Photo: John Fielder
Help Secure New Wilderness in Colorado
Contact Colorado’s elected representatives to thank them for their strong support of public lands and ask that they do everything in their power to pass the CORE Act and the Colorado Wilderness Act this year on the defense bill!
Colorado’s wildest places need your help right now so they can cross the finish line and earn permanent protections as wilderness. We need you to make a quick phone call to thank our representatives for their strong support of public lands and ask that they do everything in their power to pass the CORE Act and the Colorado Wilderness Act this year on the defense bill.
The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act and Colorado Wilderness Act passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and they should be included when the House and Senate reconcile the two versions of the NDAA in the next few weeks.
With so many competing priorities in Congress in these final weeks of the year, we need to urge Colorado’s public lands champions to be super vocal about the importance of including these two wilderness bills in the final defense bill. The CORE Act and the Colorado Wilderness Act are closer than ever to being passed, but it won’t happen without your help.
We need you to call at least one of our Colorado Public Lands Champions. Be sure to leave a message if nobody answers!
Senator Bennet
202-224-5852
Representative Neguse
(202) 225-2161
Representative DeGette
(202) 225-4431
Representative Crow
(202) 225-7882
Representative Perlmutter
(202) 225-2645
More information:
This isn’t the first time an important public lands bill was paired with the NDAA in order to pass. The last major public lands bill to pass for Colorado – the Hermosa Creek Wilderness and Watershed Protection Act (in Southwest Colorado) – was passed in 2014 in the NDAA. This year’s NDAA gives Congress another chance to take up locally-driven bills that protect public lands in the San Juan Mountains, Continental Divide, Thompson Divide, and Curecanti National Recreation Area and the Colorado Wilderness Act which includes stunning mesas and canyons of the Dolores River and the Bookcliffs, among others. Plus, it’s only fitting to ride the wave of yesterday’s Veterans Day celebration and work to fulfill years of efforts and our promise to veterans to protect places like Camp Hale and the majestic lands across Colorado that continue to heal and inspire so many.
More ways to take action:
If you’re unable to phone in, you can email Colorado’s representatives and ask them to support these wilderness bills. Keep in mind, though, that phone calls are the most effective- if you can, give these representatives a quick call!
Where is my Representative? Scott T.?
Hi Steve, Tipton’s DC number is (202) 225-4761. He’s not exactly a conservation champion, though, so we’re not expecting him to champion these bills across the finish line.
As a representative of a voter constituency, I still think it’s important for him to hear from his district — even from contrary opinions. I plan on reaching out as well.
I just called all of the above numbers. Only Crow’s office had a person answer so easy to leave VM’s. However, the woman in Crow’s office did not know the legislation/bill #’s and neither did I !! hopefully she’ll figure them out as I told her the exact names of the bills but perhaps they should be posted here too! Thanks all!