Hickenlooper Rejects Republicans’ Funding Bill That Fails to Lower Costs for Americans

Hickenlooper: "Republicans Rubber-Stamped an Agenda That'll Make Americans Poorer and Sicker"

Government funding runs out at midnight

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after he voted against Republicans' latest continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government, which failed on the Senate floor. Democrats opposed the bill after Republicans refused to work with them to lower costs and restore Americans' health care. Government funding runs out at midnight.

"Millions are about to lose their health care, and now President Trump wants to shut down the government too.

"Democrats are ready to work with Republicans to lower costs and restore health care for millions of Americans. Instead, Republicans rubber stamped an agenda that'll make Americans poorer and sicker.

"We will fight to keep that from happening."

15 million Americans, and 241,000 Coloradans, are expected to lose their health care under Trump's budget bill. In 2026, health insurance premiums in Colorado will increase 28% unless Congress votes to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits. Hickenlooper voted against Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" in July.

Democrats once again put forward their own continuing resolution, which Republicans blocked. Their bill would have extended the Affordable Care Act's enhanced premium tax credits and restored the Medicaid funding that Republicans gutted. Hickenlooper voted for Democrats' continuing resolution to help lower health care costs and is pushing for Republicans to also take action to end Trump's reckless tariffs that are increasing prices and crushing small businesses.

Hickenlooper was one of the first senators to announce he'd oppose the Republican CR unless they worked with Democrats to lower health care costs, support rural hospitals, and end Trump's tariffs. He voted against Republican's CR when Republicans put it on the floor earlier this month.

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