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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) is leading Colorado’s Democratic congressional delegation, including Representatives Diana DeGette (CO-01), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), in sending a new letter to the Trump administration seeking answers to questions related to the operations of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal detention facility in Aurora.

The new effort follows an oversight visit by Crow and other Members of Congress to the GEO-operated facility on August 11, where ICE and U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials were unable to answer many of the Members of Congress’ basic questions regarding the facility, including the number of individuals being held at the facility, how many detainees entered the facility in the week preceding the visit, and what percentage of detainees in the facility have a conviction for a violent crime.

In the letter, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, and Pettersen said: “In making our intent to visit known, we also requested that ICE personnel attend the visit in order to receive and respond to our questions in a fulsome manner. Despite the Department ‘vetting’ this request and sending multiple staff from ICE to this visit, they failed to have staff present who could answer the majority of the questions and repeatedly encouraged us to instead email ICE’s Office of Congressional Relations (OCR). The inevitable delays caused by routing our questions through OCR, rather than the ICE employee leading the oversight visit, prevent meaningful oversight from taking place in a timely manner.”

The Members Continued: “Whether an oversight visit is announced or unannounced, ICE is seemingly more prepared to ensure the spaces we see are mopped – in our case by detainees themselves – than they are with answering members’ questions regarding the treatment of individuals held in detention. We expect your prompt and thorough reply no later than September 5, 2025.”

Since being elected to Congress, Crow has conducted critical oversight of federal facilities to ensure proper use of taxpayer dollars and promote transparency, including Veterans Affairs’ facilities, military bases, and immigration detention centers. Crow has regularly conducted oversight of the GEO ICE detention facility in Aurora. Since 2019, he’s successfully visited the facility 10 times, and his staff have visited over 70 times. Crow also publishes public reports on his website of oversight visits and conditions at the facility.

Crow recently sued the Trump Administration after DHS unlawfully denied him access for an unannounced visit to the same facility in July, violating a federal law. Members of Congress have the right to conduct unannounced or announced oversight visits of federal facilities. Crow and the Colorado Democratic delegation’s visit to the GEO ICE detention facility this month, in August, was an announced visit.

Congressman Crow introduced the Public Oversight of Detention Centers (POD) Act, which would codify existing protections for Members of Congress and designated staff to conduct critical oversight visits to oversee facility operations, including any concerns related to public health and the humane treatment of detained individuals. He also led the push for these existing protections through the FY2020 appropriations process, and though included in annual appropriations legislation, the POD Act would formally codify these protections into law. 

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below: 

Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons:

On August 11, 2025, we conducted a congressional oversight visit of the Denver Contract Detention Facility located in Aurora, Colorado. Although the right of Members of Congress to conduct immediate, unannounced oversight visits of facilities operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is established in U.S. law, we provided advance notice of this visit.[1] Despite the advance notice of this visit, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel were unable to answer many of our questions, and we request answers to those and additional questions outlined in this letter no later than September 5, 2025.

In the Department’s denials to Members of Congress who have attempted unannounced oversight of immigration detention facilities in recent months, the Department has stated that advanced notice is required to “vet visit requests to ensure they are for legitimate purposes.” In making our intent to visit known, we also requested that ICE personnel attend the visit in order to receive and respond to our questions in a fulsome manner. Despite the Department “vetting” this request and sending multiple staff from ICE to this visit, they failed to answer many of our questions and repeatedly encouraged us to instead email ICE’s Office of Congressional Relations (OCR). The inevitable delays caused by routing our questions through OCR, rather than the ICE employee leading the oversight visit, prevent meaningful oversight from taking place in a timely manner. 

We request that you address the following:

1. What are the top five countries of origin for individuals currently detained at the facility?
2. Please confirm the total population of detainees detained at the facility disaggregated by gender.
3. How many detainees entered the facility in the week preceding our visit?
4. How many detainees left the facility in the week preceding our visit? Of those, how many were deported and how many were released into the community?
5. Detainees in the facility are classified using a color-coded system that is, in part, based on an individual’s criminal record. Please confirm the number of detainees belonging to each classification at this facility, including high, medium/high, medium/low, and low.
   1. Please describe the system the Department uses to award points and whether the classification system has changed in the last year.
6. Of the individuals detained at this facility, what percentage do not have a record that includes conviction(s) for a violent crime?
7. The air conditioning in at least one of the housing pods was not functioning for a period of time in July. How long was the air conditioning not in operation?
   1. When was the decision made to move detainees out of the B2 housing pod as a result, and what other steps were taken to manage the temperature in the facility during that time?
   2. What other housing pods were impacted by this outage?
   3. Did ICE require that GEO staff track the temperature in the housing pods while the air conditioning was not functioning properly? If so, please provide that information.
8. We have received reports on several occasions of water outages in the facility, including in July and August of this year. On each occasion, how long was the water system not in operation and what was determined to be the cause of the outage?
   1. What efforts were made to provide potable water to impacted detainees?
   2. Was the water provided safe for drinking and personal hygiene?
9. We understand from GEO staff that counts are occurring in the facility four times per day and that the timing recently changed. During these counts, detainees are in lockdown and may lack access to legal assistance and other resources. Was ICE involved in the decision to change when these counts are conducted and does ICE track how long counts take?
   1. How many counts are contract facilities required to conduct per day?
   2. Has the number of counts completed at this facility increased in recent months? If so, for what reasons?
   3. Why did the timing of these counts change?
10. Detention standards require that detainees in ICE facilities be able to make calls for free to a specific list of free legal service providers, but otherwise the cost per minute of each call varies by facility. What is the cost, per minute, of domestic and international calls made from this facility?
    1. Is this rate determined by ICE, the GEO Group, or the phone company contracted to provide service at this facility?
    2. Which phone company is contracted to provide service at this facility?
    3. Are detainees provided notice in advance when their access to phones will be limited and under what circumstances is access to phones limited?
11. Upon entering the facility, detainees are provided with a detention handbook and view a video about their right to legal counsel. In recent months, local legal organizations have been prohibited from conducting regular legal orientation programs that they were previously permitted to hold in this facility. For what reason has ICE prevented the resumption of these programs?
    1. Have previously approved local legal organizations been prohibited from conducting such legal orientation programs at other facilities elsewhere in the U.S.?
    2. If so, please list the facilities and the previously approved local legal organizations.
12. Posted in multiple places in this facility is a sign reading, “Do You want to Return Home? . . . Requesting to return home now may give you the opportunity to legally enter the United States in the future.” These posters include a phone number to call or the option to speak with an ICE officer. If detainees choose to speak with an ICE officer at this facility, is there a script that the officer follows or a document that outlines the self-deportation process?
    1. If the detainee calls that number, are they connected with an ICE officer?
    2. If so, does the ICE officer on that phone line follow a script or document to explain the self-deportation process, including a potential 3 to 10-year bar from reentry, abandonment of pending adjustment of status applications, and the impact on future visa petitions?
    3. What languages is this service available in?
13. We have received numerous reports from detainees that they are being pressured to self-deport, including repeat visits by ICE staff – some during the early morning or late-night hours. Are ICE employees directed to initiate conversations with detainees about self-deportation?
    1. If so, please provide the ICE policy guidance that outlines when and how often these conversations are to occur and what information is to be provided to detainees.
14. An ICE employee confirmed reporting that the former Hudson Correctional Facility in Weld County, Colorado, is under contract with ICE for the purpose of immigration detention. Congressional staff submitted an inquiry to DHS OCR about the status of this facility over two weeks ago and have not received a response. Please confirm when this facility will begin operations.
    1. Will the facility be operated by ICE or by a contract company?
    2. If it is privately operated, which contract company will operate this facility?
    3. What is the contracted capacity and what is the maximum detainee capacity at this facility?
    4. What is the annual value of this contract, and what is the source of funds that will be used to fund this facility’s operations?  
15. Are there any other facilities in Colorado that are under contract, or under consideration for contract, with ICE for the purpose of immigration detention?
    1. Recent reporting by The Washington Post includes the potential use of both the former Huerfano County Correctional Center in Walsenburg, owned by CoreCivic, and the Southern Ute Indian Adult Detention Center in Ignacio as additional potential immigration detention centers in Colorado.
       1. Will these facilities be operated by ICE or by a contract company?
       2. If they are privately operated, which contract company will operate each new facility?
       3. What is the contracted capacity and what is the maximum detainee capacity at these facilities?
       4. What is the annual value of such contracts, and what is the source of funds that will be used to fund such contracts?
16. Under the same reported expansion plans, the Denver Contract Detention Facility would see an expansion of beds from 1,360 to a maximum capacity of 1,530. Is this true, and if so, when would this expansion take effect?
    1. How many total beds would these expansion plans bring to the state of Colorado?
17. In order for our offices to complete casework and help detained individuals communicate with a federal agency, they must sign ICE Form 60-001, commonly referred to as a privacy release form. In recent weeks, ICE officials have prevented Congressional staff from completing privacy release forms during regular oversight visits, stating that “requests for and completion of privacy waivers must be accomplished of the detainee’s own volitation [sic].” Information provided to our staff has been conflicting and has impeded our ability to complete congressional casework. Is it now ICE policy that congressional staff be prohibited from getting completed Form 60-001’s during the course of an oversight visit?
    1. Is it ICE policy that, in order to complete this form prior to a visit from congressional staff, a detainee must either access the form during their time in the legal library and remit it to a congressional office, or have a congressional office mail them the form?
    2. Does ICE policy permit congressional offices to schedule a visitation, or legal visitation, with a detainee in order for our offices to complete Form 60-001? If so, how many days’ notice is required for these visits? If not, why not?
    3. In the absence of an in-person meeting with congressional staff or Members of Congress for the purpose of obtaining signed privacy waivers, who is expected to complete the witness signature section?
18. On average, how often are detainees being transferred between different facilities and for what purposes are those transfers conducted?
    1. Are transfers conducted on a regular schedule?
    2. If a detainee is going to be transferred, how much notice are they provided before being moved to a new facility?
    3. When detainees are transferred from Aurora to another facility by bus, what is the average length of that journey? Under what length of journey are detainees provided with food, water, or access to a restroom?
19. Please confirm the current number of medical and mental health staff assigned to the facility, broken down by role (i.e. physician, licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, dentist, psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, etc.)?
    1. What is the average wait time for detainees to access medical and mental health care after submitting the request?
    2. How many detainees have been taken by ambulance for emergency treatment over the past six months?
    3. If a detainee has been prescribed medication prior to entering the facility, what steps are taken to ensure continuity of care?
    4. If a detainee presents with a mental health condition upon entry, what services are required to be provided while they are detained at this facility?
20. How many detainees are currently in segregation/housed in the Restricted Housing Unit, for what stated reasons, and what is the average duration of their stay in segregation?
    1. Please provide that data for the last six months.
21. What is the current number of ICE and contract staff at the facility assigned to legal visitation coordination, case management, and detainee intake/release?
22. In the written statement attributed to the ICE Assistant Director of Public Affairs Emily Covington sent to CBS News Colorado on Tuesday, August 12, two local constituents being held at the facility were publicly named. Is this a violation of The Privacy Act of 1974 and/or ICE policy?

Oversight of these federal institutions is a fundamental responsibility for each of us as members of Congress, and immigration detention facilities demand oversight and accountability to ensure that detainees are treated with dignity and respect. However, the administration is creating greater bureaucratic hurdles for our office when attempting to complete casework on behalf of individuals detained at these facilities. Detainees may have legitimate claims for protection and efforts to create lags in the time it takes for members, and our staff, to gain access to this facility or to mail privacy release forms back and forth between detainees and congressional offices, solely serves to delay this process until an individual has inevitably been transferred to another facility or been discouraged from seeking assistance they have every right to.

Whether an oversight visit is announced or unannounced, ICE is seemingly more prepared to ensure the spaces we see are mopped – in our case by detainees themselves – than they are with answering Members’ questions regarding the treatment of individuals held in detention. We expect your prompt and thorough reply no later than September 5, 2025.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

AURORA – More than 500 Coloradans showed up for a town hall Thursday hosted by Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). During the town hall at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Crow and Bennet answered questions regarding Colorado’s economy, the recent Republican budget bill (H.R.1) that slashes Medicaid and has created a $1 billion deficit in Colorado’s budget this year, and their work in Congress to hold the Trump administration accountable.

“One of the most important parts of my job is speaking directly with Coloradans,” said Congressman Crow. “It was great to speak with hundreds of constituents about my work to lower costs, support our servicemembers and veterans, and hold President Trump accountable. I appreciate everyone who came out to make their voice heard, and thank Senator Bennet for joining me.”

“Tonight’s town hall marks my 14th this year, where I’ve had the opportunity to speak directly with thousands of Coloradans,” said Senator Bennet. “This is my favorite part of the job, and it’s even better to get to do it with my colleague Congressman Jason Crow. Thank you to everyone who came out to make your voices heard.”

Congressman Crow is dedicated to hearing directly from his constituents on the issues that matter most to them. He regularly hosts in-person and telephone town halls, as well as student town halls to hear from youth in the community. This week, Congressman Crow has also hosted town halls and local businesses including Northrop Grumman, CU Anschutz, and Comcast.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

AURORA — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) held a meeting with Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains today in Aurora. He was joined at the roundtable by Jack Teter, Vice President of Government Affairs for PPRM. The conversation coincided with Colorado’s General Assembly holding a Special Session this week to address a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall after the passage of President Trump and Republican’s budget bill, H.R.1.

When the Republican budget bill went into effect, Planned Parenthood was immediately prohibited from serving over 11,000 Colorado Medicaid enrollees. Planned Parenthood provides a wide array of health care services to Coloradans, including contraception, pregnancy tests, cancer screenings, and STD testing. In some states, clinics have been forced to close due to Republican cuts to Medicaid. In addition to serving Colorado, PPRM serves New Mexico and Wyoming. Two-thirds of their health centers are in rural and underserved communities.

“Republican cuts to Medicaid are hurting Colorado and making life harder for working families,” said Congressman Crow. “Taking away access to health care means that tens of thousands of my constituents will lose their insurance or make it harder to receive care. I will continue to fight these cuts and stand with organizations like Planned Parenthood that are serving our community.”

“This law is a cruel and calculated attack on health equity, and it’s having real, devastating consequences for our patients across Colorado. In just the first nine days after the law took effect, nearly 1,000 patients across our region were denied essential care,” said Jack Teter, Vice President of Government Affairs for PPRM. “These are people who couldn’t pick up their birth control, missed time-sensitive abortion care services, or were turned away from cancer screenings and STI treatment. We are grateful for leaders like Congressman Crow, who continue to show bravery in speaking out against this heinous bill and using their platform to defend access to essential health care.” 

Congressman Crow has long worked to protect the critical work of Planned Parenthood, and has consistently supported access to reproductive health care. Earlier this year, he introduced legislation to ensure servicemembers and military families continue to have access to abortion and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments regardless of where they are stationed, including states with extreme abortion bans. Previously, he voted to support the Women’s Health Protection Act. Congressman Crow is committed to protecting health care for the over 5,000 people in his district who rely on Planned Parenthood each year.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) joined Congressman George Whitesides (CA-27) in introducing a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the FireGuard program, which utilizes Department of Defense satellites to detect wildfires and distribute information to firefighting efforts on the ground.

“As California’s Insurance Commissioner, I saw firsthand how destructive wildfires are: lost family members, homes destroyed, and a lifetime of memories turned to ash. Every day, I hoped for new detection tools that would allow us to contain the fires before they got out of hand,” said Rep. Garamendi. “This commonsense bill ensures that firefighters will have every tool at their disposal to fight wildfires and keep our communities safe.”

“Regions like mine understand the existential threat of wildfires, and the need to use every tool at our disposal to detect, track, and prevent fires before they start,” said Rep. Whitesides. “Reauthorizing the FireGuard program will enhance our local, state, and federal wildfire response – especially on the first day a fire starts to spread – and help keep Americans safe.”

“As wildfires become more intense and frequent, we must give fire departments every tool possible to help combat blazes and protect communities,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The bipartisan FireGuard Reauthorization Act will further build on our previous work to leverage Department of Defense capabilities to quickly identify and respond to wildfires.” 

“Colorado is no stranger to wildfires,” said Rep. Crank. “The FireGuard Reauthorization Act will assure our federal, state, and local partners are equipped with detection tools to ensure wildfires are tracked and responded to properly to keep our communities safe.”

The FireGuard Reauthorization Act would:

• Establish new pathways to review and integrate satellite and aerial data from private, nonprofit, and public sector sources to improve wildfire detection.
• Require the Department of Defense to inform Congress about the efficacy of the program, including how accurate detections are compared to final fire perimeters, and how quickly alerts reach local responders.
• Extend the program for five additional years.  

Rep. Garamendi and Whitesides are joined by Reps. Jeff Crank, Jason Crow and Salud Carbajal as original cosponsors.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Fairfield, CA — Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi held a press conference at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano to call out President Trump’s so-called “Big Ugly Bill,” which will raise food costs and enact the largest cut to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in the program’s history—taking food away from 3 million California families.

“Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ so-called ‘Big Ugly Bill’ steals food from the mouths of millions of California’s children,” said Congressman Garamendi. “The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supports more than 40 million Americans, including children, seniors, veterans, and working parents. There are over 100,000 beneficiaries in my district alone.

“Trump’s proposed cuts will drive up the cost of food while worsening poverty and hunger among children, older adults, and people with disabilities. All of this is being done to hand billionaires a massive tax break.

“I’m grateful to organizations like the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, which are on the frontlines of fighting hunger and need more support now than ever.

“Next November, Californians should remember who voted for this cruel bill: Dave Valadao, Kevin Kiley, Tom McClintock, Ken Calvert, Doug LaMalfa, and Young Kim. These six California Republicans chose to take food from children in order to give billionaires another tax cut. Voters should hold them accountable.”

“The cuts to CalFresh/SNAP in the recent bill are a major step backward in the fight against hunger and represent the largest reduction in the program’s history. These cuts will take food off the tables of children, seniors, and working families who need it most and no food bank has the resources to fill a gap of this scale,” said Caitlin Sly, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Contra Costa. “That’s why it is essential that we come together to advocate for stronger safety nets that truly support our community members.”

This press conference was Congressman John Garamendi’s second stop of the day. Earlier that morning, he joined Contra Costa County Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center to call out Donald Trump’s ‘Big Ugly Bill,’ harmful cuts to Californians’ healthcare.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Fairfield, CA — Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi held a press conference at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center with Contra Costa County Supervisors Shanelle Preston Scales and John Gioia to slam President Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill,” which makes harmful cuts to healthcare.

“Almost one month since Donald Trump and Republicans passed their ‘Big Ugly Bill,’ we are already seeing the damage it will cause,” said Congressman Garamendi. “I said this was the worst bill I’ve seen in my years of public service and I meant it. In the coming years, nearly 333,455 people in Contra Costa County who rely on Medi-Cal are at risk of losing their healthcare. Hospitals will close, prescriptions will cost more, and care that was once accessible will vanish.

“Remember these names next November: Dave Valadao, Kevin Kiley, Tom McClintock, Ken Calvert, Doug LaMalfa, and Young Kim. These six California Republicans voted for a bill that strips healthcare from over a million of their own constituents. They chose billionaires over their neighbors. Let’s hold them accountable at the ballot box and overturn this dangerous bill in Congress.”

“Our community depends on the strength of this medical center, and today’s tour with Congressman Garamendi makes clear just how critical it is to invest in local healthcare,” said County Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston. “The doctors, nurses, and staff here are on the front lines every day—saving lives, expanding access, and preparing us for the challenges ahead. Contra Costa families deserve nothing less, and I am proud to stand with Congressman Garamendi in making sure this hospital has the resources it needs to serve every resident with dignity and care.”

The “Big Ugly Bill” will negatively impact our county’s ability to provide medical care to our most vulnerable residents,” said County Supervisor John Gioia. “The Bill’s cuts will delay residents’ ability to get needed healthcare, increase emergency room visits, cause more negative health outcomes, and increase costs to our healthcare system.”

This press conference was the first stop of the day for Congressman John Garamendi. In the afternoon, he joined the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, where he, Food Bank President Caitlin Sly, and volunteers called out the damaging impact of Trump’s cuts to food security.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Garamendi’s Bill Would Prevent Passengers and Crew from Inhaling Toxic Fumes on Commercial Jet Planes

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA-08) a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee along with Senator Padilla (D-CA), Senator Cornyn (R-TX), and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01) introduced the bipartisan “Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act” (H.R.4847/S.2635), which would safeguard federal funding for disaster-recovery highway projects.

“Americans across the country are facing increasingly frequent and severe floods and wildfires due to the climate crisis. When disasters strike, our communities deserve nothing less than the full support of their federal government” said Congressman Garamendi. “Our bill would ensure state and local governments have adequate time to fully utilize federal funds awarded to repair roads damaged by disasters.

“After devastating natural disasters like the California fires in January, states turn to the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program to rebuild critical infrastructure like roads, bridges, and highways. But as it currently stands, the program’s regulations often don’t give states enough time to use funds to rebuild,” said Senator Padilla. “Our bill would afford states the time they need to complete these projects responsibly and efficiently, without the looming threat of losing the support of the federal government when it matters the most.”

“Texas is no stranger to natural disasters, and the Emergency Federal Relief Program has provided essential aid for our state to repair roadways damaged by severe weather,” said Senator Cornyn. “I am proud to introduce legislation that will provide states with additional flexibility in spending these funds and to resolve administrative difficulties with the program, ensuring damaged federal highways and roadways across our nation can be swiftly rebuilt and repaired.”

“Over the past five years, Caltrans and our local partners have faced growing challenges securing timely approvals for Emergency Relief (ER) time extensions, putting hundreds of millions in federal disaster-recovery funds at risk,” said Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy. “We’re encouraged by the momentum to modernize the FHWA’s ER Manual—an essential step toward providing states with the clarity and consistency needed to safeguard these critical funds and support long-term recovery efforts statewide.”

“Counties need all the help we can get to rebuild after disasters, and we welcome this commonsense bill with open arms. It’ll give us the flexibility we need to get projects built without losing critical federal funds,” said California State Association of Counties (CSAC) President and Inyo County Supervisor Jeff Griffiths.

Current U.S. Department of Transportation regulations allow the federal government to claw back “emergency relief” funding for highway transportation projects, if those projects do not reach construction within two fiscal years of being awarded federal funds.

The “Transportation Emergency Relief Extension Act” (H.R.4847/S.2635) would repeal the current 2-year regulatory deadline and provide up to 6 years for transportation projects funded through an Emergency Relief Program to advance to construction. The new 6-year deadline would start following the date on which a disaster was declared by the respective state’s governor or the president.

Endorsements: California Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Transportation, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties.

Read the bill text HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

NJ 6th District Congressman celebrates Bruce Springsteen’s legacy, deep New Jersey roots

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) took to the House floor today to denounce Republicans for advancing an appropriations bill that slashes federal funding for beach replenishment projects – a move that would hit New Jersey’s shoreline communities especially hard. He delivered the following remarks on the floor:

 

“Today we’re debating one of the worst energy and water bills appropriations bills I’ve ever seen. Usually when you’re in charge, they’re very good, actually. But this one is terrible, and I think it sets a dangerous precedent. 

It hurts our constituents by increasing their energy costs, as so many are already seeing huge hikes to their bills. It weakens our national security, and it undermines the critical work that the Army Corps of Engineers does to keep our coastal communities safe. 

 

So, Mr. Speaker, I want to focus on the cuts for protection. Republicans are making a massive cut to the shore protection funding that allows the Corps to fund beach replenishment projects in places like the Jersey shore. In my district, this Republican bill woefully underfunded replenishment projects by hundreds of millions of dollars. Now, just recently, Hurricane Erin slammed our coast, washing away dunes and eroding beaches, a stark reminder of why replenishment funding is so critical. 

 

Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are abandoning coastal communities at a time when climate change is accelerating erosion and increasing the risk of devastating storms. And I have to stress: beach replenishment projects or protection projects aren’t luxuries. They’re lifelines. We don’t do them so people can sunbathe. We do them to protect the homes, the businesses and the public infrastructure. 

 

Towns in my district and in red and blue districts throughout our country alike depend on replenishment to prevent damage from coastal storms. It’s that simple. And we can’t let a bunch of climate denying Republicans in Congress gamble with New Jersey or with other coastlines. I think about it like a slot machine on the Atlantic City boardwalk, which is: hope that the storm doesn’t come and we’ll be okay. Well, that’s not what happens. The reality is that places like the Jersey Shore that need protection from the next big storm, and making drastic cuts like these are simply dangerous. So thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I yield.”

 

A video of his remarks is available here.

The Republican Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 dedicates just $15 million nationwide for beach replenishment – a 70 percent cut from the typical $200 million allocation. New Jersey alone relies on tens of millions annually for Army Corps of Engineers projects that repair and protect beaches after storms, safeguard coastal property, and sustain the state’s tourism economy.

 

For decades, Pallone has led bipartisan efforts to secure funding for beach replenishment and coastal resiliency. His district includes some of the most vulnerable stretches of coastline in the country, where beach erosion has worsened after storms like Hurricane Sandy and, most recently, Hurricane Erin.

 

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