We did it!
Dear Friend,
We did it. After more than 20 years of work, the House of Representatives just approved our Colorado Wilderness Act to permanently protect over 660,000 acres of wilderness across Colorado.
Getting this bill passed to protect these areas has been one of my top priorities for many years now. As a fourth-generation Coloradan, I know how important our public lands are to the people of our state, not just for our environment and economy, but for our overall way of life.
The legislation, which was approved today as part of a larger package I sponsored to protect nearly 1.4 million acres of wilderness across the country, will permanently protect 36 unique areas across our state, including the dramatic ridgeline vistas of Grand Hogback, the sprawling plateaus at Little Book Cliffs, and the stunning red cliffs of the Dolores River Canyon – just to name a few.
Protecting these treasured landscapes from the threat of future development and the destruction that's caused by drilling for oil and natural gas will help grow our state's tourism-driven economy even more and further support our multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreation industry. But, most importantly, it will help ensure these remarkable landscapes remain untouched and available for future generations to enjoy.
Our bill approved today is the largest wilderness-protection package the House has passed in over a decade - and it's the largest wilderness-protection package the House has approved for our state in over 40 years.
President Lyndon Johnson once said, "if future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it."
I believe – by passing this bill today – we have taken an important step toward doing just that. And now it's up to us to make sure the Senate does the same.
Thank you to all those who have supported this effort over the years. It's because of you that we were able to get this done.
Sincerely,
Diana DeGette