The U.S. Senate pushed forward on an appropriations package Thursday over the objections of Colorado’s senators, who had held up the bills last month in a bid to stop the Trump administration from dismantling a research center in Boulder.
The “minibus” measure, which approves spending for the Commerce, Justice, Energy and Interior departments through the current fiscal year, on a broadly bipartisan vote of 82-15. It now goes to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
Before the Christmas break, U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet objected to an agreement on preliminary votes, delaying consideration. They cited the Trump administration’s announcement of its intention to shut down the world-renowned National Center for Atmospheric Research and move some “vital activities” elsewhere. Administration officials called NCAR a source of “climate alarmism.”
On Thursday, the funding package cleared a procedural vote 85-14, and then Bennet and Hickenlooper spoke on the floor as they pressed to add a safeguard for NCAR’s funding. The amendment wasn’t adopted, and they ultimately voted against the package.
Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, spoke against the NCAR amendment, arguing that incorporating it would add procedural complications. She also noted the package included money for the National Science Foundation, which provides much of NCAR’s support, but didn’t include carveouts for any particular NSF funding recipients.
Hickenlooper later noted how unusual the administration’s NCAR threat was in his floor remarks, calling for Congress to protect it.
“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,” Hickenlooper said in a statement issued after the vote. “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.”
In a separate statement, Bennet expressed disappointment and said he will “pursue all options available to ensure that NCAR is protected.”
The package passed Thursday was among several under consideration as Congress faces a Jan. 30 deadline to avert another government shutdown. It’s now halfway home in approving government funding for the current budget year that began Oct. 1.
Lawmakers still must negotiate a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security amid soaring tensions on Capitol Hill after the shooting of Minnesota resident Renee Good, a former Coloradan, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.
Denver Post public affairs editor Jon Murray, staff writer Nick Coltrain and the Associated Press contributed to this story.
