Press Releases

Today, U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement after voting against Republicans’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies funding bill:

“Families cannot keep their heads above water right now, and they’re begging Congress to step up and do something to lower costs. But instead of addressing the challenges families are facing, Donald Trump passed his Big Ugly Bill, which is already increasing families’ energy bills by 10% across the country and gutting jobs for the families who work in the energy sector. Now, House Republicans are doubling down with a hyper partisan funding bill that will just continue pushing costs higher and making it harder for families to keep the lights on and stay warm this winter. 

“Not only that, but Republicans are decimating the progress we’ve made to combat the climate crisis and jeopardizing our national security at a moment when we cannot afford to fall behind competitors like China. In Colorado, where clean energy jobs are powering our economy and creating new opportunities for families, these cuts would set us back in ways we might never recover from.

“With each day we get closer to a government shutdown, Republicans are wasting time instead of working toward a bipartisan agreement. I’m deeply concerned for our seniors who depend on Social Security checks, our service members who could be forced to work without pay, and the potential economic fallout. It’s time for House Republican leadership to stop the games and get something done to actually help working-class families.” 

Specifically, the FY 26 Energy and Water Development funding bill would:

• Slash nearly $500 million in federal funding for Colorado: A 33% cut in funding for the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in Colorado, jeopardizing clean, affordable, and secure energy in the state. 
• Increase Energy Costs & Undermines Competitiveness: Slashes clean energy and efficiency programs by nearly 50%, revokes $5.1B from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments, and eliminates funding for clean energy demonstrations that drive U.S. innovation and leadership.
• Jeopardize National Security: Cuts $412M from nuclear nonproliferation programs, weakening efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and detect hidden nuclear activity.
• Abandon Environmental Cleanup: Strips nearly $800M from the Department of Energy’s environmental management and eliminates funding for radioactive site clean-up, slowing remediation of nuclear waste sites nationwide.

A summary of the bill can be found HERE. 

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