Scott Tipton

Farmers and ranchers and small business owners today face a sea of onerous new regulations from the federal government.

Why do you think the Department of the Interior is going to be able to do a better job than our states in terms of regulating that?

I respect your statement on that, and the answer effectively was no, we haven't had any problem with the integrity when it comes to the fracking process.

I find this very disturbing that we have a proposed rule that is in fact a rule that is already impacting jobs.

Hundreds of millions.

Basically the rules are just becoming a moving target. We are creating more uncertainty. Is this impacting jobs?

So it is effectively a taking and infringing on Colorado water rights, Colorado water law.

So that it is very clear, people paid money for these water rights, didn't they?

Authorizes the use but does not guarantee the use, so that gives the Forest Service... the Forest Service could make a determination that that water could be used for something other than snow-making or other than grazing, is that correct?

It seems to me that the proposed rule that you have put forward is in direct conflict with Colorado water law, congressional intent and private property rights.

Congress has not delegated to the Forest Service the authority necessary to allow it to require that water users relinquish part of their existing water supply or transfer their water rights in the United States as a condition for the…

We recognize particularly in this economic climate we are all in this together.

The monument designation would give Chimney Rock the recognition it clearly deserves and ensure its protection in perpetuity.

Chimney Rock is considered by the historic preservation community and the archeological community to be one of the most significant archeological sites in the Western United States.

I would, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, and I thank the Ranking Member as well for convening today's hearing, including my bill, H.R. 2621, to designate the Chimney Rock in southwestern Colorado as a national monument.

I also want to thank Ricky Lightfoot from my hometown of Cortez, Colorado for being here to share his expertise on this treasured area.

I am proud to have the support of the Archuleta County commissioners and the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce, among others, in making Chimney Rock a national monument.

That creates a lot of problems. I come from a small rural county that has a lot of public lands.

Education is very important for me, for my family, for our entire communities.

Furthermore, the Forest Service's failure to manage our forests has left them dangerously dense, making the risk of life threatening wildfire greater each year.

Our mills in the 3rd District are facing more closures now than ever before due to a lack of available timber from federal lands.

This draft legislation is an important first step towards providing a long term solution to properly fund our rural schools.

Each employee of the business is having to pay $10,585 for regulatory costs per employee.

The regulatory burden on the American people cost approximately $1.75 trillion annually.

These are issues that impact us here at home, and in your home as well.