This afternoon, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet participated in a hearing on the CORE Act in the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. If it becomes law, the CORE Act would protect over 400,000 acres of public land in Colorado, establish new wilderness areas, and safeguard existing outdoor recreation.
“The CORE Act is a testament to the hard work and commitment of people in my state who care deeply about protecting our public lands. They know how much public lands matter to our economy, our heritage, and our way of life,” said Bennet during his testimony. “This bill is their best effort to strengthen and sustain that legacy for the next generation. I’m grateful to the committee for giving their hard work a fair hearing today, and I look forward to working with all of you to pass this priority legislation for Colorado.”
“Gunnison County has worked for years on the Curecanti and Thompson Divide elements of the CORE Act. We have fought long and hard for the CORE Act because our constituents believe in these sensible public lands protections that are vital to our economy, our values, and the enduring opportunity these lands will provide for future generations,” said Gunnison County Commissioner Jonathan Houck.
Hickenlooper is a member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and cosponsor of the bill. Bennet testified in support of the CORE Act, which he authored and introduced in the Senate.
Congressman Joe Neguse introduced a companion bill in the House which passed in February. The Biden Administration has announced its support for the bill.
The CORE Act combines four previously introduced Colorado public land bills, which have been in development over the past decade: the Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness, and Camp Hale Legacy Act, the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act, and the Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary Establishment Act.
Featured image: Sand Gulch Campground on BLM land, Shelf Road sites near Cañon City, Colorado. Image courtesy Manic Exploration/Pinterest.
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