John Hickenlooper took an unconventional path to public office. After starting out as a geologist, John took a chance by opening the first brewpub in Colorado. As a small business owner, he gained a deep understanding of the local community and the value of collaboration. John entered public service because he knew he could listen to the diverse array of Colorado voices and get things done. As Colorado’s U.S. Senator, John is committed to bringing people together to solve our country’s toughest problems.
Climate change is the defining challenge of our time and Colorado is on the frontlines. Senator Hickenlooper believes we must address climate change with a fierce urgency — human lives and livelihoods are at stake. We need a bold, science-based approach that expands clean energy and transitions away from fossil fuels. That means reinventing America’s transportation system and training our workforce for tomorrow’s green jobs. Finally, we must use American leadership to tackle this global challenge with our international partners.
Senator Hickenlooper helped write the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, our country’s boldest climate change legislation to date. It includes billions for clean energy generation, climate resiliency, and electric vehicles. His first bill to become law, the RECHARGE Act, helps boost our transition to clean transportation. As Governor of Colorado, he spearheaded first-in-the-nation limits on methane pollution. Now as Senator, he is pushing the EPA to use Colorado’s success as a national model.
Clean energy will also help protect Colorado’s public lands, which drive our booming outdoor recreation industry. We must prioritize conservation so that future generations can enjoy our state’s stunning natural beauty.
As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senator Hickenlooper will continue working to protect our public lands and fight climate change.
As a former small business owner, Senator Hickenlooper knows what it takes to make payroll and grow a company. Colorado is home to over 650,000 small businesses that employ more than one million Coloradans, and he’s committed to finding solutions to help them access capital and continue to be economic engines of our communities.
To help small businesses recover from the COVID pandemic, Senator Hickenlooper helped improve Economic Injury Disaster Loans, ensure Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans got to small businesses, and pass targeted relief for the restaurant and live entertainment industries. He also supported expanding COVID relief to sole proprietors and gig workers.
Senator Hickenlooper’s first legislation focused on small business. His package of four bills would help more women and underrepresented communities become investment managers, give Native American small businesses a voice at the highest levels of the Small Business Administration (SBA), allow employee-owned cooperatives to qualify for SBA loans, and help small businesses switch to renewable energy. All of these bills will increase access to affordable capital to small businesses.
Senator Hickenlooper is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
As Governor of Colorado, Senator Hickenlooper helped Colorado’s economy go from 40th in job creation to the best economy in the nation. He brought many of those same strategies to Washington to get people back to work, including improving our infrastructure, expanding workforce training, and building a 21st century clean energy economy.
Senator Hickenlooper helped write the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which creates good-paying jobs across Colorado by modernizing our roads and bridges, expanding access to high-speed internet and clean water, and jumpstarting our transition to clean energy and electric vehicles.
He is also working to expand job training to help individuals prepare for today’s careers and build our workforce. That includes supporting alternatives to a four year degree, like upskill training, apprenticeship programs, and technical degrees. Senator Hickenlooper also supports raising the minimum wage, because no one who works a fulltime job should live in poverty.
Senator Hickenlooper believes we must fix the tax code so the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share, and invest in working families to create equitable economic growth. Additionally, we need to invest in childcare and paid family leave to help parents stay in the workforce.
As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Senator Hickenlooper chairs the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety.
Senator Hickenlooper believes that health care is a right, not a privilege. We must work together to ensure that no matter where you live, who you are, or how much you earn, everyone has access to high-quality, affordable health care.
As Governor of Colorado, Senator Hickenlooper expanded health insurance to half a million Coloradans. He remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, including by creating a public option to lower costs.
The American Rescue Plan expanded access to health insurance by making marketplace coverage through the Affordable Care Act more affordable. But we must continue strengthening these programs and lowering costs for families — especially for prescription drugs.
Senator Hickenlooper supports lowering the cost of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to directly negotiate prices, saving seniors money. He believes we need to make it easier to bring lower-cost generic medications and biosimilars to the market and increase transparency in drug pricing. He also supports an out-of-pocket cap for seniors with Medicare and capping the cost of insulin for patients.
Reproductive health care is essential care for millions of women nationwide. Senator Hickenlooper believes that women’s health care decisions should be between her and her doctor, not politicians. He co-sponsors the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would enshrine Roe v. Wade into law.
Senator Hickenlooper is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Our broken immigration system has stifled our economy, undermined our security, and undercut our country’s proud heritage as a nation of immigrants. Senator Hickenlooper has a deep commitment to justice for our immigrant communities and is committed to finding a comprehensive fix for our broken immigration system, including a pathway to citizenship.
Senator Hickenlooper is an original cosponsor of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which would implement sweeping immigration reform that would provide millions of hardworking undocumented immigrants with a fair pathway to citizenship, prioritize family reunification and keeping families together, and make smart investments to effectively and responsibly manage our borders.
Colorado is home to more than 14,000 people who are protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. They came here as children and make invaluable contributions to our communities. Senator Hickenlooper supports restoring the DACA program while Congress works on a permanent solution. As Governor of Colorado, he signed one of the first bills in the country granting in-state tuition to DACA recipients.
Immigration reform will also create long term economic growth since many immigrants start new businesses and will be essential to our future workforce needs. Senator Hickenlooper believes we can restore humanity to our immigration system while maintaining a secure border and creating a guest worker system that is fair and protects American workers.
Senator Hickenlooper believes that everyone is entitled to equal rights and justice under the law, no matter your race, ethnicity, gender, or whom you love. Embracing different backgrounds and identities makes our society stronger.
Communities of color have suffered from decades of discrimination in employment, education, health care, housing, and more. Senator Hickenlooper is committed to combating this injustice and expanding economic opportunity for all. This includes making workforce training and higher education more accessible, expanding paid family leave, and helping underrepresented communities start small businesses.
Senator Hickenlooper believes that our criminal justice system needs reform. He supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and other efforts to ensure safer interactions with the police. He also thinks it is time for the federal government to follow Colorado’s lead and reform our federal cannabis laws. Senator Hickenlooper supports decriminalizing marijuana and sentencing relief for people – often Black men – who have been imprisoned for nonviolent marijuana crimes.
For LGBTQ+ Americans, Senator Hickenlooper co-sponsors the Equality Act, which expands federal civil rights protections to sexual orientation and gender identity. We should strive for an America where who you love or how you identify has no impact on your physical safety or ability to succeed.
Equity for all also means access to the ballot box. Protecting every American’s right to vote should not be a partisan issue. Colorado has led the way by expanding vote-by-mail, and Senator Hickenlooper will continue working to pass legislation that protects voting rights – especially for historically disenfranchised groups. He cosponsors several pieces of voting rights legislation, including For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Freedom to Vote Act.
Too many communities in Colorado have been devastated by gun violence. We mourn with the victims’ families and share a deep sense of urgency that something must be done to address this nationwide epidemic.
After the 2012 mass shooting in Aurora, then-Governor Hickenlooper helped enact universal background checks and a ban on high-capacity magazines in Colorado. Now, it is Congress’ turn to pass common-sense gun laws that will help keep our communities safe.
Senator Hickenlooper is a co-sponsor of the Background Check Expansion Act, which would mandate universal background checks and close a dangerous loophole that allows unlicensed or private sellers to sell or transfer a firearm without a background check. He also supports banning assault weapons.
We must fund community-based violence intervention and implement red flag laws to ensure guns are kept away from kids and people who might harm others. These common-sense policies will save lives without compromising the Second Amendment.
A former geologist and Chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Space and Science, Senator Hickenlooper has made it a priority to restore science as an objective and nonpartisan voice in American policymaking and economic innovation.
To further this goal, he has worked on legislation to boost basic and advanced scientific research to help make American industry more competitive with China. He has also worked closely with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and supported President Biden’s decision to elevate the office to the Cabinet for the first time in history, giving science a literal seat at the table.
Senator Hickenlooper has advocated for NASA to have a long-term strategic vision and funding commitment. This posture would enable the agency to plan farther into the future and undertake important research and exploratory missions that expand our understanding of everything from climate change here on earth to galaxies in the farthest reaches of our universe.
As home to the nation’s largest aerospace workforce per capita, Colorado is a leader in both commercial and national security space industries. Senator Hickenlooper is focused on making sure our state continues to lead the way in space innovation. He has called attention to issues like how space debris threatens critical satellites as commercial space travel advances.
He has also tirelessly advocated for keeping U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs, to boost mission readiness in the face of increasing threats to global security.
Colorado is home to six U.S. military bases and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Senator Hickenlooper is staunchly committed to honoring the sacrifice of those who serve. He has worked to improve on-base housing, expand health coverage for military families, increase access to justice for survivors of sexual assault, and provide enlisted servicemembers with mental health care.
Senator Hickenlooper is also dedicated to ensuring that the nearly 400,000 veterans who live in Colorado have support while transitioning to the civilian workforce and beyond. These efforts include advancing training programs that help veterans start businesses and obtain high-quality jobs upon completion of their military service. In addition, Senator Hickenlooper believes we have a duty to ensure quality, accessible, community-based health care from the Veterans Health Administration, particularly with regards to mental health and substance use treatment.
Recognizing our state’s leadership in the specialized domain of space and national security, Senator Hickenlooper has been a staunch advocate for keeping U.S. Space Command in Colorado. He has led efforts calling on the Department of Defense to review the rushed decision to relocate the headquarters.
Senator Hickenlooper also understands national security extends beyond military readiness to encompass global challenges such as climate change and pandemic preparedness. To that end, he views international partnerships as essential to keeping America safe.
Senator Hickelooper supports strengthening American diplomacy in order to promote constant dialogue with our allies, partners, and strategic competitors. He has advocated for robust foreign assistance programs that help make the world healthier, greener, and more equitable. He is also committed to advancing domestic priorities that strengthen our global posture, including prioritizing cybersecurity and investing in the American workforce to ensure the U.S. remains competitive with China and Russia.
After decades of neglect to America’s infrastructure, Senator Hickenlooper was one of 22 Senators – 11 Republicans and 11 Democrats – who came together to write the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bill was signed into law by President Biden in November 2021 and is the largest investment in our nation’s infrastructure since the New Deal. Colorado is set to receive billions for key infrastructure priorities – and create good-paying jobs along the way.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is upgrading our roads, bridges, rail lines, and airports across the country. It prioritizes the needs of our state by building Western water infrastructure and improving wildlife and drought resiliency. It will modernize our public transit systems and help us fight the climate crisis by building electric vehicle charging stations and clean energy transmission lines. The bill will also clean up pollution and eliminate lead pipes, so every family can rely on clean drinking water.
High-speed internet is key infrastructure in the 21st century. Senator Hickenlooper helped write a provision of the bill to expand access to universal high-speed internet, close the digital divide, and lower internet costs for consumers. This will spur economic development, especially in rural communities.
Affordable housing is a fundamental necessity. Senator Hickenlooper knows that urban and rural communities are facing an affordable housing crisis, and investments have not kept up with the demand for housing assistance and community development projects in urban and rural areas.
We must find ways to house more people more affordably in Colorado and across the country. Senator Hickenlooper supports expanding the Low Income Housing Tax Credit among other affordable housing policies.
Senator Hickenlooper believes it is time for the federal government to follow Colorado’s lead and reform our cannabis laws. During his time as Governor, Colorado set the standard for legalizing cannabis. The results have been overwhelmingly positive, and now Congress must follow suit by removing cannabis from Schedule I classification.
The cannabis industry is spurring economic growth for Colorado and other states that have legal marijuana. Cannabis businesses are often small businesses that fuel local economies and create new jobs. We should extend Small Business Administration lending programs and other resources to cannabis businesses. The lack of banking services for the cannabis industry is a public safety issue that puts legitimate businesses at a disadvantage. We can fix this by passing the SAFE Banking Act, which has broad bipartisan support.
Communities of color have suffered disproportionately from cannabis prohibition. Senator Hickenlooper supports decriminalizing marijuana and sentencing relief for people – often Black men – who have been imprisoned for nonviolent marijuana crimes. We must also ensure that people of color can participate in the emerging cannabis marketplace.
Our current cannabis laws impair our ability to research the public health and safety impacts of cannabis. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Senator Hickenlooper passed an amendment directing the federal government to recommend ways for researchers to access marijuana samples and study how marijuana impairs driving. This was one of the first provisions on THC to pass Congress and become law.
Education is a social equalizer and a ticket to economic success. Senator Hickenlooper believes that we should ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed at every age. High-quality, accessible education strengthens our communities while building a robust economy that remains competitive worldwide.
Early childhood education is one of the best investments we can make as a nation. That’s why Senator Hickenlooper supports high-quality, free universal preschool for 3 and 4 year olds. This sets students up for success early in life.
Decades of underinvestment in our public schools have not only created challenges for students and families, but teachers as well. In addition to supporting our students, we must also prioritize investments in educator salaries, training, and support. The pandemic has only highlighted this need.
Student loan debt is a drag on our economy and a crushing burden for tens of millions of Americans. That’s why Senator Hickenlooper supports reducing the cost of college by allowing borrowers to refinance at a lower rate, expanding Pell grants and the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program, and looking at other ways to make higher education more affordable.
We also need to support alternatives to a four year degree, like workforce training, apprenticeship programs, and technical degrees. These programs help build our 21st century workforce while opening up good-paying job opportunities for millions of Americans.