3-24 House Second Reading

• Title: 3-24 House Second Reading
• IBCC - Doc Type: Legislation

3-24 House Second Reading

Page 11 of 13

Rep. Harvey:

Thank you Mr. Chair. Members, I rise in support of 1177.
Representative Penry has worked tirelessly to try to get this bill to
a position that I think will be very productive for the entire State of
Colorado. It was bringing the voices from all the areas of the state,
whether it's the western slope, the front range, or the eastern plains
together to try to come together on what is the best rationale for
developing appropriate water policy for the entire state.

I have always come up to this mic and argued that the water in this
state is the water for the entire state. It's not one area's water or
another area's water. It should be put to the best use for everybody
in the state, and I think that this bill is a great tool to be used to try
to facilitate discussions to be able to determine how we can best
utilize the water of this state without letting it leave the state for
the best use of people downstream. So I encourage everybody to
vote for this bill.

Mr. Chairmall:

Representative Curry

Rep. ClIny

Thank you Mr. Chair, and I'm sorry, I won't come up here again.
I'm saying too much, but in following Representative Harvey in
supporting the same bill he does, I just wanted to say that earlier I
said that this creates a fOnll11, you know, this creates a way for
people to talk. And in mral Colorado right now, we talk in the
courts and we get out spent, and we really don't have the ability in
parts of mral Colorado, the San Luis valley, the north plat, the
Gunnison, maybe the upper roaring fork has some money, but the
rest of us don't, and this is a better way to solve problems than
litigation.

This is a better way to get your voice heard. I know it's a new step
and it's a scary one for some people, but I ju st want to commend
Representative Penry for bringing this forward because we really
can't afford to litigate every blessed application that comes
forward. And maybe now we'll actually get our voice heard in
mral Colorado and have a situation that's more equitable in the
end.

Mr. Chairmall: Representative

Rep. Thank you Mr. Chairman. Members, House Bill 1177 is, I urge a
Yes vote on 1177. It is potentially one of the most visionary pieces
of water legislations that we will ever see in this Chamber. It has
the potential to set up a framework for genuine and tme discussion

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