{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", state = \"CO\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressional-pro-choice-leaders-urge-biden-to-take-immediate-steps-to", "Congressional Pro-Choice leaders urge Biden to take immediate steps to protect reproductive rights", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. The Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus  led by U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee and (D-CA) and Diana DeGette (D-CO)  sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden outlining the steps they hope his administration will immediately take to preserve, protect, and advance sexual and reproductive health for everyone in the U.S. and around the world.\n\nIn the letter, which was co-signed by all nine Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force Chairs, the Congressional pro-choice leaders said the House's pro-choice majority in the upcoming Congress presents a unique and timely opportunity to protect American's reproductive rights. And they called on the president-elect to use his executive authority to undo many of the actions taken by the Trump administration in recent years to curtail Americans' access to abortion services.\n\nThe Caucus serves as the first line of defense against anti-choice legislation and regulations, the lawmakers wrote. We are committed to protecting and advancing sexual and reproductive health and stand ready to partner with your administration on policies, regulations, and budgets to ensure that all people are free and equal to exercise bodily autonomy.\n\nIn their letter to Biden, the lawmakers outlined several actions they want the incoming administration to take immediately  including issuing an executive order to, among other things:\n\n Revoke the Global Gag Rule; \n\tLift the FDA's in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone, a medication used to safely and effectively end an early pregnancy or treat an early miscarriage.\n\tProhibit states from blocking family planning providers that also provide abortions from participating in Title X;\n\tExpand U.S. foreign assistance support for abortion care to the maximum extent allowed under the Helms amendment, namely by immediately clarifying that funds can be used to support abortion care provided in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment of the pregnant person;\n\tRescind the Trump Administration's birth-control coverage exemption rules, which allow virtually any employer to refuse to cover birth control for their employees, contrary to the ACA;\n\tRescind the Trump Administration's Refusal of Care rule, which invites many individuals and entities to withhold health care services and information from patients without regard for the patient's wellbeing;\n\tRescind the Trump Administration's Public Charge rule, which discourages immigrants from accessing basic services and public programs; and\n\tRescind the 1303 abortion coverage rule, which requires separate billing and payment transactions for abortion coverage provided under certain ACA health plans.\n \nThe lawmakers also called on the incoming administration to:\n\n Re-enter the United States into the World Health Organization;\n\tDisband the Commission on Unalienable Rights\n\tRestore funding to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)\n\tReverse the Trump Administration's restrictions on biomedical research that involves fetal tissue; and\n\tHalt all non-final regulations that will limit access to health care, including reproductive health care.\n \nIn addition to DeGette and Lee, the letter was signed by: Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Norma Torres (D-CA).\nTo read the full text of the lawmakers' letter to the Biden Administration,click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lawmakers-question-tobacco-companies-use-of-covid-19-pandemic-to-market", "Lawmakers question tobacco companies use of COVID-19 pandemic to market e-cigarettes", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  A bicameral group of federal lawmakers  led by U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) and U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)  sent letters to some of the nation's largest tobacco companies demanding more information on the companies' exploitation of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to market their vaping products to youth.\nThe move comes in response to a recent study done by a group of public health experts at Stanford University that found numerous tobacco companies  including several subsidiaries of British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International  have chosen to take advantage of the ongoing public health emergency to promote the sale of their products.\nSeveral companies, according to the study, offered to provide customers with essential items that were in short supply  such as hand sanitizer, face masks and toilet paper  as free gifts with the purchase of a vaping product to increase their revenue during the crisis.\nIn a series of letters sent today to British American Tobacco, Philip Morris, the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, the lawmakers demanded the companies provide them more information on their use of theCOVID-19 pandemic to market their e-cigarette products, and demanded more information from federal regulators on what, if any, enforcement actions they are taking in regards to the companies' advertisements.\nThis attempt to profit off the back of a global health crisis, reminiscent of decades of false and misleading advertising about cigarettes by tobacco companies, represents a callous indifference to the lives and well-being of millions of people across the world, the lawmakers wrote. These advertisements are a blatant exploitation of a pandemic that has killed nearly two million people across the world and devastated the lives of countless more. They are reckless and endanger millions, especially as countries around the globe are experiencing yet another surge in cases.\nResearchers at Stanford University who conducted the study reviewed over 300 COVID-themed e-cigarette advertisements and found tobacco companies have chosen to exploit a global pandemic for marketing purposes.\nTheir report found, among other things, that tobacco companies' ads falsely claimed that vaping was not associated with an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. And those ads, according to the researchers, appear to have been specifically targeted to underage users on various social media platforms, including Instagram and Twitter - a potential violation of federal law.\nTo better understand the companies' potentially abusive promotional activities during the pandemic, the lawmakers requested copies of the companies' advertisements, a list of their subsidiaries that distribute their products, internal documents discussing the company's COVID-19 advertisement practices, and any communications with federal public health officials regarding the content of these advertisements.\nThe FDA and the FTC are, together, responsible for the oversight and regulation of unfair, deceptive, and potentially harmful advertisements.\nIn their letter to the two agencies, the lawmakers requested more information on the agencies' enforcement authority related to e-cigarette advertisement and promotional activities, whether the agencies have received complaints regarding of e-cigarette or vaping products during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to what extent the agencies have communicated with e-cigarette manufacturers regarding their promotional activities during the pandemic.\nA copy of the lawmakers' letter to FDA & FTC ishere, the letter to Philip Morris ishere, and the letter to BAT ishere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ken-buck-objects-23-trillion-coronavirus-relief-and-omnibus-bill", "Rep. Ken Buck Objects to $2.3 Trillion Coronavirus Relief and Omnibus Bill", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) released the following statement concerning his vote onthe Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021:\n\n\"Small business owners and unemployed Americans are struggling to stay afloat under statewide lockdowns. Congress's response? A $2.3 trillion COVID-omnibus bill that includes: language to further Green New Deal policies, millions of dollars to build two new Smithsonian museums, and a provision regarding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, just to name a mere fraction of the ridiculous provisions outlined in this bill.\n\nInstead of doing the right thing by offering a lifeline to working Americans with targeted relief, Congress has resorted tostrapping our future generations with an insurmountable amount of debt.\n\nI would have supported targeted relief to help small businesses and individuals who need it most, and a plan to distribute the vaccine to the most vulnerable, but this bill clearly misses the mark. With just under eight hours to read the 5,593-page bill, I cannot, in good conscience, vote for this legislation that spends billions of taxpayer dollars on pet projects that have nothing to do with COVID relief or keeping the government funded,\" Rep. Buck said. \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-degette-statement-on-house-passing-900-billion-covid-19-relief-bill", "Rep. DeGette statement on House passing $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Following is a statement from U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) on the House voting to approve a $900 billion coronavirus-relief package:\nThe short-term relief that this bill will provide to millions of families is important, but it doesn't do nearly enough to provide everyone with the support they need to get through this crisis.\nWhile this bill increases unemployment benefits for those who lost their job, extends the current ban of evictions and foreclosures for those who are behind on their rent and mortgage payments, and provides most Americans with another round of direct stimulus payments  there is still so much more that Congress needs to do to help our communities.\nRecognizing the urgent needs of this country, in May, the House passed the HEROES Act which would have given $3 trillion in aid for our citizens, small businesses, and state and local governments. It's inexcusable that Senate Republicans spent months refusing to even work with us on a broader bill. It never should have taken Congress this long to provide the American people with the help they need.\nWe are in the midst of one of the worst public health crises our nation has ever seen. It's time for every member of Congress to put aside their petty partisan differences and find a way to work together to provide the American people the help they need to weather this storm.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-and-upton-tomorrow-will-be-a-historic-day", "DeGette and Upton: Tomorrow will be a historic day", "2020-12-12", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C  U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette(D-CO) and Fred Upton(R-MI)  authors of the 21stCentury Cures Act issued the following statement, as tomorrow marks the four-year anniversary of the 21st Century Cures Act becoming law, the same day Pfizer will ship their historic vaccine:\nTomorrow marks the four-year anniversary of President Obama signing the 21st Century Cures Act into law. This landmark, bipartisan legislation, which we spearheaded, is one of our proudest achievements in Congress. We're glad to know that because of 21st Century Cures, we're on the cusp of finding treatments to some of the most tragic illnesses - including Sickle Cell and various forms of cancer - that have taken far too many lives. While we were working on passing this important legislation to accelerate the approval and deployment of cutting-edge, life-saving cures, treatments, and vaccines, our focus was entirely on renewing hope for patients and their families. Well, tomorrow, our hopes - and the hope of the whole world - will be renewed. Tomorrow, on the four-year anniversary of 21st Century Cures becoming law, the first COVID-19 vaccine will be shipped nationwide from Pfizer's global manufacturing facility in Portage. Coupled withan expected Moderna EUA by the end of the week, as many as 100 million Americans will be vaccinated by the end of March. That is real hope.\nWhen we first passed 21st Century Cures, we aimed to advance medical research, foster a new era of medical innovations, and help find cures to some of the world's cruelest diseases. We knew it would make an impact but never did we expect its importance to play such an outsized role so quickly. As we fight to end the worst public health crisis in a century, we are so grateful for all of the scientists, health care workers, and the good folks at Pfizer who have worked in record time to find this vaccine. The world is better off because of 21st Century Cures and Pfizer's incredible work. Tomorrow will be a historic day - one we will never forget and once again reminds us of what we can accomplish when we work together. To Pfizer, job well done, and to the world, there is truly a bright light at the end of this dark tunnel.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ken-buck-introduces-house-resolution-ensure-every-legal-vote-counted", "Rep. Ken Buck Introduces House Resolution to Ensure Every Legal Vote is Counted In 2020 Presidential Election", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) was joined by House Republican Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) in introducing H.Res. 1256 to support President Trump's efforts to ensure that every legal vote is counted in the November 2020 Presidential election and to investigate and bring justice to those who perpetrate election fraud. Reps. Buck and Cheney are joined by more than 17 Republican members in this effort to protect the integrity of our election system.\n\nRep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said:\nIt is so important that we do everything we can to ensure every legal vote is counted in the 2020 Presidential election, Rep. Buck said. It's critical that folks have confidence in their election system because free and fair elections are a hallmark of our system of government. We must protect the integrity of our elections and bring justice to those who perpetrate election fraud.\n\nOriginal cosponsor Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said:\nSince Election Day, Americans have heard about many claims and allegations of election fraud and irregularities. I have joined several of my colleagues to demand that all of these issues receive transparent investigations to assure our constituents of the integrity of our elections system. Every legal vote should be counted, and every illegal vote should be removed. Our Republic deserves nothing less.\nText of the resolution is linked HERE.\n\nCosponsors:\n \n\t\tRep. Andy Biggs\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Jeff Duncan\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Ben Cline\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Mo Brooks\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Louie Gohmert\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Dan Bishop\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Mike Johnson\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Chip Roy\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Jody Hice\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Alex Mooney\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Ted Budd\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Glenn Grothman\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Lance Gooden\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Ann Wagner\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Billy Long\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Paul Gosar\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRep. Mark Green\n\t\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/next-cures-medical-research-bill-builds-on-biden-s-past-support", "Next Cures Medical Research Bill Builds on Bidens Past Support", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President-elect Joe Biden's shepherding of a landmark biomedical innovation law bodes well for a second effort to improve access to digital health and reform the Medicare agency.\nReps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said a draft version of Cures 2.0, the followup to the 21st Century Cures law, will come out early next year, with the aim of passing it next year. Biden, whose cancer moonshot initiative was part of the 2016 law (Pub. L. 114-255), presided over the Senate when it passed that chamber.\nHopefully by the spring, we'll be well on our way to getting Cures 2.0 done, Upton said Tuesday during the Milken Institute's Future of Heath Summit. House members will be sworn in Jan. 3 according to the House Majority Leader's calendar, and Upton said it's going to take a little while for the 117th congress to get organized.\nThe original law passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, and movement in the next session could be a win for both lawmakers and the incoming Biden administration in a Congress fractured along party lines.\nThe incoming Biden administration is well aware of Cures 2.0, said DeGette, who had a number of conversations with incoming White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain before the election.\nWhile the 2016 law focused on reforming the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, Cures 2.0 will focus more on restructuring the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, DeGette said.\nGene therapy products have already come onto the market along with more than 900 investigational new drug applications for ongoing clinical studies. But with price tags running into seven figures for one dose of these potentially curative therapies, insurers have grappled with how to pay for the treatments.\nIf you're going to expedite cures through the process, you have to be able to provide them to the patients, DeGette said.\nShe also acknowledged the 2016 law was light on digital health services.\nThis is not an easy issue to crack, she said, because of so many different digital platforms. As we've learned in the pandemic there are so many barriers to electronic medical records and to preserving data and privacy and so on. And so those are some of the areas we're really trying to tackle.\nThe lawmakers released a concept paper in April and staff for Upton and DeGette are combing through more than 500 comments to inform a discussion draft they expect to release early next year, they said.\nThe Cures lawmakers are still aiming to insert their pandemic preparedness provisions into future virus relief funding, which they mentioned this past spring. Those provisions include improving surveillance and testing as well as more support for developing new antimicrobials.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-on-fda-approval-of-first-covid-19-vaccine", "DeGette statement on FDA approval of first COVID-19 vaccine", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Following is a statement from U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations panel  which oversees the FDA  on the agency's decision today to grant an Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine:\nThis a moment we have been waiting for. Having a vaccine approved for distribution here in the U.S. marks the beginning of the end of this dark chapter in our history. Our focus now must be to get this vaccine  and any others that are approved  out to as many Americans as we can, as safely and quickly as possible.\nWhile this is certainly a day to celebrate, it's also important to remember that we aren't quite out of the woods yet. While we work to get this vaccine distributed to more than 300 million Americans across the country, it's now more important than ever that we all continue to take the steps necessary to slow the spread of this virus and keep each other safe.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-to-authorize-344-million-for-south-platte-river-project", "Congress to authorize $344 million for South Platte River project", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) announced today that Congress is now on track to approve more than $344 million for Denver's South Platte River and Tributaries project as part of this year's water bill.\nThe massive project  which will restore miles of stream bank along the South Platte River through the heart of Denver, create more green space for residents to enjoy and protect hundreds of Denver homes and businesses from the threat of future flooding  is a key part of a broader plan put forth by city of Denver and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to permanently protect three of Denver's rivers.\nDeGette, in close collaboration with the city and county of Denver and the Army Corp of Engineers, worked to get funding for the project authorized as part of the 2020 Water Resources Development Act, which congressional leaders finalized late yesterday.\nDenver's vast open parks and unrivaled public lands are a large part of why our city is so special, DeGette said. This legislation will not only protect our community from future flooding, it will also provide our residents with miles of additional green space to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.\nThe legislation is expected to be approved by both chambers before the end of the year.\nThe full text of this year's WRDA bill is available here.\n(see page 322 for South Platte River project).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-requests-doj-appoint-special-counsel-investigate-hunter-biden", "Rep. Buck Requests DOJ Appoint a Special Counsel to Investigate Hunter Biden", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr requesting that the Department of Justice appoint a Special Counsel to investigate Hunter Biden's conduct and the contents of his laptop that is currently in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's possession.\n\nThis letter follows up on Rep. Buck'stweetcalling on the DOJ to investigate Hunter Biden.\n\n\t\n\tThe letter reads:\n\tThis investigation is critical to defending the integrity of our republic and ensuring a potential Biden Administration will not be the subject of undue foreign interference. Americans have the right to know whether Mr. Biden's reported ties to foreign governments will make him the subject of blackmail attempts or other nefarious efforts to undermine U.S. national security or otherwise improperly influence American foreign policy.\n\t\n\t\n\tText of the letter is linked here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-introduces-legislation-to-expand-diabetes-prevention-program", "DeGette introduces legislation to expand diabetes prevention program", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) introduced legislation today to make Medicare's Diabetes Prevention Program more accessible to more Americans.\nThe bipartisan legislation, which DeGette introduced along with Reps. Tom Rice (R-SC), Tom Reed (R-NY) and G.K. Butterfield (D-CA), would require that Medicare make the program available online, instead of requiring qualifying beneficiaries to attend in-person classes.\nNearly one-third of all adults in this country have either diabetes or prediabetes, said DeGette, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. Finding ways to prevent more Americans from developing this deadly disease must remain one of our top priorities. This legislation will help us expand access to important resources and make them more available to more Americans  including our seniors, and those living in more rural areas, who may otherwise be unable to utilize them.\nThe Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program is a 2-year program designed to teach Medicare beneficiaries with prediabetes how to live healthier lifestyles and reduce their chances of developing Type 2 diabetes later on down the road.\nThe program, which is available to qualifying Medicare beneficiaries at no cost to them, requires participants to attend 16 in-person, classroom-style sessions where they are taught how to improve their diets, increase their physical exercise and make better overall health decisions to reduce their chances of developing the disease.\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services temporarily suspended the in-person requirement earlier this year in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and is currently making the diabetes prevention classes available to participants online.\nThe legislation DeGette and others introduced today would make that change permanent and explicitly require Medicare to make the diabetes prevention program available to qualifying beneficiaries both online and in-person going forward  a move that proponents of the bill say will help to drastically expand the programs reach, even after the pandemic ends.\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of every 10 American adults currently have diabetes  including more than 400,000 people in DeGette's home state of Colorado.\nThat number is even higher among Americans age 65 and over  in fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, it's estimated that 1 out of every 4 seniors in the U.S. currently has the disease.\nApproximately$1 out of every $4spentonhealth care in the U.S.  and$1 out of every $3 spentby Medicare  isspenttreating people withdiabetes.\nIn response to the surging cost associated with treating a growing number of Americans with diabetes each year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program in 2018 in an effort to try to help lower the cost of treating beneficiaries with the disease by helping them prevent it from developing in the first place.\nStudies have shown that participants of similar behavioral-change programs have been successful in preventing or delaying the development of Type 2 diabetes for at least 15 years.\nAn early review of the Medicare-run program found that it, like other similarly designed programs, has been successful in helping participants lose weight and reduce their overall chances of developing the disease.\nParticipants of the Medicare program have reported an average weight loss of 5%. Medicare, meanwhile, has reportedly saved an average of $2,650 in reduced medical costs per beneficiary who has participated in the program.\nThe legislation  known as thePREVENT DIABETES Act is supported by the American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, The Connected Health Initiative, Endocrine Society, Healthcare Leadership Council, Livongo, Noom, National Kidney Foundation, Novo Nordisk Inc., Omada Health, and YMCA of the USA.\nA copy of the bill is here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-introduces-measure-stop-chinas-ip-theft", "Rep. Buck Introduces Bill to Stop China's IP Theft", "2020-12-02", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) introduced H.R. 8831, a bill that codifies the denial of export privileges against nations that violate U.S. law and steal intellectual property.   \n\t\nThe Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property estimates that intellectual property theft costs the United States economy approximately $600 billion annually. The Chinese government remains the world's principal source of intellectual property theft. A March 2019 CNBC poll found that one in fiveU.S. corporations say that China has stolen proprietary intellectual property within the last year and one in three U.S. corporations state that China has stolen their intellectual property within the last decade.\n\nRep. Buck said: What Americans innovate, China steals. The Chinese government's long history of intellectual property theft has cost the United States billions of dollars each year. My bill codifies the administration's ability to issue denial orders against international entities that violate our laws and steal our intellectual property. This bill will combat China and other hostile nations' ability to steal our intellectual property and do untold harm to our economy.\n\nBill text linked HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/live-54th-annual-us-capitol-christmas-tree-lighting-ceremony", "LIVE: 54th Annual US Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony", "2020-12-02", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "600 Grant Street, Suite 202\n\nDenver, CO 80203\n\n  Phone: (303) 844-4988  \n\tFax: (303) 844-4996\nOffice Hours:\nMonday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm M.T.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/colorado-congressional-delegation-celebrates-lighting-of-us-capitol", "Colorado Congressional Delegation Celebrates Lighting of U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree", "2020-12-02", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Today, the entire Colorado Congressional Delegation released a joint statement celebrating this year's U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, which traveled from Western Colorado to Washington, D.C. in November, ahead of the lighting ceremony in our nation's capital:\nFrom the spread of the coronavirus to the economic downturn, this year has challenged us all. But through these challenges, people from across Colorado have come together to support one another and bring hope to their communities. Coloradans have always beenresilient, and it is fitting that when our country most needs a reminder of holiday joy that our state has the honor of providing the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.\nThe Capitol Christmas Tree is a wonderful American tradition that unites us as we celebrate the holiday season.It is a symbol of the community and hope we can still find during difficult times. After Colorado's most devastating wildfire season on record, it also serves as a reminder of the importance ofprotecting our public lands and the communities that rely on them.\nCongratulations to Colorado's Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, & Gunnison National Forests for providing a spectacular Engelmann spruce. On behalf of Colorado, it is our honor to share a piece of our beautiful state with the country.\nAfter being harvested from the Uncompahgre National Forestnear Montrose, Colorado on November 5, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree traveled through Colorado and across the country, arriving in Washington, D.C. on November 20. The tree's ornaments, created by Coloradans, traveled to Washington with the tree.\nToday's lighting of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be livestreamedHEREat 3:00 PM MT/5:00 PM ET.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-introduces-resolution-recognizing-november-as-american-diabetes", "DeGette introduces resolution recognizing November as American Diabetes Month", "2020-11-24", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S.Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Tom Reed (R-NY),co-chairs of theCongressionalDiabetes Caucus, introduced a bipartisan resolution today recognizing November as American Diabetes Month.\nMore than 30 million Americans have diabetes, and twice as many more are likely prediabetic, DeGette said. We, as a nation, can and must do more to help prevent and treat this disease  and that includes raising awareness throughout the country about who is most at risk, the symptoms they should look out for and the importance of early detection.\nAccording to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34.2 million Americans have diabetes, while an estimated 88 million more are likely prediabetic.\nThe resolution  cosponsored by fellow Diabetes Caucus members Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Susan DelBene (D-WA) and Susan Brooks (R-IN)  seeks to increase public awareness of the prevention and treatment options available.\nIt also seeks to reemphasize the importance of early detection when it comes to treating the disease and calls on Congress to address the barriers to health care that are leaving some of the most vulnerable communities at an increased risk of developing the disease.\nA copy of the resolution is availablehere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pelosi-appoints-degette-to-serve-on-ndaa-conference-committee", "Pelosi appoints DeGette to serve on NDAA conference committee", "2020-11-18", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Speaker Nancy Pelosi today appointed U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) to serve among a select group of members who will be tasked with negotiating a compromise between the House and Senate's annual defense spending bills for the upcoming fiscal year.\nDeGette's appointment to the conference committee will provide her more than just an opportunity to sway future military funding, it will also provide her a unique opportunity to ensure that her legislation to permanently protect more than 1.4 million acres of wilderness across three states remains in the final version of the bill.\nThe House voted in July to attach legislation known as the Protecting America's Wilderness Act  which DeGette had originally introduced in May 2019  as an amendment to its version of the National Defense Authorization Act.\nThe language, which would provide permanent protection to more than 50 unique wilderness areas in Colorado, Washington and California, would also ensure that one of the nation's top military flight schools  the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, or HAATS, in Colorado  is able to continue its mission uninterrupted.\nProtecting more of our nation's wilderness for future generations to enjoy is vital not only to the overall health of our planet, but also to our nation's military who use these untouched terrains to train some of our nation's most elite pilots,DeGette said. Ensuring more of our public lands are protected under this year's NDAA bill will be one of my top priorities.\nDespite the House having included the wilderness-protection language in its version of the NDAA bill, it was not included in the version the Senate passed later that same month.\nNow, DeGette and others appointed to serve on the conference committee will be charged with drafting new legislation that can pass in both chambers of Congress.\nAnd further increasing the chances that DeGette's wilderness bill will remain in the final version of this year's NDAA, Pelosi named three other key backers of the wilderness-protection language to serve on the committee alongside DeGette: U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA).\nIf ultimately approved, DeGette's wilderness bill will be the largest wilderness protection bill Congress has approved for her home state of Colorado in more than 40 years.\nIt would provide more than 660,000 acres of wilderness in 36 unique areas across Colorado with the highest level of land protection available, including Handies Peak, Dolores River Canyon and Little Book Cliffs.\nMembers appointed to serve on the conference committee are expected to meet later this month to begin drafting a compromise to the House and Senate NDAA bills.\nOnce a compromise is reached, it must then be approved by both chambers of Congress before heading to the president to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-introduces-bill-increase-penalties-violent-rioters", "Rep. Buck Introduces Bill to Increase Penalties for Violent Rioters", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In response to the latest reports of ANTIFA and other left-wing groups inciting riots and violently attacking peaceful demonstrators over the weekend, Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) introduced the Blocking Rioters and Insurrectionists from our Cities to Keep us Safe (BRICKS) Act. This bill increases penalties for inciting, organizing, aiding, abetting, or funding rioting (18 USC, Sec. 2101) from five years to 10 years. The BRICKS Act also adds an escalator clause in which penalties may increase to 25 years in prison if serious bodily injury is inflicted. Violators may face up to life in prison if death results from their actions.\nThis legislation comes after Rep. Buck's letter to Attorney General William Barr last month urging the Department of Justice to investigate individuals and groups responsible for funding, organizing, inciting, and participating in riots.\nCongressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said:\nThis year, we've seen an unprecedented amount of violence from riots organized by ANTIFA and other radical leftist groups. It's time to take action against anarchist groups that have wreaked havoc across the country and the BRICKS Act does just that, Rep. Buck said. In order to truly restore unity in this country, Congress must support efforts like this to stop the violence perpetrated by the far left. We need to restore the livelihoods of our communities and hold these criminals accountable for their large-scale destruction once and for all.\nText of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-joins-effort-strengthen-trade-protections-american-food", "Rep. Buck Joins Effort to Strengthen Trade Protections for American Food Producers in the Global Market", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) cosigned a letter that requests the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a core policy objective to safeguard the free use of common cheese terms in any current and future trade negotiations. This effort works to ensure American farmers and food producers have access to fair trade rules overseas. The EU has continually misused geographical indications (GIs) to manipulate the market share of U.S. dairy producers by confiscating dozens of cheese names that are commonly used by the dairy industryincluding cheeses such as parmesan, asiago, feta, Havarti, and gorgonzola.\nThis initiative was led by Representatives Jim Costa (D-Ca.), Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Tx.), Angie Craig (D-Mn.), Dusty Johnson (R-Sd.), Ron Kind (D-Wi.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wi.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Ca.) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.).\nThe letter reads, in part:\nOn behalf of the farmers, ranchers, food and beverage manufacturers, and exporters we represent, thank you for the work that you have already accomplished on this issue. We look forward to working alongside your offices to further strengthen protections for food and wine producers, the signers wrote.\n\nText of the letter available HERE\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://tipton.house.gov/media/press-releases/tipton-announces-2021-military-service-academy-nominations", "Tipton Announces 2021 Military Service Academy Nominations", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Scott Tipton", "T000470", "tipton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONCongressman Scott Tipton (CO-03) announced the names of 30 students from Colorado's Third Congressional District who received a nomination to attend a military service academy. The individuals were selected based on meeting or exceeding the rigorous requirements of the respective academy and Tipton's office.\nThe defense of our nation relies solely on voluntary service and it's remarkable these students set themselves apart from their peers by striving to be the next generation of military leaders, said Tipton. I am honored to nominate each and every one of these young men and women to attend the prestigious military academies and wish these exceptional individuals continued success in their careers.\nTipton personally called each candidate to share the news last week.\nCongressman Scott Tipton's Academy Nominations for the Third Congressional District:\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy\n Jamie Brown, Grand Junction*\n\tNicholas Burke, Grand Junction*\n\tMicah DeField, Hotchkiss*\n\tSean DeHeart, Pueblo*\n\tTucker Etsy, Edwards\n\tGabe Gallagher, Grand Junction\n\tJoey Gates, Craig\n\tAnaiya Harris, Grand Junction\n\tZachary James, Pueblo\n\tBerkeley Kelly, Eagle*\n\tErik Krauth, New Castle\n\tLayne Martinez, Pueblo*\n\tEmily Medina, Ridgway*\n\tIsaac Musselman, Carbondale*\n\tHelena Ostaszewski, Steamboat Springs*\n\tJohn Plutt, Pueblo West*\n\tBenjamin Sceats, Glenwood Springs*\n\tDayton Sofka, Olathe\n\tSebastian Witt, Eagle*\n U.S. Naval Academy\n Connor Eaton, Crested Butte\n\tGabriel Gueretta, Grand Junction\n\tJeffrey Lowe, Glenwood Springs\n\tZoe Manke, Steamboat Springs*\n\tAugustus Reed, Montrose\n\tJames Walsh, Steamboat Springs*\n\tJacy Werner, Steamboat Springs*\n U.S. Military Academy (Army)\n Ford Pitts, Durango\n\tGrace Romero, Aspen\n U.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n Justin Henderson Meeker\n\tSimon Varela, Austin\n ###\n\nCongressman Scott Tipton represents Colorado's Third District. He serves on the House Committee on Financial Services. He is Vice Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions. Tipton is the Executive Vice Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and Co-chairman of the Congressional Small Business Caucus", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lawmakers-oppose-trump-administration-plan-to-expand-global-gag-rule", "Lawmakers oppose Trump Administration plan to expand Global Gag Rule", "2020-11-13", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. More than 140 members of the U.S. House of Representatives  led by U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Nita Lowey (D-NY)  sent a letter today to the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of State and Department of Health and Human Services expressing their opposition to the administration's plan to expand the so-called Global Gag Rule, which prohibits foreign organizations that receive U.S. global health assistance from providing information, referrals, or services for abortion care.\nThe letter comes as part of a 60-day public comment period the federal government recently opened up to solicit feedback on the administration's proposal to expand its prohibition on discussing or providing abortion care to patients to all global health contracts.\nNoorganizationshould be forced to choose between providing patients withaccess tolife-saving medical care or accepting U.S. aidthatthey need to stay open, said DeGette, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. The Global Gag Rule is nothing more than another dangerous attempt to eliminate women's rightsto reproductive care worldwide and should be withdrawn immediately.\nThis administration's expanded Global Gag Rule has gravely diminished the effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance, silenced medical professionals, threatened the health of the world's most vulnerable women at an unprecedented level, and has forced clinics to choose between providing limited reproductive health services while accepting U.S. foreign aid or providing inclusivefamily planning and reproductive health care with a limited budget, said Lowey.\nThe lawmakers noted that the State Department's own review of the Global Gag Rule, which was released in August 2020, showed serious disruptions to global health programming. Organizations have reported receiving little guidance from the U.S. government on how the rule should be implemented, leading some to overreach the policy's restrictions out of fear and uncertainty of being out of compliance.\nIn opposing the administration's proposal to expand the rule further, the lawmakers stressed that expanding the policy would likely produce more confusion and negatively impact the availability of health services around the world.\nThe lawmakers emphasized that now, during an unprecedented global pandemic, is not the time to expanda policy that threatens to limit access to vital health care programs, including those related to treating and preventing the spread of COVID-19.\nA copy of the lawmakers' letter is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-legislation-to-reform-us-olympic-committees-signed-into-law", "DeGette legislation to reform U.S. Olympic Committees signed into law", "2020-10-31", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. A key piece of legislation, originally introduced in the House by U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), to reform how the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees operate was signed into law last night.\nThe legislation calls for the creation of an independent, blue-ribbon commission to study  and eventually help reform  how committees operate in the wake of several high-profile sexual-abuse scandals that had raised doubts about the organization's ability to care for our nation's top athletes.\nUnder the terms of the newly enacted reform bill, leaders in Congress will soon be required to appoint 16 members to serve on an independent panel that will be tasked with studying and recommending specific changes that Congress should make to improve how the nation's top sports bodies are being run.\nA key provision in the law that was championed by DeGette requires that at least eight of the commission members be either former or current Olympic or Paralympic athletes.\nOur nation's Olympians dedicate their lives to representing our country on the world stage, DeGette said. Today, we are taking steps to ensure the organization created to care for them is doing exactly that.\nOnce established, the independent commission will have nine months to report their findings and recommendations on how to improve the USOPC back to Congress.\nAmong the issues the commission will be asked to evaluate are: how responsive the national governing bodies for each Olympic sport are to its athletes and how athletes can be better represented in the system.\nIt will also be asked to review the diversity of the USOPC's board, its finances and whether it's effectively achieving its stated goals.\nSince the allegations against former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar first came to light, dozens of former Olympic athletes and USOPC officials have called on Congress to act to reform how our nation's Olympic committees operate. Those calls grew even louder after investigators revealed that some USOPC officials knew about the alleged abuse but did nothing to stop it.\nA copy of the legislation signed into law is availablehere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-leads-delegation-wide-letter-gov-polis-honoring-colorado-s", "Rep. Buck Leads Delegation-Wide Letter to Gov. Polis Honoring Colorados Brave Firefighters", "2020-10-30", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) led the Colorado congressional delegation in a letter to Governor Jared Polis honoring the bravery and perseverance of firefighters battling raging wildfires across the state. Rep. Buck (R-Colo.) was joined by Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Reps. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), Scott Tipton (R-Colo.), Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), Diana Degette (D-Colo.), and Jason Crow(D-Colo.).\nOn the front lines of this fight, firefighters have demonstrated heroism in the midst of extreme and volatile conditions. Even in instances where fires have grown rapidly, such as the East Troublesome Fire's nearly 140,000-acre expansion in one day, firefighters have courageously fought to halt the flames and prevent further destruction of Coloradans' livelihoods and property, the Colorado delegation wrote. We applaud the valiant efforts of Colorado's firefighters and commend these brave individuals for their sacrifice and perseverance. We offer our continued support and prayers for our firefighters' safety and success in extinguishing these fires.\nText of the letter available HERE.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pro-choice-caucus-leaders-statement-on-confirmation-of-amy-coney-barrett", "Pro-Choice Caucus leaders statement on confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court", "2020-10-26", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), as co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, issued the following statement after the Senate voted tonight to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court:\nThis entire confirmation process has made a mockery out of the highest court in the land. Today's vote to confirm Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court is an affront to democracy as we know it - women, vulnerable communities, and working families are going to suffer because of this for generations to come.\nThe United States is eight days away from one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime. Millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, but Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans jammed through this illegitimate confirmation with no regard for giving the American people a say in this process.\nAs leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus, we are fully aware of the danger this nomination presents to women around the country. President Trump has spent years promising to only nominate justices who are hostile towards abortion. During the 2016 election, he campaigned on his commitment to nominating justices who would overturnRoe v. Wade. And despite Republicans' unwillingness to publicly acknowledge their intent to strip women of their constitutional rights, we've always known that the nominee to replace the late Justice Ginsburg would be a vessel through which they could do so.\nIt comes as no surprise that Judge Barrett's record reflects years of hostility towards Roe and access to reproductive care. Tonight's confirmation is a devastating development in our decades long fight for reproductive freedom. But we are going to ensure officials at every level of government in every state across the country are committed to protecting reproductive freedoms, especially for low-income and women of color. This fight is not over with this confirmation. Let this serve as a renewed commitment to continuing our work in Congress and in the states.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-leads-doj-letter-insisting-atf-streamline-national-firearms-act", "Rep. Buck Leads DOJ Letter Insisting ATF Streamline the National Firearms Act Submission Process", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) spearheaded a letter supported by over 100 Republican members of the U.S. Houseto Attorney General William Barr addressing concerns regarding the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) actions to limit third-party processors' ability to assist law-abiding Americans to complete the National Firearms Act (NFA) eForms submission process. This eForm submission process was launched in 2014, however, ATF recently limited third-party processors' ability to assist American taxpayers in gun-purchase processing, despite prior congressional recommendations to streamline this process.\n\nAlthough the ATF previously acknowledged the important contributions of third-party processors and assured collaboration on the next iteration of the eForms system, recent restrictions do not align with this recognition. Rep. Ken Buck insists that this is an infringement on Second Amendment rights due to the unnecessary overcomplication it causes for rightful firearm ownership. He and his colleaguesare urging the DOJ toissue guidance clarifying how third-party processors can continue assisting taxpayers in completing the NFA eForms submission process.\n\nCongressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said:\n\nWe need to ensure this process allows Americans to fully exercise their Second Amendment rights. I'm proud to lead this letter with over 100 of my Republican colleagues in the House ensuring our right to keep and bear arms is protected.\"\n\nBackground:\n Text of the letter can be found here.\n\tIn a letter dated October 22, 2019, 56 members of Congress wrote to the ATF highlighting the benefits of third-party processors and urging Acting Director Lombardo to work with third-party processors to implement an e-filing system that allows these companies to assist the American people in exercising their Second Amendment rights.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lawmakers-demand-answers-on-administration-s-efforts-to-reunite-545", "Lawmakers demand answers on administrations efforts to reunite 545 children separated from their parents at the border", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  A trio of senior U.S. lawmakers who oversee the agency responsible for caring for the migrant children who are separated from their parents at the border are demanding to know what the Trump administration is doing to locate the parents of 545 kids who reportedly still remain separated from their families more than two years after the administration's abhorrent family-separation policy ended.\nIn a letter sent today to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA)  the chairs of three key House panels that oversee HHS  demanded that the administration provide them more information on the specific steps being taken to reunite the children with their parents.\nThis is appalling, the lawmakers wrote. We want to know what actions, if any, the Administration is taking to assist in locating and reuniting these families that have now been separated for more than two years.\nDeGette, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations panel, has been spearheading House Democrats' investigation into the Trump administration's family-separation policy since taking over as head of the panel at the start of last year.\nIn fact, in February 2019, the subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the long-term effects the administration's child-separation policy can have on children taken from their parents for even just a short amount of time. According to reports, many of the more than 500 children who have still not yet been reunited with their parents have been separated for more than two years.\nAs we heard in testimony from child development experts and the independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the traumatic psychological effects of separations are expected to be long-lasting for the children and parents who endured even a brief separation, the lawmakers wrote. Unlike many of the Trump Administration's scandals, this unfathomable nightmare is still unfolding more than two years later, and continuing to afflict undue harm on its victims. As a result, hundreds of children are still living a nightmare in which they are going to sleep each night without their parent.\nIn addition to demanding more information on what the administration is doing to reunite the still-separated families, the lawmakers want to know when the children were separated, how long they have been in U.S. custody and what they are being told by officials regarding the whereabouts of their parents.\nA copy of the lawmakers' letter to HHS is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-calls-doj-investigate-censorship-news-outlet-social-media", "Rep. Buck Calls on DOJ to Investigate Censorship of News Outlet on Social Media Platforms", "2020-10-16", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  On Wednesday, Congressman Ken Buck sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr expressing his concerns regarding the recent censorship of aNew York Postarticle on Facebook and Twitter. The article details Hunter Biden's alleged email correspondence with Burisma executives in 2014 and 2015. Social media platforms have broad immunity from prosecution under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to allow users to exercise their freedom of speech with moderation only in cases involving egregious and illegal communications. In response to Twitter's and Facebook's recent actions, Rep. Ken Buck is calling on the DOJ to prevent this code from applying to platforms that moderate political content.\n\nTwitter and Facebook's editorial decisions to block the New York Post's story, while allowing the President to Iran to issue death threats against United States servicemembers, do not meet the narrow content moderation protections granted to platforms under Section 230,\" Rep. Buck writes. \"I urge the DOJ to open an investigation into Twitter and Facebook's harmful actions to censor free speech and curtail Americans' access to a free press. Their recent actions violate the platform's immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and threaten to chill free speech throughout our nation, which is why I also urge the DOJ to consider removing Section 230 immunity for social media platforms that engage in political content moderation.\n\nThis letter comes after an initiative spearheaded by Rep. Buck to dismantle big tech censorship. Earlierthis month, he authored a report outlining a third way to take on big tech anticompetitive behavior, which was supported by Representatives Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).\nA PDF of the letter can be foundhere.  The original New York Post article can be foundhere.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/creativity-is-simply-lost-as-covid-cripples-academic-research", "Creativity Is Simply Lost as Covid Cripples Academic Research", "2020-10-14", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Higher education groups are warning lawmakers that serious federal aid is needed for colleges to bolster scientific work scuttled by the coronavirus, or the U.S. could fall behind international competitors and lose younger talent just beginning careers in research.\nWe are in danger of losing a part of a generation of scientists, said Stephanie Page, an endocrinologist and associate professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, citing new uncertainty in academic research.\nScientists in many fields have already lost a year's worth of research thanks to canceled travel in the spring and summer, the one chance many had to collect data on wildlife or conduct other field work.\nThe effects of the pandemic vary between campuses, but disruptions are ongoing and have affected nearly every aspect of university research.\nWhile many researchers and graduate students returned to work before the fall semester began, access to labs on college campuses remains limited, with only a handful of people allowed at facilities that were previously sites of robust collaboration. Some studies are only now getting back off the ground.\nThere's no getting around the fact that the work has really had to come to a halt, said Page.\nA study of male hormonal contraceptives had to close several sites and switch to monitoring participants remotely, Page said. Two floors of labs at the University of Washington School of Medicine dedicated to seeking cures for diabetes and obesity had to shut down entirely for months, she said.\nImportant in-the-field work also is at stake.\nWe think we're doing research that will ultimately lead to better forecasts and save hundreds of lives, said Roger Wakimoto, an atmospheric scientist and vice chancellor for research at the University of California Los Angeles, who normally travels each spring to Oklahoma to collect data on tornadoes with mobile radars. That was put on hold for a whole year due to travel restrictions.\nAt Oakland University outside Detroit, Scott Tiegs, an ecologist, said a year of work tracking the spread of the New Zealand mud snail, an invasive species threatening freshwater ecosystems in Michigan, was lost because of travel restrictions in place since the pandemic began.\nIt makes it almost impossible for us to get to field sites, he said. In the past, for example, me and a PhD student, and a few undergrads, maybe a volunteer helperwe'd pile into a van and head to a field site in Northern Michigan. And we can't do that anymore.\nFewer Workers in Labs\nHealth and safety measuresand the burdens they create for collegesvary from state to state. In areas with surges of coronavirus cases or the most stringent health measures, limits on the number of individuals in labs have made collaboration and teaching more difficult.\nUCLA labs have operated at 25% capacity since the summer, while labs on campus at the University of North Texas are at 30% capacity.\nFaculty members and graduate students have shifted to a 24-hour lab schedule to adjust to the new limits, said Mark McClellan, vice president for research and innovation at the University of North Texas. That means students will lose out on tangible instruction and in-person collaboration.\nA lot of new creativity is simply lost in this effort to keep healthy and still going forward, he said.\nResearchers like Page have had to limit spending while federally backed studies go inactive. Typically, scientists whose work is unfinished after a grant period can request a no-cost extension.\nThose kinds of delays aren't unusual because it often takes time for lab managers to hire staff after receiving a grant, for example. But labs had to keep paying workers and absorb other costs during the months that the pandemic shut down ongoing research across university campuses.\nSupplemental funding from Congress will be needed for many projects to make it across the finish line, higher education groups have warned lawmakers. And other costs for personal protective equipment and restarting abandoned experiments figured into a $26 billion request for new federal aid.\nCareer Plans Disrupted\nThe immediate effect for grad students is the potential for delayed graduations or completion of dissertations needed to land a job in a campus lab. The more long-term concern for science advocates is that fewer jobs will be there for younger scientists because of spending cuts by colleges.\nLiterally everything about the higher education experience for graduate professional students is being affected by Covid, said Brad Sommer, president of the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students.\nDelayed graduation dates for many students could mean they leave with bigger debt loads, said Gwen Chodur, a doctoral student in nutritional biology at the University of California, Davis. Chodur's research into the link between fat intake and heart disease was delayed because her lab couldn't recruit new study participants during the pandemic. UC graduate students can receive a one-year extension of teaching stipends from the schoola step that not every university has taken.\nStudents who through no fault of their own are going to take longer than expected to finish could find themselves stuck with a $15,000-a-year bill because work was interrupted by the pandemic, Chodur said.\nMay Be Out of Luck'\nBudget cuts have created new challenges for researchers just entering the job market like Sukrit Singh, a computational biophysicist, who completed his doctoral degree this year at Washington University in St. Louis.\nAs the pandemic has persisted, several promising opportunities in academia and the private sector fell through because of hiring freezes, he said.\nTo put it as bluntly as possible, the obstacles that have come up have impacted my ability to do research, Singh said of the prolonged job search. It's preventing me from actively working on Covid research now.\nThe ripple effects of research disruptions extend to undergraduate students as well. Seniors this fall who hoped to work in a lab in preparation for graduate school or medical school found fewer open spots at regional research universities like Oakland, said David Stone, chief research officer at the school.\nThose students are scrambling because labs can't take as many people, he said. If they don't get it, they may be out of luck. When you can't put students in the labs, how can you get them to do the work?\nHigher education groups fear the impact of Covid-19 will be felt in particular by underrepresented student groups, especially women and other caregivers.\nGloria Blackwell, senior vice president of fellowships and programs at the American Association of University Women, said several academics with funding from the organization had job offers rescinded in the spring as universities slashed budgets. Others struggled to write dissertations after losing access to campus child care.\nWe can't assume we're going to pick up where we left off, she said.\nLooking to Congress\nThe U.S. had begun to lag global competitors like Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan in research and development investment well before the pandemic began, Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president and CEO of the Council on Competitiveness, told lawmakers on the House Budget Committee in July. That's despite increased federal spending on R&D between 2000 and 2017.\nDisruptions from the pandemic now threaten further setbacks to U.S. research while other countries make big investments in R&D, some lawmakers fear.\nA bipartisan proposal (H.R. 7308 and S. 4286) would provide $26 billion through federal research agencies to help cover the mounting costs for colleges and universities that produce new scientists and academics. A separate proposal (H.R. 8044) would create a two-year $500 million fellowship program at the National Science Foundation targeting students whose job prospects were disrupted by the pandemic.\nRep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), who introduced the House proposal for new research aid, called the challenges for research universities a crisis.\nAside from studies being shut down, researchers themselves are at risk of losing their jobs, she said. The impact on younger researchers and graduate students could have a wave effect.\nIf additional research funding can't be included in a comprehensive Covid package before the November elections, DeGette said she would push to pass legislation during the lame-duck session.\nTime's a wasting here, she said. We need to act soon.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pro-choice-caucus-leaders-urge-senate-to-delay-supreme-court", "Pro-Choice Caucus leaders urge Senate to delay Supreme Court confirmation hearings until after inauguration", "2020-10-08", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA)  along with 11 Pro-Choice Caucus Task Force chairs  led a letter, signed by 116 members of the House, to Senateleaders today urging them to delay confirming any Supreme Court nominee toreplace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg until after the next president is sworn into office.\nAs members of the Pro-Choice Caucus, we know that reproductive health, rights, and justice are at stake with this nomination,the lawmakers wrote.President Trump has repeatedly said he will only nominate justices who are hostile to abortion. During the 2016 election, President Trump campaigned on his commitment to nominating justices who would overturnRoe v. Wade. That is his litmus test and, based on her record and public statements, we know that Judge Barrett meets this test.\nIn the letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Judiciary Ranking Member Diane Feinstein (D-CA), the lawmakers noted Judge Amy Coney Barrett's desire to strike down rights for all Americans, including reproductive freedoms and affordable health care.\nJudge Barrett's record shows she is a clear and present threat toRoeand reproductive freedom, the lawmakers wrote.She has publicly opposed abortion and ascribes to such extreme views that she could also call into question the legality of certain forms of birth control and fertility care. She has suggested thatRoeis an erroneous decision,' stated that life begins at conception, sided with states trying to restrict abortion access, and joined anti-choice groups in voicing opposition to the Affordable Care Act's coverage of contraception. Should she be confirmed, Judge Barrett would radically endanger our fundamental rights for decades to come.\nThe letter was co-led byPro Choice Caucus Task Force ChairsU.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), TedDeutch(D-FL), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Norma Torres (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) and comes ahead of next week's scheduled confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett.\nIn addition, the letter was signed byGerald Connolly (D-VA),Grace Napolitano (D-CA), SeanCasten(D-IL), Joyce Beatty(D-OH), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Andy Levin(D-MI), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), JosephMorelle(D-NY), Joseph P. Kennedy, III(D-MA), James McGovern (D-MA),Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).Gwen Moore (D-WI), Dina Titus (D-NV),Andr Carson (D-IN),Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Alcee L. Hastings(D-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Alma Adams (D-NC), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Nita Lowey (D-NY), DavidTrone(D-MD), Mike Levin (D-CA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Lori Trahan(D-MA), MarkPocan(D-WI), Nanette DiazBarragn(D-CA),Susan Wild (D-PA), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Mark Takano (D-CA), Ral Grijalva (D-AZ), DebHaaland(D-NM), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Nydia Velzquez (D-NY), YvetteD.Clarke(D-NY), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Mike Thompson (D-NY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Donald Beyer(D-VA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Bradley Schneider (D-IL), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Jimmy Gomez(D-CA),Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Chellie Pingree(D-ME),Ted Lieu(D-CA),Darren Soto(D-FL),Jerry McNerney(D-CA),William Keating(D-MA),Danny Davis(D-IL),SuzanneBonamici(D-OR),Dan Kildee(D-MI),Ro Khanna(D-CA),Steve Cohen(D-TN),David Price(D-NC),Grace Meng(D-NY),Peter Welch(D-VT),Donald Payne(D-NJ),Rick Larsen(D-WA),Mark DeSaulnier(D-CA),Donna Shalala(D-FL),Bill Foster(D-FL),Mike Doyle(D-PA),Adam Smith(D-WA)Bennie Thompson(D-MS),AlbioSires(D-NJ),Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(D-NY),Marcia L. Fudge(D-OH),Kathy Castor(D-FL),JenniferWexton(D-VA),Betty McCollum(D-MN),Brian Higgins(D-NY),Brenda Lawrence(D-MI),Jason Crow(D-CO),Derek Kilmer(D-WA),Kathleen Rice(D-NY),Eddie Bernice Johnson(D-TX),DavidCicilline(D-RI),Anthony Brown(D-MD)Earl Blumenauer(D-OR),RashidaTlaib(D-MI),Madeleine Dean(D-PA),Doris Matsui(D-CA),Pramila Jayapal(D-WA,Steven Horsford(D-NV),Susan Davis(D-CA),Tony Crdenas(D-CA),John Yarmuth(D-KY),David Scott(D-GA),Linda Snchez(D-CA),Anna Eshoo(D-CA),Marc Veasey(D-TX),Jimmy Panetta(D-CA),Al Lawson(D-FL),Bobby L. Rush(D-IL),JamieRaskin(D-MD),Adam Schiff(D-CA),Brendan Boyle(D-PA),Denny Heck(D-WA),Seth Moulton(D-MA),AmiBera(D-CA),Frederica Wilson(D-FL),A. Donald McEachin(D-VA),Scott Peters(D-CA),Colin Allred(D-TX),Jess G. Chuy Garcia(D-IL)Jared Huffman(D-CA),Kim Schrier(D-WA).\nTo read the full text of the letter,click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-raises-concerns-over-administration-s-plan-to-greenlight", "DeGette raises concerns over administrations plan to greenlight unproven COVID-19 tests for market", "2020-10-07", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations panel  which directly oversees the Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration  sent a letter today to HHS Secretary Alex Azar raising serious concerns over the agency's decision to allow laboratory-developed tests, or LDTs, for COVID-19 to be used throughout the country without FDA review.\nThe letter  which DeGette sent along with U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA)  comes in response to the FDA's recent announcement that it will no longer be reviewing laboratory-developed tests to determine their accuracy for detecting COVID-19, even if the lab that developed the tests requests such a review.\nThe FDA's decision to no longer review the tests to ensure their reportedly came directly from Azar, who President Trump appointed to run the nation's health agency.\nFor months, the Administration has failed to take responsibility for developing and implementing a national [COVID-19] testing strategy, which has resulted in uncontrolled spread of the virus and continuous supply chain problems, DeGette and others wrote. We now believe you have once again committed a grave error in overruling objections of career scientists at [FDA] by announcing that HHS would allow marketing of [LDTs] without FDA review. This new policy, which was made without prior notice or warning, could lead to numerous faulty tests on the market, raising serious concerns about the reliability of tests used to detect COVID-19.\nUntil now, the FDA has historically required laboratories to seek authorization prior to marketing tests it develops during a public health emergency, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.\nAccording to an article that two top FDA officials  Jeff Shuren and Timothy Stenzel  recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, many of the laboratory-developed tests the FDA has reviewed for COVID-19 have had performance problems or were poorly validated.\nThe officials also noted that out of the 125 Emergency Use Authorization requests the agency has received for such tests, FDA identified problems with 82.\nWe are disappointed that rather than follow this safer, more constructive approach, political leadership at HHS has chosen a reckless path, removing the requirement for LDTs to receive any review by FDA prior to their use during the worst pandemic of our lifetimes, the lawmakers wrote. This decision will increase the chances of false negative results, endangering countless lives, and weakening our understanding of COVID-19 as we head into fall and winter.\nTo read the full letter, click HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-pens-antitrust-report-presents-third-way-take-big-tech", "Rep. Buck Pens Antitrust Report that Presents a Third Way to Take on Big Tech", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) released a report detailing solutions to rein in Big Tech's anticompetitive behavior with support fromRepresentatives Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).The Third Way: Antitrust Enforcement in Big Techserves as a response to the majority staff's report on the year-long Big Tech investigation conducted by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.\nThis report offers a third way forward that will ensure our antitrust regulators have the tools and resources they require to conduct proper oversight and bring effective antitrust enforcement cases,the report reads.It's clear that the ball is in Congress' court. Companies like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook have acted anticompetitively. We need to rise to the occasion to offer the American people a solution that promotes free and fair competition and ensures the free market operates in a free and fair manner long into the future.\nRep. Buck released the following statement concerning the report:\nWhile I do not support the recommendations presented in the subcommittee's majority report, I fully support and am open to working with Chairman Cicilline to find a solution that reins in Big Tech and their anticompetitive behavior. Antitrust enforcement in Big Tech markets is not a partisan issue, I support the ongoing, bipartisan investigations of these companies. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cureI would rather see targeted antitrust enforcement over onerous and burdensome regulation that kills industry innovation. I want to thankReps. Collins, Gaetz, and Biggsfor joining me in this effort, it is so important that conservatives stand for antitrust enforcement in the Big Tech marketplace. Their thoughtful and bold decision will help hold Big Tech accountable.\nRep. Collins said:\nFor too long, Big Tech has abused its dominance to engage in anticompetitive behavior and censor conservative voices, and it's time Congress take back its Article I authority to ensure the marketplace of ideas is working for every American. By implementing these recommendations, we can ensure our antitrust laws already on the books are fostering free and fair competition in the digital marketplace and work best for both consumers and innovators. I'm proud to have been one of the four members who launched the Committee's investigation into Big Tech, and I want to thank Rep. Ken Buck for his hard work and thoughtful solutions to protecting competition in the digital market. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to hold Big Tech accountable and ensure our antitrust laws are working to keep the market competitive.\nRep. Gaetz said:\n\"Today's subcommittee report shows, with clear, convincing, and exhaustive evidence, that the Obama administration's weak enforcement of antitrust laws allowed big tech companies like Google and Facebook to achieve near-monopoly status. These predatory companies have used their vast size to unfairly harm competition and consumers. This has had many negative effects, including the widespread censorship of conservative voices, which is only possible due to the sheer size and scale of these companies.While I do not agree with all of the legislative remedies proposed in the majority's report, Rep. Ken Buck's Third Way shows that there is a great deal of common ground that can be found. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address these important antitrust issues, which affect all Americans, regardless of political orientation.\nRep. Biggs said:\nThe Judiciary Committee must continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to put an end to big tech tyranny. I applaud Representative Buck for his leadership in producing this report, and I look forward to continue working with my Republican and Democrat colleagues on the Committee to protect ALL voices against the tech overlords of Silicon Valley.\n\nA copy of the report is linked here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://buck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-buck-announces-arkansas-valley-conduit-project-groundbreaking", "Rep. Buck Announces Arkansas Valley Conduit Project Groundbreaking", "2020-10-03", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "CO", "Ken Buck", "B001297", "buck.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Saturday, October 3, Congressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) announced the commencement of the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Project at Pueblo Dam. The AVC will transport clean water from the Pueblo Reservoir's 230 miles of pipeline to a projected 50,000 people in southeast Colorado.\n\nCongressman Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said:\n\nFighting to secure access to clean and safe drinking water in the Lower Arkansas Valley has been a top priority of mine since I entered Congress. In the last fiscal year, we have secured nearly $30 million in funding for the Arkansas Valley Conduit. I am proud to announce that we are finally breaking ground on this project, which will help nearly 50,000 people across 40 rural communities in southeast Colorado.\n\nSecretary of the Department of Interior David Bernhardt:\n\nFor nearly 60 years, Colorado's leaders of both political parties have been working to move the Arkansas Valley Conduit forward. Over the last three years, the forceful advocacy of Senator Gardner working with the Trump Administration has led to today's significant milestone. This project will provide reliable clean water for 50,000 people living in 40 rural communities across southern Colorado.\n\nBureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman said:\nThe Arkansas Valley Conduit will provide a reliable long-term water supply to communities relying on groundwater contaminated by naturally occurring toxins. Reclamation is proud to provide a source of safe and clean water to promote health, welfare, and economic opportunity for these Americans.\n\nBackground:\n February 10, 2020 Rep. Buckannouncesadditional $8 million in additional funding for the AVC in the president's proposed FY2021 budget\n\tFebruary 4, 2020 Rep. Buckannounces$28 million in funding to start construction on the Arkansas Valley Conduit\n\tOctober 11, 2019 Reps. Buck and Tipton and Sens. Gardner and Bennetsend letterto OMB asking the department to secure the funding necessary for AVC completion\n\tApril 1, 2019 Reps. Buck, Tipton and DeGettesend letterto House Appropriations Committee requesting the prioritization of the completed AVC Project\n\tApril 12, 2018Reps. Buck and Tipton and Sens. Gardner and Bennetsend letterto Secretary of Interior regarding the lack of funding to the project during FY 2019\n\tApril 30, 2015 Rep. Buckspeaksin support of the Arkansas Valley Conduit on the House floor", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-approves-22-trillion-coronavirus-relief-bill-0", "House approves $2.2 trillion coronavirus-relief bill", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus-relief bill today that's designed to help tens of millions of families and small businesses that are struggling to stay afloat amid the ongoing pandemic.\nThe legislation  known as Heroes Act 2.0  would, among other things, restore the $600-per-week in enhanced unemployment benefits through January 2021 and provide nearly all Americans with a second round of direct economic impact payments of $1,200 per taxpayer and $500 per dependent.\nThe measure would also put in place a 12-month nationwide moratorium on any evictions or foreclosures for all renters and homeowners and would continue to suspend the collection of payments and interests on any outstanding federal student loans for, at least, another year.\nIn addition to helping families struggling amid the crisis, the legislation provides $436 billion to help state and local governments that are growing increasingly desperate for funding, and an additional $75 billion to increase coronavirus testing and contact-tracing efforts across the country.\nIt also extends the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses and the Payroll Support Program to help keep tens of thousands of airline industry workers employed.\nThere are millions of hardworking families across this country that are desperate for help right now, and getting them the assistance they need should absolutely be our top priority, said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), who supported the measure. In times of crisis, such as these, it's incumbent upon all members of Congress to put aside their political differences and do what's right for the good of the people. The Senate's failure to pass any meaningful form of relief for the millions of families who are struggling amid this crisis will be looked back upon as a shameful chapter in our nation's history. We are, once again, urging our colleagues on the other side of the Capitol to do the right thing by helping us pass this bill immediately.\nThis House voted in May to approve the original Heroes Act, a $3.4 trillion coronavirus relief bill that the Republican-led Senate has refused to take up.\nLawmakers hope that changes made to the bill that was approved today will be enough to spark a compromise between the two chambers.\nThe revised version now heads to the Senate for consideration.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congress-passes-gardner-and-degette-backed-olympic-oversight-bill", "Congress Passes Gardner And DeGette Backed Olympic Oversight Bill", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congress passed a bill Thursday that aims to protect Olympic athletes from abuse.\nThe Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 gives Congress the power to decertify both the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the governing bodies for individual sports. It calls for more funding for the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the nonprofit that polices sexual abuse in Olympic Sports; confidentiality for whistleblowers that come forward to report abuse; and for more athletes on governing bodies.\nThe bill also sets up a bipartisan blue-ribbon committee to do a top to bottom review of the USOPC. This idea was championed by Republican Sen. Cory Garnder and Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette.\nEstablishing this 16-member commission, at least half of whom will be Olympians or Paralympians, will give athletes a seat at the table and ensure the U.S. Olympic Committee's presence in Colorado grows even stronger, Gardner said in a statement.\nThe USOPC had been working on reforms, even before Congress got involved. But DeGette said the bill was about making good on our promise to protect [Olympic athletes].\nWhen the organization that was created to care for our nation's top athletes becomes more concerned with winning and protecting its brand, it's time for change  and this legislation will ensure our athletes have a say in the process, she said.\nAt least half the members of the commission would be current or former athletes and it would have subpoena powers. It would start meeting within 30 days of the last member's appointment and conduct a complete review, from the USOPC structure to licensing and funding arrangements. The commission would have nine months to submit its report to Congress, including any policy changes.\nThe bill stems from a number of high-profile sexual abuse cases that shined a spotlight on the Colorado Springs-based USOPC's failure to protect its athletes.\nKansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran and Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal introduced the bill after an 18-month bipartisan investigation into systemic abuse within the U.S. Olympic system. The bill passed the Senate in August.\nWe are grateful to our colleagues in the House who advocated for this bill, and we look forward to the president signing this legislation into law to institute and enforce these reforms so all athletes can participate in the sport they love without fear of abuse, they said in a joint statement.\nThe bill now heads to the president's desk.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/olympics-reform-bill-passes-house-promising-sweeping-change-after-abuse", "Olympics reform bill passes House, promising sweeping change after abuse scandals rocked sports", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The House of Representatives on Thursday passed sweeping legislation that is poised to alter the sprawling landscape of Olympic sports, including giving more power to athletes and forcing more oversight of the coaches and executives who have traditionally controlled the sports.\nThe bill, which easily passed the Senate in August and now awaits President Trump's signature, will have immediate ramifications that could prove costly for the cash-strapped U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. But athletes and their advocates say the biggest impact could be looming a year or more down the road.\nBorn out of the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the gymnastics world and toppled the leadership at the USOPC, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act empowers Congress to decertify individual sports' governing bodies and dissolve the USOPC's board of directors. It also calls for better athlete representation in governing bodies and more funding for the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit charged by Congress with policing sexual abuse in Olympic sports. Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-Calif.), co-sponsor of the House bill, called it a potential sea change.\n  \n\tWe know from the Larry Nassar scandal and other scandals that we have to make the entire Olympic system much more athlete-centered, Lieu said in a telephone interview.\nLawmakers from both parties have said they hope Trump will quickly sign the bill into law. A White House spokesman this week declined to comment on the president's plans.\nThe bill effectively means that Congress will keep close watch on Olympic organizations, receiving annual reports and audits, and will be poised to take further action if needed.\nLaws are dead letter and worse than worthless if they are not effectively enforced, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a co-sponsor in the Senate, said in a phone interview. So I want to make sure Congress continues its strong oversight.  If there's a need for more reform, I will have no reluctance to advocate more measures. I have no illusions that this legislation is the end of the story or that it's a perfect solution. We've done our best on this first set of reforms, and I think it's designed to change the culture and character of these agencies, as well as the culture of sport.\nSome of the biggest potential changes might not be known for months or longer. The bill calls for the creation of a bipartisan commission that will conduct a top-to-bottom review of the USOPC and the complicated system of Olympic sports. The group will report its findings to Congress, which could result in a more substantial overhaul of the Olympic framework in the United States, scrutinizing everything from the economic model to the spider web of governance.\nIt's going to send shock waves through the system, said Eli Bremer, an Olympic modern pentathlete and outspoken critic of the USOPC. I think there is going to be a lot of changes that come out of this, and some pieces will take a bit of time to understand their true impact.\nBremer is part of the Committee to Restore Integrity to the USOPC, an advocacy group that worked with lawmakers on the text of the bill, which marks Congress's most significant Olympic-related undertaking in years. The Amateur Sports Act was originally passed in 1978, empowering the USOPC, and was updated and expanded in 1998.\nThe entire system back then was around $1 million, not really big, Bremer said of the 1978 legislation. \"Now it's probably half a billion to a billion with all the [national governing bodies]. It's time to start rethinking the system.\nU.S. Speedskating found a coach was threatening' athletes  and let her keep coaching\nCongress would appoint the 16 commission members, at least half of whom would be current or former athletes. The group would begin meeting within 30 days of the last member's appointment. The legislation gives the commission subpoena powers to carry out its work and a nine-month deadline to deliver a full report to Congress.\nThe commission was not a part of the Senate bill when it was first introduced last year by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Blumenthal. The idea for the commission was largely developed and added by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).\nCritics of the USOPC hope the end result is a more equitable system that better protects athletes and ensures that resources and revenue aren't funneled to executives. Olympian Nancy Hogshead-Makar, another member of the Team Integrity committee, said that when the amateurism model that long ruled the Olympic movement was altered in 1992, the economic model never changed.\nAll the new money flowing into the USOPC went to the staff, while most athletes currently live in abject poverty, Hogshead-Makar said.\nThe USOPC already has taken on reform measures, many of which are called for in the congressional bill. The organization, which has publicly remained neutral on the bill, says it is in the midst of the most sweeping governance reforms in recent history.\nSince the Nassar scandal, the USOPC has replaced its chief executive and its board chair. It has boosted athlete representation on its board of directors and committees and has taken on new health and safety initiatives, including the addition of a director of mental health services to its staff. In a statement, Sarah Hirshland, the organization's chief executive, hailed the bill as a big win in the halls of Congress for American athletes.\nIt will cement increases in athlete representation in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movements, improvements in athlete safety protections, and bolster transparency and accountability in our system, she said. The USOPC board has already approved two of the most sweeping governance reform updates in recent history, and a third phase is before the board this fall. This legislation codifies many of those reforms, with the USOPC now positioned to move quickly to address any outstanding provisions and support the work of the Commission.\nThe organization will immediately face a challenge funding one of the bill's cornerstone conditions. The USOPC must now provide $20 million annually in funding for SafeSport, a significant increase from its $7.5 million contribution in 2019 and $11.5 million this year.\nIn the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the organization has been forced to reduce its staff and make other budget cuts. The USOPC was expecting nearly $200 million this year from the International Olympic Committee for its share of U.S. media rights for the 2020 Summer Games. That money now will not arrive until the conclusion of the Tokyo Games, which have been rescheduled for next summer. If those Olympics cannot take place, it would have a crippling effect on the USOPC and most Olympic-related organizations in the United States.\nBut funding concerns aside, the legislation promises to spark both immediate and long-term reforms for a system designed to support and protect thousands of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.\nThis is not the end of the road for saying, How do we create a vibrant system in United States?'  Bremer said. This is the beginning. This will set us on a path where hopefully in the next two years we have a thorough, thoughtful process and a system that we're proud of in every way, that treats athletes ethically, leads to strong performance on the field and does right by everyone involved.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-approves-legislation-to-reform-us-olympic-committees", "Congress approves legislation to reform U.S. Olympic Committees", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Congress today approved legislation to reform how the U.S. Olympic Committee operates in the wake of several high-profile sexual-abuse scandals that have raised doubts about the organization's ability to care for our nation's top athletes.\n\nIncluded in the bill is legislation that was originally introduced and championed by U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) to create an independent, blue-ribbon commission to study  and eventually help reform  how the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committees operate.\n\nUnder the terms of DeGette's legislation  which is now headed to the president's desk to be signed into law  Congress will appoint 16 members to serve on the commission that will be tasked with studying and recommending changes to improve how the nation's top sports bodies are run.\n\nThe legislation requires that at least eight members appointed to the commission are either Olympic or Paralympic athletes.\n\nMost of our Olympic athletes dedicate their lives to representing our country on the world stage, DeGette said. Today, we are making good on our promise to protect them. When the organization that was created to care for our nation's top athletes becomes more concerned with winning and protecting its brand, it's time for change  and this legislation will ensure our athletes have a say in the process.\n\nOnce established, the independent commission created under DeGette's bill will have nine months to report their findings and recommendations back to Congress.\n\nThe panel will be asked to specifically evaluate, among other things, how responsive the national governing bodies for each Olympic sport are to its athletes and assess how athletes can be better represented in a system that only functions because of them.\n\nIt will also be asked to review the diversity of the USOC's board members, its finances and whether it's effectively achieving its own stated goals.\n\nDozens of former Olympic athletes and USOPC officials have called on Congress to act since allegations against former USA Gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar, first came to light. Such calls grew even louder after investigators later learned USOC officials had known about the alleged abuse, but did nothing to protect the athletes.\n\nA copy of the legislation is availablehere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lawmakers-launch-investigation-into-administration-s-handling-of-alleged", "Lawmakers launch investigation into administrations handling of alleged mass hysterectomies at ICE detention facility", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and other leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee  which oversees the nation's public health  sent a letter today to Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf demanding to know what the agency is doing to investigate claims of unwanted hysterectomies being performed on immigrant women detained at an ICE detention facility in Georgia.\nAccording to a complaint filed with DHS's Office of Inspector General, a high rate of hysterectomies were being performed on women detained at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia without their fully informed consent.\nIf this complaint is true, it is absolutely unacceptable and horrific treatment of individuals under DHS detention, the lawmakers wrote. As the Committee of jurisdiction over public health and health care in the United States, we seek information as to what steps DHS has taken to investigate the conditions at ICDC and elsewhere, and what actions are being implemented to address and prevent such circumstances in other detention facilities.\nAccording to the complaint filed with the inspector general's office, some women who had a hysterectomy performed on them expressed that they did not understand why the procedure had been done. One woman was reportedly given three different answers by three different people as to why she needed to undergo the surgery.\nIn the days since the complaint was made public, more women have come forward to share their experiences of being pressured to undergo the procedure while detained at the facility.\nIn addition to DeGette, the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA).\nThe lawmakers demanded a response from DHS by October 15, 2020.\nA copy of the letter to DHS is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/house-passes-degette-legislation-to-fund-anti-doping-agency", "House passes DeGette legislation to fund anti-doping agency", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill to reauthorize and fund the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the organization that provides drug testing and education for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and other sporting organizations.\nAs the host of the 2028 Olympic Games, it will be our responsibility to ensure every athlete here is able to compete on a level playing field, said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, one of the sponsors of the measure. This legislation should send a very clear message that anyone thinking about cheating their way onto a podium in 2028 needs to think twice.\nIn its first year, the legislation authorizes $15.5 million to USADA, increasing to $24.9 million by 2028, when the Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles. The bill also directs several federal agencies, including the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the attorney general, to cooperate in prohibiting the use of performance-enhancing drugs.\nA portion of USADA's funding will go toward promoting a \"positive youth sport experience,\" which includes education about sportsmanship, character building and healthy performance.\nLive Science reported in 2018 that the World Anti-Doping Agency typically finds 1% to 2% of Olympic athletes tested produce positive results for performance-enhancing drugs. However, a 2017 anonyous survey of elite athletes suggested that the proportion was closer to half.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/scientists-share-vaccine-suggestions-in-oversight-panel-chaired-by-colorado", "Scientists Share Vaccine Suggestions In Oversight Panel Chaired By Colorados Diana DeGette", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "600 Grant Street, Suite 202\n\nDenver, CO 80203\n\n  Phone: (303) 844-4988  \n\tFax: (303) 844-4996\nOffice Hours:\nMonday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm M.T.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/hearing-ensuring-a-safe-and-effective-vaccine-people-will-trust", "HEARING: Ensuring a Safe and Effective Vaccine People Will Trust", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020 at 11:30am ET, the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee - chaired by U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)  will hold a hearing entitled, Pathway to a Vaccine: Ensuring a Safe and Effective Vaccine People Will Trust.  \n\t  Livestream", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-approves-degette-anti-doping-bill-ahead-of-2028-olympic-games", "House approves DeGette anti-doping bill ahead of 2028 Olympic Games", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House of Representatives today approved legislation to provide the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency the funding and tools it needs to ensure the world's top athletes are able to compete on a level playing field when the Olympics returns to the United States in 2028.\nThe bill  introduced by U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)  will fund the anti-doping agency through 2029, ensuring the agency has the resources it needs to prepare for, and oversee, the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.\nIt also requires that the agency allocate a portion of its funding to programs designed to further protect young athletes from the pressures of using performance enhancing drugs, and empowers the agency to work directly with the other various federal law enforcement agencies to prevent the use of performance enhancing substances by athletes at all levels.\nAs the host of the 2028 Olympic Games, it will be our responsibility to ensure every athlete here is able to compete on a level playing field, DeGette said. This legislation should send a very clear message that anyone thinking about cheating their way onto a podium in 2028 needs to think twice.\nDeGette - who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Committee, which directly oversees our nation's Olympic committees - is the most senior lawmaker from the state of Colorado, which is home to both the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.\nIn addition to the legislation approved today to continuing funding the USADA through the remainder of the decade, DeGette introduced a separate piece of legislation in January 2019  known as the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act  that would make it a crime to engage in any sort of doping scheme at any international sports competition with ties to the U.S.\nUnder the terms of DeGette's bill, anyone involved in such a scheme at an event that's broadcast in the U.S., sponsored by a U.S. company, or in which a U.S. athlete participates, could be fined up to $1,000,000 or imprisoned for up to ten years, depending on the nature of the offense.\nThe bill named in honor of Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Russia's anti-doping laboratory who made headlines in 2016 when he came forward with information that exposed a Russian state-sponsored doping scheme at the 2014 Olympic games in Sochi, is still pending before the House Energy and Commerce Committee.\nThe legislation approved today to fund USADA now heads to the Senate for consideration.\nText of the legislation is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-on-nomination-of-amy-coney-barrett-to-supreme-court", "DeGette statement on nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to Supreme Court", "2020-09-26", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court:\n\nJust because Judge Barrett is a woman doesn't mean she's a champion of women's rights.In fact,Judge Barrett has a long history of opposing women's constitutionalright to reproductive care and to control what happens to their own body.\n\nJustice Ginsburg was a hero to those of us who have dedicated our lives to fighting for women's rights. JudgeBarrett's confirmation to the highest court inour land would set us back decades in our fight for equality.\n\nThere are 38 days until Election Day and voting is already underway in many states. For the good our country, and sake of our democracy,the Senatemust give the American people a say in this process by waiting until the next president is sworn into office before considering a nominee to fill Justice Ginsburg's seat on the bench.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pro-choice-caucus-leaders-urge-senate-to-abstain-from-a-vote-on-supreme", "Pro-Choice Caucus Leaders Urge Senate to Abstain from a Vote on Supreme Court Nominee Until After Inaugurati", "2020-09-25", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Nearly a dozen leaders of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus  led by caucus co-chairs U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette(D-CO) andBarbara Lee(D-CA) sent alettertoday to Senate leadersurging them toabstain from voting on any Supreme Court nomineetoreplace the lateJusticeRuth Bader Ginsburguntil after the next president is sworn into office.\n\t\t\tJustice Ginsburg's passing creates a vacancy on the Supreme Court at a time when the health of our communities and our fundamental rights are under tremendous pressure,the lawmakerswrote.Just days before her death, Justice Ginsburg made a request, My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.' As leaders of the Pro-Choice Caucus, we urge our colleagues in the Senate to honor Justice Ginsburg's final wish and legacy.\n\t\t\tIn thelettersent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Judiciary Ranking Member Diane Feinstein (D-CA), the lawmakers noted the president's stated desire to fill the Supreme Court with justices opposed to reproductive rights.\n\t\t\tPresident Trump has vowed to nominate justices who are extremely hostile to reproductive health, rights, and justice,and he has already fulfilled that promise twice before,the lawmakers wrote.The confirmation of a third justice to the Supreme Court during the Trump Administration would further tip the balance of the court against our fundamental rights, including reproductive freedom, for generations.\n\t\t\tIn addition to DeGette and Lee, theletterwas signed byU.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Katherine Clark (D-MA, Julia Brownley (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Norma Torres (D-NY), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA).\n\t\t\tTo read the full text of theletter, clickhere", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-advances-two-key-measures-authored-by-degette-to-combat-climate", "House advances two key measures authored by DeGette to combat climate crisis and clean-up heavily polluted communities", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to include two key amendments authored by U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) in a sweeping new clean-energy bill the chamber is expected to vote on this Friday.\nThe first amendment, which seeks to directly address the worsening climate crisis, would limit the amount of methane gas that oil and gas producers operating on public lands are allowed to release into the atmosphere. The other, which has been championed by members of the Environmental Justice movement, would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify 100 communities across the country that are being most affected by nearby sources of pollution and take steps to clean them up.\nThese aren't radical ideas  these are commonsense solutions to very real problems facing our communities, DeGette said. If we are going to be serious about solving the climate crisis, we must take steps now to limit the amount of methane that's being released into our atmosphere. At the same time, we have to do more to help the communities that are suffering the most from our inaction on climate change.\nThe passage of DeGette's methane waste provision  which she first introduced last year as the Methane Waste Prevention Act (H.R. 2711)  marks the first time that Congress has voted for specific limits on greenhouse gas emissions since 2009.\nAs a greenhouse gas, methane is approximately 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide and when it's released into the atmosphere it becomes a leading contributor to global warming.\nSince methane is also a key component of natural gas, and therefore a valuable natural resource, DeGette's legislation would require that oil and gas drillers operating on public lands take steps to capture the methane that reaches the surface of their drilling sites, instead of releasing it into the atmosphere where it's causing real harm.\nSpecifically, under the terms of DeGette's provision, oil and gas drillers operating on public lands would be required to capture at least 85 percent of all gas produced at their sites within three years of enactment, and at least 99 percent of gas within five years. The amendment also puts an end to the industry's controversial practices of venting of natural gas and flaring from any new wells.\nThe second amendment DeGette authored, which the House approved today, seeks to help the growing number of environmental justice communities across the country.\nCommunities like Elyria-Swansea and Globeville, two neighborhoods in my district, have been suffering for years from the pollution produced by nearby plants, DeGette said. This amendment will require that the EPA take steps now to help these communities and clean them up.\nDeGette's legislation  which has now been included in the chamber's broader energy bill  would require the EPA to identify 100 communities most affected by violations of environmental law and then work with those communities to help clean them up.\nThe House is now expected to vote on the broader energy bill, with DeGette's amendments included, as early as Friday.\nFull texts of the amendment can be found here:\nFULL TEXT 100 COMMUNITIES AMENDMENT\nFULL TEXT DEGETTE METHANE AMENDMENT", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/lawmakers-call-for-investigation-of-political-interference-at-cdc", "Lawmakers call for investigation of political interference at CDC", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations panel, and others sent a letter today calling for a formal U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General investigation into allegations that the White House and its appointees have interfered with the work of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists responding to the COVID-19 pandemic for political purposes.\nThe Committee has repeatedly raised alarm over the sidelining of CDC, its public health experts, and the politicization of science in the Trump Administration's COVID-19 response, the lawmakers wrote. Neither Secretary Azar nor Director Redfield has taken substantive action to depoliticize the COVID-19 response efforts.\nTo that end, the lawmakers continued, we are calling for a full and thorough investigation of these reported events to determine whether and to what extent the White House, or its political appointees, have interfered with or politicized the scientific work of CDC during the COVID-19 response.\nThe lawmakers' request for an investigation comes on the heels of several troubling reports that have increased concerns of the Trump administration's efforts to interfere with CDC's policies and guidance, including:\n On August 24, CDC quietly modified its coronavirus testing guidelines to say that people who have been in close contact with an infected individual do not necessarily need a test if they do not have symptoms and only reversed the guidance following an outcry from public health experts nationwide.\n\tOn September 2, CDC notified public health officials across the country to prepare to distribute a coronavirus vaccine by November 1, raising concerns that vaccine approval and distribution is being driven by political consideration for the presidential election rather than scientific data.\n\tOn September 10, it was reported that key Trump Administration political appointees allegedly demanded to review and sought to make changes to CDC's scientific publication, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWR).\n\tOn September 16, following Director Redfield's comments before Congress that a COVID-19 vaccine for the general public would not come until mid-2021 and that masks may be more effective than a vaccine for certain individuals, the President used his press conference to declare that Redfield's remarks were a mistake and that this is incorrect information.\n\tOn September 18, CDC posted online guidance that said airborne transmission was thought to be the main way the virus spreads. On September 21, the guidance was removed from the CDC site.\n\tOn September 22, it was reported that the office of Director Redfield directed an April 2020 memorandum detailing safety recommendations for a meat processing plant during COVID-19 be modified to suggest that the guidance outlined in the memorandum was only if feasible or if possible and noting that certain measures were only recommended.\n As part of their inquiry, the lawmakers requested the HHS Inspector General to examine whether:\n Any CDC career personnel raised concerns about interference from government officials outside CDC undermining CDC's mission or its public health response to COVID-19?\n\tWhite House personnel, including any political appointees, rejected, revised, discontinued, or dictated CDC COVID-19-related public health guidance, scientific publications, or data reporting platform, including MMWRs, testing guidelines, school or employer reopening guidelines, and hospital capacity reporting system?\n In addition to DeGette, the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA).\nA copy of the lawmakers' request to the HHS IG is availablehere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/key-house-oversight-panel-to-hear-from-experts-on-how-vaccines-should-be", "Key House oversight panel to hear from experts on how vaccines should be evaluated for safety", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. A key House oversight panel, led by U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), announced today that it will hold a hearing next week to hear directly from some of the nation's leading scientists and public health experts about the criteria that makers of a COVID-19 vaccine should be required to meet before any potential cure is approved for distribution here in the U.S.\nThe hearing, to be held by the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee  which has direct oversight of the nation's health agencies  comes as Americans' confidence in the safety of any vaccine approved for use in the U.S. has begun to wane.\nAccording to a recentCBS News poll, just one in five Americans say they would immediately get a coronavirus vaccine if one became available  that's down from 32% who said they would get one as soon as possible when asked in late July.\nIn order for any vaccine to be successful, it must first earn the trust and confidence of the American people, DeGette said. This hearing will give us a chance to hear directly from some of our nation's top experts about the criteria these companies should be required to meet before their vaccines are approved.\nThe hearing, which will take placeWednesday, September 30, at 11:30 a.m. EDT, will give lawmakers a chance to hear directly from some of the nation's top experts who will explain the criteria that must be met in evaluating whether a vaccine is ready to be distributed to the public.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-short-term-spending-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown", "House passes short-term spending bill to avert government shutdown", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to approve a short-term spending bill that will fund the federal government through December 11 and avert a government shutdown at the end of the month.\n\t\t\tIn addition to keeping the government open, the bill  which was approved by a vote of 359  57  will add an additional $8 billion to the federal government's Pandemic EBT program that provides money to low-income families with school-aged children to help them buy food.\n\t\t\tFollowing is a statement from U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), who voted in favor of the bill, on its passage today:\n\t\t\tCongress has to do more to help the millions of families who are struggling as a result of this pandemic, DeGette said. While this bill isn't everything we wanted, it will help avert another disastrous government shutdown that would be devastating amid this crisis, and it will allow us to continue providing some much-needed assistance to thousands of families in need right here in our area.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pro-choice-caucus-leaders-vow-to-continue-ginsburg-s-legacy-of-fighting", "Pro-Choice Caucus leaders vow to continue Ginsburgs legacy of fighting for women", "2020-09-19", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette(D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), the co-chairs of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement today as the group vows to carry on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy of fighting for women's rights:\nWe are deeply saddened by the passing of our hero, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg was one of our country's most inspirational leaders. She was a brilliant legal mind who used her talents to fundamentally change the world we live in today. Her tireless efforts to promote equality for all were second to none and her presence on the bench will be deeply missed.\nWhile we, as leaders and members of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, are devastated by Justice Ginsburg's passing we're also more determined than ever to continue her legacy of fighting for women's rights.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-diana-degette-statement-on-the-passing-of-justice-ruth-bader", "Rep. Diana DeGette statement on the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) released the following statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:\nJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a hero. Her dedication to advancing women's rights and equality for all was unrivaled, and her presence on the highest court in our land will be deeply missed.\nThe American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Mitch McConnell and the Republican-led Senate must wait until the next administration is sworn into office, whoever that may be, before considering a nominee to replace her.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 48, "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 \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "CO", "p2": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CO&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 36, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CO&year=2020&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 12, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CO&year=2020&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CO&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 48, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=CO&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CO&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "CO", "label": "CO", "count": 48, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CO&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 48, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=CO", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 163.19298325106502, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}