Press Releases

DENVER – Today, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) announced that immediately upon the House returning to session next Monday, she will be introducing a bill she has written to ensure firefighters bravely fighting these wildfires receive health insurance. Right now Colorado is being devastated by some of the worst wildfires in the state's history, and thousands of firefighters have been brought in from around the country to fight these unprecedented fires. Yet despite the massive personal risk of their jobs, neither the firefighters nor their families are covered for health insurance.

DENVER – Today U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) celebrated the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) selection of Denver to serve as home for one of three new satellite patent offices. The new office is estimated to generate $440 million in economic development activity in the First District and across the state over the next five years.

Rep. DeGette's statement is as follows:

Washington, D.C. – The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed HR, 5892, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012 today. This bipartisan bill – authored by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) - would facilitate the development of small hydropower and conduit projects and direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to study the feasibility of a streamlined two-year permitting process. Their legislation now moves to the House floor.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) today issued the following opening statement at the so-called “Federal Green Jobs Agenda” hearing of the House Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, Rep. DeGette questioned the Republican leadership’s premise of the hearing as yet another attempt to play partisan, political games, while failing to ever introduce their own jobs programs or use their oversight abilities to improve existing programs.

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), authors of HR 5892, the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012, applauded the House Energy & Power Subcommittee’s approval of their bill today. Their legislation would facilitate the development of small hydropower and conduit projects and direct the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to study the feasibility of a streamlined two-year permitting process. The bill will now be considered by the full Energy & Commerce Committee.

Today, a memo was circulated to Democratic Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee that summarizes the role of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) in the passage of the Affordable Care Act. The full memo is available online here.

WASHINGTON – Today, bipartisan legislation to combat drug shortages sponsored by U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-1) and Tom Rooney (FL-16) passed the House of Representatives, as part of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Reform Act. The drug shortage provision language will improve patient safety by creating a communication framework to reduce shortages of life-saving drugs and give patients and physicians early warning of impending shortages so that they may adjust treatments accordingly.

WASHINGTON – Today, bipartisan legislation to combat drug shortages sponsored by U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-1) and Tom Rooney (FL-16) passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as part of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). The drug shortage provision language should improve patient safety by creating a communication framework to reduce shortages of life-saving drugs and give patients and physicians early warning of impending shortages so that they may adjust treatments accordingly.