Congresswoman Diana DeGette

The House Natural Resources Committee has approved our Colorado Wilderness Act to permanently protect more than 600,000 acres of wilderness in 32 unique areas across Colorado. This historic bill – which is the largest Colorado land-protection package that Congress has considered in more than 25 years – will now head to the House floor for a vote. Colorado is known for its treasured landscapes. Protecting more of Colorado’s public lands is essential not only for our environment, but for our economy as well.

As the mother of a daughter who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age, I know the challenges that come from managing this complicated disease – and I understand why it’s critical that Congress act now to help lower the cost of insulin. Right now, there are 7.5 million Americans living with diabetes who rely on insulin every day to survive. There is no reason why any of them should be forced to choose between putting food on their tables or buying the life-saving medication they need. As Chair of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I am leading the Congressional investigation into the skyrocketing cost of this drug, and I will continue to do everything I can to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable and help make insulin more accessible to all those who need it.

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in our country. And studies show that nearly all adult smokers started before they reached the age of 21. I believe Congress has a responsibility to protect the health of our young people from the dangers associated with the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes. In fact, our state has the nation’s highest rate of teenagers reportedly using e-cigarettes, or vaping. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to raise the nation’s smoking age to 21, just as more than 13 states and the District of Columbia have already done. I’ve also filed legislation to crack down on the sale of the kid-friendly flavors of nicotine that experts say have caused a dramatic increase in the number of teens who are now vaping across the country.