Health care

Diana believes that it is critical that all Americans have access to the health care they need. Diana has led the way for health care reform in Congress and played a central role in expanding coverage for low-income children and families.

Diana is a leading voice on health care reform in Congress. Her efforts were critical to the passage of a health reform bill earlier this year that will expand access to health care to millions of Americans and lower costs for those that previously enjoyed coverage. In particular, she was the leader of a broad coalition of representatives that were successful in resisting efforts to limit a woman’s right to choose under the new legislation. Diana’s top health care reform initiatives include access to high quality, affordable care for all children, prevention and wellness, strengthening the health care workforce, and expanding primary care and community health center services.

Diana has led efforts to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides health insurance to low-income children up to age 18. In the 111th Congress, Diana was a leader in the expansion of SCHIP that was signed into law by President Obama in February of 2009.

In the News

Environment

Threats to our natural resources and our environment are cause for serious concern in Colorado and across the country. Diana is a leading voice on environmental issues in Congress and is working to protect both Colorado’s public lands and our global environment. She’s the author of the landmark Colorado Wilderness Act, which would protect and preserve 1.6 million acres of pristine land across Colorado for generations to come.

In the News: Report from Copenhagen

Stem Cell Research

U.S. Rep. DeGette was the chief architect of legislation to expand stem cell research, which was passed twice with broad, bipartisan support in Congress. The measure was vetoed twice by President George W. Bush – including his very first presidential veto. In March of 2009, President Barack Obama signed an executive order reversing former President Bush’s restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. Standing next to the President as he signed the order, U.S. Rep. DeGette is working with the Obama Administration on codifying the order into law. In March 2010, Diana introduced bipartisan stem cell research legislation that would do just that. The Stem Cell Research Advancement Act would ensure a lasting ethical framework overseeing stem cell research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and will provide stability to the scientists and individuals who are on the quest for live-saving cures.

Food and Consumer Product Safety

Diana has taken a leading role in advocating for the protection of our nation’s food supply. In light of the daunting food contamination outbreaks, Diana believes that the protection of our nation’s food supply should be recognized as a critical component of our national security. She is the author of two key pieces of legislation that go a long way toward securing our nation’s food supply.

SAFER (Safe And Fair Enforcement & Recall) Food Act, would give the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration the authority to force a recall of all contaminated foods.

The TRACE (Tracing and Recalling Agricultural Contamination) Act would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a product tracing system to track products from their origins to the grocery store, enabling faster recall in the event of contamination.

Both food safety measures were endorsed by the New York Times and The Washington Post, and continue to be lauded by newspapers across the country.

Diana was also a key player in the creation and passage of groundbreaking consumer product safety legislation that was signed into law in 2008.

Reproductive rights

As the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, Diana has fought for common-sense family planning and reproductive rights. She is a lead sponsor of the Prevention First agenda, which is a comprehensive, bi-partisan approach to reducing unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion. Most recently, Diana led the fight against the Stupak-Pitts Amendment – a dangerous restriction on women’s reproductive rights.

In the News: Protecting a Woman’s Right to Choose