June is Great Outdoors Month – a time when families across the country head outside to enjoy the rivers, mountains and open spaces that define the American West. In Colorado’s 3rd District, the outdoors is a bit more than a summer destination. It’s part of our culture, our economy. Public lands are a big part of what makes Colorado, Colorado. And as your representative in Congress, I take seriously the obligation to protect them, not just in word, but in action.
That is why the very first bill I introduced in Congress was the LOCAL Act. This bill would permanently relocate the Bureau of Land Management headquarters to Grand Junction, where it belongs. The vast majority of federal lands are in the West. It only makes sense that the people who manage them be here too. Public lands decisions should not be made by career politicians in Washington, completely disconnected from the landscapes they oversee. They should be made with input from the ranchers, outfitters, landowners and local officials who live with the consequences.
It is also why I introduced the Productive Public Lands Act earlier this year. This legislation would overturn a set of sweeping Biden-era plans that lock up huge areas of land across Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon and Montana. These plans cut off access for grazing, recreation and responsible energy development. In some cases, they even directly contradict the BLM’s mission, which clearly states managing land for multiple uses. My bill would require the BLM to go back to the drawing board and issue new plans that respect the balance between conservation and use.
Protecting our public lands does not mean shutting them down. It means managing them wisely. That includes responsible timber harvesting, outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation. It also includes proactive steps to reduce wildfire risk, something I have been very vocal about.
Coloradans understand that conservation and productivity are not opposing values. Not only are they both essential, but they are both doable. We can keep our rivers clean and still use them to irrigate. We can protect our trails and still welcome visitors. We can preserve open space and still use our natural resources to support rural communities. And you don’t have to look too far to see what that balance looks like.
Durango is a perfect example of a community that thrives because of well-managed public lands. It is a place where public land is not just scenery but rather a cornerstone of the economy and everyday life. But this can only happen if we are thoughtful, and we put management decisions closer to the people who know the land best.
The stakes are high. Public lands are the backbone of tourism, agriculture and outdoor recreation in the West. They support countless jobs and shape the character of our communities. But without clear, balanced policies, these lands become policy battlegrounds instead of shared assets.
Great Outdoors Month is a reminder of why this work matters. It is not about partisan fights or political slogans. It is about real places, real people and real livelihoods. It is about keeping Colorado’s wide-open spaces healthy, accessible and productive for generations to come. As the congressman representing you, I will continue fighting for public lands that are both protected and working. We don’t need any more mandates from Washington. We need common sense from Colorado.
Rep. Jeff Hurd represents the 3rd District of Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives. Reach him or a staff member at hurd.house.gov/contact.
