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<br />DIANA DEGETTE
<br />1ST OISTAICT, COLOAAOO
<br />1404 LONGWOIlTH
<br />W4SHINGTQN, DC 20515
<br />202-225-4431
<br />FAX 202-225-5657
<br />
<br />COMMERCE COMMITTEe
<br />
<br />February 17, 1999
<br />
<br />(tCongrt55 of tut Wnittb $tatt5
<br />;$ous-r of 3l\.rprtS-rntlltilJr5'
<br />Ballbington, 1i91l!: 20515-0601
<br />Statement of Rep. Diana DeGette
<br />
<br />SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
<br />A.ND ENvtFlONMENT
<br />SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND
<br />HAZARDOUS MATeRIALS
<br />
<br />DISTRICT OFFICE:
<br />'400 GLIENARM Pu.cE. SUITE 202
<br />DENVER, CO 80202
<br />303-844-4988
<br />FAX J03-844-t996
<br />
<br />E-mail; degel1e@mail.house.gov
<br />
<br />Denver, Colorado
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<br />Colorado Wilderness Act of 1999
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<br />Like everyone around me today, I am proud to call myself a Coloradan. People in our state have a special relationship with nature.
<br />We choose to live here and enjoy its splendor. We find solace, share time with our families and friends, and learn life's eternal truths.
<br />
<br />As we approach the turn of the century, we must reflect on the state of our special sanctuary - the Colorado wilderness. A~ the turn of
<br />the last century, when my great-grandparents moved here, Colorado's population stood at 539,000. When the landmark Wilderness
<br />Act of 1964 was enacted, estahlishing 612,000 acres of wilderness in our state, we had roughly 2 million inhabitants. Now, as we
<br />approach a new millennium, Colorado has over 3.8 million citizeI1s, one of the top five fastest growing states in our country.
<br />
<br />As you can see, in this photo of Dominguez Canyon, we still have untouched wild treasures in Colorado. Wilderness is more than just
<br />a word and a beautiful photo to Gm-dllns;h.:;W'"""., w ttwiy ways, it defmes the notion of Colorado and who we are.
<br />
<br />The Wilderness Act of 1964 recognized the importance of protecting lands with unique environmental characteristics. Our
<br />environmental policies of the last thirty-five years, advanced by leaders like Tim Wirth, Hank Brown, and David Skaggs have sought
<br />to balance the desires of hUllWl consumption with the need to preserve these ancient wild lands in their natural, unblemished state.
<br />Today I am here to continue that tradition ofleadership.
<br />
<br />As a fourth generation Coloradan, I recognize the importance of our wilderness and the need to preserve these lands. My
<br />grandparents, both avid fishermen, instilled a great love of the outdoors in their children and grandchildren. My uncle lived in
<br />Durango and was a passionate fisher and hunter. We all deeply cl1erish the solitude that wilderness affords and are respectful of its
<br />Anu,ortance in our lives. I have spent much of my free time in the Colorado wilderness - horseback riding as a child near Kremmling
<br />.and backpacking in the Wen1inuche wilderness. Last summer, I hiked and camped with my children in the Flat Tops and
<br />Uncompahgre Wildemess Areas. That trip brought home to all of us that civilization is creeping ever closer to the edges of these
<br />beautiful areas.
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<br />Because we must protect the remaining wild areas in this state for our children's children, I am introducing the Colorado Wilderness
<br />Act of 1999. With the support of many Coloradans, including the Pitkin and San Miguel County Cotmnissions, the Denver City
<br />Council, the Colorado Wilderness Network, hunters, outfitters, recreationa1ists, and others, we Can act now to insure that the spirit of
<br />Colorado lives on forever. This legislation incOlporates roughly 1.4 million acres of wild 1ands throughout Colorado as wilderness.
<br />Currently, there are 3.3 million acres of wilderness designated in Colorado, mostly higher elevations in National Forest lands. This
<br />legislation today protects lower elevations in BLM lands and amollDts to only 2% of Colorado's land bllSe. We must protect what we
<br />have left.
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<br />We cut these parcels with a jigsaw, not a buzzsaw, to preserve exiSting rights and simultaneously protect lands that dernonstrate
<br />distinct wilderness characteristics. Many of these areas are Wildell1ess Study Areas, while others have similarly strong wilderness
<br />characteristics. Other areas currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management have been included jlecause of their unique
<br />characteristics. They range from Cold Spring Mountain in the northwest to the San Luis HiIIs in the south, and are integral to
<br />preserving Colorado's clean air and precious water, even as the s!lJte's population continues to grow. These areas are home to
<br />endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, flora and fllllIDl which depend on this habitat for their survival. The magnificent
<br />landscape of petroglyph fonnations, ponds, rivers, and forests nurtUreS a lasting love and appreciation for these areas. Now is the time
<br />to include wilderness considerations in our strategy for long term srowth. Your press packetS include a map like the one you see next
<br />to me and a short description of each site.
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<br />Designation of these new wilderness areas enhances our economy. Colorado is no longer mining and resource dependent Wilderness
<br />and economic development go hand in hand. The beauty of our land that inspired many Coloradans to make our state their home
<br />continues to attract high-tech industry and thousands of highly skilled workers to our state. The population of the West has grown
<br />exponentialIy, creating diverse and dynamic economy but also strllining our resources.
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<br />~ quality of life is an asset, but we must not sit back and allow it to wither away. As Thoreau said, "111 wildness is the preservation of
<br />- the world. " We may not preserve the entire world through the passage of this bill, but we will go a long way towards preserving some of
<br />its most beautiful - and wild - places.
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<br />PlnNTEO ON MCYCUD PAPER
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