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    <title>From the State House</title>
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        <link>https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/from-the-state-house/barbara-mclachlan-assembly-work-will-help-colorado-build-back-stronger/</link>
        <title>Barbara McLachlan: Assembly work will help Colorado build back stronger</title>
        <description>When we began this year’s legislative session, the task before us seemed daunting. Across the state and throughout my district, small businesses were devastated, hard-working families were struggling and the end of the pandemic was nowhere in sight. My colleagues...</description>
        <pubDate>Sat, 12 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
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        <content:encoded><![CDATA[When we began this year’s legislative session, the task before us seemed daunting. Across the state and throughout my district, small businesses were devastated, hard-working families were struggling and the end of the pandemic was nowhere in sight.My colleagues and I rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We knew identifying and facing the challenge would be the most important task ahead of us. Instead of seeing it as an insurmountable obstacle, we saw it as a golden opportunity.We didn’t want to just help Colorado return to the place we were in before the pandemic hit; we were determined to help chart a better, bolder, more prosperous course for our state. The phrase has been repeated far too often, but we truly set out to help Colorado build back stronger.The bulk of our work in this space was done through our state stimulus package, a series of legislation investing about $800 million into helping Colorado recover quickly and in an equitable way. The package contains bills, now signed into law, investing in workforce development, small business grants, child care expansions and programs to help our students close the learning gap created by COVID-19.I’m proud of all of the work we did this session to help Colorado bounce back from this crisis, but there are a few bills that I think will have a particularly important impact on Southern Colorado and District 59.In particular, I’m proud of the work we did that was specifically tailored to meet the needs of rural Colorado. We put $30 million toward the Agriculture Future Loan Program, which will provide new and existing agriculture operations with crucial funding and create jobs in this critically important industry.We also funded the ACRE3 program, which invests in the long-term sustainability of the industry by encouraging more energy efficient agriculture operations, to ensure that Colorado’s farmers and ranchers can continue to contribute so much to our state.And to invest in the future of rural Colorado, we provided tens of millions of dollars for the Colorado Water Plan, which will help ensure Colorado has the water resources we need to foster a thriving economy. This was one of several steps we took related to drought resiliency, including a bill I sponsored to create an office in the Department of Agriculture to help the industry respond to and mitigate the impacts of climate change and increasingly severe droughts.Other programs funded by our state stimulus package, like the Rural Jump Start Grant Program, the Rural Economic Development Initiative and the Community Revitalization Grant Program, will support local economies, create jobs and fund construction revitalization projects. They will make our communities more enjoyable for residents and more attractive for tourists, bringing needed business and economic activity to our part of the state.We showcased and supported the needs of rural schools, added financial security for our veterans, supported the Colorado Department of Wildlife and funded wildfire prevention.But it’s clear to me that no amount of government programs can fill the void left by a job loss, so I’m also proud we provided robust funding for the Just Transition Program, which will support coal workers, employers and communities as they plan for the future closings of coal plants and mines upon which their communities depend. We also created a program to help small businesses needing a little capital boost before growing to the next level to create countless jobs.It’s difficult to keep track of the amount of bills we passed and stimulus dollars we directed toward helping create an economy that leaves no one behind, but the Coloradans who benefit will remember them all. As we wrap up this legislative session, I can confidently say we both met the challenge presented by COVID-19 and delivered results for our constituents.Our bipartisan, Colorado-focused session will help us all build back stronger.Rep. Barbara McLachlan is a Democrat representing District 59 in the Colorado Legislature. This is the final commentary on the 2021 Legislature by McLachlan, whose column has alternated with that of state Sen. Don Coram.]]></content:encoded>
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        <link>https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/from-the-state-house/barbara-mclachlan-environment-school-bills-move-through-legislature/</link>
        <title>Barbara McLachlan: Environment, school bills move through Legislature</title>
        <description>Last week’s legislative marathon was one of my busiest yet. As we head toward the end of our session, bills are flying between committees and chambers, and it’s all we can do to keep up. But I accomplished a few...</description>
        <pubDate>Sat, 29 May 2021 05:00:00 -0600</pubDate>
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        <content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week’s legislative marathon was one of my busiest yet. As we head toward the end of our session, bills are flying between committees and chambers, and it’s all we can do to keep up. But I accomplished a few things.House Bill 21-1303 passed out of the House of Representatives and on to the Senate this week, after moving through the Energy and Environment, Capital Development and Appropriations Committees. The legislation has state agencies evaluate and prioritize how taxpayer dollars are spent on public infrastructure projects by preferring materials manufactured with high environmental standards. We can all participate in reducing industrial carbon emissions to help fulfill statewide greenhouse gas emissions reductions goals.Currently, 15% of greenhouse gasses come from the key components of buildings and roads, including cement, concrete, steel, asphalt, glass and wood. Manufacturing these materials can produce massive volumes of greenhouse gasses. Many manufacturers already recognize their impact on the climate and are producing materials sensitive to the issue.This bill is good for the climate, good for our public health and really good for Colorado’s economy, as many of those manufacturers are already working in the state. LaFarge-Holcium Cement, for example, employing 125 people in rural Florence, produces competitively priced and excellent performing “green” cement.This bill could grow the company substantially, creating well-paying jobs while keeping the money in Colorado. More green industries are planning on moving to the state.Another bill heading to completion is Senate Bill 21-116. It prohibits Colorado schools from using Native American mascots, charging a hefty fine if they refuse. Many tribal members I spoke with have worked on this for more than 10 years and are thrilled it is moving forward. It is time to correct this wrong.Several people testified how horrified they were to have their school mascots depict cartoonish Native Americans with large noses and gaudy war bonnets. Students from Lamar testified how when they were in school, being one of the “Savages” was a source of pride. They now advocate abolishing it.The Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes support the change.Another bill presented this week will be a huge boost for education in Colorado by reducing the teacher shortage. Senate Bill 21-185 has a lot of moving parts. It will publicize teacher preparation programs, set up a program to recruit, select, train and retain highly qualified educators across the state, and provide mental health support for educators.It allows schools to hire adjunct instructors, within certain parameters, to teach in all content areas; restores the Quality Teacher Recruitment and the Educator Loan Forgiveness Programs cut during COVID-19; and creates a program to increase the number of students entering the teaching profession and encourage a more diverse workforce.We also passed the annual Colorado School Finance Act, Senate Bill 21-268, which pays our school districts. The average per-pupil spending this year has a base of $7,225, a 2% increase, though in total it is closer to $8,857, a 9.7% increase, because of several factors, including the number of a district’s at-risk students, the cost of living and district size and remoteness. We reduced the Negative Factor from its bloated $1.2 billion, mid-COVID-19 level of last year to $572 million.In addition, all grants and special programs swept from the books last year are reinstated, addressing mental health, dropout prevention and low-income families.We are doing everything possible at the state level not only to reopen, but to reinvigorate and renew our educational system.Finally, Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 21-1223 into law, establishing the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Office. Gov. John Hickenlooper created the office in 2015 for Colorado’s first Outdoor Retailer Show. This bill codifies the office, ensuring it has a greater permanence and giving the Legislature more oversight. This helps the Western Slope’s thriving outdoor recreation industry continue to strengthen its rural economic value.As the session winds down, the work doesn’t seem to diminish.]]></content:encoded>
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