|
A Note from Me:
I'm grateful for the release of Dennis Coyle by the Taliban after he was wrongfully detained for over a year in Afghanistan. Dennis is a native of Pueblo and a linguistics researcher who has dedicated over 20 years of his life to improving the lives of the Afghan people. We made a bipartisan effort to secure his release, and Colorado looks forward to welcoming Dennis back home.
2. Fighting to Fund TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard
Last night, the House rejected the Senate’s version of DHS funding and passed its own legislation, leaving the path forward to ending the partial government shutdown unclear.
I remain focused on getting TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard employees paid but I will not support more funding for ICE or CBP—especially without meaningful reforms to these agencies.
Below is the statement I released following the Senate’ DHS vote early Friday morning.
3. Investing in Watershed Projects in the Face of Extreme Drought
What’s happening: Snowpack conditions in Colorado are deeply concerning. As of this month, snowpack stands at roughly 40% of the median snow water equivalent in most basins. These levels point to an early and sustained drying of forests and rangelands, and could lead to a longer and more severe fire season, as well as detrimental effects on Colorado watersheds and agriculture. As the American West faces severe drought and more frequent flooding, farmers, ranchers, and communities are turning to the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations program (also known as “PL-566”) to mitigate the effects of these natural disasters through watershed improvement projects.
What I believe: The PL-566 program is an important tool to help state, local, and Tribal governments and local water managers restore the health of our watersheds, but we need to do more to ensure this program works for the American West. As demand for the program grows, inadequate funding and burdensome red tape keep applicants from accessing its full benefits. Western states, especially, face a harder time accessing the program as a result of its structure and eligibility requirements.
What I’m doing: On Thursday, I led the reintroduction of the bipartisan Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act, along with U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Jeff Merkley, to improve the PL-566 program. This legislation will help American agriculture and communities become more resilient to drought and flooding by making it easier for communities to plan, fund, and complete watershed projects. It cuts red tape, speeds up the process, and gives more authority to local Natural Resources Conservation Service staff who understand regional water challenges. It also expands who can participate, makes it easier for communities to meet funding requirements, and prioritizes projects with multiple conservation and public benefits. Most importantly, it makes drought resilience an explicit focus and helps move support to projects in Colorado and across the American West more efficiently.
4. Standing with Eagle Valley Communities Against the Berlaimont Access Road
What’s happening: The developers of Berlaimont Estates have long sought to build a year-round paved road through U.S. Forest Service lands to facilitate the construction of 19 luxury homes north of Edwards in Eagle County. For years, the project has faced strong community opposition because of the harmful consequences the road’s construction, use, and maintenance could have on wildlife, recreation, wildfire risks, and water quality. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General, the Forest Service lost nearly 6,000 employees in the first half of last year. An independent analysis of publicly available data showed that the Forest Service was also nearly 40% behind on hazardous fuels mitigation nationwide compared to the previous four-year annual average.
What I believe: Over the weekend, temperatures in the Eagle Valley hit over 70 degrees, and snowpack is rapidly declining. The White River National Forest faces the possibility of a catastrophic wildfire season and is still severely understaffed following the Trump Administration’s damaging cuts. Heading into such a challenging summer, the Forest Service needs to be laser-focused on the public good. They simply do not have the capacity to divert staff time to projects that only benefit the very wealthy few.
What I’m doing: On Tuesday, Representative Joe Neguse and I introduced legislation to prohibit the Forest Service from opening, improving, authorizing, permitting, or constructing a year-round road on public land located north of Edwards. The legislation would also clarify that the existing unpaved, seasonal road provides adequate access to inholdings on the federal land north of Edwards. In addition, this bill includes a provision to make it easier for the developers or a future landowner to sell the property to the Forest Service if they choose to do so.
5. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK
- Colorado gas prices are up nearly 35 percent since Trump launched his war against Iran – without authorization from Congress, and with unfounded justifications, unclear objectives, and unknown outcomes. Now, Trump is forcing Coloradans to choose between a full tank and groceries for their families. Working families didn’t ask for this war, and they can’t afford it. I will continue fighting to rein in Trump’s recklessness and make life affordable for all Coloradans.
- On Monday, I voted no on Senator Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. I have been steadfast in my belief that President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security has made our communities less safe, left states to suffer alone in the wake of natural disasters, and completely disregarded the rule of law. I have no faith that any Trump-appointed nominee, including Senator Mullin, will have the independence and vision they need to make the necessary changes to protect our rights, follow the rule of law, and respect human dignity.
- This week, I led my colleagues to urge Administrator Kelly Loeffler to take action over the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) failure to provide prompt spending authority for the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Small businesses are the lifeblood of Colorado’s economy, and the Colorado SBDC provides critical resources to help small businesses grow across our state. I will continue to push to protect Colorado’s small businesses and their employees.
- On Monday, I met with college students from Colorado and across the country to talk about the affordability crisis and the future of our democracy. We have to build an economy in this country that provides real opportunity and economic mobility for families. That starts with reducing the costs of housing, child care, and health care, and equipping our kids with the skills to succeed in the 21st century.
- Congratulations to the DU Pioneers for winning the 2026 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship! One step closer to bringing home another national title. Go get 'em, Pios!
Click here to respond to this email.
    
Unsubscribe
|