Freshman Congressman Jeff Crank Reflects on First Months in Office

Colorado Congressman Jeff Crank says the weight of serving in the U.S. House of Representatives is something he feels every single day, but so is the excitement. 

Crank, elected earlier this year to represent Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District, has stepped quickly into his role on Capitol Hill. “It’s such an honor,” he said. “Every time I walk onto the House floor, I think about how only 13,000 people in American history have ever had the chance to do this.” 

The freshman lawmaker describes the work as both “fun and humbling,” noting that even the long flights back and forth to Washington don’t diminish the sense of responsibility. “You walk through the halls of Congress, and you realize you’re part of an institution created by our Founding Fathers. It’s incredible,” he said. 

One of the highlights of his first months in office was helping to pass what’s been dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” also known as the “Working Family Tax Act.” The sweeping legislation included permitting reform, tax relief for working families, investments in air traffic control, and expanded energy development. “It was historic,” Crank said. “We stopped the largest tax increase in history, expanded the child tax credit, cut taxes on overtime pay, and boosted military housing allowances. These are things that directly help working families.” 

Crank has also been vocal about America’s need to maintain global leadership in areas like space, artificial intelligence, and cyber defense. Sitting in classified briefings has underscored the urgency. “China and Russia are racing to outpace us,” he warned. “We can’t afford to lose the high frontier of space. If we did, our economy would grind to a halt. GPS alone underpins everything from financial transactions to the navigation in every car on the road, and that system is run out of my district.” 

His committee assignments, Armed Services and Natural Resources, have given him a front-row seat on issues central to both national security and Colorado’s economy. On defense, he points to pay raises for junior enlisted troops and reforms aimed at improving military quality of life. On energy, he emphasizes affordability for families. “We shouldn’t let government pick winners and losers. Families struggling with high utility bills deserve the most affordable energy possible,” he said. 

Despite the whirlwind pace of Washington, Crank says the most meaningful moments often come in small encounters with constituents. He recalled a young boy from Colorado who visited his office while undergoing treatment at a children’s hospital. Crank brought him onto the House floor, where the child cast a vote using the Congressman’s card and even received a coin from Speaker Mike Johnson. “That’s something he’ll never forget,” Crank said. “And neither will I.” 

“This is the greatest country in the world,” Crank concluded. “And every day I’m reminded of the responsibility to preserve it for the next generation.”