Legislative Activity

The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act of 2025 extends funding for research on preterm labor and delivery through fiscal year 2029. It mandates the establishment of an interagency working group by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to address preterm birth issues. Additionally, the Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collaborate with the National Academies to conduct a comprehensive study on premature births in the United States, with a report due within 24 months.

This resolution recognizes Clela Rorex for her historic issuance of the first same-sex marriage license in the U.S. in 1975 and her subsequent LGBTQ advocacy. It acknowledges her role as a civil rights leader who paved the way for the legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide. The resolution also designates March 26, 2025, as Clela Rorex Day.

The American Family Act establishes a new, fully refundable monthly child tax credit, providing monthly allowances to eligible families with children. It creates a system for monthly advance payments of the child tax credit, administered by the Secretary, and includes income limitations and eligibility criteria. The Act also provides a credit for certain other dependents and terminates the existing annual child tax credit after 2024. This aims to provide regular financial support to families with children, reducing child poverty and enhancing economic stability.

The "Mental and Physical Health Care Comorbidities Act of 2025" establishes a Medicare demonstration program to promote collaborative treatment for individuals with co-occurring mental and physical health conditions, addressing social determinants of health. This program, running from October 2025 to September 2030, will allow eligible hospitals to test innovative care models, share best practices, and identify potential payment reforms. The Secretary will establish a learning collaborative and report to Congress on the program's outcomes. Funding will be sourced from existing appropriations.

The "Hot Foods Act of 2025" amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, allowing SNAP benefits to be used for hot, ready-to-eat foods. It sets a limit on restaurants accepting SNAP benefits, where no more than 50% of their sales can come from hot foods. This act broadens the scope of eligible food items under SNAP to include hot food products.

The GREEN Appraisals Act of 2025 aims to integrate energy efficiency and renewable energy considerations into the home appraisal process for mortgages. It requires lenders to inform borrowers of their right to submit an energy report for appraisal consideration, mandates appraisers to consider these reports, and directs covered agencies to issue guidance and update systems to accommodate these changes. The bill also establishes an advisory committee and defines key terms to ensure consistent implementation across federal housing agencies. Ultimately, this bill seeks to ensure that homes with energy-efficient and renewable energy features are accurately valued, encouraging investment in these improvements.

The "Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act of 2025" enables the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, to implement emergency measures on National Forest System lands to protect watersheds and restore forest health after natural disasters. It allows agreements with state, local, and tribal governments for rapid implementation of protection measures, waives matching requirements, and streamlines NEPA compliance for these emergency actions. The Act also clarifies liability for sponsors carrying out these measures and updates related sections of existing agricultural legislation.

The Agricultural Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Mental Health Care Act of 2025 directs the Comptroller General to study and report on the accessibility of substance use disorder treatment and mental health care for farmers and ranchers. The study will identify barriers, successful programs, and best practices, and provide recommendations for improving access to and utilization of these services in agricultural communities. This report will be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and relevant congressional committees.

The MATE Improvement Act expands the list of organizations that can develop or accredit pain management and addiction treatment training programs for physicians and other healthcare practitioners who prescribe controlled substances. It also adds podiatric medicine and accredited schools of pharmacy to the list of medical fields and institutions whose graduates must complete such training. These changes are retroactive to December 29, 2022, the original enactment date of the MATE Act.

This resolution formally recognizes that the Russian Federation initiated the war against Ukraine through an unprovoked, full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, following previous escalations in 2014.

This resolution celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Denver International Airport. It recognizes the airport's contributions and importance to the city. The anniversary will be recognized on February 28, 2025.

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act focuses on land conservation and management in Colorado. It expands wilderness areas, protects wildlife corridors, and addresses land use issues within the White River National Forest, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the San Juan Mountains region. The bill also withdraws the Thompson Divide area from mineral and geothermal leasing while establishing the Curecanti National Recreation Area. This legislation aims to balance wilderness preservation, recreational use, wildlife protection, and responsible energy development, while also safeguarding existing land uses and tribal rights.

The Edward J. Dwight, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 directs the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Edward J. Dwight, Jr., the first African-American astronaut candidate, in recognition of his achievements and contributions to art and Black history. The Act instructs the Secretary of the Treasury to create the gold medal. It also allows for the production and sale of bronze duplicates to the public and specifies that these medals are national and numismatic items.

The "Protect the West Act of 2025" establishes an Outdoor and Watershed Restoration Fund to provide grants and support restoration projects on federal and non-federal lands, with the goal of improving forest health, watershed function, and wildlife habitat. It creates a Restoration Fund Advisory Council to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on fund distribution and project prioritization. The act also establishes a Restoration and Resilience Partnership Program to implement restoration projects in designated areas, and it allocates significant funding for these initiatives, emphasizing job creation, community involvement, and ecological integrity.

The Gold King Mine Spill Compensation Act of 2025 provides compensation to individuals and businesses who suffered damages from the 2015 Gold King Mine spill and whose claims were previously denied or not fully compensated by the EPA. This Act allows the EPA Administrator to investigate and settle these claims, using Colorado state laws to calculate damages, and establishes a process for claimants to challenge the Administrator's decision in court. The bill also allocates $3.3 million for claim payments. Acceptance of payment under this act releases the United States from any further liability related to the Gold King Mine spill.

The "High Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2025" incentivizes the installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems in high-rise residential buildings by classifying these retrofits as 15-year property for depreciation purposes under the Internal Revenue Code. This classification allows for an accelerated depreciation schedule, providing a tax benefit to building owners who invest in these life-saving systems. The bill defines specific criteria for eligible sprinkler systems, including adherence to National Fire Protection Association standards and installation in buildings with occupiable floors more than 75 feet above fire department access. These provisions aim to encourage widespread adoption of fire sprinkler systems, enhancing safety for residents in high-rise buildings.

The "Bolts Ditch Act" amends a previous act to expand the list of entities eligible to perform maintenance on Bolts Ditch and its headgate within Colorado's Holy Cross Wilderness. Specifically, it adds the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, a Colorado Special District, and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority to the list of eligible maintainers. This aims to ensure the upkeep of this important water infrastructure.

The "Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act" amends Public Law 87-590, modifying the repayment terms for the Arkansas Valley Conduit in Colorado. It stipulates that repayments will be without interest and only cover construction funding from non-federal sources. The repayment period for project facilities is extended to 100 years.

The Tim Hart Wildland Firefighter Classification and Pay Parity Act aims to reform and enhance the pay, benefits, and overall support for Federal wildland firefighters. This includes establishing special base rates of pay, incident response premium pay, and rest and recuperation leave. The bill also addresses health concerns by creating a database for tracking chronic diseases, establishing a mental health program, and providing mental health leave. Additionally, it enhances retirement benefits, ensures pay parity with structural firefighters, and establishes a casualty assistance program to support firefighters and their families in times of need.

The Cleaner Air Spaces Act of 2025 authorizes the EPA to provide grants, up to $3,000,000 each, to air pollution control agencies for establishing cleaner air space programs in wildfire smoke-prone areas. These programs must partner with community organizations to establish clean air centers, distribute air filtration units to low-income households, and provide educational resources. The EPA will report to Congress on program implementation and effectiveness and authorizes $30,000,000 to be appropriated to carry out this section for fiscal years 2026 through 2028.