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Young Adults Take Colorado Legislature, Push Lawmakers for Inclusive Recovery

Posted
Press Releases, Colorado

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2021
Contact: Juan Ramiro Sarmiento
(785) 760-6567 | juanramiro.sarmiento@younginvincibles.org

Young Adults Take Colorado Legislature, Push Lawmakers for Inclusive Recovery

(Denver, CO) – Today, Young Invincibles (YI) Rocky Mountain led its virtual coalition of young adult advocates to push state lawmakers for investments in higher education, health care, and equity policies. Earlier this week, YI Rocky Mountain also held a virtual rally with young Coloradans across the state to lay out YI’s state policy priorities and provide valuable training as they prepared to speak one-on-one in a virtual setting with key members of the Colorado General Assembly. State Senator James Coleman (D-33), a leader in public education, kicked off the rally with his keynote address.

A year after the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic and its subsequent, wholesale disruption of economic, health, social, and education systems, young Coloradoans are demanding an equitable and just recovery for all.

In response, Kyra deGruy Kennedy, Rocky Mountain Region Director for Young Invincibles, issued the following statement:

“Over the past 12 months, young adults witnessed support systems overwhelmed by the sheer force of the global pandemic, systems previously underfunded or indifferent to the needs of young adults in our state. Today, young Coloradoans took it upon themselves to remind lawmakers of the need for a comprehensive and inclusive recovery in which young people not only survive but thrive. The future of Colorado runs through young people and the long-term health and prosperity of our state will require investments and policy change in higher education and affordable health care. Young Invincibles is charging ahead as we lead or support a host of legislative proposals in the Colorado General Assembly to increase equity on multiple fronts.”

YI Rocky Mountain policy priorities include:

  • Eliminating standardized testing as an eligibility criterion for admissions to a Colorado institution of higher education.
  • Expanding occupational licensing to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, recipients.
  • Ensuring general fund dollars go to higher education institutions serving students with the highest needs; Pell-eligible, first-generation, and students of color.
  • Providing Emergency Assistance Grants for higher education students.
  • Establishing protections for private student loan borrowers.
  • Prohibiting transcript withholding practices as debt collection which hamper student career and economic prospects.

The long-term and robust recovery of the state also requires substantive action in health care to ensure access and affordability by:

  • Expanding health care coverage for mental health, a critical service for Coloradans as they confront unprecedented adversity.
  • Establishing a public health care option to provide greater access to all Coloradans.
  • Ensuring prescription drug pricing transparency.

YI Rocky Mountain Young Advocates discussed our policy priorities with over 10 bipartisan Colorado legislators, including:

  • Sen. Rhonda Fields (D-29), Chair, Health & Human Services Committee
  • Rep. Julie McCluskie (D-61), Vice-Chair, Joint Budget Committee, and Appropriations Committee
  • Sen. Jeff Bridges (D-26), Vice-Chair, Finance Committee
  • Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-31), Vice-Chair, Health & Insurance Committee
  • Rep. Monica Duran (D-24), Majority Co-Whip
  • Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer (R-23)
  • Rep. Judy Amabile (D-13)
  • Sen. Bob Rankin (R-8)
  • Rep. Janet Buckner (D-28)
  • Rep. Lisa Cutter (D-25)

 

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