Economy

Continuing his efforts to support Colorado’s clean energy economy, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) has called on the Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Edward DeMarco to either work cooperatively with stakeholders and communities toward resolving PACE programs or step down. The letter is available here. “PACE programs have been expanding rapidly across Colorado because they create jobs, cut pollution, and allow homeowners the chance to save money on their utility bills,”... Read more

Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, along with Congressman Peter Roskam (IL-06), Jared Polis (CO-02), and Erik Paulsen (MN-03) announced the introduction of new legislation to help American workers succeed in the global job market by saving money for education and job training. The Bipartisan Lifelong Learning Accounts Act will allow Americans to invest in worker-owned, employer-matched educational accounts that will grow tax-free. “To stay competitive in... Read more

They say the only things certain in life are death and taxes, but the capital gains tax hike heading straight for us isn't necessarily inevitable. By looking at eerily close historical parallels, it isn't over until it's over. Are capital gains taxes going up? How high? And when? Unless Congress acts and the president puts his John Hancock on legislation, the top tax on capital gains will increase to 20% from 15% on Jan. 1 for many taxpayers. President Obama agrees. But that's not the end of the... Read more

Congressman Jared Polis Remarks in Support of Lee Amendment to Responsibly End the War in Afghanistan Thursday, July 1, 2010 I rise today in support of the rule and in support of the Lee amendment to responsibly end the war in Afghanistan. There is a real terrorist threat to our country. But that threat does not emanate from Afghanistan, it emanates from al Qaeda—a stateless menace, a menace that will organize and set up wherever we are not. The ongoing and indefinite occupation in Afghanistan i... Read more

Congressman Jared Polis Remarks Against Cuts to Education Funding Thursday, July 1, 2010 I rise today in support of the rule and in opposition to the Obey amendment. Funding for teachers and for education is my top priority here as a member of Congress. I’m a co-sponsor of a bill to provide $23 billion in funding for teachers. It breaks my heart that we're only talking about $10 billion today. But what is critical to achieve success, to find $10 billion, to find $23 billion, is keeping those who... Read more

Rep. Jared Polis Floor Statement on H.R. 5175 The Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act Thursday, June 24, 2010 Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5175, the DISCLOSE Act. Corporations are not human beings. Corporations may employ and be owned by human beings, all of whom in their individual capacity enjoy individual rights, but corporations themselves are not alive. Their mothers can’t die of cancer, their sons can’t be sent off to war. Cor... Read more

The worker-safety standards in place for offshore oil rigs before the Deepwater Horizon blast two months ago were voluntary and developed in consultation with the oil industry, a senior official at the retooled Minerals Management Service (MMS) told lawmakers today. Doug Slitor, now the acting chief of offshore regulatory programs at the reorganized MMS, told members of the House Education and Labor Committee that his office is now working to turn the once-recommended worker safety guidelines --... Read more

The Congressional Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) has endorsed two pieces of legislation introduced by Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) in response to the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill- the largest environmental disaster in American history. Polis’ bills would: Require more thorough analysis of the environmental impacts of proposed offshore drilling projects. (Oil Pollution Environmental Review Act, H.R. 5506, Reps. Jared Polis, Gerry Connolly) Ensure a fair return for American tax... Read more

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis Floor Speech on US-Mexico Parliamentary Exchange Tuesday, June 15, 2010 This last weekend I was part of a delegation to Campeche, Mexico, as part of the US-Mexico Parliamentary Exchange. This was the 49th annual US-Mexico Parliamentary Exchange, and I rise day to emphasize the importance of the US-Mexico relationship. Our topics included three major areas. We talked about border security and what we need to do on both sides of the border to improve security to reduce the fl... Read more

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) joined a coalition of environmentally-minded House members and signed onto a letter calling on BP CEO Tony Hayward to suspend dividend payments and advertising campaigns until the company has capped the flow of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, cleaned up the damage, and paid restitution to the businesses crippled by the disaster. “With thousands of gallons pouring into the Gulf each day, the sole focus of BP’s energy and resources must be... Read more