Congressman Neguse Welcomes Senate Hearing on The CORE Act

Press Release

Today, Congressman Joe Neguse, Chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands welcomed news from Senator Hickenlooper and Senator Bennet that the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act will get a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. The hearing will take place on Wednesday June 16th at 3:00 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. MT.

"I'm thrilled to see the Senate taking action to move the CORE Act forward in the legislative process, and am so pleased to have the support of both Senator Bennet and Senator Hickenlooper in advocating for this locally-driven effort and for Colorado's public lands," said Congressman Joe Neguse. "The CORE Act invests in the very best of Colorado and preserves our treasured public lands while strengthening our economy through major investments in outdoor recreation. I was proud to pass the legislation out of the House so early in the 117th Congress and look forward to partnering with my Senate colleagues to get this done for the people of Colorado, for our public lands, our climate and our economy."

Congressman Neguse and Senator Bennet introduced the comprehensive CORE Act for the first time in January 2019 after years of work in Colorado developing, drafting and negotiating the four individual titles in the bill. Congressman Neguse has passed the CORE Act through the U.S. House of Representatives three times with bipartisan support. The bill most recently passed the House in February 2021.

For resources and letters of support for the CORE Act, visit https://neguse.house.gov/core-act

Background:

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. The CORE Act is supported by a broad coalition of counties, cities, towns, local leaders, conservation groups, sportsmen, and a wide range of outdoor businesses.

Of the land protected by the bill, about 73,000 acres are designated as new wilderness, and nearly 80,000 acres are designated as new recreation and conservation management areas that preserve existing outdoor uses, such as hiking and mountain biking. The bill also includes a first-of-its-kind designation for Camp Hale as a National Historic Landscape, to honor World War II veterans and Colorado's military legacy, and prohibits new oil and gas development in areas important to ranchers and sportsmen in the Thompson Divide.

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