Hard at Work for You
Dear Friends,
It has been an incredible honor to represent the 2nd Congressional District here in Washington. In these first few weeks, I have been hard at work for you, working on legislation to conserve our public lands, protect our democracy, keep our communities safer with sensible gun reforms, and to address the existential threat of climate change on our planet.
ENSURING THE NEXT GENERATION IS ENGAGED IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS
I introduced the Next Generation Votes Act, federal legislation that would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to register to vote ahead of their 18th birthday. Engaging young people in our democratic process at a time when they are already interacting with government agencies, such as when they get their driver's licenses or learner's permits, will spur political participation and engagement in our next generation. Here in Colorado, we've taken many steps to reduce barriers to voter registration through online registration and preregistration, and I'm excited to bring these initiatives to the national level.
PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC LANDS
Earlier this month, I joined Senator Bennet at the 2019 Outdoor Retailer & Snow Show to discuss our new public lands package: the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act. This bill was written by Coloradans and is the culmination of years of collaborative input from outdoor businesses, sportsman, conservationists, ranchers and municipal leaders. It would protect nearly 400,000 acres of precious public lands in our state, establishing new wilderness areas, safeguarding existing outdoor recreation opportunities and boosting the $28 billion outdoor recreation economy in Colorado.
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE
Last week, I was able to participate in two historic hearings.?In the Natural Resources Committee, we held the first climate change hearing in eight years to take a look at wide-spread impacts a changing climate is having on American communities, resources, and our economic well-being. I know in Colorado this is something that touches very close to home. Here in the 2nd district, our national parks, forests and public lands are already feeling significant impacts from climate change. Rising temperatures have led to snow melting faster, which causes increased flooding and erosion and negatively impacts Colorado's freshwater supply. Not only that, increased temperatures and earlier snow melt have led to greater risk of forest fires through much of the Western U.S. Climate change is the existential threat of our time and our response to it now will be what all future generations measure us by.
Last week, I was also appointed as one of nine democratic members to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, the only member from the Rocky Mountain West. On this committee, I will advocate for bold, progressive solutions on climate change.
FIGHTING FOR UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
In the Judiciary Committee, I was able to participate in the first hearing on gun violence in nearly a decade. I used my time to lift up the story of Tom Mauser, whose son was killed in the deadly shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado in 1999. Every single day, 34 people lose their lives to gun violence in the United States. Gun violence at the magnitude that we currently witness it is a distinctly American problem. That's why, last night, I voted to pass H.R. 8 out of the Judiciary Committee, to ensure universal background checks on every gun sale, sensible legislation that would begin to fix loopholes in our system that allowed for Columbine and Aurora to happen.
THIS OFFICE BELONGS TO YOU
I've also installed a new plaque outside of my office in Washington. I want you all to know that this office and the work I do here is for you. It's important that I hear from all of you, that your voices are heard in the halls of government and that your stories and concerns are considered as I craft legislation.
UPCOMING TOWN HALL
Please join us at our next town hall on Thursday, February 21st at 5:00 p.m. MT in Frisco, Colorado at 620 E Main Street #6.
As always, I hope you will reach out to my office with your concerns, and follow along on social media to see more frequent updates on the work I am doing.
Sincerely,
Congressman Joe Neguse