Foreign Policy
Jared views foreign policy as an effective tool for promoting global human rights. He proudly serves as a member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, a bipartisan congressional committee whose mission is to “promote, defend and advocate internationally recognized human rights norms in a nonpartisan manner, both within and outside of Congress, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.
Jared believes that as Americans, we have a responsibility to participate in the global community and help lead the effort to eradicate extreme poverty and raise the collective standard of living. He is a vocal supporter of the Sustainable Development Goals—the UN development agenda released in 2015 as a replacement for the Millennium Development Goals. The 17 target-driven, progress-oriented goals require every member country to enact national polices on gender equality, food security, family planning, sustainable consumption, and inclusive education and health services—among many others—to ensure a stronger, more resilient world
In his capacity as co-chair of the U.S.-Mexico Friendship Caucus, Jared helped organize the May 2015 U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue, a bilateral discussion group acting at the intersection of business and policy. In November 2015, Jared organized a briefing on educational exchange programs between our two countries. In 2016 he will travel to Mexico City to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue, a high-level meeting of elected leaders from both the U.S. and Mexico
As co-chair of the Congressional Kurdish-American Caucus, Jared regularly supports our Kurdish allies in public forums, whether speaking at events or from the floor. Jared also serves as co-chair of the U.S.-Nepal Caucus. On June 4th he joined with his co-chair Representative Crenshaw to introduce H.R.2659 - Nepal Trade Preferences Act, which was ultimately passed into law as text in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, which passed the House on December 11, 2015
Commitment to Our Armed Forces
Jared profoundly respects the men and women of our military bravely serving throughout the world. In order for the United States Military to retain the best and the brightest in all fields, he helped lead the fight to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.
Jared believes that when a member of the armed forces makes the decision to serve their country, we make a promise to care for that individual both in the line of duty and after his or her return home. The thousands of veterans and military personnel returning from Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world should never doubt our commitment to care for them and their families. It is Congress's responsibility to ensure the U.S. government is keeping its promise, not only to the veterans and military families in our own districts and states but across the country.
Throughout his time in the House of Representatives, Jared has worked with the Obama administration, the Colorado congressional delegation, and numerous veterans organizations in Colorado to advocate for more accountability in the VA and for oversight during the creation and construction of the Denver VA Medical Center at the University of Colorado hospital complex in Aurora. In November of 2011, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced a contract to construct the replacement facility on the site of the former Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center. The new VA hospital will include a 182-bed medical center and a 30-bed Spinal Cord Injury and DIsorder Center.
Jared is a strong supporter of a robust, efficient, and transparent Department of Veterans Affairs that provides veterans with timely, high-quality health care -- regardless of what state they live in or how much money they have. Jared is also working to ensure that veterans all across the country -- including Colorado's 400,000 veterans -- have access to quality educational opportunities and job training programs that cater to their diverse needs.
Office Contact:
For more information on or questions about foreign policy, please contact Camilla Vogt. For veterans issues, please contact Blaine Miller-McFeeley. All three are in the Washington Office. You can also visit Congressman Polis' Legislation Page or find information on bills and amendments that he’s cosponsored in Congress.
