A federal reimbursement program lets House lawmakers claim lodging and food costs in Washington, D.C.
Who Spent What Across the Delegation
The rest of Colorado's delegation spread out across the spending range. Rep. Jeff Hurd expensed $31,460.78 overall, including $27,115.06 for housing and $4,345.72 for meals, though the report notes he submitted monthly expenses for only 10 of the 15 months covered. Rep. Lauren Boebert expensed $38,733, split between $25,853 for housing and $12,880 for food and incidentals.
Rep. Diana DeGette expensed $23,295.19 — $19,545 for lodging and $3,750.19 for meals — though she did not submit expenses for May 2026. Rep. Brittany Pettersen has worked on radiation compensation for Coloradans near Rocky Flats and Cotter Mill, a subject of prior Hoodline coverage.
One Member Barely Uses the Program
Rep. Joe Neguse stands apart from his colleagues, submitting only rare expenses under the program — a single monthly lodging charge of $227.08 in May 2026 and no claimed meal expenses during the reported period. His near-total opt-out contrasts sharply with the rest of the delegation, and with Evans in particular, who separately spent more than $320,000 in official MRA funds on constituent advertising through late July 2026, ranking sixth among all House members nationwide, as Hoodline previously reported.
Why the Program Exists
The reimbursement program may cover lawmakers' D.C. lodging while they maintain a home-district residence. Some lawmakers have slept in Capitol Hill offices to avoid housing costs.
Congressional base pay has been frozen at that level since 2009 because lawmakers have repeatedly voted down automatic cost-of-living adjustments, according to CBS News.
The MRA and Lodging Reimbursements
The Member's Representational Allowance (MRA) funds congressional outreach and combines allocations for staff salaries, office expenses and franked mail. Members may be reimbursed for D.C. lodging while maintaining a home-district residence.
Across the full House, members spent $6.7 million on meals and lodging in 2025, a 21 percent jump from 2024, according to the Washington Post's analysis — a surge that has intensified scrutiny of the reimbursement system.
