House Dem Fumes She Was ‘Forced Back’ to DC for Vote on ‘Disastrous’ Big Beautiful Bill: ‘Hard to Hold Back Tears’

(Screenshot/Rod Lamkey, Jr./AP photo)

Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) fought back tears as she lamented being “forced back” to D.C. to vote on President Donald Trump’s “disastrous” One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

An emotional Pettersen spoke out in a social media video posted Wednesday afternoon, saying she was “forced” to return to Capitol Hill for a vote on the divisive budget bill.

“Took a red-eye flight, haven’t slept,” Pettersen said in the video. “We’re here. Been forced back to vote on this disastrous budget proposal that is going to decimate our rural hospitals, healthcare that families, millions of families across the United States rely on, and increased costs for all of us, for the private insurance market when we have this much uncompensated care.”

She added: “It’s hard to hold back the tears with how bad this bill really is, the impact it will make in Colorado and especially in rural Colorado.”

Read her full remarks below:

“Hi, everybody. I lost my voice. We were forced back here. Took a red-eye flight, haven’t slept. We’re here. Been forced back to vote on this disastrous budget proposal that is going to decimate our rural hospitals, healthcare that families, millions of families across the United States rely on, and increased costs for all of us, for the private insurance market when we have this much uncompensated care. It’s hard to hold back the tears with how bad this bill really is, the impact it will make in Colorado and especially in rural Colorado. So I will keep you updated, but right now we have two people who are likely gonna vote no. We just need two more. Your voices matter. Reaching out and telling your stories makes a difference. So thank you for tuning in and fighting back and I will keep you updated.

The House of Representatives’ vote on the “Big Beautiful Bill” was originally slated for 5:30 a.m. Thursday — the day before Trump’s self-imposed July 4 deadline — but held up due to a filibuster speech by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

Watch above via X/Reels.