Federal Lands Ranking Member Neguse: “In Colorado, we see things very differently. We treasure the public lands that we're so lucky to have.”
Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Congressman Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands, participated in a legislative hearing on a series of bills relating to land restoration, reforestation, and more. Neguse used this opportunity to speak up for the interests of Coloradans and defend this nation’s public lands—namely from efforts led by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans to strip land management agencies of their funding and sell said treasured spaces to help pay for the disastrous budget reconciliation package currently making its way through the Congress.
Watch Congressman Neguse’s remarks HERE.
NEGUSE: “I spent the last few weeks back in Colorado. And as you may know, I represent a very large district in Northern and Western Colorado—spans 12 counties, three national forests—Arapahoe, Roosevelt, White River, which is, of course, the most visited National Forest in the United States. And Routt National Forest. And I can tell you that having traveled my district and holding multiple town halls in every corner of my district, folks are deeply concerned and frustrated by the actions of this administration with respect to the gutting, in their view, and in my view, of the Forest Service.
“For years we have worked in partnership with folks at the Forest Service, as we protect our treasured public lands that we're so blessed to have in our state, and to see the way in which this administration is gutting the federal workforce, not just, of course, with respect to the Forest Service, but the National Park Service, a variety of other agencies in the land management context is unconscionable. And it is having a real-world dramatic effect in Colorado, as I suspect you're probably aware of.
“And I'll just give you one example. I was in Yampa, in the Yampa Valley and visiting with the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council in Routt County. They had a planned collaborative reforestation project for wildfire impacted lands planned for this spring. I know we're talking about reforestation today with respect to one of the bills that we're considering. That project was canceled because of the various cuts, and, drawbacks and rollbacks at the Forest Service.
“This project would have planted 100,000 seedlings in the burn area. And the future viability of this project is now in question. So, I know, you know, [Ellen Shultzabarger, Associate Deputy Chief for National Forest System], of course, are a career official. And I appreciate your commitment to the Forest Service and to our country.
“But I have to level with you on behalf of my constituents. And I hope you will convey back to your colleagues at the Forest Service and management at the Forest Service, that what is happening is having real world consequences on the ground across western United States.”
Other excerpts from the hearing can be found below:
NEGUSE: “Reports indicate that the Republicans, the House Republicans, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, intend to engage in a wholesale fire sale of our public lands to fund, the reconciliation plan that they're pursuing. In Colorado, we see things very differently. We treasure the public lands that we're so lucky to have.”
NEGUSE: “I think [Matthew McCombs, Colorado State Forest Service State Forester and Director] articulated so well the ethos that certainly [he] and I share. And frankly, I suspect the vast majority of Americans share. And I would just say, as you noted, conservation, stewardship of our public lands has largely and long been a bipartisan value. It is only recently, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem to have abandoned that principle.
“We're going to have an opportunity here in a week’s time, for my colleagues to, I hope, pull back from the brink and not allow the debasement and wholesale sale of our public lands continue, under the plan that House Republicans have, at least thus far, seem to have articulated. Again, we'll learn more here in the coming days.”
You can also watch Rep. Neguse’s line of questioning with Colorado State Forest Service State Forester and Director, Matthew McCombs, HERE.
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