implementation of proposed changes to SNAP and Medicaid, such as work requirements and recertification. This lack of clarity makes it very difficult to plan for and deliver human services to people struggling to make ends meet, and to fulfill our partnership responsibilities with community-based organizations to ensure people dealing with family crises receive support,\u201d said John Kefalas, Larimer County Commissioner.\n\nNeguse, who at 42 years-old is the youngest Democrat in Colorado\u2019s federal delegation, has two small children. He has made it a priority to speak up for kids and their families, supporting next-generation efforts to make childcare more affordable and accessible, expand mental health services, advance public safety in schools, and more.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1772", "Rep. Pettersen Demands Answers After Trump Administration Threatens $98 Million in Federal Funding for Jeffco Schools", "2026-06-17", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) demanded answers from the U.S. Department of Education after the Department threatened enforcement action and the potential withholding of federal education funding from Jefferson County Public Schools (Jeffco) over a baseless, alleged Title IX violation regarding transgender students.\n\nAfter notifying the District of its findings in March, the Department provided Jeffco Schools 90 days to address its concerns. Before that period expired, the Department issued a second warning letter threatening further enforcement action and skipped out on a scheduled meeting with the Jeffco School District to settle the dispute. Now, $98 million in federal funding hangs in the balance, putting critical resources at risk for more than 74,000 students \u2013 particularly students with disabilities, low-income students, and English language learners.\n\n\u201cI grew up an at-risk youth, and I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today if I hadn\u2019t had access to exceptional public schools in Jeffco and teachers who believed in me,\u201d said Pettersen. \u201cNow, Trump is threatening to withhold nearly $100 million in federal funding that supports our classrooms and helps ensure every child has a chance to succeed. As a mom, I can\u2019t imagine the fear and uncertainty this creates for families. Our kids should never be used as political pawns. It\u2019s beyond despicable and a reminder that under this administration, our kids will always come last.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate Representative Pettersen's support for Jeffco students and the critical federal resources that help us serve them,\u201d said Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent, Tracy Dorland. \u201cThroughout this process, Jeffco has engaged in good faith, provided data, answered questions, and repeatedly sought to correct a significant factual misunderstanding at the center of the Office for Civil Rights' findings, while working to navigate conflicting state and federal requirements. Our focus remains where it belongs- on protecting educational opportunities for all students and reaching a resolution grounded in facts, sound law, and the best interests of the 75,000 students we serve.\u201d\n\nIn a letter, Pettersen asks the Department to explain:\n\nWhat specific Title IX provisions it believes Jeffco is violating;\n\nWhy it issued an additional warning letter before the original compliance period expired;\n\nWhat efforts were made to work collaboratively with the district before threatening to terminate funding;\n\nWhether the Department analyzed the impact funding cuts would have on students and district operations; and\n\nWhether similar proceedings have been initiated against other school districts.\n\nThe full letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Secretary McMahon and Assistant Secretary Richey,\n\nI write regarding the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) Office for Civil Rights' June 3, 2026 warning letter to Jefferson County Public (Jeffco) Schools, which threatens enforcement action and the potential withholding of federal education funding. As the Representative of Colorado\u2019s Seventh Congressional District, which includes Jeffco School District and the 74,200 students it serves, I am deeply concerned about the serious, long-term consequences these actions could have on our students. I write to request a detailed explanation of the Office for Civil Rights' rationale for this action and to urge the Department to immediately rescind its threat to withhold federal funding from the district.\n\nThe Department first notified Jeffco Schools of its findings in March 2026 and provided the district with a 90-day period to address the Department's concerns related to Jeffco Schools\u2019 compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), including ensuring that students are able to access facilities and programs regardless their gender identity. Yet, before that period had concluded, the Department issued an additional warning letter escalating the matter and threatening further enforcement action. This is especially troubling given that the Office for Civil Rights did not attend the June 16, 2026 meeting that had been scheduled specifically to discuss the tension between Colorado state law and the Department\u2019s interpretation of Title IX, despite the district\u2019s preparation and willingness to engage in good\u2011faith dialogue.\n\nThis pattern of escalation is further compounded by the Administration\u2019s recent decision to move major civil rights investigative and enforcement responsibilities from the the Department of Education\u2019s Office of Civil Rights to the Department of Justice. Placing these functions into an agency whose core mission is federal law enforcement fundamentally alters its purpose. This shift effectively weaponizes the Office for Civil Rights \u2014 recasting it into a federal enforcement arm.\n\nJeffco Schools have been working diligently to navigate its obligations under federal and state law while providing data, answering questions, and engaging in good-faith efforts to address both factual and legal concerns. Rather than working collaboratively with the district to ensure compliance and protect the rights and well-being of all students \u2014 including our transgender students who deserve equal access to safe, affirming learning environments \u2014 the Department has prematurely chosen a punitive approach that places essential educational resources at risk.\n\nAs stewards of our public schools, we have a responsibility to ensure every child has the opportunity to access a high-quality education, which, for many students, can be life-changing. The federal funding at issue, combined with state resources, enables Jefferson County to provide that standard of education and to support the community, including students with disabilities, students from low\u2011income families, and English language learners. If the Trump Administration chooses to withhold these resources, the district will be left without the funding necessary to educate and support our students.\n\nAll stakeholders in this matter share a common goal: ensuring our students have access to the best educational opportunities possible. And my hope is that we agree that Colorado students should not become collateral damage in a dispute between the Department and the district. As such, I respectfully request responses to the following questions to gain clarity into the Department\u2019s course of action in this case by July 17, 2026:\n\nWhat specific statutory and regulatory provisions within Title IX does the Department believe Jeffco Schools are violating?\n\nWhat actions has the Department taken to work with the district to achieve compliance prior to threatening the termination of federal funding?\n\nWhy did the Department issue an additional warning letter before the expiration of the original 90-day compliance period?\n\nHas the Department conducted an analysis of the impact that withholding federal funds would have on student outcomes, educational services, and district operations? If so, please provide that analysis.\n\nHas the Department initiated similar funding-withholding proceedings against any other school districts? If so, please identify those districts and describe the status of those proceedings.\n\nWhat criteria did the Department use to determine that threatening the termination of federal funding was warranted in this case?\n\nIn light of the significant risk to our students posed by potentially withholding this federal education funding, I strongly urge the Department to rescind its threat and instead pursue a path of action that protects both students and the educational resources upon which they depend.", 1, "2026-06-19T06:50:32Z", "2026-06-19T06:53:40Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-host-timnath-town-hall", "Rep. Neguse to Host Timnath Town Hall", "2026-06-14", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 On Monday, June 15, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse will host an in-person town hall meeting in Larimer County. Neguse will be joined by local leaders, provide an update on his work for the people of Colorado\u2019s 2nd District, and take live questions from audience members.\n\nThis will be his 25th public town hall of the 119th Congress\u2014more than all members of Colorado\u2019s House delegation combined.\n\nWhat: Timnath Town Hall\n\nWhen: Monday, June 15 @ 7:00 p.m. MT\n\nWhere: Timnath Town Center\n\n4750 Signal Tree Dr.\n\nRSVP for this community gathering HERE.\n\nCongressman Neguse has represented Colorado\u2019s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019. Covering more than 12,000 square miles, the district is one of Colorado\u2019s largest and most rural, spanning twelve counties: Boulder, Weld, Clear Creek, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Larimer, Summit, Jackson, Routt, and Broomfield. Last year, Neguse visited 50 cities and towns across the district.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-demands-answers-federal-agents-target-immigrant-childrens-0", "DeGette Demands Answers as Federal Agents Target Immigrant Children\u2019s Legal Advocates", "2026-06-13", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "DENVER, CO - Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after federal agents from ICE\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations and Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General attempted to access the offices and client records of nonprofits providing legal services to vulnerable, unaccompanied immigrant children:\n\n\u201cFederal agents showed up unannounced at children\u2019s legal aid organizations this week with no warrant and one clear purpose: intimidation.\n\n\u201cIt is no coincidence this happened the same week that Trump and his GOP allies handed ICE and CBP an additional $70 billion payout. These nonprofit organizations help kids prepare for court, stay safe from trafficking, and navigate a system designed for adults. They are not threats. They are a lifeline, and their young clients are often under the direct care of HHS\u2019s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).\n\n\u201cORR has the responsibility for the care and placement of unaccompanied children in federal custody. Secretary Kennedy has a lot to answer for, and as the Ranking Member of the Health Subcommittee, I want answers immediately.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nEarlier this week, prior to today\u2019s reporting, Ranking Member DeGette sent a letter to Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie and Health Subcommittee Chair Morgan Griffith requesting a hearing with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Administration for Children and Families Alex J. Adams and ORR Acting Director Angie Salazar.\n\nHHS is statutorily required to provide services and care for these children under the Unaccompanied Children Program. However, reports show that ORR has taken actions over the past 17 months that jeopardize the well-being of unaccompanied children and undermine the program, including allegations of extended detention periods of 200+ days and increased cooperation with immigration enforcement agencies that harm placement and sponsor vetting.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 6815, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"party\" = :p1 and \"state\" = 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