Nine legislative priorities of Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert passed in the U.S. House of Representatives last week in a package of appropriations for fiscal year 2023, despite Boebert voting against the final passage of the bill.
Although she voted against the final passage of the bill because of what she said in a news release were “reckless spending levels and a slew of ‘woke’ policy concerns,” the nine amendments to the bill include provisions that would benefit Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, she said.
When the federal spending bill is created each year, members of the House can submit requests for budget allocations for specific items, which are called appropriations.
“Congress controls the power of the purse. While rejecting the corrupt ‘Earmark’ process, I was able to pass nine important provisions for Colorado’s Third District through the House,” Boebert said.
She has repeatedly said she is against the use of earmarks, which provide federal money for local projects. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper secured more than $11 million for La Plata and Montezuma counties using earmarked money from a $1.5 trillion federal spending bill that President Joe Biden signed in March.
The nine priorities include funding for Bureau of Reclamation water projects, highway improvements and funding the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program, among others.
It includes $218.4 million for projects by the Bureau of Reclamation and $53.9 million in requests for Rural Water Projects. The funding will help the Arkansas Valley Conduit, which is a project that Congress authorized in 1962. Funding for the AVC will help provide clean water from the Pueblo Reservoir to 50,000 people throughout southeastern Colorado, according to the news release.
Another item that was included in the package was $7.6 million that would support the Bureau of Reclamation’s Endangered Species Recovery Implementation Program, which affects the Colorado and San Juan River Basin. That funding could help more than 2,000 water projects in the Upper Colorado River basin.
Establishing a pilot program between federal agencies to remove nonnative Russian olive and salt cedars in the West, which are invasive species that consume large amounts of water, was also included. Boebert has been a supporter of working to remove these two types of plants, which were originally introduced in the 1900s by the federal government to act as windbreaks and to prevent erosion on stream banks.
Additionally, $10 million was allocated for the Indian Irrigation Fund, which will help address maintenance needs and increase water storage for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. This includes projects that have already been authorized, such as the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project.
Funding to address the bark beetle epidemic and increase wildfire protections was also included. The high presence of bark beetles can increase the severity of wildfires, which the $52.23 million also seeks to address.
Boebert also was able to get funding for the Wolf-Livestock Loss Demonstration Program. The program would give grants to states to help compensate livestock producers whose animals are killed by wolves.
Also included were PILT payments, which are federal payments for counties that have nontaxable federal lands and help offset the cost associated with maintaining services on those lands. In Colorado, 36% of all land is owned by the federal government. Bennet and Hickenlooper had previously sent a letter urging the program be fully funded.
Another priority of Boebert’s that was included that will benefit CD-3 is $28.44 billion for the National Highway Performance Program. In CD-3, the NHPP can help improve Interstate 70, which frequently experiences closures from hazards such as mudslides or flooding.
A provision that exempts livestock haulers from some Electronic Logging Device regulations was also included. Current regulations for drivers include mandatory rest periods where livestock must be unloaded and reloaded in order to get feed, water and rest. Boebert called the regulations “excessive” and criticized their practicality for truckers as they cross the terrain of western Colorado.
“These legislative victories will provide important resources for our first responders, education, supporting farmers and ranchers, combating Western drought and invasive species, keeping our federal highways safe and open for travel, and effectively managing our forests,” she said in her release. “Importantly, several of these policy provisions came from needs identified at meetings in the district. I’ll continue to push as hard as I can for meaningful solutions that benefit the American people and our local communities.”
Nina Heller is an intern for The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez and a student at American University in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at nheller@durangoherald.com.
