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In Response to the Aspen Acres and Willow Fires, Rep. Pettersen Leads Bipartisan Wildfire Mitigation Package

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

LAKEWOOD – Today, Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) introduced a suite of six bills aimed at helping communities prepare, respond to, and recover from increasingly destructive wildfires. This comes after the Aspen Acres and Willow fires have been raging across the state of Colorado, scorching over a hundred thousand acres of land, claiming over 300 homes, and upending the lives of families and small businesses in the state.

“The recent Aspen Acres and Willow fires were devastating to our communities and natural environment. Our Colorado families understand that wildfire season is no longer just a few months of the year. The threat is constant and increasing due to climate change, and we need an all-hands-on-deck approach,” said Rep. Pettersen. “These bills will help us turn wildfire research into action, streamlines and removes partisanship from our processes, protect every firefighter exposed to dangerous conditions, combat the devastating mountain pine beetle outbreaks that make our forests more vulnerable to destructive fires, and ensure communities receive the disaster-mitigation resources they need on time, when it matters.”

Pettersen continued, “My heart is with all those who lost their homes and businesses in these devastating fires and are now preparing to start over. I am deeply grateful to all the first responders who worked tirelessly to keep everyone safe and the four wildland firefighters who gave their lives protecting the communities we love.”

The 6 bills in the bipartisan package include:

Wildfire Research Coordination Act, Representatives Pettersen and Mike Lawler (R-NY)
- Supports increased collaboration among federal agencies to improve wildfire research and prevention strategies.
- Bill text can be found here.
Wildfire Responder Protection Act, Representatives Pettersen and Mike Lawler (R-NY)
- Ensures all those who fight fires are entitled to the proper health care coverage when they are exposed to hazardous conditions.
- Bill text can be found here.
Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response Act, Representatives Pettersen and Joe Neguse (D-CO)
- Provides grant opportunities to on-the-ground partners working in coordination with the Forest Service to mitigate mountain pine beetle threats.
- Bill text can be found here.
Mountain Pine Beetle Coordination Act, Representatives Pettersen and Joe Neguse (D-CO)
- Directs the Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements with states specifically to prevent, monitor, and respond to mountain pine beetle outbreaks.
- Bill text can be found here.
Guaranteed Disaster Assistance Act, Representative Pettersen
- Ensures that Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding is distributed to states following a major disaster or when Fire Management Assistance Grant funding is provided to respond to a wildfire.
- Bill text can be found here.
HUD Disaster Information Improvements Act, Representatives Pettersen and Tim Moore (R-NC)
- Requires the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to work seamlessly with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration to support families and businesses when a disaster strikes.
- Bill text can be found here.

Colorado’s wildfire seasons have grown longer, more intense, and more destructive as hotter, drier conditions coupled with record low snowfall increase the risk of catastrophic fires across the state. Since 2012, Colorado has experienced 17 of its top 20 wildfires in history, and in total, nearly 2,800 homes in Colorado have been lost to fires in the past 14 years. Communities are facing unprecedented threats to homes, businesses, critical infrastructure, and natural resources, while firefighters and emergency personnel are being asked to respond in increasingly dangerous conditions. These disasters are worsening year after year. This requires urgent investment in prevention, improved coordination, and efforts that ensure responders and communities have the resources they need before, during, and after a wildfire.

Introduced by Representatives Pettersen and Mike Lawler (R-NY), the Wildfire Research Coordination Act directs the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program to coordinate with the Department of Interior’s Joint Fire Science Program when establishing fire-research priorities. This will support increased collaboration among federal agencies to improve wildfire research and prevention strategies, and to better ensure that recommendations are deployed in the field when wildfires strike.

Representatives Pettersen and Lawler also introduced the Wildfire Responder Protection Act, which will expand the definition of “firefighter” to include all personnel who support fire activities and are exposed to fire-related hazards to ensure all those who fight fires are entitled to the proper health care coverage when they are exposed to hazardous conditions. This will empower the firefighting workforce by supporting the health and safety of first responders.

These bills are endorsed by the Alliance for Wildfire Resilience.

"Wildfires continue to threaten our communities, public lands, and military installations across the country. We must make sure our firefighters have the tools, resources, and protections they need as they put their lives on the line to keep Americans safe. These two pieces of legislation take important steps to strengthen wildfire research and coordination while ensuring the brave men and women who perform critical fire prevention and suppression duties, including burn bosses, fuels specialists, and prescribed fire crews, have access to the workers’ compensation protections they deserve," said Congressman Lawler.

Representatives Pettersen and Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the Emergency Mountain Pine Beetle Response Act, which would establish a Mountain Pine Beetle Emergency Response Program within the U.S. Forest Service. The program would provide grant opportunities to on-the-ground partners working in coordination with the Forest Service to mitigate mountain pine beetle threats on National Forest System land. Mountain pine beetle outbreaks can kill large numbers of trees, damage watersheds and outdoor recreation areas, and create dangerous conditions that can worsen the threat of wildfires.

Representatives Pettersen and Neguse also introduced the Mountain Pine Beetle Coordination Act, which would direct the Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements with states specifically to prevent, monitor, and respond to mountain pine beetle outbreaks. This will allow localities additional resources and a stronger framework for responding to emerging outbreaks before they cause widespread and lasting damage.

These bills are endorsed by Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and the Colorado State Forest Service.

“Colorado’s forests are under increasing strain from hotter, drier conditions, and now devastation caused by the spread of mountain pine beetles,” said Congressman Neguse. “As Ranking Member of the Federal Lands Subcommittee, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to ensure our communities and land managers have the resources they need to respond to emerging threats. Protecting our public lands as we face an outbreak of mountain pine beetle along Colorado's Front Range requires strong coordination at every level of government. I’m proud to work with Representative Pettersen to strengthen federal-state partnerships and ensure Colorado has the tools needed to confront this challenge head-on.”

Representative Pettersen introduced the Guaranteed Disaster Assistance Act, which will ensure that Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding is distributed to states following a major disaster or when Fire Management Assistance Grant funding is provided to respond to a wildfire. Currently, access to certain long-term hazard-mitigation resources can depend on whether the President issues a major disaster declaration. This legislation would ensure that mitigation funding is automatically made available, allowing states and communities to begin recovering and reducing future risks without waiting for an additional presidential declaration.

Representatives Pettersen and Tim Moore (R-NC) also introduced the HUD Disaster Information Improvements Act, which would require the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to support families and businesses when a disaster strikes. This increased government coordination will allow federal support to be funneled into communities affected by wildfires and natural disasters more efficiently, allowing communities to better rebuild after disasters.

“In the wake of Hurricane Helene, it became clear that we need better coordination between agencies to get disaster assistance to communities faster,” said Congressman Tim Moore. “The GAO and HUD’s Inspector General have identified serious challenges with data sharing, duplication-of-benefits determinations, and improper payments. This legislation strengthens transparency and coordination between agencies, helping reduce waste, fraud, and abuse while ensuring disaster relief gets to folks more efficiently.”

During her time in Congress, Rep. Pettersen has been actively bolstering federal support for wildfire prevention and mitigation. Recently, the House passed her bipartisan Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act. She also introduced the Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act and Natural Disaster Property Protection Act and helped introduce the SHELTER Act. These bills would help communities reduce wildfire risks, detect fires earlier, protect homes and businesses, and restore landscapes after disasters. Rep. Pettersen also launched a Wildfire Resource Hub on her website to help Colorado families prepare for, track, and recover from wildfires.

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To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.

As Trump Moves to Politicize Federal Grants, Rep. Pettersen Leads Push to Protect Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Funding

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) led 45 members in calling on the Trump Administration to reverse course on their policy effort to politicize the federal grantmaking process, allowing political appointees to have the final say on whether or not communities receive taxpayer funding. In her letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russel Vought and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pettersen specifically highlights the importance of non-partisan grant making for programs under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which would also be at risk under the administration's proposal.

“My mom, like far too many Americans, struggled with substance abuse disorder for decades until she was finally able to get the help she needed and enter recovery. In the fight to save her life, I realized just how broken our health care system is, especially for mental health and substance use. I’ve spent 15 years in elected office building up our behavioral health system, and it has worked. Colorado recently saw a 35% reduction in fentanyl-related deaths,” said Rep. Pettersen. “But Trump wants to backtrack on all the progress we have made. SAMHSA performs critical work, and its grants make sure communities in Colorado, especially our rural areas, have access to high-quality care when they need it. I am so lucky that my mom was able to get help, but that opportunity should be open to everyone who needs it. Federal grants are existential for many of these treatment programs, and we must ensure they continue to be awarded based on evidence, not by Trump's political goals and vendettas.”

In the letter, the members wrote, “The proposed rule would fundamentally alter how federal grants are awarded by shifting decision-making away from an established, neutral criteria. Instead of relying on statutory requirements, expert agency review, and merit‑based evaluation, the rule would allow appointed officials to decide which communities, institutions, and programs receive federal support. It’s a sharp break from long‑standing Uniform Guidance.”

The members continued, “The proposed rule would undermine the longevity of vital programs, including those that support care for mental health and substance use disorder in the United States. By destabilizing the very framework that enables sustained federal investment in these services, the rule threatens the backbone of our national response and the programs that rely on predictable, reliable grant administration to reach the communities most in need.”

SAMHSA operates grant programs that help states and local communities prevent and treat substance use disorder, expand mental health services, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, and support crisis response and suicide prevention efforts. These efforts have shown incredible success, with preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing a 14% drop in overdose deaths in 2025. But earlier this year, SAMHSA terminated over 2,000 grants — totaling more than $2 billion — deepening widespread insecurity across our federal grantmaking system. After pressure from Congresswoman Pettersen, the Trump Administration reversed this decision.

Trump’s Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) so-called “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance” would fundamentally alter how federal grants are awarded by shifting away from an established, neutral criteria, instead allowing political appointees to determine which communities, institutions, and programs receive federal support. This is an unprecedented move, which would further their efforts to use the federal government as a tool to settle political scores against certain states and communities rather than a non-partisan support for the American people.

Colorado has been a consistent target of the Trump Administration’s politically motivated funding attacks. The Administration has moved to freeze more than $300 million for child care and other essential services, $94 million from Jefferson County Public Schools, and canceled $109 million in transportation grants for rail safety improvements, public transit, and electric vehicle infrastructure. These were resources already approved to help Colorado families and communities, but the Administration withheld them because Colorado would not fall in line with its political agenda. This proposed rule would give the Administration broad authority to deny federal funding from specific communities and localities, further jeopardizing the services and development projects that Coloradans rely on.

This rule also comes in the aftermath of over two years of grant instability caused by widespread impoundment, cancellations, and delays of federal funding under the Trump Administration. Millions of organizations, local governments, and providers in every state depend on federal funding through the grantmaking process to perform essential services and critical scientific and medical research. One-third of nonprofits reported experiencing a disruption in government funding in the first months of 2025, including 21 percent that lost funding and 27 percent that experienced a delay, pause, or freeze. These disruptions have forced child care providers, schools, local governments, health care organizations, and research institutions to operate under constant uncertainty, threatening the services families rely on and the research that drives American innovation and strengthens our global standing.

Rather than correcting the instability of recent years, this rule risks deepening it — creating new barriers, injecting additional uncertainty into the grantmaking process, and undermining the ability of communities to plan and deliver the programs Americans depend on.

Rep. Pettersen has consistently spoken out against the Trump Administration’s politicization of federal funding and its targeting of Colorado and the resources families rely on. Rep. Pettersen led 83 members of the Democratic delegation alongside Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in demanding that the Trump Administration immediately reverse course on its freeze of over $10 billion in child care funding for five Democratic-led states. After this pressure, the Trump Administration recently announced that it would lift its freeze.

The full version of Pettersen’s latest letter can be found here and below:

Dear Director Vought:

We write to express our deep concerns with the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposed rule, “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance,” released on May 29, 2026. This rule would revise Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, otherwise known as “Uniform Guidance,” and it carries significant implications for our mental health and substance use disorder services and systems. Uniform Guidance has existed for over a decade. It serves as the framework for managing financial assistance while also consolidating OMB requirements for federal awards. This guidance has historically supported the financial and physical security of federal grant operations, providing a durable oversight structure that safeguards federal dollars, preserves interagency integrity, and anchors the stability that the proposed rule now places at risk.

The proposed rule would fundamentally alter how federal grants are awarded by shifting decision-making away from an established, neutral criteria and toward processes that could allow for political influence over funding determinations. Instead of relying on statutory requirements, expert agency review, and merit‑based evaluation, the rule would invite political actors to decide which communities, institutions, and programs receive federal support. It’s a sharp break from long‑standing Uniform Guidance.

The proposed rule would undermine the longevity of vital programs, including those that support care for mental health and substance use disorder in the United States. By destabilizing the very framework that enables sustained federal investment in these services, the rule threatens the backbone of our national response and the programs that rely on predictable, reliable grant administration to reach the communities most in need. Our concerns arise from recent instances that have demonstrated the importance of safeguarding the foundation, stability, and predictability of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grants.

In January 2026, SAMHSA announced the abrupt termination of over 2,000 grants, totaling more than $2 billion. Upon notification, awardees received minimal justification regarding the cancellation. Only twenty-four hours later, administration officials rescinded this decision confirming that all impacted grant funding would be restored. Despite this reinstatement, the unanticipated announcement sent awardees across the country into widespread alarm. The whiplash of termination, reinstatement, and subsequent recovery time demonstrated how fragile program stability becomes when foundational guardrails are weakened, underscoring the critical need to safeguard predictability for SAMHSA grantees and the communities they serve.

Funding for substance use disorder treatment and mental health services is not a partisan priority; it is a responsibility of the government and must not be left to the priorities of political actors. All fifty states and the District of Columbia offer programs and strategically invest in resources and services to support individuals with substance use disorder and those living with mental health conditions. Combatting this epidemic and reducing overdose deaths remains a collaborative effort. Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrates a 13% decline in U.S. overdose deaths this year. This decline is the result of long-term investment in substance use disorder funding and resources, and further progress must not be delayed or threatened. Individuals, communities, and families across the nation are depending on reliable resources that are anchored to dependable funding sources, including the federal investments that sustain critical mental health and substance use disorder programs.

Given the overwhelming support to preserve and protect grant funding that expands access to treatment and resources for mental health and substance use disorder, we request that OMB immediately repeal any proposed changes to Uniform Guidance. At a moment when progress against overdose deaths is finally emerging and demand for mental health services continues to rise, it is essential that we maintain, not weaken, the foundation that allows these lifesaving programs to operate. Fracturing that foundation would jeopardize the future of critical services that individuals, families, and communities depend on every day.

We appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Rep. Pettersen Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Address Child Care Crisis for Military Families

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) introduced bipartisan legislation that would address the military child care crisis for families. The Department of Defense (DOD) oversees the nation’s most expansive employer-backed child care system, but a severe staffing deficit has stranded more than 7,800 military children on waitlists. This workforce crisis has forced classroom closures at various installations and has resulted in a persistent attrition rate of 50%. The Supporting Our Military Childcare Workforce Act, which Pettersen introduced alongside Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07), would address staff shortages, retention, and an underpaid workforce which has caused a crisis for families who have already sacrificed much in the name of duty and their country.

“Military families put everything on the line for our country. The least we should do for them is ensure they get the basic care and services they need. But the reality is, our service families are struggling – over 40% are food insecure, up to a third of families maintain $500 or less in emergency funds, and more than 10,000 children remain on childcare waitlists. That’s unacceptable,” said Rep. Pettersen. “These are all problems we need to urgently address in a bipartisan way, which is why I’m proud to be working with my friend, Congressman Mackenzie, to solve part of this puzzle.”

“American servicemembers and their families depend on access to high-quality child care,” said Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), co-lead for this bipartisan legislation. “At a time when providers are grappling with a nationwide shortage of staff, it’s essential that the Department of Defense step up to provide competitive wages for its child care workers. That’s why this legislation provides a clearer understanding of the military’s capacity to offer the child care benefits that families in our armed forces deserve. Thank you to Rep. Pettersen for working to ensure that American servicemembers have access to high-quality child care for their families.”

Under the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act the DOD was mandated to establish a revised pay structure for our child care workforce. While these vital changes were slated for a nationwide rollout on April 1, 2025, the Army remains the sole branch to have publicly announced the implementation.

The bipartisan Pettersen/Mackenzie legislation would stabilize all our service members' families, who are having to make difficult decisions around quality child care, and also rising costs that are plaguing civilian families. Colorado is a leader in recruiting and keeping our military childcare workforce.

Rep. Pettersen has been a strong advocate for our service members and veterans since coming to Congress, championing critical initiatives to broaden healthcare availability and address the housing affordability crisis. Her legislative agenda prioritizes the establishment of rural veterans affairs (VA) clinics and advances bipartisan solutions to ensure greater transparency within the VA home-loan system, providing the direct support our heroes deserve.

This legislation is endorsed by the First Five Years Fund.

Text of the legislation is available HERE.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen Voted No on Republican’s Latest Attempt to Drive Up Costs for American Families

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) voted against the first steps to the third reconciliation package put forth by House Republicans that includes $73 billion to cover the cost of Donald Trump’s unconstitutional war in Iran.

“House Republicans just chose Trump’s illegal war over American families. They voted to pour another $73 billion into the war with Iran while the rest of us foot the bill. They're making America less safe and everyday life has never been harder. It’s shameful,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen.

The fast track budget resolution bill, popularly being called Reconciliation 3.0, allows Republicans to spend $95 billion, without a single way to pay for it. The bill includes $73 for military operations in Iran, $12 billion for aid for farmers struggling due to Donald Trump’s ongoing and absurd trade war, and $10 billion for election-related grants to states for voter-ID implementation for the Republican voter suppression campaign known as the SAVE America ACT. Americans are not blind, they know this bill does little to save Americans, but does much in its attempt to wage war and silence their voices.

While the Congresswoman supports providing aid to farmers, she cannot support a bill that includes poison pills like aid to continue an illegal war, and funding to disenfranchise millions of American voters, especially women and communities of color. The Senate has signaled that these pieces of funding streams included are unacceptable as well, and further demonstrates how unserious Republicans are about governing when they have the reins of power.

Instead of working with Democrats to bring down the costs of gas and groceries and other basic necessities, the Republicans have once again put forth a budget that shows that their priorities lie with Donald Trump, exclusively, and not with American families. Voters were clear in our last election, they sent representatives to Washington to deliver results, and not messaging.

Representative Pettersen has also consistently voted against Donald Trump’s agenda, including opposing over $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” She has consistently voted against authorizing Donald Trump’s war in Iran. Pettersen has joined two War Powers Resolutions to check executive power in regards to military action in Iran: H.Con. Res. 38, led by Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, and H.Con. Res. 40, introduced by Reps. Greg Meeks, Jim Himes, and Adam Smith, the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Armed Services Committees.

As Illegal War with Iran Drags On, Rep. Pettersen Votes Against Republican Defense Authorization Bill That Includes Voter Suppression Provisions

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement after voting against Republicans’ National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027:

“Our service members put everything on the line to serve our country and keep us safe. We have an obligation to honor their sacrifice showing them the utmost respect and ensuring they always have access to exceptional resources when they come home. Unfortunately, this bill fails to do that, and abandons the long-standing tradition of bipartisanship in honoring that service.

“Trump has bypassed Congress to singlehandedly drag us into a war with Iran and continues to put our servicemembers in harm's way. He told us the war would be over within 3 weeks, but it’s been months. Congress passed a War Powers Resolution to stop this unauthorized war. Even so, he’s digging in further and pressing the war forward — now using that vote to justify asking for a $1 trillion blank check. This war has made all of us more vulnerable to foreign threats. We cannot authorize more money for the Pentagon to continue this war while families here in Colorado are dealing with higher costs after Republicans cut their health care and nutrition assistance.

“Republicans have also loaded this bill with provisions attacking transgender servicemembers and the LGBTQ+ community – policies that have no place in a defense bill. Trump has already put us in increased danger with his illegal war in Iran, and these provisions will force out qualified servicemembers and damage our military readiness during this critical time. Transgender Americans have faced relentless attacks from Trump and Republicans, but they deserve the same basic dignity as anyone else – the freedom to serve their country and live openly and authentically without fear or discrimination. And supporting our transgender servicemembers is not only the right thing to do, it is essential to building the strongest and most capable military possible.

“Additionally, this bill includes the SAVE America Act, which raises unnecessary and burdensome documentation requirements for voters to prove their citizenship before they can vote. This is Donald Trump’s attempt to sway the midterm elections before they happen by disenfranchising millions of American voters and sowing doubt in our election system. The inclusion of SAVE shows just how desperate Trump and Congressional Republicans are to remain in power at any cost. SAVE would rob 70 million women of the right to vote, and deepen barriers to voting access for communities of color. Republicans wanted to send a message to Americans by including SAVE here, and that is that only some voters matter, those that vote for them and their dangerous agenda.

“Despite my amendment that would benefit Colorado being included in this bill, I could not in good conscience vote for a bill that otherwise undermines our values and laws, empowers the Administration to put our troops in harm’s way, and fails to support the servicemembers who put their lives on the line for this country.”

One of Rep. Pettersen’s amendments were included in the FY 2027 NDAA:

Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to report on how it will maintain consistent optical communications and networking standards as Space Development Agency programs are transferred to other defense and intelligence agencies.

Rep. Pettersen Introduces Legislation to Stop Trump’s $1.78B Anti-Weaponization Slush Fund

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today announced her legislation that would ban Trump’s effort to use taxpayer funding to compensate convicted January 6th insurrectionists and others who were charged and convicted of crimes during the Biden Administration. The Weaponization Claims Ban Act specifically blocks the fund by making claims made under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), a backdoor method to be awarded these payments, illegal.

Pettersen’s effort comes as the Administration continues to dodge questions around the fund, with even Republican senators today seeking written answers to their questions.

“While American families are struggling to pay for housing, gas, and groceries, this President is trying to pay out our taxpayer dollars to insurrectionists. Everyday Americans are working hard and following the law. But Trump said it himself — he doesn’t think about our financial situations. He’s too busy settling his political scores and using our money to do it,” said Rep. Pettersen. “Time and again, we have seen that we cannot trust this Administration. I’m fighting for accountability and to ensure your hard-earned money is not used to reward the people who stormed the Capitol.”

In May, the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice unveiled a nearly $1.8 billion slush fund as part of a settlement agreement, contingent upon the President withdrawing a $10 billion legal challenge against the IRS concerning the disclosure of his personal tax records. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the initiative was designed to offer financial awards, public admissions of wrongdoing, and compensation to individuals the administration characterized as being targeted by the former government’s alleged political weaponization, like former Mesa County, Colorado County Clerk, Tina Peters, and rioters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 to subvert the 2020 election.

Following its introduction, the fund encountered immediate judicial hurdles and intense congressional opposition, which ultimately resulted in the initiative's termination. However, the DOJ has resisted calls to offer formal, sworn declarations from its high-ranking leadership to guarantee that this illegitimate $1.8 billion slush fund will not be established. Lawmakers, including Rep. Pettersen, have grown concerned that after President Trump’s national address last week — where he again hammered baseless claims about the 2020 election, aired personal grievances about investigations and political opponents, and cast doubt on the integrity of the upcoming November election — individuals like Tina Peters are being emboldened to seek taxpayer‑funded remedies through channels that were never intended for this purpose.

Recent reports show that legal counsel for numerous January 6 defendants—as well as individuals attempting to overturn election results—are signaling plans to pursue awards under the FTCA. These individuals' pursuit of retribution has increased in the wake of Trump’s unlawful Anti‑Weaponization Fund being terminated.

Pettersen has also consistently fought for accountability, and against the Trump Administration’s aims to subvert the Constitution, and its election denial claims. She is a member of the Financial Services Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, and consistently fights for good governance and the effective use of taxpayer dollars. In June, Congresswoman Pettersen led a letter with Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, demanding answers about these backdoor payments. They have not received a response to their request.

Full text of the legislation is available HERE.

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To access downloadable, high-quality photos, click here. To stay up-to-date on what Pettersen is doing in Congress, follow her on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here. Residents can also sign-up for her e-newsletter subscription here.

Rep. Pettersen Leads CO Dem Delegation in Again Demanding Answers From Trump Admin on New Colorado ICE Facility as DHS Continues to Dodge Lawmakers’ Questions

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) led Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Jason Crow (D-CO) in again pressing the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for accountability following the announcement of a 5-year GEO Group contract to operate a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Hudson, doubling the capacity for immigrant detention in the state of Colorado.

DHS dodged answering the lawmakers’ questions from a February 24, 2026 letter which raised serious, and unresolved, concerns about the Hudson facility. The Department’s lack of response has deepened the lawmakers’ concerns about the Administration's lack of transparency regarding this facility.

In the letter, the Lawmakers wrote: “The reports of this new facility moving forward are particularly concerning with the continued rise of deaths in ICE detention and at the hands of ICE agents acting with impunity in communities across the country. The agency’s documented pattern of unlawful detentions, failure to comply with Congressional oversight, and harm to our communities makes this expansion not just misguided, but dangerous. Against this backdrop, we strongly oppose any increase in detention capacity in Colorado.”

Pettersen has consistently voted against Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, including opposing over $45 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act" and over $70 billion in the second partisan reconciliation package. As we have witnessed the surge in ICE killings nationwide, she has also supported legislation to require DHS and ICE officers to clearly identify themselves during enforcement actions. After reports of individuals being detained in short-term holding facilities for as long as 39 days, she introduced legislation to ensure detainees cannot be held in those facilities for longer than 12 hours.

See the full text of the letter HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Mullin and Acting Director Venturella:

We write to express our profound concern at the announcement of a 5-year contract with the GEO Group to operate a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Hudson, Colorado. The reports of this new facility moving forward are particularly concerning with the continued rise of deaths in ICE detention and at the hands of ICE agents acting with impunity in communities across the country . The agency’s documented pattern of unlawful detentions, failure to comply with Congressional oversight, and harm to our communities makes this expansion not just misguided, but dangerous. Against this backdrop, we strongly oppose any increase in detention capacity in Colorado.

The operation of the so-called Big Horn facility as an ICE detention facility will dramatically expand ICE’s detention capacity in Colorado, increasing the available detention beds from 1,532 at the Aurora GEO Detention Facility to more than 2,700 beds across the state. As we stated in our February 2026 letter, we are deeply concerned that the remote location of the facility will hinder oversight and reduce access to legal representation for individuals in detention. The Hudson site is difficult to reach by public transportation and far from legal service providers and local service organizations.

The GEO Group and ICE have a proven track record of obstructing congressional oversight of the Aurora GEO Detention Facility, refusing Members of Congress’ ability to access to the facility, withholding answers to oversight questions, and failing to respond to congressional casework inquiries. We are concerned that these actions will continue at the Big Horn Facility. Your agency did not respond to the February 24, 2026 letter from members of the Colorado delegation addressed to then-Secretary Noem and then-Acting Director Lyons — a letter raising serious, unresolved concerns about the Hudson facility . Once again, we are demanding answers.

The Department’s lack of response only deepened our concerns about transparency and oversight of this facility. We request your response to the following by July 31, 2026:

1. What steps did the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) take to share its plans for the new facility with relevant local leaders, community members, advocacy groups, and other relevant partners? 2. What steps will be taken to ensure that the Big Horn Facility will consistently meet adequate health and safety standards, as required by the Performance- Based National Detention Standards 2008, the Performance-Based National Detention Standards 2011, the National Detention Standards 2019, and the Family Residential Standards?

3. What steps will DHS take to ensure that the new facility will respond appropriately to congressional oversight as required under Pub. L. No. 118-47, div. C, tit. V 527 (a), 138 Stat 460, 619, and affirmed by Case No. 25-cv-2463?

4. How will DHS ensure that detainees within the Big Horn Facility maintain adequate access to family visitation and meetings with relevant counsel and representatives?

5. Are there any other contracts or anticipated new contracts with the GEO Group for ICE Department of Homeland Security detention facilities in Colorado?

6. Have there been any discussions with local or county governments on the opening of Big Horn? Have the Weld County Health Department and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment been made aware of their inspection duties?

Pettersen, Van Hollen Lead Lawmakers in Introducing Legislation to Bring Transparency to Corporate Abuse of Tax Havens, Job Offshoring

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (Md.) led their colleagues in reintroducing the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, legislation to provide transparency around corporations’ use of tax havens and incentives to offshore jobs. This bill would require public companies to disclose their financial reporting on a country-by-country basis. Ensuring public access to this information would both provide investors the tools they need to understand the tax structures and risks of the businesses in which they invest and give Americans insight into the extent to which the tax system is incentivizing the outsourcing of American jobs or enabling corporations to dodge U.S. taxes. Senator Van Hollen and Representative Pettersen were joined in introducing this legislation by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).

“As everyday families struggle to find jobs and pay for basic necessities, corporations are dodging taxes by shifting profits outside the country and making the rest of us pay. I'm proud to support this legislation that will require companies to disclose foreign operations, and ensure corporations pay into the system here at home,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “The Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act will increase transparency, and make corporations start paying their fair share.”

“While working Americans struggle to get by, large corporations continue to ship jobs overseas and take advantage of tax loopholes to hide their profits. This bill will provide critical transparency to both the American public and investors as to how these corporations abuse our broken tax system and the risks they are taking in the use of offshore tax havens. We must stand up for American workers, end incentives for big corporations to offshore jobs, and unrig our broken corporate tax code. Sunlight is the best disinfectant – shining a light on this issue is the first step,” said Senator Van Hollen.

While the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act established a new global tax framework, it also introduced incentives for large U.S. companies to shift profits and jobs overseas. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act largely preserved those incentives. New research shows that in 2025, large corporations reduced their tax liability by more than $11 billion through the use of tax havens. Firms continue to benefit from shifting profits because they can pool income and foreign taxes across affiliates in both high- and low-tax countries, while foreign income remains subject to a significantly lower U.S. tax rate than domestic income.

The Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act would ensure there is more transparency in these tax practices by requiring large corporations to disclose basic information on each of their subsidiaries, and country-by-country financial information that sums together all of their subsidiaries in each country – including profits, taxes, employees, and tangible assets.

All of this information is already reported to the Internal Revenue Service, under an international Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development framework, but this legislation would ensure public disclosure to provide data on how international tax laws are working and where corporations are locating their business activities and taxes. Thus, when a corporation sends jobs overseas, their country-by-country financial report would show the extent to which the U.S. tax system is rewarding their behavior.

This legislation is supported by the Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition, Public Citizen, Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Pettersen has also consistently fought for corporate accountability, including authoring legislation as a Colorado state senator that closed offshore tax loopholes corporations were using to dodge state taxes, recovering millions of dollars for Colorado's public schools. She serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where she continues pushing for financial transparency on behalf of working families, and has championed the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act in previous sessions of Congress as part of her broader effort to ensure corporations pay their fair share.

A one-page summary of this bill is HERE.

Text of the legislation is available HERE.

FACT Applauds Reintroduction of Legislation to Expose Continued Abuse of Offshore Tax Havens by U.S. Corporations

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC – FACT applauds the reintroduction by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7) of the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, legislation that would require American multinational corporations to publish expanded financial information on their offshore operations, known as public country-by-country reporting (CbCR).

The legislation’s reintroduction comes on the heels of a number of developments that reinforce the need for greater tax transparency, including the OECD’s capitulation to the Trump administration in exempting U.S. companies from large parts of the globally-agreed corporate minimum tax, and bombshell reporting drawing on new accounting disclosures that illustrate the continued use of tax havens by iconic American brands.

Zorka Milin, FACT co-director, said in a statement:

“We applaud Senator Van Hollen and Representative Pettersen for leading this vital legislation to pull back the curtain of tax secrecy and strengthen our tax system. Recent accounting disclosures have provided fresh evidence of widespread tax haven use among the nation’s largest and most profitable companies. Increased transparency is essential to creating a fairer corporate tax system that raises needed revenue and protects American manufacturing and jobs from offshoring.”

Pettersen, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Statement on Massie Amendment to the Republican Budget

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Jason Crow (D-CO), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Joe Neguse (D-CO) released the following statement after voting in favor of Congressman Massie’s amendment to the Republican budget:

“Today we voted against additional taxpayer-funded military aid being given to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government.

“We support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. We believe that both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to safety, security, and self-determination.

“We should not be giving military aid to any country that does not comply with our own laws and values. The Netanyahu government has failed to meet these standards.

“The status quo is not tenable. We need a different path forward for America’s foreign policy rooted in values and consistent application of the law.”

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Pettersen, Van Hollen Lead Lawmakers in Introducing Legislation to Bring Transparency to Corporate Abuse of Tax Havens, Job Offshoring

FACT Applauds Reintroduction of Legislation to Expose Continued Abuse of Offshore Tax Havens by U.S. Corporations

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Littleton Mobile Office Hours

Wheat Ridge Community Resource Fair

Broomfield Mobile Office Hours

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The Office of Rep. Brittany Pettersen’s Federal Workers & Community Resource Fair

Bailey Mobile Office Hours

Broomfield Office Hours

Conifer Office Hours

The Office of Rep. Brittany Pettersen’s
Federal Workers & Community Resource Fair