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Blocking 88 Trump Nominations
What happened: Earlier this year, Republicans recklessly changed Senate rules to allow the en bloc confirmation of President Trump’s nominees, bypassing the opportunity for debate on individual appointments. On Thursday, Republicans attempted to approve a slate of 88 nominations – including Sara Carter Bailey, a former Fox News contributor, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy despite her complete lack of experience for this role. Her nomination comes after the Administration just pardoned the former president of Honduras, who was serving 45 years in prison for conspiring to flood our country with 400 tons of cocaine. This position, which coordinates the nation’s drug policy and oversees a $44 billion budget, is not eligible for inclusion in this package under the new Senate procedures – meaning Republicans failed to follow their own new rules.
What I did: On the Senate floor, I blocked Republicans’ slate of 88 Trump nominations from moving forward due to their procedural violation. As a result of my opposition, the Republicans’ package failed to have sufficient votes to pass a key step on the Senate floor, and they will have to refile the package without Bailey’s nomination next week. I will not allow unqualified nominees, Senate Republicans, or the President to undermine the rule of law and our national security.
2. Continuing to Advocate for the CORE Act
What happened: In February, I reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act with Senator Hickenlooper and Representative Neguse. The CORE Act, which received bipartisan support from local governments and countless other stakeholders across Colorado, will protect 420,000 acres of public land in our state.
What I did: For over 15 years, I have worked closely with county commissioners across the political spectrum, outfitters, ranchers, hunters and anglers, and local businesses to develop the CORE Act. This week, I testified during a Senate Subcommittee hearing in support of my legislation and submitted over 50 letters of support into the record.
What I believe: Coloradans did the hard work to ensure the CORE Act represents our state’s diverse interests because they know how fundamental public lands are to our identity and economy. I will keep working towards making the CORE Act law.
3. Celebrating the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Vote to Safeguard the Colorado River
What happened: Last month, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) embraced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to safeguard the Colorado River by approving the Shoshone water rights acquisition.
What I did: In 2022, I led the charge to secure $4 billion in federal funds to combat drought in the Inflation Reduction Act. When that money hadn’t reached Colorado last fall, I urged the Bureau of Reclamation and the White House to secure funding for Shoshone and other projects across our state. In January 2025, the Biden Administration announced $170 million for 18 projects in Colorado, including $40 million for Shoshone. Unfortunately, many of the funds have been frozen by the Trump Administration. In August, I joined the entire Colorado Congressional delegation to demand that the Trump Administration release $40 million in promised funds for the Shoshone project.
What I believe: The CWCB’s vote is a step toward certainty that will help sustain our way of life in Colorado. This decision is a conscious choice to embrace collaboration over conflict and stewardship over short-term thinking. I am grateful for everyone whose years of hard work brought us to this moment, and I will continue working across the aisle to deliver the funding already promised to this and other projects in Colorado.
4. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK
- I reintroduced the Medicare-X Choice Act, which will create an affordable public health insurance plan option. 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 looming expiration of critical premium tax credits, this bill would give everyone an affordable option regardless of where they live, reduce health care costs, and improve the quality of available insurance.
- This week, the Trump Administration threatened to withhold funding to administer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from states, including Colorado, unless they share sensitive data on SNAP recipients. The administration is once again trying to take basic necessities away from Colorado families and punish our state for protecting people’s privacy – I won’t allow that to happen.
- I joined my Colorado Democratic Congressional colleagues to demand answers from the Department of Education on its decision to end grants for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). MSIs in Colorado give students from rural and low-income backgrounds the opportunity to build a future with economic security. I will keep pushing the Trump Administration to ensure that every student in Colorado can succeed.
- I joined my Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act. This bill helps remedy Republicans’ so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” by exempting unaccompanied children from onerous fees imposed under the legislation and repealing other provisions that threaten these children’s safety. I won’t stop pushing the Trump Administration to ensure that these children are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
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