Foreign Policy & Defense

Today Representatives Jared Polis, Bill Foster, and Juan Vargas reintroduced a House resolution calling on the Department of Defense to allow DREAMers to serve in the military. A copy of the resolution can be found here. “Regardless of your politics on immigration, we should all agree that bright young people who are willing to contribute to this country by serving in our military should be allowed to do so,” said Rep. Polis. “Our resolution would encourage the Department of Defense to allow the... Read more

Today, Representatives Diana DeGette (CO-01), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), and Jared Polis (CO-02) made the following statement calling for an immediate vote in the House on a clean bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): “For months now we have heard Republican leaders promise there would be no DHS shutdown on their watch and that we cannot play games with our national security. Yet today we are a mere 48 hours away from the brink of a security crisis that has been manufactured by the... Read more

Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) today made the following statement in response to the release of President Obama’s FY2016 budget: “Over the past several weeks, the President has traveled the country laying out concrete steps to strengthen the middle class, improve our education system, and invest in our economy. The budget that President Obama released today brings together these plans and recognizes that when we make smart investments in our infrastructure, our communities, and our citizens,... Read more

Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) today made the following statement in response to the President’s State of the Union Address: “Tonight the President left no doubt that he will not be a lame duck President these next two years. He laid out many bold and forward-looking plans that have the potential to improve the strength of our economy, the security of our country, and the lives of all Americans. “I am particularly excited by the President’s renewed commitment to education and privacy issues,... Read more

Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) today issued the following statement in response to House Republicans' playing reckless political games with our national security: “Today House Republicans confirmed they lack the ability to responsibly govern. Rather than passing a bill to protect our homeland security, they are playing politics with our safety. House Republicans are holding our national security hostage to their desires to deport dreamers and other aspiring Americans." “At a time when we sho... Read more

Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) today made the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s announcement that the US would be taking steps to improve relations with Cuba: “Today’s announcement by the President marks a long overdue step towards ending our misguided and ineffective policies towards Cuba. I am pleased that President Obama has heeded the calls of myself and other Members of Congress who wrote him this month urging fundamental changes in U.S. policy towards Cuba. Th... Read more

Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) today made the following statement in response to the release of the Senate CIA torture report: “The release of the Senate CIA torture report today reveals a dark and shameful chapter in American history. Under the guise of patriotism, the CIA conducted wholly un-American behavior that failed to secure our nation, but did much damage to our credibility and standing at home and abroad. The activities described in the report demonstrated a flagrant and frightenin... Read more

Today, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jared Polis (D-CO) passed an amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill which would boost funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) by $20 million, to a total of $300 million a year. Started in 2009, ARPA-E is a revolutionary program that advances high-potential, high-impact energy technologies, leveraging federal funds to generate additional private sector investment. Schiff offered similar amendments in 2011 and 2013, both ... Read more

Representatives Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Jared Polis (CO-02) and Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) today praised the inclusion of an amendment in NDAA which would increase transparency and ensure Cold War atomic weapon workers at Rocky Flats and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant will have their benefits applications reviewed accurately and expeditiously. Many of these Cold War nuclear workers were unknowingly exposed to radioactive and toxic substances, which have led to various illnesses, while working to defen... Read more

Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) today voted against the so-called USA Freedom Act, following substantial modifications to the legislation that occurred behind closed doors and significantly weakened the protections against unwarranted government data collection. The House Majority leadership refused to consider any amendments to the diluted legislation. “Reining in the National Security Agency’s illegal and far-reaching wiretapping programs is necessary and overdue,” said Representative Polis... Read more