Author: Tom Ramstack for Colorado Politics

WASHINGTON – Colorado U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette called for fast action to investigate e-cigarettes during a congressional hearing Wednesday on how to end health hazards linked to vaping. “The vaping epidemic and its impact are personal to me,” DeGette, a Denver Democrat, said during the hearing. “My home state of Colorado has the unfortunate distinction of…

WASHINGTON – A Colorado environmental official and an energy industry representative disagreed sharply at a hearing on Capitol Hill Tuesday over a bill that would limit methane emissions at oil and gas drilling sites. The bill, called the Methane Waste Protection Act (H.R. 2711), was introduced in May by Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat. Methane…

WASHINGTON – A spokesman for the Boulder-based American Mountain Guides Association tried to convince Congress on Thursday that proposed financial incentives for the outdoor recreation industry would boost the U.S. economy. He said the two congressional bills discussed at a House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing would reduce regulatory obstacles to using public lands for fun and…

WASHINGTON – A Colorado School of Mines professor cautioned a Senate committee Tuesday that the United States needs to extract more of its own rare earth minerals to meet an increasing demand for clean energy technologies. Top among them is the nation’s gradual switch to electric vehicles. “Minerals and metals are central to the energy transition,”…

WASHINGTON ? A western Colorado economic leader tried to convince a congressional committee Tuesday that moving the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Grand Junction would help resolve an “urban rural divide” over public land policies. “The idea that [Bureau of Land Management] leadership shouldn’t be influenced by the communities that live, work and play on…

WASHINGTON – Colorado U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter reintroduced a bill Tuesday that seeks to further limit gun ownership from potentially dangerous persons in a move strongly supported by a new public opinion poll. The bill would expand prohibitions against gun possession by anyone with a history of mental illness, substance abuse or violence. “We must do…

WASHINGTON – Strong bipartisan support on a key congressional panel Thursday in favor of expanding renewable energy on federal lands hinted that more solar and wind energy plants will soon be coming to Colorado. A House Natural Resources subcommittee held a hearing on a bill that would give utilities greater access to public lands to develop…

Colorado U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner on Tuesday accused the federal government of endangering the public by refusing to recognize the marijuana industry as a legitimate business enterprise. “In short, the states are leading on this issue and the federal government has failed to respond,” Gardner said. “It has closed its eyes and plugged its ears…

WASHINGTON ? Two Colorado members of Congress expressed sharply divided views over oil and gas drilling on public lands during a U.S. House hearing Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, Democrat of Denver, criticized the Trump administration for allowing more oil and gas drilling on federal acreage, while U.S Rep. Doug Lamborn, Republican of Colorado Springs,…