{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"CO\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-backs-white-house-rescission-targeting-wasteful-spending-criminal", "REP. BOEBERT BACKS WHITE HOUSE RESCISSION TARGETING WASTEFUL SPENDING ON CRIMINAL ALIENS", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONE TREE, COLO. \u2014 Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-04) announced her support for the White House decision to cancel roughly $810 million in previously appropriated spending through a pocket rescission. The package includes a $567 million cut to Department of Health and Human Services programs for criminal aliens, as well as cuts to international assistance, including foreign debt relief, and other agencies.\n\n\u201cThis is America First in action,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cThe Trump Administration is cutting wasteful spending that does not benefit American citizens. Hardworking taxpayers should not be forced to bankroll health and social services for people who broke our laws.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal health dollars are not an open invitation,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cWhen Washington subsidizes care and services for criminal aliens, it rewards lawbreaking and leaves less for American families, seniors, veterans, and rural hospitals. Reducing that spending is common sense.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese are the types of policies needed to ensure future funds go to rural hospitals,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cColorado\u2019s rural communities cannot keep emergency rooms, maternity wards, and clinics open if federal health money is treated as a magnet for illegal immigration.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-calls-pause-diesel-exports-help-farmers-ranchers-and-truckers", "REP. BOEBERT CALLS FOR A PAUSE ON DIESEL EXPORTS TO HELP FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND TRUCKERS", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONE TREE, CO \u2014 U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) today called for a temporary pause on U.S. diesel exports through January 2027, followed by a joint review between Congress and the Administration to determine whether the pause should be extended for another three months. Colorado producers should not be forced to subsidize foreign markets while paying more at home.\n\n\u201cWhile our farmers are filling tanks at record prices and families are being impacted by affordability every day, we are still shipping diesel overseas,\" said Rep. Boebert. \"That is backwards. Pause the exports for American producers and then reassess whether another three months is needed.\u201d\n\n\"Congress and the Trump Administration must work together to pause diesel exports through January 2027,\" said Rep. Boebert, \"delivering relief to farmers, ranchers, and truckers; and putting American energy and American consumers first.\"\n\n\"This is common sense,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cEnd the squeeze on rural America. I will work with anyone serious about delivering real relief.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crank-and-administrator-dr-oz-host-roundtable-combating-waste-fraud-and", "Rep. Crank and Administrator Dr. Oz Host Roundtable on Combating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Within Healthcare Programs in Colorado", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Jeff Crank", "C001137", "crank.house.gov", "crank", "https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "COLORADO SPRINGS, C.O. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) and Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz held a roundtable with local leaders focused on combating waste, fraud, and abuse of federal health programs.\n\nThis roundtable comes after the announcement that Colorado was found to have overspent on Medicaid by $158 million last year and is projected to be $443 million over budget for the \u201926-\u201927 fiscal year.\n\n\"This Administration and Congressional Republicans have worked to combat waste, fraud, and abuse throughout federal health programs to ensure they are reserved for our nation's most vulnerable as they were intended,\" said Rep. Crank. \"However, just this past year, the State of Colorado has mismanaged Medicaid funds, overspending by over $150 million and providing funding for illegal immigrants and transgender surgeries, and that is just unacceptable. I appreciate Administrator Dr. Oz coming to Colorado's Fifth Congressional District to learn more about healthcare in our community and how we can navigate the complexities of state policies that hamper our ability to combat waste, fraud, and abuse.\"\n\n\"Medicaid was created in a high-trust society, but that trust won't survive if we let fraud, waste, and abuse run rampant,\" said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. \"I'm grateful to Rep. Crank and local health leaders for joining me to discuss how we can shut down scams, stop runaway spending, and protect essential health care for the vulnerable Americans who need it.\"", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/cms-administrator-oz-joins-rep-gabe-evans-colorados-8th-district-discuss-state", "CMS Administrator Oz Joins Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado\u2019s 8th District to Discuss State Medicaid Fraud and to Tour UNC's New College of Osteopathic Medicine", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GREELEY Colo.\u2014 Today, Congressman Gabe Evans welcomed Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Dr. Mehmet Oz to the Eighth Congressional District. The visit consisted of a roundtable with Northern Colorado healthcare leaders to discuss a variety of topics such as the implementation of H.R.1 and recent trends of waste, fraud, and abuse in the State\u2019s Medicaid system and a tour of the new College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Northern Colorado.\n\nThis timely visit comes after CMS recently granted $169 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding awarded to 91 grantees to expand healthcare access and strengthen rural health systems across Colorado. It also comes after Colorado\u2019s State Medicaid program has been in the headlines for its budget crisis, being $158 million over budget in the 25-26 cycle, and is projected to be $443 million overspent for \u201826-\u201827.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to Administrator Oz for visiting Colorado\u2019s Eighth district to sit down with the doctors, hospitals, health care providers, and local leaders who serve our communities every day. Medicaid is a lifeline for our most vulnerable neighbors, and protecting the program means making sure every taxpayer dollar is spent responsibly and reaches the people who truly need it.\n\nColorado\u2019s Medicaid program was nearly $158 million over budget last year and is now projected to be roughly $443 million over budget this year and has seen over $100 million dollars in verified fraud. That is not sustainable.\n\nAs Congress works to strengthen Medicaid, we need strong partnership from CMS, accountability at every level of government, and a serious commitment to rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. I look forward to working with Administrator Oz to protect taxpayers, preserve Medicaid for those who depend on it, and ensure this program is strong for generations to come.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\n\"Medicaid was created in a high-trust society, but fraud, waste, and abuse are eating away at its foundation. CMS is committed to partnering with local health leaders and lawmakers like Rep. Evans to restore that trust by shutting down scams, reining in runaway spending, and ensuring that Medicaid dollars fund high-quality care for the vulnerable Americans who need it.\u201d\u2014 CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.\n\nCongressman Evans also announced the introduction of his newest legislation, called the Strengthening Tools of Oversight to Prevent (STOP) Medicaid Fraud Act. This legislation will help combat Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse by requiring states to electronically verify and confirm the legitimate billing of two programs that have recently been exploited by scammers and criminals: non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) and applied behavior analysis (ABA).\n\nThe bill will require states, beginning January 1, 2027, to use electronic verification systems to confirm that Medicaid-funded non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and applied behavior analysis (ABA) services were actually provided. States that already have a qualifying electronic verification system in place when the bill is enacted would be exempt as long as they continue using it. If CMS determines that a state is not complying, the state will have 90 days to submit a corrective action plan and one year from receiving CMS\u2019s notification to come into compliance.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/28/bennet-cortez-masto-scott-celebrate-passage-of-hispanic-heritage-month-resolution/", "Bennet, Cortez Masto, Scott Celebrate Passage of Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to pass a resolution recognizing and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place every year from September 15th to October 15th. Hispanic Heritage Month honors the contributions that the Hispanic and Latino communities have made to American achievements, culture, and history.\n\n\u201cThe deep roots of the Hispanic community in Colorado are part of what makes Colorado great,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cThis month, I\u2019m reflecting on and celebrating the incredible contributions of the 1.3 million Hispanic Coloradans. Our work must continue to uplift Hispanic communities in Colorado and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Hispanic community in the United States is an integral part of the American story,\u201d said Cortez Masto. \u201cThis month is an opportunity to reflect on the progress made by Latinos, celebrate our accomplishments, and continue building a better future. This month and every month, I\u2019m proud of my Latina heritage.\u201d\n\n\u201cFlorida\u2019s Hispanic communities are a vital part of what makes the Sunshine State the best place to live, work, and raise a family,\u201d said Scott. \u201cHispanic Americans have shaped Florida\u2019s history, boosted our economy, and strengthened our communities \u2013 helping fuel the promise of the American Dream for countless Floridians. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Cortez Masto in leading this resolution to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate the incredible history, culture, and countless contributions of Hispanic Americans in Florida and across our nation.\u201d\n\nBennet has cosponsored a Hispanic Heritage Month resolution every year since he began his Senate tenure.\n\nIn addition to Bennet, Cortez Masto, and Scott, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai\u2019i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ashley Moody (R-Fl.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2019i), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) cosponsored this resolution.\n\nThe text of the resolution is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/28/bennet-duckworth-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-extend-and-redesignate-temporary-protected-status-for-ukrainians/", "Bennet, Duckworth, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Extend and Redesignate Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainians", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "The senators call for an 18-month extension and redesignation as TPS for Ukrainians is set to expire next month\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and a bipartisan group of 29 Senate colleagues to demand that the Trump administration issue an 18-month extension and a redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians living in the United States as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his unjustified war of aggression against their homeland. The senators, in their letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscored how a failure to extend TPS ahead of its expiration next month would send thousands of Ukrainians back into a war zone as Putin continues targeting civilian infrastructure ahead of winter.\n\n\u201cCurrent conditions in Ukraine clearly merit the continuation of TPS status. The ongoing war has caused a humanitarian crisis and damage to critical civilian infrastructure that has left many with limited or no access to heat, electricity or medical services. Ukrainian nationals cannot safely return at this time, and allowing TPS to terminate on October 19, 2026, would risk sending more than one hundred thousand individuals back to an active war zone,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nUkrainian TPS holders have long enriched communities in Colorado and across the nation, both culturally and economically. The senators emphasized that extending TPS for 18-months would protect these vulnerable members of our community from being forcibly returned to dangerous conditions, while ensuring our nation continues to benefit from their ongoing contributions.\n\nBennet has long supported the Ukrainian people\u2019s fight against Putin aggression.\n\nHe leads legislation in the Senate intelligence and defense bills, both of which have passed their respective committees, to bolster intelligence and drone cooperation with Ukraine. Bennet joined bipartisan colleagues to introduce and pass the Sanctioning Russia Act, severely curtailing Moscow\u2019s war funding by imposing aggressive secondary sanctions on purchases of Russian energy. Bennet also sponsors legislation to expose and punish Russia\u2019s systematic persecution of religious communities in Ukraine and to repurpose frozen Russian sovereign assets held in the United States to support Ukraine, building on legislation he co-sponsored that former President Joe Biden signed into law in April 2024.\n\nAdditionally, Bennet has consistently worked to support individuals with TPS from all over the world. In 2022, he called on the Biden administration to grant TPS to Ukrainians in the United States following Putin\u2019s aggression. More recently, Bennet called for Congress to protect TPS holders in June 2026 after the Supreme Court decision expanding President Trump\u2019s authority to dismantle legal immigration, tear apart families, and hurt communities across Colorado and the country. He also joined colleagues on a letter to the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security urging them to issue an extension for those from Sudan under TPS.\n\nIn addition to Bennet and Duckworth, U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Ark.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) signed the letter.\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Secretary Rubio:\n\nWe strongly urge you to issue an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine prior to the impending October 19, 2026, termination date. Ukraine is currently in the fifth year of a large-scale war with Russia, which has led to ongoing civilian casualties, significant damage to critical infrastructure and the displacement of broad swaths of the population. An extension of TPS for Ukraine would protect current TPS beneficiaries from being forced to return to an active war zone, while a redesignation would expand those protections to the population of Ukrainian nationals who arrived after October 20, 2023.\n\nUkraine was initially designated for TPS on April 19, 2022, on the basis of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions caused by Russia\u2019s military actions within the country. In its designation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the U.S. Department of State, cited regular artillery attacks and airstrikes by Russia\u2019s military forces, serious human rights abuses and the widespread destruction of critical infrastructure. Subsequent reviews of in-country conditions found that the situation in the country had not sufficiently improved; accordingly, TPS for Ukraine was extended and redesignated through April 19, 2025, and extended once more beginning on April 20, 2025.\n\nThe war in Ukraine\u2014the largest conventional military action in Europe since World War II\u2014is ongoing, as are the same extraordinary and temporary conditions that warrant the continued protection of Ukrainian nationals currently residing in the United States. International observers report a trend of steadily increasing civilian casualties from year to year, with approximately 17,000 civilian deaths and more than 50,000 civilian injuries since the outbreak of the war in 2022. These casualties, coupled with significant damage to civilian infrastructure, constrained access to health care and substantial population displacement have created a profound crisis, with approximately 10.8 million Ukrainians in need of humanitarian assistance. The facts on the ground paint a clear picture: sending Ukrainians back now would risk returning them to life threatening conditions.\n\nProtecting the approximately 101,000 Ukrainian TPS holders currently living in the United States is a humanitarian imperative, but also a sound economic decision. Thanks to the work authorization granted by their TPS status, Ukrainian TPS holders have contributed approximately $2.6 billion to our economy each year and have provided approximately $716 million in taxes annually. In States like Illinois, thousands of Ukrainian TPS holders make our communities stronger not only through their rich cultural contributions, but also through their participation in critical sectors, including transportation, health care and construction. Terminating TPS for this population risks disrupting these industries, increasing costs for American consumers by forcing thousands of experienced workers out of their jobs.\n\nCurrent conditions in Ukraine clearly merit the continuation of TPS status. The ongoing war has caused a humanitarian crisis and damage to critical civilian infrastructure has left many with limited or no access to heat, electricity or medical services. Ukrainian nationals cannot safely return at this time, and allowing TPS to terminate on October 19, 2026, would risk sending more than one hundred thousand individuals back to an active war zone. Ukrainian TPS holders contribute greatly to our communities, both culturally and economically. To ensure that eligible Ukrainian nationals currently in the United States can continue living and working safely while conditions in their home country remain perilous, we urge you issue an extension and redesignation of TPS for Ukraine.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-introduces-legislation-to-innovate-care-for-military-trauma", "Crow Introduces Legislation to Innovate Care for Military Trauma", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced the Cooperative Overseas Military Battlefield Advancement in Trauma (COMBAT) Care Act to ensure our military is innovating and developing new approaches to trauma care on the battlefield.\n\nHis bipartisan bill authorizes the establishment of joint education and training programs with foreign countries to develop new techniques that can save lives on the battlefield. It will allow for groundbreaking research to be conducted alongside partners around the world who have made advancements in the space. As warfare evolves, so must the care American servicemembers receive.\n\nCrow introduced his bipartisan bill alongside Congressman Jeff Crank (R-CO). It was endorsed by the University of Colorado Anschutz.\n\n\u201cThe future of warfare is changing, as we are seeing in Ukraine right now. The United States must be ready for the new challenges we face, and ensure that our servicemembers receive world-class care when they need it most,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with the University of Colorado Anschutz to introduce legislation that will help take care of the men and women who keep our country safe.\u201d\n\n\"It is important that the advancement in education and research partnerships regarding military trauma continues to grow, so that we can take care of the men and women who serve our country. The COMBAT Care Act works to grant the Department of War and the State Department the authority to work together to study military trauma and look towards better treatment options for our service members and veterans. Pleased to work with my Colorado colleague Congressman Jason Crow to get this bill introduced,\u201d said Congressman Crank.\n\n\u201cEstablishing joint education and training programs with foreign allies is crucial to ensure our military trauma teams are best equipped to care for our warfighters,\u201d said Vik Bebarta, MD, founding director of the CU Anschutz Combat Medicine Research Center (COMBAT) and chair of emergency medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz. \u201cWe are grateful to Representatives Crow and Crank for introducing the COMBAT Care Act and their leadership in investing in our nation\u2019s military trauma care capabilities.\u201d\n\nAs a combat veteran and member of the Armed Services Committee, he has voted for pay raises for servicemembers and fought to get them other benefits that improve their quality of life, including expanding dental care to reservists and access to quality healthcare for servicemembers and their families. He\u2019s also worked to improve care for active-duty servicemembers suffering from traumatic brain injuries. Crow led the charge demanding that the Administration answer for horrible conditions reported aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. Crow has also introduced legislation to prevent the Secretary of Defense from manipulating government data on troop casualties, which could impact the benefits troops and their families may receive.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1941", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, Congressman Joe Neguse Lead Bill to Permanently Fund Payments to Rural Counties with Federal Lands", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2014 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) this week introduced the Permanently Authorizing PILT Act to guarantee reliable federal payments to Colorado counties that provide essential services on and around tax-exempt federal lands. Without predictable mandatory funding, counties will never have the true assurance of the federal revenue that they receive.\n\nThe Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program provides payments to counties, including 56 in Colorado, and other local governments with non-taxable federal lands within their borders to offset lost property tax revenue. These payments are key for local governments to fund services including transportation infrastructure projects, education, law enforcement, healthcare, and emergency services. While PILT has operated under reauthorizations for previous fiscal years, this legislation would make the program a mandatory funding effort by Congress not subject to the federal appropriations process. A permanent authorization will provide certainty for counties, ensuring they can maintain their services without disruption.\n\n\u201cOur rural communities provide essential services on and around federal lands\u2014from roads and schools to emergency response\u2014and they deserve funding they can count on. These counties shouldn\u2019t have to wonder every year whether the federal government will provide needed support for these services,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work with my friend, Rep. Neguse, to make PILT permanent so these counties can plan for the future and keep delivering for Coloradans.\u201d\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s 2nd District spans from the Front Range to the Western Slope, including many communities that rely on federal PILT payments for essential local services \u2014 from firefighting and search-and-rescue operations to the construction of public schools and roads. Our bill, the Permanently Authorizing PILT Act, makes this program permanent, ensuring local governments can rely on a consistent stream of federal support to keep their communities thriving,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse.\n\n\u201cMany Western Counties depend on PILT to balance our budgets. The services, (Search and Rescue, Fire, law Enforcement, Road maintenance etc.) we must provide on public land are a huge strain on our budgets,\u201d said Dwayne McFall, Fremont County Colorado Commissioner and National Association of Counties Western Interstate Region President, \u201cWithout PILT many services would have to be cut. Permanent funding of PILT would create a long-term sustainable solution for counties.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic lands may be national treasures, but their footprint is local. In Chaffee County approximately 80% of the land is federally owned and is completely exempt from local property taxes. PILT is a crucial tool of fairness and fills the structural revenue gap so our small taxpayer base isn't forced to single-handedly foot the bill for essential services, from rural road maintenance, to emergency response and public safety for millions of visitors each year. I greatly appreciate Congresswoman Pettersen\u2019s efforts in pushing to make PILT a reliable and permanent fixture in the appropriations process.\u201d said Gina Lucrezi, Chaffee County Commissioner.\n\n\u201cCounties with federal public lands are responsible for delivering essential services \u2014 from public safety and search and rescue to roads, infrastructure and wildfire mitigation \u2014 even though they cannot collect property taxes on those lands,\u201d said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. \u201cPILT helps counties offset those lost revenues and meet these responsibilities in the 62 percent of America\u2019s counties with federal lands. We applaud Representatives Pettersen and Neguse for introducing the bipartisan Permanently Authorizing PILT Act, which would give public lands counties the long-term certainty they need to plan, budget and deliver for their residents and visitors. We urge Congress to pass this critical legislation into law quickly.\u201d\n\nThe Department of Interior makes PILT payments to over 1,850 counties in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Counties have used these payments for more than 40 years to fund essential county services. In 2026, Colorado was compensated more than $53 million through the PILT program.\n\nCongresswoman Pettersen previously introduced the bipartisan Permanently Authorizing PILT Act of 2023. She has led a bipartisan letter to the Appropriations Committee requesting full and robust funding for the PILT program in every Appropriations cycle since being elected to Congress. She has advocated and secured funding for local and county governments, including for rural communities, to ensure they have the funding and support to address the needs of all residents.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/25/bennet-murray-schumer-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-end-trumps-trade-war-with-canada-lower-costs/", "Bennet, Murray, Schumer, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to End Trump\u2019s Trade War with Canada & Lower Costs", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee with jurisdiction over trade and tariffs, joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to introduce legislation that would revoke President Trump\u2019s newest global tariffs and 50 percent tariffs on Canada, and curtail Trump\u2019s ability to continue waging his unilateral trade war. Trump has continued to ignore skyrocketing costs and, now, has hit American families with a new round of tariff taxes.\n\n\u201cAmericans are tired of paying for Trump\u2019s tariff war,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cAs costs continue to rise, the Trump administration has doubled down on making everyday goods more expensive while insisting that the economy has never been better. Democrats refuse to play along with this alternate reality; that\u2019s why I\u2019m joining my Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that blocks Trump\u2019s tariffs and refunds the money back to Coloradans.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s erratic and senseless trade war is nothing short of economic arson \u2014 no business can plan around Trump\u2019s unpredictable tariffs, American credibility is shot, and costs are up,\u201d said Murray. \u201cWhile Republicans are enabling Trump\u2019s economic sabotage, Democrats are fighting to put an end to these reckless tariffs. That\u2019s why we\u2019re introducing this legislation to block and refund Trump\u2019s tariffs so we can focus on growing the economy for everyone and making life affordable again.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile inflation rages, families struggle to pay their bills, and small businesses close, Trump \u2013 detached from reality \u2013 continues his bluster on the global stage, doubling down on a chaotic trade war that has meant only pain for American families, farmers, and manufacturers,\u201d said Leader Schumer. \u201cRepublicans won\u2019t stand up to Trump\u2019s nonsense and Americans are crying out for relief. That\u2019s why I am introducing legislation that would end Trump\u2019s costly tariff taxes.\u201d\n\nSince Trump started his latest trade war, American families have paid the price. In just one year, Trump\u2019s tariff tax cost the average family nearly $2,000, with hardworking Americans bearing 96 percent of the cost of the hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs. Still, Trump has been undeterred by the chaos and pain his trade war has wrought and continues to double down on the global stage.\n\nThe End Trump\u2019s Tariff Tax Act would revoke and refund Trump\u2019s latest barrage of tariffs and repeal the archaic authorities he has used to continue his trade war. This legislation would apply to Trump\u2019s newest global tariffs of 12.5 percent and 50 percent tariffs on Canada.\n\nIn February, Bennet released legislation requiring full refunds of President Trump\u2019s illegal tariffs after the U.S. Supreme Court struck them down. In May 2025, Bennet introduced the Tariff Transparency Act, legislation that would require the independent, bipartisan U.S. International Trade Commission to issue a report on the economic effects of recent and proposed tariffs. In January 2025, Bennet wrote to members of the Trump administration calling for a comprehensive approach to international economic policy that goes beyond tariffs.\n\nIn addition to Bennet, Murray, and Schumer, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Angus King (Maine), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) cosponsored this legislation.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/25/bennet-slotkin-colleagues-demand-answers-from-hegseth-on-cost-of-iran-war/", "Bennet, Slotkin, Colleagues Demand Answers from Hegseth on Cost of Iran War", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "President Trump\u2019s Pentagon Has Greatly Underestimated the Iran War\u2019s Costs\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and 43 Senate colleagues, including fellow Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper, to demand a full accounting of the costs of President Trump\u2019s reckless war of choice with Iran. The senators criticized the President\u2019s hand-picked Department of Defense leadership for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public, even as U.S. casualties and taxpayer costs continue to increase.\n\nThe United States is now more than six months into a conflict President Trump initially said would last six weeks. NineteenAmerican servicemembers have been killed and more than 820 wounded, and over 50,000 troops are currently deployed to the Middle East. In the letter, the senators note that deployments have been repeatedly extended, and that their offices have heard directly from military families worried about loved ones serving in the conflict.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cNow you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon\u2019s transparency record with past wartime practice, noting that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has briefed Congress only seven times in six months and held just eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the war began, compared to more than 70 press briefings in the first month of the Iraq War alone. The senators also criticized the administration\u2019s public supplemental funding request as a seven-page document offering only vague line items, in contrast to the detailed, hundred-page supplemental requests provided to Congress during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.\n\nThe senators requested that the Department of Defense provide:\n\nA detailed breakdown of all direct and indirect costs of military operations against Iran to date, including damage to installations, aircraft, and equipment.\n\nA full accounting of the $67 billion supplemental request, specifying what covers past costs versus future operations.\n\nA detailed plan for how the Pentagon intends to spend the remaining $34 billion from the sprawling 2025 Republican reconciliation bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n\u201cDespite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent,\u201d continued the senators. \u201cCongress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.\u201d\n\nBennet has persistently fought to rein in President Trump\u2019s unauthorized war with Iran. In August 2026, Bennet and Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and 15 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce legislation that would stop the Trump administration from obscuring the true cost of President Trump\u2019s disastrous war from the American people. Bennet has voted for several War Powers Resolutions directing the President to end his war with Iran. Bennet also joined U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen and the Colorado Democratic delegation in a letter to Trump demanding answers about his administration\u2019s plan to lower gasoline prices, which the President spiked by launching his reckless war with Iran.\n\nIn March 2026, Bennet also questioned President Trump\u2019s intelligence agency leaders, including Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe, about Trump\u2019s failure to act on assessments regarding a war with Iran.\n\nIn addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Slotkin, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-IlI.), Richard Durbin (D-IlI.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael G. Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) signed this letter.\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth:\n\nWe write regarding the Department of Defense\u2019s failure to provide the American people with basic information about the war with Iran and its cost to taxpayers, even as the human costs of this war rise. More than six months into a war that the President said would last six weeks, 18 American servicemembers have been killed, 824 have been wounded, and more than 50,000 troops are currently deployed in the Middle East. Our troops have had their deployments extended repeatedly, as with the USS Lincoln and now the 82nd Airborne. Our offices have all received outreach from military families concerned about the safety and well-being of their loved ones serving and sacrificing in this war.\n\nMeanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war.1 Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\n\nBased on the little information provided, the Department says it has already spent $42 billion on this war, though unofficial estimates put that figure much higher.2 In June, you formally asked the American taxpayers to foot the bill for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental request.3 This is on top of the Pentagon\u2019s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request.4 And all of these pending requests come while the Department still has $34 billion in unspent funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.5 In the last week, the Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General have issued their own reports with inconsistent numbers.\n\nDespite your stated needs, you have repeatedly refused to share basic information that previous Administrations, Republican and Democratic, provided to the American public and Congress during times of war. Donald Rumsfeld, as Secretary of Defense during the Iraq War, briefed Congress more than 20 times in the first six months of that war.6 In his briefings, he publicly provided granular detail about the war, including objectives; precise figures on damaged aircraft; quality of life for our troops\u2014down to the number of days it took to deliver mail; and detailed breakdowns for transportation, operational support, and munitions replenishment costs in the supplemental request.7 In stark contrast, you have briefed Congress just seven times in that same period and, in those appearances, refused to answer basic questions about the objectives and cost of this war. Your Department has held only eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the start of the Iran War, compared to more than 70 in the first month of the Iraq War alone.8\n\nThis lack of basic information extends to the Pentagon\u2019s spending. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress regularly received public supplemental requests that were more than a hundred pages long, with detailed explanations for how funding would be used, down to the number of barrels of fuel. In contrast, your public $67 billion Iran war supplemental request was a thin, seven-page document with only vague descriptions, such as \u201c$1.2 billion for Administration priorities.\u201d\n\nDespite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent. Congress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget. You shared this belief before entering government. In 2012, you criticized the Department\u2019s ability to \u201cshift literally hundreds of millions of dollars from program to program with little accountability.\u201d You added, \u201c[r]eforming the culture at the Pentagon to bring greater spending accountability will be difficult, but it\u2019s long overdue.\u201d10 And just last year, you said that \u201cthe American taxpayers deserve\u201d to know where their money goes, \u201chow it\u2019s spent and make sure it\u2019s spent wisely.\u201d11 We agree.\n\nGiven this, we request the following information to inform the Senate\u2019s decision-making by September 30, 2026.\n\nCost of the Iran War: Please provide a detailed breakdown for the cost of military operations against Iran to date, inclusive of all direct and indirect costs attributable to the conflict. This should include damage to military installations, aircraft, and equipment; cost to refurbish deployed ships and aircraft; and expected benefits for veterans.\n\n$67 Billion Iran War Supplemental: Please provide a breakdown of the Administration\u2019s supplemental request, including a detailed accounting for each major funding category and estimated expenses for the war in Iran. This breakdown should identify which portions of the request are intended to reimburse costs already incurred, which are intended to fund anticipated future operations, and which are unrelated to military operations against Iran. Please also note potential future funding requirements not included in the request, such as repairing military installations.\n\nOne Big Beautiful Bill Act Funding: Please provide a detailed accounting of how the $34 billion remaining from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be spent, on what timeline, and whether any of these funds will support operations related to the Iran war.\n\nThe American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility. We look forward to receiving your response.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/25/bennet-young-reintroduce-legislation-to-combat-national-eviction-crisis/", "Bennet, Young Reintroduce Legislation to Combat National Eviction Crisis", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), members of the Senate Finance Committee, reintroduced the updated Eviction Crisis Act of 2026. This legislation would address our urgent national eviction crisis, creating an emergency rental assistance program to reduce preventable evictions and making it easier for American families to stay securely housed.\n\n\u201cToday, an illness, a car accident, or a family emergency can lead to a family being evicted from their home and falling into a cycle of poverty,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cThe hardship caused by eviction is agonizing for the millions of American families facing it every year, and that harm reverberates across our communities. As a former school superintendent, I saw kids unable to stay awake in class because they didn\u2019t have a stable place to sleep the night before. I\u2019ve heard from many Coloradans about how one misstep led to their lives falling apart. Our Eviction Crisis Act will both prevent eviction and limit the harm when it is unavoidable.\u201d\n\n\u201cMany families are one unexpected expense away from losing the stability that comes with having a place to call home,\u201d said Young. \u201cThe Eviction Crisis Act would help prevent avoidable evictions by better coordinating tenants, landlords, and municipalities to address housing instability before it becomes a crisis. Passing this bill will help more Hoosiers families stay in their homes.\u201d\n\nOur country\u2019s eviction crisis is driven by a national affordable housing shortage that is particularly acute for low-income renters. In 2024, the Congressional Research Service calculated that 49.4 percent of renter households spent more than 30 percent of household income on housing costs and 26.2 percent of renter households spent more than half. Denver recorded 15,953 eviction filings in 2025, just seven fewer than the city\u2019s record set in 2024 and 72 percent above pre-pandemic levels. The Colorado Judicial Branch also reported 41,482 sheriff-involved evictions in county courts in fiscal year 2024.\n\nAdditionally, the Eviction Crisis Act of 2026 will improve data and analysis on evictions, reduce preventable evictions, mitigate eviction-related consequences, and strengthen protections for renters in tenant screening reports.\n\n\u201cEviction isn\u2019t just a consequence of poverty; it\u2019s a cause of poverty. Yet we allow millions of Americans to face the threat of eviction each year. Families with children are at particularly high risk of eviction. Many evicted families lose their home and possessions, often falling into homelessness. Research shows that eviction thwarts economic mobility and is linked to long-term negative health outcomes. Passing the Eviction Crisis Act would be a big step forward, deepening our understanding of the problem and preventing families from the devastating consequences of displacement. Everyone needs a safe and affordable home. I commend Senators Bennet and Young for their efforts and look forward to working with them to pass this bill into law,\u201d said Matthew Desmond, scholar and Pulitzer Prize Winning author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.\n\n\u201cSolving America\u2019s housing and homelessness crisis must begin with addressing the forces that drive displacement. Getting people into homes they don\u2019t yet have is urgent and critical, but we cannot focus only on pulling families out of homelessness; we must keep them from losing their homes in the first place. The Eviction Crisis Act recognizes that eviction prevention must be made as central a national priority as housing production, stepping in before a temporary setback becomes a life-altering disruption and breaking the momentum of loss before it hardens into permanence,\u201d said Brian Goldstone, journalist and Pulitzer Prize Winning Author of There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re honored to continue this critically important work with Senator Bennet to support low-income renters who are struggling with rising housing costs due to inflation, lack of housing supply, and a failure to invest in households with the greatest need. Homelessness doesn\u2019t happen in a vacuum but is a direct result of housing instability due to rising housing costs and the lack of support for low-income households who are struggling every day to make ends meet. Making investments like the ones proposed by the Eviction Crisis Act will not only help our most marginalized households stay stably housed, it\u2019s a better use of taxpayer resources than expensive spending demanded by the emergency services required to address homelessness,\u201d said Cathy Alderman, Chief Communications and Public Policy Officer for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.\n\n\u201cBPC Action commends Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Todd Young (R-IN) for leading the Eviction Crisis Act, which would create an emergency assistance program for at-risk households, establish a national evictions database, and fund community courts and diversion programs. For too many families, unexpected hardship\u2014such as job loss or medical expenses\u2014makes rent unaffordable, triggering homelessness and poverty cycles. This legislation is a necessary investment to stabilize housing and economic opportunity, and we look forward to working with Congress to enact it,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.\n\n\u201cThe new version of the Eviction Crisis Act will help communities prevent homelessness and provide important data that will take that work further in coming years. The bill will mean older adults, families with children, young people, people with disabilities, and others at the greatest risk will have more stable housing, an essential element for addressing other issues. We are grateful to Representative Bennet for his longstanding commitment to better housing for Americans,\u201d said Ann Oliva, Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance to End Homelessness.\n\n\u201cFor millions of households, one broken-down car, one unexpected medical bill, or a reduction in work hours could result in an eviction. The \u2018Eviction Crisis Act,\u2019 developed and advanced by NLIHC\u2019s Opportunity Starts at Home campaign, would help to ensure that renters will not lose their homes because of a single unforeseen expense. No one should have to face losing their home because of one temporary financial setback. I applaud Senators Michael Bennet and Todd Young for their leadership in introducing this important legislation and advancing meaningful solutions to the national housing crisis. I urge Congress to pass this bill quickly,\u201d said Renee M. Willis, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.\n\nBennet has consistently fought for practical solutions to our nation\u2019s eviction and housing affordability crisis; originally introducing the Eviction Crisis Act in 2019.\n\nIn April 2026, Bennet led 17 of his colleagues in urging the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development to expand eviction prevention legal assistance. In the letter, Bennet and his colleagues request $50 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s (HUD) Eviction Protection Grant Program. In August 2022, Bennet and Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) led a group of lawmakers urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to take several steps to enact stronger protections for residents living in mobile home parks, also called Manufactured Housing Communities, backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which the FHFA oversees. In May 2022, Bennet called on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations to increase funding for successful housing programs that help prevent evictions and boost the country\u2019s housing supply in the fiscal year 2023 appropriations bill. That same month, Bennet and Young led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in a letter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service requesting swift finalization of the average income test rule under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. In March 2022, Bennet and Hickenlooper joined former Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and several bipartisan colleagues in urging the U.S. Treasury Department not to change Emergency Rental Assistance 2 guidelines for states like Colorado that have met the ERA requirements set by Congress.\n\nIn October 2021, Bennet joined a group of his colleagues in a letter to Former President Joe Biden, Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urging them to ensure that comprehensive housing investments remain in the Build Back Better plan. In February 2020, Bennet and Former House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) introduced the Legal Assistance to Prevent Evictions Act, bicameral legislation to keep more Americans in their homes by establishing a competitive grant program to provide legal assistance at no cost to eligible tenants facing eviction.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE. Additional supportive quotes from organizations are available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/25/icymi-bennet-calls-for-new-federal-agency-to-prevent-catastrophic-ai-risk/", "ICYMI: Bennet Calls for New Federal Agency to Prevent Catastrophic AI Risk", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Video of Bennet\u2019s interview on The Source with Kaitlan Collins can be found HERE.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 This week, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced a new proposal to create an independent federal agency to regulate frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and social media platforms.\n\nIn an interview with Kaitlan Collins on CNN\u2019s The Source last night, Bennet contrasted his call for an independent federal AI regulator with what he described as President Donald Trump\u2019s failure to establish meaningful safeguards. He emphasized that Trump was more focused on his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the tech executives gathered at the White House than on addressing the concerns Americans are facing, including the need for AI regulation, high diesel prices, and high mortgage rates.\n\nCNN \u2014 The Source\n\nCollins: You want to establish an independent agency, basically, to regulate AI. How would that work?\n\nBennet: It would have a five-member commission, like some other independent commissions, and we would have clear pre-clearance for these frontier models before they escape from these companies and wreak havoc throughout our world potentially. And there is a very serious set of fines. I mean, what I say in this proposal is that we should fine these guys as much as a third of their trailing revenue if they\u2019re unwilling to submit themselves to a system of transparency, to a system of accountability, Kaitlin. When there are people in these companies saying that there might be a 10 percent chance, or a 15 or 20 percent chance that humanity could be destroyed by AI, we need to listen to that. We need to pay attention to that, and we need to deal with it in an orderly way \u2013 not so we don\u2019t innovate \u2013 we should innovate. I want us to lead the Chinese, but we should do it in a thoughtful, common sense way. That\u2019s not the way Donald Trump approaches any of these questions. But I think the American people are demanding it.\n\nBloomberg \u2013 Balance of Power\n\nMathieu: Well, he\u2019s trying deliberately to play the right hand on AI, and you\u2019ve got an important piece of legislation that\u2019s trying to get to this. We\u2019ve had a robust debate here. And the President, speaking on Truth Social earlier, says that America and China see eye to eye. We\u2019re taking our hands off the wheel here. This is not a matter of regulation. He says we have something called the DOJ. You have something that would propose a new federal agency to prevent what you call catastrophic AI risks and regulate big tech. How would it work?\n\nBennet: First of all, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s anyone in America who thinks that China and the U.S. think eye to eye on AI except for President Trump. What I\u2019ve said is that we need to have a cop on the beat here. We have nobody whose day job is to represent the American people with respect to the developers of AI, for that matter, of social media. We should have an independent agency of experts that come here just like we, you know, set up, in the early part of the century, to be able to do the regulatory work that\u2019s needed. Congress cannot get out of its own way. We\u2019ve proven that. We will never pass a bill to meaningfully deal with this, and the states can\u2019t do it by themselves. We need a thoughtful approach that will come from a regulatory agency that will survive from one presidency to the next, and that\u2019s got the teeth to be able to find these guys if they are pursuing models that could threaten, for example, the extinction of humanity. I mean, this is something that we have to grapple with. We have to get a hold of it. And it doesn\u2019t surprise me that our current structures of government are not set up to deal with it. This is new, just like airplanes were once new, just like nuclear weapons, armaments were once new. We need an agency, just like we have for those other important changes in our economy that\u2019s focused on this 24/7.\n\nHere\u2019s what they\u2019re saying:\n\nPolitico: AI BILL FRENZY\n\nThe AI Regulator Act builds off their previous bill, the Digital Platform Commission Act, which would establish an agency tasked with regulating digital platforms. The latest bill would give the proposed agency the power to pause the release of models that pose catastrophic risk and issue formal rules.\n\n\u201cThe Federal Digital Commission would keep pace with innovation, act before serious harm occurs, and have the authority to hold companies accountable when they break the rules,\u201d Bennet added.\n\nColorado Springs FOX (KXRM)\n\nColorado Senator Michael Bennet proposes a new federal agency to oversee artificial intelligence and big tech. This would give the agency power to review some front-tier AI models before they\u2019re released. And in some circumstances, pause a rollout for up to 6 months. It would also have investigative and rulemaking authority, which potentially finds up to 15 percent of a company\u2019s global revenue. Right now, Bennet says existing federal agencies are not equipped to keep up with AI\u2019s rapid development. It\u2019s moving faster than Congress will ever keep up. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proposing an independent agency with the expertise and authority to protect the American people and keep pace with AI.\n\nGrand Junction CBS (KREX)\n\nWell, Senator Michael Bennet is proposing a new federal agency to oversee artificial intelligence and major tech companies. Under the plan, the agency could review some advanced AI models before they\u2019re released and, in certain cases, delay a rollout for up to six months. The agency would also have the power to investigate companies, create regulations, and issue fines of up to 15 percent of a company\u2019s global revenue. Bennet says current federal agencies are not equipped to keep pace with the rapid growth of AI. It\u2019s moving faster than Congress will ever keep up. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proposing an independent agency with the expertise and authority to protect the American people and keep pace with AI.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/icymi-hickenlooper-mccormick-celebrate-formation-of-senate-bipartisan-science-and-innovation-caucus/", "ICYMI: Hickenlooper, McCormick Celebrate Formation of Senate Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "In case you missed it, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Dave McCormick joined scientists, researchers, and legislative staff at a kickoff event last week at the U.S. Capitol to celebrate the formation of their U.S. Senate Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus.\n\nWatch the highlights of the kickoff event HERE.\n\n\u201cIf you were to look at the things that distinguish America, most notable would be our investments in science and the parallel expansion in growth and entrepreneurship at the highest level,\u201d said Hickenlooper at the kickoff event last week. \u201cWe\u2019ve led the world in scientific knowledge and expansion in growth, and we\u2019ve had the economy that comes with that\u2026 That\u2019s why we\u2019re here to make sure we maintain our lead.\u201d\n\n\u201cPennsylvania has some of the best universities, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the world, and the breakthroughs happening across our Commonwealth are creating jobs, strengthening our economy, and advancing our national security,\u201d said McCormick. \u201cThis caucus is about making sure we build on that incredible momentum, turn great American research into real-world innovation, and ensure Pennsylvania and the United States continue to lead the world in science and technology.\u201d\n\nThe Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus will highlight and elevate American scientific research and the application of those discoveries to promote innovation. Caucus members will work together with industry leaders and the research community to develop policies that promote U.S. leadership in science. Hickenlooper and McCormick plan to host briefings, engage in roundtables and other conversations about existing and new policies, and provide a venue for discourse about new legislation to boost American scientific research and our STEM workforce.\n\nWatch the launch video for the caucus on Hickenlooper\u2019s X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts\n\nThe United States has been a global economic leader for the past 50 years because of our dedication to science, technology, and innovation. Federally-funded research led to the invention of optical fibers, microchips, personal computers, mobile phones, robotics, cutting-edge medicine, and more.\n\nJobs in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine make up 34% of the U.S. workforce.\n\nEconomic activity from these fields generates 39% of U.S. GDP \u2013 over $10 trillion dollars.\n\nThe United States spends only 3% of its GDP on research and development (R&D) and innovation.\n\nFederally funded R&D dollars are doubled in returns: every $1 invested generates nearly $2 in economic output. This is substantially higher than the returns on other forms of federal investment.\n\nChina is overtaking the United States in R&D funding, graduating more PhDs in STEM programs, filing more international patents than the U.S., and narrowing the gap on venture capital investment.\n\nHickenlooper is a former geologist and a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/the-hill-colorado-democrat-introduces-bill-to-bolster-battlefield-trauma-care-research", "The Hill: Colorado Democrat introduces bill to bolster battlefield trauma care research", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), a former Army Ranger, will introduce a bill Friday to help the U.S. military continue developing new approaches to provide service members and veterans battlefield trauma care by learning lessons from conflict overseas.\n\nCrow, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, will introduce the Cooperative Overseas Military Battlefield Advancement in Trauma (COMBAT) Care Act, which would authorize the defense secretary, in consultation with the secretary of State, to establish a joint training and education program with foreign militaries to study and learn from prior wars.\n\n\u201cThe future of warfare is changing, as we are seeing in Ukraine right now. The United States must be ready for the new challenges we face and ensure that our servicemembers receive world-class care when they need it most,\u201d Crow said in a statement.\n\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) and was endorsed by the University of Colorado Anschutz, located in Aurora.\n\nAn identical provision was included in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act.\n\nAs part of the education program, the U.S. and other countries in the program can conduct joint conferences, symposia and professional exchange programs involving medical professionals, according to a copy of the bill, which was first shared with The Hill.\n\nThe Pentagon\u2019s Joint Trauma System (JTS), which was established in 2016, looks to improve trauma readiness and outcomes through \u201cevidence-driven performance improvement.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur vision is to support the combatant commands by ensuring every service member injured in any theater of operation will be provided with the optimum chance for survival and maximum potential for functional recovery,\u201d the JTS says on its website.\n\nCrank said it is \u201cimportant\u201d that the improvements in education and research partnerships in regards to military trauma continue to improve so that the U.S. can take care of its service members.\n\n\u201cThe COMBAT Care Act works to grant the Department of War and the State Department the authority to work together to study military trauma and look towards better treatment options for our service members and veterans,\u201d Crank said in a statement, using the Trump administration preferred name for the Department of Defense.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-drones-are-bringing-surveillance-state-your-front-door", "REP. BOEBERT: DRONES ARE BRINGING THE SURVEILLANCE STATE TO YOUR FRONT DOOR", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONE TREE, CO \u2014 Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-04) warned that government drone programs are expanding without a public inventory, without sufficient Fourth Amendment protections, and with too many Chinese drones and parts still in the fleet.\n\n\u201cNot one piece of hardware or software from the People\u2019s Republic of China belongs on a police or federal drone in the United States,\u201d Rep. Boebert wrote. \u201cNot the chip, camera, battery, flight controller, app, firmware, or cloud login. American first responders deserve American supply chains.\u201d\n\n\u201cUntil recently,\u201d she noted, \u201cmost drones sold to police departments were made in China.\u201d Even if new sales slow, fleets of Chinese drones remain deployed, and efforts continue to keep Chinese components, software, and supply chains in the fleet.\n\n\u201cThe United States government has no official public count of how many drones law enforcement agencies own and fly,\u201d Rep. Boebert wrote. \u201cCongress should not have to take its numbers from corporate earnings calls about how many aircraft are already circling overhead.\u201d Rep. Boebert wrote that all drones across the United States should be registered within 30 days of operational deployment.\n\nRep. Boebert wrote that federal tax dollars should go to real emergencies, including search and rescue, wrecks, officer safety, and barricaded suspects, rather than persistent aerial patrols above American homes. \u201c\u2018Drone as first responder\u2019 is not a substitute for a warrant,\u201d she wrote. \u201cPersistent neighborhood surveillance is a general warrant from the sky, and a microphone on a drone is an intercept.\u201d She wrote that listening should require the same legal process as a Title III wiretap, with no fishing expeditions, audit logs, and short retention.\n\n\u201cI stand with law enforcement. I stand even more firmly with the Constitution,\u201d Rep. Boebert wrote. \u201cWe can give first responders the tools they need without surrendering the right of free Americans to live unmonitored lives. Protecting individual privacy is essential if freedom is to mean anything for the next generation.\u201d\n\nRead the full commentary in the Daily Caller:", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1939", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen's Statement on Her Latest Bill Passed by Both Chambers", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "\u201cI am thrilled to see my bill, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, passed out of the Senate last night. Romance scams don\u2019t just steal people\u2019s savings\u2014they exploit their trust and leave lasting emotional damage. As more Americans turn to online dating to find meaningful relationships, scammers are increasingly using these platforms to target vulnerable people and families. If a dating platform removes someone for fraud, the people they contacted deserve to know so they can protect themselves before it\u2019s too late.\n\n\u201cIf signed into law, this will be my sixth bill enacted during this Trump Administration \u2013 proof that we can fight hard against his lawlessness, cruelty and corruption, while also working to find common ground where we can. I\u2019m proud of my record and I will keep working to deliver for the people in our district.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1940", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Leads Sanctions Effort to Reduce Fentanyl Trafficking into United States", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2014 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced the introduction of legislation that will extend critical sanctions against foreign fentanyl traffickers and strengthen the federal government\u2019s ability to disrupt the financial networks fueling the illicit opioid trade. The bipartisan Fentanyl Sanctions Reauthorization Act of 2026, which is co-led by Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX), reauthorizes the Fentanyl Sanctions Act, which is set to expire in December, and ensures Treasury officials can continue targeting foreign jurisdictions, financial institutions, and illicit transactions tied to fentanyl trafficking.\n\n\u201cLike far too many families, mine has been impacted by the opioid crisis. My mom struggled with a prescription drug addiction that ultimately led to heroin and fentanyl. She overdosed 20 times in one year alone before we were finally able to get her the medical care she desperately needed, but too many people are not as lucky. Fentanyl is the most potent and lethal drug on the black market, and it has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across our country. We are facing an overdose crisis that demands urgent action to stop the influx of these dangerous drugs from being trafficked to our country,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cThis bill gives the US the tools we need to disrupt the financial networks behind the illicit opioid trade and hold foreign traffickers accountable so more families don\u2019t have to go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one to an overdose.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe fentanyl crisis affects communities across the country. As a border state, Texas has seen the devastation caused by fentanyl and cartels,\u201d said Congressman Roger Williams. \u201cWe must reauthorize the Fentanyl Sanctions Act to ensure the United States has the tools it needs to crack down on the deadly drugs and crime entering our country from overseas.\u201d\n\nSynthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, were involved in nearly 48,000 American deaths in 2024, leaving families and communities grieving lives cut short. Reauthorizing the Fentanyl Sanctions Act would preserve critical tools to pursue the financial networks behind the drugs reaching Colorado and communities across the country. By restricting illicit payments and targeting institutions that facilitate trafficking, these authorities can make it harder for foreign traffickers to pay suppliers, launder profits, and finance future shipments. Renewing them would sustain financial pressure on the illicit opioid trade as part of the broader effort to prevent overdoses and save lives.\n\nFederal officials have already used these authorities to target the financial infrastructure behind the illicit opioid trade. In June 2025, the United States Treasury invoked the Fentanyl Sanctions Act and the FEND Off Fentanyl Act to prohibit certain fund transfers involving three Mexico-based financial institutions identified as being of primary money laundering concern in connection with opioid trafficking. These actions demonstrate how the authorities can restrict traffickers\u2019 ability to move money through the U.S. financial system.\n\nMotivated by her own mother\u2019s struggle with a substance use disorder, this bill is just the latest in Congresswoman Pettersen's ongoing work addressing the drug epidemic in the United States. These include measures to prevent the import of illicit drugs, and prevent overdose deaths by ensuring airplanes, law enforcement, and hospitals are able to distribute naloxone when necessary.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/24/bennet-cassidy-cortez-masto-collins-coons-wicker-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-tax-relief-for-americorps-volunteers/", "Bennet, Cassidy, Cortez Masto, Collins, Coons, Wicker Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Tax Relief for AmeriCorps Volunteers", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) led Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to reintroduce the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act. This legislation would provide tax relief for AmeriCorps members who earn Segal Education Awards to help pay for higher education costs that they earn through their service.\n\n\u201cIn Colorado and across the country, AmeriCorps volunteers contribute to our communities and help improve the lives of our kids and neighbors through countless hours of service,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cCongress should recognize their commitment and help them further their education without this unnecessary burden. I\u2019m grateful to work with my colleagues to ensure the education assistance they earn is not unfairly taxed.\u201d\n\n\u201cLife in every parish has been improved by AmeriCorps members,\u201d said Cassidy. \u201cFrom stopping crime to helping communities after a hurricane, their service ought to be rewarded, not unfairly taxed.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmeriCorps members provide a lifeline to communities and students across the country, and they shouldn\u2019t be taxed for their education awards,\u201d said Cortez Masto. \u201cOur bipartisan bill will eliminate this unfair tax on their service and help them keep their education costs down.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmeriCorps members make significant contributions to communities in Maine and across the country,\u201d said Collins. \u201cThe Education Award they earn helps them pursue higher education or pay down student loan debt and should not be subject to federal income tax. This bipartisan legislation would ensure they receive the full benefit of the assistance they earned through their service.\u201d\n\n\u201cYoung people who join AmeriCorps sacrifice higher salaries in order to dedicate an enormous amount of time and energy to helping communities in need,\u201d said Coons. \u201cWe should celebrate that service and make sure it sets members on a path to affordable education and good jobs. This bill will ensure that those who choose to help their neighbors receive the full value of their education stipend to continue building on skills learned during their service year.\u201d\n\n\u201cMississippians in AmeriCorps provide great service to our communities,\u201d said Wicker. \u201cOur legislation honors their commitments by eliminating the unnecessary taxes on the benefits they have earned.\u201d\n\nAmeriCorps members who complete a full term of service earn a Segal Education Award equal to the maximum Pell Grant amount ($7,395 for 2026-2027). AmeriCorps members can use the award to pay college costs or to pay down student loan debt. Since the program launched in 1994, nearly one million AmeriCorps members have earned Segal Education Awards.\n\nCurrently, Segal Education Awards are considered taxable income. This legislation would exclude these awards from income tax, to reflect the intent of federal education awards, help those serving pay for college, and remove a barrier that may discourage young people from taking advantage of the financial assistance they\u2019ve earned.\n\n\u201cAmeriCorps members earn their Education Award through service, yet when they use it for college or student loans, they can face an unexpected federal tax bill. That\u2019s a tax on service. We don\u2019t tax Pell Grants or GI Bill benefits, and we shouldn\u2019t tax the AmeriCorps Education Award. We\u2019re grateful to Senators Bennet and Cassidy for leading this bipartisan effort to make the Education Award tax-free and ensure AmeriCorps members can use what they earned through service to build their futures,\u201d said AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service.\n\n\u201cNational service should open doors, not create new hurdles. For more than three decades, AmeriCorps members have strengthened communities across the country, and more than a million have earned the Segal Education Award to help pay for college or repay student loans. Treating that award as taxable income undercuts the very spirit of service it was meant to honor. The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Tax Relief Act is a bipartisan, common-sense fix, and we applaud Senators Michael Bennet and Bill Cassidy for their leadership,\u201d said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor.\n\nThis legislation is supported by 71 organizations, including Voices for National Service, With Honor, CoGenerate, Generation Schools Network, Hunger Free America, America\u2019s Service Commissions, States for Service Coalitions, Conservation Legacy, Deans for Impact, and Mile High Youth Corps. A full list of supporters is available HERE.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/24/icymi-on-senate-floor-bennet-calls-on-trump-to-rescind-unscientific-vaccine-order-and-fire-hhs-secretary-kennedy/", "ICYMI: On Senate Floor, Bennet Calls on Trump to Rescind Unscientific Vaccine Order and Fire HHS Secretary Kennedy", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Video of Bennet\u2019s Full Remarks Available HERE\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet reiterated his call for President Donald Trump to rescind the unscientific childhood vaccine executive order and fire the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. last night on the Senate floor.\n\nBennet\u2019s speech comes when measles cases are at 30-year highs across the country and Colorado is seeing the sixth-lowest measles vaccination rate in the nation for kindergarteners. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy are amplifying anti-vaccine rhetoric instead of making communities safer. Immunization rates are dropping, schools are vulnerable, and Colorado\u2019s children are paying the price.\n\n\u201cRight now our nation is living through the most severe measles outbreak in over 35 years. Measles is not a mild childhood inconvenience; it is one of the most contagious viruses on earth, capable of causing high fevers, brain swelling, long-term disability, and death. In Colorado, we have already confirmed 25 cases this year, including seven hospitalizations,\u201d said Bennet on the Senate floor. \u201cOf these cases, 22 people were unvaccinated. Of the 25 that have measles in Colorado today, 22 were unvaccinated. That\u2019s the most we\u2019ve had in over 30 years. You have to go back to 1995 to find an outbreak in my state that\u2019s even close to what we\u2019re seeing today. We\u2019re going backwards when it comes to public health in the richest country in the world, and families in Colorado and all across this country are suffering the consequences.\u201d\n\nBennet emphasized that Colorado\u2019s measles cases are particularly disappointing given the state\u2019s history: it was a 1988 outbreak at Fort Lewis College in Durango that directly prompted the CDC to change its vaccine recommendation from one dose to two. This followed a rigorous investigation by CDC investigators. Bennet highlighted the sharp contrast of following the facts with the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Kennedy who are playing political games with people\u2019s health.\n\nHe concluded by saying, \u201cI think we should be having a debate in this country about the state of health care in the United States of America and about the ways in which we failed this generation and the next generation in providing a system that actually delivers better health care at a reasonable price and mental health care at a reasonable price, instead of plunging people into further misery or into bankruptcy. I wish we were having that debate on the Senate floor, but we can\u2019t begin to have that until the basic facts about science and medicine are taken seriously by this administration.\n\n\u201cThe president should start by rescinding his executive order today on childhood vaccines. He should fire Secretary Kennedy, as I have long called for. But until that happens \u2013 and I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to happen in the foreseeable future \u2013 until that happens, we\u2019re going to be stuck fighting battles against a disease that we functionally eliminated 30 years ago. Kids and families in Colorado and all across this country deserve so much better than that.\u201d\n\nBennet has consistently fought against Trump and Kennedy\u2019s anti-science agenda. Last week, Bennet questioned HHS Deputy Secretary Nominee Chris Klomp during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee about Trump and Kennedy\u2019s reckless vaccine efforts resulting in chaos and confusion for children and families. Last month, Bennet led 90 of his Congressional colleagues demanding Trump rescind his executive order that directs federal health agencies to overhaul longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations and encourages states to reconsider school immunization requirements. Bennet issued a statement immediately following the announcement of Trump\u2019s executive order directing federal health agencies to overhaul longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations and encouraging states to reconsider school immunization requirements.\n\nIn April 2026, Bennet questioned Kennedy during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his skepticism of childhood vaccines amidst the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in over thirty years. Additionally, in March 2025 and 2026, Bennet joined in sending a letter to Kennedy to demand the department reverse changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration websites that promote false and dangerous information about autism. In September 2025, he questioned Kennedy during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on his actions undermining vaccine safety and access for American families. Bennet also joined members of the Senate Finance Committee in issuing a statement calling on Kennedy to resign due to the danger he poses to America\u2019s health, his lies to Congress, and his spread of disinformation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-details-expansive-costs-of-iran-war-in-senate-floor-speech-ahead-of-vote-to-end-war/", "Hickenlooper Details Expansive Costs of Iran War in Senate Floor Speech Ahead of Vote to End War", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Hickenlooper: \u201cYou\u2019re paying for this war every day: when you fill up your tank, buy your groceries, and pay your rent.\u201d\n\nThis afternoon, Hickenlooper voted to end the war in Iran\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Ahead of a Senate vote to end the Iran war, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper took to the Senate floor yesterday and highlighted the true costs of the war that go beyond the Pentagon\u2019s estimate of $43.6 billion. He urged his Republican colleagues to break with the president to end the illegal, costly war.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about what that 43 billion dollars includes. Today, I want to talk about what that number doesn\u2019t include,\u201d said Hickenlooper on the Senate floor. \u201cWars aren\u2019t measured just in dollars and cents. It is measured in lives lost, whether Americans feel safer and better off.\u201d\n\nWatch his full speech HERE.\n\n\u201cTake the 19 brave servicemembers whose deaths have been disclosed by the Pentagon. That is 19 families who have lost someone irreplaceable. In just a few weeks, children will trick-or-treat without a parent. A few weeks later, families will gather for Thanksgiving with an empty seat at the table,\u201d he continued.\n\nHickenlooper raised the deeply concerning reports that suggest the Pentagon has not properly disclosed the real casualty numbers of the war.\n\n\u201cReports say that the Pentagon is not being transparent with Congress or the American people. What we know is every one of those lives deserves our gratitude. And every one of those families deserves an accurate accounting of this war\u2019s human cost.\u201d\n\nHe continued to emphasize the toll on all of our servicemembers deployed in the region, \u201cSince February, more than 800 servicemembers have been wounded in the Middle East. Some went days without receiving adequate hospital care. Many face life-altering injuries\u2026 Back at home, their loved ones are left worrying and wondering whether they will be home for the holidays.\u201d\n\nHe also noted how the Iran war has weakened our national security and undermined our position in the global economy.\n\n\u201cSince June, the war has consumed between half and two-thirds of our key missile-defense interceptors. Even with increased production, it will take at least five years to rebuild those stockpiles. Every interceptor we fire in Iran is one we don\u2019t have for future combat.\n\n\u201cAt the same time, we\u2019ve shown Iran it can seize control of one of the world\u2019s most critical waterways and bring global trade to its knees. A quarter of the world\u2019s oil and a third of the world\u2019s fertilizer trade used to flow through the Strait of Hormuz. No longer. We\u2019ve given our adversaries a roadmap and even a test drive for holding the global economy hostage, which the Houthis have already exploited in the Bab el Mandeb Strait.\u201d\n\nHickenlooper also detailed how the war in Iran has increased gas, diesel, and grocery prices for Americans.\n\n\u201cBefore the war, the national average for diesel was $3.72 per gallon. This week, it\u2019s over $6.50 per gallon. That\u2019s a nearly 75% increase. That means a small farmer using 1,000 gallons of diesel during a harvest is paying roughly $2,800 more just to do the same work. Even Republicans have said it: this is \u2018killing farmers\u2019 income.\u2019\n\n\u201cThe war is also impacting Americans\u2019 grocery bills. Between July 2025 and July 2026, fresh vegetable prices have increased over 6%, beef has climbed over 9%, and tomatoes have gone up nearly 13%. You shouldn\u2019t have to be a millionaire to drive to the grocery store and feed your family.\u201d\n\nHe also highlighted how the war has hurt prospective homeowners, increasing interest rates.\n\n\u201cBefore the Iran war, the average 30-year mortgage rate was hovering at around 6% \u2013 still too high for many families. Today? It\u2019s above 7%. For the average Colorado homebuyer, that difference adds up fast. That\u2019s a mortgage that\u2019s $280 more every month. Almost $4,000 every year. And over $100,000 over a 30-year mortgage.\u201d\n\nHickenlooper has introduced a War Powers Resolution to direct President Trump to terminate U.S. military hostilities against Iran and has voted repeatedly to end the president\u2019s war. Last week, Hickenlooper also spoke on the Senate floor calling out President Trump\u2019s corruption and the cost-of-living emergency that he\u2019s created.\n\nFor a full video of Hickenlooper\u2019s remarks, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks as prepared for delivery is available below:\n\nMr. President,\n\n43.6 billion dollars and counting.\n\nThat\u2019s the Pentagon\u2019s estimate for how much it has spent on the illegal war in Iran.\n\nThat\u2019s a lot of money.\n\nIn fact, it\u2019s so much money that if every American family gave $500, you still wouldn\u2019t have enough to pay for this war. The missiles. The munitions. The warships. Over 43 billion dollars of your taxpayer money wasted for no discernible benefit.\n\nBut I don\u2019t want to talk about what that 43 billion dollars includes. Today, I want to talk about what that number doesn\u2019t include.\n\nWars aren\u2019t measured just in dollars and cents. It is measured in lives lost, whether Americans feel safer and better off. And by those accounts, the costs are enormous.\n\nTake the 19 brave servicemembers whose deaths have been disclosed by the Pentagon. That is 19 families who have lost someone irreplaceable.\n\nIn just a few weeks, children will trick-or-treat without a parent.\n\nA few weeks later, families will gather for Thanksgiving with an empty seat at the table.\n\n\u201cI will never recover from this,\u201d one widow wrote on social media.\n\nWhat\u2019s even more heartbreaking is that we don\u2019t know exactly how many servicemembers have died in the Middle East amid this war. Reports say that the Pentagon is not being transparent with Congress or the American people. What we know is every one of those lives deserves our gratitude. And every one of those families deserves an accurate accounting of this war\u2019s human cost.\n\nSince February, more than 800 servicemembers have been wounded in the Middle East. Some went days without receiving adequate hospital care. Many face life-altering injuries.\n\nTens of thousands of their fellow servicemembers are still deployed, fighting a war that this administration still refuses to call a war.\n\nBack at home, their loved ones are left worrying and wondering whether they will be home for the holidays.\n\nYou won\u2019t find those costs in the 43 billion dollar price tag.\n\nThen there\u2019s the staggering cost to America\u2019s national security.\n\nSince June, the war has consumed between half and two-thirds of our key missile-defense interceptors. Even with increased production, it will take at least five years to rebuild those stockpiles. Every interceptor we fire in Iran is one we don\u2019t have for future combat.\n\nIranian strikes have damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases, along with our relationships with the allies and partners who agreed to host them as a bulwark against Iran. That premise has been turned on its head.\n\nAt the same time, we\u2019ve shown Iran it can seize control of one of the world\u2019s most critical waterways and bring global trade to its knees. A quarter of the world\u2019s oil and a third of the world\u2019s fertilizer trade used to flow through the Strait of Hormuz. No longer. We\u2019ve given our adversaries a roadmap and even a test drive for holding the global economy hostage, which the Houthis have already exploited in the Bab el Mandeb Strait.\n\nAmerica\u2019s adversaries are celebrating our distraction, this futility, and these mounting costs. Every dollar we spend on Iran is a dollar we\u2019re not spending modernizing our military to protect against the threat of an ascendant China. Every warship that\u2019s deployed to the Arabian Sea is one less warship that\u2019s available to protect the South China Sea.\n\nBut you won\u2019t find those costs in the $43 billion price tag.\n\nThen there\u2019s the cost to YOU, the American people. You\u2019re paying for this war every day: when you fill up your tank, buy your groceries, and pay your rent.\n\nBefore the war, the national average for diesel was $3.72 per gallon. This week, it\u2019s over $6.50 per gallon. That\u2019s a nearly 75% increase. That means a small farmer using 1,000 gallons of diesel during a harvest is paying roughly $2,800 more just to do the same work. Even Republicans have said it: this is quote \u201ckilling farmers\u2019 income.\u201d\n\nThe war is also impacting Americans\u2019 grocery bills. Between July 2025 and July 2026, fresh vegetable prices have increased over 6%, beef has climbed over 9%, and tomatoes have gone up nearly 13%. You shouldn\u2019t have to be a millionaire to drive to the grocery store and feed your family.\n\nFew have felt the financial costs of this war more than prospective homebuyers. Before the Iran war, the average 30-year mortgage rate was hovering at around 6% \u2013 still too high for many families. Today? It\u2019s above 7%. For the average Colorado homebuyer, that difference adds up fast. That\u2019s a mortgage that\u2019s $280 more every month. Almost $4,000 every year. And over $100,000 over a 30-year mortgage. That\u2019s real money that could go to childcare, your child\u2019s college, or savings. And for many, it means buying a home just doesn\u2019t make financial sense, even if you\u2019ve been saving up for years.\n\nYou won\u2019t see those trade-offs reflected in the Pentagon\u2019s $43 billion price tag for the war.\n\nAnd finally, what is the cost of this war on our Democracy?\n\nJames Madison once wrote to his friend Thomas Jefferson that \u201cthe Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to it.\u201d That\u2019s why the Founders gave Congress the power to declare war. Not the President. Not the Supreme Court. Congress.\n\nAnd yet, not a single senator has introduced a legislative measure to formally declare war on Iran.\n\nMr. President, you may have noticed that until now, I have not mentioned President Trump. That is not because the President bears no responsibility for this war. He most certainly does. President Trump unilaterally made the decision to enter this costly, unwanted war. But the decision about whether it continues rests with Congress.\n\nAnd to my Republican colleagues who are wrestling with this issue, just ask yourself: Is this war making your constituents\u2019 lives better?\n\nThat isn\u2019t a partisan question. It is a question every senator has a duty to answer.\n\nBecause whether the President is a Republican or a Democrat, Congress cannot surrender its constitutional power simply because the President belongs to our party.\n\nWe all took an oath to defend the Constitution \u2014 not a president. We all took an oath to serve the American people \u2014 not a party.\n\nPresident Trump made the decision to enter this war. But whether this war continues is now a decision for us.\n\nWhat is the true cost of this war, and the cost of allowing it to continue?\n\nThis week, the Senate will get another chance to decide.\n\nI urge my colleagues to join me in voting to end this war now and for good.\n\nThank you, Mr. President.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/watch-hickenlooper-video-statement-on-increasing-energy-prices/", "WATCH: Hickenlooper Video Statement on Increasing Energy Prices", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "In just the first six months of 2026, Colorado families spent an additional $71 on electricity than they did in the first half of 2024\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper called out President Trump and MAGA Republicans for how their broken agenda has increased energy prices and fueled a cost-of-living emergency.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s costly war has sent gas prices climbing and diesel prices to record highs. But so far, Trump refuses to address this crisis. In fact, he\u2019s making it worse,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cLast summer, Trump and MAGA Republicans passed their disastrous budget bill and zeroed out a program that helped lower-income families and communities harness solar energy to lower their energy bills.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe administration fired all of the federal workers who ran a different program that helps 6 million low-income households heat and cool their homes, including about 85,800 households in Colorado. And they\u2019ve canceled millions in federal contracts for clean energy projects \u2013 many of them already underway \u2013 and wasted taxpayer money in the process.\n\n\u201cAmericans deserve relief, not higher costs. Our fight isn\u2019t over. We won\u2019t stop working to actually bring down costs and help Colorado families.\u201d\n\nWatch his full video HERE.\n\nBefore the war, the national average for diesel was $3.72 per gallon. This week, it\u2019s over $6.50 per gallon, marking a nearly 75% increase. A farmer using 1,000 gallons of diesel during a harvest is paying roughly $2,800 more just to do the same work.\n\nIn total, Coloradans have spent an additional $2 billion on gas since the beginning of the war. Colorado families have spent an additional $80 on electricity in 2025 under President Trump than they did in 2024. And, in just the first six months of 2026, they spent $71 more on electricity than they did in the first half of 2024.\n\nHickenlooper has been vocal in his opposition to President Trump\u2019s cost-of-living emergency fueled by the president\u2019s war with Iran. Hickenlooper has introduced a War Powers Resolution to direct President Trump to terminate U.S. military hostilities against Iran and has voted repeatedly to end the president\u2019s war.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1937", "Congresswoman Pettersen Introduces Bill to Expand Financial Literacy Resources for High School Students", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) today announced her introduction of a bill to expand financial literacy resources for high school students. The bipartisan Promoting Financial Literacy in Secondary Schools Act, which Pettersen introduced with Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), would give high schools access to voluntary, expert-developed resources that teach students how to budget, manage credit, and avoid costly debt. According to Junior Achievement USA, in 2024, 68% of teens in Colorado want a financial literacy class, but only 31% reported having access to those resources.\n\n\u201cI know how hard it can be to navigate our financial system, especially for people like me who were the first in their family to graduate from high school and college. Too many young people enter adulthood without anyone ever teaching them how to build credit, manage a budget, or protect themselves from financial decisions that can follow them for years,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cEvery one of our students should have access to the resources they need to make informed financial decisions, regardless of their path after high school. I\u2019m so proud to join Congressman Valadao to introduce this common-sense, bipartisan bill that will help high schools better prepare our young people to achieve financial security, avoid costly mistakes, and set them up for success.\u201d\n\n\u201cFiling taxes, managing a budget, building savings, and understanding credit are all important life skills, yet too many students graduate high school without the financial knowledge they need to make informed decisions,\u201d said Congressman David Valadao.\u201cInstead of trying to navigate a complicated financial system on their own, students should have a strong foundation in financial literacy. The bipartisan Promoting Financial Literacy in Secondary School Act would give students these critical tools before they graduate and help prepare the next generation for success\u2014whether they choose to attend college, pursue a trade, or enter the workforce.\"\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would create a voluntary program for high schools and require the Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC) to include these schools when creating their best practices for students about budgeting, financial securities, credit, evaluating financial products, and student loan borrowing.\n\nThe FLEC is an office within the U.S. Department of the Treasury that is tasked with creating best practices for teaching financial literacy. Currently, FLEC only creates guidance for institutions of higher education. As more students continue to seek alternatives to college, they are therefore currently missing out on these foundational financial literacy programs.\n\nCongresswoman Pettersen serves on the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees agencies that deal with the banking, credit card, insurance, and housing sectors. She has consistently pushed for financial transparency for working families, and has championed legislation such as theImproving Retirement Security for Family Caregivers Act and the Helping Young Americans Save for Retirement Act as part of her broader effort to provide families and communities with the financial tools they need to succeed.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/23/bennet-markey-merkley-demand-trump-administration-release-all-documents-from-u-s-saudi-nuclear-deal/", "Bennet, Markey, Merkley, Demand Trump Administration Release All Documents from U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and a bipartisan group of colleagues on a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, pressing the Trump administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a \u201c123 agreement.\u201d\n\nThe Trump administration recently submitted the 123 agreement to Congress, as is required by law, but classified key side letters the agreement repeatedly references at the lowest possible level. This classification prevents the public and a large swath of Congress from fully assessing the agreement, given that the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement.\n\n\u201cCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cThe side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President\u2019s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement \u2018\u2026was concluded with two accompanying side letters.\u2019 Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay,\u201d emphasized the senators.\n\nIn addition to Bennet, Markey, and Merkley, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Senators John Kennedy (R-La.), Rand Paul (R-K.Y.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) signed the letter.\n\nBennet is a leading opponent of the U.S.-Saudi deal, saying in July 2026: \u201cPresident Trump should not agree to any nuclear cooperation agreement that provides Saudi Arabia sensitive U.S. nuclear technology without the \u2018gold standard\u2019 set of nuclear safeguards we\u2019ve correctly demanded from other countries.\u201d\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Wright:\n\nWe write to urge you to immediately declassify and publicly release the two side letters associated with the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed U.S.-Saudi 123 civil nuclear cooperation agreement. While the text of the agreement and the bilateral safeguards agreement are now publicly available in unclassified form, the two side letters remain classified at the lowest possible level.\n\nIn previous 123 agreements, the Executive Branch publicly released the agreement along with side letters and related documents. Releasing the agreement text without the side letters here leaves that practice only half met. We are aware of no precedent for classifying and withholding the side letters, particularly when the stated purpose is peaceful nuclear cooperation.\n\nCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States. The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President\u2019s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement \u201c\u2026was concluded with two accompanying side letters.\u201d Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.\n\nTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/23/bennet-welch-release-proposal-to-establish-new-federal-agency-to-prevent-catastrophic-ai-risk-regulate-big-tech/", "Bennet, Welch Release Proposal to Establish New Federal Agency to Prevent Catastrophic AI Risk, Regulate Big Tech", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Federal Digital Commission Would Have Pre-Clearance Review of Frontier AI Models, Ability to Pause Release Without Necessary Safeguards, and Assess Civil Penalties of Up to 15 Percent of a Firm\u2019s Prior-Year Global Revenue\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today announced a new proposal building off of their landmark legislation to create a new independent federal agency to regulate frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and social media.\n\nThe AI Regulator Act would require pre-certification for frontier AI models, delay the public release of any AI model that could pose catastrophic risks without necessary safeguards, and issue formal rulemakings able to keep pace with the speed of innovation. It could also conduct investigations, engage in research, and impose penalties of up to 15 percent of a firm\u2019s prior-year global revenue. These new authorities add to the proposed Federal Digital Commission longstanding remit to regulate the largest digital platforms, and ensure that a dedicated agency is empowered to protect Americans from catastrophic AI risk, safeguard our kids online, reduce harmful market concentration, and prevent national and economic security risks.\n\n\u201cThe challenge posed by a new technology and a new industry able to profoundly transform our economy and society is one we have faced before,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cIn the past, we created new expert agencies to regulate aviation, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications. But today, no such agency exists for AI or social media platforms. Oversight is fragmented between states and federal agencies, while Congress tries to address each new problem one bill at a time. The Federal Digital Commission would keep pace with innovation, act before serious harm occurs, and have the authority to hold companies accountable when they break the rules.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans in Vermont and across the country are freaked out by the warnings of AI researchers, and I\u2019m right there with them. It\u2019s clear we can\u2019t leave it to AI companies to self-regulate\u2014just like we don\u2019t let drug companies, or Wall Street, or Big Oil self-regulate. Americans need reassurance that an independent expert agency will advocate on behalf of the public good and public safety,\u201d said Welch. \u201cOur common sense bill would provide the comprehensive oversight of Big Tech and AI that is sorely needed.\u201d\n\nThe Proposed AI Regulator Act would:\n\nGive regulators the power to pause certain AI releases. Allow a pause of up to six months on the public distribution of AI models with the potential for catastrophic risk, or until reasonable safeguards are in place.\n\nPut major tech companies under closer oversight. Allow the Commission to designate systemically important digital platforms or developers for additional reporting and regulation.\n\nBack its rules with substantial penalties. Establish a five-member commission that could hold hearings, investigate, conduct research, issue rules, and impose civil penalties of up to 15 percent of a firm\u2019s prior-year global revenue in a year.\n\nSet safeguards for frontier AI. Require developers to meet risk-mitigation, catastrophic risk incident-reporting, and transparency requirements.\n\nProtect kids and consumers online. Establish age-verification and age-appropriate design standards, consumer protections, and transparency requirements for platforms\u2019 terms of service and content-moderation policies.\n\nAddress national and economic security risks. Include provisions concerning Americans\u2019 data held by foreign AI companies, U.S. subsidiaries for certain foreign firms, and transparency about where online content originates.\n\nBennet and Welch first introduced the Digital Platform Commission Act in the Senate and House in 2022. Bennet and Welch reintroduced the bill in 2023. The proposal sought to bring oversight of digital platforms into a dedicated agency. Today, responsibility for competition, consumer protection, privacy, online safety, and national security remains spread across the federal government.\n\nThe updated Section-by-Section is HERE. The One-Pager is HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-calls-mortgage-underwriting-and-credit-score-reform-and-lowering", "REP. BOEBERT CALLS FOR MORTGAGE UNDERWRITING AND CREDIT SCORE REFORM AND LOWERING THE BARRIER TO HOMEOWNERSHIP", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lone Tree, CO \u2014 Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) sent a letter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins calling for underwriting and credit-score reform so qualified Americans can buy a home without being locked out by outdated down-payment and credit rules.\n\n\u201cAffordability is what families talk about around the kitchen table in the heartland,\u201d Rep. Boebert wrote. \u201cRepublicans in Congress cut taxes. Next, we need to reform the home-buying process.\"\n\nRep. Boebert is seeking to work with the departments to develop new policy that changes who qualifies for credit, cuts process costs, and modernizes mortgage rules without weakening the loan itself. She argued that a rigid 20 percent down payment knocks working families out of homeownership, and that on-time rent history and real-world income patterns should count.\n\n\u201cAsking a buyer to put down hundreds of thousands of dollars knocks many out of the chance to buy and grow their wealth,\u201d she wrote. \"I intend to work in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues to eventually introduce legislation.\"\n\nRep. Boebert said the federal mortgage system still judges borrowers through a narrow lens: a traditional credit score built on revolving debt and a steady W-2 paycheck. That approach shuts out renters with years of on-time payments but thin credit files; farmers and ranchers whose income arrives at harvest; tradesmen, contractors, seasonal workers, and small-business owners whose earnings vary by design; and commission earners punished for volatility instead of credited for income.\n\nOn an $833,000 jumbo loan, she noted, 20 percent down is about $167,000, while 5 percent is about $42,000. In many parts of the country, a jumbo loan is the only path to a primary residence. \"Keeping the bar at 20 percent does not automatically make the loan safer,\u201d she wrote. \u201cIt just delays homeownership and keeps people renting longer.\"\n\nRep. Boebert asked for a more flexible down-payment standard for jumbo or conventional loans, including a 5 percent option or a percentage tied to true income and credit history, paired with sound underwriting. Debt-to-income limits, credit scores, employment history, cash reserves, and appraisals should stay rigorous. The change, she said, is about the cash-to-close barrier, not ignoring risk.\n\n\u201cFamilies need our help to reduce arbitrary barriers in lending,\u201d Rep. Boebert wrote.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/hoodline-aurora-could-land-156m-to-fix-flood-prone-northwest-streets", "Hoodline: Aurora Could Land $15.6M to Fix Flood-Prone Northwest Streets", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Northwest Aurora\u2019s proposed flood-control work is tied to about $15.6 million in federal support under the Water Resources Development Act. The House passed the measure Tuesday by a 415-9 vote, but it still needs Senate approval. Even if approved, the authorization alone would not provide all the funding needed for construction.\n\nA Long-Awaited Fix for Chronic Street Flooding\n\nThe bill, as reported by Sentinel Colorado, sets aside funding for Aurora to construct new storm sewers and expand the city's stormwater capacity, with planned improvements expected to help prevent flooding on East 11th Avenue, Alton Street and East 14th Avenue in northwest Aurora. Among the specific projects called out is a new storm sewer at the intersection of East 14th Avenue and Yosemite Street, an area residents have watched flood repeatedly.\n\nRep. Jason Crow advocated for the Aurora funding, according to the same report. He said the investment would address aging sewer infrastructure and flood-related safety problems, while helping the city respond to climate change. Crow also said he would continue seeking federal resources for Colorado communities.\n\nWhat Else Is Riding on the Bill\n\nAurora is one part of a broader water-resources package. The legislation dedicates $150 million to protect rural water infrastructure nationwide, a provision noted in the article and by CPR. It also includes funding for several Colorado projects, and Colorado\u2019s House members voted for the measure.\n\nSeparately, Crow has introduced the Protect the West Act, which would invest in wildfire mitigation, and sponsors the bipartisan Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience Act, which would let states establish and maintain resiliency offices to address climate-change effects. Neither measure was part of Tuesday\u2019s House vote.\n\nNext Stop: The Senate\n\nFor now, the Water Resources Development Act awaits approval from the Senate, and the article notes the National Association of Counties reported on both the House passage and the bill's pending Senate status. Whether Aurora's flood-prone streets get their new storm sewers ultimately hinges on what happens next in that chamber.\n\nAuthorization Is Not the Final Funding Step\n\nU.S. Army Corps of Engineers guidance explains that authorization alone is not enough for a project to proceed; congressional appropriations are also required. So even after Senate approval, Aurora would still need appropriated funding for the construction work to move forward, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-passes-funding-authorization-to-upgrade-water-infrastructure-in-aurora", "Crow Passes Funding Authorization to Upgrade Water Infrastructure in Aurora", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) recently voted and secured authorization for millions of dollars in federal funding to improve water infrastructure and help prevent flooding in Colorado.\n\nThe House of Representatives recently passed the Water Resources Development Act. Included in the bill was authorization for $15.6 million championed by Congressman Crow for the construction of a new storm sewer line and additional stormwater inlets around 14th Avenue and Yosemite Street in Aurora to better capture stormwater during large downpours, helping to prevent flooding on at least three roads in the city\u201411th Avenue, Alton Street, and 14th Avenue. During storms, excess flooding in these areas can damage property and make roads impassable, creating hazards for drivers and first responders. The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate.\n\n\u201cI am proud to secure federal funding to help improve water infrastructure, prevent flooding, and address the impact of climate change in Colorado,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cIn Aurora and many other communities, old sewers cause frequent street flooding and unsafe conditions. In Congress, I will continue to bring home critical funds to better Colorado and our communities.\u201d\n\nCrow has also helped prepare Colorado against the impacts of climate change. He introduced the Protect the West Act with Senator Bennet to make critical investments that would mitigate intensifying wildfires, and he is leading the bipartisan Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act to empower states nationwide to establish and maintain resiliency offices to combat the worst effects of climate change.", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/22/bennet-hickenlooper-colleagues-challenge-trump-efforts-to-restrict-mail-in-voting/", "Bennet, Hickenlooper, Colleagues Challenge Trump Efforts to Restrict Mail-In Voting", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "261 current and former lawmakers joined together to file amicus brief in SCOTUS Mail-In Voting Case\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, alongside the entire Senate Democratic Caucus and members of the U.S. House of Representatives, filed an amicus brief challenging the legality of President Donald Trump\u2019s executive order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule that imposes unconstitutional, unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a \u201ccitizenship verification list\u201d and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.\n\n\u201cSince the beginning of his administration, President Trump and congressional Republicans have done everything they can to make our voting system less safe and secure,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cThe Supreme Court must stand firm against this latest unconstitutional attempt to supersede the authority of states and Congress when it comes to our elections, all in an effort to make it harder for Coloradans to cast a vote by mail.\u201d\n\n\u201cMail-in voting is safe, secure, and makes our elections more accessible,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cThe Trump administration continues throwing everything at the wall to restrict the fundamental right of every American to choose their leaders. It\u2019s an unconstitutional, authoritarian attack that we won\u2019t let them get away with.\u201d\n\nColorado\u2019s vote-by-mail system helped produce a voter turnout rate of 71 percent in the 2024 general election, nearly 6 percent higher than the national average. Of these voters, 92.2 percent chose to return a mail ballot.\n\nNationally, nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections \u2014 a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida\u2019s Republican primary.\n\nIn the court filing, the group argued that Trump\u2019s executive order and USPS\u2019s final rule violate the separation of powers and steal congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the States and Congress exclusive authority over administering elections.\n\n\u201cAs current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States \u2014 including its guarantee of the separation of powers,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cThe Constitution does not contemplate the Executive Branch acting unilaterally to assert power over federal elections. Yet that is what the Order and Final Rule do.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers concluded by asserting States\u2019 power to administer elections and Congress\u2019s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an \u201coverride\u201d authority. Trump\u2019s illegal attack on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.\n\n\u201cThe integrity of our constitutional system depends on each branch keeping to its assigned role,\u201d concluded the lawmakers. \u201cThe Framers set up a two-part system that gave the States default authority to regulate federal elections subject to Congress\u2019s authority to override the States. The Framers did not provide the President with any authority to interfere in that system, nor has Congress subsequently imbued the President or the Executive Branch with any such authority by statute.\u201d\n\nU.S. Representative Joe Neguse led the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nBennet and Hickenlooper previously demanded that the USPS abandon this rule and have been staunch opponents of the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to restrict voting rights. Both senators also introduced the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act to nullify Trump\u2019s executive order.\n\nBennet is a member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee with oversight over federal elections. In August 2026, Bennet demanded the Trump administration adhere to the National Voter Registration Act\u2019s \u201cquiet period\u201d that prohibits large-scale voter purges within 90 days of an election, pushing back against the Trump administration\u2019s ongoing voter suppression efforts. In April 2026, Bennet introduced the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act to block Trump\u2019s illegal and unconstitutional executive order that attacks Coloradans\u2019 ability to cast mail-in ballots. In April 2025, Bennet urged former USPS Postmaster General Doug Tulino to ensure on-time, reliable mail delivery to rural and mountain communities along the Western Slope and to prevent DOGE from exacerbating existing mail delivery issues in Western Slope communities. In June 2024, Bennet called on the USPS to improve mail delivery service for Colorado\u2019s mountain communities.\n\nThe full amicus brief is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-detainee-accounts-of-tuberculosis-exposure-at-aurora-ice-detention-center/", "Hickenlooper Statement on Detainee Accounts of Tuberculosis Exposure at Aurora ICE Detention Center", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "DENVER \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement in response to a report by the Denver Post that an entire pod was placed on quarantine after being exposed to tuberculosis (TB) at the Aurora ICE Detention Facility. Neither ICE nor local health officials confirmed the report.\n\n\u201cPublic health officials can\u2019t stop a TB outbreak they\u2019re not allowed to track,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cICE\u2019s refusal to follow Colorado law or give members of Congress answers puts lives at risk. They\u2019re trying to slow us down, but we won\u2019t stop pushing until we get to the bottom of this.\u201d\n\nRepresentatives from Hickenlooper\u2019s office visited the detention facility last Friday. ICE officials and medical staff at the facility refused to tell Hickenlooper\u2019s staff whether anyone had recently tested positive for TB or been exposed to it. This is the second reported case of tuberculosis at the Aurora ICE Detention Facility in recent months.\n\nIn June, Adams County Health Department was notified of a case of suspected TB at the facility, triggering a routine investigation, which was blocked by GEO. ICE later confirmed they had a positive TB case, but refused to allow state health officials to investigate. As a result, last month the state of Colorado sued GEO Group, which operates the Aurora ICE Detention Facility, to force GEO to comply with state law and allow public health officials to perform a full investigation.\n\nThe CDC\u2019s guidelines for \u201cPrevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention Facilities\u201d state that it\u2019s \u201cmandatory\u201d for every correctional facility \u2013 private, federal, state or local \u2013 to report suspected and confirmed cases of TB to its local or state health department.\n\nHickenlooper visited the Aurora ICE Detention Facility at the end of August to demand answers on the TB outbreak and push ICE to comply with state law. Hickenlooper held meetings with Adams County and state public health officials before and after his oversight visit.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/new-report-co-families-have-spent-4500-more-on-goods-services-under-president-trump/", "New Report: CO Families Have Spent $4,500 More On Goods & Services Under President Trump", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Hickenlooper: \u201cThis isn\u2019t the \u2018Golden Age\u2019 President Trump pretends it is\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 As President Trump\u2019s tariffs and war with Iran continue to hurt Colorado families, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper highlighted the cost-of-living emergency that\u2019s plaguing the state.\n\nAccording to a report from the Joint Economic Committee Minority, Colorado families have spent $4,500 more in goods and services under President Trump. Some of the key findings from the report include:\n\nEnergy Costs: People across Colorado have spent over $2 billion more on gas since the beginning of the war. That means the average family in Colorado has spent $697 more on gas. Families in Colorado paid at least $80 more for electricity in 2025 under President Trump than they did in 2024. In the first half of 2026, Colorado families paid an estimated $71 more for electricity than they did in the first half of 2024.\n\nHousing Costs: Colorado families have had to spend $554 more on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office.\n\nGrocery Costs: Americans paid $310 more for groceries in President Trump\u2019s first year than in 2024, and grocery prices are now more than 4 percent higher than when Trump took office.\n\nHealthcare: Monthly Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums have risen over 50% on average in 2026 compared to last year while deductibles surged to record highs increasing by more than $1,000 on average.\n\n\u201cWith each passing month, President Trump\u2019s illegal war, tariffs, and healthcare cuts are costing Coloradans more and more,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cThis isn\u2019t the \u2018Golden Age\u2019 President Trump pretends it is, and it\u2019s certainly not the bargain working families signed up for. We\u2019re fighting to end the war, reimburse consumers and small businesses for Trump\u2019s tariffs, and reverse his healthcare cuts. We\u2019ll keep pushing Congress to act and make your life better.\u201d\n\nWatch Hickenlooper\u2019s Full Video Here\n\nLast week, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor about the cost-of-living emergency that President Trump and MAGA Republicans have created. As President Trump\u2019s war with Iran and tariff wars continue, Hickenlooper has been fighting to lower costs for Americans.\n\nIn July, he celebrated the committee passage of his bipartisan Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, which would create true transparency in healthcare pricing and is a first step towards universal healthcare. The bill will help lower healthcare prices through creating opportunities for consumers to compare prices, leading to competition among providers to lower costs.\n\nHickenlooper helped champion the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to address the national affordable housing shortage by cutting red tape to build more homes, investing in programs to lower the cost of buying a house, and preventing corporations from dominating the housing market. In 2021, he worked with the Colorado delegation to deliver more than $3.8 billion in American Rescue Plan funding for the state, which included more than $500 million towards affordable housing investments and $300 million in emergency rental assistance for low-income households.\n\nHickenlooper has traveled across Colorado to hear from workers, ranchers, and farmers getting crushed by the increasing prices fueled by the war and tariffs. He\u2019s doing a state-wide tour of local hospitals and clinics to meet with Coloradans and hear how they are grappling with the increasing costs of healthcare.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-bilirakis-announce-new-diabetes-caucus-co-chair-120th-congress", "DeGette, Bilirakis Announce New Diabetes Caucus Co-Chair for 120th Congress", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representatives Diana DeGette(CO-01) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, announced that Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) will serve as the new Democratic Co-Chair of the Caucus in the 120th Congress. Co-Chair-Designate Schrier will join Co-Chair Bilirakis in leading the 246-member Diabetes Caucus, one of the largest and most influential bipartisan member organizations in the United States Congress.\n\n\u201cI am proud to announce my friend, Rep. Kim Schrier, as the incoming Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus,\u201d said Rep. DeGette. \u201cDiabetes impacts millions of Americans across every district in this country, crossing all political lines. Those who live with diabetes in this nation need strong advocates on their behalf in the years to come. Rep. Schrier brings her expertise as a pediatrician and as someone with direct personal experience with diabetes to her work every day. She is a tough, practical legislator and will drive bipartisan work to expand access to life-saving treatments, bring down insulin costs, and fund the biomedical research that will ultimately lead to a cure.\u201d\n\n\u201cDiana is a dear friend and one of the fiercest advocates I have ever had the privilege of working alongside,\u201d said Rep. Bilirakis. \u201cFor years, we have put politics aside and worked together toward a shared goal: improving the lives of Americans living with diabetes and, ultimately, finding a cure. Her leadership, tenacity and compassion have helped drive tremendous progress in diabetes research, treatment and prevention. I am deeply grateful for her friendship and partnership, and for the lasting legacy she has built through her leadership of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. I am also pleased that Dr. Kim Schrier will join me in leading the Caucus in the 120th Congress, should voters place their continued trust in us to serve. As a pediatrician who also lives with Type 1 diabetes, she brings firsthand experience to the issues facing patients and families. I look forward to continuing the Caucus\u2019s bipartisan work to improve diabetes care, lower costs, advance lifesaving research and pursue our ultimate goal of finding a cure.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a doctor with Type 1 diabetes, it is a priority of mine in Congress to help patients with diabetes manage their condition and afford their medications,\u201d said Rep. Schrier. \u201cI am extremely excited to co-chair the Congressional Diabetes Caucus alongside Congressman Bilirakis. Congresswoman DeGette has championed the Diabetes Caucus for over twenty years, and I am honored to continue her work to bolster diabetes research, lower costs for patients, and ensure quality care for all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Diabetes Association is thrilled that Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D., will be the next co-chair of the Diabetes Caucus, said American Diabetes Association Chief Advocacy Officer Lisa Murdock. \u201cCongresswoman Schrier has demonstrated her leadership on behalf of those with diabetes, including commitment to ensuring access to medicines and technology. Her experience living with diabetes and as a pediatrician enable her to have valuable insight into the needs of the diabetes community and the policies necessary to support them. We look forward to working in partnership with Congresswoman Schrier as she takes on this new role. As we welcome Congresswoman Schrier, we want to express our gratitude to Congresswoman Diana DeGette for her leadership of the Diabetes Caucus who has tirelessly advocated for legislation to improve diabetes research, education, and treatment, as well as contributed to efforts that resulted in growing the Diabetes Caucus into the largest caucus in Congress. Her many years of service to those living with diabetes cannot be overstated.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) are thrilled that Congresswoman Kim Schrier is becoming a House Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus,\u201d said George Huntley, CEO of the Diabetes Leadership Council & Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. \u201cThis is a natural extension of the critical work she is doing on behalf of the diabetes community, including introducing the bipartisan INSULIN Act to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Congresswoman Schrier in her new role. We also want to thank Congresswoman Diana DeGette for her many years of service leading the Caucus and for all that she has done for people with diabetes.\u201d\n\n\u201cRep. Kim Schrier's leadership, clinical perspective and personal experience will be a tremendous asset to the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. The Endocrine Society is grateful to Rep. Diana DeGette for her tireless efforts to elevate diabetes as a national priority and improve care for people living with the disease,\u201d said Endocrine Society President Nanette Santoro, MD, E. Stewart Taylor Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora, Colorado. \u201cDiabetes affects tens of millions of Americans and places an enormous burden on individuals, families, and our healthcare system. As an organization dedicated to improving hormone health, the Endocrine Society prioritizes diabetes prevention, treatment and research, and we look forward to partnering with Reps. Schrier and Bilirakis to advance policies that help people living with diabetes.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt has been an honor to work with Congresswoman DeGette,\u201d said Breakthrough T1D Chief Global Advocacy Officer Lynn Starr. \u201cHer legacy for the T1D community is unparalleled. From the Special Diabetes Program to the 21st Century Cures Act, stem cell research, and the INSULIN Act, her vision and determination have saved lives, transformed care, and significantly advanced the pursuit of cures. She has truly been a steadfast champion for everyone affected by T1D, and even now in her final months in Congress, she is working tirelessly to accomplish as much as possible for the community she has served for so long. She is an inspiration, and we will deeply miss her and her powerful voice in Congress. Congresswoman Schrier is a worthy successor who has her own legacy as a leader for the T1D community on Capitol Hill. As a pediatrician and the only sitting member of Congress living with type 1 diabetes herself, she understands the stakes and the day-to-day realities of managing this disease. She knows firsthand the needs of the community. We are grateful to her for taking on this new role and responsibility and look forward to working alongside her and her fellow caucus members to accelerate cures and improve the lives of all those affected by T1D.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe mission of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus is to educate members of Congress and their staff about diabetes and support legislative activities that improve diabetes research, education and treatment. Since Rep. DeGette assumed leadership as Co-Chair in 1999, the Diabetes Caucus has been the driving force behind some of the most significant advancements in diabetes care, prevention, and research in modern history. Over the last two and a half decades, her leadership has yielded bipartisan achievements, including:\n\n\u00b7 Historic Funding Increases for Dedicated Programs: Led the successful, multi-year push to increase funding for the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes (SDP) and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) from $30 million a year to $200 million a year.\n\n\u00b7 Significant Investments in National Research: Championed the expansion of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) budget, increasing its appropriations from under $1 billion to over $2.3 billion to accelerate the search for a cure.\n\n\u00b7 Expanded Access to Lifesaving Technology: Successfully pushed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve coverage and access for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), revolutionizing daily care for seniors with diabetes.\n\n\u00b7 Groundbreaking Prevention Initiatives: Led the effort to establish the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) and successfully put the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program into statute, focusing federal efforts on stopping the disease before it starts.\n\n\u00b7 Tackling the Root Causes of High Insulin Costs: Spearheaded some of the earliest Congressional investigations into how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) drive up the cost of insulin. These early efforts laid the crucial groundwork for major PBM reforms and advanced policies to make it easier to bring lower-cost biosimilar insulins to the market.\n\nAs the Caucus enters this new chapter, its leadership will remain committed to passing legislation that improves the lives of the over 40 million Americans living with diabetes and over 115 million living with prediabetes.\n\nFor more information on the Congressional Diabetes Caucus and its ongoing initiatives, please visit diabetescaucus-degette.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-there-zero-truth-these-house-ethics-committee-allegations", "REP. BOEBERT: THERE IS ZERO TRUTH TO THESE HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE ALLEGATIONS", "2026-09-20", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 A spokesperson for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) said today there is zero truth to the allegations in a politically motivated September 17 filing to the House Ethics Committee. The Congresswoman rejects the claims as utterly false.\n\nUnder House Committee on Ethics Rule 15, a complaint may not be filed within 60 days of an election in which the Member is a candidate. This filing was submitted inside that window. The Committee is required to return it.\n\nThe same rule also provides that a submission from a non-Member is not a complaint unless a Member of the House certifies in writing that it was made in good faith and warrants the Committee\u2019s review. No Member has provided that certification.\n\n\u201cSwearing to it does not make it a complaint,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cThis was a political smear packaged as an ethics filing and published before anyone checked whether it even qualifies under the Committee\u2019s rules.\u201d\n\nThe press should stop treating that document as if it were an investigation. The allegations are false. The filing does not meet the Committee\u2019s rules, and it follows the same pattern of recycled sensational claims previously fact-checked as false.", 1, "2026-09-21T10:25:24Z", "2026-09-21T10:26:54Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-boebert-denies-allegations-september-17-filing", "CONGRESSWOMAN BOEBERT DENIES ALLEGATIONS IN SEPTEMBER 17 FILING", "2026-09-20", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) issued the following statement making clear there is zero truth to the allegations in a politically motivated September 17 filing to the House Ethics Committee. She rejected these baseless and utterly false claims in their entirety:\n\n\u201cI reject these baseless allegations as utterly false and there is no truth to them whatsoever. I have never had a sexual relationshipor an inappropriate romantic relationship with any member of my staff\u2014past or present. This is nothing more than a politically motivated stunt designed to manipulate the ethics process, create headlines, smear me, and generate clickbait.\"\n\n\u201cThey come from an activist who has long recycled sensational claims, including numerous baseless accusations previously fact-checked as false. These untruthful claims are ridiculous, reckless, and politically motivated as they come just a few weeks before ballots go out in my election. To be clear, swearing to it does not make it an official complaint. This was a political smear packaged as an ethics filing and published before anyone checked whether it even qualifies under the Committee\u2019s rules.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe press and other interested parties should not treat the September 17 filing as an investigation. Under House Committee on Ethics Rule 15, a submission from a non-Member is not considered a complaint unless a Member of the House certifies in writing that it was made in good faith and warrants the Committee\u2019s review. No Member has provided that certification. The same rule bars complaints filed within 60 days of an election in which the Member is a candidate. The September 17 submission falls within 60 days of the November 3 election, and these false claims were submitted within that window. David Wheeler also likely committed perjury and broke a federal law when he certified under penalty of perjury that his lies were the truth and acknowledged that \u201cknowingly making false statements to the Committee may violate federal law, including 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 1001.\u201d\n\nIn a June 2022 fact-check, CNN identified at least five inaccurate claims previously published by American Muckrakers and David Wheeler, including the publication of a photograph of another woman as Boebert, an incorrect claim about a $70,500 contribution connected to Sen. Ted Cruz, a false abortion claim, and other inaccurate details concerning Boebert\u2019s past. CNN also reported that the group had not provided corroborating evidence for its central allegations at the time including baseless claims that were 100% false including that she was a stripper, prostitute, and had two abortions. As noted in the June 2022 fact-check, \u201cWheeler acknowledged to CNN that the super PAC had been \u2018sloppy\u2019 and had published \u2018inaccuracies\u2019 on its anti-Boebert website.\u201d\n\nDavid Wheeler continues to make false claims that he \u201cwon\u201d in court when he sued Congresswoman Boebert over statements she made in 2022 about potentially suing him and American Muckrakers for defamation.\n\nThe public record tells a different story. In June 2024, a federal magistrate judge recommended denying four of the six claims Wheeler and American Muckrakers sought to pursue, including their defamation and trade-libel claims, while recommending that he only had the right to fix two defective claims, which he chose not to do. Less than a month later, Wheeler and American Muckrakers moved to voluntarily dismiss the case with prejudice, and the court entered the dismissal. The court\u2019s order provided that each side would bear its own attorneys\u2019 fees and costs.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-calls-on-trump-administration-to-reverse-colorado-disaster-aid-denials/", "Hickenlooper Calls on Trump Administration to Reverse Colorado Disaster Aid Denials", "2026-09-19", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement calling on the Trump administration to reverse its decision denying Individual Assistance (IA) and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding which were part of the State\u2019s request following the extensive damage caused by the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires.\n\nThe IA grants would have provided direct assistance to people in Pueblo and Custer Counties, including temporary housing and home repairs. The HMGP grants would have helped rebuilding communities prevent future disasters.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration should reverse this decision,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cRequests for individual assistance and hazard mitigation grants are not made frivolously. These resources are what\u2019s needed to help Colorado families and communities recover and prevent future tragedies. We will continue standing with those impacted by these horrific fires and do everything we can to support them in their hour of need.\u201d\n\nThe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) previously approved Colorado\u2019s request for Public Assistance following the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires. Earlier this month, FEMA also released $97 million to help Colorado communities recover from past disasters and mitigate future ones.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-20T09:37:28Z", "2026-09-20T09:38:59Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-lauren-boebert-honors-legacy-wwii-veteran-norman-russell-his", "CONGRESSWOMAN LAUREN BOEBERT HONORS THE LEGACY OF WWII VETERAN NORMAN RUSSELL WITH HIS FAMILY", "2026-09-19", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "KEENESBURG, CO \u2014 Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) joined the community in remembering and honoring the life and service of U.S. Army Veteran Norman Russell. His daughters Terri Redden, Norma Sigler, and Connie Kunz were in attendance.\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s Fourth District is home to patriots who answered the call when our nation needed them most,\u201d said Congresswoman Boebert. \u201cNorman Russell was one of those men. He laid communication lines under enemy fire, was wounded in service to his country, and came home to raise a family with humility, courage, and love. We honor him because freedom is not free, and the Greatest Generation paid the price so that we could live in liberty. I am proud to stand with his family, fellow veterans, and the people of Keenesburg as we remember a true American hero.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy dad never bragged about what he did. He just served,\u201d said Terri Redden, Norman Russell\u2019s daughter. \u201cI wanted to get his medals so I could give them to my son, William, and he could carry on his grandfather\u2019s legacy. That is how we keep Dad\u2019s story alive.\u201d\n\nNorman Russell was inducted into the U.S. Army on June 5, 1942, and served as a communications soldier and truck driver. After training at Camp Walters, Texas, he served in North Africa, Tunisia, Italy, and France, often running telephone wire along the front lines under enemy fire. He was wounded in combat, later injured again when his jeep was struck near the Colmar Pocket, and was hospitalized at Fitzsimons in Colorado, ending his military service.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-introduces-bill-to-stop-trump-and-hegseth-from-hiding-the-human-toll-of-their-war-with-iran", "Crow Introduces Bill to Stop Trump and Hegseth from Hiding the Human Toll of Their War with Iran", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced the Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act to prevent the Secretary of Defense from manipulating government data on troop casualties and therefore hiding the human cost of war.\n\nSecretary Pete Hegseth recently recategorized the death of four servicemembers and the injuries of more than 200 others in an attempt to downplay the damage done by the President\u2019s reckless war with Iran. Not only does his move shamelessly disrespect these servicemembers\u2019 service to our country, but it could also impact the benefits they and their families receive. The Honoring the Sacrifice of Troops in War Act prevents the Pentagon from hiding the human cost of this war going forward, fixes the records they\u2019ve already changed, and restores any benefits stripped from troops and their families as a result.\n\nJoining Congressman Crow on this bill are Representatives and fellow Democratic veterans Pat Ryan (D-NY), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Ted Lieu (CA-36), and Salud Carbajal (CA-24).\n\n\u201cThe men and women who step up to serve and defend our country deserve respect, and their families deserve to know they\u2019ll get the full benefits earned in service. It\u2019s wrong for Pete Hegseth to play politics with their service so he can hide the human toll of Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran,\u201d said Congressman Crow. \u201cThis Administration has proven time and again that they don\u2019t care about our servicemembers or our military families.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery Patriot deployed to this war in Iran \u2013 the 50,000 still in theater, the hundreds wounded, and especially the 18 killed \u2013 are American heroes. They deserve to be honored as such \u2013 not swept under the rug by a President and SecDef so humiliated by their failure that they\u2019d rather dishonor the troops than tell the truth,\u201d said Congressman Ryan. \u201cIt\u2019s a total betrayal of our armed forces by the very people that swore to protect and do right by them. I\u2019m proud to lead so many of my fellow veterans in Congress to make it clear we will not stand for the Trump Administration\u2019s disgraceful disrespect of American heroes \u2013 before, during, or after their deployments.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by VoteVets and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).\n\nCrow has repeatedly condemned Trump\u2019s illegal war of choice with Iran. He successfully forced congressional votes on two of his War Powers Resolutions to rein this war in, both of which passed the House on a bipartisan basis. Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war, and he has demanded that the Trump Administration reveal the full, true cost of this war on the American people. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/usda-rural-development-invests-24-million-strengthen-fort-luptons-wastewater", "USDA Rural Development Invests $24 Million to Strengthen Fort Lupton\u2019s Wastewater Capacity", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Fort Lupton, Colorado) \u2013\u2013 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Under Secretary Glen R. Smith, Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), and Colorado State Director Sallie Clark joined representatives from the City of Fort Lupton today to celebrate a $24 million loan for a major wastewater infrastructure project that will allow the city to connect to an existing water treatment plant and provide the capacity needed to support larger infrastructure projects throughout the region.\n\n\u201cIn line with recent Presidential Executive Orders, this investment advances USDA\u2019s commitment to help rural communities by strengthening essential infrastructure and expanding long-term opportunities. By connecting Fort Lupton\u2019s pipeline and lift station to the North Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant, the project delivers reliable, cost-effective approach while advancing the priorities that promote innovation, protect natural resources, and lay a strong foundation for future development.\u201d \u2013 USDA Under Secretary Glen R. Smith\n\nConsolidating the system will allow the city\u2019s wastewater to be treated to optimal levels, improving water quality in the South Platte River and delivering cleaner raw water for downstream users. Advancing a more efficient, resilient treatment system, helps safeguard waterways and enhance long\u2011term community health for rural regions.\n\n\u201cThis project demonstrates what can be accomplished when local communities and USDA work together to address critical infrastructure needs to strengthen long-term rural resilience. By investing in infrastructure today, we\u2019re helping ensure that communities have the capacity and reliability they need to accommodate future businesses, housing and other development.\u201d \u2013 Colorado State Director Sallie Clark\n\nFor fast-growing communities like Fort Lupton, reliable water and wastewater infrastructure is essential to supporting families, businesses and future development. Investments in core infrastructure help communities keep pace with growth while protecting water quality and ensuring residents continue to have access to safe, dependable services.\n\nCongressman Evans has made strengthening Northern Colorado\u2019s water infrastructure a priority in Congress and has worked to bring federal resources home for critical water projects across Colorado\u2019s Eighth Congressional District. He welcomed USDA Rural Development\u2019s investment in Fort Lupton as another important step toward ensuring Northern Colorado communities have the infrastructure needed to grow responsibly and remain strong for generations to come.\n\nNorthern Colorado is growing fast, and our water infrastructure has to keep up. I applaud USDA Rural Development\u2019s $24 million loan to Fort Lupton, which will bolster the city\u2019s wastewater system, improve water quality in the South Platte River, and ensure wastewater costs for our families, businesses, and institutions remain affordable. This funding reiterates the USDA\u2019s commitment to strengthening America\u2019s rural communities, and it\u2019s especially meaningful to see that right here at home in Colorado\u2019s Eighth Congressional District.\u201d \u2013 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\nThe project is funded through the Water & Waste Disposal Program and provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. This program helps very small, financially distressed rural communities extend and improve water and waste treatment facilities that serve local households and businesses.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1932", "Congresswomen Pettersen, Sewell, & Underwood Demand Trump Administration Reinstate Wrongfully Cancelled Minority Health Grants", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswomen Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), led 35 of their colleagues in demanding the Trump administration immediately reinstate more than 16 minority and maternal health grants totaling $38 million that were canceled following a \u201cshift in administration priorities.\u201d These grant cancellations would affect programs meant to address that and other socioeconomic health disparities, including vital maternal and infant health outcomes, health care access in rural communities, treatment and prevention strategies for substance use disorder, and food insecurity for underserved communities. These cancellations come as data report that Black women continue to face a maternal mortality rate nearly 3.5 times that of white women.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration just canceled 16 grants for essential funding used to support moms during pregnancy, babies when they are most vulnerable, and treatment programs for mothers who are struggling with addiction,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cI\u2019m absolutely heartbroken to think of the Coloradans who will be left behind and the impact on our most vulnerable kids. And to top it off, they are using this money to instead support things like treatment for erectile dysfunction in the name of family values. Absolutely reprehensible.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the administration has directed the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Office of Minority Health (OMH) to redirect funding historically used to support maternal health toward what it describes as the \u201croot causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions,\u201d including low sperm count, reduced sperm motility, low testosterone, and erectile dysfunction, impounding funds specifically meant to support minority communities.\n\nIn the letter, the Members wrote: \u201cOMH was established to confront and eliminate health disparities nationwide, by elevating community partnerships and establishing programs to support health outcomes across U.S. minority populations. That mission remains urgent. It is alarming that, instead of addressing the continued need for services that make a life-and-death difference in American communities, your office will redirect this funding to prioritize only \u201caddressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions and promoting physical activity.\u201d This shift overlooks the continued, critical need for comprehensive health equity programs that directly support the communities OMH was created to serve.\n\nThe Members continued: \u201cOMH plays a critical role in providing national leadership, engaging community partners, and deploying resources to eliminate health disparities across this nation. This mission has historically supported a broad range of services that have filled critical care voids across our communities. The reprioritization of discretionary funding is not only incredibly concerning, but demonstrates a stark break from the comprehensive programs and services that these grants have previously supported.\u201d\n\nThe grants canceled by the Administration threaten to disrupt long-standing infrastructure that employs community health workers, collects data, maintains relationships with patients and communities, and provides reliable health and nutrition services that residents depend on. Abruptly terminating these investments will not only interrupt essential care but also erase years of progress toward reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for mothers, infants, and underserved communities. Moreover, the recipients of these grants had already been awarded funding appropriated by Congress, with some being two years into a four year grant period, raising serious concerns about the Administration\u2019s authority to abruptly terminate funds that have already been earmarked.\n\nThe signers of the letter include: Rep. Sewell (D-AL), Rep. Underwood (D-IL), Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ), Del. Holmes-Norton (D-D.C.), Rep. Ivey (D-MD), Rep. Kelly (D-IL), Rep. H. Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Espaillat (D-NY), Rep. Matsui (D-CA), Rep. Bell (D-MO), Rep. Watson-Coleman (D-NJ), Rep. Salinas (D-OR), Rep. Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Rep. Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Thanedar (D-MI), Rep. Crockett (D-TX), Rep. Carter (D-LA), Rep. Beatty (D-OH), Rep. McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Jackson (D-IL), Rep. Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA), Rep. Chu (D-CA), Rep. Brown (D-OH), Rep. Lee (D-PA), Rep. Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Jacobs (D-CA), Rep. McClain-Delaney (D-MD), Rep. Stansbury (D-NM), Rep. Vargas (D-CA), Rep. Torres (D-NY), Rep. Randall (D-WA), Rep. McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Rep. Tonko (D-NY), Rep. Simon (D-CA)\n\nSee the full text of the letter HERE and below.\n\nDear Captain Mofidi:\n\nWe write to express our deep concern regarding the termination of 16 grants administered by the Office of Minority Health (OMH).1 On August 25th, 2026, grantees \u2014 with services supporting advancing vital maternal and health outcomes, promoting health care access in rural communities, supporting treatment and prevention strategies for substance use disorder, and reducing food insecurity \u2014 received notice from OMH that federal awards were to be terminated, effective immediately, pursuant to 2 C.F.R. \u00a7 200.340(a)(4). Historically, grants under OMH have significantly reduced health disparities by targeting areas with an existing, but unmet need. The termination of these grants not only threatens the health outcomes of communities nationwide, but will destabilize the services that American families rely on today, at the intersection of rising costs and continued attacks on health care.\n\nWe are also deeply concerned about OMH stated intentions to redirect attention towards discretionary funding priorities. In a note to grantees, OMH noted that funding would now prioritize, \u201c...(1) reducing overmedicalization in health care by addressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions, such as\u2026low sperm count, low sperm mobility, low testosterone levels, and erectile dysfunction.\u201d OMH was established to confront and eliminate health disparities nationwide, by elevating community partnerships and establishing programs to support health outcomes across U.S. minority populations. That mission remains urgent. It is alarming that, instead of addressing the continued need for services that make a life-and-death difference in American communities, your office will redirect this funding to prioritize only \u201caddressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions and promoting physical activity.\u201d This shift overlooks the continued, critical need for comprehensive health equity programs that directly support the communities OMH was created to serve.\n\nThis redirection of funding is a severe disservice to existing grants that have consistently delivered measurable results. If OMH\u2019s priority is to support growing families, all while addressing existing health disparities, then your office must uphold the responsibility of continuing to fund the entities that implement strategies proven to narrow health disparities and improve outcomes across this country.\n\nWe ask that OMH immediately reinstate the grant funding for these 16 entities. We additionally request the answers to the following questions no later than October 2, 2026.\n\nPlease provide a detailed analysis of every grant that was terminated across the Office of Minority Health. Please include information regarding how this decision was made, include the names of any officials that played a role in termination decisions, and the total amount of unexpended funds for each grant.\n\nPlease provide a detailed description that outlines any known violations, underutilization metrics, or program failures, that would require OMH to redirect funds away from active and ongoing grants that facilitate programs with demonstrated outcomes.\n\nPlease provide detailed information regarding existing opportunities for grantees to submit an appeal. Please include:\n\na. OMH\u2019s deadline for appeal submissions;\n\nb. Any supplementary materials that OMH directly requested;\n\nc. How OMH will review the appeals, including any provided documentation; and\n\nd. When corresponding decisions will be communicated to grantees.\n\nPlease provide any questions or feedback that OMH has received from any entity that received a termination notice. Please include detailed information regarding OMH\u2019s response and support they have offered these stakeholders.\n\nOMH plays a critical role in providing national leadership, engaging community partners, and deploying resources to eliminate health disparities across this nation. This mission has historically supported a broad range of services that have filled critical care voids across our communities. The reprioritization of discretionary funding is not only incredibly concerning, but demonstrates a stark break from the comprehensive programs and services that these grants have previously supported. We urge OMH to reinstate this funding immediately to mitigate any severe consequences to the health of our communities. We appreciate your attention to this matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-colleagues-demand-answers-from-trump-admin-on-cost-of-iran-war/", "Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Admin on Cost of Iran War", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin and 43 of their Senate colleagues to demand a full accounting of the costs of President Trump\u2019s reckless war of choice with Iran. The senators also criticized the President\u2019s Department of Defense leadership for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public even as U.S. casualties and taxpayer costs continue to increase.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cNow you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon\u2019s transparency record with past wartime practice, noting that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has briefed Congress only seven times in six months and held just eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the war began, compared to more than 70 press briefings in the first month of the Iraq War alone. The senators also criticized the administration\u2019s public supplemental funding request as a seven-page document offering only vague line items, in contrast to the detailed, hundred-page supplemental requests provided to Congress during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.\n\n\u201cDespite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent,\u201d continued the senators. \u201cCongress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.\u201d\n\nHickenlooper and Bennet are cosponsors of the Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act to stop President Trump\u2019s attempts to hide how long his war against Iran has lasted, the true cost of the war, and dishonor the sacrifice of our troops injured and killed in combat. They have repeatedly voted for War Powers Resolutions to end President Trump\u2019s war.\n\nOn Wednesday, Hickenlooper took to the Senate floor to blast President Trump for personally profiting off his war in Iran that has claimed the lives of 18 servicemembers and cost Americans billions. Hickenlooper has introduced a War Powers Resolution to direct President Trump to terminate U.S. military hostilities against Iran and has voted repeatedly to end the president\u2019s war. Hickenlooper has consistently condemned the administration for sidestepping Congress and dragging America into a war with no clear objective \u2013 one that risks American lives and that Americans overwhelmingly oppose.\n\nFor full text of the letter, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-push-back-on-blms-oil-gas-lease-sales-within-the-southern-ute-reservation/", "Hickenlooper, Bennet Push Back on BLM\u2019s Oil, Gas Lease Sales within the Southern Ute Reservation", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet called on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to work directly with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe to respond to their opposition to the roughly 2,500 acres of land the BLM opened for oil and natural gas extraction within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.\n\n\u201cThe Tribe has formally expressed its opposition to leasing these parcels, explaining that they are located within an environmentally and culturally significant portion of the Reservation where it has long sought to minimize surface disturbance,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cWe urge BLM to give careful consideration to the Tribe\u2019s concerns and to continue robust consultation throughout this process. As a sovereign Tribal Nation with deep cultural, environmental, and economic interests in these lands, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe\u2019s perspective should play a central role in BLM\u2019s decision-making.\u201d\n\nThe Tribe had previously submitted public comments formally opposing the sale of the nine parcels \u2013 totaling roughly 2,500 acres of land \u2013 within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in BLM\u2019s upcoming December 2026 Oil and Gas lease sale. The senators also urged BLM to consult with the Tribe ahead of any leasing decisions being made.\n\nFull text of the letter available HERE and below.\n\nDear Acting State Director Heinlein and Acting Deputy State Director Anderson:\n\nWe write regarding the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s (BLM\u2019s) proposed December 2026 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe\u2019s concerns about the nine proposed lease parcels located within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.\n\nThe Tribe has formally expressed its opposition to leasing these parcels, explaining that they are located within an environmentally and culturally significant portion of the Reservation where it has long sought to minimize surface disturbance. The Tribe has also requested meaningful government-to-government consultation before any leasing decisions affecting these lands move forward.\n\nWe urge BLM to give careful consideration to the Tribe\u2019s concerns and to continue robust consultation throughout this process. As a sovereign Tribal Nation with deep cultural, environmental, and economic interests in these lands, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe\u2019s perspective should play a central role in BLM\u2019s decision-making.\n\nThe Tribe has raised practical questions regarding access to several proposed parcels, including that development may require rights-of-way across Tribal lands that are subject to the Tribe\u2019s approval. We encourage BLM to work closely with the Tribe to fully understand and address these issues before making any final leasing decisions.\n\nGovernment-to-government consultation must be given the full time necessary to address the Southern Ute Indian Tribe\u2019s concerns, and the BLM should take all measures to ensure robust consultation, including withdrawal or deferral of the lease sale if needed. We urge the BLM to ensure its final decisions fully reflect the federal government\u2019s trust responsibility and commitment to meaningful government-to-government consultation with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.\n\nThank you for your consideration.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-outlines-vision-for-the-future-of-us-national-security-ending-forever-wars", "Crow Outlines Vision for the Future of U.S. National Security, Ending Forever Wars", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, gave keynote remarks at both New America and the Center for American Progress, where he discussed the decades of conflict in the Middle East and how the lessons he learned during his three combat tours shape his work in Congress, including his opposition to President Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran.\n\nAt New America & Arizona State University\u2019s \u201cFuture Security Forum,\u201d Crow was in conversation with Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and New America\u2019s Anne-Marie Slaughter. At the Center for American Progress\u2019 \u201cReforming National Security for the Future\u201d conference, he spoke alongside Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).\n\n\u201cSome of our best foreign foreign policy successes in our history are as much stories of restraint as they are of action,\u201d said Congressman Crow in his remarks at the Center for American Progress. \u201cIt's not inevitable, in my view, that we have to be in an endless cycle of conflict.\u201d\n\nImage\n\n\u201cThink about what the world may have looked like had we chosen a law-enforcement based response to 9/11 as opposed to an exclusively militarized response to 9/11\u2026[If] we had built coalitions, we had collaborated with international law enforcement operations, we had used precise special operations to go after our adversaries, to go after terrorists, and we had built a network to go after terrorism long-term, instead of going in and occupying Afghanistan and then going to Iraq. Well, we would\u2019ve saved trillions of dollars, we would\u2019ve saved tens of thousands of lives, both our lives and the lives of others around the world, we would\u2019ve preserved that goodwill, and it would\u2019ve led to a drastically different response,\u201d said Congressman Crow in his remarks at New America\u2019s Future Security Forum.\n\nImage\n\nThis week, the House passed Congressman Crow\u2019s War Powers Resolution to end Trump\u2019s war with Iran. It passed the House with bipartisan support. At a press conference and floor debate before the vote, Crow spoke about the cost of forever wars like Trump\u2019s conflict with Iran on working class Americans.\n\nCongressman Crow continues to lay out his affirmative vision for Colorado and the country, including on the Future of American Foreign Policy. He is looking to build a future that brings Americans together, protects our democracy, and ensures leaders are accountable to working class Americans\u2014his vision for New American Patriotism.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-neguse-bacon-introduce-bipartisan-safe-spaces-all-act", "Reps. Neguse, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Safe Spaces for All Act", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and Nebraskan Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) teamed up to introduce the Safe Spaces for All Act, a bipartisan bill that provides at-risk places of worship and community centers with critical resources to bolster their security. The lawmakers spearheaded this effort amid a heightened risk of attack for worshipers across the country and after a series of high-profile attacks at synagogues, churches, and other gathering sites have intensified anxiety and fear among Americans of all religions.\n\nRep. Neguse, who proudly represents Boulder County in the House of Representatives, witnessed firsthand the devastation that comes with faith-based violence and the scourge of antisemitism last summer when a terrorist hurled Molotov cocktails at a group of Jewish members of the community that were taking part in a peaceful walk and vigil calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, killing one individual and severely injuring more than a dozen others.\n\nNeguse has led multiple efforts to combat the antisemitism that is metastasizing across the country, including working across party lines to secure overwhelming passage of a resolution reaffirming Congress\u2019s commitment to stopping antisemitism in all forms.\n\n\u201cWe must do far more to combat the scourge of antisemitism, and to ensure that synagogues, temples and community centers have the resources to ensure that they are safe as hateful threats and violent actions metastasize in Colorado and across the country,\u201d said Congressman Neguse. \u201cThe Safe Spaces for All Act bolsters security for our communities, and ensures that under these incredibly trying circumstances, members of the community can feel protected and supported.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Representative Neguse in introducing the Safe Spaces for All Act, because every nonprofit, especially faith-based and community organizations, deserves to safely serve their communities. This bipartisan bill strengthens the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) by allowing grants to cover on-site security staff, including off-duty law enforcement, and support for navigating the grant process itself. As threats increasingly target our vital civic and religious institutions, this straightforward, pragmatic measure ensures we\u2019re providing the tools needed to keep Americans safe\u2014without creating a new bureaucracy,\u201d said Congressman Bacon.\n\nThe Safe Spaces for All Act expands the capabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), allowing grant funds to be used to hire permanent salaried onsite security guards, employ personnel to both apply for and administer NSGP grants, and hire off-duty law enforcement officers to provide security. Under current law, NSGP funds cannot be used to pay permanent salaried security personnel or cover the cost of staff responsible for preparing grant applications.\n\nThe Nonprofit Security Grant Program is especially important for faith-based organizations facing a troubling rise in threats, prejudice, and acts of violence. In addition to strengthening security, this bill will help organizations in rural and remote communities where it can be logistically challenging to find enough qualified private security vendors to meet their security needs.\n\nThe Safe Spaces for All Act is supported by JEWISHcolorado, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the Jewish Federations of North America.\n\n\u201cSecurity is not one-size-fits-all. For many houses of worship, community centers, and other nonprofits \u2013 trained personnel and the capacity to manage security funding are just as critical as the cameras, barriers, and other physical improvements. The Safe Space for All Act would provide institutions the flexibility to use NSGP funding where it can have the greatest impact - making the program more accessible, responsive, and effective. JEWISHcolorado and the Jewish Community Relations Council thank Congressmen Neguse & Bacon for their continued leadership in strengthening this vital program and helping communities gather, worship, learn, and serve safely,\u201d stated the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of JEWISHcolorado.\n\n\u201cWalk into most American synagogues today, and the first person you meet isn't a rabbi, it's a security guard. That is the reality of Jewish life in America. Cameras, reinforced doors and metal detectors are essential, but with threats continuing to evolve and escalate, so must our defenses,\u201d said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. \u201cThe Safe Spaces for All Act meets that reality head-on by modernizing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program so at-risk organizations can protect the people they serve. We commend Reps. Neguse and Bacon for their bipartisan leadership on this important legislation, and we urge Congress to act swiftly.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt-risk community institutions face persistent security threats and require flexible, practical tools to keep communities safe. This act clarifies eligible uses under the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, ensuring organizations can use these resources to address their evolving security needs. We are thankful this bill takes the steps to codify these necessary improvements,\u201d said the Honorable Eric D. Fingerhut, President & Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Federations of North America.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/17/bennet-collins-celebrate-house-passage-of-their-bill-to-expand-tax-deduction-to-include-early-childhood-educators/", "Bennet, Collins Celebrate House Passage of their Bill to Expand Tax Deduction to Include Early Childhood Educators", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Bill Now Heads to President\u2019s Desk to be Signed Into Law\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, celebrated the House passage of their Supporting Early-Childhood Educators\u2019 Deductions (SEED) Act. This legislation would help early childhood educators cover the cost of supplies, books, and other classroom materials by allowing them to claim the above-the-line $350 tax deduction currently available only to K-12 teachers. The SEED Act served as the legislative vehicle for passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which has now passed the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.\n\n\u201cEarly childhood educators should be able to claim the same tax deduction available to elementary and secondary school teachers, and I hope the President will sign this legislation immediately,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cAs the former Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, I know firsthand how often educators dip into their own pockets to provide school supplies for their students \u2013 this bill ends an unfair double standard and ensures that those who teach our youngest kids are supported.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Maine and across the country, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated educators who work hard to ensure that every child has a learning environment that is safe, welcoming, and enriching. Despite tight personal budgets, it is truly remarkable how often teachers use money out of their own pockets to purchase classroom supplies for their students,\u201d said Collins. \u201cAs the author of the original tax credit for K-12 teachers, I am delighted to help expand this benefit to pre-K educators. I thank Senator Bennet for his partnership in this effort to provide early childhood educators with well-deserved tax relief, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are deeply grateful to Senators Collins and Bennet, and Representatives Fitzpatrick, Panetta, Valadao and Goodlander, and the bipartisan lawmakers in both chambers who championed the SEED Act and helped get it across the finish line,\u201d said Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of First Five Years Fund (FFYF). \u201cWe look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to advance bipartisan solutions that strengthen child care for families, educators, and communities across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cNAEYC applauds the bipartisan passage of the Supporting Early Childhood Educators\u2019 Deductions Act, which reimburses early childhood educators for the out-of-pocket classroom expenses they take on to improve children\u2019s learning environments, as K-12 educators have long been able to do,\u201d said Paola Andujar, Senior Policy Specialist the National Association for the Education of Young Children. \u201cWe are grateful that Congress is taking a step to recognize the complex, skilled, professional work of early childhood educators which lays the foundation for the youngest children to thrive. We look forward to building on this effort to support the early childhood education workforce by continuing to push for needed investments in quality ECE and compensation for early childhood educators working in all settings.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe earliest years of a child\u2019s life are among the most important for their development, and early childhood educators play a critical role during those years. Yet too often, these educators reach into their own pockets to buy the books, supplies, and materials they need to support the children in their classrooms,\u201d said Allison Dembeck, Head of Policy, Save the Children. \u201cWe are pleased to see the bipartisan SEED Act on the verge of becoming law, giving early childhood educators access to the same tax deduction already available to K-12 teachers. This is a meaningful and long-overdue recognition of the educators who care for and teach our youngest children, and an investment in children and their futures.\u201d\n\n\u201cExecutives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) strongly supports the bipartisan Supporting Early-Childhood Educators\u2019 Deductions (SEED) Act. Early childhood educators support children\u2019s development and learning during their most formative years while enabling parents to participate in the workforce and helping our businesses and communities thrive. Yet these essential professionals, who already earn modest wages, too often pay out of pocket for the books, supplies and materials children need, said Nicole Riehl, President and CEO, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children. \u201cExtending the federal educator expense deduction to early childhood educators is a commonsense step that recognizes their invaluable work and strengthens the workforce of today while investing in the workforce of tomorrow. EPIC thanks Senator Michael Bennet and Senator Susan Collins, along with their bipartisan House partners, for championing this important legislation.\u201d\n\nBennet and Collins first introduced the SEED Act in 2021. In 2023, they reintroduced the legislation and expanded the total tax credit from $250 to $300.\n\nThe SEED Act is supported by a broad coalition of education and child advocacy organizations, including the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, the First Five Years Fund, and Trying Together.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/17/bennet-travels-to-mexico-city-to-advance-u-s-mexico-security-cooperation-and-trade-relationship/", "Bennet Travels to Mexico City to Advance\u00a0U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation and Trade Relationship", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "U.S. Senator Michael Bennet with Mexican officials at the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Finance Committee, visited Mexico City, Mexico last week to advance U.S.-Mexico intelligence, security, and trade cooperation. Bennet met with senior U.S. Embassy and Mexican leaders, including Ambassador Ronald D. Johnson, Secretary of the Navy Admiral Raymundo Morales \u00c1ngeles, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for North America Cristina Planter Riebeling, as well as key officials from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, Secretariat of National Defense, National Guard, and National Institute of Migration. He also met representatives of leading American businesses and international migration organizations in Mexico.\n\nDuring the visit, Bennet discussed shared security challenges including cartel drug trafficking and violence; U.S.-Mexico intelligence and security cooperation to address those challenges, as well as unauthorized migration; and opportunities to strengthen U.S.-Mexico trade, including by renewing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), advancing his Americas Act, and removing President Trump\u2019s across-the-board tariffs.\n\n\u201cMy time in Mexico City reaffirmed my commitment to a mutually beneficial U.S.-Mexico relationship, which is crucial to ensuring security and prosperity on both sides of the border,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cOur two countries face shared challenges that require continued intelligence and security cooperation. We must continue working together to address them while respecting each other\u2019s sovereignty. While we have made progress reducing unauthorized crossings at the border, a sustainable solution requires comprehensive immigration reform that I have fought for in Congress. We must also build upon our economic ties, which are crucial for Colorado farmers, ranchers, businesses and workers.\u201d\n\nBennet, who most recently visited Mexico in 2023, has long played a leading role in supporting the U.S.-Mexico relationship and U.S. policy in the Western Hemisphere, and fighting for comprehensive immigration reform.\n\nHe leads the Americas Act, which the Financial Times has endorsed as a key effort to counter China\u2019s influence in the Western Hemisphere. He has called for the renewal of the bipartisan U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and steadfastly opposed President Trump\u2019s reckless Mexico and Canada tariffs. Bennet passed legislation in last year\u2019s Intelligence Authorization Act requiring an intelligence assessment on threats to U.S. national security interests in the Western Hemisphere \u2013 including China and Russia\u2019s growing presence \u2013 and the extent to which greater U.S. cooperation with regional partners could address these threats.\n\nAdditionally, Bennet has led bipartisan efforts to ensure the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) strengthens engagement with countries including Mexico to help them develop CFIUS-like mechanisms to review sensitive foreign investments, particularly from China. Following U.S. cooperation with Mexico, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recently submitted legislation to create a CFIUS-like framework for Mexico. Bennet has also long pressed to stop the illegal trafficking of American firearms across the southern border into Mexico, which account for approximately 80 percent of firearms seized from criminal organizations in Mexico.\n\nIn 2013, Bennet was a part of the \u201cGang of Eight,\u201d a bipartisan group of senators that worked together to draft the last comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The Senate passed it with overwhelming bipartisan support, but it stalled in the U.S. House of Representatives. Earlier this year, Bennet introduced bills to reform the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection to prevent the detention of children and ICE activity in sensitive locations; align standards for federal immigration officers with those expected from local law enforcement; and ensure oversight and civil rights protections at detention centers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/17/bennet-van-hollen-tillis-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-boost-innovation-in-education/", "Bennet, Van Hollen, Tillis Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Innovation in Education", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet led Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to reintroduce the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, which would drive evidence-based improvements and innovations for our schools, by making strategic investments in education research and development (R&D). The legislation would create a national center that advances high-risk, high-reward education research projects, similar to the model employed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).\n\n\u201cAs a former school superintendent, I know our teachers are doing everything they can to help students succeed,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cAs social media and a nationwide mental health crisis reshape how students learn and engage in school, educators need better information about what works. Congress can help by investing in cutting-edge education research. This bipartisan bill will help schools, educators, and policymakers make data driven decisions that strengthen education today and in the years ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo meet the evolving challenges our students face, our educators need access to quality data and evidence-based advancements in teaching and learning,\u201d said Van Hollen. \u201cThis legislation would help accomplish that by investing in our students\u2019 success to better prepare them for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe it to students, parents, and teachers to pass bipartisan legislation that identifies gaps in education and better prepares students to become the next generation of the American workforce,\u201d said Tillis. \u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to sponsor legislation that invests in education research and development, STEM, and innovative technologies to develop the tools needed to identify these gaps and help teachers better equip students for the future.\u201d\n\nThe NEED Act would create a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) at the Department of Education dedicated to developing and disseminating cutting-edge practices and tools, such as voice recognition software to assess dyslexia and other emerging readiness gaps, to adequately prepare students to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy.\n\nSpecifically, the legislation would:\n\nMake robust investments to establish, staff, and operate NCADE;\n\nRequire the Advanced Development Commissioner to appoint an advisory panel to guide the development and implementation of NCADE projects; and\n\nConduct and disseminate the results of periodic evaluations of the effectiveness of NCADE in achieving its mission of expanding education R&D and improving teaching and learning.\n\nThe NEED Act would also improve Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems and help states better track students\u2019 progress through K-12 and into the workforce while protecting the privacy of students\u2019 education records. This data will help policymakers understand and address opportunity and achievement gaps across the country.\n\nThis bill is supported by nearly 65 organizations, including: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Accelerate \u2013 National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning, Advanced Education Research and Development Fund, All4Ed, Alliance for Learning Innovation, America Forward, American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association Services, Applied Learning Insights, Beyond100K, Bipartisan Policy Center, Buck Institute Education/PBLWorks, CAST, Committee for Children, Common Cents Education Consulting, Common Sense Media, Consortium for State Education Support, Data Quality Campaign, Digital Promise Global, EDGE Partners, EdTrust, Education Knowledge Broker Network, Education Reform Now Advocacy, Education Reimagined, Educators for Excellence, EdVenture Lab, ExcelinEd in Action, Federation of American Scientists, Foundation for Deeper Learning, FullScale, High Tech High Graduate School of Education, InnovateEDU, Institute for Educational Leadership, KB Stack Consulting, LLC, Knowledge Alliance, Learner-Centered Collaborative, LearnerStudio, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Learning Heroes, LearningForge LLC, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Council on Teacher Quality, National Girls Collaborative, National Parents Union, National School Boards Association, New Classrooms, New Leaders, reDesign, Reinvention Lab at Teach For America, Results for America, SERP Institute, SETDA, SRI, Teach For America, Teach Plus, Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, The Learning Agency, The Society for Research in Child Development, The Study Group, The Tech Interactive, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Threadwell Solutions TNTP, Transcend, and the University of Oregon.\n\n\u201cFor too long, education has lacked what nearly every other field takes for granted: a dedicated engine for pursuing bold, high-reward ideas and finding out what works for students,\u201d said Sara Schapiro, Executive Director of the Alliance for Learning Innovation. \u201cThe NEED Act would build that engine, a national center modeled on DARPA inside the Institute of Education Sciences, supporting researchers and educators with the resources to test promising new approaches to teaching and learning and pursue real breakthroughs for education. ALI is proud to support Senators Bennet, Tillis, and Van Hollen in reintroducing this bipartisan legislation, and we urge Congress to move quickly to get it passed.\u201d\n\n\u201cData Quality Campaign applauds the efforts of Senators Bennet, Tillis, and Van Hollen on the introduction of the NEED Act, which will ensure everyone has the data they need to make informed decisions about their education and career journeys,\u201d said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, President and CEO, Data Quality Campaign. \u201cBy reimagining how statewide longitudinal data systems support transparency and high-quality data, the NEED Act will enable individuals to better navigate their career pathways and policymakers to create policies that invest in the programs, supports, and interventions needed to make that navigation seamless.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s Commission on the American Workforce called for a Talent Data System and to prioritize research and data on what actually works to support students, teachers, and workers,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action). \u201cThe NEED Act takes a critical step forward to answer that call. It will modernize state data systems, strengthen our nation\u2019s research capacity, and help develop breakthrough tools and solutions that improve student outcomes. We applaud Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for crafting a forward-looking, bipartisan bill as a companion to the House version, led by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Congress must advance this important legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThrough our on the ground partnerships with K-12 institutions across the state, the University of Denver has seen firsthand the appetite and need for additional federal investment in cutting-edge education research,\u201d said Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor, University of Denver. \u201cThe authorization of a new National Center for Advanced Development in Education is essential to ensuring Colorado educators have access to timely, innovative, and evidence-based practices to help increase achievement for all of Colorado\u2019s students. We are grateful to Senator Bennet for his championing of the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act and hope it advances in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cRelative to many other countries, the United States spends too little on educational research and development. Indeed, the federal government is investing less in this important work every year. If we want educational policymakers and leaders to make decisions based on evidence, we need much more research on the kinds of innovations that make a difference in all children\u2019s outcomes. Senator Bennet\u2019s New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act will provide the resources needed to accelerate innovation in teaching and learning and help expand opportunity to all,\u201d said William Penuel, Distinguished Professor, School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director, National Center for Research in Policy and Practice.\n\n\u201cThe ability to longitudinally track student outcomes across the school-to-workforce pipeline will significantly increase knowledge on what works robustly and at scale. The Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) in Senator Bennet\u2019s New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act will help states do this systematically so that the resultant data can be broadly used to broaden the evidence-base and to increase accountability for federal- and state- funded interventions,\u201d said Sidney D\u2019Mello, Professor, Institute of Cognitive Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation National AI institute for Student-AI Teaming.\n\nBennet has consistently fought to secure resources and support for schools across Colorado. In December 2025, Bennet joined Van Hollen and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the historic step this legislation took by mandating that every child with a disability in America be given equal access to public education. In March 2025, Bennet issued a statement opposing President Trump\u2019s executive order dismantling the Department of Education. In July 2025, Bennet demanded that U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon provide answers for DOE\u2019s decision to continue withholding $70 million in federal funds from Colorado schools.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-calls-for-congressional-action-hearings-on-ai-regulation/", "Hickenlooper Calls for Congressional Action, Hearings on AI Regulation", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "\u201cWe\u2019re entering a new and dangerous era of artificial intelligence, and we need stronger guardrails to protect against the risks\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper called on the Senate Commerce Committee to act on responsible AI regulation and begin holding hearings with leaders from across the AI industry on responsible regulation.\n\nIn a new video today, Hickenlooper outlined his thoughts on the need for more AI regulation, including independent audits of AI systems, stronger safeguards for high-risk AI, and real accountability when these tools cause harm. As data centers continue popping up across the state, Hickenlooper stressed the importance of community involvement, protecting our precious water resources, and ensuring ratepayers aren\u2019t subsidizing these facilities, especially as energy prices soar.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re entering a new and dangerous era of artificial intelligence, and we need stronger guardrails to protect against the risks,\u201d Hickenlooper said in a video published on social media. \u201cThe Senate Commerce Committee needs to hold hearings with leaders from across the AI industry on responsible regulation. But we can\u2019t stop there. Smart guardrails on AI will be the difference between this technology benefitting all Americans or just the companies developing it. To do that, we can\u2019t allow the fox to guard the henhouse! Congress needs to act now.\u201d\n\nWatch his full video HERE\n\nHickenlooper has introduced legislation to responsibly regulate AI, including the VET AI Act, that would create a pathway for independent evaluators, with a function similar to those in the financial industry and other sectors, to work with companies as a neutral third-party to verify their development, testing, and use of AI is in compliance with established guardrails.\n\nThis week, OpenAI publicly backed third-party verification following the news that Anthropic would give independent third-party evaluators \u201cemployee-like access\u201d to their models.\n\nYesterday, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor about the anxiety Coloradans are feeling about AI and data centers. \u201cEven as your energy bills are spiking. Even as you\u2019re worried your job could be the one that gets cut next. Even as you worry your farm is already facing a water shortage in many parts of this country\u2026. billionaires have turned AI into a horse race focused solely on who is winning, with too little thought for who gets left behind,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, even some of the biggest names in AI are warning that we\u2019re moving too fast. I think the question is: Do we listen? Will we listen? Will we act?\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-video-statement-on-increasing-mortgage-rates/", "Hickenlooper Video Statement on Increasing Mortgage Rates", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper called out President Trump\u2019s broken agenda for fueling inflation and leading to higher mortgage rates. Mortgage rates \u2013 which just hit over 7% \u2013 are the highest since President Trump took office, after increasing four weeks in a row.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s war is making it harder to buy a home in Colorado,\u201d Hickenlooper said in a new video. \u201cBefore the Iran war, the average 30-year mortgage rate was just above 6%. Today? It\u2019s above 7%. For a Colorado homebuyer, that difference adds up fast: Over $280 more every month. Almost $4,000 every year. And over $100,000 over a 30-year mortgage.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cthat\u2019s real money that could be going toward groceries, child care, or college. We\u2019ve voted more than a dozen times to end this war. MAGA Republicans have blocked us every time. We need to end this war. Bring costs down. Get back to helping working families.\u201d\n\nWatch his full video HERE.\n\nYesterday, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, citing concerns about inflation being driven largely by President Trump\u2019s costly war with Iran that has skyrocketed gas and diesel prices.\n\nHickenlooper has been vocal in his opposition to President Trump\u2019s cost-of-living emergency fueled by the president\u2019s war with Iran, illegal tariffs, and cruel healthcare cuts. Hickenlooper has introduced a War Powers Resolution to direct President Trump to terminate U.S. military hostilities against Iran and has voted repeatedly to end the president\u2019s war.\n\nHe has fought against the president\u2019s disastrous budget bill that gutted health care to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. He\u2019s doing a state-wide tour of local hospitals and clinics to meet with Coloradans and hear how they are grappling with the increasing costs of healthcare.\n\nHickenlooper also helped pass the most consequential housing bill in decades, opening the door to homeownership for millions of Americans and stopping Wall Street from buying up homes that belong to working families.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-arkansas-valley-conduit-included-bipartisan-wrda-house-passes-bill", "REP. BOEBERT: ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT INCLUDED IN BIPARTISAN WRDA AS HOUSE PASSES BILL ON SUSPENSION", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) today welcomed House passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (H.R. 9497) under suspension of the rules, with the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit provisions included for southeastern Colorado. This is the second time this Congress the House has advanced the AVC repayment language in a must-pass package, after the House included it in the Agriculture appropriations bill (H.R. 8646) this June.\n\n\u201cThis is about clean water for families in the Arkansas Valley who have waited more than 60 years,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cThe Arkansas Valley Conduit is the unfinished piece of the Fryingpan\u2013Arkansas Project. Getting it in this bipartisan WRDA and across the House floor on suspension is a big step toward finishing the job.\n\n\u201dThe conduit would serve more than 50,000 residents in 39 communities that still rely on groundwater with naturally occurring contaminants. The language adjusts the non-federal cost-share and repayment terms so rural districts can actually connect to the project.\n\n\u201cI am a legislator who never gives up, especially when it involves Colorado water. After working on this issue with House leaders for years, Chairman Graves understands what needs to be done to improve water access for Coloradans, and I thank him for working with me to put southeastern Colorado in WRDA and move it under suspension,\u201d Rep. Boebert said.\n\nThe House-passed bill now heads to the Senate.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-hill-house-republicans-kept-their-promise-americas-border-secure", "REP. BOEBERT IN THE HILL: HOUSE REPUBLICANS KEPT THEIR PROMISE, AMERICA\u2019S BORDER IS SECURE AGAIN", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) published an op-ed in The Hill detailing how President Trump and House Republicans have delivered on their promise to secure the southern border after four years of record illegal crossings, cartel activity, and fentanyl trafficking under the prior Democrat administration.\n\nIn the piece, Rep. Boebert writes that daily southwest border encounters have fallen by roughly 95 percent, from more than 5,000 per day to about 250, with more than a year of zero criminal aliens released in the interior and the lowest fiscal year Border Patrol apprehension total since 1970.\u201cThe previous administration\u2019s open border policies were a choice. That chaos ended when President Trump returned to office and Republicans in Congress kept the promise we made to the American people,\u201d Rep. Boebert writes.\n\nShe highlights her work to pass legislation and vote for the Laken Riley Act, the Secure America Act, and the Fentanyl is a WMD Act. She also points to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which for the first time appropriated serious funding toward barriers, technology, and enforcement.\n\nRep Boebert writes \"Securing the border does more than keep Americans safer. It also slashes the fraud and waste that exploded when millions of illegal immigrants were funneled into public systems. When the border is closed and interior enforcement is real, taxpayer dollars stop being siphoned off by illegal claims, emergency costs and benefit abuse. That money can go where it belongs: to American citizens who actually need it \u2014 veterans, seniors, working families, schools, and health care for people who play by the rules.\"\n\n\u201cNow Congress must finish the work by codifying Trump\u2019s executive orders in statute. Future administrations should not be able to flip a switch and reopen the border. I will continue fighting to ensure these gains are permanent,\u201d she concludes.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crank-votes-protect-ratepayers-higher-utility-rates", "Rep. Crank Votes to Protect Ratepayers from Higher Utility Rates", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Jeff Crank", "C001137", "crank.house.gov", "crank", "https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted in favor of H.R. 9340, the Ratepayer Protection Act.\n\nCurrently, the United States is in the race for AI dominance, which is critical to our economic and national security. However, communities across the nation are concerned about the pace in which AI data centers are being constructed and the cost to consumers electric bills.\n\nThe Ratepayer Protection Act ensures that Americans are not forced to pick up the bill for the grid upgrades and new energy generation that is used to operate large data centers. It also mandates that state utility regulators consider rules for large-load data centers to cover the cost of power generation and other energy upgrades needed to meet the demand.\n\n\"I am proud to have cosponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act, led by fellow Coloradan Representative Gabe Evans,\" said Rep. Jeff Crank. \"This bill will ensure that new investments in power generation and infrastructure aren't made at the expense of higher utility rates for the families in Colorado's Fifth Congressional District.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nH.R. 9340 would protect consumers from rate increases resulting from data center construction by having state utility commissions consider large-load standards for data centers drawing more than 100 MW of power, which would ensure they pay for the full incremental costs to serve their loads.\n\nBy establishing large-load standards, states can ensure that American families are not left footing the bill for AI data center growth.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-evans-introduces-bill-increase-northern-colorados-water-supply", "Congressman Evans Introduces Bill to Increase Northern Colorado's Water Supply", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman Gabe Evans introduced the Greeley Land Exchange Act, which transfers land owned by the United States Forest Service (USFS) to the City of Greeley for city-owned land located within the Cache la Poudre Wilderness Area.\n\nThe Greeley Land Exchange Act would streamline maintenance operations, reduce administrative delays, and enable the city to more easily access and maintain its critical water infrastructure without navigating repeated permitting processes.\n\nUnder existing law, the City of Greeley is required to apply for special use permits any time they need to conduct maintenance activities and access the Milton Seaman Reservoir. This reservoir is owned and operated by the City of Greeley, supplying drinking water to more than 120,000 residents and serving as Greeley\u2019s largest, most utilized water storage system. Greeley describes the reservoir as part of its network of mountain reservoirs that capture and store snowmelt and runoff to help provide a dependable water supply.\n\nThis land transfer would allow the city to gain ownership of the federally owned parcel, which is immediately adjacent to Milton Seaman Reservoir, making it easier to access and maintain the critical infrastructure serving the community.\n\nThis bill comes at a time when Colorado\u2019s communities are experiencing record-low snowpack levels as a result from extreme weather conditions and an increasing demand of water supplies.\n\n\u201cNorthern Colorado communities depend on reliable water infrastructure, and maintaining that infrastructure shouldn\u2019t require navigating unnecessary federal red tape every time work needs to be done. The Greeley Land Exchange Act is a commonsense solution that gives Greeley direct access to essential systems at Milton Seaman Reservoir while also benefiting the Forest Service and preserving public access to surrounding federal lands. I'm proud to work alongside local community leaders to drive solutions like this forward to cut unnecessary delays, protect our water, and make government work better for the people it serves.\u201d \u2013\u2013 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\n\u201cThis land exchange will help Greeley optimize its reservoir operations, while maintaining public access and recreation. The City\u2019s Kelly Flats property is a spectacular site that can be better managed for public access through USFS, so this exchange is really in the public\u2019s best interest.\u201d \u2014 Mayor Dale Hall\n\n\u201cGreeley\u2019s long partnership with the USFS on reservoir operations, wildfire recovery and source water protection is greatly appreciated by the city. We are pleased to introduce a land exchange bill that would transfer a beautiful 40-acre property with vast recreational and wilderness value on the Wild and Scenic, Cache la Poudre River at Kelly Flats to the USFS, in exchange for lands adjacent to Greeley\u2019s Milton Seaman Reservoir\u201d \u2014 Cole Gustafson, Source of Supply Manager\n\nThe bill also mutually benefits the Forest Service by providing direct access for road maintenance and forest health activities, while strengthening wilderness continuity and preserving recreational opportunities for the public.\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s public lands are meant to be enjoyed, and preserving access for the people who hike, fish, hunt, and recreate here is incredibly important to us. We appreciate Congressman Evans for listening to Coloradans and working to ensure the Greeley Land Exchange Act protects public access while allowing this land exchange to move forward. This is a solution that keeps these outdoor spaces accessible to Coloradans for generations to come.\u201d \u2013\u2013 Sabrina Stoker, Executive Director, Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area\n\nUnder the Greeley Land Exchange Act:\n\nThe City of Greeley would convey approximately 40 acres of City-owned land to the federal government, excluding all City-owned water rights, in exchange for approximately 78 acres of National Forest System land administered by the Forest Service.\n\nThe federal government would retain a perpetual, non-exclusive easement for public nonmotorized access over the Seaman Reservoir Trail and Wintersteen Trail to adjacent National Forest System land. The United States would also retain access for administrative, emergency, inspection, maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and resource-management purposes.\n\nThe City of Greeley would pay the costs associated with completing the exchange, including appraisals, surveys, title work, environmental assessments, and closing expenses.\n\nThe exchange is intended to reduce administrative delays surrounding access to Greeley\u2019s water infrastructure while providing the Forest Service with land that can be incorporated into the surrounding National Forest System and protected areas.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gabe-evans-bipartisan-ratepayer-protection-act-passes-house", "Congressman Gabe Evans\u2019 Bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act Passes the House", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman Gabe Evans\u2019 bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 417-3, advancing legislation designed to protect American families and small businesses from bearing the infrastructure costs created by large data centers.\n\nThe bill requires that large energy load data centers be responsible for the costs of all new energy infrastructure necessary to serve them. This protects existing ratepayers from having costs shifted to them. The bill also requires that states which currently have no standards specific to data centers are to commence hearings and make state-specific determinations for large-load data centers.\u201d\n\nThe House passage follows unanimous approval by the House Energy and Commerce Committee in July, where the bill advanced 52\u20130.\n\n\u201cHardworking families should not have to subsidize the energy demands of data centers. America needs the infrastructure to lead the world in AI and outcompete Communist China, but we cannot have that growth at the expense of hardworking families, farmers, seniors, and small businesses. My bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act ensures large data centers pay for the infrastructure they require while giving states the flexibility to determine what works best for their communities. I\u2019m incredibly proud to lead the charge on this pivotal issue, ensure our ratepayers are protected, and keep American innovation moving forward.\u201d \u2013\u2013 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\n\u201cFloridians are already dealing with sky-high electric bills. They should not be forced to subsidize the enormous energy demands of the world\u2019s richest corporations. If Big Tech builds a massive AI data center, Big Tech\u2014not hardworking families, farmers or small businesses\u2014should pay for the power and grid upgrades it requires. The bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act is an important first step that can help lower costs for our neighbors back home and empower states to set additional, strict guardrails.\u201d \u2013\u2013 Congresswoman Kathy Castor\n\n\u201cWhen done responsibly, data center development leads to longer term investments and broader infrastructure improvements in the communities where they\u2019re built. The Ratepayer Protection Act helps to safeguard these benefits by ensuring that the companies who are building data centers\u2014and not American families and small businesses\u2014are paying for the electricity they use. U.S. leadership in the race to AI dominance is critical to our economic prosperity and national security, so we need to keep building the needed infrastructure with appropriate accountability measures. I'm grateful to Congressman Evans for his tireless work\u2014on a bipartisan basis\u2014to protect ratepayers while ensuring that America continues to lead the world in innovation.\u201d \u2013\u2013 Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie\n\nBackground\n\nIf enacted, the legislation would establish federal standards for state regulators to use when reviewing proposals for new large-load customers with an electricity demand of 100 megawatts or more. The bill suggests:\n\nRecovering the full incremental cost of grid upgrades from the large-load customer through special rate structures or other agreements, ensuring utilities and regular ratepayers are not left paying for infrastructure if a customer later scales back operations or leaves the system.\n\nRequiring financial assurances that large-load customers will pay for the generation, transmission, and other infrastructure necessary to serve their demand, preventing those costs from being shifted onto families and local businesses through higher electricity rates.\n\nThe legislation preserves state flexibility by requiring regulators to consider the large-load standard without mandating one specific rate structure. States would retain the authority to determine how the standard should apply within their own utility systems.\n\nThe Ratepayer Protection Act builds on the principles of the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, under which major technology companies, utilities, and governors committed to having data center developers pay the energy and infrastructure costs associated with new data center development.\n\nThe bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. Sen. Husted (R-OH) is leading the Senate companion.\n\nRead the full text here.\n\nRead the one pager here.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-introduces-bill-mandating-all-representatives-senators-hold-monthly", "Rep. Neguse Introduces Bill Mandating All Representatives & Senators Hold Monthly, Public Town Halls", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse introduced the Town Halls for All Act, a bill to ensure Members of Congress are staying connected to the communities they serve. Neguse himself has made hosting in-person, public town halls a priority for his office since first being elected to represent Colorado\u2019s 2nd District in Congress. During his time in public office he\u2019s hosted over 100 public town halls, 28 of which have fallen within the current legislature \u2014 a grand total that surpasses every member of Colorado\u2019s congressional delegation combined.\n\nAs fewer elected officials from both sides of the aisle hold in-person town halls \u2014 opting for virtual gatherings or avoiding community conversations altogether \u2014 Neguse\u2019s legislation would require all Members of both the House and Senate to hold at least 12 public town halls within their congressional district every calendar year. The bill also provides admittance, accessibility, and awareness guidelines to ensure that every individual interested in attending one of these meetings has the opportunity to do so.\n\n\u201cWhen you represent one of the largest congressional districts in the country \u2014 bigger than eight states and spanning 12,000 square miles \u2014 you understand how vital it is to spend time meeting directly with your constituents. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve hosted over 100 town-halls since first being elected, in rural, suburban and urban towns and communities across Western and Northern Colorado \u2014 to better understand their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams. It is time for all public officials to do the same, which is why I\u2019ve introduced the Town Halls for All Act, which creates a gold standard for constituent access, and requires all Representatives and Senators to host at least 12 public town halls a year and ensures that the public officials Americans elected are responsive to the needs of their constituents,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse.\n\nClick HERE to read the bill text.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by Indivisible, an organization working to connect Americans with opportunities to attend town hall meetings in congressional districts across the country.\n\n\u201cIn a democracy that works, elected officials should be accountable to the people they represent \u2014 and that means showing up, listening to constituents, and answering for their actions. Town halls are a crucial way for voters to engage directly with the people elected to serve them, and the Town Halls for All Act would make that kind of direct accountability the norm, not the exception,\u201d said Andrew O\u2019Neill, National Advocacy Director of Indivisible.\n\nBackground\n\nAt 42-years-old, Congressman Joe Neguse is the youngest Democrat in his state\u2019s federal delegation, and as such he\u2019s been working to rally a coalition of next-generation lawmakers in an effort to put power back in the hands of the American people. In addition to the newly introduced Town Halls for All Act, his efforts include introducing a measure to overturn the disastrous Citizens Uniteddecision, preventing unrestrained spending and dark money in elections; championing multiple proposals to ban Members of Congress from trading stocks, including co-leading the bipartisan consensus Restore Trust in Congress Act; and spearheading the End Corruption Now legislative agenda, seven bills that effectively stop the selling of access and influence in our nation\u2019s capital.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/16/bennet-hickenlooper-pettersen-recognize-victims-of-evergreen-high-school-shooting-following-first-anniversary/", "Bennet, Hickenlooper, Pettersen Recognize Victims of Evergreen High School Shooting Following First Anniversary", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet led Senator John Hickenlooper to introduce a congressional resolution recognizing the first anniversary of the tragic Evergreen High School shooting. This resolution honors the two wounded victims; expresses gratitude to law enforcement, faculty, educators, first responders, and neighbors who worked to keep students safe during this shooting; and recognizes the trauma this community now carries. Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) led a companion resolution in the House.\n\n\u201cOne year ago, the Evergreen community experienced an unthinkable act of gun violence,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cThe fear and trauma that Evergreen High School students, families, educators, and first responders experienced that day have not disappeared. We owe it to them \u2013 and all of Colorado \u2013 to act and to build a future where no child has to experience this kind of violence at school. I am glad to lead the Colorado Congressional Delegation in this resolution, and will continue to fight against senseless acts of gun violence.\u201d\n\n\u201cStudents, teachers, and families should never have to go through what Evergreen High School and the entire community went through one year ago,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cWe need to come together and work to end gun violence in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, we honor the students, staff, first responders, families, and entire Evergreen community for their extraordinary resilience in the face of the tragedy after the Evergreen High School shooting one year ago. Their strength, courage, and resilience continue to inspire all of us but also reminds us of the urgent need for change,\u201d said Pettersen. \u201cOur country\u2019s gun violence epidemic has shattered countless lives and is now the leading cause of death for our kids \u2013 a reality none of us should accept. As a mom, I understand the fear so many parents live with when they drop their kids off at school. Today, we stand with the Evergreen community and promise to keep fighting in Congress to ensure our kids are safe at school and in our communities. They deserve so much better.\u201d\n\nOn September 16, 2025, Senator Bennet led a resolution condemning this tragic act of violence recognizing the victims, survivors, and responders, and expressing condolences and support to their families and their communities. On September 30, 2025, the resolution was agreed to in the Senate. In April 2026, Bennet introduced a congressional resolution recognizing the 10th anniversary of the Columbine Day of Service and remembering the victims of the Columbine High School shooting twenty-seven years ago. In April 2025, Bennet introduced the Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act and the bipartisan Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts Act. The bills protect communities from gun violence, while safeguarding Americans\u2019 constitutional right to own a firearm for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes. In June 2022, Bennet helped pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first comprehensive gun safety reform package in nearly thirty years.\n\nThe text of the resolution is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/16/bennet-statement-on-committee-passage-of-the-farm-bill/", "Bennet Statement on Committee Passage of the Farm Bill", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement after he voted against the 2026 Farm Bill in Committee:\n\n\u201cI am disappointed that we are back in the same position voting on the same Farm Bill this Committee considered in August. My hope was to return to a bipartisan process, rather than continue down this partisan path. Unfortunately, that did not happen.\n\n\u201cFarmers and ranchers want certainty, strong markets, and a safety net they can rely on. The question we need to ask is whether this bill makes it more likely they can stay in business five years from now. At a time when Colorado producers face rising costs, shrinking export opportunities, extreme drought, worsening wildfires, and growing pressure just to make a living, I do not believe this bill does enough.\n\n\u201cIt falls short on key Colorado priorities and does not meaningfully confront the broader economic pressures confronting farmers, ranchers, and the rural communities in which they live. On top of that, this bill does little for families struggling to afford groceries and leaves Colorado paying the price.\n\n\u201cFor these reasons, I voted against advancing this Farm Bill. I remain ready to work with Chairman Boozman on a truly bipartisan bill that meets the moment and serves farmers, ranchers, and families in Colorado and across the country.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/new-data-12598-colorado-kids-have-already-lost-snap-benefits/", "New Data: 12,598 Colorado Kids Have Already Lost SNAP Benefits", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Report shows 33,681 Coloradans, including 12,598 kids, have already lost SNAP benefits due to HR1\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 New analysis from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities shows that 33,681 total Coloradans, including 12,598 kids, have already lost SNAP benefits under President Trump\u2019s \u2018Big Beautiful Bill\u2019 Act. The data, which covers the period between the law\u2019s enactment in July 2025 and June 2026, shows that a total 1.5 million U.S. children have lost access to affordable food through SNAP.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s nothing more cruel than a wealthy nation that lets its children go hungry, especially as grocery prices keep climbing,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cPresident Trump took away food assistance from over 12,000 Colorado kids. And for what? So he could hand billionaires another tax break.\u201d\n\nThe Trump administration and congressional Republicans enacted the deepest cuts to federal nutrition programs in history by slashing federal funding for SNAP and imposing those costs onto states. In the last year, they slashed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $186 billion, imposed harsh new bureaucratic requirements that stripped food assistance from millions of Americans, and refused to fund SNAP during the federal government shutdown in fall 2025. An estimated 40% of SNAP recipients are children.\n\nHickenlooper has led the charge against new provisions that require states to spend more of their state budgets to cover SNAP benefits and administrative costs associated with them. On average, states will be forced to spend two to three times of their previous SNAP budget on the program. In Colorado, SNAP cost-share will rise from $94 million to $272 million, a 188% increase. In response to these cuts, Hickenlooper introduced the Universal Meals Program Act, which would provide free school breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack to all school children, regardless of where they live or their family\u2019s ability to pay.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/watch-hickenlooper-takes-aim-at-trumps-golden-age-of-corruption-in-senate-floor-speech/", "WATCH: Hickenlooper Takes Aim at Trump\u2019s \u201cGolden Age of Corruption\u201d in Senate Floor Speech", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Hickenlooper: \u201cIt\u2019s an era of spoils and bribery for the powerful and well-connected, while you are left behind.\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper took to the Senate floor to call out President Trump for his corruption and the cost-of-living emergency he\u2019s created.\n\n\u201cNearly 20 months into his second term, President Trump calls this period in American history a \u2018Golden Age,\u2019\u201d said Hickenlooper on the Senate floor. \u201cGolden \u2013 for who? For billionaires. For Mar-a-Lago members. For the president\u2019s cronies. Not for farmers on the Western Slope, small business owners in Colorado Springs, or working families in Denver.\u201d\n\nWatch his full speech HERE.\n\n\u201cHousing. Gas. Groceries. When everything costs more, it\u2019s hard for Americans to plan for today, let alone tomorrow. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are abandoning long-term financial milestones and cutting back just to get by,\u201d Hickenlooper continued. \u201cBut President Trump\u2019s Wall Street friends aren\u2019t cutting back. Not at all. His company is charging them up to $100,000 a month for faster access to his Truth Social posts that routinely influence stock prices. That\u2019s more than the median American household makes in an entire year. All to give greedy investment bankers another leg up.\n\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t normal. This isn\u2019t simply corruption. This is a sellout \u2013 of you, of America, of the office we used to respect in this country.\u201d\n\nHickenlooper blasted the president for personally profiting off his war in Iran that has claimed the lives of 18 servicemembers and cost Americans billions. Hickenlooper has introduced a War Powers Resolution to direct President Trump to terminate U.S. military hostilities against Iran and has voted repeatedly to end the president\u2019s war.\n\n\u201cWhile Americans are shelling out over $100 billion more in energy costs since President Trump started his illegal war with Iran. He has raked in millions of dollars off oil and gas stocks. He\u2019s not only enriching himself, but his billionaire buddies, too.\u201d\n\nHe highlighted how the president and his family\u2019s self-dealing extends to artificial intelligence and data centers while Americans pay higher energy prices.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump Jr.\u2019s venture capital firm has invested millions in AI companies. One of the UAE\u2019s most powerful royals has invested half a billion dollars in the Trump family\u2019s cryptocurrency venture.\n\n\u201cSo, it should come as no surprise that President Trump has rolled back AI safeguards and authorized Big Tech to sell some of America\u2019s most advanced AI chips to the Emiratis. Or that his Big Beautiful Bill cut $1 trillion from your healthcare while handing businesses massive tax breaks to fuel investments in AI.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cYour energy bills are spiking. You\u2019re worried your job could be next. Your farm is already facing a water shortage. Meanwhile, billionaires have turned AI into a horse race focused only on who is winning, with too little thought for humanity and who gets left behind.\u201d\n\nHe also called out President Trump for ignoring the soaring housing costs while his son-in-law\u2019s invests in luxury housing across the world.\n\n\u201cNearly half of all U.S. renters now spend roughly a third of their income on housing costs. Nine in ten young people say it\u2019s harder to buy a property now than a generation before,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cInstead of building more affordable housing here, the Trump family is building more housing in Saudi Arabia. The president\u2019s son-in-law is using his position as special envoy for peace to cut a $3 billion-dollar sweetheart deal to build high-end housing some 6,000 miles away.\n\nHe continued,\u201d While people on the Eastern Plains are unsure how they\u2019ll ever afford a home, the Trump family is shoring up housing in the Middle East.\u201d\n\nThroughout August recess, Hickenlooper traveled across Colorado and heard from Coloradans getting crushed by Trump\u2019s cost-of-living emergency.\n\nRanchers and farmers described how the increasing costs caused by Trump\u2019s war in Iran are crushing them. Healthcare providers highlighted how the Republican\u2019s cruel healthcare cuts are undermining the care they can provide for their community and how families are now paying double for their insurance.\n\nHickenlooper has fought against the president\u2019s disastrous budget bill that gutted health care to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. He\u2019s doing a state-wide tour of local hospitals and clinics to meet with Coloradans and hear how they are grappling with the increasing costs of healthcare. He helped defeat Trump\u2019s effort to sell off millions of acres of public lands to pay for his lavish tax cuts. He is working to permanently end Trump\u2019s slush fund for Tina Peters, Proud Boys, and January 6th rioters.\n\nFor a full video of Hickenlooper\u2019s remarks, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks as prepared for delivery is available below:\n\nMr. President,\n\nIn 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump traveled to Gettysburg where he vowed to \u201cdrain the swamp.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe system is designed for one reason: to keep the corrupt establishment and special interests in power,\u201d he told the crowd. He then declared: \u201cI have no special interest but you, the American voter.\u201d\n\nIn hindsight, that wasn\u2019t a promise. It was a projection.\n\nMillions of Americans voted for President Trump in that election and again in 2024 because they believed he would end the corruption in Washington and lower costs.\n\nNearly 20 months into his second term, President Trump calls this period in American history a \u201cGolden Age.\u201d Golden \u2013 for who? For billionaires. For Mar-a-Lago members. For the president\u2019s cronies. Not for farmers on the Western Slope, small business owners in Colorado Springs, or working families in Denver.\n\nWhat we\u2019re living through isn\u2019t a \u201cgolden age\u201d of America. It\u2019s a golden age of corruption.\n\nIt\u2019s an era of spoils and bribery for the powerful and well-connected, while YOU are left behind.\n\nAmericans do what they can. The president and his cronies do what they want.\n\nTake housing. Nearly half of all U.S. renters now spend roughly a third of their income on housing costs. Nine in ten young people say it\u2019s harder to buy a property now than a generation before.\n\nInstead of building more affordable housing here, the Trump family is building more housing in Saudi Arabia.\n\nThe president\u2019s son-in-law is using his position as special envoy for peace to cut a $3 billion-dollar sweetheart deal to build high-end housing some 6,000 miles away.\n\nWhile people on the Eastern Plains are unsure how they\u2019ll ever afford a home, the Trump family is shoring up housing in the Middle East.\n\nThen there\u2019s energy.\n\nWhile Americans are shelling out over $100 billion more in energy costs since President Trump started his illegal war with Iran\u2026 He has raked in millions of dollars off oil and gas stocks.\n\nHe\u2019s not only enriching himself, but his billionaire buddies, too.\n\nThe president has spent more than a billion dollars of YOUR taxpayer money to cancel clean energy projects, all while his neighbor in Palm Beach stands to cash in on a massive payout.\n\nYour energy bills go up. His friends\u2019 bank accounts go up faster.\n\nAnd that pattern of self-dealing extends to artificial intelligence.\n\nDonald Trump Jr.\u2019s venture capital firm has invested millions in AI companies. One of the UAE\u2019s most powerful royals has invested half a billion dollars in the Trump family\u2019s cryptocurrency venture.\n\nSo, it should come as no surprise that President Trump has rolled back AI safeguards and authorized Big Tech to sell some of America\u2019s most advanced AI chips to the Emiratis. Or that his Big Beautiful Bill cut $1 trillion from your healthcare while handing businesses massive tax breaks to fuel investments in AI.\n\nYour energy bills are spiking. You\u2019re worried your job could be next. Your farm is already facing a water shortage. Meanwhile, billionaires have turned AI into a horse race focused only on who is winning, with too little thought for humanity and who gets left behind.\n\nBut now, even some of the biggest names in AI are warning that we\u2019re moving too fast. The question is: Will we listen?\n\nWill we act?\n\nHousing. Gas. Groceries. When everything costs more, it\u2019s hard for Americans to plan for today, let alone tomorrow. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are abandoning long-term financial milestones and cutting back just to get by.\n\nBut President Trump\u2019s Wall Street friends aren\u2019t cutting back. Not at all. His company is charging them up to $100,000 a month for faster access to his Truth Social posts that routinely influence stock prices. That\u2019s more than the median American household makes in an entire year. All to give greedy investment bankers another leg up.\n\nThis isn\u2019t normal. This isn\u2019t simply corruption. This is a sellout \u2013 of you, of America, of the office we used to respect in this country.\n\nIn his first year back in office, President Trump made over two billion dollars.\n\nSo, what has he learned from his first term? The answer is clear. It\u2019s not how to lead or how to make life more affordable for Americans. It\u2019s how to leverage the presidency for personal profit.\n\nAnd that\u2019s what it all boils down to. Profit over peace. Profit over people. Profit over principle.\n\nThat\u2019s the opposite of what government service should be about.\n\nOver the last two months, I\u2019ve traveled through the San Luis Valley, through Colorado\u2019s mountain communities, and everywhere in between to hear what Coloradans need at this moment.\n\nThey need leaders who will tackle the cost-of-living emergency. Leaders who will help keep their businesses open amid difficult headwinds and their farms afloat through record drought.\n\nThey don\u2019t need leaders who only look after themselves and other billionaires. They don\u2019t need leaders focused on renaming lakes and building monuments to themselves.\n\nThis president can\u2019t seem to get out of his own way.\n\nWhen we passed the most consequential housing bill in decades, opening the door to homeownership for millions of Americans and stopping Wall Street from buying up homes that belong to working families, President Trump refused to sign it.\n\nWhen we passed a unanimous bill to deliver clean, reliable drinking water to 50,000 Coloradans \u2013 many of whom voted for President Trump \u2013 he vetoed it.\n\nWhen we made a once-in-a-generation investment to address climate change and preserve a future for our kids, the president and his administration cancelled tens of billions in grant funding that would have helped our environment while creating good paying jobs.\n\nIf we want to revive the American dream, we must start by undoing the damage this administration has done.\n\nPresident Trump has started a forever war with Iran that\u2019s already costing American lives, sent prices climbing, and drained our military stockpiles.\n\nLet\u2019s end it.\n\nPresident Trump has imposed crippling, illegal tariffs that are driving up costs for families and small businesses alike.\n\nLet\u2019s end them.\n\nPresident Trump\u2019s immigration agenda has diverted billions in federal funding from healthcare to lawless immigration enforcement executed by undertrained officers.\n\nLet\u2019s end it. All of it. And let\u2019s get back to the promise that another president once made at Gettysburg: a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.\n\nThat\u2019s how we move our country forward. That\u2019s how we begin to make your life better again.\n\nThank you, Mr. President.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-the-passage-of-his-war-powers-resolution", "Crow Statement on the Passage of His War Powers Resolution", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement following the U.S. House of Representatives passing his War Powers Resolution to end Donald Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran:\n\n\u201cSix months into a war that Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, and JD Vance said would last six weeks, there\u2019s no end in sight.\n\n\u201c18 servicemembers are dead, hundreds more are wounded, and taxpayers have spent billions of dollars on a war that has raised prices and not made them any safer.\n\n\u201cTrump campaigned on ending conflicts abroad. As President, he did the opposite, starting a new forever war in the Middle East.\n\n\u201cConstant war and constant conflict is neither inevitable nor necessary. The American people are over it. They want their taxpayer dollars going toward cheaper healthcare and better schools at home, not forever wars abroad.\n\n\u201cWe must end this war. I won\u2019t stop fighting for accountability and for Congress to rein in this President and his failed military adventurism.\u201d\n\nAt a press conference and floor debate before the vote on his War Powers Resolution, Crow spoke about the cost of forever wars like Trump\u2019s conflict with Iran on working class Americans.\n\nThis is the second time Crow has forced a vote on a War Powers Resolution. In July, the U.S. House of Representativespassed Crow\u2019s bipartisan resolution to disapprove of President Trump\u2019s war with Iran. Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war, and he recently demanded that the Trump Administration reveal the full, true cost of this war on the American people. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-urges-congress-to-support-his-war-powers-resolution-end-trump-s-reckless-war-with-iran", "Crow Urges Congress to Support His War Powers Resolution, End Trump's Reckless War with Iran", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, urged Congress to pass his War Powers Resolution reining in Donald Trump\u2019s reckless war with Iran, which will be voted on Tuesday evening by the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nWatch Congressman Crow\u2019s remarks at the U.S. Capitol below:\n\n\u201cThank you, Representative Jayapal, Representative Deluzio, and our friends with the Committee on National Legislation, Concerned Veterans for America, Common Defense, and Win Without War. You all are our voice and our supporters as we take this issue over and over to Americans who know, who know very clearly, that constant war and constant conflict is neither inevitable nor necessary.\n\n\u201cWhat I learned years ago when I went to Iraq and Afghanistan, is that when there's saber rattling and people pound the war drums in Washington, D.C., and they talk tough here or at the White House, it's almost never them, or their kids, or their grandkids that have to jump into a plane, or a tank, or a helicopter, or pick up a rifle and do the tough work. It's working class kids around this country, like me and the kids that I grew up with that have to do the tough stuff.\n\n\u201cBecause you see what happens when Congress gives a blank check in the form of a limitless [Authorization of Military Force] AUMF that never expires, is president after president then goes to cash that check. But they're not the ones that have to honor it. It's working class folks that have to honor it. They do the fighting, they do the dying, and they pay for it. Because working class people are apparently the only ones that are paying their taxes, not Donald Trump and his cronies, we know they're not paying their taxes. They're not doing anything to fund this.\n\n\u201cSo yeah, we're mad. Americans are mad, and they should be. After 25 years, three trillion dollars, over seven thousand American servicemembers dead, hundreds of thousands of others died throughout the world, and look what's happened. Our infrastructure has fallen apart, our schools don't have enough money, our teachers aren't getting paid, people are losing their healthcare, farms are going under, and yet, Donald Trump and the war profiteers continue to cash in year after year.\n\n\u201cWell, we have had enough. We're pushing to repeal these AUMFs. Replace them with sunsets, narrow them, reform the War Powers. And until we can do that, we're going to push for vote, after vote, after vote. And we're not going to stop because Americans\u2014Republicans and Democrats alike, by the way\u2014this is one of the most bipartisan issues in America\u2014Republicans and Democrats alike have had enough. And we're going to push for votes so that they know, just like we're going to do today, they know where their Representative stands.\n\n\u201cAre people willing to continue to send your sons and daughters into another endless quagmire in the Middle East? Or are we going to bring our kids home and start rebuilding America? That's what this is about. I'm proud to stand with you today. We're going to call it like we see it, and we're never going to stop.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gabe-evans-stop-pills-kill-act-passes-house", "Congressman Gabe Evans\u2019 Stop Pills That Kill Act Passes House", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman Gabe Evans\u2019 Stop Pills That Kill Act, legislation to crack down on the production and distribution of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, methamphetamine, and other dangerous substances, passed the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThe legislation comes as Colorado moves in the wrong direction on the fentanyl crisis. While synthetic opioid overdose deaths declined 21% nationally from December 2024 to August 2025, they increased 17% in Colorado \u2014 the third-fastest increase in the country. Colorado was one of only five states to see an increase during that period, according to the Common Sense Institute.\n\nDenver Democrats have reduced criminal penalties for drug possession offenses in recent years, and efforts to strengthen penalties for fentanyl have stalled at the State Capitol. In 2025, legislation that would have increased criminal penalties for possession of certain synthetic opioids was postponed indefinitely by the Democrat controlled Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee on a 4-3 vote.\n\n\u201cAs a former police officer, I\u2019ve seen firsthand the devastation fentanyl and dangerous drugs brings to families and communities. Today, the House took an important step toward giving federal law enforcement the tools they need to go after the criminals producing and distributing these deadly counterfeit pills. The Stop Pills That Kill Act strengthens penalties, improves our ability to track these drugs, and requires a comprehensive strategy to help law enforcement get them off our streets before another family loses a loved one. I\u2019m proud to see this legislation pass the House, and I\u2019ll keep fighting to get it across the finish line.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\nBackground\n\nThe Stop Pills That Kill Act would amend the Controlled Substances Act to address certain offenses involving fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and counterfeit substances. The legislation defines a counterfeit fentanyl or methamphetamine substance as one containing fentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, or methamphetamine that is marketed, sold, or falsely marked to resemble another product.\n\nThe legislation requires the DEA, within 180 days of enactment, to establish and implement an operation and response plan addressing counterfeit fentanyl and methamphetamine substances. The plan must include strategies to strengthen federal law enforcement investigations and seizures, increase education and prevention efforts \u2014 including efforts tailored toward youth and teens \u2014 and review existing public-awareness campaigns such as \u201cOne Pill Can Kill\u201d to determine how they can be improved.\n\nThe bill further requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the DEA Administrator and Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to report annually to Congress on the federal response to counterfeit fentanyl and methamphetamine substances. Those reports would include:\n\nData on counterfeit substances seized by federal law enforcement, including how many were in pill form and what illicit substances they contained;\n\nInformation on where and when counterfeit substances were seized;\n\nData on federal charges, convictions, and sentences involving counterfeit fentanyl or methamphetamine substances; and\n\nInformation on federal prevention and public-awareness efforts aimed at reducing the spread of counterfeit pills.\n\nThe bill passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee in July by a vote of 43\u20136 before advancing to the House floor. During markup, the bill was amended to also include H.R. 5880 and H.R. 7184.\n\nH.R. 5880, the Fight Illicit Pill Presses Act led by Rep. Hageman, implements serialization requirements for pill presses, pill punches, and their critical parts. It prohibits the removal or alteration of these serial numbers and prohibits the distribution of machines with serial numbers that have been tampered with.\n\nH.R. 7184, the PRESS Act led by Rep. McDowell, amends the Controlled Substances Act to make it unlawful to manufacture, distribute, or import pill press equipment with the intent to illicitly produce a controlled substance.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/assistant-leader-neguse-chair-litigation-task-force-leads-150-current-and", "Assistant Leader Neguse, Chair of Litigation Task Force, Leads 150+ Current and Former House Democrats & Republicans in Urging Supreme Court to Block Trump DHS Voter Purge Database", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 For the second time in two weeks, current and former Members of the House of Representatives are challenging the Trump administration\u2019s ongoing attempt to unconstitutionally exercise control over election administration and create chaos in the upcoming midterm elections. Today\u2019s action follows the Litigation Task Force\u2019s successful advocacy before the Supreme Court and the denial of Donald Trump\u2019s attempts to restrict mail-in ballots.\n\n154 current and former Members from the House of Representatives, Democratic and Republican, filed an amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court urging the justices to halt the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to build and make available a massive illegal database containing the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans. The expanded system, which links information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration, unlawfully puts Americans\u2019 most sensitive personal information at risk while relying on questionable data that federal agents have raised concerns may be inaccurate. Those errors could result in eligible U.S. citizens being improperly flagged and removed from voter rolls, potentially denying an untold number of Americans their constitutional right to vote.\n\nThe coalition filed its amicus brief in League of Women Voters v. Department of Homeland Security, arguing that the administration\u2019s efforts to create and use this database violate the law on two main grounds. First, the database violates the Privacy Act, enacted by Congress in the 1970s in part to prevent the creation of a \u201ccentralized Federal information system\u201d that would consolidate Americans\u2019 sensitive information stored across federal agencies. And second, Congress has repeatedly declined to authorize the creation of state-by-state citizenship lists, most recently by failing to advance the SAVE Act and SAVE America Act, and so the Trump Administration is unconstitutionally violating the separation of powers by attempting to achieve through lawless executive action what it failed to achieve through legislation.\n\nClick HERE to read the brief in its entirety.\n\nThe bipartisan group is led by Assistant House Minority Leader Joe Neguse, who leads the House Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force; Task Force Co-Chairs Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin; as well as House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Administration Ranking Member Joe Morelle, and Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson.\n\nThe Republican lawmakers that joined this court filing include former Representatives Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (2005-2017), Barbara Comstock (2015-2019), Mickey Edwards (1977-1993), James C. Greenwood (1993-2005), Steve Gunderson (1981-1997), John LeBoutillier (1981-1983), Susan Molinari (1990-1997), Claudine Schneider (1981-1991), Peter Smith (1989-1991), and David Trott (2015-2019).\n\nKeep scrolling to see what the leading lawmakers had to say about the matter:\n\n\u201cHouse Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force will continue to vindicate our constitution and fight back against Donald Trump efforts to disenfranchise American citizens,\u201d said House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse. \u201cThe president\u2019s plan to create federal lists that dictate who can and cannot vote in elections is not only violative of laws enacted by Congress but also relies on questionable data Homeland Security agents themselves have said will result in an untold number of lawful citizens losing their right to vote. It is an attempt to sow chaos ahead of the 2026 midterms and must be struck down by the Supreme Court \u2014 immediately.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s asking the courts to let his Administration create the very federal database Congress repeatedly declined to authorize: a comprehensive Orwellian system that collects and shares Americans\u2019 most sensitive personal information while creating the risk of wrongly purging eligible voters from the rolls. I\u2019m proud to stand strong with my colleagues urging the Supreme Court to protect individual Americans\u2019 privacy and voting rights\u2014and the integrity of our free and fair elections\u2014from this outrageous and illegal power grab,\u201d said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration is trying to create a massive database of Americans\u2019 sensitive personal information that could disenfranchise voters across the country. This system relies on incomplete data that directly targets the right to privacy and the right to vote. We are urging the Supreme Court to stop this immediately and protect Americans\u2019 right to vote,\u201d said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.\n\n\u201cNo matter how hard he tries, Donald Trump will never succeed in taking over our elections,\u201d said Leader Jeffries. \u201cI am grateful to Reps. Neguse, Garcia, Raskin, Morelle and Bennie Thompson and the Litigation Task Force for leading House Democrats in this latest effort to stand up to Donald Trump\u2019s ongoing unlawful and unconstitutional effort to sow chaos ahead of the midterms, deny eligible Americans the right to vote and exert undue federal control over our elections.\u201d\n\n\u201cDemocrats and Republicans agree - this Administration cannot ignore Congress. Once again, Trump is mounting a wildly illegal attack on our elections. Presidents do not control our elections. The American people do,\" said Ranking Member Joe Morelle.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a reason our Constitution gives states and Congress the power to manage our elections: to stop despots like Donald Trump,\u201d added Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson. \u201cThe Supreme Court must stop Trump\u2019s illegal actions to create error-ridden citizen databases to disenfranchise voters and rig our elections.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe Litigation Task Force launched in the first month that followed President Donald Trump\u2019s chaotic return to office. We immediately set out to push back against an administration showing no respect for the Constitution or rule of law\u2014and haven\u2019t stopped since.\n\nI the fight to protect American election security: last Tuesday, the Task Force urged the Supreme Court to block Trump\u2019s Executive Order seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. As noted above, less than a week later, the Court agreed and barred the USPS from putting the challenged mail-ballot requirements into effect for the 2026 midterm election.\n\nFor more information on the Litigation Task Force\u2019s efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1928", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Joins Effort Calling Out Trump\u2019s Attempt to Dismantle Head Start", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), today joined fellow members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus in calling out the Trump Administration\u2019s latest effort to dismantle Head Start, a critical program that provides early education, health services, and other support to children and families across the country. In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the lawmakers push back on the administration\u2019s proposed rule that would roll back longstanding health, safety, staffing, and educational standards, putting the quality and reliability of Head Start services at risk for families who depend on them.\n\n\u201cHead Start ensures our most vulnerable kids have access to the care, nutrition, and health services they need in those early years. I am proud to be a voice for the parents, like me, who are enraged by the anti-family, backward agenda of this administration,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \"I will fight every effort by Trump to dismantle this program and work to protect Colorado families and kids across the country.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, the Members write,\u201cin strong opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) proposed rule Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs.\u201d They continue, \u201cthis proposed rule guts an essential early childhood program and its services for hundreds of thousands of women and families nationwide, which would increase their costs and burden to replace those services. In today\u2019s environment of rising costs, it is cruel to make life more difficult and expensive for these families.\u201d\n\nMore than 11,000 Colorado children depend on Head Start, not to mention the massive shortfall in child care slots across the state \u2013 which is short of more than 82,000 total child care slots, with nearly 14,000 children actively on waitlists.\n\nNevertheless, Trump\u2019s proposed rule would diminish Head Start quality of services by rolling back vital HSPPS which outline certain program requirements and define quality standards. Therefore, the removal of these uniform federal safeguards allow programs to reduce staffing, qualifications, service hours, screenings, and support services. It does not directly order every program to provide worse care, but it permits\u2014and financially anticipates\u2014reductions that current rules prohibit. It will undermine its ability to develop evidence-based programs that improve education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and social services\u2014forcing families to either lose these resources or turn to more expensive options elsewhere. Head Start could no longer connect families to jobs, education, and housing opportunities or effectively help children succeed in school.\n\nFor 60 years, Head Start has served over 40 million families and children with accessible social services, healthcare, and improved early learning standards. The program provides low-income children, children with disabilities, dual language learners, and children experiencing homelessness with the resources needed to succeed in school. Even after six decades, Head Start remains popular, with four in five Americans saying they\u2019re in support of the program\u2014 evidence that Trump\u2019s efforts to gut it are out of step with what Americans want.\n\nU.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) has consistently pushed back against federal rollbacks targeting the Head Start program. Most recently, Pettersen introduced the Supporting Our Military Childcare Workforce Act, which would take steps to address the childcare workforce crisis. She is a member of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus and is a member of the House Financial Services Committee.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy:\n\nWe, as members of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus, write in strong opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) proposed rule Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs [RIN 070-AD0].1 This proposed rule would strip the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) of more than 90 percent of its standards, likely taking away vital services from children and families.2 It eliminates and substantially weakens federal\n\nrequirements governing early learning, health, mental health, and dental services, safety standards family engagement and family social services, and other services that have defined Head Start for six decades. This proposed rule guts an essential early childhood program and its services for hundreds of thousands of women and families nationwide, which would increase their costs and burden to replace those services. In today\u2019s environment of rising costs, it is cruel to make life more difficult and expensive for these families.\n\nI. Undermining Congressional Intent\n\nThis proposed rule is not modernization. It is the largest rollback of Head Start quality\n\nprotections in the program\u2019s history, and it will fall hardest on low-income children, children with disabilities, dual language learners, and children experiencing homelessness who Head Start was created to serve. The administration claims to be removing red tape and saving money. In reality, this proposed rule would override Congressional intent by removing standards that make Head Start the program that it is today and that Congress explicitly directed HHS to create based on research and consultation with experts. Congress established Head Start as a comprehensive program that goes beyond child supervision and offers life-changing early education, access to healthcare and food, and works with families to connect them to jobs, education, housing, and other social services that strengthen families. Since its founding, Head Start has served over 40 million families and children. Congress directed HHS to establish evidence-based performance standards covering education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and social services, because these high-quality services are all important for helping achieve Head Start\u2019s goal of promoting school readiness and helping children succeed in school and beyond. Children\u2019s well-being should not depend on the state in which a child happens to live.4 Preserving the statutory shell of Head Start while removing the federal standards that give those requirements meaning would undermine congressional intent and diminish the quality of services for women and families who rely on Head Start.\n\nII. Compromising Program Consistency\n\nThe program\u2019s federal to local foundation\u2014that this proposed rule seeks to diminish\u2014is critical to achieve Head Start\u2019s mission to provide quality care no matter where the child lives. Head Start works because of its nationwide standards, not despite them. Rigorous research has found that Head Start generates substantial long-term economic benefits, including an estimated $1.86 in benefits for every dollar invested.5 That return depends on strong teachers, strong ratios, and strong services\u2014qualified staff, appropriate classroom size and teacher to child ratios that support learning, developmental screening and follow-up, health and mental health services, family engagement and support services, and evidence-based early learning\u2014not a patchwork of state requirements that would create different standards throughout the country.\n\nIII. Eroding Quality and Safety\n\nThe proposed rule would eliminate Head Start\u2019s specific federal requirement that children be supervised at all times, reduce mandatory annual staff training on preventing abuse and neglect, repeal the prohibition on corporal punishment, shaming, humiliation, and seclusion practices, and remove the timelines that ensure a child\u2019s developmental, dental, and medical needs are actually screened and followed up on. The proposed rule would not only poorly impact children, it would further harm the Head Start workforce by changing teacher-child ratios and class sizes. The Department\u2019s own analysis assumes this rule will let programs put 16 to 32 percent more children in front of each teacher, and HHS is counting on that to book $668 million a year in \u201csavings.\u201d The Children\u2019s Equity Project found that approximately 80 percent of children currently enrolled in Head Start could face larger class sizes and worse teacher-child ratios if programs defaulted to state requirements instead of the current federal requirements.6 That means these children would be in larger classroom sizes without additional teacher assistance. Fewer teachers per child is not simply a matter of flexibility. It means fewer adults available to provide individualized attention, support learning, respond to developmental needs, and keep children safe. These proposed changes also come after HHS released a rule in 2024, \u201cRestoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access [RIN 0970-AD21].\u201d RIN 0970-AD21 repealed the higher wages and improved benefits established for Head Start staff in 2024. This new proposed rule would increase Head Start staff\u2019s workload without additional pay or benefits to reflect the greater stress. Both rules result in more work and less pay for the Head Start workforce at a time when staffing challenges are prevalent.\n\nThe proposed rule would also rollback Head Start\u2019s requirement for certain staff qualifications. Specifically, the rule would remove the minimum required qualifications for program directors, classroom coaches, and disability management staff. For education staff, the rule would\n\neliminate requirements for training on curriculum, behavior management, disability student support, and dual language learner support. Head Start\u2019s federal requirements implement these qualifications and training to protect the integrity of each classroom across the country. Weakening Head Start\u2019s federal workforce and credentialing standards would further reduce classroom quality, at the very time programs are already struggling to recruit and retain qualified educators. It is critical to equip Head Start staff with the necessary skills to sustain Head Start\u2019s comprehensive, high-quality educational programming.\n\nIV. Rolling Back Student Support Systems\n\nThis proposed rule would strip Head Start\u2019s ban on expelling children and its strict limits on suspension which is deeply concerning. These protections exist because preschoolers are already suspended and expelled at rates far above K-12 students. Additionally, disparities in suspension and expulsion are already significant for children of color, boys, and children with disabilities. Federal data show that children of color account for a disproportionate share of preschool suspensions, while children served under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) make up 23 percent of enrollment but 74 percent of expulsions.7 Removing these federal protections will not close those gaps. It will widen them.\n\nThe proposed rule would also substantially change how Head Start programs support children who are learning English. It would require Head Start instruction to be conducted in English, with an exception for Tribal programs. This action would reverse dual-language and home- language supports that have been part of the standards since 1975\u2014even though the evidence consistently shows dual language learners in Head Start make larger gains than their English- speaking peers when supported in both languages.8 The Department\u2019s own estimate puts the cost of this single mandate at nearly $240 million, including real harm to Head Start teachers who will lose their jobs. We should not weaken an evidence-based practice that helps children build English proficiency while maintaining the language skills they develop with their families and sets a strong foundation for them to succeed in school.\n\nV. Conclusion\n\nIt is vital that Head Start has an uncompromised framework of established quality standards. It needs the Department to fund what already works and to ensure programs have the resources and workforce necessary to meet the standards Congress established. We urge HHS to withdraw this proposal in full.\n\nSincerely,\n\nSigners of the letter include Reps. Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez (NM-03), Chair Democratic Women's Caucus; Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Co-Chair, Caregiving Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Co-Chair, Caregiving Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Co-Chair, Caregiving Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08); Jan Schakowsky (IL-09); Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Co-Chair, Communications Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12); Diana DeGette (C0-01); Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04); Madeleine Dean (PA-04); Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24); Deborah K. Ross (NC-12), Co-Chair, Policy Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congressional Asian Pacific, American Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Co-Chair, Communications Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-12); Julia Brownley (CA-26); Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03); Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25); Joyce Beatty (OH-03), National Leaders & Advocacy, Organizations Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Chellie Pingree (ME-01); Rashida Tlaib (MI-12); Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Co-Chair, Member Services Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05); Lucy McBath (GA-06), Congressional Black Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07); Nikema Williams (GA-05), Chief Whip, Democratic Women's Caucus; Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01); Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Co-Chair, Policy Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Julie Johnson (TX-32), Equality Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Lois Frankel (FL-22), Chair Emerita, Democratic Women's Caucus; Doris Matsui (CA-07); Judy Chu (CA-28), Co-Chair & Liaison, Reproductive Freedom Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06); Nellie Pou (NJ-09); Summer L. Lee (PA-12); Terri A. Sewell (AL-07); Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03); LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), New Member Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Betty McCollum (MN-04); Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09); Emily Randall (WA-06), Whip, Democratic Women's Caucus; Dina Titus (NV-01); Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Whip, Democratic Women's Caucus; Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Co-Chair, Member Services Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Gwen S. Moore (WI-04); Analilia Mejia (NJ-11); Sarah Elfreth (MD-03); April McClain Delaney (MD-06); Valerie P. Foushee (NC-04); Marilyn Strickland (WA-10); Jahana Hayes (CT-05); Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29); Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01); Marcy Kaptur (OH-09); Laura Friedman (CA-30); Robin L. Kelly (IL-02); Nancy Pelosi (CA-11); Val Hoyle (OR-04); Haley M. Stevens (MI-11); Norma J. Torres (CA-35), New Democrat Coalition Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14); Maggie Goodlander (NH-02); Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Progressive Caucus Liaison, Democratic Women's Caucus; Lori Trahan (MA-03); Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08); Kathy Castor (FL-14); Steven Horsford (NV-04); Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03); Nikki Budzinski (IL-13); Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44); Grace Meng (NY-06); Angie Craig (MN-02); Salud Carbajal (CA-24); Becca Balint (VT-AL); Veronica Escobar (TX-16); Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13), Vice Chair, Democratic Women's Caucus; Luz M. Rivas (CA-29); Gabe Amo (RI-01); Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chair & Liaison, Reproductive Freedom Task Force, Democratic Women's Caucus; Sharice L. Davids (KS-03); Jared Moskowitz (FL-23); Ilhan Omar (MN-05); Hillary J. Scholten (MI-03), Vice Chair, Democratic Women's Caucus; Lauren Underwood (IL-14); and Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-epas-decision-to-erase-climate-pollution-limits-from-power-plants/", "Hickenlooper Statement on EPA\u2019s Decision to Erase Climate Pollution Limits from Power Plants", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement blasting the Trump administration\u2019s decision to roll back the EPA limits on pollution from power plants.\n\n\u201cClimate change is real and worsening Colorado\u2019s drought and wildfires. The EPA had a rule in place to limit pollution from the largest polluters to address climate change.\n\n\u201cYesterday\u2019s decision by the EPA ignores science and will seriously threaten our environment. We can\u2019t let their decision stand, and we will keep fighting to reduce pollution and stop climate change.\u201d\n\nHickenlooper has long pushed for real, science-based climate policy. He played a key role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which was the largest climate investment ever, and is fighting against Washington Republicans\u2019 attempts to undermine the law.\n\nHickenlooper has called out the Trump admin\u2019s reckless decision to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) \u201cendangerment finding,\u201d which determined that greenhouse gas pollution harms Americans and is a serious threat to public health. The rollback would defy decades of science, EPA precedent, and Supreme Court rulings and lead to more pollution across the U.S. Hickenlooper has also fought against the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) rejection of Colorado\u2019s updated Regional Haze Plan.\n\nAs Colorado governor, Hickenlooper worked with environmentalists and oil and gas companies to create the world\u2019s first methane rules, which were later used as a national model by the Obama administration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-welcomes-97m-in-federal-disaster-aid-for-colorado-communities/", "Hickenlooper Welcomes $97M in Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado Communities", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement welcoming the release of $97 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for Colorado communities to recover from past disasters and mitigate future disasters.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re happy to see that more federal funding is on the way for Colorado communities who need it to protect themselves and recover from destructive storms, wildfires, and flooding,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cWe\u2019ll continue fighting for disaster aid because you never know when the weather or winds could turn and communities will need this help.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/icymi-hickenlooper-visits-kids-first-health-care-to-discuss-medicaid-cuts-falling-vaccination-rates/", "ICYMI: Hickenlooper Visits Kids First Health Care to Discuss Medicaid Cuts, Falling Vaccination Rates", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "New CDC data shows Colorado has the sixth-lowest reported kindergarten MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccination rate among states and D.C.\n\nCOLORADO \u2013 In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper recently visited Kids First Health Care in Commerce City to meet with pediatric providers, public health experts, and local health care leaders about how the Trump administration\u2019s health policies are hitting Colorado kids \u2013 including cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance in HR1, and changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. The visit came on the heels of new CDC data which ranked Colorado among the states with the lowest reported MMR vaccination rates in the country.\n\nPediatric care specialists said access to nutrition assistance and affordable food is the number one ask among families they see. The numbers back that up:12,500 Colorado children have already lost food assistance because of the cuts to SNAP in the president\u2019s signature legislation, according to new data from the Center on Budget and Policy priorities. Another 193,000 Coloradans are projected to lose their health coverage as a result of the bill\u2019s cuts to Medicaid, and more than one-third of Colorado\u2019s Medicaid enrollees are children.\n\nIn a subsequent Substack, Hickenlooper shared how his personal experience as a parent and scientist informs his work on these issues. \u201cAs a former scientist and the father of a three-and-a-half-year-old, the issue of healthcare is deeply personal. I know the anxiety parents feel when they drop their kids off at day care or school,\u201d Hickenlooper wrote. \u201cWe all want the same thing: to keep our children healthy and safe. That means following the evidence and giving parents clear, reliable information they can trust.\u201d\n\nAt the event, Hickenlooper raised concerns about the Trump administration\u2019s proposed changes to longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations, which are currently being challenged in court, and efforts to encourage states to reconsider school immunization requirements.\n\nWATCH: Fox 31 Denver: Hickenlooper Discusses Vaccines, Medicaid Cuts\n\nWATCH: Hickenlooper Discusses Cuts to Medicaid, Falling Vaccination Rates\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/washington-examiner-iran-war-powers-resolution-passes-house-with-seven-republican-defections", "Washington Examiner: Iran war powers resolution passes House with seven Republican defections", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Crow continued, \u201cWe\u2019re not going to stop because Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, by the way, this is one of the most bipartisan issues in America \u2014 Republicans and Democrats alike have had enough, and we\u2019re going to push for votes so that they know, just like we\u2019re going to do today, they know where their representative stands.\u201d\n\nThe vote came the same day that Massie, who lost his primary bid in May, introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, largely for the secretary\u2019s role in the Iran war.\n\nMassie\u2019s articles against Hegseth accuse him of abusing the power of his office, saying he \u201cknowingly\u201d executed and implemented \u201cunlawful orders to initiate war against a foreign nation\u201d without the authorization of Congress, an attack endangering national security, or an imminent threat requiring action.\n\nThe Kentucky Republican said by fulfilling the orders, Hegseth has demonstrated that he \u201cwill remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with the rule of law.\u201d\n\nPublic support for the Iran war is low, with 71% of Americans saying the United States should not be involved in Iran, according to an Ipsos poll released in April.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-fighting-every-colorado-rural-hospital-eastern-plains", "REP. BOEBERT: FIGHTING FOR EVERY COLORADO RURAL HOSPITAL ON THE EASTERN PLAINS", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-CO) published an op-ed in Colorado Politics highlighting her extensive record fighting for rural hospitals.\n\nRep. Boebert wrote, \u201cI worked with my colleagues for years long before President Trump\u2019s reelection to plan what became the One Big Beautiful Bill so we would have a plan ready to go.\u201d That bill, she wrote, created the Rural Health Transformation Program $50 billion over five years, $10 billion a year from fiscal year 2026 through 2030.\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s first-year award is about $200.1 million,\u201d she wrote, with \u201calmost $160 million in the first year\u201d going out as competitive grants to rural providers. First-year grants include $44 million for telehealth, $23.4 million to recruit and keep rural clinicians, $48.9 million for hospitals, clinics and EMS, $40 million for new care models, and $4.8 million for chronic-disease prevention.\n\nThe Truth Is Democrats Have Been Cutting Healthcare\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s hard not to be reminded that for the past decade Democrats and socialists have blamed President Donald Trump for everything,\u201d she wrote. Democrat leaders, she wrote, \u201chave spent two years cutting healthcare while running sanctuary policies that make fraud and crime harder to stop.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo, when Democrats talk about cuts, they happened here in Denver. Those are state choices, not slogans,\u201d she wrote. Sanctuary rules that block cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, she wrote, \u201cmake it easier for illegal presence\u201d and \u201cbenefit fraud, identity theft, cartels and repeat offenders who drain dollars that should go to hospitals, nurses and families who play by the rules.\u201d\n\nRepublicans Focused on Cutting Fraud to Protect Rural Hospitals\n\n\u201cCutting fraud, waste and abuse puts real money into rural hospitals,\u201d she wrote. Republicans are getting crime and fraud out of government programs and sending resources back to farmers, ranchers, seniors, children, and rural hospitals on the Eastern Plains. \u201cSecure communities and honest books protect care close to home,\u201d she wrote.\n\nShe also cited the Rural Hospital Technical Assistance Program Act (H.R. 4713), her yes vote on the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2493), and her role as an original cosponsor of the Rural Hospital Revitalization Act of 2026 (H.R. 9005).\n\nRead the op-ed in Colorado Politics:", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/14/bennet-pettersen-push-to-advance-lincoln-park-superfund-site-clean-up/", "Bennet, Pettersen Push to Advance Lincoln Park Superfund Site Clean-up", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Brittney Pettersen (D-Colo.) pushed to advance the clean-up of the Cotter / Lincoln Park Superfund Site near Ca\u00f1on City, which has awaited cleanup for more than 40 years.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers urge EPA to move forward with the next step of the Superfund remediation process, which includes developing a detailed planning document for collecting, testing, and validating environmental data from the main portion of the site to Superfund standards. The lawmakers also ask EPA to provide clear timelines to the community for progression through the overall Superfund process.\n\n\u201c[\u2026] It is critical that EPA continue to move forward with site mitigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), collaborating with Cotter Corporation, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and the local communities to facilitate the responsible cleanup of the Lincoln Park Superfund Site,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe Lincoln Park Superfund site is a 2,600-acre decommissioned uranium, vanadium, and molybdenum processing mill that consistently discharged liquid waste containing radionuclides and heavy metals into 11 largely unlined waste ponds for about 20 years. In 1984, the mill was designated a Superfund site because high contamination levels posed a risk to human health and the surrounding environment. Yet, four decades later, this site has barely advanced through the Superfund process, with progress impeded by multiple ownership changes, as remediation plans need to be restructured after each liability switch. This uncertainty has left many residents frustrated and concerned about the future of the site.\n\n\u201cMany community members have spent decades advocating for the remediation of this site, and they deserve clear information about when they can expect meaningful progress\u201d continued the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cMembers of the Lincoln Park / Cotter Community Advisory Group appreciate the assistance of Senator Bennet and Congresswoman Pettersen in helping to move the Cotter Superfund site closer to a cleanup. The Ca\u00f1on City area has waited more than 42 years. We\u2019ve not only had no cleanup in all those decades, we have not even had comprehensive environmental testing to determine all the places that are contaminated,\u201d said Emily Tracy, Chair of the Lincoln Park / Cotter Community Advisory Group.\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Administrator Zeldin:\n\nWe write in continued support of the cleanup of the Cotter/Lincoln Park Superfund Site in Fremont County, Colorado. As you know, the Lincoln Park Superfund Site sits two miles south of Ca\u00f1on City, Colorado, a major transit and tourism hub in Southern Colorado. It is critical that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continue to move forward with site mitigation following the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) procedures, collaborating with Cotter Corporation, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and the local communities to facilitate the responsible cleanup of the Lincoln Park Superfund Site.\n\nThe 2,600-acre Lincoln Park Site has a long history of contaminating the area and cleanup has progressed minimally through CERCLA procedures since being designated a Superfund site in 1984. The site is home to the decommissioned mill managed by Cotter Corporation that processed various uranium, vanadium, and molybdenum products between 1958 and 1979, discharging liquid waste containing radionuclides and heavy metals into 11 largely unlined waste ponds. Since designation, liability for the site has switched multiple times, slowing down progress as remediation plans need to be restructured each time. The remediation timeline\u2019s continued uncertainty has left local residents both frustrated and concerned about the future of the site.\n\nIn a recent discussion with Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western, our staff was pleased to hear the Regional Administrator\u2019s commitment to the Superfund program and to making meaningful progress at the Lincoln Park Superfund Site. In the meeting, Administrator Western underscored EPA\u2019s commitment to promptly carrying out CERCLA procedures as written without cutting corners, while maintaining full transparency with the public and affected communities. We welcome Administrator Western\u2019s commitment and urge EPA to ensure this process is implemented at the Lincoln Park Superfund Site and that Region 8 maintains the necessary staff and resources to carry out this vision.\n\nMany community members have spent decades advocating for the remediation of this site, and they deserve clear information about when they can expect meaningful progress. At the Lincoln Park Site, community groups report that the Quality Assurance Project Plan for Operable Unit 1 (QAPP for OU1) has been placed on \u201cpause\u201d for two years while Cotter Corporation undertakes immediate remediation activities, potentially outside the CERCLA process. We respectfully underscore the importance of moving forward with the CERCLA process, including completing the QAPP for OU1, without further delay. High-quality testing conducted to CERCLA standards is essential for accurately understanding risks and determining appropriate remediation. This work is particularly urgent because land within OU1 is now home to an active community and event center. Finally, we respectfully ask EPA to provide the community with concrete timelines for completing the QAPP for OU1, executing comprehensive environmental testing in OU2 and OU3 (as required by the approved QAPPs), and further advancing the CERCLA process for the Site.\n\nWe thank you for your continued support for Lincoln Park Superfund Site remediation. As the CERCLA process continues, we look forward to continuing to collaborate to ensure local, state, and federal partners are satisfied with the remediation of the site.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-colleagues-challenge-trump-efforts-to-restrict-mail-in-voting/", "Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Challenge Trump Efforts to Restrict Mail-In Voting", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "261 current and former lawmakers joined together to file amicus brief in SCOTUS Mail-In Voting Case\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, and members of the U.S. House of Representatives filed an amicus brief challenging the legality of President Trump\u2019s executive order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule that imposes unconstitutional, unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a \u201ccitizenship verification list\u201d and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.\n\n\u201cMail-in voting is safe, secure, and makes our elections more accessible,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cThe Trump administration continues throwing everything at the wall to restrict the fundamental right of every American to choose their leaders. It\u2019s an unconstitutional, authoritarian attack that we won\u2019t let them get away with.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince the beginning of his administration, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have done everything they can to make our voting system less safe and secure,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cThe Supreme Court must stand firm against this latest unconstitutional attempt to supersede the authority of states and Congress when it comes to our elections, all in an effort to make it harder for Coloradans to cast a vote by mail.\u201d\n\nColorado\u2019s vote-by-mail system produced a turnout rate of 73.4% in the 2024 general election, nearly 10% higher than the national average. Of these voters, 92.2% chose to return a mail ballot. In Colorado, 90% of Colorado Republicans voted by mail during the 2024 Presidential election and 98% of Colorado Republicans voted by mail in 2025.\n\nNearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections \u2014 a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida\u2019s Republican primary.\n\nIn the court filing, the group argued that Trump\u2019s Executive Order and USPS\u2019s final rule violate the separation of powers and steal congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the States and Congress exclusive authority over administering elections.\n\n\u201cAs current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States \u2014 including its guarantee of the separation of powers,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cThe Constitution does not contemplate the Executive Branch acting unilaterally to assert power over federal elections. Yet that is what the Order and Final Rule do.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers concluded by asserting States\u2019 power to administer elections and Congress\u2019s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an \u201coverride\u201d authority. Trump\u2019s illegal attack on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.\n\n\u201cThe integrity of our constitutional system depends on each branch keeping to its assigned role,\u201d concluded the lawmakers. \u201cThe Framers set up a two-part system that gave the States default authority to regulate federal elections subject to Congress\u2019s authority to override the States. The Framers did not provide the President with any authority to interfere in that system, nor has Congress subsequently imbued the President or the Executive Branch with any such authority by statute.\u201d\n\nU.S. Representative Joe Neguse led the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nHickenlooper and Bennet previously demanded that the USPS abandon the rule and have been staunch opposition to the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to restrict voting rights. Both senators also introduced the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act to nullify Trump\u2019s executive order.\n\nAs governor, Hickenlooper helped create the gold standard mail-in voting system alongside Republican county clerks.Under Hickenlooper\u2019s leadership, Colorado became the first in the nation to conduct a bipartisan statewide audit after every election. Results from the audit over the last six years show Colorado vote-counting systems were more than 99.99% accurate.\n\nHickenlooper has consistently fought efforts by MAGA and Trump to restrict voting, including the SAVE Act, which he took to the senate floor to oppose. He also cosponsors several pieces of voting rights legislation, including the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Freedom to Vote Act.\n\nThe full amicus brief is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/assistant-leader-neguse-issues-statement-after-supreme-court-blocks-trumps", "Assistant Leader Neguse Issues Statement After Supreme Court Blocks Trump\u2019s Plan to Limit Mail-In Voting", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, Chair of House Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cHouse Democrats took our fight against Donald Trump\u2019s disastrous attempt to impose unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting to the highest court in the land\u2014and won. We\u2019ll never stop fighting to vindicate our Constitution and put a stop to this administration\u2019s efforts to disenfranchise American citizens. No party, and certainly no president, is above the rule of law.\u201d\n\nNeguse led more than 250 current and former Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, in filing an amicus brief challenging the legality of President Donald Trump\u2019s efforts to impose new restrictions on mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The coalition argued that the U.S. Postal Service lacked the authority to implement the Final Rule, which imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on voting by mail and is contrary to law.\n\nFor more information on the Litigation Task Force\u2019s efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-scotus-mail-in-voting-ruling/", "Hickenlooper Statement on SCOTUS Mail-In Voting Ruling", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Hickenlooper filed amicus brief with court regarding case\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 This evening, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s ruling on the legality of President Trump\u2019s executive order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule that imposes unconstitutional, unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a \u201ccitizenship verification list\u201d and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.\n\n\u201cToday, the Supreme Court rightfully rejected President Trump\u2019s latest attempt to infringe on Americans\u2019 right to vote and avoid accountability for his disastrous record,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cColorado has proven that mail-in voting is safe, secure, and cost-effective. We\u2019ll keep standing up to President Trump\u2019s attacks on democracy and protecting every American\u2019s fundamental right to choose their representatives.\u201d\n\nSenator Hickenlooper recently filed an amicus brief in the case alongside a bipartisan group of 260 other lawmakers arguing against Trump\u2019s executive order and the USPS rule. He also previously demanded that the USPS abandon the rule and has been staunch opposition to the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to restrict voting rights. Hickenlooper introduced the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act to nullify Trump\u2019s executive order.\n\nHickenlooper has consistently fought efforts by MAGA and Trump to restrict voting, including the SAVE Act, which he took to the senate floor to oppose. He also cosponsors several pieces of voting rights legislation, including the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Freedom to Vote Act.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-reflects-on-25-years-since-the-september-11th-attacks", "Crow Reflects on 25 Years Since the September 11th Attacks", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "AURORA \u2014 Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a three-time combat veteran of the Global War on Terror, released a new video reflecting on 25 years since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.\n\nFollowing the September 11th attacks, Crow joined active duty military service. He deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan as a paratrooper and Army Ranger with the 82nd Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment. He received the Bronze Star for his leadership in Iraq.\n\nOn this solemn anniversary in a new video, Crow recounts his memories of September 11th and how the events of that day altered the trajectory of his life. He also provides his thoughts on America\u2019s response to the attacks and what Americans should take from that day and the ensuing conflicts.\n\nWatch the Congressman\u2019s remarks below.\n\nA full transcript can be viewed below:\n\nWhere were you on September 11, 2001?\n\n\u201cI had just started my senior year at college at the University of Wisconsin. I was in my first week back at classes, and that morning I was actually in my car on my way to campus for classes and heard on the radio the news. So immediately, turned around, went back to my house, and turned on the TV like many Americans that morning, and saw the chaos and the tragedy unfolding.\u201d\n\nHow do you remember those who lost their lives that day?\n\n\u201cI always try to observe on 9/11 the sacrifices of first responders, the police, the firefighters, the EMTs and others who gave their life on 9/11. But those who are serving our community today and their willingness to meet moments of tragedy. To literally run into the fire to save Coloradans, to save Americans. It's incredible. And we should all honor that service.\u201d\n\nHow did September 11th affect your life?\n\n\u201cIt completely changed my life, like millions of Americans. I didn't realize it at the time, but what happened that day would completely change the trajectory of my life. Very quickly we were a nation at war, for the first time in a long time. And I was unwilling to let other people go and do my fighting for me. You know, I grew up in a working class family, and I wasn't going to have other working class kids go and bear the burden on my behalf. And I was also angry. I was angry about being attacked, I wanted to do my part, I wanted to fight back. Like many people did.\n\n\u201cLater, my views changed about what that means and what fighting back actually looks like, and how to do that the right way versus the wrong way, but at the time, that's what it meant to me. So I had just started the last year of my ROTC, and I had a National Guard contract, so I was going to be commissioned in the National Guard as an officer, and I went into my ROTC unit commander and asked for a transition to an active duty contract and asked for infantry, and airborne, and Ranger training, and the Army was happy to oblige all those requests. So less than a year later, I was an infantry officer going through all the training and getting ready to go to war.\u201d\n\nWhat has stayed with you most about that day?\n\n\u201cWell, you know those images of that day seeing people, husbands, wives, parents make that decision to jump out of those towers instead of burn is just seared into my mind, and the horror of being faced with that decision. That's a big one. Seeing the towers collapse, the imagery of the towers collapse, and the first responders who gave their lives.\n\n\u201cAnd then I think about not just the tragedy of that day, but then what happened in the years that followed and how we chose to respond. And now, as a member of Congress, as a legislator, as a policymaker, I think deeply about not just what happens when a country faces tragedy or comes under attack and how that defines us in our immediate response, how America came together, how we unified, but also how we respond in the months and years that follow, and the sacrifices that go into that. You know, the 7,000 Americans that then gave their lives and the ensuing two decades, the hundreds of thousands that did combat deployments who were wounded, who bear the visible and invisible scars of that day. The hundreds of thousands of others around the world who died in the ensuing conflicts.\n\n\u201cAnd whether or not we're really safer now, right. We're still fighting terrorism around the world. And what does an effective terrorism response look like? You know, do we respond militarily, or should we have taken a law enforcement response? And if we had chosen that path, what that would have looked like, would that have made us safer? Would that have required less sacrifice, less cost in lives, and also in treasure?\n\nWhat do you hope Americans remember and carry forward today?\n\n\u201cWell, that America still has the ability, I think, to come together, to support each other in the face of tragedy. That we have more in common than maybe our differences might suggest, I still believe that, I still deeply believe that. And even though we are divided, there's partisanship, families are divided by politics, I think we can get beyond that point.\n\n\u201cWe have seen great tragedy and great challenges as a nation over our 250 years, and we've been tested many times before. I really believe we can get beyond this and we can come out of it better, but it requires leadership. It requires us to look at our common humanity. It requires us to reconnect with each other, and get to know each other as friends, as neighbors, as colleagues, not just as Republicans and Democrats. And I don't say that, being naive about the real challenges we face and the threats that we face right now to our our system, I know those deeply, but I say that as somebody that served three combat tours, I have seen people, known people who have given their life to this country, and still believe in our common humanity and the ties that really do bind us.\n\n\u201cAnd the last is a personal and relentless pursuit for us to learn the lessons that we need to learn. We have just been through cycles where it's sometimes hard for us to learn tough lessons about how to use our military and what to do and what not to do. I wouldn't hesitate to use our military to protect us again if it's necessary, but there's a very strong argument to be made for more restraint. Not doing certain things that are outside of our interests. Pulling back from some of our conflicts and engagements and focusing on home. Focusing on the needs of Americans, and our military and our military families.\n\n\u201cWe should not be in an endless cycle of conflict. Since 9/11, we have been engaged in armed conflict every day for 25 years now. And I don't think that's inevitable. I don't think that needs to happen. And I think we have to have a national conversation about it.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1917", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Introduces Legislation to Uncover How Trump\u2019s Mass Federal Workforce Firings Have Delayed Constituent Casework", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "LAKEWOOD \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced her legislation to uncover how Trump\u2019s federal workforce cuts have impacted her constituents\u2019 ability to resolve their federal casework issues. This effort comes after it was brought to Pettersen\u2019s attention that there are just three federal case managers at the Department of Education processing all cases, and just five total case managers at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), causing extraordinary delays for her constituents.\n\nPettersen\u2019s Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act requires a comprehensive review of Trump\u2019s federal workforce reduction efforts and their impact on agencies\u2019 constituent services \u2013 including but not limited to delayed benefits at the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and impediments to disaster relief coordination within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).\n\n\u201cOne of the most important roles of our congressional office is helping our constituents navigate issues with federal agencies and ensure they get the help and answers they need. But we are seeing firsthand the devastating consequences of Trump and Elon Musk\u2019s mass firings and our constituents are the ones who are paying the price - facing exponentially longer wait times or not being able to get any answers at all,\" said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cIn some cases, this can be the difference between families having access to lifesaving care, seniors being able to pay their bills and keep a roof over their head, or students being able to pursue a higher education. Trump and Elon Musk took a hatchet to the critical services we depend on and the American people deserve to know the real costs to our country and a clear roadmap to recover from their disastrous policies.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Pettersen\u2019s legislation would require a comprehensive study of the scope of the federal workforce reduction, including understanding impacted constituent services at regional field offices, altered response times, and delayed services and benefits, as well as how it has caused impediments to federal, state, and local disaster relief coordination.\n\nAfter Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration, in January 2025, he selected trillionaire technology CEO Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unrestrained council engineered to aggressively shrink the federal government. Operating without Congressional authorization, DOGE moved to impose sweeping federal agency workforce reductions, implementing aggressive measures to dismantle the federal workforce. Widespread federal layoffs disproportionately affected probationary employees at federal agencies including the SSA, the IRS and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others.\n\nLast year, Rep. Pettersen joined 50+ House Democrats in letters to the IRS and SSA, and co-led the Securing Assurance for Federal Employees (SAFE) Act to block the Trump Administration from carrying out mass federal layoffs during a government shutdown. She is a member of the House Financial Services Committee where she has been a leading voice on government effectiveness and supporting federal workers, increasing affordability, addressing the housing crisis, and expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, and the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.\n\n\u201cFederal workers deliver essential services directly to Americans every single day. The Trump Administration has dealt a body blow to the federal workforce through indiscriminate mass firings, making it much harder for government employees to do their jobs. This legislation would instruct the GAO to study the impact of federal firings on service delivery, shedding light on the harm they have caused to taxpayers and the people who rely on government programs,\u201d said AFGE National President Everett Kelley\n\n\"The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) is proud to support the Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act. From day one of President Trump\u2019s second term, this administration has led a reckless campaign to gut the federal workforce, resulting in severe reductions in the services that federal agencies provide to the American people. These are critical services that we all rely on every single day. This legislation will ensure Congress, as well as Americans across the nation, understand the true scope of the damage President Trump and his supporters have done to public services throughout the country,\u201d said NFFE National President Randy Erwin\n\n\"NTEU is proud to endorse The Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act and applauds Representative Pettersen for her leadership on this important issue. The recent misguided efforts to gut the federal workforce are harmful to the American people and the services they rely on. If passed into law, this bill would provide valuable insight and transparency into the real and tangible damage that occurs when federal agencies and programs are underfunded and inadequately staffed. I urge the House of Representatives to swiftly pass this commonsense legislation,\u201d said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald\n\n\"The current Administration\u2019s federal workforce cuts through Reductions in Force (RIFs) have lacked justification and an established process and resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of highly qualified, skilled, and dedicated federal employees. Congress needs a comprehensive assessment, and the American public deserves a full accounting of how this Administration\u2019s RIF actions have impacted the delivery of public services, government efficiency, and accountable agency operations. We thank Congresswoman Pettersen for introducing the Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act, and we urge Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to cosponsor this important measure,\u201d said IFPTE International President Matt Biggs\n\nBill text can be found HERE.\n\n###\n\nTo access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/11/bennet-schiff-schumer-booker-colleagues-demand-netanyahu-immediately-crack-down-on-settler-violence-in-west-bank-and-protect-u-s-citizens/", "Bennet, Schiff, Schumer, Booker, Colleagues Demand Netanyahu Immediately Crack Down on Settler Violence in West Bank and Protect U.S. Citizens", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and 44 Senate Democratic colleagues to demand that Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take immediate actions to address surging Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, in the West Bank. The senators also called on the Israeli government to complete investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens who Israeli settlers or security forces have killed in the West Bank in recent years.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201c[\u2026] continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel\u2019s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike,\u201d continued the senators.\n\nPresident Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously expressed their opposition to annexation of and violence in the West Bank, which the Israeli government has failed to address.\n\n\u201cLike you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence,\u201d concluded the senators.\n\nFurthermore, the senators called for those responsible for such violent acts to be investigated and held accountable.\n\nBennet has consistently opposed Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and urged action by both the Trump and Netanyahu administrations to stop the surge in Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.\n\nIn April 2026, Bennet voted to restrict certain arms sales to Israel, saying: \u201cI have made clear that I will not vote to provide a single cent to support Trump\u2019s war with Iran. In this case, that means opposing the sale of weapons that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu would use to prosecute a regional war he launched with Trump.\u201d\n\nIn March 2026, Bennet joined a letter pressing the Trump administration for an investigation into the death of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, an American citizen who was shot and killed in the West Bank by Israeli settlers.\n\nIn August 2025, Bennet joined colleagues to introduced the West Bank Violence Prevention Act, which would o deter and prevent destabilizing violence in the West Bank by authorizing the imposition of sanctions on individuals who commit acts of violence that undermine peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, Israel, and the region. Bennet introduced this legislation after the Trump administration revoked U.S. sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank.\n\nIn addition to Bennet, Schiff, Schumer, and Booker, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai\u2019i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2019i), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) signed the most recent letter to Netanyahu.\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Mr. Prime Minister,\n\nWe write in shared concern and opposition to the growing levels of violence in the West Bank. Many of us have previously expressed to President Trump that continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel\u2019s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\n\nIncidents of fatal violence by settlers have reportedly already surpassed 2025 levels and continue to increase. The last few weeks alone saw a significant surge in violence on both sides, resulting in a large-scale response by Israeli security forces, mass arrests of Palestinians, and reported attacks by settlers on mosques. We urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people.\n\nWe write particularly on behalf of American citizens who have been killed or threatened in such violence. Many of us have heard first-hand from their families and other constituents who have themselves been threatened without cause by settlers. We have engaged the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and your embassy in Washington to ensure their protection and appreciate measures taken on their behalf, but a more significant response from your government is clearly needed. We ask for your personal and direct engagement and intervention in order to protect our constituents and their families.\n\nPresident Trump and Secretary of State Rubio have expressed their opposition to all violence in the West Bank and actions aimed at annexation, but those concerns have gone unaddressed. Now, we urge you to take the following actions:\n\nIssue clear directives to the Israeli Police and Israeli Defense Forces to prevent and intervene in harassment, threats, and actual use of violence, regardless of the perpetrators.\n\nEnsure that all those responsible for harassment, threats, and violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, are held accountable through a transparent and credible process. This includes completing investigations into and ensuring accountability for the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank since 2022.\n\nStop approving additional settlements and stop allowing the construction of, and take steps to remove, illegal outposts in the West Bank.\n\nLike you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/the-washington-post-these-congressmen-went-to-war-after-911-it-changed-them-in-different-ways", "The Washington Post: These congressmen went to war after 9/11. It changed them in different ways.", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Jason Crow and Troy Downing rushed to serve in the weeks after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Crow \u201cwas angry\u201d and wanted to \u201cfight back.\u201d Downing felt \u201cthe sense of violation\u201d and wanted to be the \u201ctip of the spear\u201d in the country\u2019s military response.\n\nBoth men were changed by the attack. Downing said it caused him to \u201cwake up\u201d to the nation\u2019s greatness, while Crow said the terrorist attack altered \u201cthe entire trajectory of my life.\u201d\n\nAnd after multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, these two men from different political parties \u2014 Crow is a Colorado Democrat, Downing is a Montana Republican \u2014 found their way to Congress, inspired by their service and the lessons they took from it.\n\nIt\u2019s their distinct takeaways, however, where their similarities end, highlighting how the terrorist attacks that sparked wars in Iraq and Afghanistan changed the nation\u2019s politics but did not leave its leaders with monolithic views of their meaning. Crow and Downing emerged from the conflict with disparate views on war and service, and have since, like the rest of the country, had to make sense of the 25 years that have passed since the Sept. 11 attacks.\n\n\u201cPeople do take different lessons,\u201d Crow said. \u201cAnd I think the lessons that I took out ... are a different lesson than some of my comrades and my brothers and sisters in arms.\u201d\n\nThe politics of the post-9/11 wars have changed dramatically in the last 25 years. Under President George W. Bush (R), Democrats and Republicans in Congress authorized military force in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Only one Democrat \u2014 Rep. Barbara T. Lee (California) \u2014 voted against authorizing action in Afghanistan. And while far more voted against authorizing military action in Iraq, 81 House Democrats and 29 Senate Democrats authorized military force.\n\nBut as the wars dragged on and the intelligence underpinning the conflict in Iraq proved untrue, Democrats began to sour on the prolonged entanglements, sparking a fervent anti-war, anti-intervention movement. That upended the 2006 midterms, seeing Democrats sweep into control of the House and Senate, and helped elect Sen. Barack Obama to the presidency in 2008. That sentiment later began to creep into the Republican Party, culminating in 2016 when Donald Trump won the presidency by pledging to end foreign entanglements and lambasting Bush and Obama for their handling of the conflicts. Trump, however, has overseen multiple new foreign interventions, most notably the ongoing war with Iran, a conflict that has undercut his pledge of \u201cno new wars\u201d and created tension with the Republican Party\u2019s more anti-war factions.\n\nNeither Crow, now 47, nor Downing, now 59, is an avatar for their party\u2019s views on war. According to the Military Times, more than 30 veterans in Congress began their military careers after January 2000, bringing diverse experiences to the legislative body.\n\nBut Crow\u2019s and Downing\u2019s disparate perspectives on the current Iran conflict echo the diverse opinions of those who served: Downing calls it a just conflict where Iran has been \u201cat war with us\u201d for nearly 50 years, while Crow labels it a \u201cwar of choice\u201d pushed by a president who is \u201ccavalier with other people\u2019s lives.\u201d\n\nDowning was deep in the Alaskan bush on a moose-hunting trip on Sept. 11, 2001, and didn\u2019t learn of the attack until the pilot who picked up his group recounted it five days after the towers fell. \u201cI was one of the last people on the planet to find out about it,\u201d he observed. Welling up with anger, Downing, who had been professionally successful with a web-based calendar company that eventually merged with Yahoo in the late 1990s, asked himself what he did to deserve his life of privilege.\n\n\u201cIt really bugged me, because I didn\u2019t have a good answer,\u201d he recalled, so at 34 and with no military experience, he enlisted at a recruiter\u2019s office in Montana and was sworn into a combat search-and-rescue squadron because he had a pilot\u2019s license.\n\nDowning, under the call sign \u201cYahoo,\u201d served eight years in the Air Force and the Air National Guard, including two tours in Afghanistan, where he and his crew rescued soldiers injured in battle. \u201cThere are guys that made it home to their families because we were there to get them and I\u2019m incredibly proud of that service,\u201d he said.\n\nCrow, unlike Downing, was on a path toward military service before Sept. 11, 2001. The senior at the University of Wisconsin was headed to classes when he heard on the radio that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. He remembers sitting in shock as people jumped out of the twin towers and wrestling with the \u201cdecision those people faced and the number of people that were killed on that day.\u201d As a member of the university\u2019s ROTC program, Crow already had a National Guard contract to be commissioned as an officer, but he asked to transition to active duty once the nation went to war.\n\n\u201cI wanted to do my part,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was the mentality at the time.\u201d\n\nCrow went on to serve three tours with the Army \u2014 one in Iraq leading a platoon of paratroopers in the March 2003 invasion and two in Afghanistan \u2014 earning the Bronze Star.\n\nWhile Crow entered the war angry and eager to \u201cdefend this country,\u201d he said the invasion of Iraq and his role in it \u201cdrastically changed my worldview about what this conflict and conflicts like it really mean.\u201d\n\nHe realized early on that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that the nation \u201chad been led into this war based on lies and manipulated intelligence and that what we had been told we were fighting for was not really what we were fighting for.\u201d People in his unit then began dying, he said, including a noncitizen Filipino soldier who was posthumously granted citizenship.\n\n\u201cIt was a time of massive change and evolution in terms of what I saw and the impact that it had on me and now how I legislate,\u201d he said, specifically citing that noncitizen soldier\u2019s death as a reason for his views on immigration.\n\nThe war changed Downing, too, but in different ways. He called the invasion of Afghanistan \u201cjustified\u201d as a way to \u201chit back\u201d for 9/11 and recalled the work he and his team did to help advance the rights of women and children. That service led him to Congress, where he said his goal was to \u201cprotect all of those things that make America great\u201d and \u201cmake that American Dream possible.\u201d And his work in Afghanistan made him \u201cincredibly disappointed and somewhat angered\u201d by the chaotic end to the conflict under President Joe Biden, a withdrawal he labeled \u201ca huge miscalculation that is a stain on America.\u201d\n\nDowning took issue with those, like Crow, who refer to the Iran conflict as a \u201cwar of choice,\u201d defending the Trump administration\u2019s position that the war is needed to defend the U.S. and Israel from a nation that has been \u201cfighting us for almost 50 years.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnybody saying that this is something new is not looking at that whole history,\u201d he said. \u201cWe did not pick this war.\u201d\n\nDowning\u2019s steadfast support stands in contrast to how many of his Republican colleagues, including those who served in wars, spoke about foreign entanglements before Trump began the Iran war earlier this year.\n\nVice President JD Vance, who spent four years in the Marines and deployed to Iraq for six months as a public affairs specialist, is a clear example. Vance was an outspoken Republican critic of foreign wars long before he ran for Senate in 2022. In 2024, before Vance became Trump\u2019s running mate, he reflected on how he deployed to Iraq and learned that \u201cI had been lied to\u201d about the reasons for the war.\n\n\u201cHave we learned nothing?\u201d he asked during a debate in the Senate over funding for Ukraine\u2019s war against Russia.\n\nSince then, however, Vance has defended the war in Iran, despite remaining a \u201cskeptic of foreign military interventions.\u201d\n\nThat kind of thinking has led Downing to believe that the Republican Party is not as anti-interventionist as Trump promised during his 2016 campaign.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t see that as a firm plank in the party right now because I definitely know colleagues that have differences of opinion,\u201d Downing said.\n\nCrow said he sometimes speaks with Republican veterans in Congress who privately oppose the U.S. getting involved in another conflict in the Middle East, a position, he said, he has little time for.\n\n\u201cI struggle mightily with this dissonance between what some of my colleagues say publicly and what they\u2019ll tell me privately,\u201d Crow said. \u201cI tell them that: \u2018Don\u2019t tell me. I don\u2019t care what you think. I want you to say it publicly because the country needs to hear it, and we need courageous leadership right now.\u2019\u201d", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/evans-peters-unveil-bill-address-transmission-project-bottlenecks-and-lower", "Evans, Peters Unveil Bill to Address Transmission Project Bottlenecks and Lower Electricity Costs", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representatives Gabe Evans (R-CO) and Scott Peters (D-CA) introduced the Certainty in Litigation for Electric Asset Reliability (CLEAR) Act of 2026, legislation to streamline the buildout of big power line projects. The CLEAR Act would fix the legislative ambiguity that currently leaves Department of Energy (DOE)-coordinated transmission projects prone to excessive litigation and outright obstructionism that can stall critical infrastructure development, kill jobs, and drive up costs for utility ratepayers.\n\n\u201cAs America\u2019s demand for energy continues to rise, it is crucial that we find new and innovative ways to successfully transfer power in an affordable, safe and timely manner. The CLEAR Act will boost energy production, cut red tape and expedite project timelines, and reduce costs related to transmission projects across our country. I\u2019m proud to help lead this important legislation, and look forward to continuing to prioritize permitting reform as I work to make energy and life more affordable for Coloradans and our nation.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\n\"Californians pay some of the highest electricity rates in the country, and part of the reason is that we can't get transmission projects through the litigation process and built on time. Our grid is too old and too slow to meet our skyrocketing energy demand. We can't wait years for badly needed infrastructure to be built. The CLEAR Act would accelerate the review process for large energy infrastructure projects and establish clear rules for stalled transmission projects, giving developers and local stakeholders the certainty to plan along with relief for ratepayers from rising costs.\" \u2014 Congressman Scott Peters\n\nThe CLEAR Act would align judicial review standards for DOE-coordinated transmission projects with those already used for hydropower and natural gas pipelines under the Federal Power Act, ensuring projects are built on time, without unnecessary legal delays.\n\nThe Federal Power Act governs the regulation of electricity and interstate power lines and empowers the DOE to act as a coordinating entity between Federal agencies, states, and local governments responsible for siting and permitting transmission lines. However, for DOE-coordinated transmission projects, parties have up to six years to sue, which drags cases through multiple, lengthy legal battles. This leads to confusion and uncertainty for companies who want to plan and invest with confidence, or local stakeholders who want to engage efficiently in the review process.\n\nFor example, the North Plains Connector, a proposed 420-mile, high-voltage transmission line connecting the western and eastern electric grids\u2014currently subject to lengthy deadlines \u2014 has dealt with unpredictable litigation timelines under the Federal Power Act.\n\nUnder the CLEAR Act, projects would have to follow Federal Power Act judicial review standards, including:\n\nA 120-day statute of limitations for filing suit\n\nA requirement that petitioners participate in the environmental review process before litigating, improving upfront engagement and making projects better during the review process, instead of on the back end; and\n\nDirect elevation of challenges to the U.S. Court of Appeals, ensuring stakeholders can reach a final decision faster\n\nRead a one-pager here. Read bill text here.\n\nBackground:\n\nAs leaders of the Problem Solvers Caucus\u2019 Permitting Energy & Environment Working Group, and members of the House Energy and Environment Committee, Reps. Evans and Peters have led several major bipartisan efforts in Congress to overhaul and streamline the federal permitting process for energy and infrastructure projects.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-evans-acting-united-states-secretary-labor-keith-sonderling-highlight", "Rep. Gabe Evans, Acting United States Secretary of Labor, Keith Sonderling, Highlight Colorado\u2019s Manufacturing and Skilled Workforce", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "DENVER, CO \u2014 Congressman Gabe Evans welcomed Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling back to Colorado\u2019s Eighth Congressional District for two site visits and workforce roundtables highlighting the manufacturers, skilled trades, truckers, and small businesses powering Northern Colorado\u2019s economy.\n\nThe visit comes just days after the August jobs report showed the U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs\u2014tripling expectations\u2014while unemployment remained steady at 4.1 percent.\n\n\u201cHardworking Coloradans are leading America\u2019s manufacturing comeback. The August jobs report tripled expectations, American manufacturing is growing, and right here in CO-08, businesses are ready to hire and workers are ready to work.\n\nI\u2019m proud to partner with Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling to highlight Colorado\u2019s entrepreneurs, skilled tradesmen and women, and frontline workforce that are the backbone of our economy and our communities. These conversations are essential to ensuring we find ways to strengthen and support our skilled workforce, and continue bringing high-paying jobs back to the United States.\u201d \u2013\u2013 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\n\u201cAmerica runs on trucking. Companies like JFW Trucking keep our supply chains moving, support local economies, and create pathways to the American Dream for hardworking Americans. I appreciated the opportunity to join Congressman Evans and the Colorado Industrial Property Owners Consortium to hear directly about what it takes to keep trucks on the road and how the Trump Administration can continue to help small businesses grow.\n\nAmerica will need an estimated 300,000 new electricians over the next decade \u2014 and apprenticeships are how we meet that demand. Congressman Evans and I met with apprentices and IECRM leadership to discuss expanding apprenticeships to train more Americans faster and with zero debt for the jobs powering America\u2019s Industrial Renaissance.\u201d \u2014 Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling\n\nCongressman Gabe Evans and Sonderling began the day in Commerce City at JFW Trucking, a family-owned Colorado company with roots dating back to 1935. Following a tour of the facility, Evans and Sonderling joined members of the Industrial Property Owners Consortium (IPOC) for the first workforce roundtable of the day.\n\nThe discussion brought together Colorado business and industrial leaders to talk directly with Evans and Sonderling about the challenges facing employers and what it will take to continue growing Colorado\u2019s industrial and manufacturing economy.\n\nThe second stop took Rep. Evans and Sonderling to Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) in Northglenn, where they toured one of the country\u2019s largest electrical apprenticeship training programs before hosting a second roundtable with apprentices, instructors, contractors, and industry leaders.\n\nIECRM trains thousands of apprentices and licensed electricians each year, helping prepare Coloradans for careers in high-demand industries\u2014new manufacturing facilities, housing, data centers, energy infrastructure, and other major projects being built across the state.\n\nBackground\n\nColorado\u2019s Eighth District has become an important hub for manufacturing, energy, construction, and advanced technology, while major investments across northern Colorado are creating new demand for skilled workers.\n\nNationally, that momentum is reflected in the latest employment numbers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported manufacturing employment increased by 16,000 in August, including gains in machinery and fabricated metal products. Manufacturing employment has increased by 58,000 since December 2025.\n\nActing Secretary Sonderling said that manufacturing and construction have now added jobs for three consecutive months following the release of the August report.\n\nWednesday marked Sonderling\u2019s second workforce-focused visit to Colorado\u2019s Eighth District with Evans. In July 2025, Evans welcomed then-Deputy Secretary Sonderling to Aims Community College in Fort Lupton for a tour and roundtable focused on artificial intelligence, workforce training, and preparing students for the jobs of the future.\n\nA year later, Evans and Sonderling returned to CO-08 as Colorado helps lead the nation\u2019s manufacturing comeback \u2014 this time taking the conversation directly to the businesses, workers, and apprentices building it.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1915", "Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Solemnly Marks One Year Since Evergreen High School Shooting", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "EVERGREEN \u2013 Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (C0-07) today solemnly marked the one year anniversary of the tragic Evergreen High School shooting, introducing a bipartisan congressional resolution signed by all members of the Colorado U.S. House delegation honoring the shooting victims, and expressing gratitude to first responders, law enforcement, educators, faculty, and neighbors who acted swiftly to protect students and staff during last year\u2019s shooting. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) is leading a companion resolution in the Senate.\n\n\u201cToday, we honor the students, staff, first responders, families, and entire Evergreen community for their extraordinary resilience in the face of the tragedy after the Evergreen High School shooting one year ago today. Their strength, courage, and resilience continue to inspire all of us but also reminds us of the urgent need for change,\u201d said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. \u201cOur country\u2019s gun violence epidemic has shattered countless lives and is now the leading cause of death for our kids - a reality none of us should accept. As a mom, I understand the fear so many parents live with when they drop their kids off at school. Today, we stand with the Evergreen community and promise to keep fighting in Congress to ensure our kids are safe at school and in our communities. They deserve so much better.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne year ago today, the Evergreen community experienced an unthinkable act of gun violence,\u201d said Senator Michael Bennet. \u201cThe fear and trauma that Evergreen High School students, families, educators, and first responders experienced that day have not disappeared. We owe it to them \u2013 and all of Colorado \u2013 to act and to build a future where no child has to experience this kind of violence at school. I am glad to lead the Colorado Congressional Delegation in this resolution, and will continue to fight against senseless acts of gun violence.\u201d\n\n\"It is unacceptable that gun violence has become normal in America. A year ago, Coloradans experienced another tragic school shooting, this time at Evergreen High School, which left two students injured and an entire community traumatized. I'm proud to join my colleagues in recognizing the brave first responders and Evergreen\u2019s resilient survivors and residents, but more must be done. Congressional action to stop gun violence is long overdue\u2014it's past time we pass legislation to protect our kids. Enough is enough,\" said Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01).\n\n\u201cA year later, our hearts remain with the people of Jefferson County as they continue to heal from the tragic shooting at Evergreen High School. No parent should ever have to receive the kind of call that far too many parents in our country have received\u2014and no child should have to be marched out of their classroom, hide under their desk, or fear gunshots in their school. Enough is enough. We must stand together against senseless acts of gun violence,\u201d said Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02)\n\n\u201cOne year after the tragic shooting at Evergreen High School, our heart is with the students, families, and first responders who faced unimaginable horror that day. As a combat veteran and father of two kids, I refuse to accept that our classrooms should function like war zones. We can honor the resilience of the Evergreen community not just with our thoughts, but by elected officials of both parties acting to pass common-sense gun safety laws to protect our children, communities, and Colorado,\u201d said Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)\n\n\u201cI continue to pray that God strengthens Evergreen High School and the Jefferson County community. I am honored to join my colleagues on the bipartisan memorial resolution and to keep working with them to direct federal dollars toward more School Resource Officers so we can protect our children against evil acts. My heart remains with everyone in Evergreen.\u201d said Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04).\n\n\u201cAs a father of five, I cannot imagine the fear and heartbreak the Evergreen community experienced that day. One year later, we remember the victims, stand with the students, families, and educators who still carry the weight of what happened, and recognize the first responders who ran toward danger to protect others. I\u2019m proud to join Congresswoman Pettersen and my colleagues in the Colorado delegation in honoring the strength and resilience Evergreen has shown over the past year,\u201d said Congressman Jeff Hurd (CO-03)\n\n\"One year ago, the Evergreen community lived through something no community should. We pray God continues to give them comfort, and we thank the deputies and teachers who ran toward danger and saved lives,\u201d said Congressman Jeff Crank (CO-05)\n\n\"Today, we remember the students, their families, and an entire community that continues to heal from the horrific act of violence that took place just one year ago at Evergreen High School. We also honor the first responders, law enforcement officers, educators, health care workers, and neighbors who acted without hesitation to protect students and save lives. As a father and former police officer, I\u2019m proud to join the Colorado delegation in making sure their courage is remembered and that the Evergreen community knows Colorado continues to stand with them,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08)\n\nSpecifically, the resolution honors the two victims who were wounded, and recognizes the lasting trauma carried by students, staff, families, and the broader community. It also pays tribute to the first responders, law enforcement officers, educators, school staff, neighbors, and hospital workers who stepped up with courage and compassion in the aftermath.\n\nSee the full text of the resolution here.\n\nThis resolution comes after, earlier this year, Congresswoman Pettersen introduced three pieces of legislation responding to the tragedy at Evergreen High School last year:\n\nThe Evergreen Community Safety Act which requires social media companies to respond to warrants and subpoena requests regarding potential threats of violence within 72 hours.\n\nBill text is available HERE.\n\nThe Community Firearm Safety Act, which creates a permissible use under the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program within the Department of Justice (DOJ) to allow grants for localities to procure and distribute safe firearm storage boxes to community members.\n\nBill text is available HERE.\n\nThe Community Risk Training and Response Act, which creates a grant program through the Office of the Attorney General for up to $500,000 for localities to provide technical assistance and training to law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and court staff, healthcare providers, educators, and agencies designated to coordinate Extreme Risk Order Implementation and to develop standardized extreme risk protection order training and curriculum nationwide.\n\nBill text is available HERE.\n\nSince the Columbine tragedy in 1999, more than 390,000 students in the United States have experienced gun violence at school, killing at least 203 and injuring 441 students, educators, and other individuals on K-12 campuses. Colorado has been touched by gun violence before, with spaces of community such as schools, movie theaters, night clubs, and houses of worship affected.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/10/bennet-hickenlooper-wyden-padilla-schiff-sound-the-alarm-on-lack-of-firefighting-resources-during-the-2026-wildfire-season/", "Bennet,\u00a0Hickenlooper, Wyden, Padilla, Schiff\u00a0Sound the Alarm on Lack of Firefighting Resources During the 2026 Wildfire Season", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, led Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to express serious concerns about the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) preparedness and ability to adequately respond to the 2026 fire season. Colorado has faced one of the most severe wildfire seasons to date, with over 240,000 acres burned and loss of wildland firefighting personnel.\n\n\u201c[\u2026] Record-breaking high temperatures and historic drought have led to catastrophic fires across the West, destroying thousands of homes, wreaking havoc on the economies of rural communities, stressing the budgets of local governments, and leading to the loss of four wildland firefighters and two pilots,\u201dbegan the senators.\n\nBetween July 18 and September 4, 2026, the national firefighting force was at preparedness level 5 with federal resources fully committed to combating wildland fires across the country. So far this year, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Wildland Fire Service has dedicated over $6 billion to fire suppression budget authority, spending nearly the entire fire suppression budget as of September 2, 2026. The West is expected to remain in peak fire season with hot, dry, and windy conditions for at least the next two months, raising concerns that federal wildfire resources and suppression funds could run out entirely.\n\n\u201cIn light of these concerns, the capacity of the federal government to sustain operations is critical. We are concerned that the agencies simply do not have enough highly qualified personnel, Incident Management Teams, and supervisory staff to sustain operations. Our offices have received reports that teams have worked more fires than is safe, using temporary supervisory structures because fully qualified personnel are not available. We have also heard that locally-led initial attack was affected by national mobilization, and that personnel have worked repeated or extended assignments. This is exceptionally concerning given that the worst of the fire season is likely yet to come and the high wildland firefighter fatality rate this season,\u201dcontinued the senators.\n\nAs Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, Bennet has fought for adequate support for Colorado\u2019s forests during wildfire seasons. In August 2026, Bennet and Representative Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) led the entire Colorado Congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump expressing strong support for Governor Jared Polis\u2019 request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration following massively destructive wildfires in Pueblo, Custer, and Ouray Counties. Additionally, Bennet led Senators Hickenlooper, Mike Lee (R-Utah), and John Curtis (R-Utah) to introduce a bipartisan resolution honoring this season\u2019s wildfire casualties and all those who serve on the front lines of wildland firefighting efforts in the United States. Bennet and Hickenlooper also introduced the Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response and Coordination Act to mitigate the growing mountain pine beetle outbreak in Colorado.\n\nBennet has also consistently pushed USFS to respond to drought, prioritize hazardous fuels reduction, and reduce wildfire risk. In March 2026, Bennet urged USFS Chief Tom Schultz to prioritize proactive wildfire mitigation efforts in the West. In December 2025, Bennet urged Schultz to address persistent staffing shortages and mounting setbacks to wildfire risk reduction efforts across the West and the country.\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretaries Burgum and Rollins:\n\nWe write with serious concern about the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) continued preparedness to respond to the 2026 fire season. Record- breaking high temperatures and historic drought have led to catastrophic fires across the West, destroying thousands of homes, wreaking havoc on the economies of rural communities, stressing the budgets of local governments, and leading to the loss of four wildland firefighters and two pilots. The national firefighting force was at preparedness Level 5 between July 18 and September 4, meaning that federal resources were fully committed for nearly seven weeks. With several weeks remaining in peak fire season, fire conditions could continue to strain an already stretched system.\n\nIn light of these concerns, the capacity of the federal government to sustain operations is critical. We are concerned that the agencies simply do not have enough highly qualified personnel, Incident Management Teams, and supervisory staff to sustain operations. Our offices have received reports that teams have worked more fires than is safe, using temporary supervisory structures because fully qualified personnel are not available. We have also heard that locally led initial attack was affected by national mobilization, and that personnel have worked repeated or extended assignments. This is exceptionally concerning given the high wildland firefighter fatality rate this season.\n\nWe are also concerned that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) may run out of fire suppression funds this year. As you know, these two agencies had over $6 billion in fire suppression budget authority for Fiscal Year 2026. However, as of September 2, nearly the entire fire suppression budget has been spent. With over four weeks left in the fiscal year, USFS and USWFS may need to borrow funding from other accounts to pay for fire suppression.\n\nPlease respond to the following questions within 10 days:\n\nEvery day of this fire season, wildland fire personnel have put themselves in harm\u2019s way as they work to suppress fires. Tragically, 9 first responders have given their lives this summer responding to fires. Now, more than ever, we must do everything possible to support those who have returned to the front lines after watching their colleagues fall.\n\nWhy are we seeing so many firefighter fatalities, entrapments, and shelter deployments this year? To what extent has the full suppression policy contributed to a higher rate of injuries and fatalities this summer?\n\nIn response to the deaths of so many response personnel, what resources are USFS and USWFS deploying to ensure the safety of wildland firefighters?\n\nHow are DOI and USDA prioritizing safety?\n\nHow many hours of overtime have wildland firefighters, and specifically Hotshot and Type 1 crews, accumulated so far this year? How does that compare to the past?\n\nIn 2025, DOI and USDA cut nearly 8,700 public servants, USFS alone reducing its staff by 16% (approximately 6,000 full-time equivalents) nationwide. We are especially concerned about the loss of highly-qualified personnel, supervisory capacity, and red- card holders in high-level fire management positions. We are now hearing from communities across the West that requests for crews are going unfilled.\n\nHow many complex incident management teams are operating this year? Please also provide data on the number of complex incident management teams for the last ten years.\n\nHow many personnel are working repeated or extended assignments?\n\nDescribe how DOI and USDA are managing current shortfalls in wildland firefighting teams and supervisory capacity.\n\nWhat, if any, plans do DOI and USDA have to increase the number of Incident Management Teams to historic (or greater) levels?\n\nHow does the number of contract federal wildland firefighter crews compare this year to previous years?\n\nIn Fiscal Year 2025, USFS and DOI spent a combined $5.9 billion on suppression, a $1.5 billion increase from the previous most expensive year. As stated previously, the agencies have already spent over 70% of their $6 billion FY26 budget authority. As of August 31, 2026, fires have already burned nearly twice the acreage compared to 2025 (8,238,284 acres in 2026, up from 4,142,738 over the same window in 2025).\n\nExplain why there was such a dramatic increase in spending in FY25 and how FY25 spending informed FY26 operations.\n\nHow are USDA and DOI ensuring that, after record spending in FY25, FY26 dollars are being spent as efficiently as possible to account for the significant increase in burning acres?\n\nGoing into the 2026 fire season, did USDA and DOI expect to have spent 70% of their budget authority by this point in the summer?\n\nWith the potential exhaustion of fire suppression funding this year, the federal agencies will likely be forced to use appropriated funding from other accounts to pay for fire suppression, a practice known as \u201cfire borrowing.\u201d\n\nTo what extent are USDA and DOI rationing other resources this summer in preparation for potential fire borrowing?\n\nDescribe the appropriated accounts that USFS and USWFS would borrow from in order to fund fire suppression.\n\nWill USFS and USWFS borrow from accounts that fund hazardous fuels reduction, watershed restoration, state and Tribal forestry, Burned Area Emergency Response, Emergency Response, or other similar accounts focused on reducing the threat of and responding to wildland fire?\n\nWe have been glad to work with the agencies to raise pay for federal wildland firefighters. Temporary wildland firefighters (1039) continue to face pay caps and limitations on their employment. Given the extreme fire season, the Administration, in partnership with Congress, must take all necessary steps to compensate all front-line first responders.\n\nDescribe to what extent the agency has had, if any, ongoing discussions to extend the federal temporary 1039 appointment, allowing seasonal workers greater flexibility to continue fighting fires. To what extent are seasonal workers approaching the caps associated with 1039 appointments?\n\n5 U.S.C. \u00a7 5545(c)(iii), passed in March 2025, requires USDA, DOI, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to ensure that the compensation paid to wildfire personnel is consistent with FY2023 levels. What steps have you taken to implement this law?\n\nAt the beginning of the 2026 fire season, agency officials discussed the successes of fighting fires in 2025.\n\nTo what extent does weather factor into the differences between the 2025 wildland fire season and the 2026 wildland fire season?\n\nDescribe how the organizational changes and restructuring of the wildland fire organizations address the issues associated with prolonged drought and extreme weather.\n\nThank you for your prompt response to our questions.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-applauds-denver-lawsuit-to-block-armed-ice-agents-at-voting-sites/", "Hickenlooper Applauds Denver Lawsuit to Block Armed ICE Agents at Voting Sites", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Hickenlooper has previously introduced legislation to stop Trump from using federal law enforcement to interfere with elections\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the below statement applauding the lawsuit filed by the City of Denver and civil right groups to block armed ICE agents at voting sites.\n\n\u201cThe only conceivable reason for ICE to be at polling places is to spread the same fear and intimidation we\u2019ve already seen in our communities,\u201dsaid Hickenlooper. \u201cEvery eligible American should be able to cast their ballot freely and safely. We\u2019ll keep fighting tooth and nail to protect that sacred right.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Hickenlooper introduced the Protect our Polls Act that would restrict the deployment of armed federal law enforcement or military forces to polling places. He has pushed for efforts that would prevent immigration enforcement from targeting polling locations, as well as schools, hospitals, and places of worship.\n\nHickenlooper has been outspoken in the face of ICE\u2019s lawlessness and demanded a top-to-bottom overhaul of the agency to stop ICE from terrorizing our communities. Hickenlooper also voted against the DHS funding bill because it failed to overhaul ICE. He has consistently pushed for more oversight andtransparency for federal immigration enforcement efforts, and has worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE. In January, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to denounce the horrifying killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, condemn the reports that families in Eagle County found \u201cdeath cards\u201d left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents, and to demand the overhaul of ICE. He\u2019s shown up at ICE facilities previously to conduct congressional oversight visits and raise concerns about ICE disregarding due process. He helped launch an investigation into ICE\u2019s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight, introduced legislation to ban ICE from wearing masks, and pushed to cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave to ICE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-mccormick-announce-formation-of-senate-bipartisan-science-and-innovation-caucus/", "Hickenlooper, McCormick Announce Formation of Senate Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Kickoff event for caucus will take place at U.S. Capitol on Sept 14\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Dave McCormick announced the formation of the U.S. Senate Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus to highlight and elevate American scientific research and the application of those discoveries to promote innovation. Caucus members will work together with industry leaders and the research community to develop policies that promote U.S. leadership in science.\n\n\u201cScience propels our economy, saves lives, and solves the problems that once seemed unsolvable,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cThis caucus exists for one reason: to make sure Congress is fighting as hard for American innovation as our scientists and researchers are. The stakes are too high for anything less.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s economic strength and national security have always been powered by our ability to innovate, and that begins with world-class scientific research,\u201d said McCormick. \u201cAs we compete to maintain America\u2019s position as the world\u2019s leading superpower, this bipartisan caucus will help unleash the ingenuity of our scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators to drive economic growth, create opportunity, and strengthen our nation.\u201d\n\nThe United States has been a global economic leader for the past 50 years because of our dedication to science, technology, and innovation. Federally-funded research led to the invention of optical fibers, microchips, personal computers, mobile phones, robotics, cutting-edge medicine, and more.\n\nJobs in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine make up34% of the U.S. workforce.\n\nEconomic activity from these fields generates 39% of U.S. GDP \u2013 over $10 trillion dollars.\n\nThe United States spends only 3% of its GDP on research and development (R&D) and innovation.\n\nFederally funded R&D dollars are doubled in returns: every $1 invested generates nearly $2 in economic output. This is substantially higher than the returns on other forms of federal investment.\n\nChina is overtaking the United States in R&D funding, graduating more PhDs in STEM programs, filing more international patents than the U.S., and narrowing the gap on venture capital investment.\n\nThe Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus plans to host briefings, engage in roundtables and other conversations about existing and new policies, and provide a venue for discourse about new legislation to boost American scientific research and our STEM workforce.\n\nHickenlooper is the only peer-reviewed scientist currently serving in the U.S. Senate, a former geologist, and a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.\n\nA kickoff event celebrating the caucus will be held on Monday, September 14th at the United States Capitol.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/evans-bipartisan-ratepayer-protection-act-set-house-vote", "Evans\u2019 Bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act Set for House Vote", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Gabe Evans\u2019 bipartisan legislation protecting ratepayers from rising costs associated with the increased energy demand will receive a vote next week \u2014 marking one of the final bills to be considered by the House prior to the midterm elections.\n\nThe bill ensures American families are not left footing the bill for the grid upgrades and new energy generation required to operate large data centers. More specifically, it requires state utility regulators, like the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, to consider implementing rules for large-load data centers and hyperscalers to cover the full costs of power generation, transmission lines, and other energy infrastructure upgrades needed to meet their immense energy demand. Without this bill, families and small businesses in communities where data center development occurs could see higher electricity bills at the end of every month.\n\nThe Ratepayer Protection Act was introduced amid our nation\u2019s increasing energy needs and heightened scrutiny regarding how data centers affect consumer costs. The legislation has gained significant bipartisan support with 41 cosponsors in the House and it unanimously passed the Energy and Commerce Committee in July by a vote of 52-0.\n\n\u201cThis bill coming to the House Floor proves that House Republicans are responding to the needs of the American people. As the United States competes to win the global AI race and outcompete adversaries like Communist China, we must ensure that growth does not come at the expense of hardworking families. I\u2019m proud to lead the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to keep energy affordable and ensure American innovation can move forward without leaving families and small businesses to foot the bill.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\nBackground\n\nIf enacted, the legislation would establish a federal standard for state regulators to consider when reviewing proposals for new large-load customers with an electricity demand of 100 megawatts or more to come onto the grid. The bill recommends:\n\nRequiring financial assurances that large-load customers will pay for the generation, transmission, and other infrastructure necessary to serve their demand, preventing those costs from being shifted onto families and local businesses through higher electricity rates.\n\nRecovering the full incremental cost of grid upgrades from the large-load customer over time through special rate structures or other agreements, ensuring utilities and existing ratepayers are not left paying for infrastructure if a customer later scales back operations or leaves the system.\n\nThe Ratepayer Protection Act builds on the principles of President Trump\u2019s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, under which major data center developers, utilities, and governors committed to covering the full energy and infrastructure costs associated with new data center development.", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crank-calls-doj-investigate-violent-denver-ice-walk-outs", "Rep. Crank Calls on DOJ to Investigate Violent Denver ICE Walk Outs", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Jeff Crank", "C001137", "crank.house.gov", "crank", "https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) sent a letter to the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division requesting an investigation into recent student anti-ICE walkouts in Colorado and involvement from outside organizations.\n\nOn Friday, September 4, 2026, videos and reporting showed that student walkouts in Denver, Colorado, turned violent, with assaults on journalists and counterprotests. These incidents have raised serious questions about whether participants were unlawfully prevented from exercising their own constitutional rights.\n\nThe growing presence and influence of groups that support defunding federal and state law enforcement and interfere with the enforcement of immigration laws threaten the foundation of American society. The student organization, Colorado Youth Coalition, organized the \u201cWalk Out for ICE Out,\u201d and has aligned itself with the messaging from these outside organizations. The event gained significant traction through social media, leading to a reported 200 high schools participating in the walkout.\n\nReports from the Denver Police Department detailed at least five assaults at the Denver demonstration, and three people were transported to the hospital. Additionally, multiple constituents of Colorado\u2019s Fifth Congressional District who were present at the park were physically assaulted and sustained injuries.\n\nDue to the nature of the Denver incident, Representative Crank is requesting the DOJ to investigate whetherthese violent assaults infringed on other constitutional rights and the degree to which outside organizationsassisted in supporting the demonstrations where attacks on journalists and others occurred.\n\nExcerpts from the letter read:\n\nThe Constitution protects peaceful assembly, but those protections do not extend to violent conduct. For that reason, I believe a federal investigation is warranted, not only to determine whether individuals unlawfully infringed upon the constitutional rights of journalists, counterprotesters, or other members of the public with acts of assault, but also to determine the extent to which outside organizations participated in organizing, funding, or otherwise influencing the violent demonstrations.\n\n\u2026\n\nGiven the scale of the statewide mobilization and the violence that occurred at the Denver demonstration, I believe the DOJ should examine not only the individual incidents but also the extent of participation by outside organizations in the walkout. This should include determining what role outside organizations played in supporting the demonstrations, whether organizers provided guidance on conduct, and whether any individuals or organizations encouraged or facilitated violent conduct that resulted in violations of the civil rights of journalists, counterprotesters, or other members of the public.\n\nI therefore respectfully request that the DOJ review the events of September 4, including available video footage, police reports, witness accounts, and communications from the organizations involved, to determine whether further investigation or federal action is warranted. Thank you for your attention and consideration of this request. If you or your staff have any additional questions, please don\u2019t hesitate to contact my office.\n\nRead the full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-gabe-evans-lou-correa-introduce-bipartisan-bill-improve-transparency-sba", "Reps. Gabe Evans, Lou Correa Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Transparency of SBA Spanish-Language Resources", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Reps. Gabe Evans (R-CO-08), Lou Correa (D-CA-46), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15), Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Jim Costa (D-CA-21) and David Valadao (R-CA-22), introduced the bipartisan SBA Spanish Resource Report Act, legislation to give Congress and the public a clearer picture of the Spanish-language resources currently available to entrepreneurs and small business owners through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).\n\nThis legislation ensures that Congress and Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs are aware of the resources and services that remain available to them through the SBA.\n\n\u201cAs the grandson of Mexican immigrants and the representative of a district with a prominent Hispanic community, I know the critical role Hispanic small businesses play in our economy. This bill directs an inventory to be conducted of existing Small Business Administration Spanish-language resources to provide greater clarity to Congress and small business owners across our country regarding what resources and services are currently available.\u201d \u2013\u2013 Congressman Gabe Evans (R-CO-08)\n\n\"Hispanic Americans own more than five million businesses across this country, employing nearly three million workers. Everyone in this great nation who\u2019s willing to work hard and contribute deserves a fair shot at the American Dream, and this bill is a step in that direction. The SBA Spanish Resource Act is common-sense legislation that makes sure Spanish-speaking small business owners and entrepreneurs have the resources they need to succeed.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Lou Correa (D-CA-46)\n\n\"Language should never be a barrier to success. With over one million Hispanic-owned small businesses in Texas, I am proud to join bipartisan legislation that expands access and awareness of Spanish-language tools at the SBA. Our small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and I will continue working to ensure Texas main streets thrive.\u201d \u2014 Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (R-TX-15)\n\n\u201cFor many small business owners in South Texas, Spanish is the language they use every day with their families, employees, and customers. Federal resources should be accessible to the people they are meant to serve, and this bipartisan bill will help make sure the SBA understands where language gaps may be making it harder for our small businesses to get the information they need.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28)\n\n\u201cIn South Florida, small business happens in both English and Spanish. That is why Congress should know what Spanish-language resources the SBA already offers, how they are being used, and what they cost. I am proud to introduce the SBA Spanish Resource Report Act, to give Congress the information it needs to oversee these resources responsibly and make sure they are serving the small-business owners they are meant to help.\u201d \u2014 Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27)\n\n\u201cAcross the San Joaquin Valley, small businesses drive our local economy, including thousands of entrepreneurs who conduct business in Spanish. They deserve clear information about the resources available through the SBA. This bipartisan legislation gives Congress the facts we need to identify gaps in the availability of Spanish-language materials and make sure these resources are reaching the communities they are intended to serve.\u201d\u2014 Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA-21)\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the backbone of communities across the Central Valley, and every entrepreneur should be able to access the information and resources they need to succeed\u2014no matter what language they speak. In the past, the Small Business Administration has provided some resources in multiple languages, but many of those translations have now been removed altogether. With over 74% of CA-22\u2019s population identifying as Hispanic, there are countless native Spanish-speaking small business owners who rely on accessible information to start, grow, and sustain their businesses. I\u2019m proud to support the bipartisan SBA Spanish Resource Report Act to ensure Congress has the information necessary to understand whether these entrepreneurs have meaningful access to the resources they need to succeed.\u201d \u2014 CongressmanDavid Valadao (R-CA-22)\n\nThe SBA Spanish Resource Report Act requires the SBA Administrator to provide Congress with a one-time report within 180 days detailing existing Spanish-language resources and services offered through SBA programs. The report must also be made publicly available on the SBA\u2019s website.\n\nSpecifically, the report would examine Spanish-language websites, application materials, guidance documents, outreach materials, and customer service resources. It would also review resources available through SBA partners, including Small Business Development Centers, Women\u2019s Business Centers, SCORE chapters, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers.\n\nWhere data is available, SBA would also report on how these resources are being used, geographic trends, associated translation and administrative costs, operational considerations, and recommendations for efficiently administering existing Spanish-language services.\n\nImportantly, the bill does not require the SBA to create, expand, reduce, or eliminate any Spanish-language resource or service. Instead, it gives Congress greater transparency into what already exists so lawmakers can make informed decisions based on facts.\n\nBackground\n\nIn December 2025, SBA removed certain Spanish-language materials from its website, raising concerns about the availability of information for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs. SBA has continued to provide some Spanish-language resources and services.\n\nHispanic-owned businesses are an important part of America\u2019s small-business economy. The bipartisan SBA Spanish Resource Report Act seeks to establish a clear, public accounting of the resources SBA currently provides and ensure Congress has the information necessary to conduct effective oversight.\n\nThe legislation also requires the SBA Administrator to brief the House and Senate Small Business Committees within 30 days after submitting the report.", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/icymi-hickenlooper-visits-southeast-colorado-highlights-water-housing-veterans-care-healthcare/", "ICYMI: Hickenlooper Visits Southeast Colorado, Highlights Water, Housing, Veterans\u2019 Care, Healthcare", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "COLORADO \u2013 In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper visited Hasty, La Junta, Pueblo, Limon, and Lamar to meet with Coloradans and discuss top-of-mind issues.\n\nHickenlooper stopped by the John Martin Reservoir to receive an update on the progress of the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), which he has helped secure hundreds of millions in federal funds to complete. They highlighted how President Trump has risked 50,000 Coloradans\u2019 access to clean drinking water by vetoing Hickenlooper\u2019s bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act.\n\nWatch our video at the reservoir to hear more HERE.\n\nIn La Junta, Hickenlooper toured the 6th Judicial District Attorney\u2019s Office and met with county officials. They discussed the community\u2019s concerns about the Pueblo sewage spill impacting farmers and ranchers downstream, as well as the strains on rural healthcare and the importance of completing the AVC.\n\nEarlier, Hickenlooper toured the Vail Hotel in Pueblo \u2013 one of Colorado\u2019s historic hotels turned into a public housing project \u2013 and met with local leaders to discuss the increasing cost of housing in Pueblo. From 2014 to 2024, Pueblo\u2019s average rent rose from $593 in 2014 to $1,161 in 2024 \u2013 a 96% increase. Meanwhile, the average renter in Pueblo makes just over $39,000 a year. Hickenlooper highlighted how the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act, will help bring down the cost of housing and address the housing shortage Colorado faces.\n\nWatch Hickenlooper speak at visit to the Vail Hotel HERE.\n\nOn Wednesday, Hickenlooper convened local leaders to discuss the impacts and clean-up plans for the recent sewage spill in Pueblo, which released more than four million gallons of raw sewage into the Arkansas River Thursday, August 27th.\n\nLocal health officials say that E. Coli levels down-stream of the spill are \u201cextremely high,\u201d which poses a severe health risk to recreationists and down-stream ranchers and farmers. Officials have expanded advisories, urging residents to stay out of the water until testing shows it\u2019s safe. Drinking water for surrounding communities remains unharmed by the spill.\n\nWatch Hickenlooper react to his visit HERE.\n\nHickenlooper toured the Prowers Medical Center in Lamar to highlight how Trump and MAGA Republicans\u2019 extreme budget gutted our healthcare system and created a healthcare crisis. A report by Public Citizen identified Prowers Medical Center as one of nine hospitals most at-risk of being forced to cut services or close due to Republicans\u2019 healthcare cuts. There, he heard about the importance of the hospitals\u2019 birth center \u2013 the only facility offering comprehensive labor and delivery services in Southeast Colorado. When the center closed briefly between 2021 until 2023, expectant mothers had to drive all the way to Pueblo for care \u2013 a significant health risk in emergencies.\n\nHickenlooper met with local veterans, Veterans Service Officers, and state veterans affairs representatives to discuss challenges veterans living in rural areas face, including having to drive hours to receive their care and benefits.\n\nHickenlooper also heard from local ranchers and farmers about how they\u2019re adjusting to the extreme drought, this administration\u2019s tariffs, and the increasing costs of diesel and fertilizer caused by the war in Iran. One young farmer shared that he had to sell all of his cattle to pay off debts and, ultimately, close his family\u2019s farm after he couldn\u2019t keep up with rising costs.\n\nCheck out what they\u2019re saying:\n\nPueblo Chieftain: Leaders discuss next steps after 4 million-gallon Pueblo sewage spill\n\nAbout a week after millions of gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Arkansas River through a defective wastewater pipe, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper and state and local leaders met at Pueblo\u2019s Confluence Park to discuss a path forward.\n\n\u2026\u201cThis is the worst nightmare,\u201d Hickenlooper said at a Sept. 2 press conference.\n\n\u201cWe do everything we can to make sure that our sewage stays where it is supposed to be and goes where it needs to get so that we can process it, and make sure we don\u2019t have any risk to our food we grow and the water we drink. Once in a while, problems happen.\u201d\n\n\u2026Hickenlooper says Trump\u2019s denial of disaster funding for Democratic-led states is \u2018not acceptable\u2019\n\nHickenlooper told the Chieftain there have been recent issues with the processing of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster applications for Colorado and other Democratic-leaning states under the Trump administration. In March, Politico reported that \u201cblue states\u201d are three times less likely than Republican-leaning states to have disaster funding approved under Trump.\n\n\u201cObviously, that\u2019s not acceptable,\u201d Hickenlooper said. \u201cThis country has never functioned that way, and it never should. We are working with Republicans, as well as Democrats, to make sure that we\u2019re all unified on this, because this could happen anywhere.\u201d\n\nFOX 21: Officials provide update on cleanup efforts after major Arkansas River spill\n\nColorado Senator John Hickenlooper stood alongside state and local officials on Wednesday, Sep. 2, as they gave an update on how they\u2019re addressing the Arkansas River sewage spill. As state officials said bacteria levels are still \u201csignificantly elevated,\u201d Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has expanded water contact advisories to more locations.\n\n\u201cThe key is to not lose our unity and to recognize that the way to get through this is to come together,\u201d said Sen. Hickenlooper.\n\n\u2026But for farmers, ranchers, and locals, Sen. Hickenlooper said dealing with the spill is a challenge. \u201cWe\u2019re already having one of the worst droughts in Colorado\u2019s history. It\u2019s been just as bad down here, a little wetter this summer, but hailstorms, all the challenges, the people that grow our food have had to endure all summer long; this is the culmination of a very hard time,\u201d he said.\n\nSen. Hickenlooper said he will push for help in Washington when disasters like this happen.\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility in the federal government to step up and support not just the water providers and the growers of our food, but the whole community, so we\u2019re going to do everything we can in Washington, I guarantee that,\u201d said Sen. Hickenlooper.\n\nKOAA 5: U.S. senator visits Pueblo to discuss affordable housing law and local development plans\n\nU.S. Senator John Hickenlooper visited Pueblo Wednesday to discuss the affordable housing crisis with local leaders, gathering for a roundtable focused on how the city plans to address the shortage.\n\n\u2026The 21st Century Road to Housing Law was passed by Congress in July. The law creates incentives for states and local governments to increase housing production and reduce barriers to construction.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a huge investment in financing for affordable housing,\u201d Hickenlooper said.\n\nHickenlooper said the law also addresses corporate purchasing of residential properties.\n\n\u201cIt also restrains that Wall Street can\u2019t come into your community and buy a bunch of houses, which raises the price, doesn\u2019t add any housing, just makes it more expensive for everybody,\u201d Hickenlooper said.\n\n\u2026\u201cIt\u2019s looking at how can we be simpler and not have to go through all the red tape and bureaucracy when we\u2019re trying to build affordable housing,\u201d added Hickenlooper.\n\nKKTV: Officials say Sewage leak stopped, but Arkansas River contamination moves downstream\n\nState and local officials gathered in Pueblo on Wednesday to address a sewage spill that sent millions of gallons of untreated wastewater into the Arkansas River.\n\n\u2026Sen. John Hickenlooper joined Pueblo County and state officials at the news conference, emphasizing the need to address both the immediate contamination and the cause of the spill.\n\n\u201cWe have a team that\u2019s going to do everything possible to make sure we find out why it happened, B, do everything we can to make sure it doesn\u2019t happen again, and C, deal with this situation in real time,\u201d Hickenlooper said.\n\nKKTV: U.S. senator visits Pueblo to discuss affordable housing law and local development plans\n\nU.S. Senator John Hickenlooper visited Pueblo Wednesday to discuss the affordable housing crisis with local leaders, gathering for a roundtable focused on how the city plans to address the shortage.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a shortage, there\u2019s a backlog,\u201d said Steven Trujillo, Director of the Housing Authority of Pueblo.\n\n\u2026The 21st Century Road to Housing Law was passed by Congress in July. The law creates incentives for states and local governments to increase housing production and reduce barriers to construction.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a huge investment in financing for affordable housing,\u201d Hickenlooper said.\n\nHickenlooper said the law also addresses corporate purchasing of residential properties.\n\n\u201cIt also restrains that Wall Street can\u2019t come into your community and buy a bunch of houses, which raises the price, doesn\u2019t add any housing, just makes it more expensive for everybody,\u201d Hickenlooper said.\n\n\u2026\u201cIt\u2019s looking at how can we be simpler and not have to go through all the red tape and bureaucracy when we\u2019re trying to build affordable housing,\u201d added Hickenlooper.\n\nThe Prowers Journal: Senator John Hickenlooper visits Prowers Medical Center to discuss rural health care challenges with representatives from area hospitals\n\nSenator John Hickenlooper visited Prowers Medical Center on September 3, taking a tour of the facility and then meeting with representatives from area hospitals to discuss rural health care challenges. Present for the meeting were: Karen Bryant, CEO at PMC, Dr. Richard Book, Chief of Staff at PMC, Rita Bastian, Nursing Manager of New Beginnings Birth Center at PMC, Tina Sandoval, Chief Clinical Officer at PMC, Beth Bell, CEO at Weisbrod Memorial Hospital in Eads, and Dr. Anthony Brocato, CEO at Southeast Colorado Hospital District in Springfield. Also present were Joe Spitz, Board Chairman for PMC, Lamar mayor Kirk Crespin, and Prowers County Commissioner Roger Stagner. Amber Thompson, Executive Assistant to CEO Karen Bryant, was the moderator for the discussion, presenting the questions and introducing the speakers. Ms. Bryant opened the discussion by thanking Senator Hickenlooper for reaching out and asking if he could come to Lamar and hear them talk to him about rural health care in southeast Colorado.\n\nHickenlooper told the group \u201cMy main point in being here is to gather stories and express gratitude. Thank you all, for not just coming today, but for being part of the solution. As humans, we\u2019ve always got problems; we\u2019re always trying to sort through things. The only way we can do that is by coming together and hearing and actually listening, so I\u2019m here to listen.\u201d Speaking of the divide in government in Washington, he said \u201cHealth care is going to be THE battle. I\u2019m sure Karen (Bryant) has told you, come January 1 and really so on April 1, we are going to see many cuts in Medicaid and we will have real challenges. It\u2019s a reality that we all share and the more good stories I can take back to D.C., the higher the probability that I will have a story that will catch hold of some appropriator. It\u2019s stories, not just the cold facts, but the stories that help us. In the past, we were pretty successful in getting our share of federal support and I think we can get back to that. Your stories are helping.\u201d\n\n\u2026The open discussion that followed included the nursing shortage as well as those contract labor costs. Senator Hickenlooper said he felt that there needed to be new ways to train nurses, including developing programs that start in high school. Brant said that PMC is on pace to spend $11 million this year just for contract labor in addition to the $17 million for salaried employees, which is a huge burden for the hospital. She said they feel they need to have the physician staff levels that they do because \u201cwe never know what\u2019s going to be coming through our doors. It\u2019s just really important to make sure you hear our story. We\u2019re in rural America. We\u2019re it. As we talked about on the tour- the OB-GYN that\u2019s here or the surgeon that\u2019s here, they\u2019re it. They\u2019re 24 hours for the two weeks they\u2019re on, so we\u2019ve got to support them to care for patients\u201d.\n\nHickenlooper concluded the discussion, telling the group \u201cYour stories are so valuable. We have to have healthcare in these rural areas. Thanks so much for being here \u2013 you\u2019re doing God\u2019s work\u201d.\n\nWATCH:\n\nFOX (Colorado Springs, CO): Arkansas River Sewage Spill\n\nNBC (Colorado Springs, CO): Arkansas River Sewage Spill\n\nCBS (Grand Junction, CO): Arkansas River Sewage Spill\n\nNBC (Colorado Springs, CO): Pueblo Affordable Housing Roundtable\n\nFOX (Colorado Springs, CO): Pueblo Affordable Housing Roundtable\n\nLISTEN:\n\nKOA (Denver, CO): Arkansas River Sewage Spill\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/08/bennet-booker-warnock-van-hollen-colleagues-demand-hud-reverse-changes-gutting-fair-housing-program/", "Bennet, Booker, Warnock, Van Hollen, Colleagues Demand HUD Reverse Changes Gutting Fair Housing Program", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and 28 Senate colleagues to demand the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rescind a series of proposed changes that would fundamentally undermine implementation of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP), which funds nonprofit organizations on the front lines of combating housing discrimination and enforcing fair housing protections nationwide.\n\nIn their letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, the senators warned that HUD\u2019s Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026 funding notices threaten to strip funding from organizations that handle more than 74 percent of housing discrimination complaints in the country. The senators blasted the new funding notices for bypassing the intent of Congress and fundamentally reshaping the program. The changes lock out experienced fair housing organizations, prioritize first-time applicants over groups with proven track records, and abandon organizations that have protected Americans from discrimination for decades.\n\n\u201cDedicated local fair housing organizations, functioning on small budgets, provide an indispensable service for so many Americans: disabled veterans who require reasonable accommodations in housing, seniors and people with disabilities who need accessible housing, families with children turned away illegally from renting a home, women who are experiencing sexual harassment from landlords, survivors of domestic violence who have been improperly evicted, and victims of racial and other forms of unlawful discrimination,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nThe senators noted that this latest move is part of a pattern: the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to dismantle fair housing protections, including failed attempts to terminate FHIP grants and proposing to eliminate the program\u2019s funding altogether, despite strong bipartisan support in Congress.\n\nThe senators called on Secretary Turner to immediately rescind and reissue the FY25 and FY26 FHIP funding notices in line with federal law and longstanding program standards. They also demanded HUD turn over information by August 10, 2026 on how the new funding process was developed and implemented, including internal analyses, communications with potential recipients, and any future changes planned for fair housing policy.\n\nIn addition to Bennet, Booker, Warnock, and Van Hollen, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-Ore.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) signed the letter.\n\nIn December 2025, Bennet introduced the More Homes on the Market Act, a bill to make housing more available and affordable by incentivizing homeowners to sell their homes and increasing market supply. In November 2025, Bennet urged Secretary Turner to immediately halt reported plans to make drastic changes to the Continuum of Care program, which could result in nearly 200,000 Americans being forced out of their housing and back into homelessness. In August 2025, Bennet demanded answers from Secretary Turner on cuts to agency staff and the lease termination of the HUD Denver Regional Office.\n\nThe text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nDear Secretary Turner:\n\nWe write to express deep concerns regarding recent actions by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s (HUD) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) that would undermine the implementation of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). On July 2, 2026, HUD proposed a series of sweeping changes that if fully implemented, could shutter the doors of local fair housing organizations that handle more than 74 percent of the housing discrimination complaints across the country.\n\nOn July 2, 2026, HUD released four notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) for FY 25 and FY 26 FHIP funding. For FY 25, HUD makes no funding available for the Education and Outreach Initiative (EOI) and Private Enforcement Initiatives (PEI), two programs that have been central to FHIP NOFOs for many years, which would essentially block FY 25 money from going to local fair housing organizations. For FY 26, while HUD provides funding for the EOI and PEI components of FHIP in line with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, HUD has made any organization that received FY 23 or FY 24 PEI awards ineligible for FY 26 PEI funds. Further, all four NOFOs give considerable preference to new, first time FHIP applicants, further penalizing existing grantees who have an expertise in doing this work in a cost-effective manner in local communities. These significant changes run counter to the intent of Congress that consistently appropriates funds for these essential programs and services in a bipartisan manner.\n\nThis latest effort is on the heels of the Trump Administration\u2019s failed attempts last year to dismantle fair housing protections. HUD was sued regarding the attempted termination of FHIP grants in 2025, and in a strong rebuke of HUD\u2019s position, a federal judge ordered the reinstatement of terminated FHIP awards. Then when HUD refused to use FY 24 FHIP funding to award new grants and administer existing multi-year awards, a federal judge once again stepped in and noted that HUD\u2019s argument that it could not be compelled to award the funds \u201cis not the law.\u201d The Trump administration has also targeted local fair housing groups through the budget process, requesting no funding for the FHIP program for FY 26. However, the FHIP program was funded by Congress for FY 26 with strong bipartisan support. The Trump administration again requested no funding for the FHIP program for FY 27.\n\nMeanwhile, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) continues to create delays in the apportionment process. OMB did not apportion the FY 25 FHIP funding until November 20, 2025. No funds were apportioned for the FY 26 Fair Housing Activities account, which includes FHIP, at the start of FY 26 as required by OMB\u2019s own guidance and standard practice, and it was not until July 28, 2026 that OMB finally issued any apportionments for FY 26 Fair Housing Activities. OMB\u2019s own guidance requires agencies to submit apportionments within 10 days of enactment, and most other HUD accounts have received apportionments since the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 over six months ago. Time and time again, federal courts and bipartisan coalitions in Congress have rejected the Trump Administration\u2019s efforts to undermine fair housing protections for American families. Dedicated local fair housing organizations, functioning on small budgets, provide an indispensable service for so many Americans: disabled veterans who require reasonable accommodations in housing, seniors and people with disabilities who need accessible housing, families with children turned away illegally from renting a home, women who are experiencing sexual harassment from landlords, survivors of domestic violence who have been improperly evicted, and victims of racial and other forms of unlawful discrimination.\n\nRather than protecting the rights of all of these people and more, HUD is redirecting $25 million into one large award to target state and local government agencies that have programs to \u201cprevent[] displacement and/or increase[e] housing choice\u201d by developing complaints against them and referring them to HUD, and heavily preferencing this award to universities with ABA approved law schools. The funding notice also suggests the recipient should use these funds appropriated for local fair housing enforcement to support \u201cproperty owners\u201d and \u201clandlords.\u201d Put simply, it appears that HUD is attempting to convert a longstanding program that efficiently and effectively makes fair housing real in so many communities into a fund to reward the administration\u2019s political allies and further its political objectives.\n\nThe day after these funding notices were issued, HUD Assistant Secretary Craig Trainor sent an internal email that raised further significant questions and concerns. The email described an \u201corganizational transformation\u201d related to HUD\u2019s administration of fair housing laws and that \u201c[m]ore will be revealed in due course.\u201d Mr. Trainor\u2019s email referenced the words of President Trump in calling this organizational transformation of fair housing part of a \u201cnoble tradition\u201d of \u201cAnglo-Saxons\u201d and the \u201cfirst Americans.\u201d The Fair Housing Act protects all Americans, regardless of their race or national origin, and Mr. Trainor\u2019s remarks reasonably call into question his commitment to this fundamental aspect of his statutory position created by the Fair Housing Act.\n\nGiven the devastating effect on local communities that HUD\u2019s unprecedented repurposing of FHIP grants will have, we ask that you rescind HUD\u2019s FY 25 and FY 26 FHIP NOFOs immediately and re-issue notices consistent with the historical standards and laws governing the program, ensuring that private, nonprofit fair housing organizations are eligible to compete for FY 25 and FY 26 funding. Also, given the effects that HUD\u2019s funding notices and other actions are expected to have on the agency\u2019s mission and operations, we ask that you provide the following information by August 17, 2026:\n\nA list of all meetings, emails, phone calls, or other contacts by Mr. Trainor and any other HUD officials with law schools, nonprofits, media agencies, or other groups who may be intended recipients under HUD\u2019s FHIP funding notices;\n\nA copy of all internal legal or other analysis performed by HUD on the compliance of its FHIP funding notices with the law or on the fundamental restructuring of the FHIP funding notices compared to prior fiscal years, including the FY 24 FHIP funding notices issued under the Trump administration on July 29, 2025;\n\nA list of all HUD officials who participated in drafting or approving its FHIP funding notices;\n\nDetails on HUD\u2019s request to OMB to apportion the FY 25 and FY 26 Fair Housing Activities funding, including for FHIP, with dates on when such requests were submitted to OMB;\n\nAll draft cooperative agreements, implementation guidance, instructions to awardees, internal guidance, or other documents that HUD has prepared to date to implement the FHIP funding notices;\n\nA summary of the intended changes to fair housing programs and requirements that HUD will be pursuing through rules identified on its unified agenda, including interim final and direct to final rules;\n\nA copy of all internal legal or other analysis performed by HUD supporting its decision to rescind fair housing guidance documents; and\n\nA list of any internal and public-facing guidance documents related to fair housing and civil rights requirements that HUD intends to issue through the end of 2026. We appreciate your prompt attention to this urgent matter and look forward to your timely response.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-white-house-action-wolf-delisting-and-american-beef-labeling-real", "REP. BOEBERT: WHITE HOUSE ACTION ON WOLF DELISTING AND AMERICAN BEEF LABELING IS REAL PROGRESS FOR COLORADO RANCHERS", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Eaton, CO. \u2014 Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) today welcomed President Donald J. Trump\u2019s recent executive actions supporting Colorado ranchers, including a directive to review delisting gray wolves and Mexican wolves and a push toward country-of-origin labeling for American beef.\n\nRep. Boebert has long advocated for these issues, fighting to return wolf management to the states and to give consumers a clear label on American beef.\n\n\u201cColorado producers should not have to watch wolves tear through their herds while Washington ties their hands. And American families should not be left guessing whether the beef in the grocery store was born and raised here at home. White House support for these initiatives \u2014 and Interior and Agriculture moving forward on the orders \u2014 is real progress for Colorado ranchers,\u201d said Rep. Boebert.\n\nRep. Boebert\u2019s Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845) already passed the House and would reissue the 2020 gray wolf delisting rule and protect that decision from activist lawsuits. She has also backed restoring mandatory country-of-origin labeling so \u201cProduct of USA\u201d means what it says, and passing the PRIME Act.\n\n\u201cThe executive order continues a process I\u2019ve been fighting for in Congress,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cI want to finish what has been started. We should pass this legislation by the end of this Congress \u2014 delisting wolves and putting American beef labeling into statute. Now the Senate and the House need to lock it in so ranchers and consumers are not left waiting on the next lawsuit or the next administration.\u201d\n\nRep. Boebert said she will continue working with the Administration, Senate partners, and Western colleagues to get both measures across the finish line this Congress.", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-joined-loveland-mayor-mcfall-ribbon-cutting-amazons-new-loveland", "REP. BOEBERT JOINED LOVELAND MAYOR MCFALL FOR RIBBON-CUTTING AT AMAZON\u2019S NEW LOVELAND FULFILLMENT CENTER", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LOVELAND, Colo. \u2014 U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) today joined Loveland Mayor Patrick McFall for the ribbon-cutting of Amazon\u2019s new Loveland Fulfillment Center with Site Leader Eric Ng and Sam Bailey, Economic Development Director in Colorado.\n\nFollowing remarks, Rep. Boebert and Mayor McFall cut the ribbon before a guided tour of the operations. The Loveland Fulfillment Center is Amazon\u2019s newest fulfillment center in Colorado and reflects a $400 million investment in the 4th Congressional District. The facility is on track to employ more than 1,000 people. Amazon already employs nearly 2,000 people across seven sites in CO-04. Those locations include three delivery stations in Broomfield, Loveland, and Sterling; three Whole Foods Markets; and the new Loveland Fulfillment Center. Amazon has almost 20,000 employees in Colorado.\n\n\u201cThis is private investment creating real jobs for Colorado families,\u201d said Rep. Boebert. \u201cAmazon chose Loveland and the 4th District because our workers show up, our communities are open for business, and customers expect results. A $400 million facility and more than a thousand new jobs are exactly the kind of growth we should celebrate.\u201d\n\nRep. Boebert added: \u201cAcross this district\u2014from Sterling to Loveland to Broomfield\u2014Amazon already supports nearly 2,000 employees. The Loveland Fulfillment Center builds on that footprint and will help get packages to Coloradans faster while putting more of our neighbors to work.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-crank-and-evans-join-secretary-wright-tour-ray-d-nixon-power-plant", "Reps. Crank and Evans Join Secretary Wright for Tour of the Ray D. Nixon Power Plant", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Jeff Crank", "C001137", "crank.house.gov", "crank", "https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOUNTAIN, C.O. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) and Representative Gabe Evans (CO-08) joined U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for a tour of the Ray D. Nixon Power Plant operated by Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities).\n\nThe Ray D. Nixon Power Plant is primarily fueled by coal and can generate more than 260 megawatts of electricity. Coal-fired power plants represent roughly a third of Colorado\u2019s energy grid, but unrealistic energy mandates coming out of Denver risk energy reliability and increased energy rates for consumers.\n\nSprings Utilities has been successful in negotiating with the State of Colorado to push back the 2029 closure deadline to 2032, saving customers $200 million in projected rate increases, but reliable energy production is still at risk in the future.\n\n\"Coal is a reliable, baseload domestic energy resource to help power our grid here in Colorado,\" said Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05). \"Colorado's burdensome energy mandates continue to cost our region, not only with higher utility bills but they also threaten our national security assets. Coloradans deserve reliable energy, and I'd like to thank Secretary Wright for his efforts to keep reliable coal generation online and coming to Colorado's Fifth Congressional District to show support for the Ray D. Nixon Power Plant.\u201d\n\n\u201cCoal has powered American prosperity for generations and continues to provide the reliable, around-the-clock electricity our grid needs,\u201d said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. \u201cThe Trump Administration is committed to adding reliable power to the grid, not prematurely shutting down generation that is already keeping the lights on. Ray Nixon is a great example of the critical baseload power Colorado needs to meet growing electricity demand while keeping energy affordable and secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cDenver Democrats spent years attacking reliable coal generation, only to run headfirst into reality: you cannot shut down dependable baseload power without something ready to replace it,\" said Representative Gabe Evans (CO-08). \"Keeping Ray Nixon online longer will protect grid reliability and save ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars. With electricity demand skyrocketing, Colorado needs more safe, affordable, reliable energy\u2014not political mandates that take power off the grid and leave families paying the price. I\u2019m grateful to Secretary Wright and Congressman Crank for fighting for an all-of-the-above strategy that puts reliability, affordability, and American energy dominance first.\u201d\n\n\"We appreciate Secretary Wright's commitment to policies that support reliable and affordable energy for our customers, including the military installations we serve that play a vital role in our nation's defense,\" said Travas Deal, CEO of Colorado Springs Utilities. \"We also thank Representatives Crank and Evans for their continued leadership in Congress. Their support helps ensure we can continue delivering the reliable energy our community depends on today while planning responsibly for the future.\"", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/04/bennet-hosts-conversations-with-colorados-next-generation-about-building-a-future-they-can-thrive-in/", "Bennet Hosts Conversations With Colorado\u2019s Next Generation About Building a Future They Can Thrive In", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 This week, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet hosted two conversations with Colorado\u2019s next generation, one with young professionals through CiviCO\u2019s Civic Pop-Up Series and another with students in an AP Government class at Vista PEAK Preparatory School in Aurora. The conversations focused on a simple question: What should the government do for the next generation, and how do we make sure it delivers? What does the American Dream look like for their generations?\n\nFor younger generations, the path to a good life is getting harder. Housing costs have risen sharply and many young people are finding that buying a home, building a career, and starting a family is more difficult than it was for previous generations. The people at these events shared the perspective that the institutions and systems shaping their lives were built for a different time and do not reflect the challenges they face today. They want to know what their government can do to address those challenges and whether it can deliver meaningful results.\n\n\u201cColorado is the best state in the country. But everywhere I go, I hear people who are working hard and still finding it harder to get ahead,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cFor younger generations, some of the milestones that previous generations were able to take for granted, like buying a home, building a career, or starting a family, can feel much further out of reach. I am optimistic about our ability to change that and build an American Dream for the next generation.\u201d\n\nBennet said the government has a role to play, but it cannot do this alone. Building a stronger future will require people who are willing to get involved, try new things, build their communities, and speak up when they see something that needs to change.\n\n\u201cYoung people are going to live with the decisions we make today,\u201d said Bennet. \u201cWe owe it to them to pay attention and learn what it is like to be a young person growing up in Colorado, what you are excited about, what concerns you, and what you think we could do differently.\u201d\n\nAt CiviCO, Bennet joined young professionals for a conversation about leadership, civic participation, and the challenges facing their generation. CiviCO brings together leaders from the private sector, philanthropy, and communities across Colorado. The conversation was part of CiviCO\u2019s Civic Pop-Up Series, which brings Colorado leaders together with community members to discuss issues facing the state. The event was hosted in partnership with the Boettcher Foundation, with Omni serving as the convening partner.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re in a moment that demands less performance and more listening. Senator Bennet modeled that yesterday, and the room responded. The Coloradans in that room were transparent, vulnerable, and honest. They want to be part of this. Yesterday gave them a place to begin,\u201d said D.J. Whetter, Managing Director, CiviCO from Omni.\n\nAt Vista PEAK Preparatory School, Bennet joined Ms. Scott\u2019s AP Government class for a conversation about civic engagement and students\u2019 vision for a stronger Colorado and country. Bennet opened the discussion by asking students what their biggest concerns for the future are and what they believe could make a positive difference for themselves, their families, and their communities.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s encouraging to hear Senator Bennet recognize the challenges younger generations are facing and take accountability for the decisions that helped create them,\u201d said Lawrence Temple III, a student in Ms. Scott\u2019s AP Government class at Vista PEAK Preparatory School. \u201cHe said our generation should be an influencing force in politics and government sooner rather than later. It makes me want to be more knowledgeable and learn more so that I can have a say in what happens next.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/04/bennet-statement-welcoming-federal-disaster-aid-for-colorados-aspen-acres-and-gold-mountain-fires/", "Bennet Statement Welcoming Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado\u2019s Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "Michael F. Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", "bennet", "https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/", "scraper", "Denver \u2014 Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued a statement following the announcement of federal disaster aid to support communities recovering from wildfires in Pueblo, Custer, Ouray, and Dolores Counties.\n\n\u201cFollowing an outpouring of local support for disaster relief, I am glad to see the approval of the State\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration and public assistance. This funding will help Ouray, Dolores, Pueblo, and Custer Counties rebuild after wildfires burned more than 200,000 acres in their counties this summer, destroying critical infrastructure, water supplies, and hundreds of homes and structures. The President must now approve the Governor\u2019s request for individual assistance and hazard mitigation funding as well as the overdue federal assistance for the Lee and Elk Fires and extreme flooding in Southwest Colorado that occurred last year.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-crank-and-evans-join-secretary-wright-tour-ray-d-nixon-power-plant", "Reps. Crank and Evans Join Secretary Wright for Tour of the Ray D. Nixon Power Plant", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "FOUNTAIN, C.O. -- Today Representative Gabe Evans (CO-08), and Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) joined U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright for a tour of the Ray D. Nixon Power Plant operated by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU).\n\nThe Ray D. Nixon Power Plant is primarily fueled by coal and can generate more than 260 megawatts of electricity. Coal-fired power plants represent roughly a third of Colorado\u2019s energy grid, but unrealistic energy mandates coming out of Denver, risk energy reliability and increased energy rates for consumers.\n\nSprings Utilities has been successful in negotiating with the State of Colorado to push back the 2029 closure deadline to 2032, saving customers $200 million in projected rate increases, but reliable energy production is still at risk in the future.\n\n\u201cDenver Democrats spent years attacking reliable coal generation, only to run headfirst into reality: you cannot shut down dependable baseload power without something ready to replace it. Keeping Ray Nixon online longer will protect grid reliability and save ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars. With electricity demand skyrocketing, Colorado needs more safe, affordable, reliable energy\u2014not political mandates that take power off the grid and leave families paying the price. I\u2019m grateful to Secretary Wright and Congressman Crank for fighting for an all-of-the-above strategy that puts reliability, affordability, and American energy dominance first.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08)\n\n\"Coal is a reliable, baseload domestic energy resource to help power our grid here in Colorado. Colorado's burdensome energy mandates continue to cost our region, not only with higher utility bills but they also threaten our national security assets. Coloradans deserve reliable energy, and I'd like to thank Secretary Wright for his efforts to keep reliable coal generation online and coming to Colorado's Fifth Congressional District to show support for the Ray D. Nixon Power Plant.\u201d \u2014 Rep. Jeff Crank (CO-05)\n\n\u201cCoal has powered American prosperity for generations and continues to provide the reliable, around-the-clock electricity our grid needs. The Trump Administration is committed to adding reliable power to the grid, not prematurely shutting down generation that is already keeping the lights on. Ray Nixon is a great example of the critical baseload power Colorado needs to meet growing electricity demand while keeping energy affordable and secure.\u201d \u2014 U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-welcomes-federal-disaster-aid-for-colorados-aspen-acres-and-gold-mountain-fires/", "Hickenlooper Welcomes Federal Disaster Aid for Colorado\u2019s Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "DENVER \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper welcomed the announcement of federal disaster aid for communities recovering from the Aspen Acres Fire in Pueblo, Custer, and Dolores counties and the Gold Mountain Fire in Ouray County. Hickenlooper also urged the Trump administration to swiftly approve Colorado\u2019s remaining requests for Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant funding.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re glad to see the communities impacted by the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires will begin receiving some of the critical federal resources they need and deserve to help get back on their feet,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cWe\u2019ll continue standing shoulder to shoulder with those impacted by these tragedies and urge the administration to swiftly approve Colorado\u2019s remaining requests for Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant funding.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-delivers-bill-cap-insulin-cost-35-month", "DeGette Delivers Bill to Cap Insulin Cost at $35 Per Month", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Representative Diana DeGette (CO-01), Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, along with Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Kim Schrier(WA-08), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), and Angie Craig (MN-02), introduced the Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (\u201cINSULIN\u201d) Act. This bill will cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for insured individuals.\n\n\u201cInsulin insecurity is not a partisan issue. It\u2019s a life-or-death issue,\u201d said Rep. DeGette. \u201cI have fought for years to lower the price of insulin for the over 40 million Americans living with diabetes. I have met with too many Coloradans who have shared their painful experience of rationing their insulin so they could afford groceries. No one in America should be forced to choose between their life-saving medication or feeding their families.\u201d\n\n\"As a doctor, I have spent my career fighting for patients, and I've watched too many of them ration a hundred-year-old medicine because the price tag made it impossible to afford,\u201d said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D.. \u201cThat's not right, and it never should have taken this long to fix. I'm proud to lead this effort in the House, and I won't stop until every American with diabetes can afford the insulin that keeps them alive.\"\n\n\u201cAs a doctor with Type 1 diabetes who depends on insulin, I understand the immediate need to bring down the cost of insulin \u2013 especially at a time when so many Americans are already struggling with high costs,\u201d said Rep. Schrier. \u201cI am proud to introduce this groundbreaking bipartisan legislation that will cap the price of insulin for all Americans and make a meaningful difference in the lives and the health of everyone in our districts.\u201d\n\n\u201cDiabetes stole the lives of 100,000 Americans last year. Tens of millions of Americans are living with diabetes, and for many, insulin is a matter of life and death,\u201d said Rep. Bresnahan. \u201cNo American should have to choose between paying the bills and getting the insulin they need, or risk their life rationing the doses they have left. This legislation isn\u2019t just a Band-Aid on the problem. It delivers immediate relief for patients and reforms that will increase competition and drive down prices over the long term. Lowering the cost of insulin puts money back where it belongs: in the pockets of working families who need every dollar they earn. Middlemen and big corporations shouldn\u2019t be making extra cash off the backs of working people who rely on insulin to survive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThrough the Inflation Reduction Act, we made great strides toward lowering the cost of prescription drugs by capping the cost of insulin for our nation\u2019s seniors,\u201d Rep. Craig said. \u201cNow, it\u2019s time to extend that benefit to all Americans. I\u2019m proud to be joining my colleagues in introducing this critical bill that will ensure no Minnesotan has to choose between putting food on the table and picking up lifesaving medication.\u201d\n\nView the bill text here.\n\nBackground:\n\nWith more than 40.1 million Americans estimated to be living with diabetes, the INSULIN Act is the result of Rep. DeGette\u2019s commitment to making health care affordable for more Americans.\n\nThe INSULIN Act will:\n\nCap out-of-pocket patient cost-sharing for individuals with insurance at $35 a month;\n\nProhibit health care plans from applying any deductible to select insulin products;\n\nHelp uninsured people with diabetes get access to insulin; and\n\nGet biosimilar insulin to market more quickly.\n\nAs co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, Rep. Diana DeGette has championed a multi-year, comprehensive effort to address the skyrocketing cost of insulin and improve care for millions of Americans living with diabetes, and she has worked to ensure people with diabetes have access to the latest standard of care in medicine and technology.\n\nBefore becoming the top Democrat on the Health subcommittee, Rep. DeGette launched the first-ever Congressional study to find legislative solutions for the worsening insulin pricing crisis.\n\nBuilding on the study's framework, Rep. DeGette convened a historic Congressional hearing in April 2019. For the first time, all three U.S. insulin manufacturers and the nation's three largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) were called to testify jointly about surging costs. Following nearly three hours of testimony, Rep. DeGette declared the current pricing system \"fully broken\" and issued a mandate to the executives to immediately develop collaborative cost-lowering solutions.\n\nA similar bill has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and John Kennedy (R-LA).\n\nThis bill has broad support among diabetes advocates.\n\n\u201cThe American Diabetes Association (ADA) appreciates and applauds the House\u2019s bipartisan introduction of the INSULIN Act, which would limit out-of-pocket insulin costs for patients at $35 a month,\u201d said Lisa Murdock, Chief Advocacy Officer of ADA. \u201cA recent survey, commissioned by ADA, showed that 40% of insulin users currently pay $150 each month, and there is widespread bipartisan support across the U.S. for making insulin affordable. The INSULIN Act would ensure no one has to choose between paying for insulin and other necessities. This bill puts people first and is a commonsense way to lower health care costs for Americans depending on insulin to live.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor the millions of Americans who rely on insulin every day, no one should have to choose between paying for their medication and meeting other basic needs, said Dr. Robert Lash, Chief Medical Officer with the Endocrine Society. \u201cThe Endocrine Society applauds Representatives DeGette, Schrier, Miller-Meeks, Bresnahan, and Craig for introducing the INSULIN Act, which would help make insulin more affordable for people with private insurance while connecting uninsured patients to resources that can help them access this lifesaving medication. This bipartisan legislation is an important step toward ensuring that all people who need insulin can obtain it and stay healthy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Diabetes Leadership Council (DLC) and Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) applaud and thank Representatives DeGette, Miller-Meeks, Schrier, Bresnahan, and Craig for introducing the INSULIN Act of 2026,\u201d said George Huntley, CEO. \u201cThis legislation will greatly improve access to affordable insulins for people living with diabetes, and it is time that the $35 monthly insulin co-pay cap apply to everyone as it does to Medicare beneficiaries today. We look forward to working to get this legislation across the finish line before the end of the 119th Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor the more than 1.5 million Americans with type one diabetes (T1D), insulin access is life-or-death,\u201d said Lynn Starr, Breakthrough T1D Chief Global Advocacy Officer. \u201cBy capping out-of-pocket cost at $35, the INSULIN Act ensures that people have dependable, affordable access to the insulin they require to live. We applaud Representatives DeGette, Miller-Meeks, Schrier, Bresnahan, and Craig for introducing the House INSULIN Act and urge their colleagues to stand with them on the side of all those living with T1D. While there is still more work to be done, we are hopeful that, together with the Senate, we will finally have the access to affordable insulin the entire T1D community deserves and depends on.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-evans-votes-condemn-democrat-socialism", "Rep. Gabe Evans Votes to Condemn Democrat Socialism", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congressman Gabe Evans voted to condemn socialism in all its forms and oppose the implementation of socialist policies in the United States. Evans cosponsored the resolution, introduced by fellow Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Crank (CO-05).\n\nThe measure passed 220-192 with Colorado Republicans voting in favor while Colorado Democrat Representatives Jason Crow (CO-06), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), and Joe Neguse (CO-02) voted against the resolution.\n\nThe vote comes as Democrat Socialists have gained political ground across the country within the Democratic Party.\n\n\u201cSocialism has failed everywhere it has been tried, yet Democrats continue allowing socialists to gain influence within their party and push their radical agenda on the American people. Today, every member of Congress had a choice: stand for the freedom and opportunity that built this country, or refuse to condemn an ideology responsible for oppression, starvation, and the deaths of millions. I will always stand for the American Dream and against socialism in every form.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\nRepresentative Crank\u2019s resolution denounces socialism and the Democratic Socialists of America and rejects efforts to implement socialist policies in the United States. The resolution also highlights positions advocated by the DSA, including allowing noncitizens and incarcerated individuals to vote in American elections, abolishing law enforcement, the U.S. Senate, and the Supreme Court.\n\nThe resolution reaffirms support for free, fair, and secure elections and the principle that American elections should be decided by American citizens.\n\nBackground:\n\nThis House Resolution resolves that Congress denounces Democrat Socialism in all its forms and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States.\n\nSocialism has repeatedly led to famine, mass murders, and the killing of over 100 million people worldwide.\n\nFollowing the elections of democratic socialists nationwide, this resolution affirms that House Republicans condemn socialist policies which inevitably lead to tyranny and death and are antithetical to the American Dream.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-and-gov-polis-call-immediate-cease-wild-horse-helicopter-roundups", "Rep. Neguse and Gov. Polis Call for an Immediate Cease to Wild Horse Helicopter Roundups in Colorado", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Joe Neguse", "N000191", "neguse.house.gov", "neguse", "https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lafayette, CO \u2014 Today, Congressman Joe Neguse and Governor Jared Polis called on the Department of the Interior\u2019s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to immediately halt wild horse helicopter roundups in Colorado. Their letter comes on the heels of public reports that in the month of August alone 800 wild horses were captured and hauled away from public lands in the northwestern part of the state. This is part of a costly federal plan to thin the state\u2019s herds, with the next roundup in the region scheduled to begin as soon as September 10th, 2026.\n\nIn their letter, Neguse and Polis labeled the use of helicopters in herd management inhumane and unnecessary. Six horses have died so far during the helicopter roundups in other parts of the state.\n\nBLM has been responsible for protecting and managing wild horse herds for decades, however, under the Trump administration there\u2019s been a troubling uptick in the U.S. government\u2019s sale of these animals. According to records reviewed by The New York Times, in 2025, sales of wild horses more than doubled and traders are using a legal loophole to increase profits when selling them for slaughter.\n\nThey lawmakers echoed pleas from Coloradans across the state who are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of these horses.\n\nThe letter is co-signed by Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Dianna DeGette (CO-01), and Jason Crow (CO-06).\n\nThe full letter is available HERE and below:\n\nSeptember 3, 2026\n\nSecretary Burgum and Deputy Director Heinlein,\n\nWe write with grave concern regarding recent wild horse helicopter roundups in Northwest Colorado and urge your agencies to implement an immediate freeze on upcoming roundups. Our wild horses provide significant benefit to the region and State of Colorado and should be treated with care.\n\nThis month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has captured around 800 wild horses in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area, six of which died during the roundups. Another roundup in the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area (HMA) is scheduled for early September, which will reduce the size of the herd by more than 60 percent. While we understand the need to reduce the size of these herds in accordance with the level that can be sustained on the land, the current methods being used by your agencies, including helicopter roundups, are inhumane and unnecessary. Helicopter roundups are known to cause extreme panic, exhaustion, and frequent and severe injuries to the animals. Coloradans themselves have voiced deep concern over the safety and well-being of these horses, whose risks only multiply during roundups of this scale and continue long after the gathering ends.\n\nWe would encourage you to consider postponing the scheduled roundups in order to have a more thorough and robust stakeholder and community engagement process, and work with local and state partners \u2013 such as the state\u2019s Wild Horse Advisory Committee \u2013 to craft a solution for the long-term wellbeing of these horses. We also request any evidence your agencies may have that supports the need for continued use of helicopter roundups as a more effective means for horse control against other more humane methods.\n\nWe look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/new-report-co-families-have-spent-4000-more-on-goods-services-under-president-trump/", "New Report: CO Families Have Spent $4,000 More On Goods & Services Under President Trump", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "CO", "John W. Hickenlooper", "H000273", "www.hickenlooper.senate.gov", "hickenlooper", "https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/", "scraper", "Hickenlooper: Colorado is facing a cost-of-living emergency\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 As President Trump\u2019s tariffs and unpopular war with Iran continue to crush Colorado families, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper highlighted the cost-of-living emergency that\u2019s hurting the state.\n\nAccording to an August report by the Joint Economic Committee Minority, Colorado families have spent $4,000 more in goods and services under President Trump. Some of the key findings from the report include:\n\nEnergy Costs: People across Colorado have spent over $1 billion more on gas since the beginning of the war. That means the average family in Colorado has spent $584 more on gas. Families in Colorado paid at least $80 more for electricity in 2025 under President Trump than they did in 2024. In the first half of 2026, Colorado families paid an estimated $66 more for electricity than they did in the first half of 2024.\n\nHousing Costs: Colorado families have had to spend $496 more on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office.\n\nGrocery Costs: Americans paid $310 more for groceries in President Trump\u2019s first year than in 2024, and grocery prices are now more than 4 percent higher than when Trump took office.\n\nHealthcare: Monthly Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums have risen over 50% on average in 2026 compared to last year while deductibles surged to record highs increasing by more than $1,000 on average.\n\n\u201cAs I travel across Colorado this month, we keep hearing the same thing: everyday essentials cost too much,\u201d said Hickenlooper. \u201cColorado is facing a cost-of-living emergency made worse by President Trump\u2019s illegal war, tariffs, and massive healthcare cuts. We\u2019ve got to reverse these harmful policies and make life more affordable for working families.\u201d\n\nWatch Hickenlooper discuss the cost-of-living emergency on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube\n\nWhile President Trump continues his war with Iran, Hickenlooper has been fighting to lower costs for Americans. Last month, he celebrated the committee passage of his bipartisan Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, which would create true transparency in healthcare pricing and is a first step towards universal healthcare. The bill will help lower healthcare prices through creating opportunities for consumers to compare prices, leading to competition among providers to lower costs.\n\nHickenlooper helped champion the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to address the national affordable housing shortage by cutting red tape to build more homes, investing in programs to lower the cost of buying a house, and preventing corporations from dominating the housing market. In 2021, he worked with the Colorado delegation to deliver more than $3.8 billion in American Rescue Plan funding for the state, which included more than $500 million towards affordable housing investments and $300 million in emergency rental assistance for low-income households.\n\nHickenlooper has spoken multiple times on the Senate floor condemning Trump for dragging America into a highly unpopular war that\u2019s driving the cost-of-living through the roof. Hickenlooper has consistently voted to end Trump\u2019s costly and deadly war. He\u2019s called out skyrocketing gas prices and costly impacts on farmers\u2019 bottom lines. Hickenlooper is concerned by the loss of life created by Trump\u2019s war, including the deaths of U.S. servicemembers abroad and the increasing civilian death toll.\n\nHickenlooper has traveled across Colorado to hear from workers, ranchers, and farmers getting crushed by the increasing prices fueled by the war. He\u2019s doing a state-wide tour of local hospitals and clinics to meet with Coloradans and hear how they are grappling with the increasing costs of healthcare. This spring, Hickenlooper met with truckers, construction and plumbing small businesses, labor unions, and rideshare drivers to discuss how the President\u2019s tariffs and his reckless war in Iran \u2013 and the resulting spike in gas prices \u2013 is hurting transportation-dependent industries. He heard from a rideshare driver who was struggling to keep food on the table thanks to the increasing prices caused by the war.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-surveillance-every-corner-not-freedom", "REP. BOEBERT: SURVEILLANCE ON EVERY CORNER IS NOT FREEDOM", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-CO) today published an op-ed in The Daily Caller marking the approaching 25th anniversary of September 11 and warning that networks of fixed automatic license plate readers are turning American streets into zones of constant, warrantless monitoring.\n\nIn the piece, titled \u201cSurveillance On Every Corner Is Not Freedom,\u201d Boebert writes as a Coloradan, mother, and grandmother that these systems continuously scan and log plates, times, locations, and travel patterns\u2014often without clear statutory limits, democratic consent, or individualized suspicion.\n\n\u201cSince September 11, 2001, Americans have been asked repeatedly to trade pieces of liberty for promises of security,\u201d Boebert writes. \u201cThe justification was almost always the same: \u2018If you\u2019re innocent, you have nothing to worry about.\u2019 That phrase has become the soft rationalization for hard erosions of privacy.\u201d\n\nRep. Boebert stands firmly with law enforcement and the men and women who wear the badge. She notes that targeted, warrant-based use of license plate data can help officers solve crimes and protect the public. What must be rejected is the quiet acceptance of fixed, always-on camera networks that treat every driver as a potential subject whose movements must be logged \u201cjust in case.\u201d\n\nShe cites the expansion of similar surveillance tools in Hong Kong during the 2019\u20132020 protests as a cautionary example and calls for action before such systems become fully entrenched in the United States. Boebert outlines concrete steps: restrict federal grant funding that can be used to buy these camera networks, require warrants, limit data retention, ban the commercial sale of the information, and educate the public.\u201c\n\nI stand with law enforcement. I stand with the Constitution,\u201d she writes. \u201cWe can protect public safety without surrendering the right to live unmonitored lives. That balance is not only possible\u2014it is essential if liberty is to mean anything for the next generation.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/breaking-house-adopts-rep-cranks-resolution-condemn-socialism", "BREAKING: House Adopts Rep. Crank's Resolution to Condemn Socialism", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Jeff Crank", "C001137", "crank.house.gov", "crank", "https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank's (CO-05) resolution to condemn socialism in all its forms and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a vote of 220-192.\n\nSocialism is one of the most destructive ideologies in world history, and the DSA have permeated elections across the country and have co-opted much of the Democratic party. While freedom-loving citizens across the country know that socialism is the first step to communism, and that every communist regime has brought only oppression, murder and starvation, the highest levels of Democrat leadership refuse to denounce DSA for fear of political retribution among their ranks.\n\nAmerica is seeing a troubling rise in support for socialism. This resolution condemns socialism in all its forms, as well as highlights the un-American tenets that DSA aspires to, including allowing noncitizens and incarcerated criminals to vote in American elections. It also reaffirms support for free, fair, and secure elections and the principle that American elections should be decided by American citizens.\n\n\"It is imperative as Members of Congress that we recommit ourselves to the Constitution and stand firm against this insidious push for socialism,\" said Rep. Crank. \"The vast majority of Democrats voted against my resolution to condemn socialism in all its forms. 10-15 years ago, a resolution like this would've passed the House unanimously. The DSA is a threat to the American values that make our nation great. This evening's vote showed who stands for freedom, and others who stand with socialism.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nThe House previously acted to strengthen election integrity by passing the SAVE America Act, legislation designed to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in federal elections. Additionally, last year, the House passed a resolution condemning socialism as a failed ideology. Rep. Crank's resolution reinforces those efforts by rejecting socialist policies and calling for continued action to protect the integrity of America's election.", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-passage-continuing-resolution", "DeGette Statement on the Passage of the Continuing Resolution", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Diana DeGette", "D000197", "degette.house.gov", "degette", "https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after voting for the stopgap funding bill:\n\n\u201cI supported the Senate\u2019s stopgap funding bill that passed in the House today. Not only will it avert a harmful government shutdown, but it also delays a dangerous rule proposed by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that allows politics to influence federal grantmaking. This proposal would be devastating for the integrity of American biomedical research, which must follow science above all other considerations.\n\n\u201cAdditionally, the funding bill blocks funds to further Trump\u2019s cruel immigration agenda and restores funding to Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides necessary health care to patients in Colorado and across the country.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nOn July 13th, Congresswoman Diana DeGette led a comment letter signed by all the Democratic members on the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee urging OMB to withdraw the proposed rule.\n\nRead the July press release here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 12496, "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", 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