On Public Lands Day, Hickenlooper Doubles Down on Fight Against Trump Admin Efforts to Sell-Off Public Lands

WASHINGTON - Today, on National Public Lands Day, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper reaffirmed his commitment to defend America's public lands against Trump administration attempts to gut public lands agencies and sell public lands for profit.

"Public lands are a national treasure owned by all Americans. For many they are part of their religious foundation, a place where they can go to reconnect with their true self," said Hickenlooper. "When MAGA Republicans tried to sell them, we stopped them. And we will again. And again. And again."

Hickenlooper has been outspoken against Trump administration cuts to public lands. In March, he introduced legislation to reinstate the thousands of National Park Service and Forest Service workers the Trump administration illegally fired

Hickenlooper also led the fight against Senator Mike Lee's proposal to force the BLM to sell up to 1.2 million acres of public lands in Colorado and ten other Western states. Hickenlooper first sounded the alarm back in April when he voted against the Republican budget resolution and introduced an amendmentwith colleagues to protect public lands from being sold to pay for Republicans' tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

In May, Hickenlooper held a press conference in Estes Park with Congressman Neguse, public lands advocates, and local elected officials to call out the Trump administration's threats to Colorado's national parks and public lands, including Rocky Mountain National Park.

In addition to defending against these attacks, Hickenlooper has worked to expand public land protections. This past May, he and Senator Michael Bennet reintroduced the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act to protect more than 68,000 acres in Southwestern Colorado. Local leaders, tribes, and stakeholders spent nearly two decades collaborating to craft the bill. Hickenlooper also reintroduced the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, which would expand the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest by 6,817 acres, protecting sub-alpine wilderness habitats and wildlife while preserving access to outdoor recreation.

Hickenlooper also cosponsors the CORE Act, which would protect approximately 420,000 acres of public land in Colorado, establish new wilderness areas, and safeguard existing outdoor recreation opportunities.

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