Over the last few months, Congress has been consumed with passing the massive budget bill. Both the House and Senate versions included provisions that would have sold millions of acres of public lands. In reaction to immense bipartisan backlash, they were removed. Rep. Hurd was outspoken in opposition to the wholesale selling of public lands, and for that we commend him. Southwest Colorado’s public lands are the backbone of our culture, economy, and represent America at its best.
The budget bill, however, is still horrendous for public lands. It cuts the National Park Service’s budget by over 30%, removes or shortens public comment periods, and grants oil and gas companies unrestricted access to over 200 million acres of public land. While these actions don’t explicitly sell public lands, they will inevitably reduce public access and pollute land and water resources.
More work from Hurd is needed to proactively protect cherished places from future efforts that would harm their values or remove public access. The Dolores River is one of the most remarkable places in Colorado, and locals have been working to find solutions to preserve it for decades. Hurd should listen to the diverse voices in his district who worked to find a local solution and introduce the locally-developed Dolores River National Conservation Area legislation.
If Rep. Hurd wants to leave a positive legacy, he will listen to his constituents and be a leader in ensuring our public lands, including the Dolores, are not ruined for future generations.
Rica Fulton
Dolores
