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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

This week, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined U.S. Representative and fellow Texan Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) as well as 116 other House Democrats to introduce the Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit to expand the care Medicare provides. 

“Expanding healthcare for our community has always been a priority for me,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “We live in the wealthiest nation in the history of the world. There’s no reason seniors shouldn’t have access to basic benefits provided by this legislation. I’m proud to join my colleagues in righting this wrong and ensuring Medicare provides the coverage seniors need.”

Expanding Medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision services is overwhelmingly popular: A Data for Progress poll conducted last year found that 92 percent of Americans supported expanding Medicare to provide dental, vision and hearing benefits. 

Over 26 million Medicare beneficiaries have no dental coverage at all and have to pay out-of-pocket or forego needed care. As a result, nearly one in five seniors over age 75 have lost all of their natural teeth. Further, more than one in three Medicare beneficiaries have difficulty seeing and more than two in five Medicare beneficiaries have difficulty hearing. 

While Republicans in Congress are preparing legislation to cut Medicaid by $880 billion in order to pay for tax breaks for the top 1 percent, these representatives are fighting to make it easier for seniors and people with disabilities to go to the dentist, audiologist and optometrist. 

The lawmakers’ legislation would expand Medicare to cover dentures, comprehensive vision care including eye exams and prescription eyeglasses, comprehensive hearing care to all Medicare recipients with moderate or profound hearing loss, and dental care to all Medicare recipients to cover cleanings, x-rays, fillings, and other procedures.

The legislation has been endorsed by several organizations, including Center for Medicare Advocacy, Community Catalyst, Public Citizen, Social Security Works, Center for Health and Democracy, MoveOn.org, Families USA, CareQuest Center for Oral Health, Justice in Aging, People’s Action, Medicare Rights Center and Advocates for Community Health. 

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), along with 7 other Democratic senators introduced a Senate companion bill. 

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Congresswoman Escobar Votes Against Republican Funding Plan

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16)

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) joined U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (VA-8), Jamie Raskin (MD-8), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Dan Goldman (NY-10) to warn of potential criminal exposure for volunteers and employees of the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), following reports of various conflicts of interest within the organization. 

In a letter to Acting Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Doug Collins, the Representatives sought clarification on the measures and plans in place to ensure that DOGE employees and volunteers are informed of their ethical and legal obligations under federal law, particularly regarding conflicts of interest, which have a statute of limitations of up to five years and can lead to criminal penalties of up to five years in prison with additional financial penalties. 

They wrote:

“We write to request clarity on your actions and plans, as acting Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE), to ensure that volunteers serving with the “Department of Government Efficiency” (“DOGE”) are aware of their rights and responsibilities under federal law. 

“We are deeply concerned that those volunteers, by virtue of their rare status within the federal workforce, may be unaware of some of the legal requirements that they must abide by in their work with DOGE. Under 5 U.S. Code § 3161(i)(4), all temporary organization volunteers are considered federal employees for the purposes of all laws in 18 U.S. Code ch. 11 (Bribery, Graft, and Conflicts of Interest).

“Among other provisions, that chapter includes a criminal conflict of interest law that bars executive branch officers and employees from participating “personally and substantially” in any particular matter in which they know that they have a financial interest. The law also treats a number of other interests as their own, including the interests of: any business or organization in which they serve in any of a number of management positions or as an employee; any prospective employer which they have, or are negotiating, an agreement for future employment; and any spouse or minor child.

“Anyone violating the criminal conflict of interest statute risks up to five years in prison and a financial penalty either up to $50,000 or the value of the illegally generated compensation.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Lafayette, CO – House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) issued the following statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order to initiate dismantling the Department of Education:

“For decades, the Department of Education has been a punching bag for Republicans. But make no mistake: today’s Executive Order is a striking blow to children, students, teachers, individuals with disabilities, schools in rural and low-income communities, and countless Americans who rely on this agency everyday. I believe this directive to be unlawful and, ultimately, another instance of presidential overreach. House Democrats will not acquiesce; we will continue to use every legislative and oversight tool available to protect our communities and the constitutional separation of powers.” 

Trump’s latest Executive Order is likely to face legal challenges, as shutting down a congressionally authorized agency requires an act of Congress. His directive also follows public reports that the agency was ordered to cut nearly 50% of its workforce.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Lafayette, CO — In case you missed it, in their annual report released last week by GovTrack.us, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) was recognized for writing the 2nd most laws of any member of the U.S. House of Representatives during the 118th Congress, building on his legacy of legislative effectiveness. 

“The twelve counties that make up Colorado’s 2nd District — from the Western Slope to the Wyoming border — truly represent the essence of our great state. And in our communities, we do things a bit differently than other places. We listen to each other. We respectfully exchange views. And we know when it’s time to roll up our sleeves and work together to find solutions that will benefit our people, our cities, our state, and our nation. I’m deeply proud that in adopting this mindset in the last Congress, our office was able to accomplish many legislative goals from the last two years—collaborating with lawmakers from across the political spectrum and advancing locally driven initiatives,” said Assistant Leader Neguse. 

In case you missed it, here’s what they’re saying: 

“U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse finished in second place on a report released this week ranking House members by how many of their bills were signed into law in the last Congress — a feat even more remarkable because the Lafayette Democrat, serving just his third term, was in the minority in the Republican-controlled chamber.” 

About Congressman Neguse:

Congressman Joe Neguse has represented Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District since 2019. He is currently a senior member of House Leadership, having been elected by his colleagues to serve as House Assistant Minority Leader in March 2024.

The 40-year-old former attorney is a dedicated public servant and a national leader on public policy concerning drought and wildfires in the West, as well as gun-violence prevention.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) joined H.R. 20, the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2025, as an original cosponsor. The PRO Act is a comprehensive bill to protect workers’ right to unionize and bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. The bill strengthens federal laws that support working-class Americans by protecting hardworking families, individuals, and the unions that help them secure higher wages, safer working conditions, and bolster a more resilient economy.  

Assistant Leader Neguse, a member of the Congressional Labor Caucus, has been a staunch advocate for workers’ rights throughout his time in Congress. He has also been an original cosponsor of the PRO Act every Congress since he was elected.

Currently in Colorado, workers face difficult barriers to union security, and federal law makes it difficult for workers to organize and secure fair contracts.  As workers across the state seeking to unionize continue to face barriers in doing so, the PRO Act would ameliorate these by holding employers accountable for violating workers’ rights, closing loopholes that allow employers to misclassify their employees as supervisors and independent contractors, and protecting the right to strike, among other reforms.

“I will always champion working families in Colorado, and it is clear that serious reforms are necessary at the state and Federal level to ensure that the rights of workers are protected. That is why I am proud to support the PRO Act, and will continue to push for its passage,” said Assistant Leader Neguse. “If enacted, the PRO Act would be the most significant pro-worker law implemented in decades, advancing critical protections and improving the livelihoods of hardworking Americans across the country and throughout the state of Colorado.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) issued the following statement after voting “No” on House Republicans’ continuing resolution: 

“Republican Leadership just put forth a bill on the House Floor that abandons bipartisanship and fails to meet the needs of Coloradans across our great state. As the Trump Administration continues to dismantle federal agencies, purge core federal agencies like the Forest Service, and pursue reckless policies that are causing chaos across our economy, this legislation will only exacerbate the situation. Families in my home state of Colorado are suffering as a result of the directives issued by the Trump Administration, and I will not support legislation that seeks to expand the very same policies causing such harm.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington,  D.C. — Yesterday, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02) joined fellow members of Democratic Leadership for a Steering & Policy Committee hearing on saving Medicaid. The lawmakers were joined by panelists with expertise on the subject matter, including Kody H. Kinsley, North Carolina’s 18th Secretary of Health and Human Services, and American storytellers Chris Dunham, Christina Otero, and Nancy Hagans. Democrats’ hearing follows House Republicans’ passage of a budget betrayal, which lays the foundation for at least $880 billion in Medicaid cuts, eliminating coverage for nearly 16 million Americans. 

According to estimates, the proposed Medicaid cuts would cost Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, which Neguse has represented since 2019, $1.12 billion and eliminate coverage for approximately 89,445 individuals. Across the state of Colorado, Medicaid programs cover 44% of births and ensures care for nearly 40% of children ages 18 and younger.  

During the hearing, Assistant Leader Neguse directed his questions to Secretary Kinsley, seeking insight into the disastrous impacts that cuts to Medicaid will have on families, seniors, and America’s most vulnerable individuals. A transcript of their exchange is available below. 

NEGUSE: Thank you, Secretary Kinsley, for your leadership and your testimony today. I want to focus my questions on two broader impacts of these Medicaid cuts. If Republicans succeed in imposing a nearly $1 trillion cut to Medicaid, can you help us understand what will that mean for state budgets, like your own? And what options will states have, like North Carolina, for absorbing that large of a cut?  

KINSLEY: Well unfortunately there won’t be many options. Medicaid brings $28—at least $28 billion dollars—into the state of North Carolina. Our portion of that is a third. Any cut is going to create billions of dollars of a gap that the state of North Carolina, and I would imagine pretty much every other state, simply can’t cover. And it’s important to remember that 98% of every dollar that comes into North Carolina from Medicaid goes to services and providers. There’s no wiggle room to pull dollars out without people experiencing the harm immediately.  

NEGUSE: I share your concern, Secretary Kinsley. I know we all do. And I wonder if you might expand upon that in further detail. So, who might lose benefits? What kind of services may ultimately be curtailed? 

KINSLEY: First and foremost, I think of our seniors. Many individuals forget—you know—that as they exhaust their personal resources Medicaid is the only program in the country that will cover skilled nursing facilities for these individuals. When we think about the chronic disease burden in our communities, many folks will end up in that need. We know that major providers that provide nursing home care, rely pretty much exclusively on Medicaid as one of their primary sources. And so, pulling dollars out of the Medicaid program will negatively impact those seniors. I also think in North Carolina, that 50% of births are covered by Medicaid. When we think about the importance of a healthy start to life— 

NEGUSE: Can you just repeat that, Secretary Kinsley?  

KINSLEY: One out of two — 

NEGUSE: One out of two. 50%.  

KINSLEY: 50% of births covered by Medicaid. And, and so, making sure that those babies are born healthy with a strongest start in life. In North Carolina, again thanks to Congress, made quick advantage of extending coverage for postpartum women, so that those women could also be healthy. We know healthy families lead to healthy children, and it’s a smart investment. 

You can view the complete Democratic Leadership hearing on saving Medicaid HERE. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)