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A Note from Me:
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Staff Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, who served with the 1st Space Brigade at Fort Carson and passed away last Sunday after being wounded during an attack in Saudi Arabia. I am forever grateful for his service and sacrifice. My thoughts are with his loved ones and his fellow soldiers at Fort Carson.
1. Working to Fund Critical Agencies and Fighting Inhumane DHS Policies
What’s happening: This week, Republicans again blocked funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Coast Guard — critical agencies responsible for keeping Americans safe and responding to natural disasters. In doing so, they’ve prioritized shielding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from accountability over funding the agencies Americans rely on in crisis. Since the start of this shutdown, over 300 TSA agents alone have formally left the agency, and this number will likely increase as this gridlock continues.
What I believe: Republicans are still refusing to engage in meaningful negotiations on reining in DHS. They provided ICE with over $85 billion through Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, keeping the agency funded through this partial shutdown, but are unwilling to prioritize paying other critical federal employees. They must come to the table to work together on a path forward.
What I’m doing: I have consistently fought the Trump Administration’s cruel and inhumane immigration policies while also standing up for federal workers. I have no plan on backing down now. I remain committed to working on legislation for commonsense reforms to DHS. We must protect children and families, bar enforcement operations at sensitive locations, prohibit officers from wearing masks while requiring visible identification, and ensure accountability for those who break the law.
2. Celebrating Housing Wins
What’s happening: On Thursday, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the largest federal housing package in over a decade. This legislation tackles zoning modernization, increases housing supply, reduces regulatory barriers to construction, updates rural housing programs, sets up permanent disaster recovery, and streamlines federal housing programs.
My contribution: I am a proud cosponsor of the HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act, one of this bill’s key provisions. HOME is the largest federal block grant program dedicated exclusively to affordable housing, distributing funds to states and localities for new construction, rehabilitation, and tenant-based rental assistance. This package would increase HOME program funding from $1.3 billion to $5 billion with an approximately five percent annual increase through 2029.
What I believe: Colorado is consistently ranked as one of the worst states for housing affordability, something I hear about from constituents all the time. On Wednesday, President Trump reportedly told Speaker Mike Johnson that no one cares about housing - proof that he has no sense of the true needs of American families. I am glad my vote for this bipartisan package gets us one step closer to helping make home ownership a reality for Coloradans. The fight is not over though, and I will continue to work to make housing more affordable and accessible to meet the true challenges facing Coloradans.
4. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK
- This week, I joined 43 of my Senate Democratic colleagues to demand the Department of Defense swiftly investigate whether the United States was responsible for airstrikes on a school in Minab, Iran – which killed at least 168 people, mostly children – as well as other civilian casualties in the Trump Administration’s unauthorized war. President Trump launched his war without congressional authorization, any effort to build a coalition of allies, or clear objectives. I will continue fighting against President Trump’s recklessness as we defend our troops and U.S. national security.
- On Tuesday, I called out President Trump’s blatant efforts to undermine our elections by holding the Senate hostage to pass his SAVE America Act — legislation that will make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. This isn't election integrity. It's a targeted effort to block American citizens from casting a ballot — especially women, rural voters, and seniors. I will not stop fighting to protect Coloradans’ voting rights, including their ability to cast a mail-in ballot.
- This week, I published an op-ed calling on the United States and our allies to use Putin's money against him – by wielding billions in Russian sovereign assets on Ukraine’s behalf. In 2024, I worked with my bipartisan, bicameral colleagues to pass legislation giving the president the authority to seize Russian sovereign assets held in the United States. I sponsored another bipartisan bill that would build upon the initial legislation by sending these assets to Ukraine on a quarterly basis, among other important steps.
- Congratulations to Nikhil Ganta, a sixth grader from Fort Collins, who won the Denver Post Colorado State Spelling Bee last weekend. Nikhil is now eligible to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. I wish him the best of luck and look forward to cheering him on!
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