3-24 House Second Reading

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

3-24 House Second Reading

Page 6 of 13

House Bill 1177 is that it sets up a forum for having discussions
regarding these really, really difficult issues.

This is not gonna make me or anybody from mral Colorado many
friends I have to say. Because it moves us beyond where we're at
right now. But the State of Colorado does need to move forward
on these issues. I think Representative Penry has worked hard to
make sure that the bill isn't too far-reaching.

It still makes me very nervous, Representative Penry, but I think if
we don't have these discussion, in the end mral Colorado will
actually end up worse off because our voice won't be heard, and it
won't be fair, and this attempts to set up a fair process for us. So,
I'd like to continue to hear from other members to see what we
think about this, but this is a really important piece of legislation
and I am continuing to support it at this time.

Mr. Chairman:

Representative Penry

Rep. PelllY

Thank you Mr. Chairman and thank you Madame Chair Curry for
making those statements. I come from Grand Junction, Colorado,
western Colorado. If this bill weren't good for mral Colorado, tmst
me, I would not be standing here. I think this bill gets at the notion
that dialogue and progress is impOliant for all of us whether we
live in western Colorado or whether we live in the Denver area or
other parts of the front range.

And it's also important to note the safeguards that are in this bill.
Once we get to the point of negotiations, no Compact, no
agreement, no product of these negotiations can be ratified or
finalized until the local basin says okay. They have final and
definitive say. And so there are very strong protections, both
procedurally and in terms of who's sitting at the table. Rural
Colorado is represented very well in this process and will have a
definitive voice in their roundtables and a very strong and
compelling say on happens on the statewide committee as well.

I think there are some, in some parts of the state, I think on both
sides of the Continental Divide who don't want necessarily a
dialogue that, stalemate is serving their purposes, and I don't think
that's good or responsible for our fi.lture. I think this bill will help
solve the stalemate. And so for that reason, I think it's as good and
important for western Colorado as it is for those of you on this side
of the mountain.

Mr. Chairmall: Representative Hoppy

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