Colorado congressmen hope to revitalize Colorado public lands bill
Three U.S. congressmen from Colorado have reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, which combines four previously introduced Colorado public land bills into one piece of legislation.
Over a decade in the making, supporters of the CORE Act say it will protect public lands, safeguard outdoor recreation and boost the state’s economy.
“The CORE Act is a model for how legislation should be done,” said U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado. “Ranchers, hunters, hikers and local officials all came together to protect our most sacred lands and invest in our outdoor recreation.”
In total, the act combines four different proposals to address approximately 420,000 acres of public land in Colorado.
Mountains in Colorado. © Chris Sorensen / KiowaCountyPress.net
Specifically, it will designate 71,000 acres of public lands as new wilderness, and another 80,000 acres as new recreation and conservation management areas.
It would also protect over 252,000 acres in the Thompson Divide from future mining, mineral and geothermal leasing development. In April 2024, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland withdrew the land for a 20-year period, but the CORE Act would upgrade it to a permanent withdrawal.
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse, both D-Colorado, joined Hickenlooper in sponsoring the legislation.
“The CORE Act is the result of years of conversation and compromise to boost our economy and protect our public lands for future generations,” said Bennet. “Our work is not done. It’s time to pass the CORE Act into law.”
First introduced in 2019 and again in the following legislative sessions, the act has the support of many of Colorado’s environmental groups.
“The reintroduction of the CORE Act is a major opportunity for Congress to conserve one of Colorado’s greatest attributes: our high country and our access to it,” said David Lien, co-chair for the Colorado chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
When previously introduced, the legislation passed the U.S. House, but stalled in the U.S. Senate when blocked by Republicans.
It is unclear if it will garner the support of enough Republicans to ensure passage this legislative session.
