Dear Neighbor,
As a proud Coloradan and the Lead Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, I had the opportunity to speak out for our treasured public lands and waters during this week’s consideration of Congressional Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill in the Natural Resources Committee. Their proposal would auction off America’s shared spaces to pay for trillions of dollars in tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations.
As you know, our district is made up of nearly 60% public lands, including some of our country’s most scenic national parks and forests. Places that folks like us consider lucky to have in our backyards’ and spend treasured time in fishing, hiking, camping, and more. So it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that I’m a hard “NO” on this disastrous budget reconciliation bill.
I made sure to push back against this deeply unpopular effort, speaking out during the Natural Resources Committee markup—watch HERE and below—and offering a series of amendments to protect against the administration’s relentless attacks on public lands and waters, climate science and research, and federal environmental programs and protections. These amendments included protecting the Colorado River drought resilience programs, barring the administration from dismantling NOAA or the National Park Service, reinstating Forest Service workers, and prohibiting the diminution of our national monuments or sale of our public lands.
Unfortunately, my colleagues across the aisle blocked these proposals — and in fact, refused to even debate them at all. But rest assured, we will keep at it! As your Representative, I know just how intrinsically linked the outdoors are to our way of life, and I will continue to push back on any efforts that harm our state.
