Representative Joe Neguse

Dear Neighbor,

As you know, last week the Trump administration announced its intent to unlawfully dismantle one of the world’s leading scientific research centers — the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. The administration’s action is beyond reckless — it is deeply dangerous, and a blatant act of retaliation against the State of Colorado.

NCAR is truly a world-renowned facility, where more than 830 scientists, researchers and public servants — our neighbors — are delivering life-saving breakthroughs everyday that provide early warnings for natural disasters and deepen our understanding of Earth’s systems. Put simply, the Trump administration’s illegal action cannot stand — we must save NCAR, and I intend to use every available tool to do so.

Over the past several days since the announcement, we’ve been fighting back, including teaming up with Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, working closely with local and state officials, including the Governor, and personally building a bipartisan coalition in the House to secure statutory language in the upcoming funding appropriation bill to protect NCAR.

I’m deeply grateful to the tens of thousands of Coloradans who’ve been making their voices heard over the past week in defense of NCAR. The fight — to protect NCAR, our scientific labs, and scientific research itself — is just beginning, and over the coming months we will work tirelessly to ensure we succeed.

Click HERE for the Vox Article. Click HERE for the CBS article.

An Important Court Victory in Neguse v. ICE

Last week, we learned that the Federal court in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling in my lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security — Neguse et al. v. ICE — temporarily stopping the Trump administration from blocking Members of Congress from unannounced oversight visits to immigration detention facilities. This decision is a critical victory toward restoring our ability to conduct essential congressional oversight on behalf of the American people. We will never stop standing up for the rule of law!

FIGHTING FOR COLORADANS’ HEALTHCARE

Over the past 12 months, House Republicans have put forth legislation that does nothing to lower the rising cost of living or address the healthcare crisis.

They wasted the last week of legislative activity for the year on a “utility” bill that does absolutely nothing — a bill that could have been an email or a press release! And to top it off, with the Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring in less than 2 weeks, they focused their energy on regulating showers and home appliances.

In response, last Wednesday I convened a group of Democratic nurses and physicians for a press conference on Speaker Mike Johnson’s last-ditch and disastrous effort to address the healthcare crisis House Republicans created.

Despite 214 House Democrats — and 4 House Republicans — signing a discharge petition to force a vote on extending the ACA tax credits for working families, Speaker Johnson refused to put a vote on the House Floor to extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring on December 31st, delaying the vote until next year.

It’s shameful, and rather than ensuring their constituents can obtain the same “good insurance” that House Republicans have, they are relaxing rules for so-called “junk plans.” See more on my thoughts in this video here.

WHAT ELSE HAVE WE BEEN WORKING ON?

✈️Need a passport? We have a few spots left in our rescheduled Passport Acceptance Fair on Friday, January 16th. You can apply for a new passport or renew yours right here in Boulder. Please sign up HERE.
⛰️This week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed legislation I lead on the House side: the Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Completion Act. I’m grateful these bills made their way through Committee and will keep fighting until they cross the finish line!

Please continue to stay safe, stay healthy, and — despite everything — stay hopeful!

Sincerely,

Joe Neguse
Member of Congress