Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-7) has signed on as a cosponsor of the HEADACHE Act, H.R. 5536, as of October 22, 2026. That brings total House support to 60 members.
What this means for CO-7
An estimated 108,654 people in CO-7 live with a headache disorder, out of roughly 724,362 residents. Every one of them stands to benefit from the coordinated federal response the HEADACHE Act would create: better epidemiological data, a larger trained clinical workforce, and headache disorders finally treated as the public health priority their prevalence warrants.
Specialist access in Colorado
Colorado has 7 UCNS-certified headache specialists serving an estimated 875,989 residents living with a headache disorder. That ranks 40th of 50 states for specialist access. Nationally there are fewer than 900 certified specialists for more than 40 million patients.
Veterans in CO-7
There is no VA Headache Center of Excellence in CO-7. The nearest site is in Salt Lake City, UT, about 363 miles from the district office. With only 29 such centers nationwide, most veterans living with post-traumatic headache have no specialized VA care within reach.
Rep. Pettersen is the first member of the Colorado delegation to cosponsor H.R. 5536.
Say thank you
A short note from a constituent carries real weight with a congressional office, and members who have already signed on are the ones best positioned to recruit their colleagues. Send Rep. Pettersen a message, or check where your own representatives stand.