Michael Bennet: “I rise to recognize Scott Fitzwilliams who recently retired after 15 years as forest supervisor of the White River…”

“I rise to recognize Scott Fitzwilliams who recently retired after 15 years as forest supervisor of the White River National Forest and 34 years of service to the U.S. Forest Service. Scott led the most visited national forest in the country, covering more than 2 million acres. While supervising the White River, Scott balanced enormous visitor demand with thoughtful stewardship, earning the trust of communities across Colorado's mountains. Scott brought steady leadership to some of Colorado's most complex land management challenges. He managed the visitors at Hanging Lake and the Maroon Bells, navigated the first-ever partnership between the Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife at Sweetwater Lake, and helped communities recover from the Grizzly Creek and Lake Christine Fires. Scott was a critical source of guidance and expertise for my work. He helped ensure the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument was established with the care and coordination it deserved. On the Thompson Divide, he helped navigate intricate land-use and community concerns and oversaw the implementation of the 20-year mineral withdrawal. He also helped shape practical solutions for the housing crisis affecting mountain towns. His work identifying Forest Service sites suitable for workforce housing informed legislation that we passed in the 2018 farm bill and in the 2024 EXPLORE Act.”