State of our Union
Our country is at a turning point. Inflation continues to drive up prices across the nation, our border crisis is as severe as it has ever been, and our closest ally, Israel, is at war. We have a President who keeps putting America last, a Senate that puts Ukraine first, and a House with no leader. Despite the numerous obstacles we face, I remain confident that we will overcome them and ultimately deliver the results that you, the American people, deserve.
Changing the Ways of Washington
The days of passing one-size-fits-all, $1.8 trillion, 4,155-page-long spending bills to fund our government are nearing an end. We need to pass 12 individual appropriations bills to fully fund our government while cutting spending and addressing each Member’s priorities! My team and I have been working day and night to ensure that we include amendments to these bills that will rid our federal agencies of radical, woke ideologies that distract these agencies' fundamental goals, as well as amendments that help strengthen our military and secure our border. Let’s dive deeper into the work I’ve been doing on these bills!
Department of Defense Appropriations Bill
The House took up a Defense Appropriations bill that provides a historic pay raise for our service members and ensures they have the resources necessary to accomplish their missions. The bill strengthens border security and solidifies our position as the world's leading military power. The Third Congressional District secured some major victories with this legislation as 13 of my legislative priorities are included in the bill that will pass the House. These include taking action to effectively address the fentanyl crisis while dismantling the criminal organizations responsible for it as well as funding important research and defense systems. I am proud of the work we have put into this bill and look forward to its passage.
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
Since Joe Biden assumed office, more than 7 million illegal aliens have crossed our borders. Joe Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have put our national security at risk by allowing what can only be described as a complete invasion. This surge in illegal immigration has resulted in a surge in fentanyl seizures and related deaths. Instead of securing our borders, Joe has appointed radical leftists like Claire Trickler-McNulty. Claire Trickler-McNulty serves as the Assistant Director in the Office of Immigration Program Evaluation and openly advocates for the abolition of ICE and open borders. Officials with such rogue viewpoints should not have a say in national security decisions. That's why I've proposed reducing her and other radical DHS officials' salaries to just $1.
Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Bill
I am proud to announce that two of my amendments passed as a part of this appropriations bill. One of my amendments transfers $3 million from government bureaucracy to increase DNA forensic technology programs to combat human trafficking. Human trafficking is surging worldwide, and my amendment makes combatting this crisis a priority. The second amendment I passed prohibits funding in the bill from being used to enforce or implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for international travelers.
Agriculture Appropriations Bill
I'm proud to share that I passed eight crucial amendments, with seven of them gaining strong bipartisan support, within the Agriculture Appropriations bill. These amendments reallocate funds to strengthen rural water and waste systems, bolster school equipment and breakfast programs, enhance cooperative forestry research to mitigate wildfires, reinforce the National School Lunch Program, combat specialty crop pests, and support the interests of rural America. Importantly, one of my amendments redirects resources to thwart woke courses, books, and study guides at the USDA. It's all part of my commitment to the constituents in Colorado's Third Congressional District, as I've secured funding for vital water and infrastructure projects. Together, we're working to fund important agriculture programs and provide a better future for all Americans.
OFFICIAL POLL - What issue is most important to you?
Other Legislative Updates
My bill to protect endangered fish and support Colorado water and power users passed the Natural Resources Committee with unanimous, bipartisan support. This crucial step brings us closer to safeguarding four endangered fish species and providing long-term certainty for 2,500 water and power users that benefit from the program and would have to perform extremely burdensome Section 7 consultations for all 2,500 individual projects without it. These projects serve various needs, utilizing over 3.69 million acre-feet of water each year. With strong bicameral, bipartisan momentum and significant stakeholder support, I'm confident that this bill will become law and this important program will be reauthorized.
Several members of the Congressional Western Caucus and I sent a letter to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Tracy Stone-Manning urging her to rescind the proposed withdrawal of 1.6 million acres in Colorado from future oil and gas leasing.
Closing the door on over 1.6 million acres of vital public lands for energy development is not just an issue of economics; it's a threat to our nation's energy independence and security. This proposal goes beyond necessary environmental considerations and instead seeks to restrict access to promising resources, hindering the potential for economic growth and prosperity, particularly in the West Slope of Colorado. Rogue bureaucrats at the BLM shouldn’t be unilaterally locking up more land in Colorado. It's urgent that we block this overreach and prioritize responsible energy production that will help reduce gas prices during these challenging times.
Read the full letter here.
Six of my amendments increasing services for veterans passed the House. They will increase the availability of medical services, reduce the VA claims backlog, increase resources for suicide prevention and mental healthcare for veterans living in rural areas, increase funding for military funerals in areas without VA national cemeteries, increase resources for veterans’ telehealth, increase resources for veterans’ rural healthcare, construct additional extended care facilities for veterans, and more.
By redirecting funds from the bureaucracy towards direct care for veterans, my six amendments will deliver real results for veterans across Colorado’s Third District. From increasing funds for prosthetic research to reducing the backlog at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals to increasing suicide prevention resources for a program that has provided significant funding to the Third District to constructing new extended care facilities, my amendments will directly improve the quality of life for veterans across Colorado’s Third District.
My Pueblo Jobs Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support this July. The legislation will create at least 1,000 jobs in Pueblo and help bring new businesses into the area. Specifically, the bill requires the Secretary of the Army to rigorously follow the standard Base Realignment and Closure process when closing the remaining portions of the Pueblo Chemical Depot to provide certainty for the Pueblo economy and foster future job creation. Closing this loophole will allow Pueblo to benefit from federal grant funding, enable Pueblo to receive significant benefits to assist with redevelopment and reuse of the property, and put thousands of acres to productive reuse instead of just bulldozing it. The bill also allows those who may be laid off from the closure to be retrained and rehired.
Casework Highlight
In less than three months, my office successfully assisted a veteran from Craig in obtaining his Purple Heart recognition, a process that typically takes a year or longer. We received the Purple Heart at our district office and are now in the process of arranging a formal Purple Heart Ceremony, where I can personally honor this hero for the immense sacrifices he has made for our country.
OFFICIAL POLL - Should Veterans receive the best care possible?
Congressional App Challenge
Submissions for the Congressional App Challenge are now open to all middle and high school students! The Congressional App Challenge is a competition to encourage students to engage in coding and computer science projects. App submissions are due by November 1, 2023. Winning apps will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol! Register today and submit your app here.
Pray for Israel
Last week, our friends in Israel endured unimaginable suffering as an Iran-backed terrorist group, Hamas, launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,200 innocent lives. I stand by Israel now, more than ever, as they find themselves in a war they never sought. Here is a prayer for our friend and ally:
Mobile Office Hours
Staff from my office will be available to help constituents who aren’t getting answers from federal agencies, like veterans seeking to get the care they earned from the VA, travelers that need expedited assistance to receive a passport on short notice, taxpayers being harassed by the IRS, and senior citizens having issues with the Social Security Administration or Medicare. Additionally, constituents are invited to come to the office hours to express their viewpoints on legislative issues or request special Congressional Commendations from the Congresswoman recognizing outstanding public achievements.
My office has hosted over 226 mobile office hours in every county in the Third District, helped over 2,519 people, and returned over $5,333,670.67 to constituents.
Mobile office hours will be available at the following times and locations:
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2023
Mesa County Mobile Office Hours
De Beque Fire Protection District, Conference Room
4580 I-70 Frontage Road
De Beque, CO
10:30-11:30 am
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2023
Garfield County Mobile Office Hours
Rifle Branch Library, Study Room #4
207 East Avenue
Rifle, CO
2:00-3:00 pm