WATCH: Hickenlooper Holds Senate Floor, Votes Against Spending Package to Protest Attack on NCAR

Hickenlooper held up a government funding package for weeks over the Trump admin's efforts to dismantle NCAR

Today, he disrupted the Senate vote, spoke for nearly an hour on the Senate floor, and voted NO on the funding package

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper released the following statement after he voted against the government funding package he held up for weeks in protest of the Trump admin's effort to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder:

"Colorado has always stood up for its people, its workers, and its future.

"In the face of unrelenting political attacks from President Trump, we are standing together to protect institutions like NCAR that are vital to our state and our economy.

"Our government funding hold was one step in that effort. We will keep standing strong for Colorado and working families until NCAR and Coloradans are secure."

Earlier today, Hickenlooper disrupted consideration of the funding package and spoke on the Senate floor for nearly an hour, calling out the Trump administration's plans to dismantle NCAR and the President's recent attacks on Colorado. Watch his speech HERE.

"The president was elected for one reason, as I said earlier, because Americans thought he would make their lives better. One year later and families are still wondering when the relief is going to come," said Hickenlooper on the Senate floor. "The cuts to NCAR, to clean energy, to clean drinking water, the cuts to childcare, and to financial assistance for Colorado families - all this does nothing to improve anyone's quality of life. Doesn't make groceries cheaper. It doesn't bring down the cost of rent or the utilities cost at the end of the month."

Hickenlooper has been fighting back against the Trump admin's decision to reject Colorado's requests for emergency disaster relief funding, cancel millions in grants for clean energy and child care, and deny 50,000 Coloradans clean drinking water.

For a full video of Hickenlooper's remarks, click HERE. Highlights from Hickenlooper's remarks are available below:

DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES OF DISMANTLING NCAR

"Every single American - whether they're aware of it or not - relies on NCAR data.

"Here are a few more reasons why all of us should want NCAR to stick around: If you're an American who likes to know whether a tornado is headed your way. If you're one of the people who appreciates an early text alert before you get an oncoming winter storm. If you prefer to be on high ground, instead of stuck in your car, during a flash flood. Or, if you'd like to look at maps to show you where and when extreme weather is going to hit, then you need NCAR. If you like any of those things, you are directly benefitting from the National Center for Atmospheric Research...

"At home in Colorado, NCAR's fire-weather research and modeling tools are critical for wildfire preparedness. NCAR's research helped us understand how extreme winds and local weather combined to fuel the 2021 Marshall fire, the single-most destructive fire in Colorado history. Almost 1,100 homes were destroyed. We vowed that would never happen again.

"But we can't make good on that promise without NCAR. Its research is actively improving wildfire prediction, not just in Colorado, but across the country."

STORIES FROM COLORADANS DIRECTLY IMPACTED

"One constituent wrote: 'My family has worked at NCAR for 20 years and I'm seriously concerned about its continued existence. I voted for President Trump in the latest election but feel this attack on NCAR is more about a personal attack on Colorado for being a largely blue state than a legitimate action for the betterment of the American people.

"My Dad has worked tirelessly for this place for decades, putting in long hours and taking on more responsibilities than he ever bargained for to keep up the work that he loves being a part of. Please fight for NCAR. Please fight with all you've got. It means so much to the people who've spent their life's work to keep it going."

THE PRESIDENT'S ATTACKS ON COLORADO

"NCAR is just one of [President Trump's] recent Colorado targets.

"As part of his campaign against Colorado, President Trump also denied emergency disaster relief to help families rebuild after devastating wildfires and floods. He canceled millions of dollars for clean energy. He slashed hundreds of millions in child care assistance for families, and denied 50,000 rural Coloradans clean drinking water...

"It's not a game. These are people's lives. These are our constituents' lives."

HOW HICKENLOOPER IS FIGHTING BACK FOR NCAR

"We're not going to let some of these actions go down without a fight.

"It's been clear from the beginning that President Trump's goal in his second term is shock and awe. To bombard the American people with wall-to-wall coverage of every chaotic aspect, every decision they make.

"They're trying to attack anything that's the status quo. I think he believes that this constant chaos will drown out all voices of opposition.

"Well, we're still here. We're still fighting. And we're not quitting.

"Dismantling science, cutting from the National Center for Atmospheric Research harms every single American, diminishes the opportunities that we'll be able to create for the next generation.

"It threatens our safety, it threatens our economy, it threatens our national security, it threatens our livelihoods.

"And we can't just stand by because of one more crazy thing that comes out one way or the other.

"We need to all be determined to do everything we can to stand up to these attacks on science. And I think that starts with standing up for the National Center for Atmospheric Research."

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