Natural Resources Management Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a Coloradoan, an environmentalist, and a conservationist to support S. 47.

I want to thank my home-State colleagues in the Senate; of course, my friends from the other side of the aisle; and, most importantly, our chairman, Chairman Grijalva, for his leadership with respect to this bill.

In the great State of Colorado, we understand the value of our public lands. Our State's outdoor recreation economy brings in $28 billion and $10 billion in workers' wages alone.

Investing in our public lands, conserving our wild places, is good for our economy, and it is good for our future generations.

I am proud that this bill not only includes nine measures that would impact my State, but two provisions, in particular, that I introduced earlier this Congress that directly benefit Colorado's Second Congressional District.

First, the Bolts Ditch Access and Use Act is an important provision that allows the town of Minturn, in Eagle County in my district, water access with use of the Bolts Ditch headgate.

Secondly, the WEDGE Act incorporates 124 acres of land adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park into Arapahoe National Forest.

I am excited to take up both of these provisions on the House floor today, both of which will have a real local impact on the communities that I am so honored to represent in Colorado's Second.

Not only this, but, of course, S. 47 provides permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which is long overdue and a milestone for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support this bill and look forward to continuing to work to conserve our public lands.

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