Rep. Boebert Advocates for Colorado with Senior Biden Administration Officials

Press Release

This week, Representative Lauren Boebert advocated for local issues affecting Colorado and the Third Congressional District at multiple interactions with senior Biden administration officials.

Rep. Boebert stated: "I ran with the promise that the forgotten men and women of rural Colorado would be forgotten no more, and I fight every single day for the people who hired me to be their voice. I questioned Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on ways we can partner to move forward water storage projects and to ensure Coloradans are capturing more water to which we are entitled and made a strong case for keeping the Bureau of Land Management headquarters in Grand Junction. I secured a commitment from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to look into allowing farmers to receive insurance claims for crops lost to drought. I discussed active forest management policies to prevent catastrophic wildfires with U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen. Finally, I made the case to Vice Admiral Ronald Boxall for keeping the U.S. Space Command in Colorado. I have put Colorado first from the day I took my oath, and that won't ever change."

Background:

Questioning Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland About the Drought and the Bureau of Land Management Headquarters in Grand Junction at a Natural Resources Hearing

Drought and wildfires are some of the biggest issues facing rural Colorado, so Rep. Boebert expressed her concern to Secretary Haaland that President Biden's Department of the Interior budget proposal did not include funding for water storage projects that can help mitigate the crippling effects of the drought. Rep. Boebert secured a commitment from Secretary Haaland that the Department of the Interior will consider additional water storage as a tool, and Rep. Boebert looks forward to working with the Department as these projects are developed.

Additionally, Rep. Boebert expressed her concern that Secretary Haaland has not committed to keeping the Bureau of Land Management headquarters in Grand Junction. Keeping the Bureau in Grand Junction gives rural Coloradans a voice in the decisions that affect their daily lives. The Bureau's move West has reduced the number of long cross-country flights, improved training, delegated more responsibility to employees in the field, improved customer service and coordination with local communities, ensured better decisions earlier in the decision-making process, reduced commute times for employees, provided good-paying local jobs, and saved taxpayer money.

Rep. Boebert reiterated her invitation to Secretary Haaland to visit the Bureau of Land Management's Grand Junction headquarters to see the impact that having decision-makers close to the lands they manage is having on local stakeholders. The bipartisan effort to keep the Bureau in Grand Junction is supported by Governor Jared Polis, Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, and Congressman Joe Neguse as well as countless other stakeholders and Members of Congress throughout the country.

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