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Ending Gun Violence in America
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What’s happening: Last Wednesday, the uniquely American tragedy of gun violence struck Colorado yet again. At Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, a 16-year-old shot and injured two students. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for American kids. Although Colorado has made progress to address gun violence, states cannot fix this alone. Congress must act.
What I’m doing: I addressed the Senate to condemn last week’s horrific shooting at Evergreen High School and the need to build a country free from gun violence. I also joined the Colorado Congressional Delegation to introduce a bipartisan resolution honoring the victims of this senseless act of gun violence and expressing gratitude to first responders.
What I believe: I am deeply grateful for every teacher, administrator, first responder, and student who acted with courage at Evergreen High School. Their bravery saved countless lives, and they now stand as national examples of how to respond in these terrible situations.
2. Protecting Crystal Reservoir for Future Generations
What’s happening: For 90 years, Crystal Lake provided an essential water supply in the San Juan Mountains for the City of Ouray. In 2024, the U.S. Forest Service drained Crystal Lake after identifying structural concerns, leaving the reservoir unusable for water storage, outdoor recreation, or fishing.
What I did: Last week, I introduced a bill to transfer ownership of the Crystal Reservoir, Full Moon Dam, and Full Moon Ditch to the City of Ouray, allowing the Ouray community to repair, refill, and reopen Crystal Lake.
What I believe: Not only is Crystal Lake a major draw for tourists in the San Juan Mountains, but the reservoir provides essential water storage so that Ouray County and the City can fight wildfires and manage drought. Restoring the Crystal Reservoir is critical to ensuring that the City of Ouray, local hot springs, and downstream agricultural producers can continue to access this water supply. We must treat this state treasure with the respect it deserves, by returning restoration efforts and management to the community that knows the Crystal Reservoir best.
3. Helping Educators Cover the Cost of Classroom Materials
What’s happening: As a former Superintendent, I know many teachers are forced to spend their own money to provide students with the supplies they need. Surveys show that teachers spent an average of $895 out of their own pockets on school supplies during the last school year. While K-12 educators currently have a $300 tax deduction to help offset the cost of school supplies, early childhood educators don’t have this benefit.
What I’m doing: I joined U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) to reintroduce the Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act. This bill would help early childhood educators cover the cost of classroom supplies by allowing them to deduct these costs from their taxes.
4. IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK
- I joined Senator John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and 27 Senate colleagues to introduce the Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act to reverse President Trump’s disastrous funding cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA). This bill would keep SSA field offices open, invest in SSA, safeguard Americans’ private Social Security data, and make it easier to apply for benefits over the phone.
- I met with leaders from Colorado Springs to discuss the relocation of Space Command and other issues facing their community.
- Hispanic Heritage Month began on September 15th. Colorado would not be the greatest state in the union without the deep roots of our Hispanic communities. This month, let’s continue to celebrate Hispanic communities’ countless contributions to our state’s history and culture.
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