Colorado’s members of the U.S. House of Representatives claimed nearly $220,000 for Washington, D.C., housing, meals and incidentals from January 2025 through June 2026, according to House spending records. The reimbursements come from the Member Representational Allowance, a taxpayer-funded account that also pays for official travel, office operations, printing and mail. The lodging-and-meals program allows members to claim expenses without submitting receipts, though they are expected to stay within federal per diem limits. Depending on the month, those limits can reach $276 per night for lodging and $92 per day for meals and incidentals. Republican Rep. Gabe Evans reported the largest total among Colorado’s delegation: $43,471, including $31,421 for housing and $12,050 for meals and incidentals. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert reported $38,733, with $25,853 for housing and $12,880 for food and incidentals. Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd reported $31,460.78, including $27,115.06 for housing and $4,345.72 for meals. His records cover only 10 of the 15 months in the period. Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette reported $23,295.19, but had not filed expenses for May 2026. Republican Rep. Jeff Crank reported a total of $30,734.88; the listed housing and meal figures do not add up to that total. Democratic Rep. Jason Crow’s reported total and listed expense categories also do not reconcile. The records list $30,112.23 as Crow’s total, alongside $25,656 for housing and $6,456.23 for food. Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen, who was on maternity leave during the first months of 2025, reported $21,328.64, including $19,006.50 for lodging and $2,322.14 for meals. Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse reported one $227.08 lodging charge, in May 2026, and no meal expenses under the program. No expenses were listed for the August 2025 congressional recess or October 2025, when House Speaker Mike Johnson kept the chamber out of session during a government shutdown. The program is intended to reimburse members for costs incurred while in Washington on official business. The House created the benefit three years ago to help offset the cost of maintaining residences and offices in both Washington and members’ home districts. Members’ annual salary is $174,000, and lawmakers have not received a pay raise in nearly two decades. Supporters of additional assistance have argued that the costs of serving in Congress can make the job harder to pursue. Kedric Payne, senior director of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, said helping lawmakers with living expenses can be reasonable, but the program needs an audit system to ensure it works as intended. He called the House’s lack of a receipt requirement unusual and said meals should cover the member, not meals for other people. The Senate recently introduced a similar reimbursement program that does require receipts. House lawmakers nationwide reported $6.7 million in lodging and meal expenses in 2025, a 21% increase from 2024, according to a Washington Post analysis.