The First 100 Days

Dear Friends,

It's been over 100 days since I took office and I've been hard at work for the people of the 2nd Congressional District. I introduced a record 10 bills, more than any other freshman member of Congress, held 13 town halls across our district, secured a hearing on an important public lands package in the Natural Resources Committee, passed an amendment on the House Floor, had two provisions signed into law by the President, and helped pass top Democratic priorities as a member of House Leadership. I am so proud that my team and I have been able to prioritize legislative gains for our district and all of Colorado. These last 100 days served as a reminder of what I was sent to Congress to accomplish, and that those accomplishments can only happen through many people standing together to demand change!

LEGISLATING FOR COLORADO

I introduced my first piece of legislation just one week after being sworn into office—the Solar EDGE Act, which would increase investments in the solar industry through a 20% increase in the current solar tax investment. Since then, I have introduced 10 bills total (co-sponsoring over 100 others). Two of these provisions, the Bolts Ditch Access and Use Act and the Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act, which were signed into law by the President when they were included in the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act. I am so proud to already see provisions that will directly benefit our district passed into law!

Other legislation I introduced includes the Safe Helicopters Now Act — legislation inspired by Karen Mahany from Summit County whose husband died in a Flight for Life helicopter crash, the Next Generation Votes Act — legislation to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, inspired by a law already in place in Colorado (which passed on the House floor as an amendment to H.R. 1), the Affordable College Textbooks Act — which would expand free open, access textbooks for college students, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act — a bill to preserve about 400,000 acres of public land across our state which has already received a legislative hearing, and legislation inspired by constituents that would install the “Every Word We Utter” monument as the first outdoor monument to the women’s suffrage movement in Washington, D.C.

TAKING MY LEAD FROM YOU

 In addition to working aggressively to progress our district's legislative priorities, I fought to secure positions on key House Committees that I feel are extremely important to our district, the Judiciary Committee, the Natural Resources Committee and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis as well as four subcommittees. I was also appointed to the Democratic Leadership team as Co-Representative to the freshman class. In my position on the Judiciary Committee, I have been able to participate in the Committee’s robust oversight agenda, including a hearing on the Trump Administration’s family separation policy and the Administration’s action to rescind protections for DACA and TPS holders. Through my role on the Natural Resources Committee, I was able to secure a key hearing for the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, legislation introduced by Senator Michael Bennet and I to conserve about 400,000 acres of public land across the state of Colorado.

As a member of the House Leadership team, I have a unique opportunity to share my thoughts at the Leadership table and push for Colorado’s priorities. I’ve also stepped into a few other leadership positions that I hope will position our office well to represent the needs of our district: I’ve been selected to serve as Vice Chair of Housing and Transportation for the Majority Leader Task force on Poverty and Opportunity, where I look forward to working on issues surround affordable housing, infrastructure and transportation.

BRINGING COLORADO VALUES TO THE HOUSE

During my time in Congress, I have presided over the House floor twice and played a key role in the introduction and passage of key House Democratic priorities, including H.R. 1, a sweeping democratic reform package which seeks to remove dark money from our political process, H.R. 8 the first gun violence prevention legislation passed in nearly a decade which would require a background check in every firearm purchase, H.R. 7, legislation to end the gender pay gap, the Save the Internet Act to restore Net Neutrality protections, and reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. I was also selected as just one of a few members to introduce the Speaker’s priority climate bill—H.R. 9, legislation that would ensure that the U.S. upholds its commitment to reducing carbon emissions since the President’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords. The Democratic Majority is working to bring bold legislation to the House floor—including the Equality Act to end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans, the Dream and Promise Act to protect America’s Dreamers and TPS holders, and the Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore access to the ballot box. I am proud to be a leader on all of this forward-thinking legislation!

LAUNCHING OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE TOWN HALL INITIATIVE!

During these first 100 days, I held 13 town halls across the district in Estes Park, Fort Collins, Lafayette, Broomfield, Frisco, Superior, Nederland, Boulder, and Lyons. I also launched a first-of-its-kind community service town hall initiative to combine community service projects with typical town halls, the first of which partnered with the Bridge House Ready to Work program in Boulder. We hosted our second service town hall at Rocky Mountain National Park in honor of the first day of National Parks Week. It was great to have so many constituents come out to help us seed and mulch and care for our national park.

Throughout these first 100 days and into the future, my focus will be the work that will impact our communities and our families most—investing in affordable housing and infrastructure, conserving our public lands, lowering the cost of health care, addressing climate change and ensuring the health and economic well-being of all Colorado families. I look forward to this work and to many more accomplishments for the people of the 2nd Congressional District!

Sincerely,

Joe Neguse

Member of Congress