Local Issues

After meeting with renewable energy advocate and Boulder native Tom Weis today in his Washington, DC office, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) went for a spin in Tom’s futuristic-looking "rocket trike" through the halls of Congress to show his support for renewable energy. “Our nation has a serious addiction to fossil fuels,” said Polis, “and it’s going to take innovative initiatives like Tom’s rocket trike to break the habit. By moving to renewable forms of energy we will create millions of jobs,... Read more

Mr. Speaker I rise today in strong support of approving a continuing resolution to maintain a level and consistent funding stream for our government. It is one of our primary constitutional responsibilities as Members of Congress to keep the Federal government running through the passage of appropriations legislation. This continuing resolution will ensure that all necessary and vital functions of government will continue uninterrupted until both Chambers of our legislature have completed their ... Read more

Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette, Jared Polis, John Salazar, Betsy Markey, Mike Coffman and Ed Perlmutter joined together to send a bipartisan letter to the Obama Administration, asking reconsideration of a decision that greatly limited the number of former Rocky Flats employees covered under a compensation program for workers suffering from job-related illnesses. During the Cold War, thousands of workers at Rocky Flats and other sites wo... Read more

Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, and Representative Jared Polis commended the Small Business Administration for swiftly answering Colorado’s request for a disaster declaration to help residents and business owners recover from the Fourmile Canyon Fire. Governor Ritter made the request earlier this week, and Senators Udall and Bennet wrote a letter Wednesday to SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills pushing for the loans. The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Bou... Read more

Polis update on Fourmile Canyon Wildfire Congressman Jared Polis issued the following statement in response to the Fourmile Canyon Wildfire in Boulder County: “My sincere thanks and gratitude goes out to the firefighters and first responders who worked to combat this dangerous fire,” said Congressman Polis. “My thoughts and prayers go out to all those that have been adversely affected by this tragic event. My offices are here to help those currently affected by the fire and our communities as th... Read more

U.S. Representatives Ed Whitfield (KY-01) and Jared Polis (CO-02) teamed up today to introduce bipartisan legislation which will help ensure former employees at certain Department of Energy (DOE) sites receive the benefits and care they have earned while bringing transparency and oversight to the program charged with administering compensation. “Red tape and bureaucratic roadblocks have prevented many former nuclear workers, like those at the Rocky Flats facility in my district, from applying fo... Read more

Members of Colorado’s congressional delegation today joined U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke in announcing more than $100 million in grant funding for the Longmont-based Centennial Board of Cooperative Education Services through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This $100.6 million grant, with an additional $34.7 million in matching contributions, will allow Centennial Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to offer affordable middle-mile broadband service in Colorado, wit... Read more

Polis update on Fourmile Canyon Wildfire Congressman Jared Polis issued the following statement in response to the Fourmile Canyon Wildfire in Boulder County: “My sincere thanks and gratitude goes out to the firefighters and first responders working to combat this dangerous fire,” said Congressman Polis. “My thoughts and prayers go out to all those that have been adversely affected by this tragic event. My offices are here to help those currently affected by the fire and our communities as they ... Read more

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) has introduced legislation--H.R. 6079, the Workforce Housing Opportunity Simplification Act--to encourage the growth of communities and stabilize the real estate market in Colorado’s High Country Resort Communities. Through the efforts of local leaders and wise growth policies, communities such as Avon, Breckenridge, Dillon, and Vail have evolved from simple ‘Ski Towns’ into vibrant year round communities. Unfortunately, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s out-dated guide... Read more

After an extensive review and public input process, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) has released a discussion draft of legislation to create new wilderness areas in Eagle and Summit County, which have garnered broad consensus and are ready for legislative action. “Our mountain landscapes are something that we take great pride in here in Colorado,” said Polis. “These areas are essential to our economy and our environment, and through this legislation we can ensure that more of our beautiful areas ... Read more