url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/30/bennet-coons-warren-wyden-gallego-introduce-bill-to-impose-sanctions-on-israeli-settlement-construction-in-the-e1-area-of-the-west-bank/,"Bennet, Coons, Warren, Wyden, Gallego Introduce Bill to Impose Sanctions on Israeli Settlement Construction in the E1 Area of the West Bank",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to introduce legislation that would impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of illegal Israeli settlements or related structures in the E1 area of the West Bank, including by submitting a bid for E1 tenders. It would also impose sanctions on those who attempt to organize, direct, finance, or facilitate the transfer of Israeli civilians into E1 settlements.

“Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans for construction in E1 are aimed to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and would gravely threaten prospects for a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” said Bennet. “Various American presidents, both Democrats and Republicans, have long recognized this and pressed Israeli governments not to move forward with this reckless project. Netanyahu and his ultra-right wing ministers, however, continue to prioritize their personal political interests ahead of Israeli and American security interests. The United States must use our considerable financial and diplomatic tools to reinforce its longstanding policy against Israeli annexation of the West Bank. That is why I am proud to sponsor this bill, which sends a clear message that those who facilitate Netanyahu’s latest dangerous settlement expansion in E1 risk losing access to the U.S. financial system.”

“For decades, American presidents from both parties have warned successive Israeli governments that construction in E1 threatened the viability of a Palestinian state and was unacceptable to the United States,” said Coons. “As Palestinian civilians face a campaign of devastation and fear from violent extremist settlers, the United States must send a strong message that this behavior is unacceptable and that it remains committed to freedom, security, prosperity, and self-determination for all Israelis and Palestinians.”

“The E1 settlement project is a move towards de facto annexation of the West Bank, and those who choose to facilitate settlement construction should understand that they risk losing access to the U.S. financial system,” said Warren. “The United States must use all diplomatic and economic tools available to counter rapid settlement expansion and extremist settler violence in the West Bank, spiraling trends that will only undermine the prospect of lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians.”

Previous Israeli governments initiated plans for settlement construction in E1 in the 1990s, but they have halted them since 2005 amid international pressure. Last year, however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government approved construction of more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 area, which connects the northern and southern West Bank. In recent weeks, Israel announced tenders to allow companies to bid for construction of these settlements. If completed, these units could sever the West Bank in two, gravely threatening the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have publicly acknowledged – and spoken positively about – how E1 settlement expansion will make such an outcome impossible.

In September 2026, Bennet demanded that Netanyahu take immediate action to address surging Israeli settler violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, in the West Bank. In March 2026, Bennet pressed the Trump administration for an investigation into the death of Nasrallah Abu Siyam, an American citizen who Israeli settlers shot and killed in the West Bank. In October 2025, Bennet urged President Trump to reinforce longstanding U.S. policy opposing any potential Israeli annexation of territory in the West Bank. In August 2025, Bennet introduced the West Bank Violence Prevention Act to deter and prevent destabilizing violence in the West Bank, particularly against civilians, by requiring the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons engaging in violent extremist acts of terror, intimidation, and coercion against civilians in the West Bank.

In addition to Bennet, Coons, Warren, Wyden, and Gallego, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) cosponsored this legislation.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/09/30/bennet-wyden-veasey-colleagues-recognize-september-as-national-voting-rights-month-ahead-of-midterm-elections/,"Bennet, Wyden, Veasey, Colleagues Recognize September as National Voting Rights Month Ahead of Midterm Elections",2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Resolution comes amid efforts by Donald Trump and Republicans to upend vote-by-mail and make voting harder for Americans

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee with oversight over federal elections, joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-Texas), and 60 congressional colleagues to announce the introduction of a bicameral resolution recognizing September as “National Voting Rights Month.”

“This month, we celebrate the fundamental right to vote, and the importance of free, fair, and secure elections,” said Bennet. “This right lies at the core of our democracy, but President Trump and his administration continue to attempt to undermine it for millions of Americans. We must continue our fight to defend Colorado’s gold standard election system against Trump’s baseless attacks and conspiracy theories.”

“Trump is doing everything he can to disenfranchise American voters in this year’s midterms because he’s afraid his platform of jacking up costs is about to lose Republicans the midterms,” said Wyden. “Access to the ballot and the right to vote are the bedrock of our democracy, and Congressman Veasey and I will continue fighting to protect this fundamental right for all Americans.”

“Over the past year, we’ve seen our fundamental right to vote eroded and access to critical information about the voting process worsen. In my home state alone, we’ve seen efforts to redistrict mid-decade, introduce restrictive voter ID laws, and reduce the number of polling locations available to voters,” said Veasey. “Now more than ever, it is essential for Americans to understand their voting rights, stay informed about what is happening around them, and help to keep their communities informed. That’s why I’m proud to introduce a resolution alongside Sen. Wyden to designate September 2026 as National Voting Rights Month – a step towards raising awareness, encouraging civic participation, and ensuring that Americans have the information they need to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard in November.”

Since the start of his second term, Trump has worked to undermine election systems nationwide, from appointing election deniers to key positions, to firing all members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission, and attempting to limit mail-in voting.

This resolution encourages voter registration in the month of September and calls on Congress to preserve the right to vote by passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act, and by restoring the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Bennet has consistently fought against blatant efforts from the Trump administration and Republicans to undermine federal elections. In August 2026, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 26 Senate colleagues to demand the Trump administration adhere to the National Voter Registration Act’s “quiet period” that prohibits large-scale voter purges within 90 days of an election, pushing back against the Trump administration’s ongoing voter suppression efforts. In May 2026, Bennet released a statement following the release of the U.S. Postal Service’s proposed rule that would implement part of Trump’s executive order attacking mail in voting. In April 2026, Bennet joined Padilla and 36 of their colleagues to introduce the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act, legislation that would block Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional executive order that attacks Coloradans’ ability to cast mail-in ballots. In March 2026, Bennet condemned the SAVE America Act on the Senate floor and called out Trump for holding the Senate hostage to pass this legislation.

In April 2025, he spoke on the Senate floor, calling out the SAVE America Act that would make it harder for millions of American citizens to register and exercise their right to vote, including women and voters in rural communities across the country. In February 2025, Bennet slammed Trump for sowing distrust in elections. In July 2023, Bennet and his Democratic colleagues introduced the Freedom to Vote Act to improve Americans’ access to the ballot, invest in state election infrastructure, strengthen campaign finance disclosure requirements, and ensure our elections are free from interference.

In addition to Bennet, Wyden, and Veasey, 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.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai’i.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif)., Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) as well as U.S. Representatives André Carson (D-Ind.), Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Jonathan Jackson (D-III.), Julie Johnson (D-Texas), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), Nellie Pou (D-N.J.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) cosponsored this resolution.

The text of the resolution is available HERE.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-celebrates-committee-passage-of-his-bipartisan-energy-bills/,Hickenlooper Celebrates Committee Passage of His Bipartisan Energy Bills,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Hickenlooper led the Geo POWER Act and co-led the Earth MRI Act

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper celebrated the Senate Energy and Natural Resource (ENR) Committee’s passage of two Hickenlooper-led bipartisan bills.

The committee passed Hickenlooper’s Geo POWER Act, as amended, which would help accelerate geothermal technologies and deliver clean, reliable electricity across the country, and the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) Reauthorization Act, which he co-leads with Senator Murkowski, to fund the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth MRI program. A program that improves our understanding of critical mineral, geothermal, and other subsurface resources across the country.

“America is an energy powerhouse, but our energy needs are growing rapidly,” said Hickenlooper. “To meet our energy demand, we need to invest in activities that make it possible to further unlock our full potential. If we do, we can secure lower energy costs for Americans, shore up our national security, and build tomorrow’s energy infrastructure today.”

The Geo POWER Act’s committee passage comes on the heels of Colorado’s National Laboratory of the Rockies being chosen as the launch point for the Geothermal Center of Excellence earlier this month. The Act provides a significant $800 million investment in unlocking geothermal energy here in the U.S.

Specifically, the Geo POWER Act would:

Require the Department of Energy to provide innovative financing to projects that are planning or enabling new aggregate electricity generation of at least 30 megawatts in multiple states with limited to no existing geothermal electricity generation;

Generate public data to de-risk future geothermal projects in new geologies and regions;

Ensure fiscal accountability by requiring projects to achieve milestones to access additional financial support; and

Accelerate the commercialization of next-generation geothermal technologies in new regions across the United States.

The Earth MRI Act would:

Reauthorize Earth MRI for an additional five years at levels similar to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Expand the program to include natural hydrogen, an emerging domestic energy resource.

Hickenlooper is also a cosponsor of the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity Act, which passed the ENR committee today as well. The bill would fund critical cybersecurity grants and technical assistance for public power utilities across Colorado.

Hickenlooper, a former geologist, is a strong supporter of an all-of-the-above energy approach, which he helped move the U.S. towards in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, investing billions in clean energy generation.

He’s also called for a ‘Project Mercury’ for critical materials, arguing that America needs to take back the reins on critical minerals production to secure energy independence. In the 119th Congress, Hickenlooper has led and co-sponsored multiple other critical minerals related bills, including:

The bipartisan STRATEGIC Minerals Act to foster critical minerals trade with our international allies;

His bipartisan Unearth Innovation Act to establish a DOE program for sustainable critical mineral research innovation and recycling; and

His bipartisan Critical Materials Future Act to establish a pilot program for the Department of Energy to financially support domestic critical material processing projects.

His bipartisan National Critical Minerals Council Act to coordinate strategy for critical minerals across Federal agencies.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-republicans-sham-effort-to-shield-americans-from-data-centers-driving-up-energy-costs/,Hickenlooper Statement on Republicans Sham Effort to Shield Americans from Data Centers Driving Up Energy Costs,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Democrats pushed to strengthen the so-called Ratepayer Protection Act and require data centers to pay for grid updates

WASHINGTON – As the Senate considers the Ratepayer Protection Act, today U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper criticized the measure as lacking teeth after

Republicans refused to work with Senate Democrats to amend the legislation to actually protect Americans from paying increased energy prices for the energy needs of data centers. Democrats remain ready to stop data centers from raising costs.

“Data centers use large amounts of electricity. And families shouldn’t be forced to pay for their new infrastructure needs. Republicans say their bill fixes that. It doesn’t,” said Hickenlooper in a video statement today. “It asks states to consider protections for ratepayers. It doesn’t require them. This isn’t complicated. If Big Tech wants a data center. Big Tech should pay for it. Congress needs to get serious and actually protect ratepayers.”

Watch Senator Hickenlooper’s full video here.

Americans have already paid $100 billion in additional energy costs because of the war in Iran.

The so-called Rate Payer Protection Act only asks states to study the idea of requiring data centers to pay for necessary grid updates for their large energy demands. However, Senate Democrats pushed to include their provision that would have actually required the largest new power users to pay their fair share to connect. It would mandate data centers follow the same rules that power plants have followed for 20 years.

Currently, power plants must go through a detailed review process, pay for the upgrades needed to connect safely and reliably, and put up financial commitments to show it’s serious about moving forward.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-republicans-trojan-horse-voter-suppression-tactic/,Hickenlooper Statement on Republicans’ “Trojan Horse” Voter Suppression Tactic,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after blocking a Republican bill that would restrict voting and allow insider trading to continue.

“We blocked Republicans’ thinly veiled voter suppression bill outright earlier this year. Today, they ripped a page out of Homer and tried to sneak it through like a Trojan Horse,” said Hickenlooper. “We will continue to block their efforts to insulate the president from voters who are furious with MAGA’s corrupt agenda and cost-of-living emergency.”

Hickenlooper has consistently fought back against Trump and MAGA Republicans’ voter suppression bill and stood up to their attacks on mail-in-voting, a safe and secure voting method. As governor, Hickenlooper created the gold-standard mail-in-voting system in the country, providing millions of Coloradans with easier access to the ballot box.

The vehicle for the Republicans’ voter suppression provision, the Stop Insider Trading Act, fails to adequately stop members of Congress profiting off insider information. The bill also ignores any restrictions for the president and cabinet officials.

Hickenlooper, who has had his assets in a blind trust since he was Mayor of Denver, co-sponsors the more comprehensive Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act that would force all members of Congress to place their stocks into a qualified blind trust so that they can’t use insider information to inform their portfolio decisions and turn a profit.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-earns-perfect-score-on-stop-corruption-now-congressional-scorecard,Crow Earns Perfect Score on Stop Corruption Now Congressional Scorecard,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/news,scraper,"AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), co-chair of the End Corruption Caucus, earned a perfect 10/10 score from anti-corruption, pro-democracy group Democracy Defenders Action on their Stop Corruption Now Congressional Scorecard. The legislative score reflects Crow’s work to end corruption, defend the rule of law, and protect free and fair elections.

“Donald Trump has turned our government into a racket to enrich himself, his family, and his billionaire donors. Their corruption isn’t just an abstract concept. It’s stealing from taxpayers, making things more expensive, and costing the American people every day,” said Congressman Crow. “Coloradans deserve leaders focused on making life easier for working people, not catering to special interests, the elite, or wealthy. I’m fighting to take on a broken system in Washington, clean up corruption, and make government work better.”

Crow has also received an A+ from good governance group End Citizens United for his work to root out corruption in politics, the only member of Colorado’s House delegation to receive the grade.

Throughout his time in Congress, Crow has stood up to special interests and has not taken a dime of corporate PAC money. He is an original cosponsor of the TRUST in Congress Act to ban members of Congress and their families from owning or trading stocks and has led the call to ban members of Congress and their staff from insider trading on prediction markets. Crow is leading the fight to root out corruption in our elections, including through his End Dark Money Act and SHINE Act to crack down on dark money’s influence on U.S. elections.

Crow is also leading the charge against this Administration's corruption. He’s demanding answers about potential corruption and favoritism with federal contracts benefiting the Trump family; uncovering conflicts of interest at the Pentagon stemming from Pete Hegseth’s special adviser Tim Parlatore; and is leading a slate of historic pro-democracy reforms aimed at preventing presidential abuses of power, rooting out corruption, strengthening checks and balances, and protecting American elections against foreign influence.",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-applauds-passage-of-protect-college-sports-act/,Hickenlooper Applauds Passage of Protect College Sports Act,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Bill includes Hickenlooper provisions to protect Olympic and non-revenue generating sports

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper welcomed the Senate passage of the Protect College Sports Act, which includes a Hickenlooper negotiated compromise requiring schools that participate in the bill’s new collective media rights framework to protect Olympic and non-revenue sports.

The bill also locks in roster and scholarship minimums to prevent the quiet cutting of sports that has accelerated in recent years as college athletics has become an increasingly commercial enterprise. Over the last two years, we’ve seen non-revenue sports get cut, including 415 college teams and 41 Olympic sports programs, affecting at least 1,000 student-athletes across the country.

“College athletes have won new rights and a bigger voice, and they deserve both. But the rules changed fast, and the sports that don’t make money were left wondering whether they had a future,” said Hickenlooper. “This bill gives Olympic and non-revenue sports the stability to keep going, and it lets Colorado’s universities plan and invest in athletes across every sport, not just the ones on television. It’s a compromise. Nobody got everything they wanted. But it’s a real answer, and that beats the uncertainty we have now.”

Colorado is home to Olympic City USA, Colorado Springs, where there is the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, and over 20 National Olympic governing bodies.

Earlier this summer, Hickenlooper’s staff worked to ensure the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s interests were protected in the bill.

Read the Committee’s full endorsement letter HERE.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-calls-on-trump-ai-ceos-to-work-with-congress-on-responsible-ai-guardrails-ahead-of-white-house-meeting/,"Hickenlooper Calls on Trump, AI CEOs to Work with Congress on Responsible AI Guardrails Ahead of White House Meeting",2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"“Now is the time to move beyond warnings and start writing the guardrails”

WASHINGTON – Ahead of President Donald Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson’s expected meeting with leading technology executives Tuesday, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) sent a letter to the president urging him to use the meeting to commit to working with Congress on meaningful federal guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI).

“Many of the attendees at this meeting have warned about the risks of unregulated AI and have called for stronger safety measures,” Hickenlooper wrote. “We are in a critical moment, where the White House and Congress must act together to pass safety and transparency measures that keep the American people safe and informed as this technology is developed. Now is the time to move beyond warnings and start writing the guardrails, including independent third-party evaluations that will help protect Americans.”

Hickenlooper criticized the administration for prioritizing rapid AI development while rolling back federal safeguards and downplaying warnings from AI researchers.

“To date, our country has not established transparent, meaningful safeguards to address the growing risks of AI,” Hickenlooper wrote. “You have prioritized accelerating AI development and maintaining a voluntary classified benchmarking process through the National Security Agency for advanced cyber capabilities while rolling back various federal safeguards. In addition, you have publicly called fears from AI researchers a ‘hoax,’ downplaying the potential threats of irresponsible development of this technology.”

Hickenlooper called on Trump and technology leaders to work with Congress to:

Commit to independent third-party evaluation of America’s most powerful AI models;

Establish meaningful accountability when companies knowingly deploy dangerous AI systems;

Improve reporting of serious AI incidents and vulnerabilities so government and critical infrastructure operators can respond quickly to emerging threats;

Protect communities from the costs of the AI buildout, including ensuring massive data centers pay their own way for their energy consumption rather than forcing ratepayers to subsidize them;

Protect the American workforce as AI transforms the workplace, by improving forecasting and federal data availability on AI’s impact on jobs and making education and job training programs more effective; and

Strengthen U.S. export restrictions on advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, protecting American technology and working with our allies and partners to ensure that AI is developed in accordance with our values.

Hickenlooper joined CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss his letter. Watch the interview here.

Hickenlooper pointed to a series of recent incidents that demonstrate the growing risks of increasingly powerful AI. This spring, the United States narrowly avoided a potential escalation with China after an intelligence report generated with AI incorrectly identified a Chinese vessel as carrying components for nuclear weapons. More recently, rogue AI agents have broken through cybersecurity safeguards, accessed nonpublic health information on an Australian government website, and meddled with several U.S. government agency websites, including an attempted hack of the Department of Education.

Hickenlooper urged Trump and technology leaders to reject the extremes currently dominating the AI debate and instead pursue responsible regulation that preserves innovation while protecting Americans.

“To truly achieve a ‘Golden Age’ of America, we need to seize this golden opportunity to bridge the two extremes of the AI debate,” Hickenlooper wrote. “Somewhere between full speed ahead and full stop lies the real opportunity: a chance to develop thoughtful, sensible guardrails that ensure AI is safe, and that it helps everyone, not a select few.”

Hickenlooper has introduced bipartisan legislation to responsibly regulate AI, including the VET AI Act, which directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop standards and guidelines for independent third-party evaluations of AI systems. Earlier this month, OpenAI publicly backed third-party verification after Anthropic announced it would provide independent evaluators “employee-like access” to its models.

Hickenlooper has previously called on the Senate Commerce Committee to hold hearings with leaders from across the AI industry and urged Congress to enact stronger AI guardrails.

For the full text of the letter, click HERE or find below:

Dear President Trump:

As you and Speaker Johnson prepare to gather with American technology leaders, I write to urge you to use this meeting as an opportunity to commit to working with Congress on meaningful federal guardrails that require greater transparency and safety measures for artificial intelligence.

What once felt possible only in science fiction is happening before our eyes in real time. This spring, the United States narrowly avoided a major escalation with China after an intelligence report, based on an AI hallucination, incorrectly identified a Chinese ship in the Middle East as transporting components for nuclear weapons. The U.S. military prepared to intercept and board the vessel before officials learned the truth. The operation was called off, averting a potential crisis.

Since then, OpenAI agents have broken through cybersecurity safeguards and exploited vulnerabilities in an attempt to escape the “sandbox” designed to contain them, including working collectively to cover their tracks. Rogue agents have also accessed nonpublic health data on an Australian government website and meddled with several U.S. government agency websites, including an attempted hack of the Department of Education. Earlier this month a top Anthropic researcher resigned with a stark warning about the risks of rapidly accelerating AI. This high level of risk demands urgent action.

To date, our country has not established transparent, meaningful safeguards to address the growing risks of AI. You have prioritized accelerating AI development and maintaining a voluntary classified benchmarking process through the National Security Agency for advanced cyber capabilities while rolling back various federal safeguards. In addition, you have publicly called fears from AI researchers a “hoax,” downplaying the potential threats of irresponsible development of this technology. By contrast, three out of four Americans agree that AI firms are not doing enough to prevent disaster. This pursuit of AI leadership at all costs leaves Americans needlessly vulnerable as these systems rapidly become more powerful and potentially uncontrollable.

There are many steps we should take on AI that have outsized potential to protect Americans while preserving innovation. These include:

Commit to independent third-party evaluation of America’s most powerful AI models;

Establish meaningful accountability when companies knowingly deploy dangerous AI systems;

Improve reporting of serious AI incidents and vulnerabilities so government and critical infrastructure operators can respond quickly to emerging threats;

Protect communities from the costs of the AI buildout, including ensuring massive data centers pay their own way for their energy consumption rather than forcing ratepayers to subsidize them;

Protect the American workforce as AI transforms the workplace, by improving forecasting and federal data availability on AI’s impact on jobs and making education and job training programs more effective; and

Strengthen U.S. export restrictions on advanced AI chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment, protecting American technology and working with our allies and partners to ensure that AI is developed in accordance with our values.

Rogue AI agents threaten the security of our government systems and reshape the U.S. economy. Many of the attendees at this meeting have warned about the risks of unregulated AI and have called for stronger safety measures. We are in a critical moment where the White House and Congress must act together to pass safety and transparency measures that keep the American people safe and informed as this technology is developed. Now is the time to move beyond warnings and start writing the guardrails, including independent third-party evaluations that will help protect Americans.

To truly achieve a “Golden Age” of America, we need to seize this golden opportunity to bridge the two extremes of the AI debate. Somewhere between full speed ahead and full stop lies the real opportunity: a chance to develop thoughtful, sensible guardrails that ensure AI is safe, and that it helps everyone, not a select few. We’re entering a new era of artificial intelligence. And we need stronger tools to protect against consequences both profound and irreversible.

Our government must write AI’s rules of the road before we have a head-on collision. And we must do it now.

Sincerely,

John W. Hickenlooper

United States Senator

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
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. — 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.

“The deep roots of the Hispanic community in Colorado are part of what makes Colorado great,” said Bennet. “This month, I’m 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.”

“The Hispanic community in the United States is an integral part of the American story,” said Cortez Masto. “This 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’m proud of my Latina heritage.”

“Florida’s Hispanic communities are a vital part of what makes the Sunshine State the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Scott. “Hispanic Americans have shaped Florida’s history, boosted our economy, and strengthened our communities – helping fuel the promise of the American Dream for countless Floridians. I’m 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.”

Bennet has cosponsored a Hispanic Heritage Month resolution every year since he began his Senate tenure.

In 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’i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (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’i), 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.

The text of the resolution is available HERE.

###",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

Washington, D.C. — 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.

“Current 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,” wrote the senators.

Ukrainian 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.

Bennet has long supported the Ukrainian people’s fight against Putin aggression.

He 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’s war funding by imposing aggressive secondary sanctions on purchases of Russian energy. Bennet also sponsors legislation to expose and punish Russia’s 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.

Additionally, 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’s aggression. More recently, Bennet called for Congress to protect TPS holders in June 2026 after the Supreme Court decision expanding President Trump’s 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.

In 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.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Mullin and Secretary Rubio:

We 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.

Ukraine was initially designated for TPS on April 19, 2022, on the basis of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions caused by Russia’s 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’s 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.

The war in Ukraine—the largest conventional military action in Europe since World War II—is 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.

Protecting 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.

Current 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.

###",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 — 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.

His 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.

Crow introduced his bipartisan bill alongside Congressman Jeff Crank (R-CO). It was endorsed by the University of Colorado Anschutz.

“The 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,” said Congressman Crow. “I’m 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.”

""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,” said Congressman Crank.

“Establishing joint education and training programs with foreign allies is crucial to ensure our military trauma teams are best equipped to care for our warfighters,” 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. “We are grateful to Representatives Crow and Crank for introducing the COMBAT Care Act and their leadership in investing in our nation’s military trauma care capabilities.”

As 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’s 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 — 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.

The 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.

“Our rural communities provide essential services on and around federal lands—from roads and schools to emergency response—and they deserve funding they can count on. These counties shouldn’t have to wonder every year whether the federal government will provide needed support for these services,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “I’m 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.”

“Colorado’s 2nd District spans from the Front Range to the Western Slope, including many communities that rely on federal PILT payments for essential local services — 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,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.

“Many 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,” said Dwayne McFall, Fremont County Colorado Commissioner and National Association of Counties Western Interstate Region President, “Without PILT many services would have to be cut. Permanent funding of PILT would create a long-term sustainable solution for counties.”

“Public 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’s efforts in pushing to make PILT a reliable and permanent fixture in the appropriations process.” said Gina Lucrezi, Chaffee County Commissioner.

“Counties with federal public lands are responsible for delivering essential services — from public safety and search and rescue to roads, infrastructure and wildfire mitigation — even though they cannot collect property taxes on those lands,” said National Association of Counties Executive Director Matthew Chase. “PILT helps counties offset those lost revenues and meet these responsibilities in the 62 percent of America’s 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.”

The 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.

Congresswoman 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.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

###",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’s 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 — 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’s newest global tariffs and 50 percent tariffs on Canada, and curtail Trump’s 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.

“Americans are tired of paying for Trump’s tariff war,” said Bennet. “As 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’s why I’m joining my Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that blocks Trump’s tariffs and refunds the money back to Coloradans.”

“Trump’s erratic and senseless trade war is nothing short of economic arson — no business can plan around Trump’s unpredictable tariffs, American credibility is shot, and costs are up,” said Murray. “While Republicans are enabling Trump’s economic sabotage, Democrats are fighting to put an end to these reckless tariffs. That’s why we’re introducing this legislation to block and refund Trump’s tariffs so we can focus on growing the economy for everyone and making life affordable again.”

“While inflation rages, families struggle to pay their bills, and small businesses close, Trump – detached from reality – 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,” said Leader Schumer. “Republicans won’t stand up to Trump’s nonsense and Americans are crying out for relief. That’s why I am introducing legislation that would end Trump’s costly tariff taxes.”

Since Trump started his latest trade war, American families have paid the price. In just one year, Trump’s 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.

The End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act would revoke and refund Trump’s latest barrage of tariffs and repeal the archaic authorities he has used to continue his trade war. This legislation would apply to Trump’s newest global tariffs of 12.5 percent and 50 percent tariffs on Canada.

In February, Bennet released legislation requiring full refunds of President Trump’s 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.

In 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.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",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’s Pentagon Has Greatly Underestimated the Iran War’s Costs

Washington, D.C. — 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’s reckless war of choice with Iran. The senators criticized the President’s 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.

The 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.

“Meanwhile, 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,” wrote the senators. “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.”

In their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon’s 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’s 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.

The senators requested that the Department of Defense provide:

A detailed breakdown of all direct and indirect costs of military operations against Iran to date, including damage to installations, aircraft, and equipment.

A full accounting of the $67 billion supplemental request, specifying what covers past costs versus future operations.

A 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.

“Despite 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,” continued the senators. “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.”

Bennet has persistently fought to rein in President Trump’s 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’s 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’s plan to lower gasoline prices, which the President spiked by launching his reckless war with Iran.

In March 2026, Bennet also questioned President Trump’s intelligence agency leaders, including Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe, about Trump’s failure to act on assessments regarding a war with Iran.

In 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 Luján (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.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Hegseth:

We write regarding the Department of Defense’s 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.

Meanwhile, 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.

Based 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’s $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.

Despite 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—down 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

This lack of basic information extends to the Pentagon’s 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 “$1.2 billion for Administration priorities.”

Despite 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’s ability to “shift literally hundreds of millions of dollars from program to program with little accountability.” You added, “[r]eforming the culture at the Pentagon to bring greater spending accountability will be difficult, but it’s long overdue.”10 And just last year, you said that “the American taxpayers deserve” to know where their money goes, “how it’s spent and make sure it’s spent wisely.”11 We agree.

Given this, we request the following information to inform the Senate’s decision-making by September 30, 2026.

Cost 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.

$67 Billion Iran War Supplemental: Please provide a breakdown of the Administration’s 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.

One 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.

The 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.

###",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 — 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.

“Today, 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,” said Bennet. “The 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’t have a stable place to sleep the night before. I’ve 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.”

“Many families are one unexpected expense away from losing the stability that comes with having a place to call home,” said Young. “The 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.”

Our country’s 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’s 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.

Additionally, 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.

“Eviction isn’t just a consequence of poverty; it’s 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,” said Matthew Desmond, scholar and Pulitzer Prize Winning author of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City.

“Solving America’s housing and homelessness crisis must begin with addressing the forces that drive displacement. Getting people into homes they don’t 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,” said Brian Goldstone, journalist and Pulitzer Prize Winning Author of There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America.

“We’re 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’t 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’s a better use of taxpayer resources than expensive spending demanded by the emergency services required to address homelessness,” said Cathy Alderman, Chief Communications and Public Policy Officer for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.

“BPC 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—such as job loss or medical expenses—makes 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,” said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action.

“The 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,” said Ann Oliva, Chief Executive Officer, National Alliance to End Homelessness.

“For millions of households, one broken-down car, one unexpected medical bill, or a reduction in work hours could result in an eviction. The ‘Eviction Crisis Act,’ developed and advanced by NLIHC’s 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,” said Renee M. Willis, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Bennet has consistently fought for practical solutions to our nation’s eviction and housing affordability crisis; originally introducing the Eviction Crisis Act in 2019.

In 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’s (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’s 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.

In 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.

The text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE. Additional supportive quotes from organizations are available HERE.

###",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’s interview on The Source with Kaitlan Collins can be found HERE.

Washington, D.C. — 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.

In an interview with Kaitlan Collins on CNN’s The Source last night, Bennet contrasted his call for an independent federal AI regulator with what he described as President Donald Trump’s 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.

CNN — The Source

Collins: You want to establish an independent agency, basically, to regulate AI. How would that work?

Bennet: 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’re 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 – not so we don’t innovate – we should innovate. I want us to lead the Chinese, but we should do it in a thoughtful, common sense way. That’s not the way Donald Trump approaches any of these questions. But I think the American people are demanding it.

Bloomberg – Balance of Power

Mathieu: Well, he’s trying deliberately to play the right hand on AI, and you’ve got an important piece of legislation that’s trying to get to this. We’ve had a robust debate here. And the President, speaking on Truth Social earlier, says that America and China see eye to eye. We’re 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?

Bennet: First of all, I don’t think there’s anyone in America who thinks that China and the U.S. think eye to eye on AI except for President Trump. What I’ve 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’s needed. Congress cannot get out of its own way. We’ve proven that. We will never pass a bill to meaningfully deal with this, and the states can’t 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’s 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’t 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’s focused on this 24/7.

Here’s what they’re saying:

Politico: AI BILL FRENZY

The 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.

“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,” Bennet added.

Colorado Springs FOX (KXRM)

Colorado 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’re 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’s global revenue. Right now, Bennet says existing federal agencies are not equipped to keep up with AI’s rapid development. It’s moving faster than Congress will ever keep up. That’s why I’m proposing an independent agency with the expertise and authority to protect the American people and keep pace with AI.

Grand Junction CBS (KREX)

Well, 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’re 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’s global revenue. Bennet says current federal agencies are not equipped to keep pace with the rapid growth of AI. It’s moving faster than Congress will ever keep up. That’s why I’m proposing an independent agency with the expertise and authority to protect the American people and keep pace with AI.

###",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.

Watch the highlights of the kickoff event HERE.

“If 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,” said Hickenlooper at the kickoff event last week. “We’ve led the world in scientific knowledge and expansion in growth, and we’ve had the economy that comes with that… That’s why we’re here to make sure we maintain our lead.”

“Pennsylvania 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,” said McCormick. “This 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.”

The 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.

Watch the launch video for the caucus on Hickenlooper’s X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts

The 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.

Jobs in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine make up 34% of the U.S. workforce.

Economic activity from these fields generates 39% of U.S. GDP – over $10 trillion dollars.

The United States spends only 3% of its GDP on research and development (R&D) and innovation.

Federally 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.

China 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.

Hickenlooper is a former geologist and a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

###",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.

Crow, 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.

“The 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,” Crow said in a statement.

The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) and was endorsed by the University of Colorado Anschutz, located in Aurora.

An identical provision was included in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act.

As 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.

The Pentagon’s Joint Trauma System (JTS), which was established in 2016, looks to improve trauma readiness and outcomes through “evidence-driven performance improvement.”

“Our 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,” the JTS says on its website.

Crank said it is “important” 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.

“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,” Crank said in a statement, using the Trump administration preferred name for the Department of Defense.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1939,Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen's Statement on Her Latest Bill Passed by Both Chambers,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"“I am thrilled to see my bill, the Romance Scam Prevention Act, passed out of the Senate last night. Romance scams don’t just steal people’s savings—they 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’s too late.

“If signed into law, this will be my sixth bill enacted during this Trump Administration – proof that we can fight hard against his lawlessness, cruelty and corruption, while also working to find common ground where we can. I’m proud of my record and I will keep working to deliver for the people in our district.”

###",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 — 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’s 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.

“Like 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,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “This 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’t have to go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one to an overdose.”

“The fentanyl crisis affects communities across the country. As a border state, Texas has seen the devastation caused by fentanyl and cartels,” said Congressman Roger Williams. “We 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.”

Synthetic 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.

Federal 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’ ability to move money through the U.S. financial system.

Motivated by her own mother’s 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.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

###",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. — 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.

“In 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,” said Bennet. “Congress should recognize their commitment and help them further their education without this unnecessary burden. I’m grateful to work with my colleagues to ensure the education assistance they earn is not unfairly taxed.”

“Life in every parish has been improved by AmeriCorps members,” said Cassidy. “From stopping crime to helping communities after a hurricane, their service ought to be rewarded, not unfairly taxed.”

“AmeriCorps members provide a lifeline to communities and students across the country, and they shouldn’t be taxed for their education awards,” said Cortez Masto. “Our bipartisan bill will eliminate this unfair tax on their service and help them keep their education costs down.”

“AmeriCorps members make significant contributions to communities in Maine and across the country,” said Collins. “The 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.”

“Young people who join AmeriCorps sacrifice higher salaries in order to dedicate an enormous amount of time and energy to helping communities in need,” said Coons. “We 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.”

“Mississippians in AmeriCorps provide great service to our communities,” said Wicker. “Our legislation honors their commitments by eliminating the unnecessary taxes on the benefits they have earned.”

AmeriCorps 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.

Currently, 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’ve earned.

“AmeriCorps 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’s a tax on service. We don’t tax Pell Grants or GI Bill benefits, and we shouldn’t tax the AmeriCorps Education Award. We’re 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,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President, Voices for National Service.

“National 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,” said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor.

This legislation is supported by 71 organizations, including Voices for National Service, With Honor, CoGenerate, Generation Schools Network, Hunger Free America, America’s Service Commissions, States for Service Coalitions, Conservation Legacy, Deans for Impact, and Mile High Youth Corps. A full list of supporters is available HERE.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",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’s Full Remarks Available HERE

Washington, D.C. — 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.

Bennet’s 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’s children are paying the price.

“Right 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,” said Bennet on the Senate floor. “Of these cases, 22 people were unvaccinated. Of the 25 that have measles in Colorado today, 22 were unvaccinated. That’s the most we’ve had in over 30 years. You have to go back to 1995 to find an outbreak in my state that’s even close to what we’re seeing today. We’re 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.”

Bennet emphasized that Colorado’s measles cases are particularly disappointing given the state’s 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’s health.

He concluded by saying, “I 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’t begin to have that until the basic facts about science and medicine are taken seriously by this administration.

“The 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 – and I don’t think it’s going to happen in the foreseeable future – until that happens, we’re 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.”

Bennet has consistently fought against Trump and Kennedy’s 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’s 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’s executive order directing federal health agencies to overhaul longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations and encouraging states to reconsider school immunization requirements.

In 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’s health, his lies to Congress, and his spread of disinformation.

###",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: “You’re paying for this war every day: when you fill up your tank, buy your groceries, and pay your rent.”

This afternoon, Hickenlooper voted to end the war in Iran

WASHINGTON – 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’s estimate of $43.6 billion. He urged his Republican colleagues to break with the president to end the illegal, costly war.

“I don’t want to talk about what that 43 billion dollars includes. Today, I want to talk about what that number doesn’t include,” said Hickenlooper on the Senate floor. “Wars aren’t measured just in dollars and cents. It is measured in lives lost, whether Americans feel safer and better off.”

Watch his full speech HERE.

“Take 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,” he continued.

Hickenlooper raised the deeply concerning reports that suggest the Pentagon has not properly disclosed the real casualty numbers of the 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’s human cost.”

He continued to emphasize the toll on all of our servicemembers deployed in the region, “Since 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… Back at home, their loved ones are left worrying and wondering whether they will be home for the holidays.”

He also noted how the Iran war has weakened our national security and undermined our position in the global economy.

“Since 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’t have for future combat.

“At the same time, we’ve shown Iran it can seize control of one of the world’s most critical waterways and bring global trade to its knees. A quarter of the world’s oil and a third of the world’s fertilizer trade used to flow through the Strait of Hormuz. No longer. We’ve 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.”

Hickenlooper also detailed how the war in Iran has increased gas, diesel, and grocery prices for Americans.

“Before the war, the national average for diesel was $3.72 per gallon. This week, it’s over $6.50 per gallon. That’s 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 ‘killing farmers’ income.’

“The war is also impacting Americans’ 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’t have to be a millionaire to drive to the grocery store and feed your family.”

He also highlighted how the war has hurt prospective homeowners, increasing interest rates.

“Before the Iran war, the average 30-year mortgage rate was hovering at around 6% – still too high for many families. Today? It’s above 7%. For the average Colorado homebuyer, that difference adds up fast. That’s a mortgage that’s $280 more every month. Almost $4,000 every year. And over $100,000 over a 30-year mortgage.”

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’s war. Last week, Hickenlooper also spoke on the Senate floor calling out President Trump’s corruption and the cost-of-living emergency that he’s created.

For a full video of Hickenlooper’s remarks, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks as prepared for delivery is available below:

Mr. President,

43.6 billion dollars and counting.

That’s the Pentagon’s estimate for how much it has spent on the illegal war in Iran.

That’s a lot of money.

In fact, it’s so much money that if every American family gave $500, you still wouldn’t 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.

But I don’t want to talk about what that 43 billion dollars includes. Today, I want to talk about what that number doesn’t include.

Wars aren’t 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.

Take 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.

“I will never recover from this,” one widow wrote on social media.

What’s even more heartbreaking is that we don’t 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’s human cost.

Since 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.

Tens of thousands of their fellow servicemembers are still deployed, fighting a war that this administration still refuses to call a war.

Back at home, their loved ones are left worrying and wondering whether they will be home for the holidays.

You won’t find those costs in the 43 billion dollar price tag.

Then there’s the staggering cost to America’s national security.

Since 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’t have for future combat.

Iranian 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.

At the same time, we’ve shown Iran it can seize control of one of the world’s most critical waterways and bring global trade to its knees. A quarter of the world’s oil and a third of the world’s fertilizer trade used to flow through the Strait of Hormuz. No longer. We’ve 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.

America’s adversaries are celebrating our distraction, this futility, and these mounting costs. Every dollar we spend on Iran is a dollar we’re not spending modernizing our military to protect against the threat of an ascendant China. Every warship that’s deployed to the Arabian Sea is one less warship that’s available to protect the South China Sea.

But you won’t find those costs in the $43 billion price tag.

Then there’s the cost to YOU, the American people. You’re paying for this war every day: when you fill up your tank, buy your groceries, and pay your rent.

Before the war, the national average for diesel was $3.72 per gallon. This week, it’s over $6.50 per gallon. That’s 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 “killing farmers’ income.”

The war is also impacting Americans’ 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’t have to be a millionaire to drive to the grocery store and feed your family.

Few 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% – still too high for many families. Today? It’s above 7%. For the average Colorado homebuyer, that difference adds up fast. That’s a mortgage that’s $280 more every month. Almost $4,000 every year. And over $100,000 over a 30-year mortgage. That’s real money that could go to childcare, your child’s college, or savings. And for many, it means buying a home just doesn’t make financial sense, even if you’ve been saving up for years.

You won’t see those trade-offs reflected in the Pentagon’s $43 billion price tag for the war.

And finally, what is the cost of this war on our Democracy?

James Madison once wrote to his friend Thomas Jefferson that “the Executive is the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to it.” That’s why the Founders gave Congress the power to declare war. Not the President. Not the Supreme Court. Congress.

And yet, not a single senator has introduced a legislative measure to formally declare war on Iran.

Mr. 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.

And to my Republican colleagues who are wrestling with this issue, just ask yourself: Is this war making your constituents’ lives better?

That isn’t a partisan question. It is a question every senator has a duty to answer.

Because whether the President is a Republican or a Democrat, Congress cannot surrender its constitutional power simply because the President belongs to our party.

We all took an oath to defend the Constitution — not a president. We all took an oath to serve the American people — not a party.

President Trump made the decision to enter this war. But whether this war continues is now a decision for us.

What is the true cost of this war, and the cost of allowing it to continue?

This week, the Senate will get another chance to decide.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to end this war now and for good.

Thank you, Mr. President.

###",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

WASHINGTON – 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.

“President Trump’s 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’s making it worse,” said Hickenlooper. “Last 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.”

“The 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’ve canceled millions in federal contracts for clean energy projects – many of them already underway – and wasted taxpayer money in the process.

“Americans deserve relief, not higher costs. Our fight isn’t over. We won’t stop working to actually bring down costs and help Colorado families.”

Watch his full video HERE.

Before the war, the national average for diesel was $3.72 per gallon. This week, it’s 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.

In 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.

Hickenlooper has been vocal in his opposition to President Trump’s cost-of-living emergency fueled by the president’s 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’s war.

###",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 – 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.

“I 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,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “Every 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’m 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.”

“Filing 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,” said Congressman David Valadao.“Instead 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—whether they choose to attend college, pursue a trade, or enter the workforce.""

Specifically, 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.

The 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.

Congresswoman 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.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

###",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. — 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 “123 agreement.”

The 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.

“Congress 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’s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States,” wrote the senators. “The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President’s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement ‘…was concluded with two accompanying side letters.’ Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.”

“Transparency 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,” emphasized the senators.

In 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.

Bennet is a leading opponent of the U.S.-Saudi deal, saying in July 2026: “President Trump should not agree to any nuclear cooperation agreement that provides Saudi Arabia sensitive U.S. nuclear technology without the ‘gold standard’ set of nuclear safeguards we’ve correctly demanded from other countries.”

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Wright:

We write to urge you to immediately declassify and publicly release the two side letters associated with the Trump Administration’s 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.

In 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.

Congress 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’s 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’s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement “…was concluded with two accompanying side letters.” Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.

Transparency 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.

###",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’s Prior-Year Global Revenue

Washington, D.C. — 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.

The 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’s 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.

“The challenge posed by a new technology and a new industry able to profoundly transform our economy and society is one we have faced before,” said Bennet. “In 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.”

“Americans in Vermont and across the country are freaked out by the warnings of AI researchers, and I’m right there with them. It’s clear we can’t leave it to AI companies to self-regulate—just like we don’t 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,” said Welch. “Our common sense bill would provide the comprehensive oversight of Big Tech and AI that is sorely needed.”

The Proposed AI Regulator Act would:

Give 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.

Put major tech companies under closer oversight. Allow the Commission to designate systemically important digital platforms or developers for additional reporting and regulation.

Back 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’s prior-year global revenue in a year.

Set safeguards for frontier AI. Require developers to meet risk-mitigation, catastrophic risk incident-reporting, and transparency requirements.

Protect kids and consumers online. Establish age-verification and age-appropriate design standards, consumer protections, and transparency requirements for platforms’ terms of service and content-moderation policies.

Address national and economic security risks. Include provisions concerning Americans’ data held by foreign AI companies, U.S. subsidiaries for certain foreign firms, and transparency about where online content originates.

Bennet 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.

The updated Section-by-Section is HERE. The One-Pager is HERE.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/hoodline-aurora-could-land-156m-to-fix-flood-prone-northwest-streets,Hoodline: Aurora Could Land $15.6M to Fix Flood-Prone Northwest Streets,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/news,scraper,"Northwest Aurora’s 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.

A Long-Awaited Fix for Chronic Street Flooding

The 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.

Rep. 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.

What Else Is Riding on the Bill

Aurora 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’s House members voted for the measure.

Separately, 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’s House vote.

Next Stop: The Senate

For 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.

Authorization Is Not the Final Funding Step

U.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 — 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.

The 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—11th 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.

“I am proud to secure federal funding to help improve water infrastructure, prevent flooding, and address the impact of climate change in Colorado,” said Congressman Crow. “In 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.”

Crow 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

Washington, D.C. — 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’s executive order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule that imposes unconstitutional, unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.

“Since the beginning of his administration, President Trump and congressional Republicans have done everything they can to make our voting system less safe and secure,” said Bennet. “The 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.”

“Mail-in voting is safe, secure, and makes our elections more accessible,” said Hickenlooper. “The Trump administration continues throwing everything at the wall to restrict the fundamental right of every American to choose their leaders. It’s an unconstitutional, authoritarian attack that we won’t let them get away with.”

Colorado’s 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.

Nationally, nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections — a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida’s Republican primary.

In the court filing, the group argued that Trump’s executive order and USPS’s 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.

“As current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States — including its guarantee of the separation of powers,” wrote the lawmakers. “The 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.”

The lawmakers concluded by asserting States’ power to administer elections and Congress’s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an “override” authority. Trump’s illegal attack on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.

“The integrity of our constitutional system depends on each branch keeping to its assigned role,” concluded the lawmakers. “The Framers set up a two-part system that gave the States default authority to regulate federal elections subject to Congress’s 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.”

U.S. Representative Joe Neguse led the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bennet and Hickenlooper previously demanded that the USPS abandon this rule and have been staunch opponents of the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict voting rights. Both senators also introduced the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act to nullify Trump’s executive order.

Bennet 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’s “quiet period” that prohibits large-scale voter purges within 90 days of an election, pushing back against the Trump administration’s ongoing voter suppression efforts. In April 2026, Bennet introduced the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act to block Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional executive order that attacks Coloradans’ 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’s mountain communities.

The full amicus brief is available HERE.

###",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 – 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.

“Public health officials can’t stop a TB outbreak they’re not allowed to track,” said Hickenlooper. “ICE’s refusal to follow Colorado law or give members of Congress answers puts lives at risk. They’re trying to slow us down, but we won’t stop pushing until we get to the bottom of this.”

Representatives from Hickenlooper’s office visited the detention facility last Friday. ICE officials and medical staff at the facility refused to tell Hickenlooper’s 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.

In 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.

The CDC’s guidelines for “Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Correctional and Detention Facilities” state that it’s “mandatory” for every correctional facility – private, federal, state or local – to report suspected and confirmed cases of TB to its local or state health department.

Hickenlooper 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.

###",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: “This isn’t the ‘Golden Age’ President Trump pretends it is”

WASHINGTON – As President Trump’s tariffs and war with Iran continue to hurt Colorado families, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper highlighted the cost-of-living emergency that’s plaguing the state.

According 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:

Energy 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.

Housing Costs: Colorado families have had to spend $554 more on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office.

Grocery Costs: Americans paid $310 more for groceries in President Trump’s first year than in 2024, and grocery prices are now more than 4 percent higher than when Trump took office.

Healthcare: 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.

“With each passing month, President Trump’s illegal war, tariffs, and healthcare cuts are costing Coloradans more and more,” said Hickenlooper. “This isn’t the ‘Golden Age’ President Trump pretends it is, and it’s certainly not the bargain working families signed up for. We’re fighting to end the war, reimburse consumers and small businesses for Trump’s tariffs, and reverse his healthcare cuts. We’ll keep pushing Congress to act and make your life better.”

Watch Hickenlooper’s Full Video Here

Last week, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor about the cost-of-living emergency that President Trump and MAGA Republicans have created. As President Trump’s war with Iran and tariff wars continue, Hickenlooper has been fighting to lower costs for Americans.

In 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.

Hickenlooper 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.

Hickenlooper has traveled across Colorado to hear from workers, ranchers, and farmers getting crushed by the increasing prices fueled by the war and tariffs. He’s 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.

###",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. — 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.

“I am proud to announce my friend, Rep. Kim Schrier, as the incoming Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus,” said Rep. DeGette. “Diabetes 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.”

“Diana is a dear friend and one of the fiercest advocates I have ever had the privilege of working alongside,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “For 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’s bipartisan work to improve diabetes care, lower costs, advance lifesaving research and pursue our ultimate goal of finding a cure.”

“As 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,” said Rep. Schrier. “I 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.”

“The 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. “Congresswoman 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.”

“The 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,” said George Huntley, CEO of the Diabetes Leadership Council & Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition. “This 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.”

“Rep. 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,” 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. “Diabetes 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.”

“It has been an honor to work with Congresswoman DeGette,” said Breakthrough T1D Chief Global Advocacy Officer Lynn Starr. “Her 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.”

Background

The 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:

· 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.

· 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.

· 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.

· 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.

· 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.

As 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.

For more information on the Congressional Diabetes Caucus and its ongoing initiatives, please visit diabetescaucus-degette.house.gov.

###",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 – 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’s request following the extensive damage caused by the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires.

The 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.

“The Trump administration should reverse this decision,” said Hickenlooper. “Requests for individual assistance and hazard mitigation grants are not made frivolously. These resources are what’s 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.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) previously approved Colorado’s 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.

###",1,2026-09-20T09:37:28Z,2026-09-20T09:38:59Z
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 — 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.

Secretary 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’s reckless war with Iran. Not only does his move shamelessly disrespect these servicemembers’ 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’ve already changed, and restores any benefits stripped from troops and their families as a result.

Joining 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).

“The men and women who step up to serve and defend our country deserve respect, and their families deserve to know they’ll get the full benefits earned in service. It’s wrong for Pete Hegseth to play politics with their service so he can hide the human toll of Trump’s reckless war with Iran,” said Congressman Crow. “This Administration has proven time and again that they don’t care about our servicemembers or our military families.”

“Every Patriot deployed to this war in Iran – the 50,000 still in theater, the hundreds wounded, and especially the 18 killed – are American heroes. They deserve to be honored as such – not swept under the rug by a President and SecDef so humiliated by their failure that they’d rather dishonor the troops than tell the truth,” said Congressman Ryan. “It’s a total betrayal of our armed forces by the very people that swore to protect and do right by them. I’m proud to lead so many of my fellow veterans in Congress to make it clear we will not stand for the Trump Administration’s disgraceful disrespect of American heroes – before, during, or after their deployments.”

The legislation is endorsed by VoteVets and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

Crow has repeatedly condemned Trump’s illegal war of choice with Iran. He successfully forced congressional votes on two of his War Powers Resolutions to rein this war in, both of which passed the House on a bipartisan basis. Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war, and he has demanded that the Trump Administration reveal the full, true cost of this war on the American people. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1932,"Congresswomen Pettersen, Sewell, & Underwood Demand Trump Administration Reinstate Wrongfully Cancelled Minority Health Grants",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – 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 “shift in administration priorities.” 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.

“The 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,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “I’m 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.”

Specifically, the administration has directed the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health (OMH) to redirect funding historically used to support maternal health toward what it describes as the “root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions,” including low sperm count, reduced sperm motility, low testosterone, and erectile dysfunction, impounding funds specifically meant to support minority communities.

In the letter, the Members wrote: “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 “addressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions and promoting physical activity.” This shift overlooks the continued, critical need for comprehensive health equity programs that directly support the communities OMH was created to serve.

The Members continued: “OMH 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.”

The 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’s authority to abruptly terminate funds that have already been earmarked.

The 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. Barragán (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)

See the full text of the letter HERE and below.

Dear Captain Mofidi:

We 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 — 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 — received notice from OMH that federal awards were to be terminated, effective immediately, pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 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.

We 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, “...(1) reducing overmedicalization in health care by addressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions, such as…low sperm count, low sperm mobility, low testosterone levels, and erectile dysfunction.” 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 “addressing the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions and promoting physical activity.” This shift overlooks the continued, critical need for comprehensive health equity programs that directly support the communities OMH was created to serve.

This redirection of funding is a severe disservice to existing grants that have consistently delivered measurable results. If OMH’s 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.

We 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.

Please 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.

Please 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.

Please provide detailed information regarding existing opportunities for grantees to submit an appeal. Please include:

a. OMH’s deadline for appeal submissions;

b. Any supplementary materials that OMH directly requested;

c. How OMH will review the appeals, including any provided documentation; and

d. When corresponding decisions will be communicated to grantees.

Please provide any questions or feedback that OMH has received from any entity that received a termination notice. Please include detailed information regarding OMH’s response and support they have offered these stakeholders.

OMH 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.

Sincerely,

###

To 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 – 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’s reckless war of choice with Iran. The senators also criticized the President’s 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.

“Meanwhile, 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,” wrote the senators. “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.”

In their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon’s 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’s 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.

“Despite 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,” continued the senators. “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.”

Hickenlooper and Bennet are cosponsors of the Honoring the Sacrifices of Our Troops in War Act to stop President Trump’s 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’s war.

On 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’s war. Hickenlooper has consistently condemned the administration for sidestepping Congress and dragging America into a war with no clear objective – one that risks American lives and that Americans overwhelmingly oppose.

For full text of the letter, click HERE.

###",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’s 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 – 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.

“The 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,” wrote the senators. “We urge BLM to give careful consideration to the Tribe’s 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’s perspective should play a central role in BLM’s decision-making.”

The Tribe had previously submitted public comments formally opposing the sale of the nine parcels – totaling roughly 2,500 acres of land – within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in BLM’s 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.

Full text of the letter available HERE and below.

Dear Acting State Director Heinlein and Acting Deputy State Director Anderson:

We write regarding the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) proposed December 2026 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s concerns about the nine proposed lease parcels located within the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.

The 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.

We urge BLM to give careful consideration to the Tribe’s 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’s perspective should play a central role in BLM’s decision-making.

The 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’s approval. We encourage BLM to work closely with the Tribe to fully understand and address these issues before making any final leasing decisions.

Government-to-government consultation must be given the full time necessary to address the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s 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’s trust responsibility and commitment to meaningful government-to-government consultation with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

###",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 — 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’s reckless war with Iran.

At New America & Arizona State University’s “Future Security Forum,” Crow was in conversation with Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and New America’s Anne-Marie Slaughter. At the Center for American Progress’ “Reforming National Security for the Future” conference, he spoke alongside Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA).

“Some of our best foreign foreign policy successes in our history are as much stories of restraint as they are of action,” said Congressman Crow in his remarks at the Center for American Progress. “It's not inevitable, in my view, that we have to be in an endless cycle of conflict.”

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“Think 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…[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’ve saved trillions of dollars, we would’ve saved tens of thousands of lives, both our lives and the lives of others around the world, we would’ve preserved that goodwill, and it would’ve led to a drastically different response,” said Congressman Crow in his remarks at New America’s Future Security Forum.

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This week, the House passed Congressman Crow’s War Powers Resolution to end Trump’s 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’s conflict with Iran on working class Americans.

Congressman 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—his 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 — 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.

Rep. 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.

Neguse 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’s commitment to stopping antisemitism in all forms.

“We 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,” said Congressman Neguse. “The 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.”

“I’m 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’s 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’re providing the tools needed to keep Americans safe—without creating a new bureaucracy,” said Congressman Bacon.

The 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.

The 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.

The Safe Spaces for All Act is supported by JEWISHcolorado, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the Jewish Federations of North America.

“Security is not one-size-fits-all. For many houses of worship, community centers, and other nonprofits – 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,” stated the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of JEWISHcolorado.

“Walk 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,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “The 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.”

“At-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,” 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’s Desk to be Signed Into Law

Washington, D.C. — 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’ 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.

“Early 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,” said Bennet. “As 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 – this bill ends an unfair double standard and ensures that those who teach our youngest kids are supported.”

“In 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,” said Collins. “As 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.”

“We 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,” said Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of First Five Years Fund (FFYF). “We 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.”

“NAEYC applauds the bipartisan passage of the Supporting Early Childhood Educators’ Deductions Act, which reimburses early childhood educators for the out-of-pocket classroom expenses they take on to improve children’s learning environments, as K-12 educators have long been able to do,” said Paola Andujar, Senior Policy Specialist the National Association for the Education of Young Children. “We 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.”

“The earliest years of a child’s 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,” said Allison Dembeck, Head of Policy, Save the Children. “We 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.”

“Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC) strongly supports the bipartisan Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act. Early childhood educators support children’s 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. “Extending 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.”

Bennet 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.

The 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.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",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 U.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

Washington, D.C. — 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 Ángeles, 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.

During 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’s across-the-board tariffs.

“My 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,” said Bennet. “Our two countries face shared challenges that require continued intelligence and security cooperation. We must continue working together to address them while respecting each other’s 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.”

Bennet, 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.

He leads the Americas Act, which the Financial Times has endorsed as a key effort to counter China’s 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’s reckless Mexico and Canada tariffs. Bennet passed legislation in last year’s Intelligence Authorization Act requiring an intelligence assessment on threats to U.S. national security interests in the Western Hemisphere – including China and Russia’s growing presence – and the extent to which greater U.S. cooperation with regional partners could address these threats.

Additionally, 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.

In 2013, Bennet was a part of the “Gang of Eight,” 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.

###",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. — 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).

“As a former school superintendent, I know our teachers are doing everything they can to help students succeed,” said Bennet. “As 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.”

“To meet the evolving challenges our students face, our educators need access to quality data and evidence-based advancements in teaching and learning,” said Van Hollen. “This legislation would help accomplish that by investing in our students’ success to better prepare them for the future.”

“We 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,” said Tillis. “That’s 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.”

The 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.

Specifically, the legislation would:

Make robust investments to establish, staff, and operate NCADE;

Require the Advanced Development Commissioner to appoint an advisory panel to guide the development and implementation of NCADE projects; and

Conduct 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.

The NEED Act would also improve Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems and help states better track students’ progress through K-12 and into the workforce while protecting the privacy of students’ education records. This data will help policymakers understand and address opportunity and achievement gaps across the country.

This bill is supported by nearly 65 organizations, including: American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Accelerate – 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.

“For 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,” said Sara Schapiro, Executive Director of the Alliance for Learning Innovation. “The 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.”

“Data 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,” said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, President and CEO, Data Quality Campaign. “By 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.”

“The Bipartisan Policy Center’s 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,” said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action). “The NEED Act takes a critical step forward to answer that call. It will modernize state data systems, strengthen our nation’s 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.”

“Through 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,” said Jeremy Haefner, Chancellor, University of Denver. “The 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’s students. We are grateful to Senator Bennet for his championing of the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act and hope it advances in Congress.”

“Relative 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’s outcomes. Senator Bennet’s New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act will provide the resources needed to accelerate innovation in teaching and learning and help expand opportunity to all,” said William Penuel, Distinguished Professor, School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder and Director, National Center for Research in Policy and Practice.

“The 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’s 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,” said Sidney D’Mello, Professor, Institute of Cognitive Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Principal Investigator, National Science Foundation National AI institute for Student-AI Teaming.

Bennet 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’s executive order dismantling the Department of Education. In July 2025, Bennet demanded that U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon provide answers for DOE’s decision to continue withholding $70 million in federal funds from Colorado schools.

The text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.

###",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,"“We’re entering a new and dangerous era of artificial intelligence, and we need stronger guardrails to protect against the risks”

WASHINGTON – 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.

In 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’t subsidizing these facilities, especially as energy prices soar.

“We’re entering a new and dangerous era of artificial intelligence, and we need stronger guardrails to protect against the risks,” Hickenlooper said in a video published on social media. “The Senate Commerce Committee needs to hold hearings with leaders from across the AI industry on responsible regulation. But we can’t 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’t allow the fox to guard the henhouse! Congress needs to act now.”

Watch his full video HERE

Hickenlooper 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.

This week, OpenAI publicly backed third-party verification following the news that Anthropic would give independent third-party evaluators “employee-like access” to their models.

Yesterday, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor about the anxiety Coloradans are feeling about AI and data centers. “Even as your energy bills are spiking. Even as you’re 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…. billionaires have turned AI into a horse race focused solely on who is winning, with too little thought for who gets left behind,” he said. “Now, even some of the biggest names in AI are warning that we’re moving too fast. I think the question is: Do we listen? Will we listen? Will we act?”

###",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 – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper called out President Trump’s broken agenda for fueling inflation and leading to higher mortgage rates. Mortgage rates – which just hit over 7% – are the highest since President Trump took office, after increasing four weeks in a row.

“President Trump’s war is making it harder to buy a home in Colorado,” Hickenlooper said in a new video. “Before the Iran war, the average 30-year mortgage rate was just above 6%. Today? It’s 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.”

He continued, “that’s real money that could be going toward groceries, child care, or college. We’ve 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.”

Watch his full video HERE.

Yesterday, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, citing concerns about inflation being driven largely by President Trump’s costly war with Iran that has skyrocketed gas and diesel prices.

Hickenlooper has been vocal in his opposition to President Trump’s cost-of-living emergency fueled by the president’s 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’s war.

He has fought against the president’s disastrous budget bill that gutted health care to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. He’s 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.

Hickenlooper 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.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-introduces-bill-mandating-all-representatives-senators-hold-monthly,"Rep. Neguse Introduces Bill Mandating All Representatives & Senators Hold Monthly, Public Town Halls",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Image

Washington, D.C. — 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’s 2nd District in Congress. During his time in public office he’s hosted over 100 public town halls, 28 of which have fallen within the current legislature — a grand total that surpasses every member of Colorado’s congressional delegation combined.

As fewer elected officials from both sides of the aisle hold in-person town halls — opting for virtual gatherings or avoiding community conversations altogether — Neguse’s 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.

“When you represent one of the largest congressional districts in the country — bigger than eight states and spanning 12,000 square miles — you understand how vital it is to spend time meeting directly with your constituents. That’s why I’ve hosted over 100 town-halls since first being elected, in rural, suburban and urban towns and communities across Western and Northern Colorado — 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’ve 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,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.

Click HERE to read the bill text.

The bill is endorsed by Indivisible, an organization working to connect Americans with opportunities to attend town hall meetings in congressional districts across the country.

“In a democracy that works, elected officials should be accountable to the people they represent — 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,” said Andrew O’Neill, National Advocacy Director of Indivisible.

Background

At 42-years-old, Congressman Joe Neguse is the youngest Democrat in his state’s federal delegation, and as such he’s 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’s capital.

###",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. — 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.

“One year ago, the Evergreen community experienced an unthinkable act of gun violence,” said Bennet. “The fear and trauma that Evergreen High School students, families, educators, and first responders experienced that day have not disappeared. We owe it to them – and all of Colorado – 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.”

“Students, teachers, and families should never have to go through what Evergreen High School and the entire community went through one year ago,” said Hickenlooper. “We need to come together and work to end gun violence in our communities.”

“Today, 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,” said Pettersen. “Our country’s 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.”

On 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’ 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.

The text of the resolution is available HERE.

###",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. — 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:

“I 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.

“Farmers 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.

“It 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.

“For 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.”

###",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

WASHINGTON – 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’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Act. The data, which covers the period between the law’s 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.

“There’s nothing more cruel than a wealthy nation that lets its children go hungry, especially as grocery prices keep climbing,” said Hickenlooper. “President Trump took away food assistance from over 12,000 Colorado kids. And for what? So he could hand billionaires another tax break.”

The 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.

Hickenlooper 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’s ability to pay.

###",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’s “Golden Age of Corruption” 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: “It’s an era of spoils and bribery for the powerful and well-connected, while you are left behind.”

WASHINGTON – 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’s created.

“Nearly 20 months into his second term, President Trump calls this period in American history a ‘Golden Age,’” said Hickenlooper on the Senate floor. “Golden – for who? For billionaires. For Mar-a-Lago members. For the president’s cronies. Not for farmers on the Western Slope, small business owners in Colorado Springs, or working families in Denver.”

Watch his full speech HERE.

“Housing. Gas. Groceries. When everything costs more, it’s 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,” Hickenlooper continued. “But President Trump’s Wall Street friends aren’t 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’s more than the median American household makes in an entire year. All to give greedy investment bankers another leg up.

“This isn’t normal. This isn’t simply corruption. This is a sellout – of you, of America, of the office we used to respect in this country.”

Hickenlooper 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’s war.

“While 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’s not only enriching himself, but his billionaire buddies, too.”

He highlighted how the president and his family’s self-dealing extends to artificial intelligence and data centers while Americans pay higher energy prices.

“Donald Trump Jr.’s venture capital firm has invested millions in AI companies. One of the UAE’s most powerful royals has invested half a billion dollars in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture.

“So, it should come as no surprise that President Trump has rolled back AI safeguards and authorized Big Tech to sell some of America’s 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.”

He continued, “Your energy bills are spiking. You’re 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.”

He also called out President Trump for ignoring the soaring housing costs while his son-in-law’s invests in luxury housing across the world.

“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’s harder to buy a property now than a generation before,” said Hickenlooper. “Instead of building more affordable housing here, the Trump family is building more housing in Saudi Arabia. The president’s 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.

He continued,” While people on the Eastern Plains are unsure how they’ll ever afford a home, the Trump family is shoring up housing in the Middle East.”

Throughout August recess, Hickenlooper traveled across Colorado and heard from Coloradans getting crushed by Trump’s cost-of-living emergency.

Ranchers and farmers described how the increasing costs caused by Trump’s war in Iran are crushing them. Healthcare providers highlighted how the Republican’s cruel healthcare cuts are undermining the care they can provide for their community and how families are now paying double for their insurance.

Hickenlooper has fought against the president’s disastrous budget bill that gutted health care to pay for tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. He’s 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’s effort to sell off millions of acres of public lands to pay for his lavish tax cuts. He is working to permanently end Trump’s slush fund for Tina Peters, Proud Boys, and January 6th rioters.

For a full video of Hickenlooper’s remarks, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks as prepared for delivery is available below:

Mr. President,

In 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump traveled to Gettysburg where he vowed to “drain the swamp.”

“The system is designed for one reason: to keep the corrupt establishment and special interests in power,” he told the crowd. He then declared: “I have no special interest but you, the American voter.”

In hindsight, that wasn’t a promise. It was a projection.

Millions 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.

Nearly 20 months into his second term, President Trump calls this period in American history a “Golden Age.” Golden – for who? For billionaires. For Mar-a-Lago members. For the president’s cronies. Not for farmers on the Western Slope, small business owners in Colorado Springs, or working families in Denver.

What we’re living through isn’t a “golden age” of America. It’s a golden age of corruption.

It’s an era of spoils and bribery for the powerful and well-connected, while YOU are left behind.

Americans do what they can. The president and his cronies do what they want.

Take 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’s harder to buy a property now than a generation before.

Instead of building more affordable housing here, the Trump family is building more housing in Saudi Arabia.

The president’s 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.

While people on the Eastern Plains are unsure how they’ll ever afford a home, the Trump family is shoring up housing in the Middle East.

Then there’s energy.

While 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’s not only enriching himself, but his billionaire buddies, too.

The 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.

Your energy bills go up. His friends’ bank accounts go up faster.

And that pattern of self-dealing extends to artificial intelligence.

Donald Trump Jr.’s venture capital firm has invested millions in AI companies. One of the UAE’s most powerful royals has invested half a billion dollars in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture.

So, it should come as no surprise that President Trump has rolled back AI safeguards and authorized Big Tech to sell some of America’s 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.

Your energy bills are spiking. You’re 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.

But now, even some of the biggest names in AI are warning that we’re moving too fast. The question is: Will we listen?

Will we act?

Housing. Gas. Groceries. When everything costs more, it’s 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.

But President Trump’s Wall Street friends aren’t 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’s more than the median American household makes in an entire year. All to give greedy investment bankers another leg up.

This isn’t normal. This isn’t simply corruption. This is a sellout – of you, of America, of the office we used to respect in this country.

In his first year back in office, President Trump made over two billion dollars.

So, what has he learned from his first term? The answer is clear. It’s not how to lead or how to make life more affordable for Americans. It’s how to leverage the presidency for personal profit.

And that’s what it all boils down to. Profit over peace. Profit over people. Profit over principle.

That’s the opposite of what government service should be about.

Over the last two months, I’ve traveled through the San Luis Valley, through Colorado’s mountain communities, and everywhere in between to hear what Coloradans need at this moment.

They 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.

They don’t need leaders who only look after themselves and other billionaires. They don’t need leaders focused on renaming lakes and building monuments to themselves.

This president can’t seem to get out of his own way.

When 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.

When we passed a unanimous bill to deliver clean, reliable drinking water to 50,000 Coloradans – many of whom voted for President Trump – he vetoed it.

When 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.

If we want to revive the American dream, we must start by undoing the damage this administration has done.

President Trump has started a forever war with Iran that’s already costing American lives, sent prices climbing, and drained our military stockpiles.

Let’s end it.

President Trump has imposed crippling, illegal tariffs that are driving up costs for families and small businesses alike.

Let’s end them.

President Trump’s immigration agenda has diverted billions in federal funding from healthcare to lawless immigration enforcement executed by undertrained officers.

Let’s end it. All of it. And let’s get back to the promise that another president once made at Gettysburg: a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

That’s how we move our country forward. That’s how we begin to make your life better again.

Thank you, Mr. President.

###",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 — 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’s reckless war with Iran:

“Six months into a war that Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, and JD Vance said would last six weeks, there’s no end in sight.

“18 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.

“Trump campaigned on ending conflicts abroad. As President, he did the opposite, starting a new forever war in the Middle East.

“Constant 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.

“We must end this war. I won’t stop fighting for accountability and for Congress to rein in this President and his failed military adventurism.”

At a press conference and floor debate before the vote on his War Powers Resolution, Crow spoke about the cost of forever wars like Trump’s conflict with Iran on working class Americans.

This is the second time Crow has forced a vote on a War Powers Resolution. In July, the U.S. House of Representativespassed Crow’s bipartisan resolution to disapprove of President Trump’s 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 — 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’s reckless war with Iran, which will be voted on Tuesday evening by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Watch Congressman Crow’s remarks at the U.S. Capitol below:

“Thank 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.

“What 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.

“Because 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.

“So 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.

“Well, 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—Republicans and Democrats alike, by the way—this is one of the most bipartisan issues in America—Republicans 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.

“Are 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.”",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. — For the second time in two weeks, current and former Members of the House of Representatives are challenging the Trump administration’s ongoing attempt to unconstitutionally exercise control over election administration and create chaos in the upcoming midterm elections. Today’s action follows the Litigation Task Force’s successful advocacy before the Supreme Court and the denial of Donald Trump’s attempts to restrict mail-in ballots.

154 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’s 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’ 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.

The coalition filed its amicus brief in League of Women Voters v. Department of Homeland Security, arguing that the administration’s 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 “centralized Federal information system” that would consolidate Americans’ 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.

Click HERE to read the brief in its entirety.

The bipartisan group is led by Assistant House Minority Leader Joe Neguse, who leads the House Democrats’ 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.

The 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).

Keep scrolling to see what the leading lawmakers had to say about the matter:

“House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force will continue to vindicate our constitution and fight back against Donald Trump efforts to disenfranchise American citizens,” said House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse. “The president’s 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 — immediately.”

“Trump’s 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’ most sensitive personal information while creating the risk of wrongly purging eligible voters from the rolls. I’m proud to stand strong with my colleagues urging the Supreme Court to protect individual Americans’ privacy and voting rights—and the integrity of our free and fair elections—from this outrageous and illegal power grab,” said Ranking Member Jamie Raskin.

“The Trump Administration is trying to create a massive database of Americans’ 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’ right to vote,” said Ranking Member Robert Garcia.

“No matter how hard he tries, Donald Trump will never succeed in taking over our elections,” said Leader Jeffries. “I 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’s 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.”

“Democrats 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.

“There’s a reason our Constitution gives states and Congress the power to manage our elections: to stop despots like Donald Trump,” added Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson. “The Supreme Court must stop Trump’s illegal actions to create error-ridden citizen databases to disenfranchise voters and rig our elections.”

Background

The Litigation Task Force launched in the first month that followed President Donald Trump’s chaotic return to office. We immediately set out to push back against an administration showing no respect for the Constitution or rule of law—and haven’t stopped since.

I the fight to protect American election security: last Tuesday, the Task Force urged the Supreme Court to block Trump’s 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.

For more information on the Litigation Task Force’s efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov.

###",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’s 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 – Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), today joined fellow members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus in calling out the Trump Administration’s 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’s 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.

“Head 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,” 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.”

In the letter, the Members write,“in strong opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed rule Reducing Federal Burden for Head Start Programs.” They continue, “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’s environment of rising costs, it is cruel to make life more difficult and expensive for these families.”

More than 11,000 Colorado children depend on Head Start, not to mention the massive shortfall in child care slots across the state – which is short of more than 82,000 total child care slots, with nearly 14,000 children actively on waitlists.

Nevertheless, Trump’s 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—and financially anticipates—reductions that current rules prohibit. It will undermine its ability to develop evidence-based programs that improve education, health, nutrition, parental involvement, and social services—forcing 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.

For 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’re in support of the program— evidence that Trump’s efforts to gut it are out of step with what Americans want.

U.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’s Caucus and is a member of the House Financial Services Committee.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Kennedy:

We, as members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, write in strong opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services’ (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

requirements 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’s environment of rising costs, it is cruel to make life more difficult and expensive for these families.

I. Undermining Congressional Intent

This proposed rule is not modernization. It is the largest rollback of Head Start quality

protections in the program’s 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’s goal of promoting school readiness and helping children succeed in school and beyond. Children’s 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.

II. Compromising Program Consistency

The program’s federal to local foundation—that this proposed rule seeks to diminish—is critical to achieve Head Start’s 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—qualified 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—not a patchwork of state requirements that would create different standards throughout the country.

III. Eroding Quality and Safety

The proposed rule would eliminate Head Start’s 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’s 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’s 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 “savings.” The Children’s 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, “Restoring Flexibility to Support Head Start Program Access [RIN 0970-AD21].” 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’s 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.

The proposed rule would also rollback Head Start’s 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

eliminate requirements for training on curriculum, behavior management, disability student support, and dual language learner support. Head Start’s federal requirements implement these qualifications and training to protect the integrity of each classroom across the country. Weakening Head Start’s 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’s comprehensive, high-quality educational programming.

IV. Rolling Back Student Support Systems

This proposed rule would strip Head Start’s 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.

The 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—even 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’s 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.

V. Conclusion

It 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.

Sincerely,

Signers of the letter include Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (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. Velázquez (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 Barragán (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 André Carson (IN-07).

###",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’s 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 – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement blasting the Trump administration’s decision to roll back the EPA limits on pollution from power plants.

“Climate change is real and worsening Colorado’s drought and wildfires. The EPA had a rule in place to limit pollution from the largest polluters to address climate change.

“Yesterday’s decision by the EPA ignores science and will seriously threaten our environment. We can’t let their decision stand, and we will keep fighting to reduce pollution and stop climate change.”

Hickenlooper 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’ attempts to undermine the law.

Hickenlooper has called out the Trump admin’s reckless decision to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “endangerment finding,” 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’s (EPA) rejection of Colorado’s updated Regional Haze Plan.

As Colorado governor, Hickenlooper worked with environmentalists and oil and gas companies to create the world’s first methane rules, which were later used as a national model by the Obama administration.

###",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 – 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.

“We’re 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,” said Hickenlooper. “We’ll continue fighting for disaster aid because you never know when the weather or winds could turn and communities will need this help.”

###",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.

COLORADO – 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’s health policies are hitting Colorado kids – 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.

Pediatric 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’s 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’s cuts to Medicaid, and more than one-third of Colorado’s Medicaid enrollees are children.

In a subsequent Substack, Hickenlooper shared how his personal experience as a parent and scientist informs his work on these issues. “As 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,” Hickenlooper wrote. “We 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.”

At the event, Hickenlooper raised concerns about the Trump administration’s proposed changes to longstanding childhood vaccine recommendations, which are currently being challenged in court, and efforts to encourage states to reconsider school immunization requirements.

WATCH: Fox 31 Denver: Hickenlooper Discusses Vaccines, Medicaid Cuts

WATCH: Hickenlooper Discusses Cuts to Medicaid, Falling Vaccination Rates

###",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, “We’re not going to stop because Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, by the way, this is one of the most bipartisan issues in America — Republicans 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.”

The 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’s role in the Iran war.

Massie’s articles against Hegseth accuse him of abusing the power of his office, saying he “knowingly” executed and implemented “unlawful orders to initiate war against a foreign nation” without the authorization of Congress, an attack endangering national security, or an imminent threat requiring action.

The Kentucky Republican said by fulfilling the orders, Hegseth has demonstrated that he “will 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.”

Public 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://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 — 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 Cañon City, which has awaited cleanup for more than 40 years.

In 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.

“[…] 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,” wrote the lawmakers.

The 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.

“Many community members have spent decades advocating for the remediation of this site, and they deserve clear information about when they can expect meaningful progress” continued the lawmakers.

“Members 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 Cañon City area has waited more than 42 years. We’ve 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,” said Emily Tracy, Chair of the Lincoln Park / Cotter Community Advisory Group.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We 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 Cañon 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.

The 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’s continued uncertainty has left local residents both frustrated and concerned about the future of the site.

In a recent discussion with Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western, our staff was pleased to hear the Regional Administrator’s commitment to the Superfund program and to making meaningful progress at the Lincoln Park Superfund Site. In the meeting, Administrator Western underscored EPA’s 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’s 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.

Many 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 “pause” 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.

We 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.

###",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

WASHINGTON – 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’s executive order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule that imposes unconstitutional, unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.

“Mail-in voting is safe, secure, and makes our elections more accessible,” said Hickenlooper. “The Trump administration continues throwing everything at the wall to restrict the fundamental right of every American to choose their leaders. It’s an unconstitutional, authoritarian attack that we won’t let them get away with.”

“Since the beginning of his administration, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have done everything they can to make our voting system less safe and secure,” said Bennet. “The 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.”

Colorado’s 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.

Nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections — a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida’s Republican primary.

In the court filing, the group argued that Trump’s Executive Order and USPS’s 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.

“As current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States — including its guarantee of the separation of powers,” wrote the lawmakers. “The 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.”

The lawmakers concluded by asserting States’ power to administer elections and Congress’s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an “override” authority. Trump’s illegal attack on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.

“The integrity of our constitutional system depends on each branch keeping to its assigned role,” concluded the lawmakers. “The Framers set up a two-part system that gave the States default authority to regulate federal elections subject to Congress’s 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.”

U.S. Representative Joe Neguse led the effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Hickenlooper and Bennet previously demanded that the USPS abandon the rule and have been staunch opposition to the Trump administration’s efforts to restrict voting rights. Both senators also introduced the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act to nullify Trump’s executive order.

As governor, Hickenlooper helped create the gold standard mail-in voting system alongside Republican county clerks.Under Hickenlooper’s 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.

Hickenlooper 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.

The full amicus brief is available HERE.

###",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’s 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. — Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse, Chair of House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force, issued the following statement:

“House Democrats took our fight against Donald Trump’s disastrous attempt to impose unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting to the highest court in the land—and won. We’ll never stop fighting to vindicate our Constitution and put a stop to this administration’s efforts to disenfranchise American citizens. No party, and certainly no president, is above the rule of law.”

Neguse 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’s 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.

For more information on the Litigation Task Force’s efforts to protect Americans against the unlawful actions of the Trump administration, visit litigationandresponse.house.gov.

###",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

WASHINGTON – This evening, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the legality of President Trump’s executive order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule that imposes unconstitutional, unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.

“Today, the Supreme Court rightfully rejected President Trump’s latest attempt to infringe on Americans’ right to vote and avoid accountability for his disastrous record,” said Hickenlooper. “Colorado has proven that mail-in voting is safe, secure, and cost-effective. We’ll keep standing up to President Trump’s attacks on democracy and protecting every American’s fundamental right to choose their representatives.”

Senator Hickenlooper recently filed an amicus brief in the case alongside a bipartisan group of 260 other lawmakers arguing against Trump’s 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’s efforts to restrict voting rights. Hickenlooper introduced the Mail and Absentee Voter Protection Act to nullify Trump’s executive order.

Hickenlooper 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.

###",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 — 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.

Following 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.

On 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’s response to the attacks and what Americans should take from that day and the ensuing conflicts.

Watch the Congressman’s remarks below.

A full transcript can be viewed below:

Where were you on September 11, 2001?

“I 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.”

How do you remember those who lost their lives that day?

“I 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.”

How did September 11th affect your life?

“It 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.

“Later, 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.”

What has stayed with you most about that day?

“Well, 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.

“And 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.

“And 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?

What do you hope Americans remember and carry forward today?

“Well, 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.

“We 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.

“And 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.

“We 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.”",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’s 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 – Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced her legislation to uncover how Trump’s federal workforce cuts have impacted her constituents’ ability to resolve their federal casework issues. This effort comes after it was brought to Pettersen’s 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.

Pettersen’s Constituent Services Impacts of Federal Workforce Firings Act requires a comprehensive review of Trump’s federal workforce reduction efforts and their impact on agencies’ constituent services – 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).

“One 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’s 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. “In 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.”

Specifically, Pettersen’s 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.

After Donald Trump’s 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.

Last 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.

The 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.

“Federal 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,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley

""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’s 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,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin

""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,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald

""The current Administration’s 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’s 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,” said IFPTE International President Matt Biggs

Bill text can be found HERE.

###

To 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 — 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’s 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.

“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,” wrote the senators.

“[…] continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel’s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” continued the senators.

President 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.

“Like 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,” concluded the senators.

Furthermore, the senators called for those responsible for such violent acts to be investigated and held accountable.

Bennet 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.

In April 2026, Bennet voted to restrict certain arms sales to Israel, saying: “I have made clear that I will not vote to provide a single cent to support Trump’s 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.”

In 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.

In 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.

In 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’i), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (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’i), 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.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

We 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’s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Incidents 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.

We 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.

President 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:

Issue 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.

Ensure 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.

Stop approving additional settlements and stop allowing the construction of, and take steps to remove, illegal outposts in the West Bank.

Like 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.

###",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 “was angry” and wanted to “fight back.” Downing felt “the sense of violation” and wanted to be the “tip of the spear” in the country’s military response.

Both men were changed by the attack. Downing said it caused him to “wake up” to the nation’s greatness, while Crow said the terrorist attack altered “the entire trajectory of my life.”

And after multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, these two men from different political parties — Crow is a Colorado Democrat, Downing is a Montana Republican — found their way to Congress, inspired by their service and the lessons they took from it.

It’s their distinct takeaways, however, where their similarities end, highlighting how the terrorist attacks that sparked wars in Iraq and Afghanistan changed the nation’s 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.

“People do take different lessons,” Crow said. “And I think the lessons that I took out ... are a different lesson than some of my comrades and my brothers and sisters in arms.”

The 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 — Rep. Barbara T. Lee (California) — 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.

But 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 “no new wars” and created tension with the Republican Party’s more anti-war factions.

Neither Crow, now 47, nor Downing, now 59, is an avatar for their party’s 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.

But Crow’s and Downing’s 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 “at war with us” for nearly 50 years, while Crow labels it a “war of choice” pushed by a president who is “cavalier with other people’s lives.”

Downing was deep in the Alaskan bush on a moose-hunting trip on Sept. 11, 2001, and didn’t learn of the attack until the pilot who picked up his group recounted it five days after the towers fell. “I was one of the last people on the planet to find out about it,” 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.

“It really bugged me, because I didn’t have a good answer,” he recalled, so at 34 and with no military experience, he enlisted at a recruiter’s office in Montana and was sworn into a combat search-and-rescue squadron because he had a pilot’s license.

Downing, under the call sign “Yahoo,” 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. “There are guys that made it home to their families because we were there to get them and I’m incredibly proud of that service,” he said.

Crow, 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 “decision those people faced and the number of people that were killed on that day.” As a member of the university’s 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.

“I wanted to do my part,” he said. “That was the mentality at the time.”

Crow went on to serve three tours with the Army — one in Iraq leading a platoon of paratroopers in the March 2003 invasion and two in Afghanistan — earning the Bronze Star.

While Crow entered the war angry and eager to “defend this country,” he said the invasion of Iraq and his role in it “drastically changed my worldview about what this conflict and conflicts like it really mean.”

He realized early on that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that the nation “had 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.” People in his unit then began dying, he said, including a noncitizen Filipino soldier who was posthumously granted citizenship.

“It 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,” he said, specifically citing that noncitizen soldier’s death as a reason for his views on immigration.

The war changed Downing, too, but in different ways. He called the invasion of Afghanistan “justified” as a way to “hit back” 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 “protect all of those things that make America great” and “make that American Dream possible.” And his work in Afghanistan made him “incredibly disappointed and somewhat angered” by the chaotic end to the conflict under President Joe Biden, a withdrawal he labeled “a huge miscalculation that is a stain on America.”

Downing took issue with those, like Crow, who refer to the Iran conflict as a “war of choice,” defending the Trump administration’s position that the war is needed to defend the U.S. and Israel from a nation that has been “fighting us for almost 50 years.”

“Anybody saying that this is something new is not looking at that whole history,” he said. “We did not pick this war.”

Downing’s 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.

Vice 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’s running mate, he reflected on how he deployed to Iraq and learned that “I had been lied to” about the reasons for the war.

“Have we learned nothing?” he asked during a debate in the Senate over funding for Ukraine’s war against Russia.

Since then, however, Vance has defended the war in Iran, despite remaining a “skeptic of foreign military interventions.”

That kind of thinking has led Downing to believe that the Republican Party is not as anti-interventionist as Trump promised during his 2016 campaign.

“I don’t see that as a firm plank in the party right now because I definitely know colleagues that have differences of opinion,” Downing said.

Crow 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.

“I struggle mightily with this dissonance between what some of my colleagues say publicly and what they’ll tell me privately,” Crow said. “I tell them that: ‘Don’t tell me. I don’t 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.’”",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1915,Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Solemnly Marks One Year Since Evergreen High School Shooting,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"EVERGREEN – 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’s shooting. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) is leading a companion resolution in the Senate.

“Today, 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,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “Our country’s 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.”

“One year ago today, the Evergreen community experienced an unthinkable act of gun violence,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “The fear and trauma that Evergreen High School students, families, educators, and first responders experienced that day have not disappeared. We owe it to them – and all of Colorado – 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.”

""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’s resilient survivors and residents, but more must be done. Congressional action to stop gun violence is long overdue—it's past time we pass legislation to protect our kids. Enough is enough,"" said Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01).

“A 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—and 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,” said Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02)

“One 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,” said Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

“I 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.” said Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04).

“As 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’m 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,” said Congressman Jeff Hurd (CO-03)

""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,” said Congressman Jeff Crank (CO-05)

""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’m 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,” said Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08)

Specifically, 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.

See the full text of the resolution here.

This resolution comes after, earlier this year, Congresswoman Pettersen introduced three pieces of legislation responding to the tragedy at Evergreen High School last year:

The Evergreen Community Safety Act which requires social media companies to respond to warrants and subpoena requests regarding potential threats of violence within 72 hours.

Bill text is available HERE.

The 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.

Bill text is available HERE.

The 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.

Bill text is available HERE.

Since 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, Hickenlooper, Wyden, Padilla, Schiff Sound 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 — 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’s (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.

“[…] 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,”began the senators.

Between 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.

“In 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,”continued the senators.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, Bennet has fought for adequate support for Colorado’s 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’ 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’s 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.

Bennet 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.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretaries Burgum and Rollins:

We write with serious concern about the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (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.

In 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.

We 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.

Please respond to the following questions within 10 days:

Every day of this fire season, wildland fire personnel have put themselves in harm’s 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.

Why 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?

In response to the deaths of so many response personnel, what resources are USFS and USWFS deploying to ensure the safety of wildland firefighters?

How are DOI and USDA prioritizing safety?

How 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?

In 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.

How 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.

How many personnel are working repeated or extended assignments?

Describe how DOI and USDA are managing current shortfalls in wildland firefighting teams and supervisory capacity.

What, if any, plans do DOI and USDA have to increase the number of Incident Management Teams to historic (or greater) levels?

How does the number of contract federal wildland firefighter crews compare this year to previous years?

In 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).

Explain why there was such a dramatic increase in spending in FY25 and how FY25 spending informed FY26 operations.

How 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?

Going into the 2026 fire season, did USDA and DOI expect to have spent 70% of their budget authority by this point in the summer?

With 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 “fire borrowing.”

To what extent are USDA and DOI rationing other resources this summer in preparation for potential fire borrowing?

Describe the appropriated accounts that USFS and USWFS would borrow from in order to fund fire suppression.

Will 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?

We 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.

Describe 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?

5 U.S.C. § 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?

At the beginning of the 2026 fire season, agency officials discussed the successes of fighting fires in 2025.

To what extent does weather factor into the differences between the 2025 wildland fire season and the 2026 wildland fire season?

Describe how the organizational changes and restructuring of the wildland fire organizations address the issues associated with prolonged drought and extreme weather.

Thank you for your prompt response to our questions.

###",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

WASHINGTON – 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.

“The only conceivable reason for ICE to be at polling places is to spread the same fear and intimidation we’ve already seen in our communities,”said Hickenlooper. “Every eligible American should be able to cast their ballot freely and safely. We’ll keep fighting tooth and nail to protect that sacred right.”

Earlier 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.

Hickenlooper has been outspoken in the face of ICE’s 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 “death cards” left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents, and to demand the overhaul of ICE. He’s 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’s 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.

###",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

WASHINGTON – 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.

“Science propels our economy, saves lives, and solves the problems that once seemed unsolvable,” said Hickenlooper. “This 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.”

“America’s economic strength and national security have always been powered by our ability to innovate, and that begins with world-class scientific research,” said McCormick. “As we compete to maintain America’s position as the world’s 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.”

The 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.

Jobs in science, technology, engineering, math, and medicine make up34% of the U.S. workforce.

Economic activity from these fields generates 39% of U.S. GDP – over $10 trillion dollars.

The United States spends only 3% of its GDP on research and development (R&D) and innovation.

Federally 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.

China 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.

The 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.

Hickenlooper 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.

A kickoff event celebrating the caucus will be held on Monday, September 14th at the United States Capitol.

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
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’ 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 – 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.

Hickenlooper 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’ access to clean drinking water by vetoing Hickenlooper’s bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act.

Watch our video at the reservoir to hear more HERE.

In La Junta, Hickenlooper toured the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and met with county officials. They discussed the community’s 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.

Earlier, Hickenlooper toured the Vail Hotel in Pueblo – one of Colorado’s historic hotels turned into a public housing project – and met with local leaders to discuss the increasing cost of housing in Pueblo. From 2014 to 2024, Pueblo’s average rent rose from $593 in 2014 to $1,161 in 2024 – 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.

Watch Hickenlooper speak at visit to the Vail Hotel HERE.

On 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.

Local health officials say that E. Coli levels down-stream of the spill are “extremely high,” 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’s safe. Drinking water for surrounding communities remains unharmed by the spill.

Watch Hickenlooper react to his visit HERE.

Hickenlooper toured the Prowers Medical Center in Lamar to highlight how Trump and MAGA Republicans’ 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’ healthcare cuts. There, he heard about the importance of the hospitals’ birth center – 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 – a significant health risk in emergencies.

Hickenlooper 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.

Hickenlooper also heard from local ranchers and farmers about how they’re adjusting to the extreme drought, this administration’s 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’s farm after he couldn’t keep up with rising costs.

Check out what they’re saying:

Pueblo Chieftain: Leaders discuss next steps after 4 million-gallon Pueblo sewage spill

About 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’s Confluence Park to discuss a path forward.

…“This is the worst nightmare,” Hickenlooper said at a Sept. 2 press conference.

“We 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’t have any risk to our food we grow and the water we drink. Once in a while, problems happen.”

…Hickenlooper says Trump’s denial of disaster funding for Democratic-led states is ‘not acceptable’

Hickenlooper 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 “blue states” are three times less likely than Republican-leaning states to have disaster funding approved under Trump.

“Obviously, that’s not acceptable,” Hickenlooper said. “This country has never functioned that way, and it never should. We are working with Republicans, as well as Democrats, to make sure that we’re all unified on this, because this could happen anywhere.”

FOX 21: Officials provide update on cleanup efforts after major Arkansas River spill

Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper stood alongside state and local officials on Wednesday, Sep. 2, as they gave an update on how they’re addressing the Arkansas River sewage spill. As state officials said bacteria levels are still “significantly elevated,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has expanded water contact advisories to more locations.

“The key is to not lose our unity and to recognize that the way to get through this is to come together,” said Sen. Hickenlooper.

…But for farmers, ranchers, and locals, Sen. Hickenlooper said dealing with the spill is a challenge. “We’re already having one of the worst droughts in Colorado’s history. It’s 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,” he said.

Sen. Hickenlooper said he will push for help in Washington when disasters like this happen.

“We 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’re going to do everything we can in Washington, I guarantee that,” said Sen. Hickenlooper.

KOAA 5: U.S. senator visits Pueblo to discuss affordable housing law and local development plans

U.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.

…The 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.

“It’s a huge investment in financing for affordable housing,” Hickenlooper said.

Hickenlooper said the law also addresses corporate purchasing of residential properties.

“It also restrains that Wall Street can’t come into your community and buy a bunch of houses, which raises the price, doesn’t add any housing, just makes it more expensive for everybody,” Hickenlooper said.

…“It’s looking at how can we be simpler and not have to go through all the red tape and bureaucracy when we’re trying to build affordable housing,” added Hickenlooper.

KKTV: Officials say Sewage leak stopped, but Arkansas River contamination moves downstream

State 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.

…Sen. 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.

“We have a team that’s going to do everything possible to make sure we find out why it happened, B, do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and C, deal with this situation in real time,” Hickenlooper said.

KKTV: U.S. senator visits Pueblo to discuss affordable housing law and local development plans

U.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.

“There’s a shortage, there’s a backlog,” said Steven Trujillo, Director of the Housing Authority of Pueblo.

…The 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.

“It’s a huge investment in financing for affordable housing,” Hickenlooper said.

Hickenlooper said the law also addresses corporate purchasing of residential properties.

“It also restrains that Wall Street can’t come into your community and buy a bunch of houses, which raises the price, doesn’t add any housing, just makes it more expensive for everybody,” Hickenlooper said.

…“It’s looking at how can we be simpler and not have to go through all the red tape and bureaucracy when we’re trying to build affordable housing,” added Hickenlooper.

The Prowers Journal: Senator John Hickenlooper visits Prowers Medical Center to discuss rural health care challenges with representatives from area hospitals

Senator 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.

Hickenlooper told the group “My 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’ve always got problems; we’re always trying to sort through things. The only way we can do that is by coming together and hearing and actually listening, so I’m here to listen.” Speaking of the divide in government in Washington, he said “Health care is going to be THE battle. I’m 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’s 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’s 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.”

…The 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 “we never know what’s going to be coming through our doors. It’s just really important to make sure you hear our story. We’re in rural America. We’re it. As we talked about on the tour- the OB-GYN that’s here or the surgeon that’s here, they’re it. They’re 24 hours for the two weeks they’re on, so we’ve got to support them to care for patients”.

Hickenlooper concluded the discussion, telling the group “Your stories are so valuable. We have to have healthcare in these rural areas. Thanks so much for being here – you’re doing God’s work”.

WATCH:

FOX (Colorado Springs, CO): Arkansas River Sewage Spill

NBC (Colorado Springs, CO): Arkansas River Sewage Spill

CBS (Grand Junction, CO): Arkansas River Sewage Spill

NBC (Colorado Springs, CO): Pueblo Affordable Housing Roundtable

FOX (Colorado Springs, CO): Pueblo Affordable Housing Roundtable

LISTEN:

KOA (Denver, CO): Arkansas River Sewage Spill

###",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 — 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.

In their letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, the senators warned that HUD’s 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.

“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,” wrote the senators.

The 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’s funding altogether, despite strong bipartisan support in Congress.

The 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.

In 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 Luján (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.

In 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.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Turner:

We write to express deep concerns regarding recent actions by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (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.

On 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.

This latest effort is on the heels of the Trump Administration’s 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’s 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’s argument that it could not be compelled to award the funds “is not the law.” 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.

Meanwhile, 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’s 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’s 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’s 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.

Rather 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 “prevent[] displacement and/or increase[e] housing choice” 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 “property owners” and “landlords.” 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’s political allies and further its political objectives.

The 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 “organizational transformation” related to HUD’s administration of fair housing laws and that “[m]ore will be revealed in due course.” Mr. Trainor’s email referenced the words of President Trump in calling this organizational transformation of fair housing part of a “noble tradition” of “Anglo-Saxons” and the “first Americans.” The Fair Housing Act protects all Americans, regardless of their race or national origin, and Mr. Trainor’s remarks reasonably call into question his commitment to this fundamental aspect of his statutory position created by the Fair Housing Act.

Given the devastating effect on local communities that HUD’s unprecedented repurposing of FHIP grants will have, we ask that you rescind HUD’s 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’s funding notices and other actions are expected to have on the agency’s mission and operations, we ask that you provide the following information by August 17, 2026:

A 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’s FHIP funding notices;

A 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;

A list of all HUD officials who participated in drafting or approving its FHIP funding notices;

Details on HUD’s 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;

All 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;

A 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;

A copy of all internal legal or other analysis performed by HUD supporting its decision to rescind fair housing guidance documents; and

A 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.

###",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
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’s 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 — This week, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet hosted two conversations with Colorado’s next generation, one with young professionals through CiviCO’s 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?

For 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.

“Colorado 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,” said Bennet. “For 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.”

Bennet 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.

“Young people are going to live with the decisions we make today,” said Bennet. “We 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.”

At 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’s 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.

“We’re 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,” said D.J. Whetter, Managing Director, CiviCO from Omni.

At Vista PEAK Preparatory School, Bennet joined Ms. Scott’s AP Government class for a conversation about civic engagement and students’ 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.

“It’s encouraging to hear Senator Bennet recognize the challenges younger generations are facing and take accountability for the decisions that helped create them,” said Lawrence Temple III, a student in Ms. Scott’s AP Government class at Vista PEAK Preparatory School. “He 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.”

###",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’s 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 — 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.

“Following an outpouring of local support for disaster relief, I am glad to see the approval of the State’s 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’s 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.”

###",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
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’s 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 — 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’s remaining requests for Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant funding.

“We’re 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,” said Hickenlooper. “We’ll continue standing shoulder to shoulder with those impacted by these tragedies and urge the administration to swiftly approve Colorado’s remaining requests for Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant funding.”",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. — 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 (“INSULIN”) Act. This bill will cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for insured individuals.

“Insulin insecurity is not a partisan issue. It’s a life-or-death issue,” said Rep. DeGette. “I 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.”

""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,” said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D.. “That'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.""

“As a doctor with Type 1 diabetes who depends on insulin, I understand the immediate need to bring down the cost of insulin – especially at a time when so many Americans are already struggling with high costs,” said Rep. Schrier. “I 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.”

“Diabetes 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,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “No 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’t 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’t be making extra cash off the backs of working people who rely on insulin to survive.”

“Through the Inflation Reduction Act, we made great strides toward lowering the cost of prescription drugs by capping the cost of insulin for our nation’s seniors,” Rep. Craig said. “Now, it’s time to extend that benefit to all Americans. I’m 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.”

View the bill text here.

Background:

With more than 40.1 million Americans estimated to be living with diabetes, the INSULIN Act is the result of Rep. DeGette’s commitment to making health care affordable for more Americans.

The INSULIN Act will:

Cap out-of-pocket patient cost-sharing for individuals with insurance at $35 a month;

Prohibit health care plans from applying any deductible to select insulin products;

Help uninsured people with diabetes get access to insulin; and

Get biosimilar insulin to market more quickly.

As 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.

Before 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.

Building 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.

A 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).

This bill has broad support among diabetes advocates.

“The American Diabetes Association (ADA) appreciates and applauds the House’s bipartisan introduction of the INSULIN Act, which would limit out-of-pocket insulin costs for patients at $35 a month,” said Lisa Murdock, Chief Advocacy Officer of ADA. “A 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.”

“For 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. “The 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.”

“The 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,” said George Huntley, CEO. “This 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.”

“For the more than 1.5 million Americans with type one diabetes (T1D), insulin access is life-or-death,” said Lynn Starr, Breakthrough T1D Chief Global Advocacy Officer. “By 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.”

###",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 — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse and Governor Jared Polis called on the Department of the Interior’s 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’s herds, with the next roundup in the region scheduled to begin as soon as September 10th, 2026.

In 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.

BLM has been responsible for protecting and managing wild horse herds for decades, however, under the Trump administration there’s been a troubling uptick in the U.S. government’s 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.

They lawmakers echoed pleas from Coloradans across the state who are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of these horses.

The letter is co-signed by Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Dianna DeGette (CO-01), and Jason Crow (CO-06).

The full letter is available HERE and below:

September 3, 2026

Secretary Burgum and Deputy Director Heinlein,

We 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.

This 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.

We 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 – such as the state’s Wild Horse Advisory Committee – 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.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

###",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

WASHINGTON – As President Trump’s tariffs and unpopular war with Iran continue to crush Colorado families, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper highlighted the cost-of-living emergency that’s hurting the state.

According 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:

Energy 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.

Housing Costs: Colorado families have had to spend $496 more on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office.

Grocery Costs: Americans paid $310 more for groceries in President Trump’s first year than in 2024, and grocery prices are now more than 4 percent higher than when Trump took office.

Healthcare: 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.

“As I travel across Colorado this month, we keep hearing the same thing: everyday essentials cost too much,” said Hickenlooper. “Colorado is facing a cost-of-living emergency made worse by President Trump’s illegal war, tariffs, and massive healthcare cuts. We’ve got to reverse these harmful policies and make life more affordable for working families.”

Watch Hickenlooper discuss the cost-of-living emergency on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube

While 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.

Hickenlooper 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.

Hickenlooper has spoken multiple times on the Senate floor condemning Trump for dragging America into a highly unpopular war that’s driving the cost-of-living through the roof. Hickenlooper has consistently voted to end Trump’s costly and deadly war. He’s called out skyrocketing gas prices and costly impacts on farmers’ bottom lines. Hickenlooper is concerned by the loss of life created by Trump’s war, including the deaths of U.S. servicemembers abroad and the increasing civilian death toll.

Hickenlooper has traveled across Colorado to hear from workers, ranchers, and farmers getting crushed by the increasing prices fueled by the war. He’s 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’s tariffs and his reckless war in Iran – and the resulting spike in gas prices – 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.

###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-passage-continuing-resolution,DeGette Statement on the Passage of the Continuing Resolution,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Diana DeGette,D000197,degette.house.gov,degette,https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after voting for the stopgap funding bill:

“I supported the Senate’s 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.

“Additionally, the funding bill blocks funds to further Trump’s cruel immigration agenda and restores funding to Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides necessary health care to patients in Colorado and across the country.”

Background:

On 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.

Read the July press release here.

###",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1862,"At the Start of Suicide Awareness Month, Congresswoman Pettersen Introduces Legislation to Increase Awareness for 988 Crisis Helpline",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase awareness for the 988 helpline with a public awareness campaign for those experiencing mental health crisis. The Public Transit Mental Health Awareness Act which Pettersen introduced with Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), specifically increases awareness by placing information about this lifesaving, existing resource in front of millions of Coloradans in places they travel every day: public transit vehicles, stations, and facilities.

The Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) found that over a two-year period, the state’s overall rate of youth suicide decreased by 11% following the 2022 launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline. This legislation would help save even more lives.

“Colorado has one of the highest youth suicide rates in the nation, and suicide has become the leading cause of death for our kids. The 988 crisis help line has proven to be a significant driver to reducing those rates across the country, and providing a lifeline to millions of Americans. It’s imperative that we take action to support behavioral health services and increase awareness with a tool that already exists,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “I lost my brother, Justin, to suicide over 15 years ago – there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and wish he was still here with us. It’s because of him and the millions of Americans who are facing a crisis like him, and the families who are left to honor their memories that I led the introduction of a bill that increases awareness of this vital resource, especially in places used frequently by millions of Americans, no matter where they live. It’s critical that we meet people where they are, and this makes it possible for us to provide connections for people and families who need it most.”

“Every life is precious, and we have a responsibility to ensure that anyone facing a crisis knows they are not alone and that help is available. The 988 on Public Transit Act is a commonsense, low-cost way to make sure New Yorkers and Americans across the country know that support is just three digits away, free, confidential, and available 24/7. With a small investment, we can make a real difference and connect people with the resources they need when they need them most,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

“Everyone should know that help is available when they are experiencing a mental health crisis,"" said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). ""The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential, 24/7 support, and making information about 988 visible on public transportation can help ensure that more people know where to turn when they need support. NAMI is proud to support this legislation and thanks Rep. Pettersen for her efforts to increase awareness of 988 and connect people with lifesaving crisis services.”

“988 saves lives – but only if people know it’s there for them,” said Dr. Marketa M. Wills, American Psychiatric Association CEO & Medical Director. “Displaying 988 information on public transit will put this vital resource in front of millions of people and help connect more Americans to free, confidential, and timely support when they need it most. APA applauds Representative Pettersen for championing this commonsense, urgently needed legislation.”

“Awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline continues to grow, with more than 26.2 million calls, texts, and chats since July 2022,” said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). “We commend Representatives Pettersen and Lawler for introducing the bipartisan Public Transit Mental Health Awareness Act, which would promote awareness of 988 through signage on public transportation. Expanding awareness of 988 is a powerful way to connect more people with this life-saving resource and provide hope to those experiencing a suicidal, mental health, or substance use crisis, as well as to loved ones seeking resources. By making 988 more visible, we can help ensure that more people know where to turn when they need support.”

Bill text can be found HERE.

This bill has been endorsed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, American Psychiatric Association, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The original cosponsors of this legislation include Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Deborah Ross (D-NC).

###

To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.",1,2026-09-02T09:19:58Z,2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1910,"Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen Hosts More Than 18,000 Constituents on Telephone Town Hall Focused on Affordability, Fighting Back Against Trump, Democracy, and Other Issues",2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Last night, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) hosted a telephone town hall with more than 18,000 constituents from across the Seventh Congressional District to hear their concerns and discuss her work in Washington. On the call, Pettersen spoke to many issues, including continued rising costs, how she is fighting back against Donald Trump's disastrous policies, protecting our communities from data centers, and protecting people’s right to vote.

“I’m hearing directly from people how challenging these times are and how difficult it is to make ends meet. That’s why we want to reach out and support you with the questions you have right now,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen last night to her constituents. “In our office, we often say we focus on three paths. One, is doing what we can do to mitigate the pain and suffering people are going through: signing on to lawsuits, demanding answers from the Trump administration, pushing back with letters, bringing bills, forcing votes on the House floor, and telling your stories.”

At a time when Republican Members of Congress have shied away from talking to their constituents directly, Pettersen is committed to engaging with her constituents directly. She has held 22 town halls this Congress alone.

Since the 119th Congress began, Pettersen has been focused on delivering results and fighting back for her constituents, including:

Bills introduced: 43

Bills signed into law: 5

Amicus briefs signed standing up to the administration’s cruelty and lawlessness: 28

Letters Led: 15

Direct actions in the 7th Congressional District during the 119th Congress:

More than $9,738,019 returned to constituents

Resolved federal casework issues: 2,415+

Town Halls: 22

Constituent letters responded to: 200,000

Grants delivered to CO-07: $227,734,717.16+

Mobile office hours, resource fairs, and constituent service events hosted: 59+

Community project funding delivered to CO-07: $3 million+

In the wake of the Aspen Acres and Willow Fires which devastated families and communities across the district, Congresswoman Pettersen provided valuable information to constituents, including directing them to her Wildfire Resource Hub. Earlier this summer, in response to these fires Pettersen introduced a suite of legislation aimed at helping communities prepare, respond to, and recover from increasingly destructive wildfires.

During the town hall, constituents also expressed concern about Donald Trump’s attempts to interfere with mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm election. As a member of the Colorado state legislature, Pettersen helped build one of the strongest and most secure mail in voting systems in the nation, She assured voters that despite the Trump Administration’s attempts to sow confusion ahead of this year's election, mail in voting is safe, secure, and a critical tool to ensuring that all Coloradans’ access to the ballot box. Pettersen has used her position in Congress to push the United States Postal Service to ensure that all voters, particularly those in rural areas, receive their mail in ballots on time and promised to continue fighting against the Trump Administrations’ attempts to restrict voting access.

Pettersen also answered questions from constituents concerned about the impacts of data centers. She is a cosponsor of the Power for the People Act of 2026, which would set commonsense guardrails on the proliferation of data centers near communities, including ensuring data centers pay their fair share of energy costs, protecting energy grid stability, and requiring that data centers mitigate their pollution through clean energy resources.

Representative Pettersen has also consistently voted against Donald Trump’s agenda, including opposing over $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” She has consistently voted against authorizing Donald Trump’s war in Iran. Pettersen has joined two War Powers Resolutions to check executive power in regards to military action in Iran: H.Con. Res. 38, led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, and H.Con. Res. 40, introduced by Reps. Greg Meeks, Jim Himes, and Adam Smith, the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Armed Services Committees.

###

To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1861,Congresswoman Pettersen Introduces Bipartisan Resolution to Designate Overdose Awareness Day Ahead of National Recovery Month,2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Today, as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), alongside Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), introduced a resolution designating August 31st as Overdose Awareness Day. The Task Force intends to increase awareness of the continued overdose crisis, honor the lives lost, and pledge action to curb it. Pettersen’s family, like too many families in Colorado, has been personally affected by the opioid crisis – with her mom celebrating nine years in recovery. According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health, more than 1,700 Coloradans tragically passed from drug overdoses in 2025.

“Far too many American families, including my own, have felt the devastating impacts of the opioid epidemic. In the fight to save my mom’s life, I realized just how broken our health care system was. She was one of the lucky ones, and my mom was able to get the help she needed, but everyone doesn’t get that chance,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “Deaths from overdose are preventable, and passing this resolution will help us continue to reduce stigma and better confront this crisis. I’m proud to have passed previous legislation that will give real support to those who need it, but we need to do so much more. Congress needs to expand prevention, treatment, and recovery services, so fewer families are left with an empty chair at the dinner table because of this crisis.”

“Far too many families in the Commonwealth and across our country know the devastating pain of losing a loved one to an overdose. This bipartisan legislation aims to ensure every person affected by addiction knows that they are not alone,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan “Addiction doesn’t check party affiliation or nationality. It strikes in silence and no family should be forced to fight it alone. By formally recognizing Overdose Awareness Day, we remember the lives lost to addiction and honor the families and communities impacted by this crisis. We must continue working to reduce stigma and expand access to lifesaving treatment and care.”

“Much of what guides my work in Congress on addiction and recovery has been shaped by sitting across the table from families whose lives have been forever altered by this crisis, and by working alongside the first responders, treatment providers, advocates, and community leaders who devote themselves every day to saving lives and helping people rebuild theirs,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “There is no single policy that will solve this crisis, and no place for partisanship when lives are at stake. But together, we can continue to make meaningful progress by strengthening prevention, expanding education and awareness, improving access to treatment and sustained recovery, and confronting the deadly threat of illicit fentanyl. With this resolution, we remember those we have lost, stand with the families who carry their absence, and renew our resolve to prevent the next loss.”

The bipartisan resolution honors the lives lost to overdose and strengthens prevention, treatment, harm-reduction, and recovery services. It also calls for continued collaboration among federal, state, and local governments, health care providers, community organizations, businesses, patients, and families to prevent overdoses and support those affected by substance use disorder.

In 2025, nearly 70,000 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose, a decrease of almost 14% from the 81,313 deaths estimated in 2024. It was the third straight annual drop, making it the longest decline in decades and a return to pre COVID-19 levels. However, fentanyl and other illicit synthetic opioids continue to fuel the overdose epidemic.",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/icymi-hickenlooper-visits-southwest-colorado-talks-tribal-issues-innovation-drought-wildfires-childcare-more/,"ICYMI: Hickenlooper Visits Southwest Colorado, Talks Tribal Issues, Innovation, Drought, Wildfires, Childcare, More",2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"COLORADO – In case you missed it, Senator John Hickenlooper took to the road this week to meet with Coloradans in Durango, Towaoc, Dolores, Ouray, and Ridgway.

Hickenlooper arrived in Durango on Wednesday for a full day of events. He started the day at Agile Space Industries for a tour and ribbon-cutting event at their new expanded facility. The senator received a first-hand look at how Colorado is leading the country in aerospace innovation.

Senator Hickenlooper then made his way to the site of the largest gasoline spill in Colorado history, which occurred two years ago when a pipeline ruptured near Durango. There, he met with Tribal, local, state, and federal officials to receive an update on cleanup efforts led by the company responsible for the spill, Enterprise Products. In discussion with residents and officials, Hickenlooper heard about damage already done to local water resources.

Watch Hickenlooper provide an update from the ground here

The senator, a father of two himself, made his way to the opening ceremony of the Durango Powerhouse’s brand new WonderLab Early Learning Childcare Center. There, he spoke on the importance of funding childcare in Colorado at a time when slots are at a premium.

Watch Hickenlooper’s remarks outside the Durango Powerhouse here

Thursday, Senator Hickenlooper met with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council (UMUT) to hear about the Tribe’s priorities, including water projects, law enforcement funding, and the recently terminated Bears Ear Commission. The group celebrated Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) Hickenlooper helped secure for various UMUT projects. Hickenlooper expressed his continued support for Tribal sovereignty and pledged to continue fighting for federal funding that helps address Tribal needs.

Hickenlooper continued his day at the McPhee Reservoir outside Dolores and Cortez, where he met with water managers, county commissioners, farmers, and other experts to discuss how the 1,200-year record drought across the West is impacting Colorado. McPhee has dropped 15 feet in one year and stands at 42% capacity. The group chatted about how to move forward with a new water reality that places the state and region in crisis.

Watch Hickenlooper’s update from McPhee Reservoir here

On Friday, Hickenlooper began his day attending a forest management event in Ouray, where he secured $600,000 in CDS funding for a project to reduce fuels, improve forest health, and enhance safety for recreationists and firefighters in an area with heightened wildfire risk. He received a tour of the project’s progress and discussed forest management with local and federal forest managers and elected officials.

Shortly after, Ouray County officials gave Hickenlooper a tour of the damage from the Gold Mountain Fire and subsequent flooding and debris flows. On the tour, the senator received updates on local efforts to recover from these disasters. Hickenlooper has written to President Trump urging him to approve Colorado’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration.

Up the road in Ridgway, Senator Hickenlooper finished his week by sitting down with local business owners and leaders to discuss the impacts of drought and the Gold Mountain Fire on the local economy.

Check out what they’re saying:

Durango Herald: Hickenlooper: Pipeline safety standard should be ‘zero accidents

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper said he’s not sure if the federal pipeline regulatory agency has failed to adequately protect residents and investigate pipeline failures like the one that occurred nearly two years ago south of Durango – but he intends to find out.

…If this is PHMSA’s normal pace, “they’re not meeting their standard” and that’s unacceptable, Hickenlooper told The Durango Herald after Wednesday’s tour.

…Like aviation, the standard for pipelines should be “zero accidents,” or as close to zero as possible, Hickenlooper said.

When asked if he will advocate for stricter regulations regarding pipeline safety enforcement, he said he can’t promise specific reforms until he has facts about whether the system is fundamentally flawed or if this is an outlier.

“I got to get the facts first and figure out: Is this something that is a poorly designed system that needs to be fixed, or is this once in a million?” Hickenlooper said.

KSJD: Hickenlooper expresses concern for farmers and ranchers in ongoing drought

Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper would like to see a new political party called the Agriculture First Party. That was one of the comments he made on a hot Thursday afternoon at an overlook to McPhee Reservoir.

…Hickenlooper voiced concern for ag producers, saying, “We need a political party that is pro-farmer and pro-rancher.”

He said no civilization has ever prospered if it could not feed its people. “Farmers should come first,” he said. “They should be our highest priority.”

…Hickenlooper said the climate is clearly changing and farmers and ranchers need to be prioritized so they can grow the food people depend on.

“We need to come together as Coloradans, not Republicans or Democrats, and fight for the federal funding – not to make it easier for big farms and big ranches to survive this decline in their revenues,” he said. “We want to invest money in infrastructure that will help us take the water we have and get more crops, more livestock.”

…In an interview with KSJD and The Journal, Hickenlooper reiterated that ag producers need to be high on the list of priorities for the federal government.

“We’ve got to really prioritize, with the limited resources we have, help for farmers and ranchers so they can grow the food and the livestock and the products we depend on,” Hickenlooper said.

He spoke of some of the agricultural products Colorado is famous for, such as Palisade peaches and Rocky Ford cantaloupes.

The Journal: Montezuma County leaders tell Hickenlooper of drought’s toll

A meeting converged between local leaders and U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper where the discussion was on water, especially the severe shortage for the Dolores Project and all the ways that impact cascades to affect Montezuma County’s ecological health and economy.

…Hickenlooper, pen and paper in hand, jotted notes while several leaders from different governmental agencies and advocacy groups provided their takes on drought impacts for the agricultural, environmental, recreational, municipal and forest sectors.

…While post-fire debris flows led to the devastating kill, Unterreiner noted a tiny silver lining. He said in the unspoiled sandstone, canyon country, debris flows and drought have likely cleared away the invasive smallmouth bass.

“That’s a pretty thin silver lining. Still, it’s a silver lining,” Hickenlooper said, who used to be a geologist.

WATCH:

CBS (Grand Junction, CO): Ouray Wildfire Management Visit

###",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/video-analysis-hickenlooper-calls-out-high-gas-prices-trump-corruption/,"Video & Analysis: Hickenlooper Calls Out High Gas Prices, Trump Corruption",2026-08-31,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"While the average Colorado family has paid $583 more in gas since the Iran War began, Trump has made up to $15.5 million from oil & gas stocks

WASHINGTON – As President Trump’s war with Iran continues, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper highlighted how Coloradans are paying the price at the pump while President Trump continues profiting off the war. According to a new report by the Joint Economic Committee Minority, Coloradans have collectively spent $1.3 billion more on gas since the Iran war began, amounting to $583 more per family. Meanwhile, at the end of 2025, President Donald Trump held as much as $45.6 million in oil and gas stocks, a portfolio that is now worth up to $61.1 million.

“It’s no wonder President Trump refuses to end the war in Iran. He has a vested interest in prolonging it. While the Colorado families are struggling to put gas in their tanks, the President is making money hand over fist over this prolonged, illegal war,” Hickenlooper said in a video statement. “We have to end this forever war, and start fighting the high prices that are crushing working families.”

Watch Hickenlooper’s Full Video Here

While 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.

Hickenlooper 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.

Hickenlooper has spoken multiple times on the Senate floor condemning Trump for dragging America into a highly unpopular war that’s driving the cost-of-living through the roof. Hickenlooper has consistently voted to end Trump’s costly and deadly war. He’s called out skyrocketing gas prices and costly impacts on farmers’ bottom lines. Hickenlooper is concerned by the loss of life created by Trump’s war, including the deaths of U.S. service members abroad and the increasing civilian death toll.

Hickenlooper has traveled across Colorado to hear from workers, ranchers, and farmers getting crushed by the increasing prices fueled by the war. He’s 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’s tariffs and his reckless war in Iran – and the resulting spike in gas prices – 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.

###",1,2026-09-01T09:48:49Z,2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-on-six-months-of-iran-war,Crow on Six Months of Iran War,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/news,scraper,"AURORA—Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a combat veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on the six-month mark of President Trump’s reckless and illegal war with Iran:

“Six months ago, Donald Trump launched a reckless war of choice with Iran, with no plan, no strategy, and no endgame. Six months later, 18 servicemembers are dead, hundreds more are wounded, and American taxpayers have spent billions of dollars on a war that has not made them safer and that has only raised their prices at home.

“Trump campaigned on ending wars in the Middle East. As someone who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan as a paratrooper and Army Ranger, I shared this goal. But since taking office, the President has done the exact opposite of what he campaigned on. He started new conflicts abroad. Now Coloradans and the American people have paid the price.

“Working families can’t afford gas, groceries, and housing. The Iran war has raised prices. We have to stop the madness and end the endless cycle of conflict. Back home, I’ve heard loud and clear from Coloradans that they don’t want their tax dollars going toward more military adventurism in the Middle East.”

Crow has repeatedly condemned Trump’s reckless war with Iran. His War Powers Resolution to disapprove of the war recently passed the U.S. House. Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war, and he recently demanded that the Trump Administration reveal the full, true cost of this war on the American people. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.

###",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-questions-trumps-space-academy-announcement/,Hickenlooper Questions Trump’s Space Academy Announcement,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Hickenlooper: “Trump’s proposed plan is duplicative, costly, and unserious.”

OURAY – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper raised questions about President Trump’s new plan to create a U.S. Space Academy. President Trump announced plans to establish the academy earlier today at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

“President Trump’s proposed plan is duplicative, costly, and unserious.

Establishing a dedicated service academy for space may sound good on paper, but our nation already has an exceptional institution that trains tomorrow’s Space Force leaders: it’s called the U.S. Air Force Academy.

To duplicate that effort at a time when our national deficit is soaring, is reckless and makes a dire situation even worse.

Colorado Springs is already the epicenter of our national security and space efforts. This unnecessary proposal is yet another example of the president seeking to distract from his illegal war in Iran and the economic pain it has caused everyday Americans.”

Hickenlooper has consistently fought to protect Colorado’s role as the backbone of the nation’s space defense architecture. He denounced the Trump administration’s irresponsible and wasteful decision to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama and joined a statement with the entire Colorado congressional delegation rebuking the relocation.

###",1,2026-08-29T11:31:28Z,2026-08-29T11:32:37Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/08/27/bennet-hickenlooper-lujan-demand-trump-administration-comply-with-injunction-to-ensure-prompt-approvals-of-wind-and-solar-energy-projects/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper, Luján Demand Trump Administration Comply with Injunction to Ensure Prompt Approvals of Wind and Solar Energy Projects",2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee’s Rural Development and Energy Subcommittee, led Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) in a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to demand that the Department of Interior (DOI) comply with a preliminary injunction to ensure covered wind and solar permitting reviews are conducted promptly without illegal bureaucratic roadblocks.

In July 2025, the DOI released an order requiring Secretary Burgum’s personal approval for routine wind and solar energy project permitting decisions, which led to massive delays in power projects across the West. In November 2025, Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Luján sent a letter demanding answers to the DOI’s order and highlighting its harmful effects to energy prices and reliability, but never received a response.

In April 2026, the U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction to prohibit the DOI and its officials from applying the July 2025 order and other internal DOI orders that make wind and solar permitting processes needlessly delayed and difficult while the court case proceeds. Since then, numerous wind and solar developers report that DOI personnel have illegally continued to force project applicants to repeatedly document and prove their eligibility for these court protections.

“[…] Applicants also report that DOI staff have received little or no internal guidance regarding implementation of the Court’s injunction. These reports are not isolated or short-lived: developers continue to describe these delays more than three months after the injunction took effect, indicating an ongoing pattern of noncompliance rather than a transitional implementation issue. DOI’s actions are creating severe regulatory uncertainty, threatening to permanently sideline projects at a time when Western families, farmers, and businesses are facing rising energy demand and higher costs,” wrote the senators.

“Western states depend on reliable and affordable energy to keep our grid secure and our economies competitive. Wind and solar are the least expensive and fastest-to-deploy sources of new electricity generation available. Dragging out permitting timelines in direct violation of a federal court order is not only illegal, but it also needlessly stalls private investment and drives up household energy costs. Furthermore, your recent testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee, where you reportedly rejected the premise of the ruling and called it “absurd” for a judge to dictate internal processes, raises concerns. While DOI has the right to appeal, it is legally obligated to comply with the injunction. Moreover, impeding the deployment of the lowest-cost energy sources directly undermines the administration’s stated goals of unleashing American energy and ensuring affordability,” continued the senators.

Bennet has continuously fought to protect funding for Colorado’s energy projects and condemn partisan project reversals under the Trump administration. In July 2026, Bennet joined Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and the entire Senate Democratic caucus in demanding that Director Vought immediately rescind the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed power grab over federal grants and awards. In May 2026, Bennet joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Schumer, and 18 of their Senate colleagues to introduce legislation to protect public scientific research and reports from the influence of political and special interests.

In October 2025, Bennet issued a statement following the Trump administration’s targeted cancellation of billions of dollars in funding for energy projects across the country. That same week, Bennet led the Democratic Colorado Delegation in demanding answers from Secretary Wright on the Department of Energy’s abrupt cancellation of $7.56 billion in energy project funding, including over $600 million in funding for 38 Colorado-affiliated projects. Additionally, Bennet joined Murray, Heinrich, and 34 Senate colleagues in sending a letter demanding that Secretary Wright and Director Vought restore funding for all 223 energy projects in Democrat-led states that were unlawfully canceled. In November 2025, Bennet also demanded answers from Secretary Burgum on DOI’s recent order requiring Secretary Burgum’s personal approval for routine wind and solar energy project permitting decisions.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Burgum:

We write to express serious concerns regarding reports of the Department of Interior’s (DOI) failure to fully comply with the U.S. District Court’s April 21, 2026 preliminary injunction in Renew Northeast v. U.S. Department of the Interior, No. 1:25-cv-13961 (D. Mass.). In November 2025, we sent you a letter with questions regarding one of the DOI memos addressed in the case, but never received a response. While this injunction took immediate effect and remains in force, reports from industry participants raise serious questions regarding whether DOI has fully complied with the Court’s injunction.

As you know, the Court’s injunction explicitly prohibits DOI and its officials from applying the DOI Review Procedures Memorandum, the Wind and Solar Fish and Wildlife Service database Ban, Section 4 of the DOI Land Order, Section 4(c) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memorandum, and M-Opinion 37086. The Court clearly intended for the covered wind and solar permitting reviews to proceed to timely decisions without these needless bureaucratic roadblocks. Yet, wind and solar developers continue to report that DOI personnel are forcing covered project applicants to repeatedly document and prove their eligibility for these protections, despite the fact that plaintiffs previously provided DOI with a list of covered members. Applicants also report that DOI staff have received little or no internal guidance regarding implementation of the Court’s injunction. These reports are not isolated or short-lived: developers continue to describe these delays more than three months after the injunction took effect, indicating an ongoing pattern of noncompliance rather than a transitional implementation issue. DOI’s actions are creating severe regulatory uncertainty, threatening to permanently sideline projects at a time when Western families, farmers, and businesses are facing rising energy demand and higher costs.

Western states depend on reliable and affordable energy to keep our grid secure and our economies competitive. Wind and solar are the least expensive and fastest-to-deploy sources of new electricity generation available. Dragging out permitting timelines in direct violation of a federal court order is not only illegal, but it also needlessly stalls private investment and drives up household energy costs. Furthermore, your recent testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee, where you reportedly rejected the premise of the ruling and called it “absurd” for a judge to dictate internal processes, raises concerns. While DOI has the right to appeal, it is legally obligated to comply with the injunction. Moreover, impeding the deployment of the lowest-cost energy sources directly undermines the administration’s stated goals of unleashing American energy and ensuring affordability.

To ensure compliance with the law and restore certainty to energy developers and Western stakeholders, we request answers to the following questions:

Internal Guidance – What types of written internal guidance or implementation instructions regarding compliance with the Court’s injunction has DOI provided to staff? Please provide copies of any implementation memoranda, directives, guidance documents, training materials, emails, or other instructions on this topic. If no such materials exist, explain what alternative measures DOI has taken to ensure consistent compliance throughout DOI;

Applicant Identification – What instructions has DOI provided staff for identifying plaintiffs and their members? Please provide communications to DOI staff and explain the steps that DOI is taking to minimize duplicative verification procedures.

Permitting Progress – What steps has DOI taken since the Court injunction to ensure that covered permitting reviews are proceeding to timely agency action? Please identify, by bureau or office where practicable, the number of covered permitting reviews that have advanced since entry of the Court’s injunction, including consultations completed, biological opinions issued, permits or other authorizations issued or denied.

Stalled Reviews – Which covered permitting reviews remain paused or materially delayed following entry of the Court’s injunction? Please provide a list and explain the specific reason for any such delay, including whether it is related to eligibility verification, lack of implementation guidance, application of one of the court-blocked policies, or some other basis. The lists from questions 3 and 4 should add up to the total number of permitting reviews under consideration by DOI between April 21 and now.

We respectfully request a written response to these questions no later than September 1, 2026. We urge you to follow the law and comply with federal court orders to ensure that federal permitting supports, rather than undermines, an affordable and secure energy future.

###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-lujan-demand-trump-admin-follow-court-order-promptly-approve-renewable-energy-projects/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Lujàn Demand Trump Admin Follow Court Order, Promptly Approve Renewable Energy Projects",2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, and Ben Ray Lujàn demanded that the Department of Interior (DOI) comply with a preliminary injunction to ensure covered wind and solar permitting reviews are conducted promptly without illegal bureaucratic roadblocks.

In July 2025, the DOI released an order requiring Secretary Burgum’s personal approval for routine wind and solar energy project permitting decisions, which led to massive delays in power projects across the West. In November 2025, Hickenlooper, Bennet, and Luján sent a letter demanding answers to the DOI’s order and highlighting its harmful effects to energy prices and reliability. They never received a response.

The U.S. District Court issued a preliminary injunction to prohibit the DOI and its officials from applying the July 2025 order and other internal DOI orders that make wind and solar permitting processes needlessly delayed and difficult while the court case proceeds. Since then, numerous wind and solar developers report that DOI personnel have illegally continued to force project applicants to repeatedly document and prove their eligibility for these court protections.

“[…] Applicants also report that DOI staff have received little or no internal guidance regarding implementation of the Court’s injunction. These reports are not isolated or short-lived: developers continue to describe these delays more than three months after the injunction took effect, indicating an ongoing pattern of noncompliance rather than a transitional implementation issue. DOI’s actions are creating severe regulatory uncertainty, threatening to permanently sideline projects at a time when Western families, farmers, and businesses are facing rising energy demand and higher costs,” wrote the senators.

“Western states depend on reliable and affordable energy to keep our grid secure and our economies competitive. Wind and solar are the least expensive and fastest-to-deploy sources of new electricity generation available. Dragging out permitting timelines in direct violation of a federal court order is not only illegal, but it also needlessly stalls private investment and drives up household energy costs. Furthermore, your recent testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee, where you reportedly rejected the premise of the ruling and called it “absurd” for a judge to dictate internal processes, raises concerns. While DOI has the right to appeal, it is legally obligated to comply with the injunction. Moreover, impeding the deployment of the lowest-cost energy sources directly undermines the administration’s stated goals of unleashing American energy and ensuring affordability,” continued the senators.

Hickenlooper has fought to protect funding for Colorado’s energy projects and condemn Trump’s partisan games. This month, Hickenlooper demanded that the Trump administration restore funding for the 223 energy projects cancelled in October 2025, including $600M for Colorado energy projects. The Trump administration subsequently admitted to illegally cancelling energy grants because those projects were in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election. Hickenlooper also introduced the Scientific Integrity Act to protect public scientific research and reports from the influence of political and special interests.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Burgum:

We write to express serious concerns regarding reports of the Department of Interior’s (DOI) failure to fully comply with the U.S. District Court’s April 21, 2026 preliminary injunction in Renew Northeast v. U.S. Department of the Interior, No. 1:25-cv-13961 (D. Mass.). In November 2025, we sent you a letter with questions regarding one of the DOI memos addressed in the case, but never received a response. While this injunction took immediate effect and remains in force, reports from industry participants raise serious questions regarding whether DOI has fully complied with the Court’s injunction.

As you know, the Court’s injunction explicitly prohibits DOI and its officials from applying the DOI Review Procedures Memorandum, the Wind and Solar Fish and Wildlife Service database Ban, Section 4 of the DOI Land Order, Section 4(c) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memorandum, and M-Opinion 37086. The Court clearly intended for the covered wind and solar permitting reviews to proceed to timely decisions without these needless bureaucratic roadblocks. Yet, wind and solar developers continue to report that DOI personnel are forcing covered project applicants to repeatedly document and prove their eligibility for these protections, despite the fact that plaintiffs previously provided DOI with a list of covered members. Applicants also report that DOI staff have received little or no internal guidance regarding implementation of the Court’s injunction. These reports are not isolated or short-lived: developers continue to describe these delays more than three months after the injunction took effect, indicating an ongoing pattern of noncompliance rather than a transitional implementation issue. DOI’s actions are creating severe regulatory uncertainty, threatening to permanently sideline projects at a time when Western families, farmers, and businesses are facing rising energy demand and higher costs.

Western states depend on reliable and affordable energy to keep our grid secure and our economies competitive. Wind and solar are the least expensive and fastest-to-deploy sources of new electricity generation available. Dragging out permitting timelines in direct violation of a federal court order is not only illegal, but it also needlessly stalls private investment and drives up household energy costs. Furthermore, your recent testimony before the House Natural Resources Committee, where you reportedly rejected the premise of the ruling and called it “absurd” for a judge to dictate internal processes, raises concerns. While DOI has the right to appeal, it is legally obligated to comply with the injunction. Moreover, impeding the deployment of the lowest-cost energy sources directly undermines the administration’s stated goals of unleashing American energy and ensuring affordability.

To ensure compliance with the law and restore certainty to energy developers and Western stakeholders, we request answers to the following questions:

Internal Guidance – What types of written internal guidance or implementation instructions regarding compliance with the Court’s injunction has DOI provided to staff? Please provide copies of any implementation memoranda, directives, guidance documents, training materials, emails, or other instructions on this topic. If no such materials exist, explain what alternative measures DOI has taken to ensure consistent compliance throughout DOI;

Applicant Identification – What instructions has DOI provided staff for identifying plaintiffs and their members? Please provide communications to DOI staff and explain the steps that DOI is taking to minimize duplicative verification procedures.

Permitting Progress – What steps has DOI taken since the Court injunction to ensure that covered permitting reviews are proceeding to timely agency action? Please identify, by bureau or office where practicable, the number of covered permitting reviews that have advanced since entry of the Court’s injunction, including consultations completed, biological opinions issued, permits or other authorizations issued or denied.

Stalled Reviews – Which covered permitting reviews remain paused or materially delayed following entry of the Court’s injunction? Please provide a list and explain the specific reason for any such delay, including whether it is related to eligibility verification, lack of implementation guidance, application of one of the court-blocked policies, or some other basis. The lists from questions 3 and 4 should add up to the total number of permitting reviews under consideration by DOI between April 21 and now.

We respectfully request a written response to these questions no later than September 1, 2026. We urge you to follow the law and comply with federal court orders to ensure that federal permitting supports, rather than undermines, an affordable and secure energy future.

###",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/08/26/bennet-hickenlooper-colleagues-demand-answers-from-trump-administration-about-ice-conduct-tsa-cooperation-at-dia-other-airports/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Administration About ICE Conduct, TSA Cooperation at DIA & Other Airports",2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Denver— Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen and six of their Senate colleagues to demand answers from the Trump administration about recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in airports. This inquiry comes after a string of incidents nationwide, in which ICE agents – with apparent cooperation from TSA – have targeted people at airports, including at Denver International Airport.

“We write to express our serious concerns regarding recent immigration enforcement actions at airports across the nation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the apparent assistance and support of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Such actions create fear in our communities and cause disruption and distress to the traveling public,” wrote the senators.

“Unfortunately, recent reporting by the New York Times indicates that troubling events like these are occurring frequently across the nation at America’s airports. Such actions have only served to disrupt local communities, create fear among immigrant families, and undermine the travel and tourism sector by actively discouraging travelers from visiting the United States. They hurt our nation’s travel and tourism industry at a time when it is trying to rebound from a 5.5% decline in international tourism in 2025 that occurred due to President Trump’s misguided tariff, immigration, and foreign policies,” continued the senators.

Bennet has consistently fought against the Trump administration’s inhumane immigration policies. This month, Bennet and Congressman Jason Crow (D-Colo.) led all Democrats in the Colorado Congressional delegation to call on the GEO Group to comply with public health orders issued by the Adams County Health Department and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment related to an active tuberculosis case at the ICE detention facility in Aurora. Bennet and his staff have joined Crow and his congressional office in conducting consistent oversight visits to the Aurora detention facility throughout the current administration. In their most recent visit on August 14th, staff at the facility said there were no active cases of tuberculosis. This month, Bennet also joined U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) to introduce the Protect American Values Act, legislation that would prevent federal funds from being used to implement, administer, enforce, or otherwise carry out the Trump administration’s finalized “public charge” rule.

In July 2026, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and 37 of their Senate colleagues in calling for stronger accountability measures for ICE officers. In May 2026, Bennet introduced three bills aimed at reforming the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including ICE and Customs and Border Protection: the Keeping Immigrants and Destinations Safe (KIDS) Act; the Training, Responsibility, Uniforms, and Standards for Transparency (TRUST) Act; and the Oversight, Protection, and Enforcement Notification (OPEN) Act. In March 2026, Bennet issued a statement when Trump fired former Secretary Noem, and emphasized that DHS must undergo a complete overhaul. In January 2026, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the Providing Useful Budgets for Localities to Invest in Cops by Substituting Appropriations from Federal Enforcement To Yield Results Act, legislation to redirect nearly $75 billion in funding passed in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act from ICE and send it instead to local law enforcement programs to help hire and train 200,000 local police officers in communities across the country.

In November 2025, Bennet joined his colleagues in introducing the bicameral Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure DHS allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. In August 2025, he joined the Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety Act to prohibit immigration enforcement officials from wearing masks and to require them to wear visible identification. In February 2025, Bennet joined his Senate colleagues to introduce the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would reinstate DHS’ long-standing policies to prevent ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Mullin, Administrator Cummins, and Acting Director Venturella:

We write to express our serious concerns regarding recent immigration enforcement actions at airports across the nation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the apparent assistance and support of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Such actions create fear in our communities and cause disruption and distress to the traveling public. It is further alarming to read recent reports that ICE and TSA have a formal agreement to share passenger information with each other, which could be used in immigration enforcement at airports. We therefore request that you provide Congress and the American people details about any information sharing agreements that are in place between ICE and TSA and ask the Department of Homeland Security and its component agencies, ICE and TSA, to let us know what concrete steps you are taking to ensure all immigration enforcement agents conducting operations at airports operate solely based on active judicial warrants, wear and utilize body cameras, wear and display clear identifying information, and refrain from wearing masks, which shield ICE from accountability for abuses and instill fear in travelers.

Just a few weeks ago, masked and plain-clothed ICE officers attempted to violently arrest an elderly man at the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS), without any identification, before running off following public intervention. Even more recently, ICE arrested a pregnant woman at the same airport, separating her from her fiancé. News reports indicate similar enforcement operations are taking place at Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Denver International Airport (DEN), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) as well. Additionally, the recent detention of several Marylanders, including a medical researcher and former Fulbright scholar and a pharmacy professor, both asylum-seekers traveling domestically with lawful documentation, raises serious concerns that ICE’s expanded presence at airports is subjecting law-abiding individuals to detention.

Unfortunately, recent reporting by the New York Times indicates that troubling events like these are occurring frequently across the nation at America’s airports. Such actions have only served to disrupt local communities, create fear among immigrant families, and undermine the travel and tourism sector by actively discouraging travelers from visiting the United States. They hurt our nation’s travel and tourism industry at a time when it is trying to rebound from a 5.5% decline in international tourism in 2025 that occurred due to President Trump’s misguided tariff, immigration, and foreign policies. Additionally, these actions are increasingly targeting individuals who have expired visas, even though many such individuals often have a legitimate pending application for a visa extension or renewal with USCIS. With a backlog of nearly 12 million visa applications at USCIS, visa processing delays are impacting the ability for USCIS to process a variety of visas, employment authorization documents (EAD) applications, and renewals in a timely manner, meaning that a person can have an expired visa with a legitimate pending application yet still be detained by ICE at an airport due to visa processing delays that are out of their control.

News reports also indicate that according to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) recently obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, ICE and TSA have a formal framework to coordinate the sharing, storage, and management of passengers’ sensitive information. This is particularly concerning because Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill claimed during congressional testimony she gave in January 2026 that TSA does not send information to ICE; however, the MOA appears to directly contradict that statement. Of similar concern, when just last month then TSA Administrator nominee David Cummins was asked about the conduct of ICE agents at America’s airports in questions for his nomination hearing, he did not even attempt to answer how he would or would not work with ICE if confirmed to the role.

With all this in mind, we request your response to several questions regarding the operating relationship between ICE and TSA and the type of information that is being shared between the agencies. We look forward to a prompt response to this inquiry.

Is there an official process in place to ensure that local airports are aware of an impending immigration enforcement operation?

Does the information-sharing agreement between ICE and TSA require ICE to provide proof that the individuals they are requesting information about have active warrants for their arrest? Does this information-sharing agreement distinguish between judicial and administrative warrants, and is such a warrant a requirement for TSA to cooperate with ICE in enforcement actions at airports? If this information is sensitive, then we ask for a member or staff level briefing to receive this information in a classified or secure setting.

According to the MOA, TSA shares data with ICE that ICE then stores in its own repository. What specific data is shared between the two agencies? What criteria is being used, either with or without this data, to determine when to conduct an immigration enforcement operation at an airport?

Reporting indicates TSA shared information on more than 31,000 travelers, leading to more than 800 immigration-related arrests. Please provide a breakdown of what information caused the 800 individuals to be arrested, and how many people were detained for an expired visa that had an application pending with USCIS, including information on how many of these arrests led to a deportation? Additionally, if a warrant was issued for those arrested, please also provide a breakdown of how many arrests were based on ICE having a judicial versus administrative warrant.

What safeguards are in place to protect passenger privacy and ensure that the individuals being targeted in enforcement operations at airports are dangerous or violent criminals and not merely immigrants who have followed the law and have had a temporary lapse in status solely due to USCIS processing delays?

Does TSA have any policy regarding how law enforcement agencies such as ICE are to identify themselves when they are in an airport or when they are attempting to take an enforcement action in an airport?

Do DHS, ICE, or TSA factor in the impact on domestic and international travel that enforcement operations could have when planning their execution? Have DHS, ICE, TSA, or any other agency or official in this administration been in contact with travel and tourism industry leaders and experts to ensure that such actions do not negatively harm our travel and tourism industry?

We look forward to your prompt response to these questions. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/icymi-hickenlooper-grindr-ceo-george-arison-pen-op-ed-in-the-hill-on-expanding-access-to-ivf-fertility-care-for-american-families/,"ICYMI: Hickenlooper, Grindr CEO George Arison Pen Op-Ed in The Hill on Expanding Access to IVF, Fertility Care for American Families",2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Hickenlooper, Arison: “Every parent who dreams of raising a child should have a fair opportunity to pursue that dream.”

In case you missed it: U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and Grindr CEO George Arison penned an op-ed in The Hill urging federal action to modernize and protect access to family planning services and fertility care like in vitro fertilization (IVF).

“Today’s system is too often defined by staggering costs, outdated policies, and unnecessary legal uncertainty. Families and same-sex couples spend years navigating barriers that have little to do with medicine and everything to do with bureaucracy or politics. That should change,” wrote Hickenlooper and Arison.

Hickenlooper and Arison continued: “Our paths were different, but they led to the same realization: You are not free if you don’t have the freedom to decide when and how to have a family.”

Hickenlooper and his wife Robin welcomed their son Jack, born through IVF, in December 2022. Hickenlooper is a cosponsor of the Protect IVF Act to establish nationwide access to IVF and prevent state-level efforts to block access to IVF treatment. Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor in 2024 about his family’s experience with IVF and in support of the Right to IVF Act, a legislative package which would establish a right to IVF services nationwide and help make IVF treatment more affordable for Americans hoping to start a family.

“If we are serious about strengthening families, growing our economy, and investing in the next generation, we should be making it easier for Americans to become parents. This is not a Democratic issue or Republican issue. It’s an American one,” wrote Hickenlooper and Arison. “Fortunately, the solutions don’t require reinventing the system. They require modernizing it.”

Read the full op-ed in The Hill HERE.

###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-democratic-colleagues-call-on-netanyahu-to-crack-down-on-settler-violence-in-west-bank/,"Hickenlooper, Democratic Colleagues Call on Netanyahu to Crack Down on Settler Violence in West Bank",2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Settler violence has already surpassed 2025 levels

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, along with 45 of his Democratic colleagues, called on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reduce violence in the West Bank and prevent further incidents amidst a significant increase in harassment, threats, and acts of violence in recent weeks. The senators also called on the government of Israel to complete investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank in recent years.

“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,” wrote the senators.

Hickenlooper has consistently raised his concerns about the uptick in settler violence and the dire economic situation for Palestinians in the West Bank. Hickenlooper has repeatedly advocated for sustained access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, including food, water, and life-saving medical supplies, the delivery of lifesaving fuel to hospitals and water treatment facilities, and funding to meet the United Nations’ $294 million emergency appeal. Hickenlooper has repeatedly called for a humanitarian pause in Gaza as well as a mutual ceasefire and the release of all Hamas-held hostages.

Full text of the letter available HERE and below.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

We 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’s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Incidents 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.

We 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.

President 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:

Issue 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.

Ensure 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.

Stop approving additional settlements and stop allowing the construction of, and take steps to remove, illegal outposts in the West Bank.

Like 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.

###",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1854,Congresswoman Pettersen Continues Fight to Support Those Impacted by Radiation & Toxic Waste at Rocky Flats,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation that will uphold our nation’s obligation to support and compensate communities harmed by the US nuclear testing. The Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 (RECRA), which Pettersen introduced alongside Representative James Moylan (R, GU-AL), would ensure Colorado residents impacted by radiation and toxic waste from Rocky Flats receive justice, financial restitution, and critical healthcare coverage.

“For too long, Coloradans have been impacted by radiation from U.S. nuclear weapons production, testing, and uranium mining at Rocky Flats and Cotter Mill without the compensation they deserve. This bipartisan legislation could finally offer some relief for communities that have suffered without federal support despite decades of documented exposure,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen. “I'm going to continue to do all I can to push not only to extend existing support, but to expand it so that everyone who has been affected by these radioactive sites in my district and across the country gets the care they deserve.”

""This legislation brings together a strong bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress, survivors, advocates, and communities who have refused to give up this fight,” said Congressman Moylan. “Together, our voices are stronger, and together, we will keep fighting until every American harmed by radiation exposure receives the justice they have been denied. I’m not backing down until we get this across the finish line for the people of Guam who were impacted and all those still left behind.”

Specifically, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 would:

Expand eligibility to additional impacted communities.

Extend the filing deadline by fifteen years.

Increase compensation.

Authorize reimbursement of medical expenses.

Broaden the list of eligible diseases.

Streamline the claims process through the use of affidavits where records are unavailable.

Establish a process for adding future classes of eligible individuals without requiring additional acts of Congress.

Recognize the unique challenges faced by many rural, Tribal, Native, and territorial communities.

Expand eligibility for atomic cleanup veterans.

Direct a comprehensive study into the long-term and multi-generational health effects of radiation exposure.

For Colorado, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2026 would:

Add 57 ZIP codes surrounding Rocky Flats and Cotter Mill to eligibility under RECA Manhattan Project Waste Claims.

Expand downwinder eligibility to individuals living in Colorado for a period of at least one year from 1951 to 1992.

Pettersen was an original co-sponsor of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments. The bill proposed to extend RECA for 19 years after the bill’s enactment and expand eligibility for compensation payments to cover additional diseases and downwinder communities in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Guam.

Full text of the legislation is available HERE.

###

To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/icymi-hickenlooper-op-ed-trumps-agenda-is-punishing-colorado/,ICYMI: Hickenlooper Op-Ed: Trump’s Agenda Is Punishing Colorado,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Hickenlooper has called for an investigation into the Administration’s targeting of CO

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper penned an op-ed in The Denver Post highlighting how President Trump’s agenda is punishing Colorado. The piece comes after an email revealed that officials at the highest levels of the White House were directed to orchestrate a political retribution campaign against Colorado. Hickenlooper has called for an investigation into the administration’s targeting of Colorado, arguing that we need a complete understanding of how federal resources were manipulated to punish innocent Coloradans.

“Government resources belong to the American people. They are not weapons to wield against the president’s enemies,” Hickenlooper wrote. “Coloradans shouldn’t pay the price for the petty grievances and failed policies that make their lives harder. We need to continue holding this administration accountable, fighting back against the president’s attacks on Colorado, and lowering costs for working families.”

Read the op-ed in full here or below:

Since my first day in office, Trump’s agenda has been to punish Colorado (Opinion)

Hickenlooper called for an investigation into the administration’s targeting of our state

In January 2021, President Donald Trump was fuming. Staggered by his election defeat, he spent the dwindling days of his first term hellbent on rewriting the results and settling scores with his political adversaries.

My first full day at work as a United States Senator was January 6th. A few days later, we unexpectedly learned that after a secretive Oval Office meeting, Trump had decided to move U.S. Space Command from its historical headquarters in Republican-leaning Colorado Springs to Alabama.

That was just the beginning.

In the years that followed, President Trump’s anger toward Colorado only grew. After the Colorado Supreme Court determined in 2023 that he had engaged in insurrection and was therefore disqualified from the ballot under the 14th Amendment, he lashed out at the ruling.

Then, after former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was rightfully convicted by a jury of her peers for undermining Colorado’s free and fair election system, President Trump embraced her. To most Coloradans, Peters was and is a disgrace. To Trump, she was a martyr.

Upon taking office again, President Trump reversed the Biden administration’s permanent basing decision, ordering the fully operational Space Command to relocate to Alabama, threatening thousands of jobs and our military readiness. His administration denied disaster assistance to Colorado communities rebuilding from wildfires and floods. He even vetoed bipartisan legislation to bring clean drinking water to 39 southeastern Colorado communities.

His administration has also moved to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, and canceled more than $100 million in transportation grants and hundreds of millions in clean energy investments. They froze funding for child care, food assistance, and other services for vulnerable families. The EPA overrode Colorado’s regional haze plan, undermining years of state-led work to reduce pollution. The list goes on and on.

We now know that these relentless attacks weren’t merely coincidence. Last week, an email disclosed in court revealed that officials at the highest levels of the White House were directed to orchestrate political retribution against Coloradans.

I’ve called for an investigation into the administration’s targeting of our state. Our country needs to fully understand how federal resources were manipulated to punish innocent Coloradans, both Republicans and Democrats. Government resources belong to the American people. They are not weapons to wield against the president’s enemies.

Coloradans are already struggling with the cost of groceries, housing, health care, and other essentials. All across Colorado, families, farmers, and small business owners are struggling to stay afloat. But instead of lowering prices, President Trump and his allies are misusing federal power and putting political priorities ahead of the public interest. We’re fighting back.

When President Trump proposed a Department of Justice fund to compensate election criminals like Tina Peters and those who attacked the Capitol on January 6, we led the opposition against it. When Republicans proposed selling up to three million acres of public lands across Colorado and ten other Western states to the highest bidder, we rallied lawmakers from across the aisle to defeat it. When critical weather and climate science was under attack, we held up an appropriations package for weeks over efforts to close NCAR and worked with Democrats and Republicans to protect the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) access to critical weather data.

There’s no shortage of pressing problems to fix: the cost-of-living emergency, runaway healthcare costs, and mass deportations that are inflicting terror. These challenges require pragmatic solutions, not grinding political axes. The White House’s continued fixation on the 2020 election, Tina Peters, and indeed the state of Colorado, isn’t getting us any closer to addressing them.

Coloradans shouldn’t pay the price for the petty grievances and failed policies that make their lives harder. We need to continue holding this administration accountable, fighting back against the president’s attacks on Colorado, and lowering costs for working families.

John Hickenlooper is a U.S. Senator representing Colorado.

###",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/in-the-news/nbc-news-house-democrats-demand-trump-administration-provide-full-accounting-of-iran-war-costs,NBC News: House Democrats demand Trump administration provide full accounting of Iran war costs,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/news,scraper,"NBC News reported last month that the Defense Department’s internal overall cost for the war so far is $80 billion to $100 billion, including the cost of repairing damaged U.S. military bases, replacing destroyed aircraft and fully replenishing American weaponry, according to three U.S. officials.

“Nearly six months ago, Donald Trump launched us into yet another war with no strategy and no endgame,” Crow said in a statement. “As Trump, his family, and his friends in the oil industry use this conflict to pad their pockets, the cost on American taxpayers has grown by the day. Gas, groceries, and everyday goods have all gotten more expensive, with no end in sight.”

The Democrats’ letter also criticizes Trump’s response to questions about the war’s economic impact on Americans.

In May, the president was asked whether Americans’ financial situation was motivating him to make a deal with Iran. “Not even a little bit,” he replied.

“This is appalling and unacceptable,” the letter states.

In addition to asking for the Pentagon price tag for the war, the letter demands specifics on the economic impact on Americans, including the effects on inflation, employment and wages.

“Americans are being asked to write a blank check for a war they never asked for — a war that has jacked up costs on everyday goods and made us less safe,” Goodlander said in a statement. “President Trump and Secretary Hegseth owe the American people a full accounting: where every taxpayer dollar has gone, how this war is affecting hardworking families, and when it will end.”

The letter, which sets a deadline of Sept. 11 for the administration to provide a detailed war accounting, ends by telling Trump and Hegseth: “Americans did not ask for this war, and they cannot afford it. They do not have the luxury of ignoring their financial situation, and you shouldn’t either.”",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1851,Pettersen Joins Entire Colorado Congressional Delegation in Support of Presidential Major Disaster Declaration Request for Colorado Wildfires,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"Denver — Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen joined Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Jeff Hurd and the entire Colorado Congressional delegation – Senator John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank, and Gabe Evans – in a letter to President Trump expressing strong support for Governor Jared Polis’ request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Pueblo, Custer, and Ouray Counties in Colorado. This request comes in response to more than $18 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency validated damages from Colorado’s Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires.

In June, Colorado experienced two large, destructive fires within 48 hours, the Aspen Acres Fire and Gold Mountain Fire, due to prime wildfire conditions including high winds, extreme heat, and prolonged drought. These fires burned over 140,000 acres collectively across Pueblo, Custer, and Ouray Counties and destroyed hundreds of homes and structures and energy and water infrastructure. The burn scars left by these fires also contributed to significant post-fire flooding and debris flows that led to one fatality in Beulah, Colorado.

Summer is peak tourism season for Colorado, and the fires and subsequent flooding caused major disruptions to transportation, lodging, recreation, hospitality, outfitter, and guide businesses. They also damaged the operations of agricultural producers who lost livestock, fencing, and grazing lands. Several rural communities were also affected by road closures, which made accessing work, school, healthcare, or essential services extremely difficult. State and federal emergency response officials state that they expect disruptions to continue through the remainder of the summer season.

“Successful recovery is essential to restoring the counties’ economies, which depend on clean drinking water, tourism, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing. Without additional support, residents could face potentially insurmountable barriers to rebuilding homes and businesses, increased drinking water and electric utility costs, and the loss of important habitat and grazing lands. In addition, these communities face ongoing hazards from the post-fire burn scars, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure,” wrote the lawmakers.

“[...] a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks federal assistance programs, including Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants, that are indispensable to recovery, mitigation, and long-term resilience. These communities urgently need federal relief to rebuild. We thank you in advance for your expedited review and approval of the Governor’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration,” concluded the lawmakers.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Mr. President:

We strongly support Governor Jared Polis’ request on [TK August 24, 2026] for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Public and Individual Assistance for Custer and Pueblo Counties, Colorado, in response to the Aspen Acres Fire and Public Assistance for Ouray County in response to the Gold Mountain Fire. Both fires burned during June, July, and August 2026. As part of this request, Governor Polis has also requested the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for the affected counties.

In June 2026, extreme heat, prolonged drought, and high winds up to 100 miles per hour contributed to two mega fires in Colorado within 48 hours. The Gold Mountain Fire burned approximately 40,000 acres in Ouray County, Colorado, and the Aspen Acres Fire burned over 102,000 acres across Custer County and Pueblo County, Colorado. Together, these fires destroyed drinking water and electric utility infrastructure, and over 800 structures and 324 homes. The burn scars from both fires contributed to significant post-fire flooding and debris flows that destroyed additional homes, buildings, and electric, water, and transportation infrastructure. On August 16, a significant rain event resulted in one fatality in Beulah, Colorado.

Both fires occurred immediately before the Fourth of July during the summer’s peak tourism season, disrupting lodging, recreation, hospitality, outfitter, and guide businesses. Repeated fire, flood, and debris flow closures have limited visitation and disrupted tourism along the U.S. 550 corridor in Ouray and San Juan Counties, and in Beulah, Rye, and Westcliffe, Colorado. State and federal emergency response officials expect these disruptions to continue through the remainder of the summer season, with flood warnings and business closures continuing to cause cancellations while agricultural producers lose livestock, fencing, and grazing lands. In already isolated rural communities, the ongoing road closures are limiting access to work, schools, pharmacies, medical care, and other essential services.

Governor Polis has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the Aspen Acres Fire and Gold Mountain Fire. With over $17 million in validated damages, and with significant gaps in private insurance coverage, the Aspen Acres Fire meets the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s threshold for both Public and Individual Assistance. Losses incurred due to the Gold Mountain Fire meet FEMA’s threshold for Public Assistance.

Successful recovery is essential to restoring the counties’ economies, which depend on clean drinking water, tourism, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing. Without additional support, residents could face potentially insurmountable barriers to rebuilding homes and businesses, increased drinking water and electric utility costs, and the loss of important habitat and grazing lands. In addition, these communities face ongoing hazards from the post-fire burn scars, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure.

As you are aware, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks federal assistance programs, including Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants, that are indispensable to recovery, mitigation, and long-term resilience. These communities urgently need federal relief to rebuild. We thank you in advance for your expedited review and approval of the Governor’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

###",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2026/08/24/bennet-leads-entire-colorado-congressional-delegation-in-support-of-presidential-major-disaster-declaration-request-for-colorado-wildfires/,Bennet Leads Entire Colorado Congressional Delegation in Support of Presidential Major Disaster Declaration Request for Colorado Wildfires,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Representative Jeff Hurd, led the entire Colorado Congressional delegation – Senator John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank, and Gabe Evans – in a letter to President Trump expressing strong support for Governor Jared Polis’ request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Pueblo, Custer, and Ouray Counties in Colorado. This request comes in response to more than $18 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency validated damages from Colorado’s Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires.

In June, Colorado experienced two large, destructive fires within 48 hours, the Aspen Acres Fire and Gold Mountain Fire, due to prime wildfire conditions including high winds, extreme heat, and prolonged drought. These fires burned over 140,000 acres collectively across Pueblo, Custer, and Ouray Counties and destroyed hundreds of homes and structures and energy and water infrastructure. The burn scars left by these fires also contributed to significant post-fire flooding and debris flows that led to one fatality in Beulah, Colorado.

Summer is peak tourism season for Colorado, and the fires and subsequent flooding caused major disruptions to transportation, lodging, recreation, hospitality, outfitter, and guide businesses. They also damaged the operations of agricultural producers who lost livestock, fencing, and grazing lands. Several rural communities were also affected by road closures, which made accessing work, school, healthcare, or essential services extremely difficult. State and federal emergency response officials state that they expect disruptions to continue through the remainder of the summer season.

“Successful recovery is essential to restoring the counties’ economies, which depend on clean drinking water, tourism, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing. Without additional support, residents could face potentially insurmountable barriers to rebuilding homes and businesses, increased drinking water and electric utility costs, and the loss of important habitat and grazing lands. In addition, these communities face ongoing hazards from the post-fire burn scars, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure,” wrote the lawmakers.

“[…] a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks federal assistance programs, including Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants, that are indispensable to recovery, mitigation, and long-term resilience. These communities urgently need federal relief to rebuild. We thank you in advance for your expedited review and approval of the Governor’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration,” concluded the lawmakers.

Bennet has actively fought against President Trump’s decision to deny Major Disaster Declarations for the Lee and Elk Fires in August 2025 and Southwest Colorado flooding in October 2025. This month, Bennet called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to launch immediate investigations into the Trump administration’s use of federal agencies, grants, and personnel to carry out the President’s political vendetta against Colorado, including the denial of federal disaster funding for the Lee and Elk Fires and Southwest Colorado flooding. In January 2026, Bennet led the full Colorado Congressional delegation in support of Governor Jared Polis’ appeal to Trump’s decision to deny Major Disaster Declarations for the Lee and Elk Fires as well as Southwest Colorado flooding.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, Natural Resources, and Biotechnology, Bennet has made wildfire resilience, forest health, and watershed protection a central focus of his work for Colorado. This month, he led Senators Hickenlooper, Mike Lee, and John Curtis to introduce a bipartisan resolution honoring this season’s 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. In February 2025, Bennet reintroduced the Protect the West Act to make a $60 billion investment in forest health and watershed restoration.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Mr. President:

We strongly support Governor Jared Polis’ request on August 23, 2026, for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Public and Individual Assistance for Custer and Pueblo Counties, Colorado, in response to the Aspen Acres Fire and Public Assistance for Ouray County in response to the Gold Mountain Fire. Both fires burned during June, July, and August 2026. As part of this request, Governor Polis has also requested the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program for the affected counties.

In June 2026, extreme heat, prolonged drought, and high winds up to 100 miles per hour contributed to two mega fires in Colorado within 48 hours. The Gold Mountain Fire burned approximately 40,000 acres in Ouray County, Colorado, and the Aspen Acres Fire burned over 102,000 acres across Custer County and Pueblo County, Colorado. Together, these fires destroyed drinking water and electric utility infrastructure, and over 800 structures and 324 homes. The burn scars from both fires contributed to significant post-fire flooding and debris flows that destroyed additional homes, buildings, and electric, water, and transportation infrastructure. On August 16, a significant rain event resulted in one fatality in Beulah, Colorado.

Both fires occurred immediately before the Fourth of July during the summer’s peak tourism season, disrupting lodging, recreation, hospitality, outfitter, and guide businesses. Repeated fire, flood, and debris flow closures have limited visitation and disrupted tourism along the U.S. 550 corridor in Ouray and San Juan Counties, and in Beulah, Rye, and Westcliffe, Colorado. State and federal emergency response officials expect these disruptions to continue through the remainder of the summer season, with flood warnings and business closures continuing to cause cancellations while agricultural producers lose livestock, fencing, and grazing lands. In already isolated rural communities, the ongoing road closures are limiting access to work, schools, pharmacies, medical care, and other essential services.

Governor Polis has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for the Aspen Acres Fire and Gold Mountain Fire. With over $17 million in validated damages, and with significant gaps in private insurance coverage, the Aspen Acres Fire meets the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s threshold for both Public and Individual Assistance. Losses incurred due to the Gold Mountain Fire meet FEMA’s threshold for Public Assistance.

Successful recovery is essential to restoring the counties’ economies, which depend on clean drinking water, tourism, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and hunting and fishing. Without additional support, residents could face potentially insurmountable barriers to rebuilding homes and businesses, increased drinking water and electric utility costs, and the loss of important habitat and grazing lands. In addition, these communities face ongoing hazards from the post-fire burn scars, including debris, burned trees, and threats to water quality and drinking water infrastructure.

As you are aware, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration unlocks federal assistance programs, including Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants, that are indispensable to recovery, mitigation, and long-term resilience. These communities urgently need federal relief to rebuild. We thank you in advance for your expedited review and approval of the Governor’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

###",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-to-trump-administration-reveal-true-cost-of-war-with-iran,Crow to Trump Administration: Reveal True Cost of War with Iran,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/news,scraper,"AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO), a combat veteran and Co-Chair of House Democrats’ National Security Task Force, is demanding the Trump Administration provide a full and transparent update to Coloradans and the American people about how much the war with Iran is costing taxpayers.

In a new letter to President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Crow demands an accounting of operational costs placed on the Department of Defense; effects on the oil and energy market; and impacts on inflation, supply chains, and consumer prices, as American families continue to shoulder the cost of this conflict.

Joining him in his letter are fellow National Security Task Force Co-Chairs Congressman Derek Tran (D-CA) and Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), along with 45 of their House colleagues.

“Nearly six months ago, Donald Trump launched us into yet another war with no strategy and no endgame. As Trump, his family, and his friends in the oil industry use this conflict to pad their pockets, the cost on American taxpayers has grown by the day. Gas, groceries, and everyday goods have all gotten more expensive, with no end in sight,” said Congressman Crow. “This Administration owes working families an accounting of what this reckless war is costing them and what they are doing to end it.”

During a July appropriations hearing, Secretary Hegseth testified that the estimated cost of the Administration’s war with Iran was $37.5 billion. Independent estimates place the figure much higher, surpassing $100 billion. The Trump Administration and Republicans now want Congress to approve another $88 billion funding package for the war.

Working families have been forced to pay more as a result of this war. Energy costs have skyrocketed, making gas, travel, groceries, and goods cost more. If gas prices remain at or above $4 per gallon, which the President has said is “okay” and that he “will never apologize” for, American families will spend at least $90 billion more at the pump this year.

Crow, Tran, Goodlander, and their colleagues wrote, “What was billed as a two-week operation is now a full-scale war that has lasted for over 150 days, cost over $37 billion, and claimed the lives of 18 servicemembers. At the same time, prices across the country have gone up significantly, placing the burden of this conflict on American families. By June 9, you had claimed that the war in Iran was almost over 38 times. Instead, the war has continued, leaving Americans across the country with no idea when this war will come to an end and when prices will come down. This uncertainty, and the months of higher costs, have taken a toll, impacting Americans’ ability to budget, plan, and save for the future. These costs are untenable, and the American people deserve better.”

Crow has repeatedly condemned Trump’s reckless war with Iran. His War Powers Resolution with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) to disapprove of the war recently passed the U.S. House, and Crow continues to lead legislation to prohibit federal funding for the war. As someone from a working class family who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Crow has seen firsthand the toll forever wars have cost servicemembers and hardworking Americans.

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:

President Trump and Secretary Hegseth,

We write about the significant cost of the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran. What was billed as a two-week operation is now a full-scale war that has lasted for over 150 days, cost over $37 billion, and claimed the lives of 18 servicemembers. At the same time, prices across the country have gone up significantly, placing the burden of this conflict on American families. By June 9, you had claimed that the war in Iran was almost over 38 times. Instead, the war has continued, leaving Americans across the country with no idea when this war will come to an end and when prices will come down. This uncertainty, and the months of higher costs, have taken a toll, impacting Americans’ ability to budget, plan, and save for the future. These costs are untenable, and the American people deserve better.

Since the war started, everything from food to gas to medicine has become more expensive. Experts say that if gas prices remain at or above $4 per gallon, as is expected, American families will spend at least $90 billion more at the gas pump this year. This, coupled with the 4.2% increase in food prices over last year, the increased prices of consumer goods due to the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the already high prices caused by tariffs, has put significant financial strain on Americans across the country. Despite your insistence that prices will “come crashing down” after the war in Iran is over, experts warn that consumers won’t see relief for months, as production facilities rebuild and ships travel to their destinations. This has forced families to make compromises to afford basic necessities or dip into emergency funds to make ends meet.

While the American people are struggling, Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought has asked Congress for an $88 billion supplemental budget request, writing that “most of this request will address urgent needs related to Operation Epic Fury”. More will be needed to replenish the stockpiles we have wasted on this war of choice. It is unconscionable that the Administration is asking for more to fund the very thing that is raising costs for Americans. The Administration should be focused on ending the conflict and addressing the very real financial concerns of the American public. But when asked if he is weighing Americans’ financial situations as he considers whether to make a deal with Iran, President Trump responded “not even a little bit....I don’t think about Americans’ financial situations.” This is appalling and unacceptable.

We demand that you provide the American people with a public, comprehensive assessment of the full economic impact of this war no later than September 11, 2026. This accounting must go beyond simple Pentagon spending and should include:

All Department of Defense operational costs, including:

Personnel costs

Operation and maintenance costs

Procurement costs

Contractor support costs

Readiness and sustainment costs

Oil and energy market effects, including:

Impact on global oil supply and shipping

Strategic Petroleum Reserve usage and replacement costs

Estimated gasoline and diesel price increases

Effects on electricity and industrial energy costs

Macroeconomic impact assessment, including:

Effects on GDP growth

Inflation impacts

Supply chain disruptions

Consumer price impacts

Effects on employment and wages

Effects on investment and capital markets

We expect this assessment to also include economic and inflation assumptions, forecasting models, and confidence assessments, so that the American people can anticipate how long they will be shouldering the costs of your war of choice.

Americans did not ask for this war, and they cannot afford it. They do not have the luxury of ignoring their financial situation, and you shouldn’t either.

###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-colleagues-demand-answers-from-trump-admin-about-ice-conduct-tsa-cooperation-at-dia-other-airports/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Admin About ICE Conduct, TSA Cooperation at DIA & Other Airports",2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen and six of their Senate colleagues to demand answers from the Trump administration about recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in airports. This inquiry comes after a string of incidents nationwide, in which ICE agents – with apparent cooperation from TSA – have targeted people at airports, including at Denver International Airport.

“We write to express our serious concerns regarding recent immigration enforcement actions at airports across the nation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the apparent assistance and support of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Such actions create fear in our communities and cause disruption and distress to the traveling public,” wrote the senators.

The senators continued: “Unfortunately, recent reporting by the New York Times indicates that troubling events like these are occurring frequently across the nation at America’s airports. Such actions have only served to disrupt local communities, create fear among immigrant families, and undermine the travel and tourism sector by actively discouraging travelers from visiting the United States. They hurt our nation’s travel and tourism industry at a time when it is trying to rebound from a 5.5% decline in international tourism in 2025 that occurred due to President Trump’s misguided tariff, immigration, and foreign policies.”

For the full text of the letter, click HERE.

Earlier this week, Hickenlooper visited the ICE detention center in Aurora where he criticized the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts and lack of transparency surrounding reported tuberculosis cases at the facility.

Hickenlooper has been outspoken in the face of ICE’s 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 and transparency 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 “death cards” left in the cars of family members taken by ICE agents, and to demand the overhaul of ICE. He’s 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’s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight and introduced bills to ban ICE from wearing masks, prevent immigration enforcement from targeting schools, hospitals, polling locations, and places of worship, and cut back the excessive funding that MAGA Republicans gave them. Following the shooting at the Aurora ICE facility by a GEO Group employee, Hickenlooper condemned the shooting and called for a thorough review of DHS policies to help prevent similar incidents.

###",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-doi-plan-for-colorado-river-operations/,Hickenlooper Statement on DOI Plan for Colorado River Operations,2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s new 2027-2028 plan for Colorado River operations:

“Coloradans know how important it is to responsibly manage the Colorado River, especially in a year as painfully dry as this one. While today’s announcement provides a short-term framework, long-term action to protect this increasingly strained resource from prolonged drought and the effects of climate change is critical both for Colorado and the entire Basin.”

Hickenlooper has consistently advocated for a seven-state agreement for the post-2026 negotiations. In the Senate, Hickenlooper convened the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus to help address the Colorado River crisis. He has also introduced legislation to improve ways that we measure snowmelt, support water conservation projects, and hire more water project navigators to help states, Tribes, and rural communities secure resources for projects that improve water efficiency. Hickenlooper also helped secure millions in funding for water conservation projects in the West from both the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

As governor, Hickenlooper helped negotiate the 2019 Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plan, which helped protect critical levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead and ensured continued compliance with the 1922 Colorado River Compact.

###",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/icymi-hickenlooper-visits-mountain-communities-talks-immigration-drought-wildfire-economy-healthcare-and-more/,"ICYMI: Hickenlooper Visits Mountain Communities, Talks Immigration, Drought, Wildfire, Economy, Healthcare, and More",2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Senator John Hickenlooper hit the road this week, conducting an oversight visit at the Aurora ICE Detention Facility before heading into the mountains to visit Golden, Blackhawk, Georgetown, Frisco, Beaver Creek, Edwards, and Eagle.

On Monday, Hickenlooper conducted another oversight visit to ICE and GEO’s Aurora Detention Facility, where there are reports of a dozen cases of the highly-contagious disease, Tuberculosis. During the visit, he demanded more cooperation from GEO with local and state public health officials.

Watch Senator Hickenlooper discuss his visit and the cost of Trump’s immigration agenda

On Tuesday morning, he visited the Jefferson County Emergency Operations Headquarters in Golden. He toured the command center, which he secured millions in federal funding to help build, and hosted a discussion with emergency, wildfire, and U.S. Forest Service officials about wildfire mitigation. The group also discussed how innovative Colorado emergency service officials are in the face of a historic drought and devastating wildfire season as well as what resources they need moving forward.

The Senator then travelled to Blackhawk’s Timberline Fire Station #3 to tour the newly expanded and renovated station, which Hickenlooper helped secure $900,000 for through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS).

In a roundtable discussion with firefighters, local elected officials, and residents, he received an update on economic development challenges and successes in Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties. Hickenlooper then attended a Clear Creek and Gilpin Joint Board of County Commissioners meeting in Georgetown. The group discussed cuts to human services and other funding priorities for the two mountain counties.

Tuesday afternoon, Hickenlooper visited with Mountain Dreamers in Frisco to talk about the impacts of Trump’s cruel immigration agenda on our communities. He heard stories about the terror families and businesses felt during ICE raids and about the death of a Summit County resident in ICE detention. Hickenlooper heard about the impact on small businesses; employees taken away, employees scared to come to work, businesses shuttering out of fear.

On Wednesday, Hickenlooper began the day sitting down with outdoor recreation leaders and local elected officials in Beaver Creek to talk about how climate change is driving drought and impacting the outdoor recreation economy in Colorado. Attendees detailed the downturn outdoor recreation in Colorado experienced this past year due to record-low snowpack, wildfires, and persistent drought.

Hickenlooper then went to Edwards to tour Vail Health’s Edwards Community Health Campus and Precourt Healing Center, which received $2.8 million in CDS funding that Hickenlooper helped secure. After the tour, he sat down with Vail Health and regional healthcare leaders to discuss healthcare access. They discussed how the community is reeling in the face of the more than a trillion dollar cuts to our healthcare system from MAGA’s One Big Ugly Betrayal Act.

In Eagle, Hickenlooper sat down with Latino small business leaders from across Colorado to talk about the cost-of-living emergency caused by Trump’s reckless tariffs, illegal war with Iran, and healthcare cuts. Members of the roundtable highlighted workforce shortages as well as the disruption and fear caused by Trump’s immigration agenda.

Hickenlooper came back down to Denver Thursday to tour the new United Flight Training Center in Denver, followed by a look at the expanded 700,000-square-foot campus. As governor, Hickenlooper ushered in United’s $40 million investment in Colorado, with Denver serving as one of the airline’s major hubs for travel and pilot training.

Check out what they’re saying:

CPR: Public health investigation into tuberculosis at Aurora detention center at standstill as deadline looms

…Sen. John Hickenlooper, who visited the facility Monday morning, said he got no new information from anyone.

“We got to spend about 40 minutes talking to ICE officials and GEO employees, and really the answers they gave were: they can’t give us any information on the advice of counsel,” Hickenlooper said. “They’ve been discouraged both by lawyers for the CDC, which is inexplicable, but also by the GEO lawyers,” he told reporters, after a roughly hour and a half tour.

…“They won’t tell us how many people have been released in the community, where the follow-up testing, how that’s being organized. You cannot do an investigation like this in a vacuum,” Hickenlooper said.

Denver Post: Operators of Aurora immigration detention center ignore state health order, setting stage for potential court battle

…U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper visited the Aurora facility Monday and told reporters that Geo staff declined to discuss the tuberculosis situation on advice of their lawyers. He said they also would not indicate whether they intended to comply with the state health order.

“You cannot do an investigation like this in a vacuum,” Hickenlooper said from the sidewalk outside of the facility. “…I’m shocked. I’ve never in my life seen a time where a direct order from the public health authority or a direct order from the state office of public health is ignored.”

Colorado Sun: Hickenlooper denied answers on tuberculosis during visit to Aurora immigrant detention center

…U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper on Monday walked into the immigrant detention facility in Aurora with questions about the possible spread of tuberculosis within the facility. He walked out without answers.

Hickenlooper said whenever he asked a tuberculosis-related question — Who had been tested? What type of investigation had been conducted? Where are people who were exposed to the disease located now? — he was stonewalled.

“The answers they gave were, ‘We’re not going to release any information on the advice of counsel,’” Hickenlooper said, standing outside the facility following his visit.

…“I’ve never in my life seen a time where a direct order from the county public health authority or a direct order from the state office of public health is ignored,” Hickenlooper said. “That they say, ‘No, we’re not required to do that and the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is going to be OK with that.’”

Clear Creek Courant: Hickenlooper meets with Gilpin, Clear Creek county leaders

Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo. arrived at the Timberline Fire Station #3 in Gilpin County with a small entourage of staff to listen and answer questions and hear concerns from city and county officials.

…Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck Harmon told the Courant he couldn’t agree more, and the bipartisan support Hickenlooper has commanded on the federal level is commendable because, “Fire is blind.”

“He (Hickenlooper) knows wildfire doesn’t care what your political stripe is,” Harmon said.

“You’re just as likely to be a victim of a fire whether you’re a republican or a democrat,” Harmon continued.

…A Path Forward

According to Congressional reports, senators Hickenlooper (D-CO) and John Curtis (R-UT), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Fix Our Forests Act.

The bipartisan legislation, according to congressional reports, is intended to address and effect “Catastrophic wildfires, restore forest ecosystems, and make federal forest management more efficient and responsive.”

LISTEN:

CPR (Denver, CO): ICE Aurora Detention Facility Oversight Visit

KOA (Denver, CO): Jefferson County Emergency Operations Visit

KRDO (Colorado Springs, CO): Jefferson County Emergency Operations Visit

WATCH:

NBC (Colorado Springs, CO): United FTC Visit

FOX (Denver, CO): United FTC Visit

FOX (Colorado Springs, CO): ICE Aurora Detention Facility Oversight Visit

###",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z