Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to speak about this important amendment to the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This amendment protects private property in southeast Colorado by prohibiting the use of funds for the creation or expansion of environmental or cultural protection areas. These zones, often known as national heritage areas, are just another backdoor method for the government to impose Federal zoning on private property. The heritage areas amount to a forced conservation agreement for private landowners. An appointed management entity imposes its views and ideas on the property holders, changing the way they can use their property without compensating them. Private property is an essential element of a free democracy. The citizens of Southeast Colorado have fought this government overreach for years now, desperate to save their farms and ranches that have been passed down for generations. This amendment will ensure that private property rights are restored in southeast Colorado. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.”