Rep. Musgrave Pressures Bush Administration to Stop Holding Up Wilderness Designation for Rocky Mountain National Park
Press Release
Rep. Musgrave Pressures Bush Administration to Stop Holding Up Wilderness Designation for Rocky Mountain National Park
Expressing her disappointment with the Bush Administration's opposition to a bi-partisan bill to turn Rocky Mountain National Park into a wilderness area, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-Ft. Morgan) urged Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to stop holding up the process. Colorado lawmakers have reached a bi-partisan compromise on the park's future for the first time since President Richard Nixon proposed the wilderness area more than 30 years ago.
A compromise bill was negotiated between Rep. Musgrave, Senator Wayne Allard, Senator Ken Salazar, and Rep. Mark Udall and congressional hearings have been held in both the Senate and the House. However, objections by the Sec. Kempthorn and the Administration have stalled further legislative proceedings on their bill.
"I have dedicated considerable time to finding a solution that is agreeable to both sides on this issue, including the local agriculture community and environmentalists. At a time when there is significant division between our nation's two political parties, I am pleased that Sen. Allard and I worked with Sen. Salazar and Rep. Udall to come to an agreement that has the best interests of Colorado in mind," said Musgrave. "There is no reason to hold up passage of our bill and I am strongly urging that Sec. Kempthorne and the Administration move this wilderness designation forward. This agreement culminates years of work and now is the time to act."
In a letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, the Congresswoman wrote, "After all these years, we finally have an agreement that both protects a crown jewel of America's National Park System and ensures farmers will continue to have access to essential water resources for years to come. Again, I respectfully ask that the Administration quit impeding this very important legislation."
For several months discussion took place between the offices of Colorado's congressional delegation on Rocky Mountain National Park. As a result, the compromise bill created would provide adequate provisions that resolve significant concerns with previous legislative measures. Several local officials from neighboring communities that surround Rocky Mountain National Park fully support this latest bill.
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