Congressman Neguse Awarded 2025 Keystone Leadership Award for Commitment to Constructive Policymaking

Washington, D.C. — This week, Congressman Joe Neguse was recognized as a 2025 Keystone Leadership Award recipient by the Colorado-based Keystone Policy Center for his commitment to constructive policymaking and his successful legislative efforts to construct bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing the West—from land and water conservation to wildfire mitigation. In addition to the 41-year-old lawmaker, also receiving the award this year were former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the CEO of the Nature Conservancy, Jennifer Morris.  

Prior award recipients include the late U.S. Senator John McCain, current U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Michael Bennet, PBS News Anchor Judy Woodruff, and legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Bob Woodward, among others. 

The nonpartisan organization noted Neguse’s dedication to bridging the divide between urban and rural communities in Colorado, and his leadership on rural challenges in particular, including forest health, public lands, and watershed protection. Neguse has worked to implement the unique approach through his “Lead Locally” initiative, which includes innovative Service Town-Halls and hosting more than 12 in-person town hall in just the past 5 months across Colorado’s Western Slope, Central Mountains, and Northern communities. 

In receiving the Keystone Leadership Award, Neguse further cemented his legacy of delivering results for the state of Colorado. Earlier this year, he was named the most effective member of the state’s federal delegation by the Center for Effective Lawmaking. 

“When your congressional district is 12,000 square miles and larger than 8 states, you understand that service means showing up in — and listening to — every single community. That’s exactly what we’ve done as I’ve served the people of Northern and Western Colorado — from Walden to Fort Collins, and I’m proud of our work to cut through the chaos and partner with folks of all political stripes to address the challenges we face in the Rocky Mountain West.” Congressman Neguse continued, “It has never been more important to find ways to foster greater collaboration and dialogue with those with whom we may disagree. I’m grateful to the Keystone Policy Center for their recognition of our efforts on that front, and remain hopeful that we can address the consequential challenges of our time.” 

“For five decades, Keystone Policy Center has brought people together to find collaborative, actionable solutions to the toughest public policy challenges. Each recipient of the Keystone Leadership Award embodies that mission and demonstrates that meaningful progress is possible when others say it can’t be done,” said Christine Scanlan, president and CEO of the Keystone Policy Center. “We are proud to honor these leaders, among them Congressman Joe Neguse, who represents the district Keystone calls home. It was also a privilege to host these leaders for a one-on-one fireside conversation, offering a powerful opportunity to learn from their experiences and insights.”

The Keystone Policy Center established the Keystone Leadership Awards in 1994 to recognize extraordinary leadership by individuals and organizations whose work embraces their mission: inspiring leaders to rise above entrenched positions and find common ground. Keystone honors individuals and organizations within its areas of work as well as recognizes leaders in government and the media who create impact in the public interest.  

About Neguse’s Collaborative Leadership Approach:

Congressman Joe Neguse is the founder and Co-Chair of both the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus and the Bipartisan Colorado River Caucus, groups established to build consensus and elevate awareness around key issues like the rise of Western wildfires and worsening drought in the Colorado River Basin. He has leveraged these coalitions to introduce and pass legislation focused on preserving public lands, strengthening the outdoor economy, and confronting the wildfire crisis. Notably, he successfully enacted four bipartisan bills through last year’s Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act: the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act, the Biking On Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act, the Improving Access to Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act, and the Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act. The EXPLORE Act also included the Simplifying Access for Outdoor Recreation Permitting (SOAR) Act, which Neguse co-led in the House. His efforts have earned him recognition as the Member of Congress with the most bipartisan support for his legislative proposals.

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