On the recordOctober 30, 2019
Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in support of my amendment addressing water rights in the Curecanti National Recreation Area. For years, my staff and I have engaged in numerous conversations regarding the Curecanti National Recreation Area, and there has been bipartisan agreement in these discussions that water rights in the region should remain intact. This area brings in millions of visitors each year and provides recreation opportunities that include fishing, hiking, camping, and more. While it might be an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, it is also a source of Colorado's most precious resource: water. This amendment ensures that there are no unintended consequences in this legislation for longstanding water rights in the impacted area. Mr. Chair, I would like to encourage my colleagues to be able to support this, and I reserve the balance of my time.
