Congressman Gabe Evans, who represents Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District, voted in favor of H.R. 6938, a bipartisan appropriations package that funds several key government operations for fiscal year 2026. The bill covers areas such as Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment.
The legislative package includes more than $1 million in direct funding for local projects within the district. Congressman Evans said, “Today I proudly voted in favor of a bipartisan appropriations package that fully funds critical government operations — from law enforcement to energy dominance to natural resource protection. This crucial legislation also delivers more than $1 million in direct funding for Colorado’s Eighth Congressional District, securing meaningful wins for my constituents and our state. I look forward to continuing the bipartisan appropriations process to ensure the federal government is responsibly funded for fiscal year 2026.”
Among the local initiatives receiving Community Project Funding are:
– $600,000 allocated to From Silenced to Saved’s Expansion of Justice and Freedom Program for Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation. This funding will help expand programs that train law enforcement and provide resources to victims affected by human trafficking in the Northern Denver Metro Area.
– $420,000 awarded to Thornton Police Department’s Crime Lab Enhancements. The money will be used to redesign the crime lab with advanced equipment aimed at improving forensic evidence collection and analysis.
– $75,000 directed toward Firestone Police Department’s Enhancing Public Safety Through Technology Initiative. These funds will help modernize frontline police operations and improve officer safety through new technology.
Additional programmatic funding secured by Rep. Evans includes:
– $6.1 million for NASA’s CAPSTONE Mission.
– Nearly $24 million for the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.
– $25 million dedicated to enhanced geothermal system demonstrations and next-generation geothermal demonstration projects.
– $8 million provided to the Southwest Ecological Research Institute for hazardous fuels management and wildfire risk reduction.
The bill also contains report language supporting studies on polar ground station infrastructure and emerging technology related to NOAA; directs a Department of Energy (DOE) study on state policies affecting energy reliability; requests DOE recommendations on addressing natural gas turbine shortages; calls on DOE to develop a national strategy for advancing solid-state battery technology; and provides support for DOE’s Fusion Sciences Program.
After passing in the House of Representatives, H.R. 6938 now moves forward to consideration in the Senate.
