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A Note from Me:
Happy Juneteenth, Colorado!
Today, we commemorate the end of slavery and celebrate the expansion of freedom that Juneteenth represents. We are reminded of our shared responsibility to confront injustice and dismantle systemic racism, while honoring the contributions of Black Americans who have helped build Colorado and our nation.
Colorado’s story has been shaped by trailblazers like Clara Brown, who helped formerly enslaved people build new lives in our state, and the families who established Dearfield, one of the most prominent Black homesteading communities in the American West.
The perseverance of these Coloradans and so many others have expanded opportunity, strengthened our state, and moved our democracy closer to its ideals. As we celebrate their legacy, we recommit ourselves to building a future that fully lives up to the promise of freedom and opportunity for everyone.
2. Fighting for Rural Healthcare
What’s happening: With the rollout of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) officially underway, and all 50 states receiving their initial funding - including $200 million to Colorado - local providers are trying to figure out how to actually access these funds. This has left many experts with unanswered questions and concerns around program implementation.
What I believe: In rural communities across the country, hospitals and clinics serve as the backbone of local health care systems, delivering emergency care, supporting maternal health, treating chronic illness, and standing ready to respond when lives are on the line. The successful implementation of the RHTP is an important opportunity to strengthen care for the millions of Americans who rely on rural hospitals, clinics, and providers every day. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services must take action to allow RHTP funds greater flexibility.
What I’m doing: On Thursday, I demanded that Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, take action to ensure the successful implementation of the RHTP. Especially in this current climate, implementation of the RHTP is essential, and I remain committed to ensuring that Coloradans in rural areas have access to the best health care available.
3. Demanding Answers on DACA Renewal Backlog
What’s happening: Colorado is home to more than 12,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processing DACA applications has slowed to a crawl, with wait times for renewal applications increasing from 15 days in Fiscal Year 2025 to more than two months in Fiscal Year 2026. That’s a 360% increase in processing times in just the first five months of the fiscal year. These delays are causing job losses and workforce disruptions, as DACA recipients are left without valid work permits through no fault of their own.
What I believe: For fourteen years, DACA has helped Dreamers pursue their education, build careers, and create their futures in the country they call home. The growing backlog of DACA renewal applications under the Trump Administration is effecting hundreds of Coloradans, who have done everything right. These hardworking individuals deserve better.
What I’m doing: On Thursday, Congressman Joe Neguse and I led the Colorado Democratic Congressional delegation in demanding the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS immediately expedite DACA renewal applications for Coloradans currently in limbo. I will not stop until these individuals get the timeliness they deserve.
4. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK
- On Tuesday, I joined Senator John Hickenlooper and Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) as well as eight Senate colleagues in launching an inquiry into the Trump Administration redirecting tens of millions of dollars from fees paid to the National Park Services to fund President Donald Trump’s vanity projects in Washington. Coloradans deserve to know why Trump is stealing millions from our national parks and spending it on firework shows, gilded statues, and marble fountains. Robbing parks to pay for Trump's pet projects puts our iconic public lands at risk.
- I joined Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Deb Fischer (R-NE) to introduce the Fencing Eligibility for New Conservation Equipment (FENCE) Act. This bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture to include virtual fencing as another option for farmers and ranchers under the Emergency Conservation Program. Colorado ranchers have endured years of challenges, particularly as wildfires grow more frequent across the West. We need to give farmers and ranchers the tools to navigate changing conditions, adopt new technologies, and build resilient operations. This bill provides the flexibility ranchers need to recover in ways that work best for them.
- On Thursday, I joined Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) to submit an amicus brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, urging the Court to reverse a prior decision that erodes protections for immigration judges and jeopardizes the integrity of the merit-based federal civil service. Upholding this decision would fundamentally alter the balance of power between the Executive and Legislative branches. Millions of federal workers would become removable at will — the civil service merit system would functionally cease to exist. I remain committed to protecting due process rights, transparency, and safety in the U.S. immigration system.
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