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/2025/12/31/bennet-hickenlooper-slam-trumps-veto-of-their-finish-the-avc-act/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper Slam Trump’s Veto of Their Finish the AVC Act",2025-12-31,2025,2025-12,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 issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed their bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act:

“Nothing says ‘Make America Great Again’ like denying 50,000 rural Coloradans access to clean, affordable drinking water. President Trump’s first veto of his second term blocks a bipartisan bill that both the House and Senate passed unanimously, costs taxpayers nothing, and delivers safe, reliable water to rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him. Trump’s attacks on Southern Colorado are politics at its worst—putting personal and political grievances ahead of Americans. Southeastern Coloradans were promised the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit more than 60 years ago. With this veto, President Trump broke that promise and demonstrated exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington. We will keep fighting to make sure rural Coloradans get the clean drinking water they were promised.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/31/bennet-statement-on-federal-intervention-at-northwest-colorado-power-plant/,Bennet Statement on Federal Intervention at Northwest Colorado Power Plant,2025-12-31,2025,2025-12,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 released the following statement following the Department of Energy’s 202(c) 90-day order to require Craig Station’s Unit 1, a 427 MW coal-fired power plant in Northwest Colorado, to remain operational past its planned 2025 retirement:

“President Trump’s so-called “energy emergency” is being used to justify tying the hands of utilities, forcing them to keep aging, outdated power plants open, often at high cost to the consumers they serve, whether or not it makes sense for energy reliability. It is unacceptable to burden ratepayers with these unnecessary costs. The Department of Energy (DOE) should be focused on doing everything it can to partner with transitioning communities and make energy more affordable. Instead, this administration is overriding business decisions and ignoring the costly consequences for Coloradans.

“The DOE order is the latest in a string of attacks against Colorado, because we refuse to bend to the President. President Trump continues to take out his personal and political grievances on Coloradans who are already struggling to make ends meet. Federal intervention like this makes long-term planning impossible – this is not how you operate a business, plan an electric grid, or help a community stay prosperous. I am disappointed but not surprised by this continued revenge tour.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-slam-trumps-veto-of-their-finish-the-avc-act/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet Slam Trump’s Veto of Their Finish the AVC Act",2025-12-31,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"DENVER — U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed their bipartisan Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act:

“Nothing says ‘Make America Great Again’ like denying 50,000 rural Coloradans access to clean, affordable drinking water. President Trump’s first veto of his second term blocks a bipartisan bill that both the House and Senate passed unanimously, costs taxpayers nothing, and delivers safe, reliable water to rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him. Trump’s attacks on Southern Colorado are politics at its worst—putting personal and political grievances ahead of Americans. Southeastern Coloradans were promised the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit more than 60 years ago. With this veto, President Trump broke that promise and demonstrated exactly why so many Americans are fed up with Washington. We will keep fighting to make sure rural Coloradans get the clean drinking water they were promised.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-neguse-hits-50-city-milestone-2025-timnath-roundtable,Congressman Neguse Hits 50-City Milestone in 2025 with Timnath Roundtable,2025-12-30,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Lafayette, CO — Last week, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse hosted a roundtable discussion with local leaders in Timnath. He was joined by Mayor Robert Axmacher, Police Chief Laurie Scott, Fire Chief Derek Bergsten, and other local leaders to discuss community priorities. Rep. Neguse’s visit to the Northern Colorado town marked the 50th community he’s visited in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District in 2025, building on his trademark for showing up for people across the state. He has also held 17 in-person town halls this year — more than every other member of Colorado’s U.S. House delegation combined.

“When you represent a district as large as Colorado’s 2nd, you learn early on that showing up matters, and that the best way to serve the people you were elected to represent is to engage with them directly. Which is why I’ve made it my mission over the past year to show up in every community — no matter how big or small — to hear directly from our constituents,” said Congressman Neguse. “In the new year, we’ll keep traversing our district, engaging with everyone, and speaking up — because fixing what’s broken in our politics requires working together to build a future we all believe in.”

Congressman Neguse has represented Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019. Covering more than 12,000 square miles, the district is one of Colorado’s largest and most rural, spanning twelve counties: Boulder, Weld, Clear Creek, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Larimer, Summit, Jackson, Routt, and Broomfield.

In 2025 alone, Neguse visited 50 cities and towns across the district, including Allenspark, Eldorado Springs, Erie, Gold Hill, Gunbarrel, Jamestown, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, Niwot, Superior, Central City, Empire, Georgetown, Idaho Springs, Silver Plume, Avon, Eagle, Edwards, Gypsum, Minturn, Red Cliff, Vail, Wolcott, Black Hawk, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Winter Park, Walden, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Laporte, Loveland, Red Feather Lakes, Hayden, Oak Creek, Phippsburg, Steamboat Springs, Yampa, Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Timnath.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gabe-evans-sends-letter-governor-polis-demanding-accountability-cdot,Rep. Gabe Evans Sends Letter to Governor Polis Demanding Accountability for CDOT Mismanagement,2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Gabe Evans,E000300,gabeevans.house.gov,gabeevans,https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON- Today, Congressman Gabe Evans (R-CO-08) sent a letter to Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Executive Director Shoshana Lew expressing grave concerns over the continued mismanagement of CDOT —demanding immediate corrective action to refocus the agency on core infrastructure priorities that keep Coloradans safe and the economy moving.

In the letter, Congressman Gabe Evans highlighted repeated concerns from constituents about worsening road conditions and traffic congestion across Adams, Weld, and Larimer Counties – even as CDOT’s budget has nearly doubled since 2018 under Governor Polis’ administration. Rep. Evans also cited statutory violations identified in CDOT’s own audit, and reports of Federal regulatory violations that could jeopardize Colorado’s access to critical federal transportation funding.

An excerpt from the letter reads:

“I respectfully urge your offices to take immediate steps to correct the blatant mismanagement that has plagued CDOT under your leadership, restore public trust in CDOT, and ensure good governance in the allocation of taxpayer dollars. The agency's failure to prioritize core infrastructure needs despite record-high budgets and unprecedented federal support— is not just irresponsible, it's indefensible. My constituents deserve a transportation system that works for them, not against them. I will continue to advocate for the communities I serve, whom you have neglected, until CDOT is reoriented toward delivering results that reflect their needs and values.” - Congressman Gabe Evans

Key Concerns in Rep. Evans Letter

Congressman Evans emphasized a pattern of mismanagement that has left Coloradans paying more to receive less. Working families and businesses are continuously burdened by more than $500 million in taxpayer funded fees in CDOT’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget costs, which disproportionately falls onto road users and industries that depend on conventional fuel and freight movement to operate and grow.

At the same time, Colorado’s roads continue to deteriorate. Under Governor Polis’ leadership, the state ranks among the worst in the nation for road conditions. Currently the state ranks 7th worst overall, and comes in 3rd for the worst urban highways and 5th worst for rural highways. These rankings reflect years of out-of-touch priorities as CDOT has expanded spending on political initiatives, while failing to adequately invest in core roadway maintenance and safety.

The consequences of these choices are being felt across Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District. Critical transportation corridors such as I-25, Highway 85, and I-75 serve as economic lifelines for families, farmers, and employers; yet commuters and businesses face worsening congestion, repeated vehicle damage, longer travel times, and an increased risk of serious accidents. On average, these failures are costing Colorado drivers an estimated $1,900 per year.

Rep. Evans also pointed to serious accountability concerns raised by CDOT’s own audit, which found statutory violations in funding disbursement more than six times higher than when Governor Polis took office. The audit identified $4.8 million in unaccountable taxpayer dollars, much of it tied to the Division of Transit and Rail, raising significant questions about fiscal responsibility at the agency.

Public safety risks continue to mount as well. Across the state, 417 bridges are currently classified as structurally deficient, including heavily traveled bridges in Adams County and along major Front Range routes. These conditions pose real dangers to drivers and underscore the cost of neglecting basic infrastructure needs.

Finally, Congressman Evans warned that CDOT’s reported violations of federal commercial driver licensing regulations risk undermining the federal government’s confidence in the agency. With nearly half of CDOT’s budget dependent on federal funding, this mismanagement could jeopardize Colorado’s eligibility for future federal grants and formula funding – placing hundreds of millions of dollars at risk.

Congressman Evans made it clear that Colorado’s transportation system is being undermined, not by lack of resources, but by Governor Polis’ failure to prioritize safety, accountability, and the fundamental needs of all communities in Colorado.

Rep. Gabe Evans Calls for Immediate Corrective Action

Congressman Gabe Evans urges Governor Polis to take immediate steps to restore public trust and refocus CDOT on delivering results for Colorado communities including:

Prioritizing road, highway, and bridge repair over politically driven projects

Increasing transparency and accountability in funding disbursement

Partnering with local governments in Adams, Weld, and Larimer Counties on district priorities

Proactively correcting any ongoing violations that could put federal transportation funding at risk",1,2026-04-01T05:41:29Z,2026-04-01T05:42:36Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/23/icymi-bennet-fights-back-against-trumps-targeted-attacks-on-colorado/,ICYMI: Bennet Fights Back Against Trump’s Targeted Attacks on Colorado,2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,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 slammed President Trump for canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants from the Departments of Transportation and Energy, dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and denying Colorado’s request for two emergency declarations following extreme flooding and wildfires. Before the Senate adjourned for the year, Bennet blocked the appropriations package from advancing before the holidays to demand funding to protect NCAR.

“After more than a week of targeted actions against Colorado, it’s clear President Trump has turned his sights on our state because we refuse to go along with his corrupt demands,” said Senator Bennet. “This holiday season, hundreds of NCAR employees face uncertainty about their jobs and communities across the state are worried they won’t get the support they need to rebuild their lives after historic flooding and wildfires. Colorado deserves better, and I am doing everything in my power to fight back and protect our state from the President’s vindictive chaos.”

Here’s how Senator Bennet is fighting for Colorado:

KKCO 11: Colorado Senator Bennet accuses Trump of retaliating against Colorado over Tina Peters

Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., is accusing President Donald Trump of taking punitive actions against Colorado that Bennet describes as political retaliation.

During a press call, Bennet criticized several recent decisions tied to the federal government’s relationship with the state — including the administration’s reported call to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

Bennet also warned of broader consequences beyond Colorado if NCAR were dismantled.

“I think that Colorado deserves much better from our federal government. Our entire country deserves better from our federal government. We will not stand by while President Trump attacks Colorado and puts our communities in danger. We’ll use every tool at our disposal to fight back against this reckless political attack,” he said.

Colorado Sun: Colorado’s U.S. senators hold up appropriations package over NCAR’s future

Colorado’s U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper…put a hold on the so-called mini-bus package over the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder.

“President Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration. His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country,” Bennet and Hickenlooper said in a joint statement.

In a social media post, Bennet, who is also running for governor, said “when Trump comes after Colorado, we don’t back down, we fight back.”

The Denver Post: Trump denies disaster declarations for Colorado fires, flooding: ‘We won’t stop fighting’

Sen. Michael Bennet called President Trump’s decision to deny Colorado’s request for federal assistance “unacceptable.”

“Trump continues to use Coloradans for political games; it is malicious and obscene,” Bennet said. “A disaster is a disaster, regardless of what state in the country it took place. Together with Governor Polis and the Colorado delegation, I will take every available step to appeal this decision.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/2025-in-review-hickenlooper-defends-colorado-against-trump-chaos/,2025 in Review: Hickenlooper Defends Colorado Against Trump Chaos,2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – It’s been a hell of a year, Colorado. Here are just a few of the ways Senator Hickenlooper fought this administration’s chaos and stood up for Coloradans in 2025.

DEFENDING SCIENCE

Last week, Senator Hickenlooper blocked a federal appropriations package in the Senate after President Trump announced his plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder and cancel millions intransportation grants designated for Colorado. Hickenlooper demanded Republicans add an amendment to the package guaranteeing that all funding for NCAR be fully spent.

After blocking the bill on the Senate floor, Hickenlooper joined protesters outside of NCAR in Boulder on Saturday to raise public pressure against cuts to critical environmental research.

PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS

Hickenlooper also led the fight against Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to force the BLM to sell up to 1.2 million acres of public lands in Colorado and 10 other Western states. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm in April, when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

In May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park.

The public pressure campaign worked. Following mounting opposition from Western senators and their constituents, Senator Lee stripped the public lands sale provision from the bill in June.

PROTECTING HEALTH CARE

Since the beginning of the year, Hickenlooper has railed against Republicans’ manufactured health care crisis and worked closely with state leaders to protect Coloradans’ care.

In July, congressional Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cutting more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for huge tax cuts for the richest Americans and largest corporations. 15 million Americans – including 241,000 Coloradans – are expected to lose their health care because of Republicans’ cuts.

Hickenlooper helped mount a political pressure campaign to fight for Americans’ health care. He was one of the first senators to announce he’d oppose the Republican government funding bill unless Republicans worked with Democrats to lower health care costs. Hickenlooper voted against Republicans’ funding bill every time it came to the Senate floor.

During the 43-day government shutdown, Hickenlooper organized a press conference with Coloradans facing steep premium increases and cuts to their Medicaid in 2026 to pressure Colorado Republicans and the administration to fix skyrocketing health care costs.

Recently, in a last-ditch effort to save Americans’ health care, Hickenlooper and Senate Democrats proposed a simple extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits for three years, without any changes, to save more than 24 million Americans from paying double for their health costs or losing their insurance entirely. Republicans rejected the proposal.

FIGHTING ICE OBSTRUCTION

Throughout the year, Senator Hickenlooper and his office have worked to help families desperately searching for loved ones arrested by ICE, and to advocate for those in detention.

In August, Hickenlooper visited the ICE detention center in Aurora after ICE repeatedly stonewalled his office’s calls and emails. During the visit, he raised concerns with ICE officials regarding delayed communication with congressional offices, irregular process changes, reports of ICE pressuring detainees to voluntarily depart instead of proceeding through a judicial process, and facility conditions. ICE failed to give satisfactory answers.

In August, Senator Hickenlooper’s office led the effort to get a mother and her 7-year-old son from Chaffee County released from the family detention center in Dilley, Texas. The mother had no criminal record and an active asylum claim – she and her son were held for two months before their release.

In November, Hickenlooper called for the immediate release of a Durango father and his two young children after ICE arrested them while they were on their way to school. Following ICE’s failure to release the family, Senator Hickenlooper spoke directly with DHS Secretary Noem, demanding ICE release them from custody after they reported being physically abused while in ICE detention. Despite having active asylum claims and no criminal record, DHS refused.

In response, Hickenlooper and Senator Jon Ossoff opened an inquiry into ICE’s unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight. Just last week, a federal judge blocked a Trump administration policy requiring members of Congress to give prior notice before visiting ICE facilities. On Saturday, Hickenlooper performed a congressional oversight visit to ensure ICE was following the law and to push for two young detainees to be released.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/colorado-reps-neguse-hurd-and-senators-bennet-hickenlooper-mobilize-bipartisan,"Colorado Reps. Neguse & Hurd and Senators Bennet & Hickenlooper Mobilize Bipartisan, Bicameral Coalition to Protect NCAR",2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“Funding for NCAR is essential to maintaining America’s leadership in global weather forecasting and to protecting our economy, our communities, and the everyday livelihoods of families across the nation.”

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Jeff Hurd (R-CO) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition in support of sustained funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. In a letter to congressional appropriators, 76 lawmakers from across both chambers requested statutory language be included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies funding bill to prevent its dismantling and ensure NCAR can maintain its core capabilities and continue delivering vital Earth system science.

The Colorado members mobilized in response to a social media “announcement” from White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought stating the administration plans to dismantle the nation’s leading climate research center.

Neguse, Bennet, Hickenlooper, Hurd, and their colleagues, however, noted that President Trump’s own FY 2026 budget request for the National Science Foundation (NSF), submitted to Congress earlier this year, described NCAR as a “world-class research center” leading advancements in “cutting-edge airborne and ground-based observational facilities[,] community weather and climate models with thousands of users worldwide[,] and petascale high-performance computing.”

As the appropriations process moves to conference in January next year, this letter doubles-down on demands made by Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper last week.

“The work being done at NCAR is vital to our state, our country, and our planet. The breathtaking advancements these scientists and researchers are making every day play a critical role in alerting communities to extreme weather conditions and the advanced modeling systems they are creating are vital to our national security. Any attempt to dismantle this institution is dangerous, reckless, and would, ultimately, put the United States at a very deep competitive disadvantage,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “I’m grateful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for taking critical action last week to stand up for NCAR’s continued funding, and I’m proud to work with my Republican colleague from the Western Slope, Jeff Hurd, to carry the baton in the House. As Coloradans, first and foremost, we intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge institution”

“NCAR does critical work in Colorado that helps predict severe weather and keeps America competitive in climate science. The research happening there protects communities and supports our national security. Dismantling this institution doesn’t make sense, and I’m glad to work with my colleagues in both chambers to make sure NCAR has the funding it needs to keep operating,” said Congressman Jeff Hurd. “The scientists at NCAR are doing work that matters - work that helps families prepare for storms, helps farmers plan their seasons, and keeps us ahead on the world stage. Supporting NCAR is a smart investment we should continue to make, not walk away from. I’m grateful to my House colleague, Joe Neguse, for his partnership in protecting an institution that matters to Colorado and the country.”

“Last week, I blocked the Senate appropriations process to demand full funding for NCAR in response to President Trump’s threat to dismantle it,” said Senator Bennet. “NCAR’s work is indispensable for communities, decision-makers, and emergency responders. From predicting extreme weather conditions to supporting disaster preparedness to understanding how wildfires spread, the elimination of NCAR would be catastrophic for public safety and national security. I am grateful to Representatives Neguse and Hurd for their partnership on the effort to protect NCAR. We will explore every avenue to ensure we don’t lose this vital institution.”

“Donald Trump's vengeful plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research is not only illegal, it’s indefensible. It will have devastating consequences not only for Colorado, but across the country. Colorado won't be intimidated by the bully in the White House. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to fight back,” said Senator Hickenlooper.

Read the full letter HERE.

In addition to Representatives Neguse and Hurd and Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, the letter was also signed by: Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jason Crow (D-CO), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Sean Casten (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), J. Correa (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Bill Foster (D-IL), Laura Friedman (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Laura Gillen (D-NY), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jared Huffman (D-CA), William Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Mike Levin (D-CA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Sarah McBride (D-DE), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Dave Min (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Scott Peters (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Emily Randall (D-WA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Robert Scott (D-VA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), George Whitesides (D-CA), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Jay Obernolte (R-CA).

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-reverse-gun-silencer-giveaway,Rep. Neguse and Colleagues Introduce Bill To Reverse Gun Silencer Giveaway,2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 22, 2025

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO) joined Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), as well as, Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL), to introduce the Medicare Investment and Gun Violence Prevention Act, which would repeal Republican tax breaks for silencers and sawed-off shotguns included in the “One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB),” and repurpose the funding to Medicare — which would equal $1.7 billion over the next decade.

Earlier this year, Neguse and his colleagues on the House Rules Committee exposed Republicans’ last-minute move to eliminate firearm silencer regulations during the panel’s marathon 21-hour hearing on the OBBB. After it was ultimately included in the House-passed bill, the Congressman led a letter to Senate leaders urging the Chamber to commit to remove the language in question.

The deregulation of firearm silencers was since removed from the legislation, however, the removal of excise taxes remained.

“This summer, Republicans passed a provision in the dead-of-night that eliminated excise taxes on firearm silencers. This change is devastating to public safety and greatly impedes law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Neguse. “Today, alongside my colleagues Senator Alsobrooks and Representative Frost, we’ve introduced a simple bill that reverses this policy and reinforces the long-maintained regulations for firearm silencers under the NFA – because the American people and our law enforcement deserve better.”

“This legislation is a 2-for-1 response to Republicans driving up health care costs and letting guns invade our communities. When Republicans snuck in tax cuts to the Big Ugly Bill on gun silencers and short-barreled rifles, they made their position clear: guns matter more than Americans’ lives. At a time when health care costs are skyrocketing, and just days after yet another tragic school shooting, now is the time to act. Our bill will repeal the unnecessary tax cuts on deadly weapons and use the money saved for Americans’ health care, which has been decimated by Republicans,” said Senator Alsobrooks.

“While an endless cycle of gun violence continues to tear apart communities across our nation, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are gutting Americans’ health care to pay for handouts for their billionaire buddies, including the gun industry. With this legislation, we’re reversing a reckless gun industry tax giveaway and redirecting that funding towards strengthening Medicare and protecting public health,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“In a bill that was chock full of right-wing handouts, the tax break Republicans created for sawed-off shotguns and silencers might be the most ridiculous. Repealing it and plowing that money back into health care is a no brainer,” Senator Wyden said.

""Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” doesn’t just slash life-saving programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Medicare—it also makes our communities less safe by subsidizing silencers and sawed-off shotguns, weapons that make mass shootings deadlier and harder to stop. At a time when our country has seen more mass shootings than days in the year, and as seniors and families face rising health care costs, this legislation reverses these tax cuts and puts people’s health, safety, and well-being above the profits of the gun industry,” said Congressman Frost.

“This bill reverses a dangerous giveaway to the gun industry by restoring long-standing National Firearms Act taxes on silencers and sawed-off shotguns—safeguards that have been in place since the NFA was enacted in 1934,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. “The so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ erased these common-sense taxes, making the most dangerous weapons cheaper and easier to access. Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden are correcting that mistake by restoring the taxes and redirecting $1.7 billion to Medicare, prioritizing public safety and health care over special interests. Newtown Action Alliance implores Congress to urgently pass this legislation.”

“For nearly a century, this nation has sensibly and specially regulated silencers and certain firearms because they pose a severe threat to public safety if placed in the wrong hands. Trump’s One Big Ugly Bill gave the gun industry a tax break on NFA weapons, including silencers, that allows them to categorically put profits over people’s lives and while also forcing massive cuts to Medicaid and Medicare – further endangering survivors of gun violence and all others who rely on these programs. Brady thanks Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden for their leadership in introducing this legislation to repeal this dangerous tax cut for the gun industry and help ensure access to medical care for survivors of gun violence,” said Mark Collins, Federal Policy Director, Brady.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-implores-usps-officials-gypsum-post-office-relocation,Rep. Neguse Implores USPS Officials on Gypsum Post Office Relocation,2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 22, 2025

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse implored U.S. Postal Service officials to take action on the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) stalled relocation of the Gypsum Post Office. Congressman Neguse and his colleagues, Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representative Jeff Hurd, insisted that agency leadership provide an immediate update on the planned post office facility in Gypsum within 30 days.

“The Town has experienced exponential growth since the original post office was built, straining the current location. Town officials have cited long wait times for counter service; parking lot traffic flow and safety concerns; inadequate space for package delivery, post office boxes, and all other postal services; and a general state of disrepair.” wrote the lawmakers.

Neguse and colleagues continued: “This new 9,000-square-foot facility would be a substantial upgrade from the current post office and serve as a much-needed modern logistics facility for moving mail and packages to and through Colorado’s mountain communities. The proposed facility addresses a key concern of aging and inadequate facilities highlighted in the USPS Office of Inspector General report titled ‘Delivery and Customer Service in Colorado Mountain Towns.’”

Following USPS’s required relocation and community notification process, the agency determined that relocation was necessary and in 2023 selected a new facility to better serve Gypsum and surrounding mountain communities. Despite extensive coordination with the Town of Gypsum and Eagle County, USPS has not explained the delay of relocation, raising concern among local leaders about continued safety, security and service deficiencies at the current location.

“Our constituents, including Town of Gypsum leadership and the Eagle County Board of Commissioners, are concerned by this sudden delay from USPS at this late stage in the process. This concern is deepened by a lack of communication from USPS as to what outstanding issues with the project have spurred an additional agency review process, or insight into a timeline for this review to be completed. All parties agree that the existing facility and site are woefully inadequate, posing safety and security concerns and preventing USPS from delivering the level of service that the Gypsum community needs and deserves,” the lawmakers concluded.

Read the full letter HERE.

Background

During his time serving the people of Northern and Western Colorado, Congressman Neguse has repeatedly implored USPS to address ongoing challenges in postal services in the state’s mountain communities — including requesting that USPS provide easier access to mail and packages, expand opportunities for customers to access their PO boxes, aggressively recruit new staff, and meet with affected communities’ mayors and county leaders. Each of these actions were prompted by citizens’ concerns about the agency’s ability to provide timely and reliable delivery of medications, bills, checks, passports, packages and other essential items. Most recently, the Congressman joined Colorado Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper in penning a letter to ensure rural and mountain communities’ service was protected following public reports that the USPS entered into an agreement with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”).

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-hurd-mobilize-bipartisan-coalition-to-protect-ncar/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, Hurd Mobilize Bipartisan Coalition to Protect NCAR",2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,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 and Representatives Joe Neguse and Jeff Hurd led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to protect funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. They mobilized 76 lawmakers to demand top congressional appropriators include language in the government funding package to prevent the dismantling of NCAR and ensure NCAR can maintain its core capabilities and continue delivering vital Earth system science that promotes public safety and improves national security.

“Donald Trump’s vengeful plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research is not only illegal, it’s indefensible,” said Hickenlooper. “It will have devastating consequences not only for Colorado, but across the country. Colorado won’t be intimidated by the bully in the White House. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to fight back.”

“Last week, I blocked the Senate appropriations process to demand full funding for NCAR in response to President Trump’s threat to dismantle it,” said Bennet. “NCAR’s work is indispensable for communities, decision-makers, and emergency responders. From predicting extreme weather conditions to supporting disaster preparedness to understanding how wildfires spread, the elimination of NCAR would be catastrophic for public safety and national security. I am grateful to Representatives Neguse and Hurd for their partnership on the effort to protect NCAR. We will explore every avenue to ensure we don’t lose this vital institution.”

“The work being done at NCAR is vital to our state, our country, and our planet. The breathtaking advancements these scientists and researchers are making every day play a critical role in alerting communities to extreme weather conditions and the advanced modeling systems they are creating are vital to our national security. Any attempt to dismantle this institution is dangerous, reckless, and would, ultimately, put the United States at a very deep competitive disadvantage,” said Neguse. “I’m grateful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for taking critical action last week to stand up for NCAR’s continued funding, and I’m proud to work with my Republican colleague from the Western Slope, Jeff Hurd, to carry the baton in the House. As Coloradans, first and foremost, we intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge institution”

“NCAR does critical work in Colorado that helps predict severe weather and keeps America competitive in climate science. The research happening there protects communities and supports our national security. Dismantling this institution doesn’t make sense, and I’m glad to work with my colleagues in both chambers to make sure NCAR has the funding it needs to keep operating,” said Hurd. “The scientists at NCAR are doing work that matters – work that helps families prepare for storms, helps farmers plan their seasons, and keeps us ahead on the world stage. Supporting NCAR is a smart investment we should continue to make, not walk away from. I’m grateful to my House colleague, Joe Neguse, for his partnership in protecting an institution that matters to Colorado and the country.”

NCAR is one of the world’s premier research centers and was founded in 1960 by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Its mission is to understand global weather systems and support the capabilities of the university community and broader scientific community, nationally and internationally.

Following the Trump admin announcement to dismantle NCAR in Boulder, Hickenlooper has led the fight against their effort by blocking a Senate funding package, which did not fully protect NCAR funding, and joining a rally to save NCAR in Boulder.

Full text of the letter available HERE and below.

Dear Chair Collins, Ranking Member Murray, Chair Cole, and Ranking Member DeLauro:

We write to express our bipartisan bicameral support for continued funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) as the FY 2026 appropriations process moves to conference. As the Committees finalize the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill, we believe NCAR represents a sound, forward-looking federal investment that delivers tangible benefits to communities, industries, and public agencies across the nation, particularly in weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, agriculture, and water management.

We agree with the President’s FY 2026 National Science Foundation Budget Request regarding the importance of NCAR as a national research and infrastructure asset. As the Budget request states:

“The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is an NSF-sponsored Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) guided by the vision: ‘a world-class research center leading, promoting and facilitating innovation in the atmospheric and related Earth Systems sciences.’ NCAR addresses this vision with integrated research and facilities organized around

three overlapping areas of activity: cutting-edge airborne and ground-based observational facilities; community weather and climate models with thousands of users worldwide; and petascale high-performance computing.”

NCAR’s integrated approach ensures that federal investments in weather and Earth-system science translate into practical, usable tools. Its community weather and seasonal forecast models underpin forecasting systems used by federal agencies, the military, state and local governments, universities, and private-sector partners. These models support a wide range of real-world applications, including agricultural planning, drought and water management, wildfire behavior analysis, flood forecasting, aviation safety, and emergency preparedness. Their research in the Earth-sun system is invaluable for understanding and predicting solar weather. Solar weather storms threaten satellites in orbit that provide crucial GPS and communications capabilities,

posing a risk to our military, emergency responders, and banking systems.

In agriculture, NCAR-supported modeling and data tools help producers anticipate seasonal variability, manage water resources, and mitigate weather-related risk. In wildfire-prone regions, NCAR research improves understanding of fire behavior and smoke transport, supporting more

effective preparedness and response. For emergency managers, improved modeling and data integration contribute to earlier warnings and better coordination during extreme weather events—saving lives and reducing economic losses.

As the President’s Budget further recognizes, continued operation of the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputer Center is essential for the integration, analysis, and modeling of large and complex data sets. This computing capacity enables more accurate forecasts and supports the growing demand for data-intensive applications across government and industry, including defense, aviation, and critical infrastructure planning, ensuring the United States remains competitive in weather and Earth system science.

As an NSF-sponsored FFRDC, NCAR serves as a shared national resource that promotes efficiency and collaboration. By providing common infrastructure and open modeling frameworks, NCAR reduces duplication, strengthens partnerships, and ensures that federal research dollars are leveraged across states and sectors.

As conferees complete the FY 2026 bill, we respectfully request sustained funding for NCAR. Continued investment will ensure that NCAR can maintain its core capabilities and continue delivering practical, high-value outcomes that support economic resilience, public safety, and informed decision-making nationwide. Funding for NCAR is essential to maintaining America’s

leadership in global weather forecasting and to protecting our economy, our communities, and the everyday livelihoods of families across the nation.

Thank you for your consideration and for your leadership throughout the appropriations process.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-polis-call-on-president-to-reverse-denial-of-colorados-disaster-requests/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Polis Call on President to Reverse Denial of Colorado’s Disaster Requests",2025-12-21,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"This Saturday, President Trump denied Colorado’s requests for FEMA funding to help communities rebuild from devastation fires and floods

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and Governor Jared Polis called on President Trump to reverse his decision to deny Colorado’s Major Disaster Declaration requests for the Elk and Lee Fires and the flooding in Western Colorado. These federal declarations would have unlocked FEMA funding to support the recovery efforts for each of these disasters, providing critical aid to impacted Western Colorado residents and businesses.

“Coloradans are trying to rebuild their lives after fires and floods destroyed homes and communities across our state. Trump’s decision to reject our disaster requests, and therefore withhold resources as our communities continue to recover, is unacceptable. This isn’t a game. These are people’s lives,” said Hickenlooper.

“President Trump’s decision to deny Colorado’s request for critical federal assistance is unacceptable,” said Bennet. “Communities in Western Colorado are in serious need of help after the life-threatening flooding and historic wildfires earlier this year. Trump continues to use Coloradans for political games; it is malicious and obscene. A disaster is a disaster, regardless of what state in the country it took place. Together with Governor Polis and the Colorado delegation, I will take every available step to appeal this decision.”

“Coloradans impacted by the Elk and Lee fires and the flooding in Southwestern Colorado deserve better than the political games President Trump is playing. One of the most amazing things to witness as Governor has been the resilience of Coloradans following a natural disaster. Their courage, strength, and willingness to help one another is unmatched – values that President Trump seems to have forgotten. I call on the President’s better angels, and urge him to reconsider these requests. This is about the Coloradans who need this support, and we won’t stop fighting for them to get what they deserve. Colorado will be appealing this decision,” said Polis.

Hickenlooper and the entire Colorado delegation previously wrote to President Trump to support both of Governor Polis’ requests for Presidential Major Disaster Declarations and the activation of Public Assistance to help Colorado communities recover from the fires and the floods.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-jeff-hurd-announces-first-bill-signed-law,Congressman Jeff Hurd Announces First Bill Signed Into Law,2025-12-21,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Hurd,H001100,hurd.house.gov,hurd,https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Jeff Hurd (CO-03) announced that the Wetlands Conservation and Access Improvement Act (H.R. 2316) has been signed into law by President Trump, the congressman's first bill to do so. The legislation strengthens long-term funding for habitat restoration and wetland conservation while expanding hunting access and supporting healthy ecosystems across the United States.

The new law extends the timeline for interest earned on the Wildlife Restoration Fund to accumulate before being spent, allowing these resources to grow and generate additional revenue for conservation in the years ahead. The fund is paid for entirely by hunters and sportsmen through a pre-existing sales tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment.

“This legislation supports hunters, improves wetland health, and ensures future generations can enjoy the outdoors,” said Rep. Hurd. “I’m honored to deliver this win for our hunters, wildlife, and America’s outdoor heritage. By allowing the Wildlife Restoration Fund to grow before being spent, we’re making a smart investment that will pay dividends for habitat restoration and outdoor access for years to come.”

The law also boosts funding for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), a proven, bipartisan program that restores wetlands and protects waterfowl habitat across North America. Through strong public-private partnerships, NAWCA has helped conserve over 32 million acres of habitat while expanding outdoor opportunities nationwide.

Read the full bill text here.

###",1,2026-06-27T21:44:12Z,2026-06-27T22:31:39Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-leads-bill-to-help-communities-with-extreme-weather,Crow Leads Bill To Help Communities with Extreme Weather,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) introduced the Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act, a bipartisan bill to help communities respond to and recover from extreme weather and natural disasters.

Inspired by the Colorado Resiliency Office that has proven successful in helping communities adapt to changing environmental conditions, the CLEAR Act would establish a competitive grant program to help states, territories, and tribes establish and maintain resiliency offices to develop tools, provide assistance, and implement policies to strengthen resiliency in communities nationwide. The CLEAR Act would authorize $100 million annually for five years.

Representatives Young Kim (R-CA-40), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), and Carol Miller (R-WV-01) joined Congressman Crow in introducing this bipartisan legislation.

“Extreme weather events continue to impact Colorado and states across the country. I’m proud to introduce the CLEAR Act to provide communities with the tools and resources to respond and rebuild after natural disasters,” said Congressman Crow. “This bipartisan bill bolsters local efforts to prepare for extreme weather and will help strengthen critical infrastructure, protect small businesses, and save taxpayer money.”

“Too many in our community have felt the devastation of wildfires firsthand,” said Congresswoman Kim. “Natural disasters don’t discriminate—they impact us all. I’m proud to work alongside Rep. Crow to help introduce this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that will strengthen local resiliency efforts and give communities the tools they need to prepare for and recover from weather emergencies.”

“Disasters like the flooding in Ruidoso and Salt and South Fork fires are the new normal, and New Mexicans know firsthand how wildfires, drought, and floods can devastate lives in an instant,” said Congressman Vasquez. “As the climate changes and becomes more extreme, our communities need better tools to fight back and protect working families. We must act now to ensure New Mexico is prepared for the future.”

""West Virginia families know all too well the devastation that flooding can bring to our homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The CLEAR Act will give our communities the support they need to better prepare for future disasters and recover more quickly,” said Congresswoman Miller. “By investing in resilience, we can protect lives, safeguard our communities, and ensure that West Virginians are not left to rebuild alone.”

This legislation is endorsed by the American Flood Coalition Action, Resilience Force, BlueGreen Alliance, and others.

“Over the last decade, the Colorado Resiliency Office, most recently housed in the Department of Local Affairs, has been at the forefront, statewide and nationally, of advancing solutions to ensure that our communities can adapt and thrive in the midst of changing conditions. With the frequency and severity of natural disasters increasing risks to lives, property, and livelihoods, it is more crucial than ever to support the work of State Resiliency Offices to reduce risks and build strong communities. We are proud to join Representative Crow by endorsing the CLEAR Act, which will help us expand our impact in Colorado and advance this vital work in other states,” said Anne Miller, Colorado Resiliency Office Director, Department of Local Affairs.

“Supporting state leadership on resilience is essential to protecting communities across the country from the increasing threats of natural hazards. States are key to steering federal investment, driving watershed-scale planning, and providing much needed capacity and technical assistance to local leaders. AFCA is proud to support the bipartisan Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act, as it would strengthen existing state resilience entities, while encouraging more states to take on this vital work. We commend Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Young Kim (R-CA), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), and Carol Miller (R-WV) for leading this important policy that reflects the needs and experiences of state resilience leaders working on complex resilience challenges.” said Julie Seger, Government Relations & Policy Director, American Flood Coalition Action (AFCA).

""The CLEAR Act recognizes that training the resilience workforce is critical to preparing for climate change. We applaud Rep. Crow, and the co-sponsors for helping communities build resilience for the climate disasters that could come any day,” said Saket Soni, Executive Director of Resilience Force.

""Scorching temperatures, natural disasters, and insufficient FEMA resources are making our communities more dangerous to live in,"" said Jason Walsh, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance. ""The CLEAR Act will provide critical mitigation support that states need to protect communities and working families. Creating resilience offices today means people have the life saving help they need when it really counts.""

Since 1980, the U.S. has sustained over 400 weather and climate disasters that caused more than $2.9 trillion in damages to working families, small businesses, and local communities. Not only do extreme weather events create economic hardship, but they also affect public health, threaten our homeland security, damage our infrastructure, and negatively impact our farmers.

Congressman Crow has long led the fight to protect our nation from the worst effects of climate change. He previously introduced the CLEAR Act during the 118th Congress and has also led the Guaranteeing Resilient Installations for Defense (GRID) Act to protect and strengthen military bases nationwide against changing environmental conditions. Crow helped vote into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which together represent the largest investment in climate resilience in our nation’s history.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/court-rules-trump-vance-administration-cannot-block-members-congress,Court Rules Trump-Vance Administration Cannot Block Members of Congress From Conducting Oversight at Federal Immigration Detention Facilities,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Just now, a federal court temporarily stopped the Trump-Vance administration’s policy blocking Members of Congress from unannounced oversight visits to federal immigration detention facilities today. The decision restores Congress’s ability to conduct real-time oversight of how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain individuals — including U.S. citizens — and spend billions in taxpayer dollars, while the case continues.

The lawsuit, Neguse et al. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement et al., was brought by a dozen members of the U.S. House of Representatives after the administration imposed a seven-day waiting period and barred access to certain field offices, in violation of a longstanding federal law that guarantees congressional oversight.

The plaintiffs include Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse; Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Rep. Adriano Espaillat; Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bennie G. Thompson; Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin; House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Rep. Robert Garcia; House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Ranking Member Rep. J. Luis Correa; Rep. Jason Crow; Rep. Veronica Escobar; Rep. Dan Goldman; Rep. Jimmy Gomez; Rep. Raul Ruiz; and Rep. Norma Torres.

In a joint statement, the plaintiffs said: “Today’s decision is a critical victory toward restoring our ability to conduct essential congressional oversight on behalf of the American people. It reinforces the rule of law and reminds the administration that oversight is not optional. Real-time, on-the-ground visits to immigration detention facilities help prevent abuses and ensure transparency. Oversight is a core responsibility of Members of Congress—and a constitutional duty we do not take lightly. We’ll continue standing up for the rule of law.”

The Members of Congress are represented in this suit by Democracy Forward Foundation and American Oversight.

“This ruling is a victory for the American people and their elected representatives ,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “This decision makes clear that no president can hide the truth about how people are treated in federal immigration custody. We’re honored to represent these individual Members of Congress in defending accountability, transparency, the rule of law, and human dignity.”

“Today’s ruling is a clear victory for the rule of law and a clear affirmation that no administration is above it,” said Chioma Chukwu, Executive Director of American Oversight. “Members of Congress have an unquestioned right to conduct real-time oversight of immigration detention facilities, and the American people have a right to know what is happening in their name. By blocking those visits, the administration wasn’t simply breaking the law, it was trying to conceal the reality inside these facilities from the public: people in overcrowded, inhumane conditions without adequate beds, showers, or medical care. This order restores a critical check on executive power and sends a clear message that abuse cannot be hidden.”

With this decision, the court reaffirms Members of Congress’s right to access federal immigration detention facilities without prior notice — a safeguard meant to prevent abuse, protect human rights, and ensure that taxpayer funds are not used to support unlawful or inhumane practices. The ruling sends a strong message that oversight is essential to democracy and that no administration is above the law.

How did we get here?

Federal law (Sec. 527, FY2024 DHS Appropriations Act) allows Members of Congress to visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sites where noncitizens are detained without prior notice. But increasingly, these representatives have been stopped at the door.

In response to questions about this, ICE officials announced a new policy requiring a seven-day waiting period and preventing entry to ICE field offices.

On July 30, a dozen individual Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sued the Trump-Vance administration, challenging the policy as an unlawful obstruction of congressional oversight.

Subsequently, the plaintiffs sought a court order requiring DHS and its Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as ICE and its Acting Director Todd Lyons to comply with the federal law granting Members of Congress the right to visit immigration detention facilities without prior notice during the course of their lawsuit.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/19/bennet-hickenlooper-hold-appropriations-package-to-demand-ncar-funding/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper Hold Appropriations Package to Demand NCAR Funding",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,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. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper issued the following joint statement on their hold to the Senate Appropriations Package to demand funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR):

“President Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration. His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country. We are holding the Senate’s appropriations package to demand full funding for NCAR. As Trump’s rampage continues, we will pull every lever available to do what is right for Colorado.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-colleagues-demand-answers-on-trump-vas-plan-to-eliminate-tens-of-thousands-of-health-care-jobs/,"Hickenlooper, Colleagues Demand Answers on Trump VA’s Plan to Eliminate Tens of Thousands of Health Care Jobs",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,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 Richard Blumenthal, along with 36 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins demanding answers about the Trump administration’s plans to eliminate as many as 35,000 jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“Unfilled positions are not reflective of unnecessary positions, and the length of time a position is vacant is not a suitable data point for determining need. At a time when veterans are already facing widespread cuts in their access to health care from H.R. 1, skyrocketing health insurance premiums from expiring enhanced premium tax credits, and forced closures of rural hospitals, VA needs to be expanding its capacity and staffing levels, not reducing them. Veterans deserve a VA staffed according to their needs and a Secretary who works to fill needed positions, not abolish them,” the senators wrote.

This follows recent reporting on the Administration’s plans to eliminate tens of thousands of unfilled mission-critical health care positions at the VA, including for doctors, nurses, and support staff.

The VA already lost more than 40,000 employees between January and September of this year as a result of President Trump’s hiring freeze, deferred resignations, early retirements, and many have quit as a result of this administration’s reckless policies. The VA had at least 42,000 vacancies across the Department as of March 31, 2025, and that number is estimated to have grown significantly since then. The removal of these positions would put VA at pre-PACT Act staffing levels. More than one million veterans newly enrolled in VA health care as a result of expanded eligibility under the PACT Act, and millions more have increased reliance on VA because of toxic exposure-related illnesses and injuries.

These continued cuts of VA health care follow widespread health care cuts initiated by Republicans across the government. Senate Republicans have failed to join Democratic efforts to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, which many veterans across the country rely on to afford health care. Coupled with Medicare and Medicaid cuts from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that go into effect next year, Americans, including millions of veterans and veteran family members, are facing skyrocketing premiums..

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Collins:

We write to express our concern following the December 13, 2025, Washington Post article “VA plans to abruptly eliminate tens of thousands of health care jobs,” which spotlights the Department’s plan to cut as many as 35,000 vacant positions from its workforce rolls before the end of the calendar year. Compounded by the exodus of more than 40,000 Department employees in fiscal year (FY) 2025, any unjustified cuts to existing vacancies would further disrupt a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) workforce that is already stretched dangerously thin and under assault.

Based on data mandated by Section 505 of Public Law 115-182, the VA MISSION Act of 2018, as of quarter two of FY 2025, the Department had a total of 42,518 vacancies. These vacant positions included 7,560 nurses, 4,400 schedulers, 2,800 physicians, 1,900 social workers, 1,650 nursing assistants, 1,630 practical nurses, 1,230 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, 1,080 health technicians, 860 veterans claims examiners, 760 police, and 710 psychologists – totaling more than 24,500 of the 42,500 vacancies. If the Department cut every other vacancy outside of these roles – which would still include cuts to various clinical and veteran-facing roles – VA would still have to cut 18,000 vacancies from essential, veteran-facing positions in order to meet the 35,000 number. These cannot all be “COVID-era roles,” as VA has claimed, nor can these cuts be downplayed because some have been vacant for longer than one year.

We request the following information regarding VA’s elimination of these positions:

Please provide a list of vacant positions removed, disaggregated by facility and job series.

Please provide a list of positions removed, disaggregated by job series and then by length of time since they were last encumbered or the position was created based on these categories of time: less than 30 days, greater than 30 days, greater than 90 days, greater than 180 days, greater than 365 days, and greater than 730 days.

Please provide the titles of VA Central Office staff and the offices or departments involved in making this decision.

VA already regularly adds and removes positions based on need as part of its normal recruitment and budgeting processes. What evidence was there to support this significantly larger removal of vacancies?

Memos from the Department planning for this removal of vacancies reference a baseline number of positions used to inform individual facility staffing numbers. What is that baseline, and how was that number decided upon? How were individual facility baselines calculated based on that number?

Why did the Department choose to use number of positions instead of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to establish these baselines? How were positions that typically do not occupy one FTE for each individual staff member, such as researchers, accounted for in the baseline and the cuts?

Please detail the approval process for a facility or hiring manager to request new vacancies, roles, or recruitment processes beyond the new baseline.

Based on what criteria can a facility or hiring manager request a new position or vacancy above the baseline?

In VA’s FY 2026 budget request, the Department requested funding for 396,000 total FTE. As such, Congress provided $167 billion for the treatment of 7.7 million patients and 162.6 million outpatient visits to VA for FY 2026. Please provide an updated staffing and workload projection for FY 2026 that accounts for these vacancy cuts.

How did the Department account for minimum staffing ratios when making these cuts, especially those required for nursing, long-term care, spinal cord injury and disorder teams, and mental health care?

Unfilled positions are not reflective of unnecessary positions, and the length of time a position is vacant is not a suitable data point for determining need. At a time when veterans are already facing widespread cuts in their access to health care from H.R. 1, skyrocketing health insurance premiums from expiring enhanced premium tax credits, and forced closures of rural hospitals, VA needs to be expanding its capacity and staffing levels, not reducing them. Veterans deserve a VA staffed according to their needs and a Secretary who works to fill needed positions, not abolish them.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-reintroduces-bill-to-prepare-federal-government-for-cannabis-legalization-2/,Hickenlooper Reintroduces Bill to Prepare Federal Government for Cannabis Legalization,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"PREPARE Act would develop framework federal legalization based on Colorado’s Task Force

The President announced plans to reclassify marijuana to Schedule III

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper reintroduced the Preparing Regulators Effectively for a Post-Prohibition Adult Use Regulated Environment (PREPARE) Act to prepare the federal government for federal legalization of cannabis. Following the President’s announcement to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III, Hickenlooper welcomed the decision and pushed the admin to support his bill:

“Another example of Colorado blazing the trail,” Hickenlooper posted on Twitter/X. “Now release and expunge records for everyone who was charged with federal marijuana crimes – and let’s pass our bill to prepare us for federal legalization while we’re at it.”

Hickenlooper has consistently advocated for the federal government to change the classification of marijuana. Hickenlooper previously urged the DEA to completely deschedule marijuana. He co-sponsors the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, which would deschedule marijuana.

Though cannabis is currently illegal at the federal level, many states have followed Colorado’s safe and legal model. The PREPARE Act establishes a federal commission, modeled after Colorado’s regulatory commission, to advise the government on proper safeguards for federal cannabis legalization.

On December 10, 2012, a month after Colorado voted to legalize marijuana, then-Governor Hickenlooper convened the Amendment 64 Task Force to provide recommendations for the development of regulations. Those regulations led to the thriving, safe, marijuana industry in Colorado today. The PREPARE Act would replicate the Amendment 64 Task Force at the federal level.

Specifically, the PREPARE Act-established federal commission would:

Advise on the development of a federal regulatory framework modeled after state cannabis regulations.

Consider barriers and suggestions for regulating Cannabis similar to alcohol.

Identify ways to remedy the disproportionate impact cannabis prohibition has had on minority, low-income, and veteran communities.

Include representatives from relevant federal agencies and offices, individuals nominated by Senate and House leadership, industry representatives, and representatives of state and local governments.

Importantly, the commission would not have rulemaking authority; its sole role would be to develop proposals and make policy recommendations.

Hickenlooper’s bill has broad support from stakeholders, including the National Hispanic Cannabis Council, Partnership to End Addiction, Veterans Cannabis Coalition, NORML, US Cannabis Council, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, National Cannabis Industry Association, Coalition for Cannabis Policy, Education and Regulation, Colorado Association of Ski Towns, Colorado Municipal League, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.

A one-page explainer is available HERE.

Full bill text is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crank-votes-streamline-permitting-delist-gray-wolves-series-natural,Rep. Crank Votes to Streamline Permitting; Delist Gray Wolves in a Series of Natural Resources Committee Wins on the House Floor,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Crank,C001137,crank.house.gov,crank,https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted in favor of a series of Natural Resources Committee passed bills on the House Floor: the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act and the Pet and Livestock Protection Act.

The SPEED Act restores fairness and accountability to the federal permitting process by simplifying environmental reviews, curbing abuse of the system by radical actors, placing common-sense limits on judicial review, and establishing predictable timelines for critical infrastructure and energy projects.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act would require the Secretary of Interior to reissue the November 2020 final rule delisting the gray wolf under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a proposal in which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife has tried to finalize under several Administrations.

""Permitting delays hold America back, said Rep. Crank. ""Our nation cannot be burdened with never-ending reviews. We must be able to build the projects needed to power our homes and businesses. Until now, we have let onerous permitting regulations handcuff America, allowing other countries to take the lead—offshoring jobs, supply chains, and more. Instead, we let other countries build offshoring jobs, supply chains, and more. The SPEED Act fixes that by streamlining our permitting system and allowing us to deliver on our goal to unleash American energy.""

""The Endangered Species Act was created as a tool to recover species, not as a weapon to block project development or advance ideological agendas,"" said Rep. Crank. ""Federal species management should be temporary. Instead, radical environmentalists have hijacked the ESA to ignore the scientific fact that the wolf has met recovery goals. Instead, they would keep the wolf listed forever. That is not the purpose of the Endangered Species Act, and it is why Congress is having to legislate species delisting.

""The continued litigation against the wolf delisting harms our ranches, farmers, and rural communities who have to contend with these predators unchecked in their own backyards. The Pet and Livestock Protection Act affirms U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s conclusion that the Gray Wolf is no longer endangered, and management should be returned to the State.""

Background:

The SPEED Act:

Streamlines and expedites environmental reviews to reduce costs and planning times while maintaining environmental standards;

Creates a clear “green-light”/ “red-light” outcome, so shovel-ready projects aren’t trapped in limbo;

Stops abusive and serial litigation by establishing a reasonable 150-day filing

deadline and limiting challenges to directly affected parties, ending exploitation by radical activist groups;

Ensures industry neutrality, allowing all projects to move forward under the same rules;

Creates predictable timelines that will incentivize projects to build in the U.S.,

strengthening America’s competitiveness;

Accelerates critical energy, mining, and infrastructure projects that are sorely

needed, lowering costs for Americans.

The Pet and Livestock Protection Act:",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-calls-on-trump-administration-to-stop-unfair-targeting-of-afghan-nationals,Crow Calls on Trump Administration to Stop Unfair Targeting of Afghan Nationals,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former paratrooper and Army Ranger who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is calling on the Trump administration to stop pushing divisive policies that unfairly target Afghan nationals.

In his letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Congressman Crow noted that the Trump administration’s policies will “scapegoat all Afghans and entire nationalities” and put at risk vulnerable Afghans who stood alongside the United States and seek a life free of the Taliban’s repression, discrimination, and violence.

Following the shooting of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and tragic death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, the Trump administration moved to close nearly every legal pathway Afghan nationals have to resettle in the United States. Included within that change is the suspension of the longstanding Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which is open to those who fought alongside American forces in Afghanistan. Their decision is among other deeply troubling actions taken by this Administration like terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, indefinitely pausing all refugee resettlement, including Afghanistan in a blanket travel ban in June, and eliminating a travel ban exception for Afghan SIV holders effective January 1, 2026.

Joining Congressman Crow in his letter are Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-52), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), and Derek Tran (D-CA-45).

“The horrific actions of one individual should not be used to vilify every individual from Afghanistan who legally seeks to live in the United States. Afghans who enter the country with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), with humanitarian parole, through the refugee resettlement process, or who claim asylum, are subject to a thorough vetting process that can take months to years,” the Representatives said in the letter.

The group continued: “Exploiting this tragedy to sow division and inflame fear will not make America safer. Abandoning those who made the courageous choice to stand beside us signals to those we may need as allies in the future that we cannot be trusted to honor our commitments. That is a mistake we cannot afford.”

Following the tragic shooting that targeted Staff Sgt. Wolfe and Spc. Beckstrom, Congressman Crow wrote that he was “horrified” by the event and that “violence like this is unacceptable.”

Congressman Crow's letter continues his many efforts to champion Afghan allies who stood alongside U.S. servicemembers deployed to the Middle East. He introduced the HOPE and ALLIES acts to facilitate and expedite the SIV process, as well as the Afghan Allies Protection Act to expand and extend the SIV program. Congressman Crow also founded the Honoring Our Promises Working Group following the announcement of the withdrawal to help expedite SIVs and US Refugee Admissions Programs. During congressional hearings, Crow has highlighted the importance of the SIV program and previously worked to ensure the authorization of 12,000 additional Afghan SIVs in the State Department's foreign operations funding bill.

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below:

December 18, 2025

Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Noem: We write with concern regarding the Trump administration’s response to the horrific shooting of two members of the National Guard on November 26, 2025.

We share our condolences with the loved ones of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and pray for Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe’s continued recovery. There is no acceptable justification for the use of violence. We wholeheartedly condemn the shooter’s actions and expect that he will be held accountable for his actions to the fullest extent of the law.

The horrific actions of one individual should not be used to vilify every individual from Afghanistan who legally seeks to live in the United States. Afghans who enter the country with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), with humanitarian parole, through the refugee resettlement process, or who claim asylum, are subject to a thorough vetting process that can take months to years. Many Afghans continue to face persecution from the Taliban, live in dangerous conditions, or are separated from loved ones as they wait for this process to be completed. Individuals are already vetted through numerous interagency databases including through the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Counterterrorism Center.

The decision to immediately cease processing all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals, including those eligible for SIVs, risks the lives of Afghan allies who fought and served alongside American servicemembers. This decision follows actions by the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, to indefinitely pause all refugee resettlement including Afghans under Priority-1 and Priority-2 categories, to include Afghanistan as one of an original 19 countries on a travel ban, and to seek to deport individuals legally in the country through humanitarian parole programs. Closing every avenue for Afghan nationals – including those who directly supported our mission and troops on the ground in Afghanistan – to seek safety in the United States is wrong.

The administration has further paused all asylum decisions for asylum seekers in the United States, announced it would review immigration applications granted for people from countries included on the travel ban list, including Afghanistan, since January 2021, eliminated a travel ban exception for Afghan SIV holders, and publicly floated calls for “denaturalization” or “remigration.” Once again, this administration has embraced a sledgehammer rather than a scalpel. Collective blame is dangerous, reactionary, and short-sighted.

Exploiting this tragedy to sow division and inflame fear will not make America safer. Abandoning those who made the courageous choice to stand beside us signals to those we may need as allies in the future that we cannot be trusted to honor our commitments. That is a mistake we cannot afford.

We made a promise to our Afghan allies who bravely stood alongside us during 20 years of war and to those who legally seek a life free of the Taliban’s repression, discrimination, and violence. The administration’s response will put those most vulnerable at greater risk, and we urge you to rescind policies that scapegoat all Afghans and entire nationalities for one man’s actions.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gabe-evans-applauds-bipartisan-speed-act-fix-americas-broken,Congressman Gabe Evans Applauds Bipartisan SPEED Act to Fix America’s Broken Permitting System,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Gabe Evans,E000300,gabeevans.house.gov,gabeevans,https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today Congressman Gabe Evans (R-CO-08) voted to pass the bipartisan Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, H.R. 4776. This commonsense legislation modernizes the federal permitting process, cuts red tape, and restores America’s ability to build critical infrastructure while maintaining strong environmental protections.

“For far too long, outdated permitting rules have strangled economic growth, driven up costs for families, and delayed the infrastructure projects our communities desperately need. The SPEED Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that restores balance and protects the environment while allowing America to build, innovate, and compete.” – Rep. Gabe Evans

The SPEED Act would:

Streamline and modernize National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews by simplifying overly burdensome analyses

Clarify when NEPA applies by refining the definition of “major federal action”

Shorten permitting timelines to reduce unnecessary delays

Limit abusive litigation by establishing a 150-day deadline for legal challenges

Preserve core environmental protections while restoring NEPA to its original procedural purpose

The bill passed the House with bipartisan support and is headed to the Senate.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1521,"Ahead of the Holidays, Rep. Pettersen Introduces Bill to Expose How Trump’s Tariffs are Hitting Small Businesses and Families",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of the holidays, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), alongside Representatives Hillary Scholten (MI-03) and Haley Stevens (MI-11), introduced the Trump Tariff Transparency Act, which will highlight the devastating impact Trump’s illegal trade war is having on Colorado small businesses and families. Specifically, the bill would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA), in coordination with the U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis, to produce a quarterly report on how much Trump’s tariffs are costing America’s consumers and small businesses.

As families begin to shop in preparation for the holiday season, many consumers say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for holiday gifts, with overall spending going down from previous years. Many popular holiday items have been especially impacted by tariffs, including toys, personal care products, small appliances, clothing accessories, jewelry, and household tools. Research also shows that tariffs have driven up prices for domestically manufactured and everyday goods, including groceries and other household essentials.

“As a mom, I know how expensive the holiday season can be – and it’s even worse with Trump’s disastrous trade war. While Trump builds ballrooms, hands massive tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy, and profits off selling out our country’s interests, he’s telling families struggling to afford groceries and heating bills that affordability is a hoax,” said Pettersen. “Trump might’ve been able to lie his way into office, but he’s not going to be able to lie his way out of the pain and suffering that his immoral and unlawful priorities have caused. I’ve heard firsthand from small business owners across my district – from Salida to Golden and everywhere in between – who aren’t going to be able to weather the storm of his failed policies. We need accountability and transparency, and this bill is going to do just that.”

“Michigan families and small businesses shouldn’t have to pay the price for President Trump’s chaotic, reckless tariffs - especially around the holiday season,” said Scholten. “Tariffs are a tax on working families and a burden on our small businesses. As prices continue to skyrocket on everything from beef to coffee to appliances to stocking stuffers, we deserve to know exactly how big that tax is. As a working mom and a member of the House Small Business Committee, I am proud to be introducing this commonsense legislation to study the true toll of this administration’s catastrophic economic policies and work towards finding real solutions for Michigan families and small businesses.""

“The one thing I hear over and over again from families and small manufacturers in Michigan is that Donald Trump's tariffs are making everything more expensive. Our Trump Tariff Transparency Act takes on these erratic tariffs to help bring an end to the pain being felt by Michigan families,” said Stevens. “Michigan has had enough of Donald Trump’s price hikes.”

In August, Rep. Pettersen demanded accountability from the Trump Administration for the rising costs of back-to-school items due to tariffs. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that tariff rates have increased the price of back-to-school items by an average of 18%.

Bill text can be foundHERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/18/bennet-leads-bipartisan-colleagues-in-support-of-european-plans-to-leverage-russian-sovereign-assets-for-ukraine/,Bennet Leads Bipartisan Colleagues in Support of European Plans to Leverage Russian Sovereign Assets for Ukraine,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,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, led a bipartisan letter to Belgian Ambassador to the U.S. Frédéric Bernard expressing support for European Commission efforts to leverage Russian sovereign assets to finance a loan for Ukraine.

“As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to wage his unjust and unprovoked war against Ukraine – all while carrying out a variety of hybrid attacks against Europe and the United States – we write to express our support for European Commission (EC) proposals to raise up to $244 billion via leveraged frozen Russian sovereign assets to provide a loan to Ukraine, which Kyiv will repay only if Moscow pays reparations after the war,” said the Senators.

The Senators emphasized the importance of moving quickly to leverage Russian sovereign assets to enable Ukraine’s purchase of essential defense systems and alleviate looming fiscal challenges.

“Putin will not stop if he wins in Ukraine but will continue testing NATO’s resolve, posing risks to our collective security. Providing additional financial support is of paramount importance for the sake of Ukraine, for a Europe that is whole and free, and one day at peace – and for the defense of democracy everywhere,” concluded the Senators.

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Ambassador Bernard:

As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to wage his unjust and unprovoked war against Ukraine – all while carrying out a variety of hybrid attacks against Europe and the United States – we write to express our support for European Commission (EC) proposals to raise up to $244 billion via leveraged frozen Russian sovereign assets to provide a loan to Ukraine, which Kyiv will repay only if Moscow pays reparations after the war.

European Union (EU) officials have negotiated an approach that seeks to minimize any potential legal risks to Belgium. It could strongly benefit Ukraine and trans-Atlantic security if your government and EC leadership can expeditiously find a mutually acceptable agreement.

In 2024, Congress passed the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act as part of the national security supplemental (P.L. 118-50), which authorized the President to seize Russian sovereign assets in the United States. Some of us recently introduced legislation, building upon that law, to start repurposing these assets to support Ukraine.

Leveraging these assets could enable Ukraine to purchase critical defensive systems, including through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, and help Ukraine manage a looming fiscal shortfall – potentially unlocking a finalized International Monetary Fund (IMF) program crucial to sustaining the Ukrainian government’s basic functions.

Putin will not stop if he wins in Ukraine but will continue testing NATO’s resolve, posing risks to our collective security. Providing additional financial support is of paramount importance for the sake of Ukraine, for a Europe that is whole and free, and one day at peace – and for the defense of democracy everywhere.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-hold-appropriations-package-to-demand-ncar-funding/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet Hold Appropriations Package to Demand NCAR Funding",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,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 issued the following joint statement on their hold to the Senate Appropriations Package to demand funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).

“President Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration. His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country. We are holding the Senate’s appropriations package to demand full funding for NCAR. As Trump’s rampage continues, we will pull every lever available to do what is right for Colorado.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-slams-new-republican-effort-to-open-national-parks-for-sale/,Hickenlooper Slams New Republican Effort to Open National Parks for Sale,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"This latest effort follows Senate Republicans’ push to sell off three million acres of public lands this summer

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper called out the latest Republican effort to erase protections for national parks and public lands in a Senate spending package and open them to being sold. On Twitter/x, he posted:

“Right before the holidays, Republicans keep looking for sneaky ways to sell off our public lands and national parks – this time as an amendment to the Interior appropriations bill.

“We stopped them before, and we’re ready to do it again.

“OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE NOT FOR SALE.”

Specifically, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) Chairman Mike Lee proposed an amendment to the proposed spending package for the Department of Interior to remove provisions that prevent the Trump administration from selling off national parks and require the administration to keep ownership and maintain all existing National Park Service units and national historic trails.

Hickenlooper has been outspoken against Trump administration cuts to public lands and helped lead the fight against Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off more than three million acres of public lands this summer. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm back in April when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment with colleagues to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

In May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park.

He also led an effort against the admin’s plans to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule. In March, he introduced legislation to reinstate the thousands of National Park Service and Forest Service workers the Trump administration illegally fired.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crank-votes-lower-health-care-premiums,Rep. Crank Votes to Lower Health Care Premiums,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Crank,C001137,crank.house.gov,crank,https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted in favor of the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act.

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act offers solutions to lower premium costs, expand access to quality care, provide every American with more options and flexibility to choose coverage that works for them, and bring greater transparency to America's health care system.

""My constituents deserve a health care system which always puts them first,"" said Rep. Crank. ""The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act will give common-sense solutions to restore our nation's health care system and lower premium costs.""

Background:

Appropriates cost-sharing reduction payments to stabilize premiums for eligible individuals on the Marketplace. This lowers premium costs by 11 percent and reduces out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays for low-income individuals;

Ensures self-insurance remains an affordable and accessible option to small businesses so they can provide quality health care benefits to employees that might otherwise be out of reach for them to offer;

Requires pharmacy benefit managers to be transparent with employers on drug formulary and pricing to help businesses negotiate better prices for employees.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-celebrates-colorado-wins-in-the-bipartisan-national-defense-authorization-act,Crow Celebrates Colorado Wins in the Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement as the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) heads to the President’s desk to become law:

“I served in combat and have seen firsthand what our servicemembers need to do their jobs and keep us safe,” said Congressman Crow. “As a leader on the Armed Services Committee, I’m proud to have secured bipartisan wins for Colorado and our military that will strengthen our readiness, modernize our military, and support our servicemembers and their families. This bill isn’t perfect, but it’ll deliver for Colorado and get our men and women in uniform what they need to protect our nation.”

This year’s NDAA includes twelve provisions secured by Congressman Crow, along with key provisions he has long fought for. Among the provisions championed by Crow are a repeal of the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF); a pay raise for all servicemembers (3.8%); and direct support for servicemembers based in Colorado, including $12 million for Family Housing Construction at Buckley Space Force Base.

Provisions in the NDAA secured by Congressman Crow:

Updating Air Force’s Flying Communications System: Authorizes support for mobile communications platforms to ensure continuity of government and national military command and control during a crisis

Protecting Assets Against Climate Change: Ensures climate shocks don’t negatively impact military installations, training, operations, and readiness.

Ensuring the Military Protects Civilians in Combat: Compels the Department of Defense to produce a report on how civilian harm could impact the success of military operations.

Improving the Defense Supply Chain: Encourages changes to the way DoD buys equipment so the supply chain that supports our defense is stronger and more efficient.

Strengthening the Afghanistan War Commission: Gives them more tools to complete their bipartisan assessment of key decisions made over twenty years of war in Afghanistan and to produce their final report.

Bolstering our Strategy in Eastern Europe: Requires DoD to provide Congress an updated strategy related to NATO, and provide a detailed update on Russia's actions.

Bolstering Crucial Space Programs: Provides U.S. Space Systems Command with the resources needed to compete tactically and technologically with our adversaries in outer space.

Modernizing Rocket Launches: Requires the Space Force to report to Congress on how it will modernize standards and processes around rocket launches so they are safer and more efficient.

Supporting Space Domain Awareness: Improves our ability to track objects, like satellites, and activities happening outside of our atmosphere.

Increasing Competition when the Government Buys Space Technology: Ensures that all companies have a fair shot when the U.S. government is looking to purchase technology that we use in space

Accountability for Russian Atrocities: Extends the legal requirement that the DNI designate a senior official at ODNI to serve as the IC Coordinator for Russian Atrocities Accountability, and adds “the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children” to the list of matters under the Coordinator’s purview.

Increasing Congressional Oversight to Potential Combatant Command Changes: Requires the Secretary of Defense to provide at least 60-days notice prior to making significant changes to the missions, responsibilities, force structures, commanders' ranks, or property of a regional combatant command.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-favorable-court-ruling-against-trump-administration,Crow Statement on Favorable Court Ruling Against Trump Administration,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) issued the following statement after a federal court issued a favorable ruling in his lawsuit against the Trump administration, temporarily blocking the administration from obstructing critical oversight efforts by Members of Congress at federal immigration detention facilities.

In July, Crow filed the lawsuit after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unlawfully denied him access to the Aurora ICE Detention Facility. Members of Congress have the right under law to conduct unannounced oversight visits of federal facilities.

In a joint statement, Congressman Crow and other Members of Congress named as plaintiffs said:

“Today’s decision is a critical victory toward restoring our ability to conduct essential congressional oversight on behalf of the American people. It reinforces the rule of law and reminds the administration that oversight is not optional. Real-time, on-the-ground visits to immigration detention facilities help prevent abuses and ensure transparency. Oversight is a core responsibility of Members of Congress—and a constitutional duty we do not take lightly. We’ll continue standing up for the rule of law.”

The lawsuit was filed in the District of Columbia Federal Court by Congressman Crow and other Members of Congress who were also denied access to federal detention facilities, including Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Norma Torres (D-CA-35), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), and Lou Correa (D-CA-46).

Since being elected to Congress, Crow has fought to promote transparency, oversight, and accountability in federal immigration detention centers. He introduced bipartisan legislation guaranteeing Members of Congress the right to conduct unannounced, in-person oversight visits of ICE detention facilities, including to check on any concerns related to public health and the humane treatment of detained individuals.

Congressman Crow regularly conducts oversight of the facility. Since 2019, he’s visited the facility to conduct oversight nine times. Congressman Crow’s staff have also visited the facility over 80 times to conduct oversight. Crow publishes public reports on his website of oversight visits and conditions at the facility.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gabe-evans-supports-house-republican-plan-lower-health-care-costs,Congressman Gabe Evans Supports House Republican Plan to Lower Health Care Costs for All Americans,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Gabe Evans,E000300,gabeevans.house.gov,gabeevans,https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congressman Gabe Evans (R-CO-08) voted in favor of H.R. 6703 the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, comprehensive legislation that lowers health care premiums, expands health care access and choice, and brings transparency to America’s broken health care system.

""State and Federal Democrats broke the American healthcare system — driving up costs for working families and limiting access to affordable health plans while states like Colorado began taking your tax money and paying for healthcare to individuals illegally present in the country. This Republican-led, solution-oriented bill builds on the progress made in the Working Families Tax Cut by putting patients and families first and expanding affordable and reliable healthcare access for all Americans.” — Congressman Gabe Evans

Lowering Premiums and Prescription Drug Costs

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act takes direct aim at rising premiums by:

Increasing transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) so employers and workers can see where prescription drug dollars are going and negotiate better prices.

Funding cost-sharing reduction payments responsibly, reducing hidden premium increases and stabilizing the individual insurance market.

Lowering ACA premiums by an estimated 11 percent, delivering greater savings than temporary subsidy extensions.

These reforms are projected to save taxpayers billions of dollars, while reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients and workers.

Expanding Affordable Options for Workers, Farmers, and Small Businesses

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act directly addresses the causes of rising health care costs by promoting competition, transparency, and flexibility – especially for workers, farmers, small businesses, and the self-employed. The legislation also expands access to affordable coverage by:

Strengthening Association Health Plans, allowing small businesses, family farms, and self-employed workers to band together to purchase lower-cost, high-quality coverage.

Protecting access to stop-loss insurance, ensuring employers can continue offering customizable coverage without facing catastrophic financial risk.

Expanding CHOICE (Custom health option and individual care expense) arrangements, enabling employers to contribute pre-tax dollars toward employees’ individual health plans and giving workers more flexibility to choose coverage that fits their needs.

More than 80% of employers using CHOICE arrangements are offering health benefits for the first time, a major step toward expanding coverage without mandates.

Background:

For nearly 15 years, Democrats’ Unaffordable Care Act has failed to deliver affordable, accessible health care for American Families. Instead of lowering costs and expanding choice, Democrat-led policies have driven up premiums, narrowed provider networks, and forced working families, farmers and small businesses to pay more for far less coverage – all while diverting limited health care resources away from Americans who need them the most.

Rather than fixing these failures, Democrats have doubled down on policies that prioritize individuals who are in the country illegally over U.S. citizens and lawful residents. In Colorado, Democrat lawmakers have gone even further, by expanding state supported health care access and subsidies to individuals regardless of their immigration status, increasing costs across the system for American families.

Colorado’s Expansion of Health Coverage for Illegal Immigrants:

Colorado currently provides health coverage to individuals who are illegally present in the U.S. According to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), immigration status determines eligibility for multiple public and state-facilitated health programs, and individuals without lawful status qualify for several forms of government supported coverage.

Through the OmniSalud program, undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients are allowed to enroll in health insurance plans through the state exchange, regardless of legal status. Under a 2021 Democrat passed law, insurance companies in Colorado are required to offer Colorado option plans – which are standardized plans with state mandated benefits and price controls – to all residents, including those in the country illegally. These plans are paired with state funded subsidies, such as SilverEnhanced Savings, which cover premiums and a significant share of out-of-pocket cost for undocumented enrollees.

While these subsidies are described as “state-funded,” they are financed through fees imposed on insurance companies – costs that are ultimately passed on to American families in the form of higher premiums.

Democrat Driven Expansion of Government Health Programs:

Beginning January 1, 2025, Colorado Democrats further expanded taxpayer funded, medicaid-style coverage though Colorado House Bill 22-1289, also known as “Cover All Coloradans.” Allowing children and pregnant women to receive full Health First Colorado

(Medicaid) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) benefits regardless of immigration status. The state also provides Emergency Medicaid Services to individuals regardless of their legal status.

The State of Colorado publicly promotes these programs as providing access to care, “regardless of immigration status,” even as American families face rising premiums, higher deductibles, and fewer affordable coverage options.

Higher Cost, Fewer Choices for Americans:

In 2025 alone, more than 12,000 undocumented immigrants received fully subsidized health insurance through Colorado’s OmniSalud program. Demand for these subsidies far exceeded available funding, forcing the state to ration benefits though a lottery system – a clear sign that Democrat policies are unsustainable and misaligned with the needs of American citizens.

As more resources are directed toward covering illegal immigrants, premiums rise, competition shrinks, and hard working Americans are left footing the bill.

Putting Americans First:

The Lower Health Care for All Americans Act represents a clear break from failed Democratic policies. House Republicans are focused on restoring integrity to the healthcare system, lowering premiums, increasing transparency, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used to benefit American families – not to subsidize coverage for those who should not be here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/colorado-lawmakers-slam-trump-administrations-plan-dismantle-national-center,Colorado Lawmakers Slam Trump Administration’s Plan to Dismantle National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Congressman Joe Neguse and U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper issued the following statement after public reporting on the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado:

“The National Center for Atmospheric Research and its 830 employees are leading the nation’s climate science research, delivering life-saving breakthroughs that provide early warnings for natural disasters and deepen our understanding of Earth’s systems. They are a core component of our state’s economy and an integral part of the fabric of Colorado. Efforts to dismantle this institution and its essential programs are deeply dangerous and blatantly retaliatory. This reckless directive would have devastating consequences for families in Colorado and communities across the nation. We intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge research institution with every tool we have.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/17/bennet-hickenlooper-statement-on-trump-administrations-vengeful-attack-on-colorado/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper Statement on Trump Administration’s Vengeful Attack on Colorado",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper released the following joint statement in response to reports that the Trump Administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder and cancel millions in transportation and energy grants designated for Colorado:

“Donald Trump’s vengeful plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research and cut millions in federal grants is the latest in a list of indefensible attacks against Colorado. The announcement of NCAR’s closure comes after the administration’s plans to cancel federal grants from the Departments of Transportation and Energy—making clear this is not policy, but political retribution against a state that refuses to bend to the president’s will.

“We will not stand by while Donald Trump weaponizes the federal government to punish Colorado. These reckless, politically motivated decisions put lives and livelihoods at risk, and we will use every tool at our disposal to fight back.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/17/bennet-hickenloopers-dolores-river-national-conservation-area-and-special-management-area-act-passes-senate-committee-with-bipartisan-support/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper’s Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act Passes Senate Committee with Bipartisan Support",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), celebrated the Committee’s unanimous passage of their Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act out of ENR.

“For the people of Southwest Colorado, the Dolores River is more than just a landmark – it’s the lifeblood of their communities and way of life,” said Bennet. “This bill was written by Coloradans who live, work, and depend on the Dolores River. It represents a balanced, sensible way forward to resolve many long-standing disagreements, protect the river for all parties, and provide long-term certainty for generations. I am glad to see that it has once again passed out of Committee unanimously, and I will keep pushing to ensure this becomes law.”

“Southwestern Coloradans care deeply about the Dolores River,” said Hickenlooper. “Leaders on the ground have spent years deciding how to best protect and invest in the Dolores. We worked with them side by side to design a bipartisan bill to preserve this landscape.”

The Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act, which passed the ENR Committee today by a unanimous bipartisan voice vote, would protect over 68,000 acres of public lands in three Colorado counties of Montezuma, Dolores, and San Miguel.

For over a decade, Senator Bennet has led congressional engagement with local stakeholders to craft legislation that could garner broad support. As a result, more than two dozen stakeholder groups and local and Tribal governments have sent letters to Senator Bennet in favor of the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act. In 2021, Bennet invited Coloradans to share suggestions to improve the bill during a 45-day comment period and introduced the bill in July 2022 with Senator Hickenlooper. This is the second time the bill has been passed out of the Senate ENR Committee with a unanimous bipartisan voice vote.

Statements of Support:

“The Tribe is intent on protecting our Dolores Project allocations. We believe the proposed NCA legislation supports this goal by legislatively addressing the potentially conflicting authorities of Reclamation over the Dolores Project contracts and the jurisdiction of the Forest Service and BLM below McPhee Reservoir. This legislation also protects Tribal cultural rights and practices within the NCA and provides for a Ute Mountain Ute representative on the Resource Advisory Council that will be involved in developing a Resource Management Plan for the NCA,” said Selwyn Whiteskunk, Chairman Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. “This legislation has been in the works for many years, involving careful consideration and compromise of the needs of every involved interest. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe believes that now is the time to move this legislation forward.”

“The proposal is the result of a long-standing collaborative effort to protect the Dolores River and the interests of the various stakeholders that it serves, including water users, agricultural entities, local governments, OHV users, conservation groups, and recreationalists. ln crafting the NCA proposal, Montezuma County, San Miguel County, Dolores County, and other partners sought to address a myriad of concerns, including those arising from the finding that the Dolores River is ‘suitable’ for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act,” said the Montezuma County Commissioners. “lt is the position of Montezuma County that designating the Dolores River as Wild and Scenic would result in significant consequences for water users and other groups seeking to access natural resources along the river corridor. By supporting the proposal for an NCA, it is Montezuma County’s intent to ensure that portions of the lower Dolores River that run through Montezuma, Dolores, and San Miguel counties will not be designated as Wild and Scenic, and it is our position that the NCA proposal sets forth an acceptable compromise between the various stakeholders interested in utilizing water and land resources in and along the Dolores River.”

“For over a decade, San Miguel County has been engaged in discussions with Dolores and Montezuma Counties, the Ute Mountain Utes, and other regional stakeholders to determine a locally driven long-term management solution for the Dolores River,” said Lance Waring, San Miguel County Commissioner. “Collaboration and compromise have brought all these parties together on this issue. The Dolores County NCA is a locally built and broadly supported proposal that protects both natural resources and existing uses. I’m grateful to Senator Bennet for leading this effort and to Senator Hickenlooper for supporting this bill to ensure the protection of this magnificent river canyon.”

“Dolores County is very pleased to hear that the Dolores River National Conservation Area (NCA) is progressing through the legislature. This legislation represents the culmination of decades of work by a broad coalition of stakeholders—local governments, conservation groups, agricultural interests, and community members—who came together through the Lower Dolores River Working Group to find common ground,” said the Dolores County Commissioners. “The result is a balanced, bipartisan proposal that protects and sustains our cultural and natural resources while supporting our agricultural industry and the treasured landscapes of the Lower Dolores River canyon. We are further encouraged that the NCA Act passed unanimously through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, underscoring the strong bipartisan support for this effort.”

“Senator Bennet has been a longtime champion for protecting the Dolores River and surrounding landscape. We are excited that the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area legislation has passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support. This bill represents the wisdom of southwest Colorado’s diverse interests and would protect the southern portion of the greater Dolores River Canyon Country. Farmers, ranchers, boaters, motorized recreationists, water and energy interests, landowners, and conservation organizations all recognize the need to protect the region and are aligned on how best to do it. We are grateful to our delegation for their commitment to protecting these important cultural, natural, and recreational resources for generations to come,” said Amber Clark, Executive Director, Dolores River Boating Advocates.

“I have worked continuously on this proposal since 2008. I believe local participation in the management of the area will provide better benefits for the native fish, scenic area, recreation, permitted federal land uses, private land values and water rights than a wild and scenic designation. I have ranching and farming operations in all three counties involved. I appreciate Senator Bennet for his many years of his leadership on this bill and Senator Hickenlooper for joining him in supporting this bill. I hope this bill can go forward in the bipartisan way we have shown is possible with the diverse local groups that put this proposal together,” said Al Heaton, local rancher that operates in the proposed NCA.

This bill is supported by: the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Montezuma, San Miguel, Dolores Archuleta, and La Plata Counties; the city of Cortez; the towns of Dove Creek, Norwood, and Dolores; Dolores River Boating Advocates, The Wilderness Society, American Rivers, Conservation Lands Foundation, American Whitewater, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Conservation Colorado, Sheep Mountain Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Alliance, Outdoor Industry Association, Jagged Edge Mountain Gear, Trout Unlimited, San Miguel Watershed Coalition, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Colorado, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the Southwestern Water Conservation District, and the Western Small Miners Association.

The bill text is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE. A map of the proposed National Conservation Area and Special Management Area is available HERE. You can find additional information, including support letters and answers to frequently asked questions on the bill’s webpage HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/17/bennet-neguse-hickenlooper-statement-on-trump-administrations-plan-to-dismantle-national-center-for-atmospheric-research-in-boulder/,"Bennet, Neguse, Hickenlooper Statement on Trump Administration’s Plan to Dismantle National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representative Joe Neguse issued the following statement after the Trump Administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado:

“The National Center for Atmospheric Research and its 830 employees are leading the nation’s climate science research, delivering life-saving breakthroughs that provide early warnings for natural disasters and deepen our understanding of Earth’s systems. They are a core component of our state’s economy and an integral part of the fabric of Colorado. Efforts to dismantle this institution and its essential programs are deeply dangerous and blatantly retaliatory. This reckless directive would have devastating consequences for families in Colorado and communities across the nation. We intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge research institution with every tool we have.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-slam-trump-admins-plan-to-dismantle-national-center-for-atmospheric-research-in-boulder/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Slam Trump Admin’s Plan to Dismantle National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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 and Congressman Joe Neguse released the following joint statement after it was reported that the Trump administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado:

“The National Center for Atmospheric Research and its 830 employees are leading the nation’s climate science research, delivering life-saving breakthroughs that provide early warnings for natural disasters and deepen our understanding of Earth’s systems. They are a core component of our state’s economy and an integral part of the fabric of Colorado.

“Efforts to dismantle this institution and its essential programs are deeply dangerous and blatantly retaliatory. This reckless directive would have devastating consequences for families in Colorado and communities across the nation. We intend to fight back against attempts to gut this cutting-edge research institution with every tool we have.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-slam-trump-admins-vengeful-attack-on-colorado/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet Slam Trump Admin’s Vengeful Attack on Colorado",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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 released the following joint statement following reports that the Trump administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, as well as cancel millions in transportation and energy grants designated for Colorado:

“Donald Trump’s vengeful plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research and cut millions in federal grants is the latest in a list of indefensible attacks against Colorado. The announcement of NCAR’s closure comes after the administration’s plans to cancel federal grants from the Departments of Transportation and Energy—making clear this is not policy, but political retribution against a state that refuses to bend to the president’s will.

“We will not stand by while Donald Trump weaponizes the federal government to punish Colorado. These reckless, politically motivated decisions put lives and livelihoods at risk, and we will use every tool at our disposal to fight back.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennets-dolores-river-national-conservation-area-and-special-management-area-act-passes-senate-committee-with-bipartisan-support/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet’s Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act Passes Senate Committee with Bipartisan Support",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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 celebrated unanimous passage of their Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which Hickenlooper sits on.

“Southwestern Coloradans care deeply about the Dolores River,” said Hickenlooper. “Leaders on the ground have spent years deciding how to best protect and invest in the Dolores. We worked with them side by side to design a bipartisan bill to preserve this landscape.”

“For the people of Southwest Colorado, the Dolores River is more than just a landmark – it’s the lifeblood of their communities and way of life,” said Bennet. “This bill was written by Coloradans who live, work, and depend on the Dolores River. It represents a balanced, sensible way forward to resolve many long-standing disagreements, protect the river for all parties, and provide long-term certainty for generations. I am glad to see that it has once again passed out of Committee unanimously, and I will keep pushing to ensure this becomes law.”

The Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act would protect over 68,000 acres of public lands in Montezuma, Dolores, and San Miguel counties.

The bill follows nearly two decades of local discussion and collaboration on the Dolores River and twelve years of work to find a legislative compromise. In 2004, the Dolores River Dialogue began as a forum for all stakeholders to discuss their perspectives on Dolores River management. In 2008, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management requested that the Dolores River Dialogue – a coalition of diverse interests in the region – convene a broad-based community group to study pressing management issues in the Dolores River corridor from McPhee to Bedrock, including the possibility of a Wild and Scenic River federal designation. Through consensus agreement, the working group, known as the Lower Dolores Plan Working Group, decided to explore the possibility of an NCA and appointed a Legislative Subcommittee, which included counties, water managers, conservation groups, landowners, recreationists, energy companies, and staff from federal elected officials’ offices, to draft a legislative proposal for further vetting.

The bill text is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE. A map of the proposed National Conservation Area and Special Management Area is available HERE. You can find additional information, including support letters and answers to frequently asked questions on the bill’s webpage HERE.

This bill is supported by: the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Montezuma, San Miguel, Dolores, Archuleta, and La Plata Counties; the city of Cortez; the towns of Dove Creek, Norwood, and Dolores; Dolores River Boating Advocates, The Wilderness Society, American Rivers, Conservation Lands Foundation, American Whitewater, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Conservation Colorado, Sheep Mountain Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Alliance, Outdoor Alliance, Outdoor Industry Association, Jagged Edge Mountain Gear, Trout Unlimited, San Miguel Watershed Coalition, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Colorado, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and the Southwestern Water Conservation District.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/new-study-finds-hickenlooper-methane-rules-cut-colorado-oil-and-gas-emissions-by-70/,New Study Finds Hickenlooper Methane Rules Cut Colorado Oil and Gas Emissions by 70%,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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 cheered new findings from the Environmental Defense Fund showing that methane rules Hickenlooper pioneered as governor reduced methane emissions fromColorado’s oil and gas sector by a whopping 70% between 2010 and 2017.

Under Hickenlooper’s leadership, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission brought together environmentalists and the oil and gas industry to establish the world’s first methane regulations in 2014. Those regulations were used by President Obama as a model for national standards, which in turn formed the basis of the international methane pledge in 2021.

“Colorado was the first state to enact smart methane rules,” said Hickenlooper. “The data proves they work, delivering cleaner air for our communities and making real progress in confronting the climate crisis.”

“Under the leadership of then-Gov. John Hickenlooper, Colorado led the nation in tackling the methane problem by adopting the first set of standards to address emissions from oil and gas operations. Analyzing the satellite data indicates that emissions fell dramatically following the adoption of the 2014 rules,” said Nini Gu, Senior Regulatory & Legislative Manager for the West Region. “Smart energy policy design and rigorous data collection are the key to a thriving climate and a thriving economy, in Colorado and beyond.”

The findings are based on data collected by Japan’s Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite, also known as GOSAT, between 2010 and 2019. They are reinforced by independent aircraft studies over the Denver-Julesburg Basin that find similar downward trends in the basin’s emissions intensity.

As senator, Hickenlooper has championed stronger federal methane rules modeled on Colorado’s. In 2021, he led members of the Colorado congressional delegation in urging the EPA to strengthen methane regulations for the oil and gas sector. He helped negotiate and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which created a $4.7 billion federal program to plug orphaned wells on Federal, State, and Tribal lands.

Hickenlooper has repeatedly pressed the EPA to improve methane emissions tracking and celebrated $162.3 million in loan guarantees from the Inflation Reduction Act to support the installation of a real time methane emissions monitoring network across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, North Dakota, and New Mexico.

The EDF study is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/what-theyre-saying-hickenlooper-is-right-to-oppose-trumps-latest-blm-nominee/,What They’re Saying: Hickenlooper is Right to Oppose Trump’s Latest BLM Nominee,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Hickenlooper: “His nomination is proof that the Trump administration still views our public lands as assets for sale.”

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper announced at the beginning of the month that he would oppose President Trump’s nomination of former U.S. Representative Steve Pearce to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). He was the first senator to publicly oppose Pearce’s nomination and has been sounding the alarm about his nomination.

Here’s what they’re saying:

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: Hick is right to oppose BLM nominee early

Denver 7: WATCH: Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper pushing back against the President’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management

Colorado Politics: Colorado’s John Hickenlooper says he’ll oppose BLM nominee

Durango Herald: Our view: Reject Pearce

“Americans deserve a BLM director who will be a true steward of the millions of acres under the agency’s care. Steve Pearce is NOT that person. While in Congress, he attacked environmental protections and fought to sell off public land,” said Hickenlooper.

“His nomination is proof that the Trump administration still views our public lands as assets for sale. On behalf of Colorado, I will vote NO because our public lands are NOT for sale.”

Pearce marked his time in Congress working to undermine environmental protections, open public lands for oil and gas operations, and sell public lands.

Hickenlooper is a former geologist and one of the only scientists in the Senate. He has been outspoken against Trump administration cuts to public lands and led an effort against the admin’s plans to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule. In March, he introduced legislation to reinstate the thousands of National Park Service and Forest Service workers the Trump administration illegally fired.

Hickenlooper also helped lead the fight against Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off more than three million acres of public lands. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm back in April when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment with colleagues to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

In May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park.

Check out what they’re saying:

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel: Hick is right to oppose BLM nominee early

Steve Pearce, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, is a leopard who can’t change his spots.

That’s the opinion of Colorado’s U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, who took the unusual step of announcing he’ll oppose the nomination well ahead of Pearce’s confirmation hearing, expected to be scheduled in January.

“Americans deserve a BLM director who will be a true steward of the millions of acres under the agency’s care,” Hickenlooper said. “Pearce is NOT that person. While in Congress, he attacked environmental protections and fought to sell off public land.

“His nomination is proof that the Trump administration still views our public lands as assets for sale. On behalf of Colorado, I will vote NO because our public lands are NOT for sale.”

Pretty blunt, but entirely appropriate for the moment. Hickenlooper, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, helped lead the fight against Utah Sen. Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off more than three million acres of public land earlier this year.

Lee withdrew his proposal from a major spending bill in late June 2025 due, in part, to overwhelming bipartisan opposition. The fight led to the formation of the bipartisan Senate Stewardship Caucus, which Hickenlooper joined as an inaugural member.

…Hickenlooper, for one, has made clear that Pearce is the wrong man for the job.

WATCH: Denver 7: Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper pushing back against the President’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management

Colorado Politics: Colorado’s John Hickenlooper says he’ll oppose BLM nominee

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., a member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Thursday he will oppose the nomination of Steve Pearce to be the next director of the Bureau of Land Management.

…“Americans deserve a BLM director who will be a true steward of the millions of acres under the agency’s care,” Hickenlooper said. “Pearce is NOT that person,” the senator said. “While in Congress, he attacked environmental protections and fought to sell off public land.” He added that Pearce’s nomination is proof the Trump administration still views public lands as assets for sale. “On behalf of Colorado, I will vote NO because our public lands are NOT for sale,” he said.

Durango Herald: Our view: Reject Pearce

We thought the fight over selling off America’s public lands had been settled in July. But President Donald Trump’s nomination of former New Mexico Republican Congressman Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management makes clear the threat is back – and more brazen than ever. Pearce embodies the belief that public lands exist to be liquidated, drilled, or handed off to private interests. Putting him in charge of the BLM is the political equivalent of putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) clearly recognizes the danger. On Dec. 4, he took the rare step of announcing – before any confirmation hearing – that he would vote no. Senators do not do this lightly, especially those on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. But Hickenlooper didn’t mince words: Americans deserve a BLM director who is “a true steward,” and “Steve Pearce is NOT that person.” Pearce’s record attacking environmental protections and backing the sale of public lands, he said, proves the administration still sees shared lands as “assets for sale.”

He’s right to sound the alarm early. This nomination cannot be treated as business as usual…

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/16/bennet-cassidy-pettersen-salazar-reintroduce-tax-credit-to-help-families-and-small-businesses-prepare-for-natural-disasters/,"Bennet, Cassidy, Pettersen, Salazar Reintroduce Tax Credit to Help Families and Small Businesses Prepare for Natural Disasters",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,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.), alongside U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) and Maria Salazar (R-Fla.), reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Shelter Act to help families and small businesses protect their homes and properties from future natural disasters and combat rising insurance costs. The legislation would create a first-of-its-kind disaster mitigation tax credit for families and business owners in disaster-prone areas.

“Coloradans are all too familiar with increasingly devastating wildfires and other natural disasters that threaten their homes and businesses and drive up insurance costs,” said Bennet. “We can’t focus solely on helping communities recover after these disasters. Congress must do more to help them prepare. This bill helps taxpayers invest in tools and materials to safeguard their homes, businesses, and families from natural disasters before they occur.”

“Everybody in my state has lost someone or something they love because of flooding. This is another tool for families to minimize that loss,” said Cassidy.

“In Colorado, wildfire season has become a year-round problem and extreme weather events continue to harm more communities every year,” said Pettersen. “Our small businesses and families shouldn’t have to pay the price for the costly impact of wildfires, especially when rising costs are already squeezing Coloradans. As we combat the climate crisis, one of the best things we can do is make sure people can protect their homes and businesses before disaster strikes.”

“A single storm shouldn’t be able to erase a lifetime of work. The Shelter Act empowers families and small businesses to fortify their property before disaster strikes, making our communities safer, stronger, and more resilient,” said Salazar. “Miami families know the cost of preparedness all too well, and this bill helps ensure they’re not facing those challenges alone.”

The Shelter Act allows Americans to write off 25 percent of qualifying mitigation expenses, up to $3,750 per taxpayer, to help homes and businesses reinforce their properties against natural disasters such as flood, wildfire, hail, and wind. This would be the first-ever federal tax incentive to help families and businesses invest in disaster resilience and mitigation ahead of time, helping offset the hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars spent on natural disaster recovery each year.

“Encouraging and incentivizing proactive measures that mitigate or safeguard homes and communities from the devastating impacts of disasters benefit all Americans,” said Dr. George Guszcza, President and CEO of the National Institute of Building Sciences. “Preventing or lessening damage from wildfires, earthquakes, and storms protects families across our nation, property owners benefit from less damage, taxpayers and government agencies avoid massive emergency aid payouts, and insurance companies face fewer claims.”

“With the understanding that disaster response and recovery is significantly more costly than mitigation and preparedness, the Colorado Resiliency Office (CRO) focuses much of its efforts on ensuring communities of all sizes and resources have the tools and education they need to be ready. The CRO supports the Shelter Act as an opportunity for households and small businesses to protect their homes and property from increasing natural hazard risks and build community resilience,” said Anne Miller, Director, Colorado Resiliency Office, Department of Local Affairs.

“The Boulder County Commissioners welcome Senator Bennet’s Shelter Act and the opportunities it creates for our community to receive federal tax credits as they protect their homes and businesses before a natural disaster strikes,” said Boulder County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann. “In a time of climate-driven wildfires, Boulder County residents have felt first-hand the devastating impact of natural disasters. As we work to recover from the Marshall Fire – the most expensive and destructive wildfire in Colorado’s history – thousands of homeowners are taking action to harden their homes before wildfires ignite. We welcome Senator Bennet’s efforts to provide tax credits to help dramatically increase the pace and scale of our mitigation efforts in order to save billions of dollars of future home loss.”

“The National Association of Home Builders applauds Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) for introducing the Shelter Act, bipartisan legislation that gives Americans the tools they need to make their homes more resilient and safer. As natural disasters grow more frequent, mitigation is an essential tactic to safeguard homes and communities. The Shelter Act empowers homeowners to invest in resilient construction by creating a targeted tax credit for disaster and mitigation upgrades,” said Buddy Hughes, Chairman, National Association of Home Builders.

“The National Association of REALTORS® applauds Senator Bennet for reintroducing the Shelter Act,” said Kevin Sears, President, National Association of Realtors. “A changing global climate continues to necessitate innovation in our nation’s real estate industry. Policies incentivizing property owners to proactively manage climate risks are now more important than ever. NAR intends to continue working with Congress to reduce the financial burdens of this country’s increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters.”

“The Shelter Act will help make homes and communities more survivable and insurable by incentivizing resilient retrofits,” said Roy Wright, CEO, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). “The time is now for this investment.”

“Fire Adapted Colorado is a statewide NGO supporting a network of over 270 wildfire resilience leaders. Fire Adapted Colorado is a strong proponent of incentives for wildfire mitigation measures. Colorado has had a statewide tax incentive for hazardous fuel reduction near wildfire-prone homes since 2008, and this has proven to be a helpful tool for incentivizing wildfire mitigation. Local mitigation leaders are able to point to the tax credit, and it helps residents make the decision to prioritize completing their wildfire mitigation projects. With limited federal and state grant programs directly investing in hardening structures to withstand natural disasters, including wildfires, a federal tax credit would be a valuable tool to incentivize property owners to take personal responsibility for their disaster vulnerabilities,” said Rebecca Samulski, Executive Director, Fire Adapted Colorado.

“We know definitively that wildfire mitigation saves homes and communities, yet the upfront costs can put meaningful action out of reach for many residents. The Shelter Act is a smart, forward-looking solution that removes financial barriers and rewards homeowners for investing in proven risk-reduction measures. By helping close the gap that too often slows progress, this bill strengthens our collective ability to build resilience before the next fire. At the Wildfire Collaborative Roaring Fork Valley, we see every day how community-scale mitigation protects lives, landscapes, and local economies — benefits that extend far beyond a single property line. The Shelter Act represents the kind of federal leadership we need to accelerate the pace and scale of wildfire readiness across the West,” said Angie Davlyn, Executive Director, Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative.

“In 2024, there were 27 individual weather and climate disasters, each causing at least $1 billion in damages. The Shelter Act can significantly reduce these losses—totaling over $180 billion—by protecting lives and property, reducing liability, increasing market confidence, and supporting recovery efforts. It achieves this by leveraging every $1 invested in resilience to save $13 in recovery costs. According to FEMA, 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after experiencing a natural disaster and of the companies that do bounce back, 25 percent of them close within one year. The American Institute of Architects is proud to support this measure, as it establishes a critical standard in the resilience space and paves the way for stronger economies and safer communities,” said Illya Azaroff, President, American Institute of Architects, FAIA.

Bennet and Cassidy first introduced the Shelter Act in 2019. Bennet is a leading advocate for disaster recovery and mitigation support for families and business owners. This year, he reintroduced the Replacing Essential Passports and Licenses After Certain Emergencies (REPLACE) Act to automatically waive replacement fees for survivors who lose critical documents like passports in natural disasters. In 2024, Bennet reintroduced the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act to streamline the process for survivors of natural disasters seeking housing assistance. Earlier this year, Bennet joined Senator Schiff to introduce the Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act, granting federally-backed mortgage forbearance to disaster survivors.

The Shelter Act is supported by: National Institute of Building Sciences, Colorado Resiliency Office, National Association of Realtors, National Association of Home Builders, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Fire Adapted Colorado, Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), Reinsurance Association of America (RAA), Satellite Condominiums LLC, and WesternLaw Group LLC.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/16/bennet-hickenlooper-bill-to-finish-the-arkansas-valley-conduit-heads-to-presidents-desk/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper Bill To Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Heads to President’s Desk",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,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. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper’s Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act unanimously passed the Senate today, and will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The legislation will reduce interest payments on all non-federal cost share funds and provide greater flexibility in repayment terms. Further, this bill will ensure underserved communities in Southeastern Colorado can access clean drinking water and repay the federal government. In the last few years, the project cost estimate has nearly doubled due to inflation and increased labor costs.

“Over six decades ago, President Kennedy came to Pueblo, Colorado and promised to build the Arkansas Valley Conduit,” said Bennet. “Now, I am pleased to see my Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. This bill will ensure the federal government makes good on its promise to Southeastern Coloradans to deliver a safe and reliable water supply.”

“Water has been the lifeblood of Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley since long before JFK promised to deliver them clean drinking water,” said Hickenlooper. “Shovels are in the ground and we’re now on the way to completing the AVC to deliver reliable drinking water to Southeast Colorado.”

The Arkansas Valley Conduit is the final component of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, a water diversion and storage project in the lower Arkansas Valley, which Congress approved in 1962. Once constructed, the Conduit will deliver clean drinking water from the Pueblo Reservoir to more than 50,000 families, producers, and municipalities throughout 39 communities in the Lower Arkansas River Valley.

Since joining the Senate, Bennet has fought for the Arkansas Valley Conduit. Bennet and Hickenlooper reintroduced the Finish the AVC Act in January of this year. The Senators helped deliver $500 million in funding for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the AVC, including $250 million earlier this year, $90 million in 2024, $100 million in 2023 and $60 million in 2022. Bennet and Hickenlooper also secured over $60 million in annual appropriations spending bills since 2010, including $10.1 million in Fiscal Year 2024 and $10.1 million in Fiscal Year 2023. Following Bennet and Hickenlooper’s call to the Senate Appropriations Committee Leadership this April to increase funds for the project, the Committee included $13 million for the AVC in their Fiscal Year 2025 Energy and Water bill.

Bennet’s remarks on the Senate floor can be seen HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/16/bennet-statement-on-president-trumps-executive-order-blocking-state-level-ai-laws/,Bennet Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order Blocking State-Level AI Laws,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,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 released the following statement on President Trump’s executive order restricting current and future state laws regulating the artificial intelligence (AI) industry.

“President Trump’s executive order to block state laws regulating artificial intelligence is a dangerous overreach of power that will only make it more difficult to keep our communities safe while promoting innovation. While AI has enormous potential to increase productivity and grow our economy, this unilateral action weakens Colorado’s ability to protect children and consumers.

Congress can and must pass bipartisan legislation that supports AI development while protecting the American people. Until then, states must be allowed to develop common-sense frameworks to safeguard their communities while preserving conditions that allow businesses and start-ups to thrive.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/16/bennet-statement-on-president-trumps-nominee-to-lead-bureau-of-land-management/,Bennet Statement on President Trump’s Nominee to Lead Bureau of Land Management,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,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 issued the following statement on President Trump’s nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management:

“Steve Pearce’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Land Management is an insult to Colorado and anyone who cares about the lands that sustain our economy and Western way of life.

“Pearce’s views on public lands are completely out of touch with Colorado’s values. He will be the first to sell off our public lands, promote Trump’s misguided ‘drill baby drill’ policies, and demolish the protections that ensure our kids and grandkids will benefit from public lands as we do now.

“He is unfit for this position and a threat to Colorado. For these reasons, I will oppose his nomination.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-bill-to-finish-the-arkansas-valley-conduit-heads-to-presidents-desk/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet Bill to Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Heads to President’s Desk",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,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’s Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act unanimously passed the Senate, and will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Their bill will lower costs and complete the AVC, a water project that will deliver clean, reliable water to Southeast Colorado communities.

“Water has been the lifeblood of Colorado’s Arkansas River Valley since long before JFK promised to deliver them clean drinking water,” said Hickenlooper. “Shovels are in the ground and we’re now on the way to completing the AVC to deliver reliable drinking water to Southeast Colorado.”

“Over six decades ago, President Kennedy came to Pueblo, Colorado and promised to build the Arkansas Valley Conduit,” said Bennet. “Now, I am pleased to see my Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. This bill will ensure the federal government makes good on its promise to Southeastern Coloradans to deliver a safe and reliable water supply.”

The Arkansas Valley Conduit is the final component of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, a water diversion and storage project in the lower Arkansas Valley, which Congress approved in 1962. Once constructed, the Conduit will deliver clean drinking water from the Pueblo Reservoir to more than 50,000 families, producers, and municipalities throughout 39 communities in the Lower Arkansas River Valley.

The Finish the AVC Act would remove interest payments on all non-federal cost share funds and extend the repayment period from 50 to 100 years. This bill helps make sure that underserved communities of Southeastern Colorado can access clean drinking water and repay the federal government. The estimated cost of the project more than doubled from the 2019 estimate of $640 million to $1.3 billion due to increased inflation and labor costs.

Hickenlooper and Bennet have long advocated for increased federal funding for the AVC and reintroduced the bipartisan Finish the AVC Act in January this year. Both senators helped deliver $500 million in funding for the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the AVC, including $250 million earlier this month, $90 million earlier this year, $100 million in 2023 and $60 million in 2022. Following Hickenlooper and Bennet’s call to the Senate Appropriations Committee Leadership this April to increase funds for the project, the Committee included $13 million for the AVC in their fiscal year 2025 Energy and Water bill.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hurds-jurisdictional-determination-backlog-reduction-act-passes-house-part,Rep. Hurd’s Jurisdictional Determination Backlog Reduction Act Passes House as Part of PERMIT Act,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Hurd,H001100,hurd.house.gov,hurd,https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Jeff Hurd’s Jurisdictional Determination Backlog Reduction Act passed the House as part of the Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act.

The PERMIT Act combines targeted reforms to the Clean Water Act permitting processes to cut red tape, reduce duplicative reviews, and provide greater regulatory certainty while maintaining water quality protections.

The Jurisdictional Determination Backlog Reduction Act requires the Army Corps of Engineers to allocate necessary resources to eliminate the existing backlog of thousands of pending jurisdictional determinations and Section 404 permit applications. Farmers, ranchers, small business owners, energy providers, and builders rely on timely jurisdictional determinations to know whether their projects require Clean Water Act permits. The Corps’ current backlog has left thousands of projects in regulatory limbo, adding costs and delays.

“Delays in permit approvals are stalling key infrastructure projects in Colorado and across the nation,” said Rep. Hurd. “My bill requires the Army Corps to clear this backlog so communities can get moving on critical projects without unnecessary delays. I’m proud this important legislation passed with the PERMIT Act today, and I’m grateful to Chairman Graves and Chairman Collins for their leadership on cutting red tape that prevents America from building.”

The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Read the full bill here.

###",1,2026-06-27T21:44:12Z,2026-06-27T22:31:39Z
https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gabe-evans-urges-colorado-farmers-apply-newly-announced-12-billion,Congressman Gabe Evans Urges Colorado Farmers to Apply for Newly Announced $12 Billion in Federal Relief,2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Gabe Evans,E000300,gabeevans.house.gov,gabeevans,https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) is urging farmers across Colorado District 8 to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) newly announced Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program, which will provide $12 billion in one-time payments to American producers in response to temporary trade market disruptions and increased production costs that have been impacting farmers since the failed leadership of the Biden Administration. These payments will provide much-needed relief until the historic wins Rep. Evans helped deliver through the Working Families Tax Cut Act reach farmers.

The program, announced by President Trump alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, will deliver up to $11 billion in funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture directly to row-crop carters who are growing barley, chickpeas, corn, cotton, lentils, oats, peanuts, peas, rice, sorghum, soybeans, wheat, canola, mustard, sunflower, and other eligible crops. An additional $1 billion is being set aside to support farmers of non-covered and certain specialty crops.

Important Deadline Approaching

To qualify, farmers must ensure that their 2025 acreage reports are accurate and updated with their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by 5:00 PM on Friday, December 19, 2025.

No crop insurance linkage is required for this program.

Support for Specialty Crop Growers

Producers who grow commodities that are not listed, including specialty crops, may still qualify for assistance if they can demonstrate losses related to market disruptions or increased production costs.

Farmers who believe they may be eligible are encouraged to contact Congressman Evans’ office for guidance.

How to Receive Assistance

Farmers should take the following steps:

Visit your local FSA office and confirm your 2025 acreage report before December 19, 2025 at 5 PM.

For questions or help determining eligibility, contact Congressman Evans’ staff:

Martha Gallagher: Martha.Gallagher@mail.house.gov

Adrienne Sandoval: Adrienne.Sandoval@mail.house.gov

Phone: 202-225-5625

Producers may also email USDA directly at farmerbridge@usda.gov to submit questions or request a meeting.

Payments are expected to be released by February 28, 2026.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/15/bennet-hickenlooper-wyden-democratic-colleagues-demand-answers-from-trump-administration-and-drug-companies-as-health-care-costs-skyrocket/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper, Wyden, Democratic Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Administration and Drug Companies as Health Care Costs Skyrocket",2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,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. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and five Senate Democratic colleagues to demand four major pharmaceutical companies provide specific details about agreements they announced with President Donald Trump to lower drug costs as millions of Americans see the cost of health care skyrocket.

On September 30, the Trump Administration announced new agreements with drug manufacturers to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Now, as millions of Americans brace for their health care premiums to double, triple, or even quadruple, the Trump Administration and drug manufacturers have provided few details about how and when Americans will see lower drug costs.

“The deep Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1 have put states in the impossible position of trying to figure out how to keep our Medicaid programs afloat and ensure continued patient access across the health care system writ large,” wrote Bennet, Hickenlooper, Wyden, and the senators.

The letters, sent to Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly ask for specific pricing information on which drugs will be affected by the announcements, what the “most favored nation” price is for those drugs, and what state Medicaid programs will pay in the wake of these announcements.

“Critical details about the GENEROUS model also remain unclear, including whether manufacturers can seek exemptions for the drugs where this model could potentially have the greatest impact. It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about what pricing manufacturers will have to offer states under the model and on which drugs,” continued the senators.

Hickenlooper and Bennet have been vocal opponents of the Trump Administration’s massive cuts to health care. Earlier this year, Republicans passed President Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which slashes over $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Last week, Senate Democrats put forward a proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits for three years to save more than 24 million Americans from paying double for their health costs or losing their insurance entirely. In total, Republican cuts are expected to force 15 million Americans off their health insurance.

The text of the letter to Pfizer is available HERE and below. The letter to AstraZeneca is available HERE, the letter to Novo Nordisk is HERE, and the letter to Eli Lilly is HERE.

Dear Dr. Bourla:

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the Republican reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) into law. That bill included nearly $900 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program, which will create disastrous consequences for state budgets, and, in turn, access to health care services for Americans all across the country. States have few options when it comes to filling the hole left by massive federal cuts – all of which lead to less access for patients. States can either cut provider rates, cut services, or cut eligibility for Medicaid – each of these options will make Americans sicker, force hospitals to close and cut services, and increase health care costs for all.

The deep Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1 have put states in the impossible position of trying to figure out how to keep our Medicaid programs afloat and ensure continued patient access across the health care system writ large. With that in mind, we write today to seek more information from Pfizer about which drugs are subject to the Medicaid components of your agreement with the Trump administration and whether the prices you will make available on these drugs are actually lower than the net pricing states currently receive on the same products in Medicaid.

On September 30, 2025, you held a press conference with President Trump announcing that Pfizer would offer “most-favored nation” pricing on certain prescription drugs in Medicaid. It is clear that Pfizer stands to gain a lot from this agreement, including relief from tariffs and potential priority review of new drug applications at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Trump administration is also pressuring other countries, such as the U.K., to pay higher prices for drugs, which will further increase revenues for industry, even though it is unclear whether industry will be expected to proportionally lower pricing in the U.S.

It is difficult to discern, however, what patients in Medicaid and taxpayers stand to gain from your agreement with the Trump administration. On November 6, 2025, CMS announced the Generating Cost Reductions for U.S. Medicaid Model (GENEROUS) model and released a corresponding request for applications from manufacturers. The GENEROUS model is a voluntary demonstration program under which CMS will negotiate supplemental rebates and coverage terms on prescription drugs with participating manufacturers. The Trump administration claims that these rebates will bring Medicaid drug costs closer to international pricing on covered outpatient drugs for states that choose to participate in the model. Presumably, manufacturers like Pfizer that have announced agreements with the Trump administration will be able to effectuate the Medicaid components of those agreements through the GENEROUS model.

States won’t benefit if GENEROUS model prices are essentially the same as current Medicaid net prices or higher. Medicaid already pays the lowest drug prices in the U.S., often in line with the prices paid in other wealthy countries. For example, a 2021 analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that the average net price of top-selling brand drugs in Medicaid was $118, relative to an average price of $343 in Medicare Part D.1Critical details about the GENEROUS model also remain unclear, including whether manufacturers can seek exemptions for the drugs where this model could potentially have the greatest impact. Furthermore, the RFA explicitly states that terms under CMS agreements with manufacturers can differ from the terms CMS just publicly released about the model. Thus, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about what pricing manufacturers will have to offer states under the model and on which drugs.

Attached to this letter, you will find a table listing brand drugs currently marketed by Pfizer and a list of Pfizer subsidiary and affiliate companies. We ask that Pfizer promptly respond by populating those tables and providing the following information:

1. Does Pfizer plan to effectuate the Medicaid components of its drug pricing agreement with the Trump administration through the GENEROUS model? If not, please explain how Pfizer will effectuate its Medicaid drug pricing agreement with the Trump administration.

2. During which calendar years does Pfizer plan to either participate in the GENEROUS model or otherwise offer agreed upon pricing to state Medicaid programs pursuant to your agreement with the Trump administration?

3. Please populate Table 1 by:

Identifying which drugs in your current book of business are subject to the Medicaid part of your agreement with the Trump administration and/or will be included in the GENEROUS model;

Providing the second lowest country specific average net price on each drug identified above over the last 12 months from the following countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Denmark, and Switzerland;

Providing the net price available to state Medicaid programs under your agreement with the Trump administration and/or the GENEROUS model for each such drug identified above;

Confirming whether the price listed above is lower than the lowest net price Pfizer currently offers to any state Medicaid program for such drug (including both statutorily required rebates under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and any supplemental rebates).

4. Please populate Table 2 by:

Listing all drugs marketed in the United States under labels of Pfizer subsidiary or affiliate companies;

Identifying which drugs among those listed above are subject to the Medicaid part of your agreement with the Trump administration and/or will be included in the GENEROUS model;

Providing the second lowest country specific average net price on each drug identified above over the last 12 months from the following countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Denmark, and Switzerland;

Providing the net price available to state Medicaid programs under your agreement with the Trump administration and/or the GENEROUS model for each such drug identified above; and

Confirming whether the price listed above is lower than the lowest net price Pfizer currently offers to any state Medicaid program for such drug (including both statutorily required rebates under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and any supplemental rebates).

5. If Pfizer is effectuating the Medicaid components of your agreement with the Trump administration through a method other than the GENEROUS model:

Please explain how state Medicaid programs would receive any additional discounts or rebates on the relevant drugs.

In order to access any additional discounts on Pfizer drugs under the agreement, would state Medicaid programs need to agree to any conditions related to coverage, formulary placement, or utilization management for such drugs? If yes, would states have to opt into the agreement with respect to the entire bundle of drugs subject to the arrangement? Or could states make separate decisions with respect to each individual drug?

How would any additional discounts or rebates relate to the statutorily required rebates under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program or supplemental rebates obtained by state Medicaid programs?

States need timely access to this information in order to make urgent state budgetary decisions due to the loss of Medicaid funding, including during special sessions and in preparation of budgets for the upcoming state fiscal year, and prioritize preserving patient access to health care. Therefore, we ask that you provide this information no later than January 30, 2026.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/15/bennet-murray-colleagues-demand-answers-from-ice-on-racial-profiling-of-tribal-members-refusal-to-accept-tribal-ids/,"Bennet, Murray, Colleagues Demand Answers from ICE on Racial Profiling of Tribal Members, Refusal to Accept Tribal IDs",2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and 10 Senate colleagues in urging U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to provide answers regarding recent incidents of Tribal citizens being mistreated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

In their letter, the lawmakers pointed to reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason apart from their physical appearance, and urged Secretary Noem to develop policy and trainings to ensure that all ICE agents are trained to recognize Tribal IDs, regardless of whether they are working on Tribal lands.

“We write to share our alarm over the completely unacceptable treatment of U.S.-born citizens of federally recognized Tribes, who have been stopped and questioned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on suspicion of being undocumented,” wrote Bennet, Murray, and the senators. “In February, several Senators wrote to you following reports of ICE agents improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens. In June, you replied with a letter in which you failed to respond to the majority of the questions raised in the letter. Over the past month, we have heard additional alarming reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason aside from their physical appearance. The disrespect and harassment of U.S.-born Tribal citizens by ICE is outrageous and inexcusable, and we request that you take immediate steps to put an end to it.”

In November, Elaine Miles, an Indigenous actor, was approached by four men who identified themselves as ICE agents while waiting for a bus in Redmond, Washington. When she handed them her Tribal ID issued by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, the immigration agents reportedly claimed that her ID was “fake” and that “anyone can make that.” When she attempted to call the Umatilla Tribal enrollment office phone number to verify her ID to the officers, an officer tried unsuccessfully to pry her phone out of her hands, then departed with his counterparts in unmarked vehicles. Miles alleges that her son and uncle were also both detained by ICE agents who initially did not accept their Tribal IDs before eventually releasing them. In response, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that allegations that DHS law enforcement officers engage in racial profiling are “categorically FALSE.”

In their letter, the senators note that ICE had previously told Members of Congress that “The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Academy does not train ERO officers to require any specific document to prove U.S. citizenship.” However, this incident suggests that ICE agents are demanding certain documents to prove citizenship and are unaware of different forms of Tribal ID.

In another recent incident, Leticia Jacobo, a member of Arizona’s Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, was nearly deported after an Iowa jail mistakenly issued an ICE detainer for another inmate. Despite the fact that Jacobo was in possession of her Tribal ID and had her Social Security number on file with the jail, her family had to prove her identity and Tribal citizenship to the jail staff, who released her just hours before she would have been transferred into federal custody. At least 15 Tribal citizens in Arizona and New Mexico reported being questioned or detained by ICE agents in January of 2025. Following widespread harassment of Navajo Nation citizens by ICE, Navajo President Buu Nygren advised his members to carry identification, driver’s licenses and their Certificate of Indian Blood on their person at all times.

In Colorado, the Ute Mountain Ute and the Southern Ute Indian Tribes have also encouraged their Tribal Members to carry their Tribal ID, in addition to at least one other form of identification, in light of continuing concerns surrounding ICE.

“You have an obligation to uphold the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribes and to treat Tribal citizens with respect—this is not optional. In light of recent incidents, we urge you to develop policy and trainings to ensure that all ICE agents are trained to recognize Tribal IDs, regardless of whether they are working on Tribal lands,” concluded the senators.

Bennet has consistently fought to protect due process rights, transparency, and safety in immigration enforcement. This month, Bennet and 20 Senate colleagues introduced the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act, legislation to reverse the provisions in Republicans’ so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” that harm children seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries. Last month, Bennet joined 48 bicameral colleagues to introduce the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. In August, Bennet and Senate colleagues introduced the Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety Act to prohibit law enforcement officers from obscuring their faces and require that they clearly display their agency, name, and a unique identifier while conducting immigration enforcement functions. In April, Bennet and U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) led bicameral colleagues in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to address the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s decision to fire key immigration judges. In March, Bennet urged the Trump Administration to ensure unaccompanied children in the immigration system receive legal representation. In February, Bennet and 20 Senate colleagues introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would reinstate DHS’s long-standing policies to prevent ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

In addition to Bennet and Murray, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) signed the letter.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Noem:

We write to share our alarm over the completely unacceptable treatment of U.S.-born citizens of federally recognized Tribes, who have been stopped and questioned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on suspicion of being undocumented. In February, several Senators wrote to you following reports of ICE agents improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens. In June, you replied with a letter in which you failed to respond to the majority of the questions raised in the letter. Over the past month, we have heard additional alarming reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason aside from their physical appearance. The disrespect and harassment of U.S.-born Tribal citizens by ICE is outrageous and inexcusable, and we request that you take immediate steps to put an end to it.

In one recent incident, several Tribal citizens were stopped by ICE agents at a bus stop in Redmond, Washington. These agents reportedly questioned the validity of their Tribal ID, with agents allegedly telling one Tribal citizen that her Tribal ID was “fake” and that “anyone can make that.” ICE agents also reportedly refused an offer to contact her Tribal government to verify these individuals’ enrollment and identification documents.

In our February letter, you were asked to supply information about the training offered to ICE agents about different forms of valid identification and documentation of United States citizenship for enrolled members of federally recognized Tribes. In response, you wrote, “The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Academy does not train ERO officers to require any specific document to prove U.S. citizenship.” The experience of these Tribal citizens in Washington suggests that this is false: ICE agents are demanding certain documents to prove citizenship and are unaware of different forms of Tribal ID.

You have an obligation to uphold the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribes and to treat Tribal citizens with respect—this is not optional. In light of recent incidents, we urge you to develop policy and trainings to ensure that all ICE agents are trained to recognize Tribal IDs, regardless of whether they are working on Tribal lands. Additionally, we request that you answer the following questions:

What steps, if any, has your Department taken to develop new or change existing policies regarding its interactions with Tribal citizens and governments this year?

Please provide a detailed description of how agents are trained to respond when presented with a Tribally-issued identification card or document.

Does the Department require additional resources to develop training and policies for ICE agents to recognize identification documents issued by Tribal governments?

Please provide a detailed description of how the Department is working with its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to review and investigate any allegations of civil rights and civil liberties violations as it pertains to ICE’s treatment of United States-born citizens of federally recognized Tribes.

In both your June letter and in the Department’s public response to the Redmond incident, your Department has denied that it racially profiles Tribal members. How do explain the pattern of ICE agents stopping and detaining Tribal citizens under the current Administration?

We appreciate your attention to this request and ask that you respond to these questions no later than January 11, 2026.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/15/jewish-senate-democrats-statement-on-deadly-attack-against-sydney-hanukkah-celebration/,Jewish Senate Democrats’ Statement on Deadly Attack Against Sydney Hanukkah Celebration,2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), alongside Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), issued the following statement after the murder of 15 people at a menorah lighting in Sydney, Australia celebrating the first night of Hanukkah:

“The Festival of Lights commemorates and celebrates the resilience of the Jewish people, our identity and heritage. As we moved into the first night of Hanukkah, that tenacity was tested once again as we mourn those murdered in Sydney during a menorah lighting. Our prayers go out to the Jewish community in Australia, whom we embrace in their terrible hour of suffering.

“We are horrified by the brutality of this attack, which comes at a time when Australia has seen a terrible rise in antisemitism. The disturbing wave of antisemitism around the globe has struck anxiety and fear into the hearts of every Jewish community. Some have faced harassment, vandalism, and discrimination. Others, violence as brutal as what we saw yesterday in Sydney.

“This attack is the latest reminder of the work that remains to end the scourge of hatred towards Jews. To combat this disease of antisemitism, we must summon the strength to take action against this ancient hatred, and the courage to press on in the face of such violence against Jewish people at home and abroad.

“We must speak out against all discrimination, from heinous acts like today to the normalization of antisemitic rhetoric, and the attempts to blur the line between political disagreement and antisemitic hate. And we give thanks to the bravery of people like Ahmed al Ahmed, a fruit shop owner, who risked his own life on Bondi Beach to stop others from losing theirs.

“May the memory of those we lost be a blessing, and may courage flow through the hearts of every Jewish family that lit their first candle last night and over the next seven nights.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-democratic-colleagues-demand-answers-from-trump-admin-and-drug-companies-as-health-care-costs-skyrocket/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Democratic Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Admin and Drug Companies as Health Care Costs Skyrocket",2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Letter comes as 15 million Americans – and 241,000 Coloradans – brace to lose health care under cuts in Trump’s tax and spending bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet recently joined six of their Democratic Senate colleagues to demand four major pharmaceutical companies provide specific details about agreements they announced with President Trump to lower drug costs as millions of Americans see the cost of health care skyrocket.

On September 30, the Trump administration announced new agreements with drug manufacturers to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Now, as millions of Americans brace for their health care premiums to double, the Trump administration and drug manufacturers have provided few details about how and when Americans will see lower drug costs.

“The deep Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1 have put states in the impossible position of trying to figure out how to keep our Medicaid programs afloat and ensure continued patient access across the health care system writ large,” the senators wrote.

“Critical details about the GENEROUS model also remain unclear, including whether manufacturers can seek exemptions for the drugs where this model could potentially have the greatest impact. It is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about what pricing manufacturers will have to offer states under the model and on which drugs,” they continued.

The letters, sent to Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Eli Lilly ask for specific pricing information on which drugs will be affected by the announcements, what the “most favored nation” price is for those drugs, and what state Medicaid programs will pay in the wake of these announcements.

Hickenlooper and Bennet have been vocal opponents of the Trump administration’s massive cuts to health care. Earlier this year, Republicans passed President Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act which slashes over $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Last week, Senate Democrats put forward a proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits for three years to save more than 24 million Americans from paying double for their health costs or losing their insurance entirely. In total, Republican cuts are expected to force 15 million Americans off their health insurance.

Last month, Hickenlooper and Bennet voted NO on the Republicans’ government funding bill after Trump and MAGA Republicans shut down the federal government instead of addressing the health care crisis they created.

Full text of the letter to Pfizer is available HERE and below. Click HERE for the letter to AstraZeneca, HERE for the letter to Novo Nordisk, and HERE for the letter to Eli Lilly.

Dear Dr. Bourla:

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the Republican reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) into law. That bill included nearly $900 billion in cuts to the Medicaid program, which will create disastrous consequences for state budgets, and, in turn, access to health care services for Americans all across the country. States have few options when it comes to filling the hole left by massive federal cuts – all of which lead to less access for patients. States can either cut provider rates, cut services, or cut eligibility for Medicaid – each of these options will make Americans sicker, force hospitals to close and cut services, and increase health care costs for all.

The deep Medicaid cuts in H.R. 1 have put states in the impossible position of trying to figure out how to keep our Medicaid programs afloat and ensure continued patient access across the health care system writ large. With that in mind, we write today to seek more information from Pfizer about which drugs are subject to the Medicaid components of your agreement with the Trump administration and whether the prices you will make available on these drugs are actually lower than the net pricing states currently receive on the same products in Medicaid.

On September 30, 2025, you held a press conference with President Trump announcing that Pfizer would offer “most-favored nation” pricing on certain prescription drugs in Medicaid. It is clear that Pfizer stands to gain a lot from this agreement, including relief from tariffs and potential priority review of new drug applications at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Trump administration is also pressuring other countries, such as the U.K., to pay higher prices for drugs, which will further increase revenues for industry, even though it is unclear whether industry will be expected to proportionally lower pricing in the U.S.

It is difficult to discern, however, what patients in Medicaid and taxpayers stand to gain from your agreement with the Trump administration. On November 6, 2025, CMS announced the Generating Cost Reductions for U.S. Medicaid Model (GENEROUS) model and released a corresponding request for applications from manufacturers. The GENEROUS model is a voluntary demonstration program under which CMS will negotiate supplemental rebates and coverage terms on prescription drugs with participating manufacturers. The Trump administration claims that these rebates will bring Medicaid drug costs closer to international pricing on covered outpatient drugs for states that choose to participate in the model. Presumably, manufacturers like Pfizer that have announced agreements with the Trump administration will be able to effectuate the Medicaid components of those agreements through the GENEROUS model.

States won’t benefit if GENEROUS model prices are essentially the same as current Medicaid net prices or higher. Medicaid already pays the lowest drug prices in the U.S., often in line with the prices paid in other wealthy countries. For example, a 2021 analysis by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that the average net price of top-selling brand drugs in Medicaid was $118, relative to an average price of $343 in Medicare Part D.1Critical details about the GENEROUS model also remain unclear, including whether manufacturers can seek exemptions for the drugs where this model could potentially have the greatest impact. Furthermore, the RFA explicitly states that terms under CMS agreements with manufacturers can differ from the terms CMS just publicly released about the model. Thus, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions about what pricing manufacturers will have to offer states under the model and on which drugs.

Attached to this letter, you will find a table listing brand drugs currently marketed by Pfizer and a list of Pfizer subsidiary and affiliate companies. We ask that Pfizer promptly respond by populating those tables and providing the following information:

1. Does Pfizer plan to effectuate the Medicaid components of its drug pricing agreement with the Trump administration through the GENEROUS model? If not, please explain how Pfizer will effectuate its Medicaid drug pricing agreement with the Trump administration.

2. During which calendar years does Pfizer plan to either participate in the GENEROUS model or otherwise offer agreed upon pricing to state Medicaid programs pursuant to your agreement with the Trump administration?

3. Please populate Table 1 by:

a. Identifying which drugs in your current book of business are subject to the Medicaid part of your agreement with the Trump administration and/or will be included in the GENEROUS model;

b. Providing the second lowest country specific average net price on each drug identified above over the last 12 months from the following countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Denmark, and Switzerland;

c. Providing the net price available to state Medicaid programs under your agreement with the Trump administration and/or the GENEROUS model for each such drug identified above;

d. Confirming whether the price listed above is lower than the lowest net price Pfizer currently offers to any state Medicaid program for such drug (including both statutorily required rebates under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and any supplemental rebates).

4. Please populate Table 2 by:

a. Listing all drugs marketed in the United States under labels of Pfizer subsidiary or affiliate companies;

b. Identifying which drugs among those listed above are subject to the Medicaid part of your agreement with the Trump administration and/or will be included in the GENEROUS model;

c. Providing the second lowest country specific average net price on each drug identified above over the last 12 months from the following countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Denmark, and Switzerland;

d. Providing the net price available to state Medicaid programs under your agreement with the Trump administration and/or the GENEROUS model for each such drug identified above; and

e. Confirming whether the price listed above is lower than the lowest net price Pfizer currently offers to any state Medicaid program for such drug (including both statutorily required rebates under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and any supplemental rebates).

5. If Pfizer is effectuating the Medicaid components of your agreement with the Trump administration through a method other than the GENEROUS model:

a. Please explain how state Medicaid programs would receive any additional discounts or rebates on the relevant drugs.

b. In order to access any additional discounts on Pfizer drugs under the agreement, would state Medicaid programs need to agree to any conditions related to coverage, formulary placement, or utilization management for such drugs? If yes, would states have to opt into the agreement with respect to the entire bundle of drugs subject to the arrangement? Or could states make separate decisions with respect to each individual drug?

c. How would any additional discounts or rebates relate to the statutorily required rebates under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program or supplemental rebates obtained by state Medicaid programs?

States need timely access to this information in order to make urgent state budgetary decisions due to the loss of Medicaid funding, including during special sessions and in preparation of budgets for the upcoming state fiscal year, and prioritize preserving patient access to health care. Therefore, we ask that you provide this information no later than January 30, 2026.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-cornyn-cheer-senate-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-satellite-data-sharing/,"Hickenlooper, Cornyn Cheer Senate Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Expand Satellite Data Sharing",2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Legislation would ensure partnerships between NASA and the private sector to boost satellite-enabled research

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and John Cornyn applauded the unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries (ASCEND) Act, which would codify NASA’s Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program and continue shared access to commercial small-satellite (SmallSat) datasets that prove crucial for Earth science research and applications. The bill passed the Senate last week and now heads to the House of Representatives.

“Scientists rely on satellite data to understand Earth and beyond. We’re one step closer to signing our ASCEND Act into law to strengthen our private-sector partnerships for satellite data and drive new discoveries,” said Hickenlooper.

“Investing in satellite data and imagery gives us a deeper understanding of everything from agricultural yields to weather forecasting and disaster response,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would create a permanent program through NASA to expand the data pool available to us and build on prior success.”

Alongside the unprecedented growth of the commercial space industry, technological advancements have enabled the development of SmallSats with novel capabilities. Commercial SmallSats provide high-resolution data to complement the suite of Earth observations acquired by NASA, other U.S. Government agencies, and international partners. Earth observation data supplied by satellites in orbit provide important information for a variety of purposes, including increasing agricultural crop yields, informing forest conservation, improving disaster mitigation and response, forecasting space weather, advancing science, and more.

NASA established CSDA as a pilot program in 2017 to identify and evaluate commercial capabilities, establish new processes to onramp vendors, and enable broad sharing and use of acquired data products. The CSDA pilot program proved to be a success, with participating scientists finding the program’s datasets to be useful and reliable for a variety of research topics. Today, fifteen commercial vendors are providing 7 unique data types to federal researchers through CSDA.

The ASCEND Act would permanently authorize CSDA within NASA to sustain and expand the program and continue to leverage the advancing capabilities in remote sensing offered by commercial vendors.

Specifically, this legislation will:

Establish CSDA as a permanent program within NASA’s Earth Science Division

Direct NASA to expand procurement licenses and provide federal agencies access to high-quality Earth remote sensing datasets and imagery

Promote the acquisition of new datasets for scientific and non-scientific applications

Require an annual report to Congress on the uses and impact of commercial data products and licensing agreements

A one-pager on the bill is available HERE. The full text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/12/bennet-leads-colorado-democrats-in-demanding-dhs-implement-the-law-to-protect-religious-communities/,Bennet Leads Colorado Democrats in Demanding DHS Implement the Law to Protect Religious Communities,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,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 his Colorado Democratic colleagues – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Diana DeGette, Brittany Pettersen, and Jason Crow – on a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urging the DHS to protect religious communities in Colorado and across the country by implementing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act, legislation passed through the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill made necessary improvements to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which organizations use to deploy physical security enhancements and emergency preparedness capabilities. These improvements include expanding the eligible uses of grant funding and reauthorizing the NSGP at higher funding levels.

“The NSGP provides at-risk nonprofit organizations – like places of worship, schools, and community centers – with critical resources to bolster protections amid heightened risk of attack. The NSGP Improvement Act provided necessary funding and strengthened FEMA’s ability to administer the program, directing FEMA to establish an office dedicated to overseeing the NSGP. That office would be responsible for publishing important information about grant applications, conducting outreach, and providing technical assistance to states and nonprofit organizations. To date, neither FEMA nor DHS has released information on the creation of this office,” wrote the lawmakers.

Additionally, the letter urges DHS to allow organizations to use NSGP funds to pay permanent salaried employees or personnel expenses. The lawmakers emphasized that without this flexibility, nonprofits are forced to rely on security contractors who are unreliable and often hard to procure.

“In light of the recent surge in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and other violent hate-based incidents in the United States, the importance of this program cannot be overstated. We urge DHS and FEMA to do more to ensure NSGP allows nonprofits and religious organizations to better protect the people they serve,” concluded the lawmakers.

Bennet has long fought for greater funding for the NSGP. Earlier this year, he and Hickenlooper wrote to Senate leadership advocating for $500 million for the program in Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills. Bennet also led the effort to pass the April 2024 national security supplemental, which included $400 million for the NGSP.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Noem,

We write to express our concern regarding the implementation of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022, which was included in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. This legislation made crucial improvements to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), such as expanding eligible uses of grant funding and reauthorizing the program at higher funding levels. We are concerned that the federal government has not implemented this legislation to its full congressional intent. Accordingly, we strongly urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take immediate steps to ensure the program is implemented effectively, particularly given the disturbing increase in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and other hateful attacks across the country.

The NSGP provides at-risk nonprofit organizations – like places of worship, schools, and community centers – with critical resources to bolster protections amid heightened risk of attack. The NSGP Improvement Act provided necessary funding and strengthened FEMA’s ability to administer the program, directing FEMA to establish an office dedicated to overseeing the NSGP. That office would be responsible for publishing important information about grant applications, conducting outreach, and providing technical assistance to states and nonprofit organizations. To date, neither FEMA nor DHS has released information on the creation of this office. We request that you confirm whether FEMA has established this office, and if so, to what extent it is appropriately staffed to carry out the duties outlined in the NSGP Improvement Act.

The NSGP Improvement Act also directed FEMA to publish grant guidelines and ensure that State Administrative Agencies (SAAs), the entities responsible for vetting and submitting applications to FEMA, do not close their application processes before the guidelines are published. We are concerned about the lack of standardization of application details or deadlines for SAAs. Implementing a standard deadline for all SAAs and a set list of required documents would make the process significantly more efficient and less confusing for the organizations applying. In addition, we believe there should be increased transparency between FEMA and SAAs. FEMA should provide uniform guidance and feedback regarding both successful and unsuccessful applications. This increased communication would allow unsuccessful organizations to improve their applications.

The legislation also expanded the eligible uses of grant funds to include payments to contracted security personnel and administrative expenses. While this has been helpful, at present, organizations cannot use funds from this program for permanent salaried employees or personnel expenses. This means that non-profits are reliant on contracting outside security vendors, which can be unpredictable and hard to hire when needed. We request that DHS and FEMA take steps to allow organizations to use NSGP grants to pay permanent security guards and other critical personnel.

In light of the recent surge in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and other violent hate-based incidents in the United States, the importance of this program cannot be overstated. We urge DHS and FEMA to do more to ensure NSGP allows nonprofits and religious organizations to better protect the people they serve.

All Americans deserve to visit their places of worship, schools, and community centers freely and without fear.

We look forward to your response and stand ready to work with you.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-degette-neguse-crow-pettersen-demand-dhs-protect-religious-communities/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, DeGette, Neguse, Crow, Pettersen Demand DHS Protect Religious Communities",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,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 and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen on a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem urging the DHS to protect religious communities in Colorado and across the country by implementing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act, legislation passed through the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill made necessary improvements to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which organizations use to deploy physical security enhancements and emergency preparedness capabilities. These improvements include expanding the eligible uses of grant funding and reauthorizing the NSGP at higher funding levels.

“The NSGP provides at-risk nonprofit organizations – like places of worship, schools, and community centers – with critical resources to bolster protections amid heightened risk of attack. The NSGP Improvement Act provided necessary funding and strengthened FEMA’s ability to administer the program, directing FEMA to establish an office dedicated to overseeing the NSGP. That office would be responsible for publishing important information about grant applications, conducting outreach, and providing technical assistance to states and nonprofit organizations. To date, neither FEMA nor DHS has released information on the creation of this office,” wrote the lawmakers.

Additionally, the letter urges DHS to allow organizations to use NSGP funds to pay permanent salaried employees or personnel expenses. The lawmakers emphasized that without this flexibility, nonprofits are forced to rely on security contractors who are unreliable and often hard to procure.

“In light of the recent surge in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and other violent hate-based incidents in the United States, the importance of this program cannot be overstated. We urge DHS and FEMA to do more to ensure NSGP allows nonprofits and religious organizations to better protect the people they serve,” concluded the lawmakers.

Earlier this year, Hickenlooper and Bennet wrote to Senate leadership advocating for $500 million for the program in Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Noem,

We write to express our concern regarding the implementation of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022, which was included in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. This legislation made crucial improvements to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), such as expanding eligible uses of grant funding and reauthorizing the program at higher funding levels. We are concerned that the federal government has not implemented this legislation to its full congressional intent. Accordingly, we strongly urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take immediate steps to ensure the program is implemented effectively, particularly given the disturbing increase in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and other hateful attacks across the country.

The NSGP provides at-risk nonprofit organizations – like places of worship, schools, and community centers – with critical resources to bolster protections amid heightened risk of attack. The NSGP Improvement Act provided necessary funding and strengthened FEMA’s ability to administer the program, directing FEMA to establish an office dedicated to overseeing the NSGP. That office would be responsible for publishing important information about grant applications, conducting outreach, and providing technical assistance to states and nonprofit organizations. To date, neither FEMA nor DHS has released information on the creation of this office. We request that you confirm whether FEMA has established this office, and if so, to what extent it is appropriately staffed to carry out the duties outlined in the NSGP Improvement Act.

The NSGP Improvement Act also directed FEMA to publish grant guidelines and ensure that State Administrative Agencies (SAAs), the entities responsible for vetting and submitting applications to FEMA, do not close their application processes before the guidelines are published. We are concerned about the lack of standardization of application details or deadlines for SAAs. Implementing a standard deadline for all SAAs and a set list of required documents would make the process significantly more efficient and less confusing for the organizations applying. In addition, we believe there should be increased transparency between FEMA and SAAs. FEMA should provide uniform guidance and feedback regarding both successful and unsuccessful applications. This increased communication would allow unsuccessful organizations to improve their applications.

The legislation also expanded the eligible uses of grant funds to include payments to contracted security personnel and administrative expenses. While this has been helpful, at present, organizations cannot use funds from this program for permanent salaried employees or personnel expenses. This means that non-profits are reliant on contracting outside security vendors, which can be unpredictable and hard to hire when needed. We request that DHS and FEMA take steps to allow organizations to use NSGP grants to pay permanent security guards and other critical personnel.

In light of the recent surge in anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and other violent hate-based incidents in the United States, the importance of this program cannot be overstated. We urge DHS and FEMA to do more to ensure NSGP allows nonprofits and religious organizations to better protect the people they serve.

All Americans deserve to visit their places of worship, schools, and community centers freely and without fear.

We look forward to your response and stand ready to work with you.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-shaheen-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-restore-u-s-support-for-un-reproductive-health-agency/,"Hickenlooper, Shaheen, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Restore U.S. Support for UN Reproductive Health Agency",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,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, Jeanne Shaheen, along with 15 of their Senate colleagues introduced the Support UNFPA Funding Act to resume U.S. contributions to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN agency that provides access to family planning, supports the prevention of maternal death, and responds to gender-based violence.

“The Trump admin’s reckless decision to cut funding for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) jeopardized life-saving care for women around the world,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill reaffirms the United States’ commitment to providing support that helps global communities become safer, stronger, and more secure—and in turn, helps keep Americans safe.”

“U.S. investment in UNFPA saves lives, advances women’s rights and directly supports global stability and security,” said Shaheen. “When the United States abruptly halted funding, clinics closed, women lost access to basic health care and preventable maternal deaths increased, particularly in conflict zones and humanitarian emergencies. This bill restores a common-sense, bipartisan approach: supporting voluntary, rights-based family planning and maternal health while ensuring full compliance with U.S. law. Undermining proven programs like UNFPA weakens our global leadership and creates unnecessary instability that ultimately affects Americans too.”

This year, the Trump administration halted U.S. funding for UNFPA, forcing the closure of health centers, cutting off lifesaving maternal and reproductive health care, and leaving millions of women and girls in danger. UNFPA operates in more than 150 countries and is the only U.N. agency mandated to provide reproductive and maternal health care in humanitarian crises. UNFPA ensures women and families can access voluntary family planning, safe childbirth services and protection from gender-based violence.

Specifically, the Support UNFPA Funding Act would recognize the important work of UNFPA; establish as U.S. policy that financial support for UNFPA aligns with U.S. interest; and send $74 million to UNFPA’s core programs over the next two years.

“Everyone deserves access to quality health care, no matter who they are or where they live,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Full stop. Yet ever since President Trump took office, he and his administration have attacked foreign aid programs, including funding for UNFPA, endangering the health and safety of millions of people across the globe. We thank Sen. Shaheen for introducing this legislation to support UNFPA and its critical work on reproductive and maternal health care around the world.”

“The Support UNFPA Funding Act is a vital step to restoring US funding for a UN agency that provides lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services to millions worldwide,” said Kelly Baden, Vice President for Public Policy, Guttmacher Institute. “UNFPA’s work prevents maternal deaths, expands access to contraception, and combats gender-based violence, including child marriage and female genital mutilation. In humanitarian crises, UNFPA’s work is particularly essential to ensure women and families receive critical health care and supplies. The Trump Administration’s defunding of UNFPA and almost all family planning aid endangers lives, particularly those of women and girls. Congress must counter these devastating moves by strengthening support for UNFPA. We thank Senator Shaheen for her leadership in championing this critical legislation.”

“Thousands of Americans across all 50 states, including New Hampshire, where Sen. Shaheen serves, have voiced their support for UNFPA’s lifesaving work,” said Anu Surendran, CEO, USA for UNFPA. “Their voices reflect our values, compassion, and unwavering commitment to ensuring that millions of women and girls receive the care they need and deserve.”

Full text of this bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-celebrates-expansion-of-aurora-s-martin-luther-king-jr-library,Crow Celebrates Expansion of Aurora’s Martin Luther King Jr. Library,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"AURORA — Today, Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) joined city officials and library leaders to celebrate the expansion of Martin Luther King Jr. Library, a project made possible thanks to federal resources secured by Crow.

The renovation, which fully doubles the library’s available space, was made possible through a $2.5 million investment secured by Congressman Crow. With this renovation, Martin Luther King Jr. Library is able to build out its physical footprint, adopt new technology, and expand youth programming, continuing to connect the Aurora community with public space and critical resources like computers and employment support.

“By bringing home federal investments for Colorado, we’re expanding opportunities for our community. This investment isn’t just about a building—it’s about ensuring every family in Aurora has public spaces to learn, stay connected, and access the critical resources they deserve,” said Congressman Crow.

“This expansion will revitalize the way the community can access free resources,” said Ginger White Brunetti, Director of Library and Cultural Services at Aurora Public Library. “The space is vibrant and encourages learning and creativity while providing a welcoming space for everyone. I’m excited to see what the community can create here and am grateful to Congressman Crow for fighting to make it happen.”

Throughout his time in Congress, Congressman Crow has fought to connect Coloradans with critical community resources. This year alone, he has successfully helped local residents reclaim more than $30 million from the federal government. Since his first term, Congressman Crow has brought more than $643 million back to his community.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-gabe-evans-bill-combating-colorados-skyrocketing-energy-costs,Congressman Gabe Evans’ Bill Combating Colorado’s Skyrocketing Energy Costs Passes the House,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Gabe Evans,E000300,gabeevans.house.gov,gabeevans,https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Gabe Evans’ (R-CO) State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act, H.R. 3628 passed the U.S. House in a bipartisan vote. The legislation will ensure states take long-term energy reliability and affordability into account when designing utility policies — helping drive down the soaring electricity costs burdening families across Colorado and the nation.

“For years Colorado’s ruling Democrats have pushed out-of-touch policies and burdensome regulations that have led to skyrocketing energy bills and increased financial strain, resulting in further mental and physical stress on hard-working families across the state. This legislation puts Coloradans first by holding state regulatory entities like Colorado Public Utilities Commission accountable by new federal standards, to ensure they are focused on considering energy reliability and affordability. I’m proud to lead the charge on legislation that lowers costs, uplifts working-class Americans, and strengthens our nation's energy dominance.” — Congressman Gabe Evans

Under H.R. 3628, states must evaluate whether their integrated resource plans maintain sufficient reliable generation or the procurement of electricity from reliable generation facilities, defined as facilities capable of supplying electricity continuously for at least 30 days, including during severe weather, and capable of providing essential grid services such as frequency and voltage support.

Background

Representative Evans has continually criticized Colorado Democrats’ state-level policy decisions that have accelerated the dismantling of dependable resources and energy freedoms, and forced ratepayers to pay higher costs while concurrently creating significant reliability risks.

In recent years, Colorado utilities have reported capacity shortfalls, and businesses across the state have reported frequent outages that disrupt operations, including advanced technology companies requiring constant power to compete in fields like quantum computing and AI.

Since 2021, electric bills have surged a staggering 24% in Colorado. As reported by national polling, 62% of Americans say their power bills have risen in the last year, while 73% fear further increases. According to U.S. Census data, roughly 80 million Americans struggle to pay their utility bills.

Congressman Evans’ legislation takes direct aim at these rising costs by requiring states to consider whether their energy policies maintain enough reliable power to meet demand over a ten-year period, keeping the lights on and protecting ratepayers.

The legislation passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee in a 25–23 vote before advancing to the House floor where it passed with bipartisan support. It now awaits consideration in the Senate.

The State Planning for Reliability and Affordability Act has been endorsed by the Western Energy Alliance and the Competitive Enterprise Institute;

""The StatePlanningfor Reliability and Affordability Act, H.R. 3628, is a commonsense measure to support power grid reliability. To maintain an affordable and predictable provision of power, the bill would require that utilities must consider reliability in their integrated resource planning. Specifically, the legislation would require that utilities’ look to reliable generation facilities, those that are capable of providing power on a continuous basis for 30 days, among other requirements. This is an important step in ensuring states are planning their power grids in a way that provides for reliability."" - Competitive Enterprise Institute Research Fellow Paige Lambermont",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-evans-grays-bipartisan-fire-act-passes-through-ecs-environment,"Reps. Evans’, Gray’s bipartisan FIRE Act passes through E&C’s Environment Subcommittee.",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Gabe Evans,E000300,gabeevans.house.gov,gabeevans,https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, Reps Gabe Evans’ (CO-08) and Adam Gray’s (CA-13) bipartisan Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act, H.R. 6387 passed through the Energy and Commerce, Environment subcommittee. The newly introduced legislation will ensure that states are not punished for the smoke and emissions they cannot control, while still maintaining strong environmental protections.

The bill works to provide clarity and predictability for air quality planning, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on manufacturers and communities, and reward proactive wildfire mitigation that protects public health and improves air quality for future generations.

“A leading reason for the affordability crisis facing Coloradans is red tape around air quality permitting. When the economy is strangled under the weight of costly, poorly designed ozone attainment standards, jobs are lost, prices spike, and financial stress increases negative health outcomes. Clean air is important to everyone, but Colorado jobs should not be penalized for emissions outside of their control — whether it's Canadian wildfires or Chinese pollution.

My bill, the FIRE Act, is a common-sense solution that will drive down costs for working families in Colorado by clarifying that Clean Air Act benchmarks should not be used to punish jobs and hamstring the economy for things like prescribed burns or out-of-state wildfire smoke.” — Congressman Gabe Evans

Background:

For years, areas along the Front Range of Colorado have consistently struggled to meet ozone attainment levels set by the federal Clean Air Act.

The resulting red tape around air quality permitting and the regulations that Colorado’s ruling Democrats slap onto the industry, the economy and consumers, are a leading cause of the affordability crisis that working families in Colorado District 8 are facing. When the economy is strangled under the weight of costly and poorly designed ozone attainment standards, jobs are lost, prices spike, and financial stress increases negative mental and physical health outcomes.

When families and jobs are penalized for emissions outside of their control, it leads to unemployment, higher costs which both fail to promote healthy living standards and instead promotes poverty.

Regulation under the Clean Air Act has resulted in Colorado imposing reformulated gasoline mandates on drivers. In the summertime, commuters across the state are forced to buy reformulated gas that's typically 40 cents more expensive per gallon, despite the so-called “mitigation effort” producing negligible results — less than 1 part-per-billion in actually reducing ozone levels.

In fact, the Democrat appointed chair of the Denver regional air quality council admitted that we could, “ban oil and gas in Colorado and still not meet summertime ozone standards.”

In Colorado only 29% of the ozone and air pollution along the Front Range is human caused. The other 71% percent of the air pollution is from sources like wildfires, pollution from communist China, and naturally occurring atmospheric events.

The FIRE Act has received widespread support from stakeholder organizations;

“We appreciate the efforts and leadership of Congressman Evans to propose this legislation. We all support clean air, but we need to modernize air quality regulations that do nothing more than to add burden to businesses, add cost and do not result in environmental improvements. Thank you, Congressman Gabe Evans!!” — Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association

“Colorado has long failed to meet the federal air quality standards, with an approach that is costly to consumers, over-regulates businesses of all sizes, and fails to target a primary source of the problem: emissions from wildfires and out-of-state emissions transport. Due to costly and burdensome state air quality regulations, Colorado businesses face significantly higher operating costs than out-of-state competitors, increasing costs for everyone. The FIRE Act is a reasonable approach that will lower costs for Coloradans by clarifying how emissions from wildfires, prescribed burns, and other exceptional events are considered in federal air quality standards. We need more tools to manage air quality, not bureaucratic obstacles.” — Colorado Petroleum Association

“Colorado fuel marketers and station owners as well as our customers hope that Colorado pays attention to this much needed and important effort to reduce costs on the Colorado economy and working families. For too long Colorado families have taken more out of limited family budgets, to throw money endlessly to solve an ozone problem the majority of which is out of our control and a lot of which is simply naturally occurring and would be here even if no people lived in Colorado.. Expensive and unnecessary mandates like Reformulated Gasoline, which even our Governor tried his best to oppose, are the result of inaction for years by people and groups who use this archaic law as a way to justify and enhance the economic pain families are feeling. Congressman Evans just provided hope with this legislation, and it can and should avoid further cost increases, in this policy area, on Colorado families. We hope this takes away the need for costly mandates like the proposed indirect source rule proposal which will increase the cost of groceries. Colorado businesses are facing 10's of millions of dollars right now in increases all of which get passed down like an avalanche bury Colorado families. Air quality will continue to improve without further cost burdens. This is simply transformative.” — Colorado Wyoming Petroleum Marketers Association

“Manufacturers support Clean Air Act reforms as part of critically needed comprehensive permitting reform. CAMA appreciates your actions to address the mounting permitting challenges facing Colorado manufacturers under increasingly stringent air quality standards. Unless addressed, these challenges will essentially block permitting approvals for projects critical to economic growth, manufacturing infrastructure, and jobs. Your efforts will foster our industry’s ongoing efforts to improve air quality while preventing unnecessary burdens that reduce economic growth and tax revenues vital to local communities.” — Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Association

“Club 20 supports the FIRE Act as a practical solution that protects rural communities from being unfairly penalized for wildfire smoke, while encouraging proactive forest management. This bill helps safeguard Western Colorado's economy, regulatory certainty, and commonsense wildfire mitigation efforts.” - Club 20

“Western Governors thank Representatives Evans and Gray for their bipartisan legislation that removes regulatory barriers to wildfire risk reduction. In recent years, Western Governors have developed and advocated for a range of policy recommendations to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration via broader deployment of prescribed fire. The Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act streamlines the exceptional events process, minimizing its regulatory burden and promoting the safe use of prescribed fire. Western Governors are eager to continue to work with the Energy and Commerce Committee to support important forest management reforms such as the FIRE Act."" — Jack Waldorf, Executive Director of Western Governors Association.

“Congress needs to take action to ensure that, codified within the CAA, states are not unfairly penalized for prescribed burns. Disincentivizing their use can undermine forest management. And ironically, penalizing the use of prescribed burns can hurt air quality, which undermines the purpose of the CAA.” — Daren Bakst, Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Director of the Center for Energy and Environment

“The below legislation, introduced in this Congress … will balance the need to continue improving air quality while fostering economic growth and innovation.” — The American Cement Association

“The Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association wants to thank Representative Gabe Evans for his efforts and fully supports the Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act. This bill will help modernize the Clean Air Act and is a step in the right direction for Colorado.” — Colorado Ready Mix Concrete Association

“The Colorado Oil & Gas Association strongly endorses Congressman Evans’ Fire Improvement and Reforming Exceptional Events (FIRE) Act. This Act will make key updates to Section 319(b) of the Clean Air Act to ensure that states are not penalized in ozone attainment determinations for clearly defined exceptional events like wildfires and prescribed burns. By clarifying how these events and state-approved wildfire mitigation activities are treated in federal air quality reviews, the FIRE Act will provide much-needed clarity to EPA in assessing these events, and in turn, greater regulatory certainty for industries affected by Colorado's ozone nonattainment status in the Front Range. The Colorado Regional Air Quality Council's (RAQC) most recent modeling shows the Front Range's ozone challenge is significantly driven by exceptional events as well as natural sources and international transport of ozone rather than by Colorado businesses. COGA appreciates Congressman Evans’ leadership on this issue and looks forward to working with him as this important legislation advances.” — Lynn Granger, The Colorado Oil and Gas Association

“Across the country, overreaching regulations have slowed projects that could deliver significant benefits to our economy and environment. By modernizing permitting and clarifying regulatory requirements, Congress can unlock private investment, accelerate job creation, and enhance national security. Importantly, these reforms will allow us to build the modern infrastructure needed to compete in the global race for innovation—supporting advancements in artificial intelligence, strengthening transportation networks, expanding affordable and reliable energy, and ensuring America remains a leader in technology and economic growth.” — U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Additional support has been received from:

Colorado Motor Carriers Association

Action Colorado

National Association of Manufacturers",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hurd-and-bipartisan-group-35-house-members-announce-new-health-care,Rep. Hurd and Bipartisan Group of 35 House Members to Announce New Health Care Framework “CommonGround 2025”  Addressing Skyrocketing Health Insurance Premiums for American Families,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Hurd,H001100,hurd.house.gov,hurd,https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Rep. Jeff Hurd and a bipartisan group of 35 total House Members, co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), announced a new health care framework, CommonGround 2025. This bipartisan framework includes a two-year extension of health insurance premium savings for American families, including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, to be voted on by December 18, 2025, in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

The Members backing the framework have also co-signed a letter urging House and Senate leadership to meet with them to discuss the framework and a constructive pathway forward in both chambers.

""I'm proud to be a part of this bipartisan group of lawmakers working towards a real solution on healthcare. It does not matter how red or blue your district is - the cost of healthcare is not a partisian issue,"" said Rep. Hurd. ""I am committed to working with anyone, Republican or Democrat, who wants to find a solution. Our proposal is a common sense extension of the Premium Tax Credits, with income caps while tackling the waste fraud and abuse. I want to thank all of my colleagues for their dedication to this issue, and I'm grateful to stand beside them.""

The framework and letter, co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), are also co-signed by Reps. Jeff Hurd (CO-3), Adam Gray (CA-13), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Darren Soto (FL-9), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-2), Josh Riley (NY-19), Tom Kean (NJ-7), Susie Lee (NV-3), Jared Golden (ME-2), David Valadao (CA-22), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Ryan MacKenzie (PA-7), Ed Case (HI-1), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Robert Bresnahan (PA-8), Greg Landsman (OH-1), Don Bacon (NE-2), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Kevin Kiley (CA-3), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Nick LaLota (NY-1), Don Davis (NC-1), Scott Peters (CA-50), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3), Hillary Scholten (MI-3), and Tom Suozzi (NY-3).

Find the CommonGround 2025 framework here. Find the letter to House and Senate leadership here.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hurd-applauds-settlement-protecting-womens-sports-colorado-schools,Rep. Hurd Applauds Settlement Protecting Women’s Sports in Colorado Schools,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Hurd,H001100,hurd.house.gov,hurd,https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The settlement covers School District 49, Colorado Springs School District 11, Academy School District 20, Education ReEnvisioned BOCES, Monument Academy, James Irwin Charter Schools, Montezuma-Cortez School District, and The Classical Academy. Under the agreement, CHSAA will not sanction any team, school, or competitor for maintaining sex-based standards in athletics and facility use. CHSAA will be dismissed from the case within seven days of the settlement’s finalization.

The lawsuit will continue in federal court against the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and Attorney General Phil Weiser.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguse-signs-discharge-petition-ban-stock-trading-members-congress,Rep. Neguse Signs Discharge Petition to Ban Stock Trading by Members of Congress,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 11, 2025

The Congressman has been a leader on this effort for the last five years. In adding his signature, he becomes first Colorado Democrat to sign Republican-led discharge petition.

Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse issued the following statement after signing onto a discharge petition to bypass House Republican leadership and force a vote on legislation that would ban Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from holding or trading stocks.

“For years, I’ve led the effort to ban stock trading by Members of Congress, and have worked with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to champion legislation on the same. Put simply, public servants should be focused on serving their community — not their stock portfolios. I’ll continue to utilize every tool to get our legislation across the finish line, which is why today I signed onto Rep. Luna’s discharge petition to force a vote on a prohibition on congressional stock trading. It is long past time for the Speaker to put the bill on the House floor, and for the Congress to ban this insidious activity — period."" said Congressman Neguse.

Rep. Neguse is an original cosponsor of the Restore Trust in Congress Act, a consensus bill crafted by the bipartisan group of Members who have been leading voices in the push to ban stock trading in Congress. He added his name to the discharge petition following Speaker Mike Johnson’s reported reversal of support on the issue, in which he now claims barring the practice would discourage people from running for office.

In addition to championing a congressional stock ban, earlier this year, the Colorado Congressman convened a group of next-generation lawmakers in an effort to confront political corruption and clean up government. Neguse’s End Corruption Now agenda includes seven bills designed to put power back in the hands of the American people by preventing the President, Executive Branch officials, and Members of Congress from personally benefiting from their offices.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1512,Rep. Pettersen Statement on Impeachment Vote,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Brittany Pettersen,P000620,pettersen.house.gov,pettersen,https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement after voting against a motion to table a resolution to impeach President Donald Trump, a procedural vote to prevent the House from considering articles of impeachment. The vote came just days after Trump accused several Democratic Members of Congress of “sedition,” a charge that carries the penalty of death under federal law.

“It is unconscionable that the President of the United States called for the execution of my colleagues, including our friend, Congressman Jason Crow. Trump is lawless and unhinged, but even for him, his recent rhetoric is shocking.”

“In the past six months alone, he’s shown a blatant disregard for our Constitution, our laws, and our democracy, and has even deployed the military to American cities against our own citizens. Now, the president is targeting Members of Congress with threats of violence. All because they reminded military members their duty is to serve this country and our constitution – not one individual – and they can refuse illegal orders.”

“The American people are begging their leaders to have the courage to stand up right now. When a president calls for executing elected officials, we must all speak out to defend our country and our freedoms. Trump is unhinged and unwell, and the American people deserve accountability now.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/11/bennet-rosen-colleagues-introduce-resolution-to-overturn-trump-rule-rescinding-automatic-work-permit-renewal/,"Bennet, Rosen, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Overturn Trump Rule Rescinding Automatic Work Permit Renewal",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"Work Permits Allow Immigrants With Legal Status To Work, But Long USCIS Processing Times Are Placing U.S. Employers and Workers At Risk

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and nine Senate colleagues to introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn a recent U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rule that ends automatic extensions of work permits, making it so that previously-vetted immigrants with legal status cannot work while they wait for their work permit renewals to be approved.

“In Colorado and across the country, immigrant workers strengthen our economy and richen our communities,” said Bennet. “This legislation will reverse the Trump Administration’s unfair rule change, ensuring that immigrants who are here legally can continue to work while they wait for their work permits to be renewed.”

“Immigrants who work and contribute to our economy are central to Nevada’s prosperity, and they’re the backbone of the U.S. economy,” said Rosen. “This unfair rule change by the Trump Administration will cause chaos — forcing thousands of immigrants with legal authorization to stop working or be fired by their employer. This will hurt our economy and harm thousands of families, so I’m urging my colleagues to join me in overturning this rule.”

USCIS’s interim final rule, announced on October 30, ended automatic extensions for 18 different categories of immigrants. Due to long USCIS processing wait times, immigrants who submitted work permit renewal applications on time will be left without work authorization while they wait for their application to be processed – sometimes for many months at a time – risking their ability to legally work, through no fault of their own.

Prior to this new rule, if an immigrant who is legally present in the United States filed their work permit renewal request on time, they would automatically receive a work permit extension to ensure they don’t lose their authorization while USCIS processes their renewal. The senators’ resolution would reinstate that commonsense policy.

Bennet has consistently fought to protect due process rights, transparency, and safety in the U.S. immigration system. This month, Bennet and 20 Senate colleagues introduced the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act, legislation to reverse the provisions in Republicans’ so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” that harm children seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries. Last month, Bennet joined 48 bicameral colleagues to introduce the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. In August, Bennet and Senate colleagues introduced the Immigration Enforcement Identification Safety Act to prohibit law enforcement officers from obscuring their faces and require that they clearly display their agency, name, and a unique identifier while conducting immigration enforcement functions. In April, Bennet and U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) led bicameral colleagues in urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to address the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s decision to fire key immigration judges. In March, Bennet urged the Trump Administration to ensure unaccompanied children in the immigration system receive legal representation. In February, Bennet and 20 Senate colleagues introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would reinstate DHS’s long-standing policies to prevent ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations like schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

In addition to Bennet and Rosen, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Angus King (I-Maine), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt) cosponsored the resolution.

The text of the resolution is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/11/bennet-schiff-wyden-demand-answers-from-usfs-on-stalled-hazardous-fuel-reduction-projects/,"Bennet, Schiff, Wyden Demand Answers from USFS on Stalled Hazardous Fuel Reduction Projects",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,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, California U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, and Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz demanding information on the number of hazardous fuels projects that have completed environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but have not yet been implemented – commonly referred to as “shelf stock.”

“Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) work to reduce hazardous fuels across the national forest system in Fiscal Year 2025 was down nearly 40% from its previous four-year average. In a letter to Congress on August 6, 2025, you attributed your constrained “capacity to treat additional acres” in part to “significant resource and personnel” needs elsewhere at the agency. Given these issues, and the Trump administration’s reduction of nearly 5,000 USFS staff, we are concerned that the decline in hazardous fuels projects stems from insufficient staffing needed to implement already-approved projects, including for mechanical thinning and prescribed fire,” wrote the lawmakers.

The lawmakers highlight that the Trump Administration has failed to complete hazardous fuels reduction projects at the same pace and scale as in prior years or at the rate needed in their communities.

“As you know, the best measures to protect lives and property from wildfire is preparedness – reducing fire risks before a conflagration ignites,” concluded the lawmakers.

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

Dear Chief Schultz:

We write to request information regarding the number of hazardous fuels projects that have completed environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), but have not yet been implemented (also known as “shelf stock”).

Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) work to reduce hazardous fuels across the national forest system in Fiscal Year 2025 was down nearly 40% from its previous four-year average. In a letter to Congress on August 6, 2025, you attributed your constrained “capacity to treat additional acres” in part to “significant resource and personnel” needs elsewhere at the agency. Given these issues, and the Trump administration’s reduction of nearly 5,000 USFS staff, we are concerned that the decline in hazardous fuels projects stems from insufficient staffing needed to implement already-approved projects, including for mechanical thinning and prescribed fire.

In order to help us understand why the Trump administration has failed to complete hazardous fuels reduction projects at a pace and scale commensurate with prior years and the clear needs on the ground, we request that you respond to the following inquiries within 30 days:

Please provide a report that lists each hazardous fuels reduction project for which a final environmental document, record of decision, or determination that a categorical exclusion applies has been completed consistent with the applicable forest plan and that has not commenced as of the date of this request.

As part of this report, please provide the approximate number of acres covered by each project;

A breakdown of projects based on unit of the National Forest System; and

An expected timeline for project implementation.

If the USFS does not have a nation-wide tracking method for hazardous fuels shelf stock, please explain why the USFS does not track completion of environmental reviews and timelines for project implementation.

If a nation-wide tracking method does not exist, please provide a shelf stock report for, at a minimum, USFS Region 2 (Rocky Mountain Region), Region 6 (Pacific Northwest Region), and Region 5 (Pacific Southwest Region).

Please explain any barriers to implementing shelf stock projects and factors that are contributing to delays in implementation.

As you know, the best measures to protect lives and property from wildfire is preparedness – reducing fire risks before a conflagration ignites. We look forward to hearing from you about the hazardous fuels projects ready for implementation and how the USFS plans to implement these projects and speed up efforts to reduce wildfire risk.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/11/bennet-statement-on-the-national-defense-authorization-act/,Bennet Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,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 Intelligence Committee, released the following statement after voting to not advance the National Defense Authorization Act:

“Today, I voted no on advancing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Over the last several months, we have witnessed President Trump deploy U.S. troops into American cities, carry out reckless and unauthorized actions in the Caribbean, and embolden our adversaries around the world at our allies’ expense. We have witnessed his Defense Secretary leak classified battle plans and withhold information about the Administration’s strikes in the Caribbean. I have voted for 15 previous NDAAs under Democratic and Republican Presidents, but I could not in good conscience vote to support President Trump’s national security agenda under these circumstances.

“Last week, the President released a National Security Strategy dripping with disdain for our closest allies, allies whose cooperation and trust we need to better compete with China and deal with Russia, Iran, and North Korea. President Trump envisions a diminished America, one that is abandoning its political and moral leadership to the detriment of our security and prosperity in the years to come. The challenges and threats in the world are why the United States continues to need allies, stand for democracy and the rule of law, and lead international cooperation to tackle shared challenges. If we don’t solve those challenges out there in the world, they soon will find us here at home. America’s retreat from our alliances and from international cooperation will hasten the arrival of those threats to our shores.

“The NDAA contains important measures I fought hard to secure, including a pay raise and expanded parental leave for servicemembers, hundreds of millions for Colorado military bases, funding for Ukraine’s defense against Putin’s war, overdue oversight of Secretary Hegseth’s strikes in the Caribbean, and banning American investments in China’s military technologies. I am glad to see those provisions included, but I cannot, in good conscience, rubber-stamp President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s lawless Department of Defense. Our country deserves better, and our Constitution demands it.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/11/bennet-statement-on-vote-to-extend-affordable-care-act-premium-tax-credits/,Bennet Statement on Vote to Extend Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,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 released the following statement following the Senate’s vote on a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits:

“Today, Republicans blocked a chance to prevent a looming health care crisis and extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits before they expire in just three weeks. As a result, 24 million Americans, and hundreds of thousands of Coloradans, could see their premiums double, triple, or even quadruple in 2026. For many, that’s the difference between getting care and going without it. Health care is a right, and it should be universal. But with Trump in the White House and Republicans running the Senate, meaningful action to lower health care costs is nearly impossible. Their proposals do nothing to lower costs and only serve Trump’s agenda of chaos.

“The road ahead will be hard, but we cannot give up. I will never stop fighting to make health care truly affordable, reliably accessible, and a right that every Coloradan can count on.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-fy26-ndaa-vote/,Hickenlooper Statement on FY26 NDAA Vote,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,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 the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) with a 75-22 vote:

“Illegally deploying troops to cities. Deporting service members. Conducting illegal military operations. Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth continue to carry out their disastrous agenda domestically and abroad.” Hickenlooper said. “For the first time, we successfully forced Republicans to agree to hold this administration accountable — all while supporting Colorado defense priorities like NORTHCOM, NORAD, and more.”

The NDAA includes several bipartisan guardrails on the Trump administration’s reckless actions including:

Pressures Hegseth to release unedited videos of strikes in the South Caribbean: Reduces Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until the Department of Defense provides Congress with the unedited video of the illegal and unauthorized strikes against boats in the South Caribbean

Repeals Authorizations of Use of Military Force (AUMFs): Repeals past AUMFs that administrations can use to overstep Congressional authority for military action

Supports the headquarters of United States Northern Command in Colorado Springs: Prevents unauthorized funds from being used to modify or combine missions, responsibilities, or force structure of combatant commands

Reaffirms U.S. commitment to NATO: Places new restrictions on reducing troop levels in Europe without express certification to Congress, in a clear rebuke of the Trump administration’s decision to scale back U.S. military presence in Europe and pull back from our international alliances.

Ukraine Military Assistance: Provides $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine in the face of the Trump administration pulling back support for Ukraine’s battle for democracy

Reaffirms U.S. commitment to historic allies: Upholds U.S.-South Korea defense cooperation and requires that Secretary Hegseth maintain troop levels in South Korea after Trump has threatened to turn away from our historic partner

The legislation also includes numerous funding and policy priorities that are important to our Colorado communities, military installations, and service members including:

Hickenlooper-led amendment to continue operation of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP): After the Department of Defense abruptly cancelled the DMSP, which collects global weather data, Hickenlooper led a bipartisan push to restore the critical program. The NDAA includes Hickenlooper’s amendment that requires Hegseth to continue transmitting DMSP data to scientific researchers nationwide for the duration of the satellite’s lifespan.

Larger Paychecks for Military Personnel: Increases all service members’ pay by 3.8%.

$12 Million for Buckley Space Force Base: Authorizes $12 million to improve 351 of Buckley’s family housing units to update living spaces for service members and their families

More than $22 Million for Cheyenne Mountain: Authorizes $22 million to invest in updated electronics systems at the Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station

$226 Million for NORAD / NORTHCOM: Authorizes more than $226 million for increased missile testing by NORAD and NORTHCOM.

Better Food Quality for Service Members: Modifies the calculation of the basic allowance for food for enlisted servicemembers to improve access to quality food. The legislation also authorizes the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot program to provide coupons to junior enlisted members to purchase food at commissaries. Earlier this year, Hickenlooper called on Hegseth to address the DoD’s underinvestment in quality food options for service members, including at Colorado’s Fort Carson.

Grants U.S. Air Force Cadets a Chance to Compete as Olympic and Professional Athletes: Permits USAFA cadets to seek employment as a professional or Olympic athlete upon graduation while maintaining the requirement that they complete their five year service obligation as an officer or pay back their education.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-statement-on-senate-republicans-vote-against-protecting-millions-of-americans-health-care/,Hickenlooper Statement on Senate Republicans Vote Against Protecting Millions of Americans’ Health Care,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Bill would extend tax credits that help 225,000 Coloradans afford health care

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked the Democratic proposal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits to protect Americans’ health care costs from skyrocketing.

“Once again, Trump and Republicans turned their backs and denied working families affordable health care after THEY created a health care crisis and increased prices with their Big Bad Betrayal Act this summer.

“We won’t stop fighting until every American receives the health care they deserve.”

Senate Democrats proposed a simple extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits for three years without any changes to save more than 24 million Americans from paying double for their health costs or losing their insurance entirely.

Last month, Hickenlooper voted NO on the Republicans’ so-called “continuing resolution” to fund the government after Trump and MAGA Republicans shut down the federal government instead of addressing the health care crisis they created. Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress but still shut down the government for 43 days instead of working with Democrats to lower costs and protect Americans’ health care.

During the shutdown, the White House cut food assistance for needy families, blocked solutions for air travel disruptions, fired federal employees, and let the House of Representatives take a weeks-long paid vacation to avoid the release of the Epstein Files.

Hickenlooper has been outspoken since before the government shutdown that Republicans need to address the health care crisis they created. Premiums for nearly 225,000 Coloradans will at least double next year unless Republicans work with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits.

In July, Congressional Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for huge tax cuts for the richest Americans and largest corporations. An estimated 15 million Americans – and 241,000 Coloradans – will lose their health care because of Republicans’ funding cuts.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passage-rep-hurds-snowpack-bill-marks-step-forward-colorado-forecasting,House Passage of Rep. Hurd’s Snowpack Bill Marks Step Forward for Colorado Forecasting,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Hurd,H001100,hurd.house.gov,hurd,https://hurd.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON - Rep. Hurd secured a major legislative victory with House passage of the Snowpack Water Supply Forecasting Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3857), his second bill to advance through the chamber.

The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, reauthorizes and updates the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program to incorporate modern technologies, including LiDAR and satellite imagery, to improve the accuracy of snowpack and water-supply predictions. In Colorado’s Third District—where agriculture, recreation, and municipal water systems rely heavily on snowpack—accurate forecasting is critical for irrigation planning, drought management, and annual water allocation. The bill supports the use of advanced tools capable of producing three-dimensional models of snowpack conditions, enabling water managers to better anticipate spring runoff and make more informed decisions about water storage and distribution.

“We cannot manage what we cannot measure. Water is life in the West, and accurate data is how we manage it,” said Rep. Hurd. “Families, ranchers, and water managers across CO-03 make critical decisions every day based on snowpack forecasts—decisions that affect their livelihoods and our communities. This bill gives them better tools and more reliable information to plan with. I’m grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this commonsense legislation.”

""Mountain snowpack is a vital source of freshwater that many states across America rely upon. H.R. 3857 will increase the accuracy of snowpack measurements and allow the usage of emerging technologies,"" said House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman. ""I commend Rep. Hurd for his commitment to ensure that America has accurate information on freshwater sources.""

“Today’s passage of the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Reauthorization Act is a crucial step to improve forecasting and available data for snowpack and water supply monitoring,” said Congressman Neguse. “I’m proud to join Rep. Hurd on this bill to ensure that our communities here in Colorado have the data and resources they need to thrive.”

The Snow Water Supply Forecasting Reauthorization Act will now head to the Senate for consideration.

Read the full bill here.

###",1,2026-06-27T21:44:12Z,2026-06-27T22:31:39Z
https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crank-votes-national-defense-authorization-act-pay-raise-our-troops,Rep. Crank Votes for National Defense Authorization Act with Pay Raise for our Troops,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Crank,C001137,crank.house.gov,crank,https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 10, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted to in favor of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The National Defense Authorization Act focuses on reforming our nation's broken acquisition system, revitalize the defense industrial base, and help build the most capable and ready fighting force to deter our adversaries.

""Our military must remain the most lethal in the world,"" said Rep. Crank. ""The National Defense Authorization Act will work to build the fighting force of the future by prioritizing innovation, lethality and readiness. It also ensures we push forth President Trump's Golden Dome for America, advance Peace through Strength, and improve our servicemembers quality of life by increasing pay for our troops.""

Wins Rep. Crank secured in the FY26 NDAA include:

Closing loopholes that allowed the Salt Typhoon attack to occur;

Supporting a tool developed in El Paso County that increases efficiency in DoD supply chains to eliminate waste and deliver cutting edge tools to our soldiers as fast as possible;

Supporting strategic redundancies for protected satellite communications capabilities;

Improving collaboration between the DoD and industry when developing the Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control system;

Supporting the development of Very Low Earth Orbit space systems in Colorado;

Protecting Fort Carson’s 158th General Support Aviation Battalion which supports El Paso County Search and Rescue operations;

Accelerating the certification and construction of SCIF spaces;

Protecting the Air Force Academy from wildfires;

Accelerating the replacement of aging USSF ground infrastructure to maintain readiness;

Directing the Army to expand the number of sites it conducts counter-drone testing;

Advances the development of Golden Dome for America;

Provides a 3.8% pay raise for our men and women in uniform;

Provides needed funding to improve on-base housing;

Supports the development of next generation GPS satellites in Colorado;

Advances hypersonic testing to counter Chinese and Russian capabilities;

Supports missions to prep the Space Force to be able to quickly replace on-orbit assets;

Authorizes more funding for a Colorado Springs based program that increases efficiency in how the DOD acquires space-based data;

Advances research into Arctic Weather Combat Casualty Care that will occur in Colorado;

Addresses the shrinking defense industrial base to protect El Paso County small businesses;

Prohibition on men competing in women’s sports at service academies;

Establishes a pilot program to increase childcare assistance;

Expands parental leave flexibility for servicemembers;

Requires annual inspections of privatized military housing by qualified home inspectors;

Saves Americans $20 billion by cutting wasteful and duplicitous spending;

Fully funds DOW audits and increases oversight.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-house-passage-ndaa,DeGette Statement on House Passage of NDAA,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,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 she voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026:

“I have been saying for months that I would not support additional offensive weapon sales to Israel that could be used against innocent Palestinians.

“That’s why I voted against the NDAA today. This bill contains provisions that force the United States to provide further weapons, including offensive weapons, to Netanyahu as our European allies limit their military support. More weapons are the last thing we need in the region. We need a permanent ceasefire, a massive surge of humanitarian aid, and lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.”",1,2026-03-31T05:33:41Z,2026-03-31T05:34:51Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-neguses-legislation-reauthorize-secure-rural-schools-program-heads,Rep. Neguse’s Legislation to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program Heads to President’s Desk,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, who represents Colorado’s Western Slope, applauded the final passage of his legislative proposal to reauthorize the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, an initiative that provides vital funds to rural and mountain communities that are home to federal lands, which are tax exempt. The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which now heads to the President’s desk for signature, will promptly get this program back up and running — delivering payments to eligible counties, including many located in Northwest Colorado.

House consideration of the bill followed a letter Neguse and colleagues penned last week, calling for Republican leadership to fast-track its consideration.

“The Secure Rural Schools program is a vital lifeline for the communities I serve across Western Colorado, and I’m proud that our efforts to build a bipartisan coalition in support of the program have enabled my legislation to get across the finish line. My top priority is always to deliver for the people I represent, forging common ground to advance the common good for our communities — from Grand County to Eagle County and everywhere in between. That’s why I’m incredibly proud to see my proposal to reauthorize SRS make its way to the President’s desk, continuing this crucial program for rural counties,” said Congressman Joe Neguse.

Neguse previously secured two-year extensions for the SRS program in 2019 and as part of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, but its authorization ultimately lapsed in September 2023.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act passed the Senate earlier this year by unanimous consent. It was co-sponsored by Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper.

“The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act is a lifeline for Colorado counties that steward our public lands and shoulder the responsibilities that come with them. These resources help rural communities keep teachers in classrooms, maintain safe roads, and provide public safety services that counties rely on,” said Senator Michael Bennet.

The SRS program supports investments in local infrastructure, public safety, and public education. For communities in Colorado, this includes funding for wildfire mitigation, search-and-rescue operations and trail and road maintenance. Rural school districts can also use SRS payments to improve school transportation services, ensure high-quality instructional materials, create new extracurricular activities and more.

The following counties in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District received payments from the program: Routt, Summit, Clear Creek, Eagle, Gilpin, Jackson, Grand, Jefferson, Larimer, and Boulder. Below are statements from local representatives celebrating its reauthorization.

“We are grateful to Congressman Neguse for his strong leadership and advocacy in advancing the reauthorization of SRS,” said Sonja Macys, Chair, Routt County Board of County Commissioners. “Routt County distributes 100% of our SRS allocation to our local school districts, recognizing the critical role they play in creating safe, healthy, and inspiring environments where young people can thrive and become engaged citizens. It is a proud moment when Congress comes together in support of rural America.”

“The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization provides essential support for Routt County and for rural school districts like ours. These funds help us maintain critical services, invest in students, and ensure that our schools remain strong and stable despite the challenges of a rural economy. We are grateful for the bipartisan commitment to sustaining the educational and community resources our families depend on,” said Dr. Celine Wicks, Steamboat Springs School District Superintendent.

“Clear Creek School District is deeply grateful for the support provided through SRSA funding. Each year, these resources help us meet the diverse needs of our students, enabling us to invest in curriculum we otherwise could not afford, hire the essential support staff our schools rely on, and enhance professional development for our educators. SRSA funding truly expands what is possible for our students and our community,” said Wesley Paxton, Superintendent of Clear Creek School District.

“I want to thank Congressman Neguse for his leadership and tireless efforts championing the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act. For years, Congressman Neguse and his team have led a bipartisan coalition for this important reauthorization. Larimer County and our rural school districts rely heavily on this program. It directly invests in our students, schools, and essential public safety services. In our region, this program brings critical support for wildfire prevention, search and rescue organizations, and other rural infrastructure needs. I recently visited Washington D.C. to meet with Congressman Neguse, along with the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the Rural Action Caucus, to discuss the SRS Reauthorization and other important rural issues. The SRS Reauthorization was a priority item during the NACo discussions.” said Jody Shadduck-McNally, Larimer County Commissioner.

""We are incredibly grateful for the reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program. In a county like ours, where federal land significantly limits our property tax base, these dollars—historically around $300,000 annually—play a vital role in supporting our students and schools. In Colorado, where public education funding ranks near the bottom nationally, every dollar counts. These funds directly support our general fund, of which 89% goes toward staff salaries. This support is critical to maintaining high-quality learning environments for every student in Summit County."" said Dr. Tony Byrd, Superintendent of Summit School District.

“Eagle County is thrilled by the House of Representatives’ strong support for this measure,” said Jeanne McQueeney, Eagle County Commissioner. “A permanent reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools is critical to ensuring that public lands counties like ours can provide stable, high-quality education for every student. This advancement brings us closer to the long-term certainty our school districts need to plan effectively and invest confidently in the future. We applaud the bipartisan leadership that recognizes how essential strong, well-funded schools are to thriving rural communities.”

“Congressman Neguse has continued to support public education funding throughout our state. The Secure Rural Schools program supports Eagle County School District as well as other youth-serving nonprofits in our community, amplifying our impact. Having a voice like his in Washington goes a long way to help schools throughout Colorado,” said Philip Qualman, Eagle County School District.

“Grand County is comprised of more than 70 percent public land – which does not generate property taxes necessary to help fund our two school districts. East Grand School District and West Grand School District have historically both benefitted from and rely on the Secure Rural Schools Program through the 1908 National Forest Reserve Act as a significant funding source. On behalf of those districts and our students, we would like to thank Congressman Neguse and the many Representatives for their continued support of rural counties and school districts,” said Randy George, Chairman, Grand County Board of Commissioners.

“Being a remote and rural district has its benefits; these funds help us overcome the challenges associated with our geography and size,” said Superintendent Bray Ray, East Grand School District. “We greatly appreciate the efforts to maintain these funds, as they help us maintain vital programming in our district.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/10/bennet-neguse-celebrate-final-passage-of-bill-to-reauthorize-rural-schools-program/,"Bennet, Neguse Celebrate Final Passage of Bill to Reauthorize Rural Schools Program",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,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 and Colorado U.S. Representative Joe Neguse celebrated the final passage of their Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The SRS program provides vital funds to rural and mountain communities that are home to federal lands, which are tax-exempt. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

“The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act is a lifeline for Colorado counties that steward our public lands and shoulder the responsibilities that come with them. These resources help rural communities keep teachers in classrooms, maintain safe roads, and provide public safety services that counties rely on,” said Bennet.

“The Secure Rural Schools program is a vital lifeline for the communities I serve across Western Colorado, and I’m proud that our efforts to build a bipartisan coalition in support of the program have enabled my legislation to get across the finish line. My top priority is always to deliver for the people I represent, forging common ground to advance the common good for our communities — from Grand County to Eagle County and everywhere in between. That’s why I’m incredibly proud to see my proposal to reauthorize SRS make its way to the President’s desk, continuing this crucial program for rural counties,” said Neguse.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act passed the Senate in June by unanimous consent.

The SRS program supports investments in local infrastructure, public safety, and public education. For communities in Colorado, this includes funding for wildfire mitigation, search-and-rescue operations, and trail and road maintenance. Rural school districts can also use SRS payments to improve school transportation services, ensure high-quality instructional materials, create new extracurricular activities, and more.

Bennet has long supported reauthorizing and funding SRS. In 2017, he introduced legislation to reauthorize SRS and secured a two-year reauthorization in the 2018 Omnibus Spending Bill. In 2018, Bennet and a bipartisan group of senators urged Senate leadership to include reauthorization for SRS in any end-of-year package. In 2019, he supported legislation that would extend SRS through fiscal year (FY) 2020. Later that year, Congress authorized SRS funding for FY19 and FY20. In February 2021, Bennet introduced legislation to reauthorize the SRS through September 2022. In August of that year, Bennet applauded the extension of the SRS through 2023 in the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-neguse-celebrate-final-passage-bill-to-reauthorize-secure-rural-schools-program/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse Celebrate Final Passage Bill to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,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 and Representative Joe Neguse celebrated the final passage of their Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act to reauthorize the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The SRS program provides crucial funds to rural and mountain communities that revolve around federal lands, which are tax-exempt. The bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.

“Rural Colorado counties are home to millions of acres of public lands, which means they don’t receive the tax revenue other counties rely on to fund their schools, roads, and emergency services,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill makes sure rural communities get the dependable funding they need.”

“The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act is a lifeline for Colorado counties that steward our public lands and shoulder the responsibilities that come with them. These resources help rural communities keep teachers in classrooms, maintain safe roads, and provide public safety services that counties rely on,” said Bennet.

“The Secure Rural Schools program is a vital lifeline for the communities I serve across Western Colorado, and I’m proud that our efforts to build a bipartisan coalition in support of the program have enabled my legislation to get across the finish line. My top priority is always to deliver for the people I represent, forging common ground to advance the common good for our communities — from Grand County to Eagle County and everywhere in between. That’s why I’m incredibly proud to see my proposal to reauthorize SRS make its way to the President’s desk, continuing this crucial program for rural counties,” said Neguse.

The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act passed the Senate in June by unanimous consent.

The SRS program supports investments in local infrastructure, public safety, and public education. For communities in Colorado, this includes funding for wildfire mitigation, search-and-rescue operations, and trail and road maintenance. Rural school districts can also use SRS payments to improve school transportation services, ensure high-quality instructional materials, create new extracurricular activities, and more.

Full text of the Senate bill available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-cortez-masto-introduce-bill-to-create-fee-free-days-of-public-service-on-federal-lands/,"Hickenlooper, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Create Fee-Free Days of Public Service on Federal Lands",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Last week, President Trump removed MLK Day, Juneteenth from list of Fee-Free Days, included his birthday instead

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Catherine Cortez Masto, along with five of their Senate colleagues, introduced the Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act to codify six days where visitors to National Parks and other federal lands can enter free-of-charge. This legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to officially designate Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, the first day of National Park Week, Juneteenth, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day as fee-free entry days.

“Celebrating our national parks is part of the Colorado way of life,” said Hickenlooper. “Taking away days where people can visit our parks for free is another example of Trump’s attacks on our public lands.”

“Free entry days were created as a way for our National Parks to encourage public service and volunteer work,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “It’s our national responsibility to protect and maintain our public lands – so let’s recommit to ensuring free entry days promote this patriotic act of service, not stroke the President’s ego.”

Since the National Park System and other land management agencies began collecting entry and recreation fees, the Department of the Interior has offered fee-free days to promote America’s public lands, especially on select federal holidays where many Americans already have the day off. Last week, the Trump administration cut Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday and Juneteenth, two holidays honoring Black history, from its list of free entrance days and replaced them with his birthday.

The legislation would restore these two holidays to the list of free entrance days and make a list of public service days permanently fee-free. Additional free entry days would be possible at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior. The dates are as follows:

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, the third Monday in January

The first day of National Park Week in April

Juneteenth, June 19

Great American Outdoors Day, August 4

National Public Lands Day, the fourth Saturday in September

Veterans Day, November 11

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-help-committee-democrats-call-for-secretary-mcmahon-to-testify-before-committee/,"Hickenlooper, HELP Committee Democrats Call for Secretary McMahon to Testify Before Committee",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Senators demand Secretary of Education to answer for efforts to dismantle Department of Education

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, along with all the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Democratic senators, called on Chairman Bill Cassidy to immediately hold an oversight hearing with Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon about the illegal efforts to dismantle the Department.

“At a time when U.S. students rank 34th in the world in math and academic outcomes have sharply declined since the early 2010s, it is outrageous that the Trump administration is trying to dismantle the only agency dedicated to improving outcomes for all students,” Hickenlooper and his colleagues wrote. “Burying education programs in other federal agencies will not help students or support schools and colleges.”

The senators’ letter follows McMahon’s latest effort to undermine the Department of Education by transferring core elementary, secondary and postsecondary education programs out of the Education Department without congressional authority.

Hickenlooper voted against McMahon’s nomination and has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s relentless attacks on the Department of Education. He also fought to get the admin to release $7 billion in federal funding for K-12 schools and adult literacy programs across America, including $70 million for Colorado schools which was released.

Full text of letter HERE and below:

Dear Chair Cassidy,

On November 18, 2025, the Department of Education (Department) announced it had entered into six interagency agreements (IAAs) to transfer over 50 elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education programs covering over $30 billion in annual funding to federal agencies that do not have the expertise or capacity to administer them. This transfer is an alarming and illegal step toward fulfilling President Trump’s threat to eliminate the entire Department.

At a time when U.S. students rank 34th in the world in math and academic outcomes have sharply declined since the early 2010s, it is outrageous that the Trump administration is trying to dismantle the only agency dedicated to improving outcomes for all students. Burying education programs in other federal agencies will not help students or support schools and colleges. Rather, it will jeopardize services for tens of millions of students, educators, and families across the country.

These dangerous changes will create chaos and uncertainty for school districts, colleges, and universities who will now have to navigate multiple federal agencies just to get funds they rely on to serve students. Already, this administration has cancelled billions of dollars in education programs, illegally withheld nearly $7 billion in formula funds, and proposed to fully eliminate many of the programs included in the latest transfer. In our minds, that is unacceptable.

This is not just our view: Margaret Spellings, the Education Secretary under President G.W. Bush said: “Moving programs from one department to another does not actually eliminate the federal bureaucracy, and it may make the system harder for students, teachers and families to navigate and get the support they need.” Chester Finn, President Emeritus of the Fordham Institute and a former Department official under President Reagan, called the interagency agreements “confusing to everybody” and “pointless and disruptive for no good reason.”

Congress unambiguously vested responsibility for administering education programs with the Department under numerous laws, and Congress explicitly appropriated funding to the Department to carry them out. If Congress wanted the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Interior, or State to administer education programs, Congress would have expressly said so. This illegal action is part of the administration’s broader effort to dismantle the Department. Congress established the Department and only Congress has the power to eliminate it, which the Trump administration has acknowledged. That is why Secretary McMahon is using the IAAs to circumvent Congress.

In addition to ignoring the law, Secretary McMahon has broken a commitment she made to this Committee. In her confirmation hearing, you asked Secretary McMahon about her plans to dismantle the Department, and she assured you that she would “make sure that we are presenting a plan that I think our

Senators could get on board with and our Congress could get on board with that would have a better functioning Department of Education. But certainly, it does require Congressional action.”

However, the Secretary has not upheld that commitment and has unilaterally moved to illegally transfer these programs. As members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee we must hold an oversight hearing on this massive and unprecedented transfer of responsibility and federal funding to other agencies.

Therefore, we are calling on you to immediately hold a bipartisan oversight hearing to bring Secretary McMahon to testify before the Committee about these interagency agreements.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/09/bennet-coons-young-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-american-leadership-in-digital-trade/,"Bennet, Coons, Young, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Strengthen American Leadership in Digital Trade",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to introduce the Digital Trade Promotion Act, legislation to strengthen America’s global leadership in digital trade.

Digital trade is a driving force in our everyday economy, from the buying and selling of goods in online marketplaces to the digital services that enable smart manufacturing and modern agricultural practices. While the United States has historically led the development of rules and standards for digital trade, China continues to advance digital trade policies that would undermine American businesses and workers.

The Digital Trade Promotion Act would authorize the president to negotiate and enforce digital trade agreements with trusted partners and allies, thereby bolstering opportunities for businesses and workers, strengthening our economic security, and ensuring that American values power the digital world.

“The United States’ digital sector is the envy of the world, but we cannot allow China to write the rules of the road for the next generation of emerging technology,” said Bennet. “This legislation will ensure the U.S. can work closely with our allies and partners to establish a strong international framework for innovation and consumer protection in the digital age.”

“From farmers in Sussex to fintech startups in New Castle County, digital tools help every entrepreneur compete around the world. I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Digital Trade Promotion Act to help businesses big and small compete on a level playing field and ensure the global rules of the road are rooted in American values of openness, transparency, and fairness,” said Coons.

“China and other strategic competitors are pushing digital regimes that create new barriers and tilt the field against U.S. companies and workers. To ensure American workers, businesses, and consumers can succeed in the digital age, we must cement U.S. leadership in the global digital economy,” said Young. “Negotiating more digital trade agreements with partners and allies will strengthen our economic security, spur more opportunities for Hoosiers, and secure America’s competitive edge.”

“Advancing the digital trade of goods and services positively impacts everyone across our state – from farmers and manufacturers to small businesses and consumers,” said Moran. “This legislation allows for greater executive authority to promote trade deals involving digital products and services, reducing digital trade barriers while allowing Congress to exercise necessary oversight of any agreement in order to make certain the American people are prioritized.”

Specifically, the Digital Trade Promotion Act would:

Reaffirm that digital trade is critical to U.S. growth, jobs, competitiveness, and leadership, and that the United States should lead in setting high-standard rules with like-minded partners;

Authorize the president, through the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), to negotiate, enter, and enforce digital trade agreements with trusted partners that meet specified rule-of-law, openness, and intellectual property protections;

Require that any digital trade agreement cover all sectors and include the following key negotiating priorities: nondiscrimination for digital goods and services, bans on discriminatory digital taxes and data localization, free cross-border data flows, strong protections for source code and algorithms, interoperable privacy and consumer protections, AI and emerging-tech cooperation, cybersecurity cooperation, and support for open, voluntary international standards;

Establish congressional oversight with advance notice, consultation during negotiations, a pre-signing report, and a defined review window in which Congress can block an agreement; and

Direct USTR to monitor partner compliance on an ongoing basis and give the president tools to respond to violations, including suspending or withdrawing agreement benefits, negotiating corrective and compensatory arrangements, or taking other actions to push partners back into compliance.

Bennet has consistently fought to advance U.S. global leadership in trade and U.S. digital leadership. In October, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) to urge U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to reverse the Trump Administration’s reckless plan to import more beef from Argentina. In April, Bennet joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and bipartisan colleagues to introduce the Trade Review Act, legislation that would reestablish limits on the President’s ability to impose unilateral tariffs without Congress’ approval. In March, Bennet introduced 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. Bennet and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) issued statements in both March and February warning against President Trump’s Canada and Mexico tariffs, which are a tax on American consumers and undermine crucial relationships with our neighbors and closest allies.

In January, Bennet urged the then-incoming Trump Administration to pursue an international economic policy that goes beyond broad-based tariffs to include additional policies – such as the CHIPS and Science Act and his and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) Americas Act – to drive broad-based American growth, increase domestic and regional capacity, and protect U.S. national and economic security.

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

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-help-committee-democrats-call-for-secretary-kennedy-to-testify-before-committee/,"Hickenlooper, HELP Committee Democrats Call for Secretary Kennedy to Testify Before Committee",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,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, along with all the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Democratic senators, called on Chairman Bill Cassidy to immediately hold an oversight hearing with Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

“Since assuming office, Secretary Kennedy has waged an unprecedented war on science and vaccines that have saved millions of lives,” Hickenlooper and his colleagues wrote. “Vaccination rates across the country are falling. Children are dying from illnesses that vaccines could have prevented.”

“Secretary Kennedy’s response to these crises has been to spread misinformation, end campaigns encouraging flu vaccinations, fire officials who disagree with him, and place individuals with significant conflicts of interest in positions of power – completely undermining Americans’ faith in our nation’s public health institutions,” continued the senators. “It has been seven months since Secretary Kennedy last testified in front of our Committee… The time has come for the HELP Committee to hold Secretary Kennedy accountable for his actions.”

The senators called for Chairman Cassidy to schedule an oversight hearing following the disastrous vote by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to end the decades-long recommendation that all newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This year, RFK Jr. replaced all 17 non-partisan experts on CDC’s top vaccine committee with ideologues who have a history of undermining vaccines.

Hickenlooper has been a fierce critic of the admin’s senseless attacks on American science and voted against RFK Jr.’s nomination. Earlier this year, he also questioned RFK Jr. on his public anti-science views and plans regarding transparency in NIH studies during RFK Jr.’s HELP confirmation hearing.

Last week, he led eight other senators to introduce the Family Vaccine Protection Act to protect Americans’ access to vaccines and to safeguard proven science from recent Trump administration efforts to undermine vaccines.

Full text of the letter available HERE and below.

Dear Chairman Cassidy:

We write to urge you to schedule an oversight hearing as soon as possible with respect to the actions Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has taken as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to undermine the health and well-being of the American people and people throughout the world.

Since assuming office, Secretary Kennedy has waged an unprecedented war on science and vaccines that have saved millions of lives.

He has directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to publish false information on its website suggesting that childhood vaccines cause autism despite the findings of more than 40 scientific studies in seven countries involving over 5.6 million people that there is no link between vaccines and autism.

He has spread misinformation about the safety and effectiveness of the measles vaccine during the largest measles outbreak in the U.S. in over 30 years.

He has removed the Director of the CDC who refused to rubber stamp his dangerous and unsubstantiated vaccine recommendations.

He has defunded promising vaccine research that will leave us woefully unprepared for future pandemics and public health emergencies.

He has packed a critical scientific body, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), with vaccine deniers, completely upending the rigorous scientific process for reviewing and recommending vaccines to the public despite a commitment he made to you that ACIP would be “maintained without changes.”

As a result of this unacceptable action, ACIP voted 8-3 to end a decades-long recommendation that all newborns be immunized at birth against hepatitis B despite decades of scientific data finding not only that it is safe and effective, but that it has successfully reduced the number of babies and young children infected by this virus from 20,000 a year to fewer than 20.

Mr. Chairman: Holding an oversight hearing on Secretary Kennedy’s ill-conceived actions is more important now than ever.

Under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, over 1,700 people have been infected with measles. Whooping cough cases are surging nationwide, and concerns about a severe flu season continue to grow. Vaccination rates across the country are falling. Children are dying from illnesses that vaccines could have prevented.

Secretary Kennedy’s response to these crises has been to spread misinformation, end campaigns encouraging flu vaccinations, fire officials who disagree with him, and place individuals with significant conflicts of interest in positions of power—completely undermining Americans’ faith in our nation’s public health institutions.

Importantly, these are not just our concerns.

The American College of Physicians, representing 162,000 internal medicine physicians, called for Secretary Kennedy’s removal, stating that his actions were “sowing chaos and confusion and putting lives at risk.”

Dozens of scientific and medical groups, including the Academic Pediatric Association, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the American Public Health Association, have called for Secretary Kennedy’s resignation, highlighting their concern “that American people will needlessly suffer and die as a result of policies that turn away from sound interventions.”

More than 1,000 current and former staff at HHS called on Secretary Kennedy to resign, stating that he “continues to endanger the nation’s health.”

In September, nine former CDC directors appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents, called Secretary Kennedy’s actions to severely weaken our nation’s public health programs “unacceptable” which “should alarm every American, regardless of political leanings.”

In October, six former surgeons general appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents, wrote that they “were compelled” to “speak with one voice” in the Washington Post that Secretary Kennedy’s actions “are endangering the health of the nation,” stating that “the profound, immediate and unprecedented threat that Kennedy’s policies and positions pose to the nation’s health cannot be ignored.”

This month, a dozen former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioners appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine that that they were “deeply concerned by sweeping new FDA assertions about vaccine safety and proposals that would undermine a regulatory model designed to ensure that vaccines are safe, effective and available when the public needs them most.”

Mr. Chairman: You were right when you recently stated that “ACIP is totally discredited. They are not protecting children.”

You were also correct when you wrote last month: “What parents need to hear right now is vaccines for measles, polio, hepatitis B and other childhood diseases are safe and effective and will not cause autism. Any statement to the contrary is wrong, irresponsible, and actively makes Americans sicker.”

Unfortunately, Secretary Kennedy is not communicating that important message to the American people. He is doing the exact opposite, and he is endangering the lives of our children and grandchildren in the process.

Failure to conduct an oversight hearing on Secretary Kennedy’s actions would be an abdication of our responsibility—both from a moral perspective and as a matter of sound public health policy.

In February, you gave a speech on the Senate floor stating that you secured a commitment from Secretary Kennedy that “he will come before the HELP Committee on a quarterly basis, if requested.”

It has been seven months since Secretary Kennedy last testified in front of our Committee. Since Secretary Kennedy was confirmed by the Senate in February, he has come before our Committee just once. In our view, that is unacceptable.

The time has come for the HELP Committee to hold Secretary Kennedy accountable for his actions. It is imperative that Secretary Kennedy come before our Committee to testify as soon as possible.

We look forward to working with you to make that happen.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/08/bennet-shaheen-coons-national-security-democrats-statement-on-president-trumps-decision-to-allow-the-export-of-advanced-nvidia-h200-ai-chips-to-china/,"Bennet, Shaheen, Coons, National Security Democrats Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Allow the Export of Advanced NVIDIA H200 AI Chips to China",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Committee; Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee; Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations; Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance; and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, to issue the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision to allow NVIDIA to sell its H200 AI chips to China:

“The Trump administration’s announcement that it will allow the export of advanced H200 AI chips to China is a colossal economic and national security failure. The H200s are vastly more capable than anything China can make and gifting them to Beijing would squander America’s primary advantage in the AI race.

“Access to these chips would give China’s military transformational technology to make its weapons more lethal, carry out more effective cyberattacks against American businesses and critical infrastructure, and strengthen their economic and manufacturing sector. Chinese AI giant DeepSeek said as recently as last week that the lack of access to advanced American-designed AI chips is the single biggest impediment to its ability to compete with U.S. AI companies. With this decision, President Trump is poised to remove that barrier.

“Senate Democrats and Republicans both know that the 21st century will be defined by whether the leading AI systems are built on values of free societies and free markets or the repressive, authoritarian values of the Chinese Communist Party. The Trump administration clearly doesn’t grasp the urgency of this contest. President Trump must reverse course and recommit to preserving American dominance in AI.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-colleagues-slam-trump-admins-latest-effort-to-dismantle-the-department-of-education/,"Hickenlooper, Colleagues Slam Trump Admin’s Latest Effort to Dismantle the Department of Education",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,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 joined 35 Senate colleagues in a letter demanding U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to reverse her recent decision to further dismantle the ED by illegally transferring core programs and funding to other federal agencies.

“Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department—including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding—will undermine public education,” the senators wrote.

“Let’s be very clear: You are choosing to create even more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families. We urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students,” they continued.

In March of this year, President Trump signed an executive order announcing plans to shut down the ED. Despite federal law requiring an act of Congress to close any federal agency, the Trump administration has gutted the department through sweeping layoffs and cuts to programs and critical funding.

Text of the letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Secretary McMahon:

The actions you announced on November 18 to continue hollowing out the U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”) are outrageous, illegal, and will jeopardize the funding and support that tens of millions of students, teachers, and families across the country rely on. Your brazen attempt to dismantle the Department by transferring to other federal agencies complex and foundational responsibilities that Congress specifically charged to the Department—including more than half of all federal funds for elementary and secondary education programs and billions in higher education funding—will undermine public education. This is the latest example of this administration’s complete lack of regard for our laws and its failure to provide the certainty, clarity, and stability that students and schools deserve when it comes to the federal government’s approach and commitment to properly implementing federal education laws and appropriations.

Let’s be very clear: You are choosing to create even more bureaucracy that states, school districts, and educational institutions across America will have to expend time and resources navigating at the expense of students and families. We urge you to immediately reverse course and to focus your time and attention on actions that actually help states, school districts and educational institutions improve educational outcomes and support for students. We expect you to work with Congress to pursue any ideas to streamline programs and improve public education, as the law and the Constitution require, and you have yourself stated you would do in your confirmation hearing.

The Department of Education is the only federal agency whose sole mission is to help children learn and improve their educational outcomes. The Department delivers much-needed federal funding and enforces basic educational guardrails and civil rights protections so that every child can get the quality public education that they are entitled to under the law, no matter who they are or where they live. Congress has unambiguously authorized dozens of education programs to be administered by the Department through numerous laws and has clearly appropriated funding on a bipartisan basis for decades to the Department to carry out those programs. Appropriations law prohibits the transfer of funds to another federal agency unless expressly authorized in appropriations law, which it has not done in this case. When Congress wants another agency to administer a program or function, it has expressly said so—and in some cases, it has provided authority to transfer funds to allow this to happen. By contrast, Congress has not expressly authorized any other agency to administer the programs established under the previously mentioned laws, nor has it provided the authority for the Department to transfer these programs and associated funding to another agency.

The November 18 announcement outlines six interagency agreements (IAAs) with the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State to transfer major responsibilities out of the Department of Education. The authorities cited in the IAAs do not enable the Department to do an end-run around the relevant authorizing and appropriating statutes. For example, the Department cites the Economy Act to justify its use of the IAA framework. While the Economy Act is routinely used by other federal agencies to enter into IAAs for the procurement of discrete goods and services that a particular agency might have expertise in and authority to provide, such as DOJ’s fingerprinting authority, this authority was never contemplated to allow the transfer of major program functions or entire offices to another agency with the express stated purpose of eventually dismantling the agency or putting the Secretary “out of a job.” Federal resources outlining the purpose of the Economy Act make this clear. This view is further affirmed by the Department’s inability to cite a single instance of using this statute or any others in a similar way prior to this year.

You have expressed your interest in working with Congress on these issues, but these IAAs were developed in secret without outside input. The fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department makes no reference to administering these programs at other agencies and the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), for example, makes no reference to administering them either. The Secretaries of Labor, Interior, State, and HHS have similarly never testified to Congress on how they would carry out and administer these critical education programs.

Since you were nominated to lead the Department, you have routinely misled the public about the level of involvement the Department has long had in the day-to-day management of schools—inaccurately suggesting that the Department was depriving states and families from making choices about their children’s education, shackling teachers with burdensome regulations and paperwork and causing K-12 and college students to experience “drudgery caused by administrative burdens.” On the basis of these false assertions, you have strangely claimed that we need to “Return Education to the States.” In fact, states and local communities have—since the founding of our republic—had the primary responsibility for educating our students and the establishment of the Department in 1979 did nothing to change that fact. In fact, there are numerous federal laws that prevent the Department from being involved in the day-to-day decision making in schools and colleges as it relates to curriculum, teaching, and programs.

Until your arrival at the Department, its role has been to provide funding, support, and oversight as authorized by federal education laws to ensure students from all walks of life and in every part of the country can get a high-quality public education. The Department’s programs ensure that parents get timely, accessible information about how their kids’ schools are doing. They ensure students with disabilities’ rights are enforced, so that they can get the education they are entitled to. The Department administers programs to help under-resourced rural school districts and allocates Impact Aid for more than 1,000 school districts with a reduced revenue base or increased costs due to a federal presence, such as a military base. It also administers programs to help first-generation and low-income students pursue and succeed in college. These are just a select few examples of the indispensable supporting role that the federal government—and the Department, in particular—plays in advancing educational outcomes for students.

To justify these new IAA’s, you say federal funding will keep flowing to states, school districts, and colleges. But we have already seen funding held up and seriously delayed because of this administration’s chaotic changes—and its extreme policies—and the moves you announced last week are certain to further jeopardize these funds.

You claim these actions will improve student achievement, yet your actions will significantly weaken federal monitoring of states’ K-12 accountability and school improvement systems. Before Congress mandated that states develop these systems with key guardrails in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, several states had weak or no school improvement systems, which allowed vulnerable students to slip through the cracks. As part of ESEA and subsequent appropriations directives, Congress has charged OESE with improving state compliance in state and local school report cards requirements, school improvement, and more. But without the staff expertise from OESE, it is likely that DOL will be ineffective in holding states accountable for improving student outcomes.

The Department also provides deep policy expertise to ensure programs support improved student outcomes, such as through expert guidance to colleges and universities to improve college access, retention, and completion through programs like TRIO, GEAR UP, the Postsecondary Student Success Grant Program, and others. Now, DOL, who lacks the necessary expertise, is tasked with managing these programs and students will suffer as a result.

DOL has no prior experience in administering education programs at this scale and complexity and will need to develop the capacity and processes to allot billions of dollars in funding to state and local educational agencies. States will also have to make changes to receive any funds distributed through DOL’s grant system while continuing to draw down prior year grant funding in the Department’s system. Your IAA also seems to suggest the Department will still retain some authorities over Title I-A, which means that states will now have to work with two federal agencies when they need help navigating this complex and absolutely critical program. These changes solve exactly zero problems but manage to create an onslaught of new ones. We are very concerned that these changes will mean funds our constituents rely on will not continue to flow as intended under federal education laws.

In addition to its scope and complexity, the Title I-A program primarily funds instruction and activities in elementary schools. We do not believe kindergartners or other elementary school students should be the focus of efforts to integrate workforce programming and education activities, activities that are better suited to older students. Instead of improving students’ readiness for the workforce, the move of Title I-A to DOL is much more likely to deprive states and school districts of the technical assistance and support they need to effectively implement federal education funding in their schools and provide high-quality educational opportunities to all students.

DOL already has a comprehensive workload to support the nation’s workers and workforce programs. It is authorized and funded to administer workforce training and enforce worker protection programs for which Congress appropriates $13.5 billion in discretionary funding annually, including for roughly a dozen workforce training grant programs totaling approximately $4 billion in annual funding. In addition to lacking the subject area expertise needed to administer the Department’s programs, DOL does not have the grant administration capacity to take on the work outlined in the IAA; the approximately $30 billion in the Department’s funding across approximately 50 discrete formula and competitive education grant programs that you seek to transfer now to DOL dwarf its current grant administration and oversight work. Transferring basic and significant responsibilities for administering education programs to DOL creates very significant risks of delays in funding and other administrative challenges for states, school districts, institutions of higher education, and other organizations through Impact Aid, rural education programs, afterschool programs, TRIO, and foundational education formula grant programs that tens of thousands of schools count on to help provide a quality education to millions of students.

Unfortunately, we have already seen negative consequences for states, schools, colleges, and students as these IAAs roll out: the first IAA inked earlier this year between the Department and DOL on career and technical education and adult education has been plagued with serious challenges—and it is but a small fraction of what is now being transferred to DOL. In fact, as your own staff reportedly concluded in its analysis after this transfer, “The size and scope of OCTAE’s programs are miniscule [sic] compared to other [Education Principal Operating Components] and programs…Larger formula grants and competitive grants are going to be much more difficult to migrate.” States and districts faced delays in accessing their Perkins CTE funding, and advocates report delays in guidance and training issued by DOL.

Moreover, a CTE expert recently testified before the House of Representatives, “At a time of scarce resources, it’s hard to understand why the Department is paying Labor to do work that it can do for itself.” The fiscal year 2025 funding level for Perkins CTE and adult education was $2.18 billion, whereas the other programs DOL will now be responsible for are funded at roughly $30 billion. If the administrative costs balloon under these new IAAs as the administrative costs under the CTE IAA have, not only will these IAAs be terrible for students, their families, and educators, they will also be a catastrophic waste of time and money for the American taxpayer.

The Department has provided no substantive detail or even basic information about how the significant changes envisioned by these IAAs would be implemented. The other federal agencies that will suddenly have significant responsibilities in administering billions in education funding—have provided no information about their roles or their capacity to carry out these programs and activities. The plan seems clear—to jam these changes through for a talking point, whatever the consequences may be for states, school districts, schools, students, and families.

We once again demand that you reverse these detrimental plans and refocus your efforts on supporting state and local efforts by properly implementing federal laws intended to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, especially those who count on the Department doing its job most.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-trump-administration-s-national-security-strategy,Crow Statement on Trump Administration's National Security Strategy,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to the Trump administration's newly released National Security Strategy:

“The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy would be catastrophic to America’s standing in the world and a retreat from our alliances and partnerships. It will take generations to restore the trust it would shatter with our most important friends.

“The world will be a more dangerous place and Americans will be less safe if this plan moves forward.

“Among the many disturbing things are the blatant calls for social engineering, culture warfare, and interference with allied foreign governments and political systems. It’s an attack on freedom and individual liberty at home and abroad.

“The Trump administration wants America to be smaller, weaker, and vulnerable. I will resist.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-following-acip-vote-end-universal-hepatitis-b-vaccine,DeGette Statement Following ACIP Vote to End Universal Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth Dose Recommendation,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Diana DeGette,D000197,degette.house.gov,degette,https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to end the universal Hepatitis B vaccine birth dose recommendation for newborns:

“This administration’s anti-science agenda is going to get kids killed. The vote by members of ACIP to end the universal Hepatitis B vaccine birth dose recommendation for newborns is not supported by science and is incredibly reckless. Donald Trump and RFK Jr. have eroded Americans’ confidence in public health and diminished our capacity to protect the public, from hawking unproven treatments to ousting trusted medical experts across the federal government. Now, because of an ACIP stacked with vaccine conspiracy theorists, children will be more likely to get preventable diseases and die.

“I renew my demand to the Republican leadership to bring RFK Jr. before the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee to explain his assault on science. There must be accountability as this administration makes decisions that jeopardize the health of American children.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-congressman-evans-sounds-alarm-rising-attacks-against-law-enforcement,ICYMI: Congressman Evans Sounds the Alarm on Rising Attacks Against Law Enforcement,2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Gabe Evans,E000300,gabeevans.house.gov,gabeevans,https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"In case you missed it … The Committee on Homeland Security held a full committee hearing titled “When Badges Become Targets: How Anti- Law Enforcement Rhetoric Fuels Violence Against Officers.” The hearing examined the surge in threats and rise in targeted attacks against Law Enforcement.

As a former cop, Congressman Evans knows — this fight is personal. During his five-minute speech, Rep. Evans took to the mic to detail his firsthand experience and highlight the attacks against Coloradans who walk the thin blue line.

Read highlights below or watch the full video here.

“I was a cop for ten years in the Denver metro area. The reason I am in Congress is because in 2020 the ruling democrats in Colorado passed a bill that took the first steps toward defunding law enforcement and toward making cops guilty until they proved themselves innocent.

[...]

I watched my cops suffer. I buried countless others when I was on the honor guard. And in terms of refusing to condemn physical or political violence — I will remind everyone of two votes that happened earlier this year where every single member of the United States House of Representative voted to condemn the murder of a Democrat leader in Minnesota. But 118 of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle could not vote to condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk.

[...]

When cops are handcuffed, it's the cops who suffer. And not only is it the cops who suffer, it's the low-income and the minority communities that suffer.

[...]

My district is 40% Hispanic. You know who suffers when we don't have law enforcement to keep our communities safe? It's my low-income and my minority communities.

[...]

Colorado has led the nation more years than not the last 5 years in auto theft. You know what happens when one of my Hispanic trade workers gets their vehicle stolen? Not only are they out of vehicle, they've lost their job because they can't show up to the job site tomorrow to do the work. I've seen this happen because I've taken those reports.

[...]

We just had the sixth largest fentanyl seizure in US history in Colorado. 12 kgs of fentanyl, 1.7 million illicit pills, enough to kill 6.8 million people, every man, woman, and child in Colorado.

[...]

The defund the police and sanctuary city style politics that I personally experienced as a law enforcement officer in Colorado — it's why I'm in Congress today.

[...]

Under the previous administration, more Americans died as a result of drug overdoses like fentanyl than were killed in the entire September 11th terrorist attacks. That's personal to me too because I am a combat veteran of the Global War on Terror.

I deployed to protect this country and to turn around to see these cartels, and these criminals, and these peddlers of poison, being able to run free in our communities because of defund-the-police rhetoric, and because of sanctuary city and state policies is absolutely onerous to me.

It's onerous to the people that I have sworn oaths to protect and defend as I uphold the Constitution.

[...]

Cops experience the physical, mental, moral, and emotional injuries of this job. And all of those things are made worse as a result of anti-law enforcement rhetoric.""

Background:

Congressman Gabe Evans — a combat veteran, former police officer, and the grandson of Mexican immigrants — is fighting back against the sanctuary-state policies fueling crime across Colorado. Representing a district that is 40% Hispanic, he has seen firsthand how these policies hurt working families, small businesses, and minority communities.

Rep. Evans is leading the charge to restore public safety by ensuring law enforcement has the tools and support they need, despite Colorado’s leftist state policies, laws and politicians that have demoralized them.

Two key pieces of legislation he has introduced include:

The UPLIFT Act: Reverses sanctuary policies, restores cooperation with federal partners, and protects victims harmed by criminal illegal immigrants.

Law Enforcement Support & Counter Transnational Repression Act: Helps communities identify and respond to foreign intimidation on U.S. soil.

In addition to this legislation, Rep Evans has worked alongside GOP members of Colorado’s congressional delegation including Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CO-04) and Congressman Jeff Crank (CO-05) to send several letters to Governor Polis regarding their concern for Colorado’s escalating crime crisis:

Colorado Reps. Evans, Boebert and Crank Demand Polis Take Action on Colorado’s Crime Crisis

Reps. Evans, Boebert and Crank Urge Polis to Work With Them on Colorado's Public Safety Crisis

Rep. Evans' speech was made shortly after the largest single Fentanyl bust in Colorado’s history — and the 6th largest in the nation — on November 17, 2025. The record seizure contained 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills, 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, and another 12 kilograms of fentanyl powder.

For context, 1.7 million counterfeit fentanyl pills can kill 850,000 Coloradans, and 1kg of pure fentanyl can kill 500,000 people, so that seizure was enough to kill 6.85 million people — every human in Colorado.

Colorado is in the midst of a severe fentanyl crisis, with its drug overdose rates declining at a significantly lower rate than most other states, remaining higher than before the pandemic and costing Coloradans more than $13 billion a year. Additionally, reflective of that tragic statistic, the state has the second highest teen overdose rates in the country according to a 2024 study.

To combat the crisis, Congressman Evans has introduced the bipartisan No Fentanyl on Social Media Act with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), which targets the online trafficking of fentanyl to minors and requires federal action to shut down the digital pipeline.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/05/bennet-honors-mikaela-naylon-renames-the-give-kids-a-chance-act/,"Bennet Honors Mikaela Naylon, Renames the Give Kids A Chance Act",2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,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 renamed the Give Kids a Chance Act to the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act in honor of Mikaela, a Colorado teenager who tirelessly advocated for children’s access to cancer treatment throughout her brave battle with cancer.

Mikaela Naylon was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2020, when she was just ten years old. Following her diagnosis, she traveled across the country pursuing treatment and advocating for other children with cancer. Mikaela tragically lost her battle with cancer on October 29. As a final act of advocacy in the hopes that other kids wouldn’t have to go through what she did, Mikaela donated her body to science to help find a cure.

“Even in the midst of her own battle with cancer, Mikaela fought tirelessly to increase other children’s access to life-saving care,” said Bennet. “Children with cancer deserve access to the most advanced medicines possible, and we must ensure our medical professionals have every tool at their disposal to treat them. I am glad to rename this bill in honor of Mikaela, and I will keep fighting for young cancer patients to access life-saving trials and therapies to battle this disease.”

Earlier this year, Senator Michael Bennet, alongside U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act to improve outcomes for children with cancer by ensuring they can participate in clinical trials and have access to essential treatments. This bill will allow children to participate in combination trials that include targeted medicines for pediatric cancer. It also extends the Pediatric Priority Review Voucher Program, which encourages companies to develop treatments and therapies for pediatric diseases.

Bennet previously introduced the Give Kids a Chance Act in 2022.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-banks-hassan-husted-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-better-forecast-ais-impact-on-workforce/,"Hickenlooper, Banks, Hassan, Husted Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Better Forecast AI’s Impact on Workforce",2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,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, Jim Banks, Maggie Hassan, and Jon Husted introduced the bipartisan AI Workforce PREPARE Act to assess AI’s impact on America’s workforce and make education and job training programs more effective.

“We can’t sit in the backseat while AI transforms our workforce,” said Hickenlooper, Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. “Workers, employers, and educators need a roadmap to understand these new directions. Our bipartisan bill will help deliver that map so that we can leverage AI and make sure American workers lead the way.”

“We have to understand how AI is changing the workforce so we can equip American workers with the skills necessary to stay ahead of China and lead the world,” said Banks.

“There is no question that AI will significantly transform the way we work in the coming years, and it’s important that we have the facts on how our workforce will be impacted and evolve,” said Husted. “America must lead and win the global innovation race, and this bill ensures our workforce not only avoids being left behind, but is prepared to lead the way in developing and using new technology.”

The legislation directs the Department of Labor (DOL) to work with NIST, NSF, and the Census Bureau to create a framework for measuring and forecasting AI’s workforce impacts.

Key provisions would:

Solicit ideas from the public and convene researchers, technical experts, business, and labor to improve data collection on AI and the workforce

Enhance the Labor Department’s authorities to hire a core group of AI experts

Create an AI Workforce Research Hub to help implement the White House’s AI Action Plan

Carry out a pilot project to produce statistics on workers’ movements between occupations as they are affected by AI

Increase researchers’ access to the federal government’s workforce data

Conduct prize competitions to better understand AI adoption, job impacts, labor-market outcomes, and how AI systems augment or automate tasks in particular occupations

Facilitate voluntary public-private partnerships to share anonymized data on how users are adopting AI

Improve AI-related questions in federal surveys

Update the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice (WARN) Act to provide basic information to employees, if AI is a substantial factor in a layoff

Improve the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ occupational projections

Produce a report on how better AI forecasts can be incorporated into grantmaking decisions

Conduct a study on how to design more effective rapid retraining programs to assist workers displaced by AI

“Our workforce is potentially facing a large-scale disruption as AI is integrated in our economy. In order to respond effectively with programs that support workers during an era of unprecedented automation, we need better data. Policymakers need to know what jobs are being eliminated, what new work is being created, and how we can train a workforce prepared for the future,” said Americans for Responsible Innovation President Brad Carson. “The AI Workforce PREPARE Act gets right to the heart of that issue by supporting high-quality economic data collection, analysis, and forecasting on AI’s impact.”

Hickenlooper previously proposed a “Trust, but Verify Framework”, which included a call to establish auditing standards for Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in order to increase transparency and adoption of AI while protecting consumers, and introduced the bipartisan Validation and Evaluation for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (VET AI) Act to do just that.

His VET AI Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to work with federal agencies and stakeholders across industry, academia, and civil society to develop detailed specifications, guidelines, and recommendations for third-party evaluators to work with AI companies to provide robust independent external assurance and verification of how their AI systems are developed and tested. He initially introduced the bill in the 118th Congress and helped pass it out of the Senate Commerce Committee last year.

Full text of the bill available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-colleagues-push-forest-service-to-immediately-address-understaffing-wildfire-mitigation-concerns/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Colleagues Push Forest Service to Immediately Address Understaffing, Wildfire Mitigation Concerns",2025-12-05,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Public data indicates the Forest Service is significantly behind in hazardous fuels reductions

27% of Forest Service wildland firefighting positions remain vacant

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet recently joined ten of their Senate colleagues to press U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to confront understaffing and mounting setbacks to wildfire risk reduction efforts across the West and nation.

Their inquiry follows an independent analysis of publicly available data indicating that the Forest Service is approximately 38% behind on hazardous fuels reduction work, as compared to the previous four calendar years.

“An analysis of publicly available data indicates that for calendar year 2025 the Forest Service is significantly behind in hazardous fuels reduction across National Forest System lands. When compared to the previous four calendar years, there has been a 38% reduction in wildfire risk reduction in 2025,” the senators wrote.

“The steep decline in hazardous fuels reduction efforts on Forest Service lands poses a serious risk to public safety, public health, and the economy. It is imperative that the Forest Service works closely with Congress to address shortfalls in wildfire mitigation and ensure staffing and budgetary resources are sufficient to fulfill the agency’s mission,” they continued.

Hickenlooper and Bennet have been vocal critics of the Trump administration’s cuts to public lands.

Following the administration’s reckless decision to fire 3,400 USFS employees earlier this year, Hickenlooper and Bennet immediately sounded the alarm and called on Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to reinstate them. Hickenlooper also introduced two bills to reinstate the thousands of NPS and USFS workers the Trump administration illegally fired.

Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Chief Schultz:

We write with significant concerns regarding the persistent wildland firefighter staffing shortages at the U.S. Forest Service, leading to a significant decline in planned wildfire prevention work in high-risk, fire-prone areas. We are asking you to provide clear answers regarding the Forest Service’s efforts to ensure adequate staffing and reduce wildfire risk in the West during this challenging fire season.

You have continued to maintain that the Forest Service has adequate resources and staffing to manage wildfire preparedness and response on federal lands, and that, while the Forest Service is significantly behind on hazardous fuels reduction work overall, there have been more positive results in certain regions like the Pacific Northwest. You have also claimed that in certain Western states, the Forest Service has even exceeded annual hazardous fuels reduction goals. However, it appears that to make these claims, you are referencing all Fiscal Year 2025 data, which began under the Biden Administration and includes five months of work prior to the beginning of the Trump Administration and its mass staff firings, forced retirements, and unnecessary pauses on projects.

An analysis of publicly available data indicates that for calendar year 2025 the Forest Service is significantly behind in hazardous fuels reduction across National Forest System lands. When compared to the previous four calendar years, there has been a 38% reduction in wildfire risk reduction in 2025. Through September of calendar year 2025, only 1.7 million acres received hazardous fuels reduction treatment, a decline from the four-year average of 3.6 million acres. Additionally, as of this summer, as many as 27% of Forest Service wildland firefighting positions remained vacant.

The steep decline in hazardous fuels reduction efforts on Forest Service lands poses a serious risk to public safety, public health, and the economy. It is imperative that the Forest Service works closely with Congress to address shortfalls in wildfire mitigation and ensure staffing and budgetary resources are sufficient to fulfill the agency’s mission.

Please provide answers to the following questions as soon as possible, but not later than December 12, 2025:

1. How many full-time wildland firefighter and other hazardous fuel reduction personnel, including those with “red cards,” were employed at the beginning of FY 2025?

a. What are the current staffing levels for wildland firefighters and other hazardous fuels reduction personnel within the U.S. Forest Service?

b. Are those staffing levels sufficient to conduct the necessary amount of hazardous fuels reduction on National Forest System lands by the end of calendar year 2025?

2. What is the Forest Service plan to fill vacant wildland firefighting positions?

3. You have publicly stated that the agency has “the staffing levels and resources necessary ‐ to adequately prepare for and respond to wildfires.” What evidence do you have (and can you provide) that your staffing levels are sufficient given the current wildfire risk environment?

4. What was the total number of acres treated by the Forest Service in FY 2025 for hazardous fuels reduction (mechanical thinning, prescribed burn, brush clearing) and how does that compare to the target set at the beginning of the year and to the average for FY 2021–2024?

5. What is the total number of acres treated by the Forest Service in calendar year (CY) 2025 to date for hazardous fuels reduction (mechanical thinning, prescribed burn, brush clearing) and how does that compare to the target set at the beginning of the year and to the average for CY 2021-2024?

6. What percentage of Forest Service hazardous fuels treatment projects in FY 2025 and in CY 2025 (to date) were delayed, cancelled, or reduced in scale relative to plan, and what were the primary reasons for such “operational challenges”?

7. How are treatment priorities set (i.e., certain forests, risk levels, proximity to communities) and how has that priority setting changed (if at all) in recent years given ‐ increasing wildfire risk?

8. In the regions/states where treatment is < 30-40 % of the four-year average (e.g., Idaho, Montana, Oregon), what is being done differently (or will be done) to bring those areas back on track?

9. How has reduced staffing affected interagency coordination with state, local, and tribal firefighting partners?

a. Has reduced federal capacity affected collaborative fuel treatment projects (mechanical thinning and prescribed burning) with tribal, state, or local partners?

10. Will you commit to providing Congress a quarterly update detailing: authorized vs. filled crew positions, number of vacancies, acres treated (by region/state), funding expended, number of delayed/cancelled projects with reasons, contractor usage and costs?

11. Will you commit to providing Congress a quarterly update detailing hazardous fuels reduction efforts on National Forest System lands?

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-evans-and-salinas-introduce-bipartisan-bill-advocating-military-spouses,Reps. Evans and Salinas Introduce Bipartisan Bill Advocating for Military Spouses,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Gabe Evans,E000300,gabeevans.house.gov,gabeevans,https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08) and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the bipartisan PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act, a bill that will build on the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) “suggested” time off guidance, and requires federal agencies to provide at least 5 days of administrative leave to a military spouse who's employed by the federal government, and who are relocating with their active-duty partner.

“As a veteran who has received Permanent Change of Station orders multiple times, I know firsthand the sacrifice that military spouses like my wife make to support their partners,” said Rep. Gabe Evans. “I’m proud to co-lead the PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act which codifies the Office of Personnel Management's guidance and ensures that servicemembers’ husbands and wives working at a federal agency receive at least five days administrative leave when given PCS orders.”

“When a servicemember gets orders to relocate, their spouse should not have to exhaust their personal time off or forgo pay just to move,” said Rep. Andrea Salinas. “Our bill ensures that military spouses employed by the federal government have the paid leave they need to relocate with the dignity, stability, and support they deserve. This assistance allows families to manage the practical realities of relocating — like enrolling their children in new schools, finding childcare, and setting up a new home — without added strain.”

“Our 2023 national survey shows that active-duty spouses who are employed full time are more likely to report excellent family well-being, yet too many lose income or employment stability when the military requires a move. Ensuring a window of administrative leave is a meaningful way to support military spouses, strengthen financial stability, and recognize the essential role that military families play in the readiness of our all-volunteer force.” — Shannon Razsadin, Military Family Advisory Network CEO.

“Supporting military families means recognizing the unique challenges that come with frequent relocations. Providing 40 hours of administrative leave for federal employees who are military spouses during a PCS move is not just a thoughtful accommodation — it’s a smart policy. It helps retain talented individuals, reduces job instability, and makes military service more sustainable for whole families.” — Kathy Roth-Douquet, Blue Star Families

Background

On average, military families move every 2.5 years. Oftentimes, a servicemember’s spouse bears a significant burden during this process, which is financially, emotionally, and physically exhausting. Forevery single move, they have to find child care, enroll their children in new schools, and organize and set up their home. This burden can be especially daunting for working spouses, especially if their employer doesn’t provide them with paid leave to focus on the move.

Due to the high rates of under and unemployment among military spouses, the federal government started the Military Spouse Preference Program, which provides employment preference to spouses of active duty servicemembers for federal jobs.

While this is beneficial to military families, the federal government doesn’t require agencies to provide paid leave for military spouses employed by the federal government who accompany their spouse on a PCS move. As a result, some military spouses who are federal workers have to take leave without pay or use their own vacation days in order to help move their family.

To combat this, at the end of 2023, The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) circulated a memo encouraging agencies to offer up to 5 days of admin leave for federal employees who have to relocate due to their spouse’s PCS orders. However, this memo did not require agencies to do so, only recommending that they do.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases/secure-rural-schools-reauthorization-heads-final-vote-following-push-neguse,Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Heads to Final Vote Following Push from Neguse and Colleagues,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Joe Neguse,N000191,neguse.house.gov,neguse,https://neguse.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 4, 2025

Bill noticed a mere 12-hours after a bipartisan, bicameral group of more than 80 lawmakers called for action in the U.S. House of Representatives to aid rural, forested counties.

Washington, D.C. –– Yesterday, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, alongside Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), led a bipartisan coalition of more than 80 lawmakers in sending a letter to House Republican leadership requesting urgent reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. The bill, which already unanimously passed the Senate in June, would reauthorize the program through Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and provide lapsed payments for FYs 2024 and 2025.

Following the letter from Neguse and colleagues, this morning, the House noticed fast-track consideration of the bill for next week. It is slated to be up under suspension of the rules.

“The Secure Rural Schools program has been a lifeline for rural counties, supporting not just students and schools, but investments in local infrastructure and public safety. And for folks in my district, this means federal funding for wildfire prevention, search-and-rescue operations, trail and road maintenance, and other key services,” said Congressman Neguse.

“I’m thrilled that Republican leaders in the House have heeded the calls of our bipartisan coalition by bringing the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act to the Floor for a vote, so we can urgently get this program back up and running. This isn’t just about policy — it’s about delivering real, tangible results for our rural and mountain communities.”

Authorization for the SRS program lapsed in September 2023, with the last full authorized payments going out to counties in the spring of 2024 and only partial payments from revenue-sharing delivered for 2025, resulting in decreases of up to 80 percent for some counties. These gaps in funding leave rural and mountain counties struggling to fund schools, road maintenance and emergency services.

View the full text of the lawmakers’ letter to House Republican leadership HERE.

Background

Established in 2000, the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which is overseen by the United States Forest Service (USFS), helps fund essential services in rural and mountain communities that are home to federal lands, which are tax-exempt. It provides financial support back to county governments where these National Forests are located. These funds are then distributed to help eligible counties, including many of those in Colorado’s Western Slope, maintain local roads, support schools, conduct wildfire mitigation, and more.

Congressman Neguse has been a champion for the SRS program since his election to Congress. In 2019, he introduced legislation to reauthorize SRS and was successful in securing a two-year extension to the program. In 2021, he ensured the continuation of SRS payments by securing another extension as part of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He introduced legislation in 2023 to reauthorize the program for an additional three years, and is continuing to partner with Rep. LaMalfa on those reauthorization efforts in the 119th Congress.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-blocks-88-trump-nominees/,Bennet Blocks 88 Trump Nominees,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,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 took to the Senate floor to block Republicans’ improper attempt to push through a slate of 88 Trump nominations.

Bennet: Thank you, Mr. President. The precedent of September 11, 2025, that established a majority vote – threshold vote – for cloture on an executive resolution that provided for the en bloc consideration of nominations, excluded nominations at level one of the executive schedule under 5 USC 5312, or Article 3 judges. Is that correct, Mr. President?

Senate President: That is correct.

Senate President: That is correct.

Bennet: Mr. President, I’m sorry to say this slate of nominations in S.Res.520 includes Calendar No. 476, Sarah Bailey of Texas, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy. That position is among those listed in 5 USC 5312. Therefore the threshold for cloture on this vote would be three fifths of those duly chosen and sworn. Is that correct, Mr. President?

Bennet: I object.

Earlier this year, Republicans exercised the nuclear option to allow for the Senate to pass nominations en bloc. Today, Republicans attempted to approve 88 nominations – including the nomination of Sarah Bailey for Director of National Drug Control Policy, a position that is not eligible for inclusion in this package under the new Senate rules. Following Bennet’s opposition, Republicans pulled their nomination package and will have to refile without Bailey’s nomination.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-hickenlooper-cortez-masto-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-unaccompanied-migrant-children-reverse-republicans-fees-on-children-seeking-asylum/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children, Reverse Republicans’ Fees on Children Seeking Asylum",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,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. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and 19 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act, legislation to reverse the provisions in Republicans’ so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” that harm children seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries.

“All too often, our immigration system fails to protect unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum,” said Bennet. “This legislation will protect unaccompanied children fleeing violence by reversing cruel provisions in Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill. I won’t stop pushing the Trump Administration to ensure that these children are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

“MAGA Republicans created new fees and recurring charges for unaccompanied children fleeing violence as their cases are stuck being processed,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s a betrayal to our original promise of justice and freedom. We’re working to stop it.”

“As members of Congress, it’s our duty to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves,” said Cortez Masto. “That includes the unaccompanied children who come to the United States after escaping trafficking and abuse. It’s essential that we reverse the Republican tax law’s cruel provisions and protect these kids.”

This summer, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans passed the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” into law, which imposed a new $5,000 Border Apprehension Fee on any child who arrives to the U.S. between ports of entry. The bill also required children to pay a mandatory asylum application fee and new annual asylum maintenance fees for every year their case remains pending in the government’s yearslong backlog. For children fleeing human trafficking and extreme violence, these fees are often impossible to pay.

Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill also provides funding for intrusive body examinations of minors, who are often the victims of abuse and trafficking, and provides funding for deporting unaccompanied children who have not been screened for signs of trafficking or allowed a full review of their case before an immigration judge.

The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act would reverse these provisions and protect unaccompanied children by:

Exempting unaccompanied children from the following fees:

Asylum fee, employment authorization document fee, annual asylum fee, employment authorization renewal fees, and others;

Repealing the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status fee;

Repealing a provision that funds summary returns of “specified” unaccompanied children;

Repealing funding for body examinations of children in Customs and Border Protection or Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody;

Prohibiting ORR from sharing sponsor information with the Department of Homeland Security or any other federal agency for the purpose of immigration enforcement; and

Refunding fees that have been paid under any of the provisions that have been repealed or amended under this bill.

Bennet has consistently advocated for the protection of children in the immigration system. In November, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 48 bicameral colleagues to introduce the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. In March, Bennet urged the Trump Administration to reinstate critical protections for unaccompanied migrant children following the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) decision to rescind the 2023 Memorandum on Children’s Cases in Immigration Court and reinstate 2017 guidelines. In March, Bennet also urged the Trump Administration to ensure unaccompanied children in the immigration system receive legal representation. Last year, alongside Senate colleagues, Bennet called on Senate Appropriations leaders to ensure EOIR reports on the implementation of specialized children’s immigration courts. In 2023, Bennet and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Immigration Court Efficiency and Children’s Court Act, a bipartisan bill to establish a dedicated Children’s Court within EOIR. The legislation would combat the immigration court backlog and strengthen due process rights for unaccompanied migrant children.

In addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Cortez Masto, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) cosponsored the bill.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-joins-crapo-wyden-colleagues-to-introduce-bipartisan-pharmacy-benefit-manager-legislation/,"Bennet Joins Crapo, Wyden, Colleagues to Introduce Bipartisan Pharmacy Benefit Manager Legislation",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to introduce the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Price Transparency and Accountability Act. This legislation will fix market distortions and increase transparency in federal prescription drug programs to lower patient costs at the pharmacy counter.

“We live in the wealthiest country in the world, yet lifesaving medicine is still unaffordable for far too many Americans. This bill is an important step toward increasing accountability and transparency in drug pricing and making prescriptions more affordable for Coloradans,” said Bennet.

“Pharmacy benefit managers should not profit from overcharging patients for their prescriptions,” said Crapo. “This bipartisan legislation is a decisive step toward making the prescription drug market easier to navigate for both patients and pharmacies. These proposals form a strong foundation for additional efforts to promote pharmacy access, demystify drug pricing and reduce costs for both taxpayers and seniors.”

“It’s long past time to go after middlemen who are making Americans’ prescription drugs more expensive,” said Wyden. “The Finance Committee has put forward a comprehensive approach to stop the pharmacy benefit manager business practices that are harming seniors and taxpayers who count on Medicare to deliver affordable prescription drugs. It’s time to get this done.”

Specifically, the PBM Price Transparency and Accountability Act would:

Delink PBM compensation from their negotiated rebates to disincentivize PBMs from promoting higher-priced medications;

Increase PBM reporting requirements to Medicare Part D plan sponsors and to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and empower Part D plan sponsors to audit their PBM for compliance with contract requirements;

Reinforce existing requirements that plan sponsors contract with any willing pharmacy that meets their standard contract terms and conditions to better protect independent pharmacies in rural areas from practices that have contributed to widespread closures;

Require participation by retail community pharmacies in the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost survey, which would ensure accurate Medicaid payments to pharmacies; and

Mandate that PBMs pass Medicaid payments directly to pharmacies to ensure transparent drug costs for states and taxpayers.

In addition to Senators Bennet, Crapo, and Wyden, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ben Ray Luján (D-N,M.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mark Warner (D-Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) cosponsored the bill.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-kaine-colleagues-reintroduce-medicare-x-choice-act-to-achieve-universal-health-care/,"Bennet, Kaine, Colleagues Reintroduce Medicare-X Choice Act to Achieve Universal Health Care",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,Michael F. Bennet,B001267,www.bennet.senate.gov,bennet,https://www.bennet.senate.gov/news/page/,scraper,"A Public Health Insurance Plan Would Provide An Affordable Option for Families Across Colorado, Virginia, and the Country

Washington, D.C. –– U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) announced the reintroduction of their legislation, the Medicare-X Choice Act, which would create a public option by building on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicare frameworks as over 14 million Americans are set to lose their health care coverage as a result of Republicans’ $1 trillion cut to Medicaid and the expiration of critical premium tax credits. The Medicare Exchange (Medicare-X) plan would offer families, individuals, and small businesses affordable health insurance, decrease the number of uninsured Americans, control the cost of health care, and increase competition in the health insurance market.

“Our health care system repeatedly fails to give working Americans the care they need,” said Bennet. “Now, millions face even greater barriers to accessing affordable health care due to the largest cuts to Medicaid in history. Countless families are also grappling with the possibility of losing their coverage due to skyrocketing premiums as time runs out to extend critical ACA tax credits. In the wake of a looming health care crisis, Medicare-X will give everyone an affordable option regardless of where they live, reduce health care costs, and improve the quality of available insurance. We have a responsibility to create the best health care system possible, achieve universal coverage in our country, and save millions of Americans from being thrown off their health insurance. We can do that through Medicare-X.”

“Access to high-quality and affordable health care is essential to the health and well-being of our communities. This year, Republicans have decimated health care and have yet to come to the table to extend critical enhanced premium tax credits to prevent health care costs from skyrocketing. My hope is that in the coming days, my Republican colleagues will join us in voting for legislation to extend critical enhanced premium tax credits while we work together on long-term solutions to expand care,” said Kaine. “One of those solutions is passing my Medicare-X Choice Act to provide Americans with another option to get affordable health insurance.”

The ACA expanded health insurance coverage to an additional 20 million Americans, established critical protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, and standardized essential health benefits for all qualified plans. However, many Americans still face high health care costs and limited options for affordable insurance.

The bill would work within the Medicare and ACA frameworks to establish a Medicare Exchange public option plan in every county in America for individuals, families, and small businesses, providing an additional, affordable option in all communities. It would also permanently extend enhanced premium tax credits to make all exchange options even more affordable.

“Coloradans and all Americans are in desperate need of more affordable and equitable health coverage. Congress must act so our families, friends, and neighbors aren’t forced into the impossible decisions between health coverage and other basic necessities. This bill creates a long term solution with Medicare-X that will be more affordable, equitable, and control costs while ensuring the ongoing success and affordability of coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Where Republicans in Congress have refused to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that are vital to keeping coverage affordable for millions of Americans, this will give families long-term affordable coverage across our country,” said Adam Fox, Deputy Director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative.

Bennet and Kaine first introduced the Medicare-X Choice Act in 2017.

Medicare-X plans would cover essential health benefits like other qualified health plans, including maternity and newborn care, pediatric services, and mental and behavioral health care. The plan expands on these benefits by covering primary care services without any cost-sharing for plan holders. A 2022 report from the Urban Institute showed that Medicare-X would reduce the number of uninsured people by 1.1 million, would save households $10.9 billion, and would cut spending on health care by $456 billion over a ten year period.

In addition to Bennet and Kaine, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) co-sponsored this bill.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-renews-calls-for-hegseth-to-resign-following-pentagon-inspector-general-report/,Bennet Renews Call for Hegseth to Resign Following Pentagon Inspector General Report,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,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, issued the following statement after reviewing the Department of Defense Inspector General’s report on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sharing sensitive operational information over an unsecure personal Signal chat:

“The Pentagon’s Office of Inspector General has now confirmed what I said months ago: Secretary Hegseth created unacceptable risks to U.S. troops and our military objectives by sharing sensitive operational battleplans in a Signal group chat.

“The Inspector General’s report, following recent reports that Secretary Hegseth may have given orders resulting in unlawful strikes in the Caribbean, only further demonstrates his recklessness and incompetence.

“He is unfit to lead our men and women in uniform and should resign immediately. Every day that he remains in this position endangers our troops and our national security.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/04/bennet-statement-on-blocking-88-trump-nominees/,Bennet Statement on Blocking 88 Trump Nominees,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,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 issued the following statement after blocking 88 Trump nominees on the Senate floor:

“I just blocked 88 Trump nominees from confirmation— including Sara Carter Bailey, a former Fox News contributor nominated to be our country’s Drug Czar.

“Bailey was nominated by Trump, who just pardoned the former President of Honduras, as he served 45 years in prison for conspiring to distribute over 400 tons of cocaine.

“At the same time, Pete Hegseth, another unqualified Fox News host Trump hand-picked for a role far above his station, is running the Pentagon. This week, we found out that he ordered potentially unlawful strikes in the Caribbean, while the Pentagon watchdog found that he potentially risked servicemembers’ lives by sharing battleplans via Signal.

“I will not allow unqualified nominees, this White House, or the President to undermine the rule of law and our national security.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-bennet-cortez-masto-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-unaccompanied-migrant-children-reverse-republicans-fees-on-children-seeking-asylum/,"Hickenlooper, Bennet, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children, Reverse Republicans’ Fees on Children Seeking Asylum",2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Trump’s Big Ugly Betrayal Act imposes a $5,000 fee for children seeking asylum as well as annual fees while their cases are reviewed

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Michael Bennet, Catherine Cortez Masto, and 19 of their Senate Democratic colleagues introduced the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act to reverse the provisions in Trump’s Big Bad Betrayal Act that cruelly punish children seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries.

“MAGA Republicans created new fees and recurring charges for unaccompanied children fleeing violence as their cases are stuck being processed,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s a betrayal to our original promise of justice and freedom. We’re working to stop it.”

“All too often, our immigration system fails to protect unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum,” said Bennet. “This legislation will protect unaccompanied children fleeing violence by reversing cruel provisions in Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill. I won’t stop pushing the Trump Administration to ensure that these children are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”

“As members of Congress, it’s our duty to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves,” said Cortez Masto. “That includes the unaccompanied children who come to the United States after escaping trafficking and abuse. It’s essential that we reverse the Republican tax law’s cruel provisions and protect these kids.”

This summer, Trump and congressional Republicans jammed through their Big Bad Betrayal Act which cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for his huge tax cuts for the richest Americans and largest corporations.

Their reckless bill also imposed a new $5,000 Border Apprehension Fee on any child who arrives to the U.S. between ports of entry while also requiring children to pay a mandatory asylum application fee and new annual asylum maintenance fees for every year their case remains pending in the government’s yearslong backlog. For children fleeing human trafficking and extreme violence, these fees are often impossible to pay.

Republicans’ Big Bad Betrayal Act also provides funding for intrusive body examinations of minors who are often the victims of abuse and trafficking and provides funding for deporting unaccompanied children who have not been screened for signs of trafficking or allowed a full review of their case before an immigration judge.

To reverse these provisions and protect unaccompanied children, the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act would:

Exempt unaccompanied children from the following fees:

Asylum fee, employment authorization document fee, annual asylum fee, employment authorization renewal fees, and others

Repeals the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status fee.

Repeals provision that funds summary returns of “specified” unaccompanied children.

Repeals funding in the reconciliation bill for body examinations of children in Customs and Border Protection or Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody.

Prohibits ORR from sharing sponsor information with DHS or any other federal agency for the purpose of immigration enforcement.

Refund of fees that have been paid under any of the provisions that have been repealed or amended under this bill.

Hickenlooper has consistently pushed back on the Trump administration’s reckless efforts to undermine due process, slow the already backlogged immigration system, and obstruct congressional oversight of ICE detention facilities. This week, he launched an inquiry into the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) obstruction of congressional oversight of ICE facilities. He also recently urged DHS Secretary Noem to release a Durango father and two children from ICE custody after they reported being physically abused while in ICE detention. Despite having active asylum claims and no criminal record, DHS refused to release them.

In August, Hickenlooper visited the ICE detention center in Aurora to perform routine oversight and push for more transparency from ICE. During the visit, he raised concerns with ICE officials regarding delayed communication with congressional offices, irregular process changes, reports of ICE pressuring detainees to voluntarily depart instead of proceeding through a judicial process, and facility conditions. ICE failed to give satisfactory answers.

This spring, Hickenlooper helped introduce the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2025 to guarantee unaccompanied children get legal counsel, after the Trump administration cut off funding for required services under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and began fast-tracking kids into immigration proceedings.

Hickenlooper cosponsors the Immigration Enforcement Identification Act to increase transparency, accountability, and safety in immigration law enforcement. This bill prohibits law enforcement officers from obscuring their faces and requires that they clearly display their agency, name, and a unique identifier while conducting immigration enforcement functions.

In July, Hickenlooper joined 22 of his Senate colleagues to call out the Trump administration’s recent efforts to arrest noncriminal immigrants at their immigration court hearings and deport them without adequate due process. In April, Hickenlooper joined 65 other members of Congress to urge Attorney General Pam Bondi to address the impact of the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) alarming decision to fire key judges as the immigration system faces a staggering backlog of cases.

Full text of the legislation available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-rejects-trumps-latest-blm-nominee/,Hickenlooper Rejects Trump’s Latest BLM Nominee,2025-12-04,2025,2025-12,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 regarding his opposition to President Trump’s nomination of former U.S. Representative Steve Pearce to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM):

“Americans deserve a BLM director who will be a true steward of the millions of acres under the agency’s care.

“Steve Pearce is NOT that person. While in Congress, he attacked environmental protections and fought to sell off public land.

“His nomination is proof that the Trump administration still views our public lands as assets for sale.

“On behalf of Colorado, I will vote NO because our public lands are NOT for sale.”

Pearce marked his time in Congress working to undermine environmental protections, open public lands for oil and gas operations, and sell public lands.

Hickenlooper is a former geologist and one of the only scientists in the Senate. He has been outspoken against Trump administration cuts to public lands and led an effort against the admin’s plans to overturn the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule. In March, he introduced legislation to reinstate the thousands of National Park Service and Forest Service workers the Trump administration illegally fired.

Hickenlooper also helped lead the fight against Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell off more than three million acres of public lands. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm back in April when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendment with colleagues to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans’ tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

In May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration’s threats to Colorado’s national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crank-votes-protect-small-businesses-cut-red-tape-and-costs-main-street,"Rep. Crank Votes to Protect Small Businesses, Cut Red Tape and Costs for Main Street",2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,CO,Jeff Crank,C001137,crank.house.gov,crank,https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted in favor of The DUMP Red Tape Act and the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act which both work to protect Main Street America.

The Destroying Unnecessary, Misaligned, and Prohibitive (DUMP) Red Tape Act gives small businesses a direct line to the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy to report burdensome regulations that are affecting their businesses.

The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act requires the SBA to ensure that any new SBA regulations cost small businesses ZERO dollars.

""It is imperative that we make it easier for small businesses to grow and thrive in our communities,"" said Rep. Jeff Crank. ""These two bills will ultimately set up our local Colorado businesses to cut through red tape and ensure no business owners are burdened with extra costs that come with new rules coming out of Washington, DC.”

Background:

DUMP Red Tape Act:

Small businesses need a permanent hotline to share how federal regulations and other agency actions may impact their ability to operate and grow.

Requires Advocacy to annually report the feedback received through the hotline.

Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act:

The Biden-Harris Administration imposed a historic $1.8 trillion in increased regulatory costs on businesses, while crushing the American economy with record-high inflation.

In response, President Trump issued Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” to alleviate American businesses from overly burdensome regulations.

As the backbone of our economy, Main Street and local businesses need assurance that it can continue to grow without unnecessary costs.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/crow-statement-on-dod-s-investigation-of-secretary-hegseth,Crow Statement on DoD’s Investigation of Secretary Hegseth,2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,CO,Jason Crow,C001121,crow.house.gov,crow,https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s actions likely jeopardized America’s national security and endangered American troops:

After reviewing the Inspector General’s report, Congressman Crow said:

“Pete Hegseth risked our servicemembers’ lives by sharing classified information about ongoing military operations on unsecured systems. If any general, lieutenant, or private had done the same thing as Pete Hegseth, they would immediately face accountability.

“With Pete Hegseth, there is no leadership or accountability. Without change, our servicemembers remain at risk.

“Pete Hegseth’s recklessness endangered lives. Sadly, this Inspector General report is just the latest confirmation of just how unqualified he is to lead our brave men and women in uniform.

“Pete Hegseth needs to resign or be fired.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/03/bennet-cornyn-bipartisan-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-increase-housing-availability-and-affordability/,"Bennet, Cornyn, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Bill to Increase Housing Availability and Affordability",2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and bipartisan Senate colleagues to introduce the More Homes on the Market Act. This bill will make housing more available and affordable by amending the tax code to allow sellers to exclude additional funds from capital gains taxes, incentivizing homeowners to sell their homes and increasing market supply.

“Too many families in Colorado struggle to find affordable homes in their communities that meet their needs. At the same time, seniors are struggling to sell their homes for fear of a massive tax bill,” said Bennet. “This bill addresses this problem and updates outdated tax rules so more homes can come on the market and more Coloradans can find a place to call their own.”

“The American dream is rooted in owning a home and raising a family, but an outdated tax code not only prevents the next generation from being able to afford a home, but it also prevents seniors seeking to downsize from selling theirs,” said Cornyn. “This legislation would update the tax code to incentivize sellers and make homes more affordable, and I’m glad to support it.”

The current tax code allows homeowners who sell their primary home to exclude $250,000 in gains from capital gains taxes, or $500,000 in the case of a couple filing jointly. However, this exclusion has not been updated since 1997, nor is it indexed for inflation. Because of this, millions of homeowners in Colorado and across the country face overly burdensome taxes from the sale of their homes, leading many homeowners – especially seniors who have lived in their home for decades – to choose not to sell. The More Homes on the Market Act would increase the exclusion to $500,000 for single filers and $1 million for joint filers, making it more financially desirable for homeowners to sell and increasing housing turnover.

The legislation is endorsed by the National Association of Realtors and AARP.

In addition to Bennet and Cornyn, U.S. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) cosponsored the bill.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/03/bennet-hickenlooper-welcome-420-million-in-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-funding-to-deliver-internet-across-colorado/,"Bennet, Hickenlooper Welcome $420 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Deliver Internet Across Colorado",2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,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. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed the announcement that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Colorado’s proposal to invest more than $420 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in affordable, high-speed internet. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program is the largest broadband investment in American history, and provides funding to build essential infrastructure and connect communities to high-speed internet. The BEAD program is based on Bennet’s bipartisan BRIDGE Act.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s BEAD program, based on my bipartisan BRIDGE Act, will bring high-speed internet to communities across Colorado, helping close the digital divide and ensuring every Coloradan can participate in the 21st century economy,” said Bennet. “We must build upon this important funding announcement – I will continue pushing to ensure that the full $826 million allocation is made available to connect Coloradans to affordable, high-speed internet.”

“We wrote the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to connect every American to high-speed, affordable, and reliable internet,” said Hickenlooper. “This funding will unlock better access to health care, greater work opportunities, and more connected lives for thousands of Coloradans. We’re disappointed that the millions of dollars in potential budget cuts to the program could leave behind thousands of families and small businesses.”

Following NTIA’s revised policy guidance, Colorado’s new BEAD proposal request was for a partial amount of the originally allocated $826 million dollars the state received in 2023. Bennet and Hickenlooper will continue to work to ensure that the full allocation is made available to Colorado. Bennet recently led the Colorado Democratic delegation in a letter to the NTIA Administrator supporting Colorado’s application to retain its full allocation. Over the summer, Bennet and Hickenlooper condemned Secretary Lutnick’s decision to ask states to reapply for BEAD funding.

The BEAD program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs in all 50 states and territories. The program prioritizes unserved and underserved locations that have no or very slow internet access.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/12/03/bennet-schiff-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-prevent-inexperienced-temporary-immigration-judge-appointments-close-loopholes-exploited-by-trump-administration/,"Bennet, Schiff, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Prevent Inexperienced Temporary Immigration Judge Appointments, Close Loopholes Exploited by Trump Administration",2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and 15 Senate colleagues to introduce the Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act, legislation to prevent inexperienced temporary immigration judge appointments in light of the Trump Administration’s abuse of loopholes under current regulations. U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) introduced companion legislation in the House.

“The Trump Administration’s inhumane immigration policies are only made worse by its mass firing of immigration judges, creating an even greater backlog of immigration cases,” said Bennet. “As families and community members languish in detention centers, our immigration courts are unable to efficiently enforce due process rights. This bill addresses this crisis created by the Administration and puts qualified judges back on the bench to ensure our courts fulfill their duty.”

“The Trump Administration’s willingness to fire experienced immigration judges and hire inexperienced or temporary “deportation judges,” especially in places like California, has fundamentally impacted the landscape of our justice system,” said Schiff. “Given the Administration’s unlawful terminations of qualified judges, and their plan to leverage the power of temporary positions to speed up their mass deportation agenda, the risks of grave injury to families, fairness, and due process have expanded. The Administration’s unlawful mass firing of immigration judges at an alarming rate is their latest aggressive enforcement tactic that jeopardizes our judicial workforce. Amidst the growing number of pending cases in immigration courts, this legislation will ensure that only experienced and trained temporary immigration judges will have the privilege of adjudicating cases that have permanent consequences for millions of people.”

“After purging over 100 permanent immigration judges from the DOJ, the Trump Administration is now looking to push attorneys with limited to no prior immigration law experience into these roles,” said Vargas. “Anyone facing the life-altering consequences of deportation deserves to have their case heard in front of a judge who is trained and experienced in immigration law. We need guardrails now as the Trump Administration continues to attack our immigrant communities and due process rights.”

The lawmakers introduced this legislation following the Trump Administration’s mass firing of immigration judges and authorization of up to 600 military lawyers to serve as temporary immigration judges. The bill aims to close the loopholes the Administration has utilized to accelerate mass deportations, such as the lack of due process protections for individuals in immigration court proceedings.

Specifically, the Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act would:

Cap temporary immigration judge appointments at four consecutive six-month terms, establishing a 2-year maximum service limit with at least a 3-year break in between services;

Prevent military attorneys and Judge Advocate Generals from being appointed as temporary immigration judges;

Authorize appointments of attorneys at the Department of Justice (DOJ) who meet the eligibility requirements; and

Establish basic training requirements.

The bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, American Immigration Council (AIC), American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Brennan Center for Justice, and the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ).

“The Trump Administration has exploited its ability to improperly influence immigration judges’ decisions, further eroding the integrity of the immigration court system. This year alone, the Administration has fired or pushed out more than a hundred permanent judges while simultaneously taking steps to hire hundreds of unqualified temporary judges. The American Immigration Council supports this bill because it would prevent future Administrations from replacing permanent immigration judges with temporary appointees who lack immigration law experience and are vulnerable to political pressure. Noncitizens are entitled to fair and impartial hearings, and this bill is a critical step toward protecting the independence and credibility of immigration courts,” said Adriel D. Orozco, Senior Policy Counsel, AIC.

“The bill is a common-sense approach that ensures temporary immigration judges have sufficient expertise and training to allow them to handle immigration cases. The Supreme Court has recognized immigration law as a complex legal specialty, and minimum requirements are needed to make sure immigrants’ due process rights are respected,” said Brennan Center for Justice.

“Strengthening appointment criteria to emphasize credentials, judicial temperament, and commitment to due process reinforces public trust that decisions are based on law and evidence—not politics. Further, implementing rigorous vetting, training, and performance evaluation standards, with safeguards against political influence, promotes judicial excellence and consistency across both permanent and temporary appointments,” said the NAIJ.

In addition to Bennet and Schiff, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) cosponsored the legislation.

The text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-alsobrooks-blumenthal-blunt-rochester-heinrich-kim-markey-schiff-van-hollen-introduce-bill-to-protect-scientific-standards-safeguard-acip-vaccine-committee/,"Hickenlooper, Alsobrooks, Blumenthal, Blunt Rochester, Heinrich, Kim, Markey, Schiff, Van Hollen Introduce Bill to Protect Scientific Standards, Safeguard ACIP Vaccine Committee",2025-12-03,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,CO,John W. Hickenlooper,H000273,www.hickenlooper.senate.gov,hickenlooper,https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press/page/,scraper,"Senators introduce bill ahead of ACIP’s meeting tomorrow to revisit hepatitis B, other childhood shots

This year, HHS Secretary replaced all 17 non-partisan experts on CDC’s top vaccine committee, attacked settled science

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Angela Alsobrooks, Richard Blumenthal, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Martin Heinrich, Andy Kim, Ed Markey, Adam Schiff, and Chris Van Hollen introduced the Family Vaccine Protection Act to protect Americans’ access to vaccines and to safeguard proven science from recent Trump administration efforts to undermine vaccines. The senators’ bill comes as the CDC’s top vaccine panel meets tomorrow to discuss – and potentially vote on – updates to the childhood vaccine schedule, including the hepatitis B vaccine.

“Vaccine decisions should be grounded in facts – not conspiracy theories,” said Hickenlooper, member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. “This administration’s senseless attacks on science erodes Americans’ trust in public health and undermines families’ access to safe vaccines. Our bill protects science and restores Americans’ confidence that vaccine recommendations are rooted in data, not politics.”

“I became the first Senator to call on RFK Jr. to resign or be fired because he is unqualified and his dangerous agenda was clear from day one: politicize our life-saving immunization schedule. In the meantime, I will fight tooth and nail to keep our families healthy and safe despite the Secretary’s efforts to the contrary. That’s why the Senate must pass our Family Vaccine Protection Act – to protect families from vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Alsobrooks.

“This legislation protects access to essential vaccines and counters the Trump Administration’s senseless corruption of science. By prioritizing conspiracy theories over science, Trump is depriving Americans of basic public health. Vaccines save lives—it’s simple. Americans need them,” said Blumenthal.

“I’m proud to be joining my colleagues in introducing the Family Vaccine Protection Act. For decades, Americans have counted on ACIP for safe, reliable, and science-backed guidance on vaccines. Now, thanks to Secretary Kennedy’s reckless actions and continued vaccine skepticism, families are faced with conspiracy theories and confusion,” said Blunt Rochester, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. “This bill builds upon our work to defend health and safety amidst Secretary Kennedy’s dismantling of our public health institutions and norms. As we enter the peak of the flu season, families in Delaware and across our nation need clarity. It’s long past time to get politics out of public health.”

“Americans expect our public health decisions to be guided by facts and science in order to keep families and children safe from preventable diseases. Instead at every turn Donald Trump and RFK Jr. have undermined Americans’ health and safety by installing vaccine skeptics and deniers in key roles, and jeopardizing children’s access to lifesaving vaccines,” said Schiff. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Family Vaccine Protection Act to fight back against Trump’s war on science and health care, and to ensure all communities have access to the preventative care they need.”

The bill codifies the structure and practices of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a 60-year-old federal panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recommends who should get vaccines and when. It strengthens transparency into how vaccine guidance is developed and adopted, reinforces science-based decision-making, and ensures accountability in the nation’s vaccine process.

ACIP’s recommendations inform which vaccines are covered by insurers and government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Vaccines for Children, which provides free vaccines to more than half of the children in the U.S.

The senators’ legislation comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. undermined the ACIP and replaced all 17 non-partisan scientific experts with ideologues who have a history of undermining vaccines. Two weeks after RFK Jr. replaced all of the committee’s members, the new ACIP announced plans to revisit the childhood vaccine schedule, putting access to vaccines that children have received for decades, such as hepatitis B and polio, in danger. The new ACIP also invited a known vaccine denier and conspiracy theorist to speak on vaccines, and then made recommendations based solely on her pseudoscience-filled presentation.

This attack on settled vaccine science comes as the U.S. faces the highest total number of measles cases in 33 years, including the first measles deaths in the country in a decade.

Specifically, the Family Vaccine Protection Act would:

Establish guardrails to ensure vaccines remain accessible to all:

Protect the role of ACIP recommendations in programs like the Vaccine for Children Program and ensure that health insurance plans provide cost-free coverage for vaccines recommended by ACIP.

Codify current rigorous, science-based processes for recommending vaccines:

Set a timeline for new vaccine consideration by ACIP

Require that both the CDC Director and HHS Secretary adopt such recommendations if supported by a majority of the scientific evidence.

Strengthen the independence of the Advisory Committee:

Write the role of ACIP into statute and specify its structure, its membership selection processes, meeting frequency, and expertise requirements to protect it from dissolution or undue interference by the HHS secretary.

Ensure the Secretary cannot unilaterally make or withdraw vaccine recommendations contrary to the advice of scientific experts:

Require the HHS secretary to adopt the official vaccine decision as set by ACIP

Require the secretary to publish the basis for the agency action, including an explanation as to how the action is supported by the best available, peer-reviewed scientific evidence, if the secretary chooses to depart from an ACIP recommendation.

Hickenlooper has been a fierce critic of the admin’s senseless attacks on American science. He called out RFK Jr.’s latest efforts to undermine Americans’ access to safe vaccines, helped launch an investigation into RFK Jr.’s decision to replace the ACIP experts, raised alarm about the mass firings at HHS, and demanded answers on how the firing of IVF researchers at the CDC will impact families seeking fertility treatment.

Earlier this year, he also questioned RFK Jr. on his public anti-science views and plans regarding transparency in NIH studies during RFK Jr.’s HELP confirmation hearing. Hickenlooper voted no on RFK Jr.’s nomination.

The bill is endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, The American Public Health Association, The Infectious Disease Society of America, and American Federation of Teachers (AFT): Education, Healthcare, Public Services.

Representatives Frank Pallone and Kim Schrier introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

Full text of the bill is available HERE.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z