Pettersen, Brittany RSS Articles

Rep. Pettersen Votes Against $70 Billion Check for Trump’s ICE Operations

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement after voting against Republicans’ budget reconciliation package that gives $70 billion in funding over three years to a lawless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Because they didn’t have the requisite two-thirds Senate majority to pass this cynical measure, Republicans used the budget reconciliation process, a fast-track legislative procedure that allows certain budget-related measures to pass the Senate with a simple majority vote. Republicans failed to include any meaningful policy reforms to ICE and CBP operations, such as body camera requirements and other accountability measures.

The vote comes amid mounting scrutiny of ICE operations nationwide. This year alone, ICE and CBP operations have been linked to the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Questions have also been raised regarding transparency, use of force, conditions in detention facilities, due process protections, and the agency’s treatment of U.S. citizens and individuals in this country legally.

“Republicans are asking taxpayers to write ICE a $70 billion check while refusing to implement any of the commonsense reforms needed to rein in this out-of-control agency – reforms that a vast majority of Americans support.

“We were told that they would target violent criminals, but instead, they are detaining children, deporting legal residents and refugees, and murdering U.S. citizens in cold blood. Now, Republicans are abusing the legislative process to continue Trump’s reign of terror on our immigrant community, making ICE the largest federal law enforcement agency in history.

“At a time when Republicans are cutting health care, food assistance, and other programs that working families rely on, they’ve somehow managed to find $70 billion for an agency that is operating without any accountability. This should tell you everything you need to know about where Trump and Republicans' priorities lie – and it’s not with us.”

This vote comes after Pettersen helped introduce three pieces of legislation to enact oversight on ICE alongside Representative Joe Neguse (CO-02) and the rest of the Colorado Democratic Delegation. These bills would ensure DHS agents are properly identifiable during immigration enforcement, prohibit ICE and CBP from detaining children or entering sensitive sites such as places of worship, and ensure that the location of detained individuals is readily available to their families. These bills would also bar ICE from converting warehouses, jails, or other facilities into immigration detention centers.

Pettersen has also consistently voted against Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, including opposing over $75 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” She also supports legislation to require DHS and ICE officers to clearly identify themselves during enforcement actions, legislation that would reinstate protections that bar ICE from conducting immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, including churches, schools, hospitals, and non-immigration courts, and has demanded accountability from DHS.

Rep. Pettersen Votes Against Republican Funding Bill that Slashes Food Assistance for Families

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) voted against House Republicans’ Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill that cuts nutrition assistance programs that millions of families, children, and seniors rely on while reducing investments in rural communities.

Rep. Pettersen offered an amendment highlighting the $200 million House Republicans cut from WIC which ensures pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and young children continue receiving the full benefits they rely on to put healthy food on the table. Republicans rejected the amendment.

“At a time when families are already struggling to afford groceries, Republicans are taking food away from moms, babies, and children,” said Pettersen. “Instead of doing anything that would actually help families and farmers struggling with rising costs from Trump’s tariff regime and his illegal war in Iran, this bill completely rips the rug out from under them. If Republicans cared about lowering costs, they would have supported my amendment to protect the programs our most vulnerable families depend on. Unfortunately, they refused to even hold a vote. This is just another example of their backwards agenda that consistently puts the American people last.”

Specifically, House Republicans’ funding bill would:

Increase costs for farmers and rural communities by steeply cutting critical investments, including water and waste grants to help the poorest communities get safer water services, and slashing the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) loans in half;
Cuts WIC by $200 million, threatening full fruit and vegetable benefits for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children who rely on the program for healthy food and nutrition support;
- WIC served nearly 7 million women and children in 2025.
Locks in a $6 billion cut to SNAP made under Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill,” reducing food assistance available to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities at a time when grocery prices are skyrocketing.

A full summary of the bill can be found 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.

Ahead of Summer Travel Season, Rep. Pettersen Leads CO Dem Delegation in Demanding Answers from Trump as Gas Prices Surge Amid Iran War

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) led the Colorado Democratic delegation in demanding answers from President Donald Trump about his Administration’s plan to lower gasoline prices. Recent reports show Colorado is now one of the ten most expensive gasoline markets in the nation, with prices surpassing $4.76 per gallon — more than 60 percent higher than before the conflict and the highest increase in six decades.

Analysts warn prices could continue rising throughout the summer travel season, further straining family budgets already stretched by the rising cost of housing, groceries, and other essentials.

In the Letter, the lawmakers wrote: “We are deeply concerned that, by your own account, you “don’t think about Americans’ financial situation” when negotiating with Iran, at a time when Americans continue to struggle to pay for groceries, housing, and everyday essentials. Coloradans need a plan for how you intend to deliver relief as families are being crushed by rising costs.”

The lawmakers continued, “Summer travel is an important tradition for families across our country, whether it be taking well-earned time off to visit family or driving through small towns and gateway communities to visit National Parks and other treasured American destinations. Rising fuel prices will make it harder for families to experience the beauty of our nation, support local businesses, attend community events, and celebrate America’s heritage. Millions of Americans will travel this summer to visit Washington, D.C., and historic sites across the country as preparations continue for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, making affordable fuel even more important for families planning these trips.”

The lawmakers requested detailed information on the Administration’s efforts to lower gasoline prices and asked President Trump to respond by June 18, 2026. Specifically, they requested information regarding:

Actions the Administration is taking to reduce gas prices in the near term;
Whether a coordinated interagency strategy exists to address rising fuel costs;
Analysis of the factors driving recent gasoline price increases;
The Administration's assessment of the impact on working families, rural communities, and small businesses; and
The benchmarks being used to determine whether Administration actions are successfully lowering prices.

The full letter can be found HERE.

Reps. Pettersen, Neguse Lead Colorado House Democrats in Introducing Immigration and Customs Enforcement Reforms

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Joe Neguse (CO-02) led the state’s House Democratic delegation in introducing three bills aimed at reforming the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The bills were first introduced by Senator Michael Bennet in the U.S. Senate and include the Keeping Immigrants and Destinations Safe (KIDS) Act, the Training, Responsibility, Uniforms, and Standards for Transparency (TRUST) Act, and the Oversight, Protection, and Enforcement Notification (OPEN) Act.

Reps. Pettersen and Neguse are joined by fellow House members Representatives Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Jason Crow (CO-06) in introducing these proposals.

“Donald Trump’s ICE operations are out of control—he promised to go after the ‘worst of the worst,’ but instead ICE is detaining children, deporting U.S. citizens and people who are here legally, and operating with virtually no oversight or accountability,” said Congresswoman Pettersen. “As Republicans move to pour billions more taxpayer dollars into this lawless agency, we need comprehensive reform that the majority of the American people support. I’m grateful to work with Congressman Joe Neguse to introduce these bills to increase transparency, strengthen accountability, protect due process, and begin restoring trust.”

“Over the course of the last year and a half, the Trump administration’s cruel and inhumane immigration policies have inflicted a heavy toll on the people of Colorado. Enough is enough,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “I’m proud to join Senator Michael Bennet in introducing legislation that stands up for transparency and accountability, makes clear that oversight is not optional, and underscores that no president can bend the rule of law to their will. These proposals are a starting point toward real, meaningful reform—protecting children and sensitive locations, holding federal immigration officers accountable, and ensuring that everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”

“Donald Trump's cruel immigration agenda has been defined by fear and a disregard for basic human dignity,” said Congresswoman DeGette. “No child should be detained, no family should be afraid to seek care at a hospital or attend school, and no law enforcement officer should be allowed to operate without transparency and accountability. I’m proud to work with my colleagues to introduce these bills that will restore humanity, oversight, and the rule of law to an immigration system that has been pushed beyond the bounds of decency.”

“Donald Trump said he’d go after the ‘worst of the worst’ criminals. Instead, he’s rounding up kids, detaining and murdering Americans in our streets, and terrorizing our communities,” said Congressman Crow. “Republicans just gave ICE a massive budget increase without pushing for any reforms to the abuses we have seen. It’s wrong and we must rein in the abusive practices of this rogue agency. I appreciate Senator Bennet’s leadership to stand up to President Trump and hold this administration accountable.”

Additional information about each bill can be found below.

The Keeping Immigrants and Destinations Safe (KIDS) Act would prohibit DHS from detaining children and from performing immigration enforcement actions in and around sensitive locations without a court issued criminal warrant.

More specifically, the KIDS Act would:

Prohibit DHS from detaining children, individuals with cognitive disabilities, or their primary caregivers;
Ban immigration arrests at schools, hospitals, places of worship, courthouses, and other sensitive locations, unless officers have a court-issued criminal warrant; and
Clarify that these protections also apply when individuals are traveling to, attending, or returning from sensitive locations.

The Training, Responsibility, Uniforms, and Standards for Transparency (TRUST) Act ensures immigration enforcement agents are held to the same standards as local law enforcement and reforms hiring and screening standards and enforce uniform, identification, and professional conduct standards.

More specifically, the TRUST Act would:

Require immigration enforcement officers to wear standardized DHS uniforms and clearly display badges and identification during enforcement operations;
Prohibit officers from wearing masks during immigration enforcement operations;
Establish stronger hiring standards, including comprehensive background investigations, screening for affiliations with terrorist, violent, or hate-based organizations, and psychological evaluations;
Require officers to complete specialized training on wrongful detention prevention, de-escalation strategies, language access, medical and disability recognition, and civil rights protections; and
Mandate officers to use body-worn cameras during enforcement actions, establish consequences for failing to activate or tampering with recordings, and require public release of footage following serious incidents, subject to privacy protections.

The Oversight, Protection, and Enforcement Notification (OPEN) Act seeks to improve oversight of DHS and enforce detention standards.

More specifically, the OPEN Act would:

Guarantee Members of Congress unrestricted access to all immigration detention facilities without prior approval;
Ensure detained individuals are able to notify family members following their detention and access legal counsel;
Require notification to family and legal representatives immediately when individuals are transferred to another detention facility or hospital;
Require DHS to publicly report allegations and incidents of excessive force, wrongful detention, mistaken arrests, the detention of U.S. citizens, and sexual assault;
Establish requirements for independent inspections by and transparency to appropriate federal and state officials before converting warehouses, jails, or other facilities into immigration detention centers; and
Require judicial warrants for immigration enforcement.

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During Mental Health Awareness Month, Reps. Pettersen, Yakym Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Youth Suicide Prevention Programs

Thu, 21 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Rudy Yakym (IN-02), introduced the Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to help schools, communities, and public health organizations develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based strategies to prevent suicide among children and adolescents. The legislation comes as youth mental health challenges rise nationwide with suicide becoming the second-leading cause of death for American kids.

In 2008, Rep. Pettersen lost her own brother, Justin, to suicide after he slipped through the cracks. She opened up publicly about this experience on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today. This shaped her commitment to improving mental health access, reducing the stigma, and ensuring schools and families have access to support before it’s too late. Having experienced the effects of lack of access to mental health in her own family, Rep. Pettersen is prioritizing catching and addressing mental health needs in children as early as possible to save lives.

“I lost my brother, Justin, to suicide over 15 years ago – there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and wish he was still here with us,” said Pettersen. “Unfortunately, he slipped through the cracks because he did not have access to the support he needed while struggling. And I know so many families and kids are in the same boat, which is why our communities need investments in programs that work. This bill does just that by investing in strategies that we can know can actually make a difference and save the lives of people like my brother, Justin, before it’s too late.”

“As a father of three, I know there is nothing more important than protecting our children,” said Yakym. “I’m proud to join Rep. Pettersen in co-leading this important bill, which will take meaningful, evidence-based steps to educate the public and prevent youth suicide. We cannot accept that suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people. We can do more to save lives and give families hope.”

"The bipartisan Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act is rooted in the urgent reality that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among children and adolescents. Congress has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to find, fund and implement proven solutions to address the mental health crisis among youth,” said Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-Founder of Results for America. “We applaud Rep. Pettersen and Rep. Yakym for their leadership in focusing on what works to save young lives."

The Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act would:

Support demonstration programs focused on evidence-based youth suicide prevention strategies in schools and youth-serving settings;
Require rigorous evaluation and public reporting on program effectiveness and outcomes;
Prioritize funding for interventions backed by strong or moderate evidence while also supporting promising innovative approaches paired with evaluation plans;
Provide technical assistance to grant recipients on data collection, implementation, and evaluation; and
Help communities identify and scale strategies proven to improve student mental health and reduce suicide risk.

Bill text is available HERE.

This legislation is endorsed by Results for America (RFA) and StriveTogether.

Introduced during Mental Health Awareness Month, the Evidence-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Act builds on legislation Representative Pettersen supported in the Colorado State Legislature and was developed with the bipartisan What Works Caucus and Results for America (RFA) to bridge political divides and promote evidence-based policymaking by ensuring taxpayer dollars go towards effective policy.

Representatives Pettersen and Yakym are both founders of the What Works Caucus, which is a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers dedicated to advancing evidence-based policymaking and ensuring taxpayer dollars are invested in programs that deliver measurable results. The caucus works to bridge political divides by evaluating the effectiveness of federal programs and promoting data-driven solutions that improve outcomes for communities across the country.

Rep. Pettersen Takes Major Steps on Housing Affordability For Coloradans, Passing Her Bipartisan Bills in Housing Package Which Now Heads to the Senate

Wed, 20 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) today applauds the passage of a major bipartisan housing package on the House floor containing numerous Pettersen-led bills addressing housing affordability in Colorado and across the country. Rep. Pettersen was also a key negotiator in shaping the framework, successfully pushing to revise a harmful provision from the package that would have blocked Built-to-Rent homebuilding projects and undermined efforts to address the nation’s housing supply and affordability crisis.

The Pettersen-led legislation in the package includes her Streamlining Rural Housing Act, which will streamline duplicative federal housing requirements that slow affordable housing development in rural communities; her Housing Supply Frameworks Act, which would develop best practices on zoning and land-use policies; and her amendment based on part of the VALID Act, which would improve the mortgage lending process for our nation's servicemembers and veterans.

In Colorado, there is currently a housing shortage of over 100,000 homes and apartments. The state also needs to build over 30,000 units in the next decade to make up for the shortfall given the population growth. Due to this shortage, Colorado has seen median rents climb by more than 80% over the last decade. Pettersen’s bills take important steps forward to address that shortage and encourage policies that help new housing development.

“All across Colorado, families are getting absolutely crushed by the cost of housing. Whether in the Denver metro area, or in our rural communities, there are not enough options, and out-of-state investors are driving up costs. Housing is the number one financial pain point I hear about from people, and I am so proud to use my position on the House Financial Services Committee to pass policies that will finally provide families with a lifeline,” said Pettersen. “From Trump’s tariffs to his billionaire tax breaks and his devastating cuts to our health coverage, no normal person can afford Donald Trump’s high-cost regime. We need an all-hands-on-deck approach to tackle the affordability crisis, and that must include housing — including removing barriers to construction and expanding affordable housing options in communities across Colorado. I’m proud that despite the chaos and dysfunction in Washington, these bills are moving forward, and I’ll keep fighting to get them signed into law.”

Pettersen’s legislation that passed the House are listed below:

The Streamlining Rural Housing Act: Introduced alongside Congressman Stutzman (R-IN), the bill directs HUD and USDA to enter a memorandum of understanding, a formal interagency agreement to coordinate housing standards, reducing redundant reviews that increase costs and slow affordable housing development in rural communities.
The Housing Supply Frameworks Act: Introduced with Congressman Mike Flood (R-NE), the bill directs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop frameworks for best practices on zoning and land-use policies to confront barriers to housing development and construction.
Pettersen's amendment to improve the mortgage lending process for our nation's servicemembers and veterans was included in the package that passed. The amendment ensures that lenders are made aware of a consumer's veteran status at the beginning of the lending process so they can make the consumer aware of their potential eligibility for a VA loan.

Over her 14 years in elected office, Representative Pettersen has made expanding access to housing that families can afford a cornerstone of her work in Colorado and in Congress. As a member of the House Financial Services Committee and Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, as well as a Co-Chair of the Real Estate Caucus and the Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) Caucus, she is currently leading the charge to tackle the national housing shortage by championing policies that cut through regulatory red tape and streamline the development of innovative, low-cost homes.

Reps. Pettersen, Hayes Introduce Bill to Bolster Child Education Workforce

Mon, 18 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced the Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act of 2026, legislation to strengthen teacher preparation programs and better equip educators working with young children.

The bill would require training in early childhood development, including children’s social and emotional growth, age-appropriate behavioral supports, and effective instructional practices. The legislation recognizes that the earliest years of a child’s life are critical to long-term learning and development and ensures educators have the tools to support children during these formative years.

“As a mom of two young kids, I know how critical those early years are and that early childhood lays the groundwork for lifelong learning,” said Pettersen. “As Trump continues to dismantle the services that support our families, it’s getting even harder – and more expensive – for regular people to access high-quality child care. That’s why I’m proud to introduce this legislation to bolster our child care workforce and put our kids on the path to thrive long-term.”

“The first five years of the life of a child are critical for development. Leaders working with young children must be equipped with evidence-based strategies that promote social and emotional growth,” said Hayes. “By investing in the development of teachers, the Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act lays a strong foundation for student success.”

The Creating Early Childhood Leaders Act would modify Title II of the Higher Education Act by mandating that school leadership programs receiving federal Teacher Quality Partnership grants incorporate training on early childhood development and effective instructional leadership for children from birth to age eight. Companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Ben Ray Lujan (R-NM). Bill text is available HERE.

This legislation is endorsed by the Association of Educational Services Agencies, National Association for the Education of Young Children, School Superintendents Association, The Early Care & Education Consortium, The Education Trust, and ZERO TO THREE.

Rep. Pettersen Amendment in Support of Fremont County VA Clinic Passes House with Bipartisan Support

Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen celebrated bipartisan passage of her amendment in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations package aimed at supporting construction of a long-awaited VA clinic in Fremont County to better serve veterans in Cañon City, Florence, and surrounding communities.

The amendment comes after years of advocacy from Rep. Pettersen alongside local veterans pushing for improved access to care in a region home to an estimated 3,500 veterans in Cañon City and Florence and as many as 5,000 eligible veterans across Fremont County. Despite the large veteran population, the area still lacks a dedicated VA clinic, forcing many veterans to travel long distances to receive care.

“Our veterans have sacrificed everything to serve our country. They should not have to fight through bureaucratic delays just to access the health care they’ve earned,” said Rep. Pettersen. “For too long, veterans in Fremont County have gone without the care and support they deserve, forcing them to drive long distances for care and face significant wait times. I’m proud to see bipartisan support for this clinic, and I will continue pushing to finally deliver this much-needed facility for our community.”

The amendment is just the latest in Pettersen’s ongoing efforts to construct a VA clinic in Fremont County since coming to Congress. After meeting with local officials and veterans in Fremont County and hearing their concerns about delays in the construction of a clinic, she has fought for this project to ensure veterans have access to the resources they need in Fremont County and throughout Colorado’s Seventh Congressional District.

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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.

Reps. Pettersen, Gottheimer Introduce “Feed Our Kids Act” to Fight Farm Bill Cuts to School Meals for Hungry Children

Mon, 11 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), and Darren Soto (FL-09) introduced the Feed Our Kids Act, which would provide free breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snacks to every student in K-12 public schools in Colorado and across the country.

This legislation comes as House Democrats sounded the alarm on the devastating nutrition cuts jammed through by House Republicans in the Farm Bill last week. This Republican-led bill would lock in cuts to critical funding for school meals, SNAP, and local food programs that threaten to push hundreds of thousands of students into hunger.

As a state legislator, Pettersen sponsored the referred measure that voters passed to create the Colorado Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program, which provides funding to schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students in public schools. Colorado’s HSMA program provides over 600,000 free meals daily and has improved meal quality while supporting local agriculture and farmers.

“Making sure every kid has access to a healthy meal at school reduces costs for families and ensures that every student has the ability to grow and thrive,” said Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. “We’ve seen the impact free school meals have in Colorado, and we know this bill is a critical step toward supporting our families, both in and out of the classroom.”

“You can’t propel a rocket without fuel. The same goes for a growing student,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “Too many children in New Jersey are still showing up to school every morning with the tank reading empty. In the greatest country in the world, it is simply unacceptable that one in seven children in our state faces food insecurity. The Feed Our Kids Act will change that — no stigma, no bureaucracy, no child left hungry.”

More than forty-seven million people in the United States face hunger. One in four Americans report skipping meals because they simply cannot afford their grocery bills. Research shows that students who eat breakfast and lunch perform better in the classroom, have stronger memory recall, are less likely to be absent or repeat a grade, and have fewer behavioral and attention problems. Students who are properly nourished also have healthier lifelong diets and are less susceptible to obesity-related health issues. Additionally, studies show that addressing hunger reduces violent crime, making communities safer and stronger.

Specifically, The Feed Our Kids Act would:

Provide free breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snacks to every student in K-12 public schools across America.
Eliminate unpaid meal debt from schools and remove burdensome application paperwork for qualifying families.
Ensure meals are nutritious and locally sourced when possible.
Extend meal access during summer break and sudden school closures so no child’s nutrition falls through the cracks.
Eliminate the stigma associated with means-tested meal programs by making access universal.
Provide Congress with a report on the impacts of free school meals and provide recommendations to ensure that schools are using nutritious meals that are locally sourced from farmers.

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Rep. Pettersen Votes No on Budget Resolution That Sets Stage for $70 Billion Expansion of ICE and CBP

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) voted against Republicans’ budget resolution that would pave the way for up to $70 billion in funding over three years for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the reconciliation process.

The bill initiates the budget reconciliation process, a fast-track legislative process that allows certain budget-related measures to pass the Senate with a simple majority vote. Republicans failed to include any meaningful policy reforms to ICE and CBP operations, such as body camera requirements and other accountability measures. Speaker Mike Johnson has consistently rejected the bipartisan Senate-passed Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which would fully fund all DHS agencies – including the Transportation Security Administration and the United States Coast Guard – while excluding additional funding for ICE and CBP.

“Instead of working with Democrats to bring necessary reforms to ICE, Republicans are abusing the legislative process to give $70 billion to Trump’s lawless operations. The American people overwhelmingly agree that ICE is out of control and must be reined in. We were told that they would deport violent criminals, but instead, they are detaining children, deporting legal residents and refugees, and murdering U.S. citizens in cold blood with impunity. All while ripping health care and food assistance away from millions of Americans.

“House Republicans have forced the longest government shutdown in American history because of their refusal to work with Democrats to ensure our TSA agents, FEMA workers, and members of the Coast Guard are paid and their critical services are uninterrupted. The American people are exhausted by the dysfunction in Washington and desperately want a functioning federal government.

“From chaos at airports to missed paychecks for our federal employees, this incompetency has huge ramifications for the American people. Our country deserves so much better than this.”

Rep. Pettersen consistently called for legislation to fund all agencies and offices – including TSA and FEMA – within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except for ICE and CBP. Additionally, she signed a discharge petition to force a vote on this legislation after House Republican Leadership refused to move the bill forward.

Pettersen has also consistently voted against Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, including opposing over $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” She also supports legislation to require DHS and ICE officers to clearly identify themselves during enforcement actions, legislation that would reinstate protections that bar ICE from conducting immigration enforcement in sensitive locations, including churches, schools, hospitals, and non-immigration courts, and has demanded accountability from DHS.

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Pettersen, Brittany RSS Articles

Rep. Pettersen Votes Against $70 Billion Check for Trump’s ICE Operations

Rep. Pettersen Votes Against Republican Funding Bill that Slashes Food Assistance for Families

Ahead of Summer Travel Season, Rep. Pettersen Leads CO Dem Delegation in Demanding Answers from Trump as Gas Prices Surge Amid Iran War

Reps. Pettersen, Neguse Lead Colorado House Democrats in Introducing Immigration and Customs Enforcement Reforms

During Mental Health Awareness Month, Reps. Pettersen, Yakym Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Youth Suicide Prevention Programs

Rep. Pettersen Takes Major Steps on Housing Affordability For Coloradans, Passing Her Bipartisan Bills in Housing Package Which Now Heads to the Senate

Reps. Pettersen, Hayes Introduce Bill to Bolster Child Education Workforce

Rep. Pettersen Amendment in Support of Fremont County VA Clinic Passes House with Bipartisan Support

Reps. Pettersen, Gottheimer Introduce “Feed Our Kids Act” to Fight Farm Bill Cuts to School Meals for Hungry Children

Rep. Pettersen Votes No on Budget Resolution That Sets Stage for $70 Billion Expansion of ICE and CBP

FY 2027 Community Project Funding (CPF) Webinar

FY 2027 Community Project Funding (CPF) Webinar

Littleton Mobile Office Hours

Wheat Ridge Community Resource Fair

Broomfield Mobile Office Hours

Wetmore Mobile Office Hours

Federal Workers and Community Resource Fair

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