U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd visited the Disabled American Veterans center in Cortez around noon on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
A few members of the DAV and public were there, mingling and enjoying pineapple and pepperoni pizza, doughnuts and strong coffee.
Hurd talked with each person, shaking hands and listening to their concerns.
“He’s the first congressman who’s been here in the five years we’ve been open,” said Wes Soule, an officer and veteran at the DAV in Cortez.
Hurd secured what had been Lauren Boebert’s seat in District 3 when he beat Democrat Adam Frisch by five percentage points in the November election.
“It’s an honor to serve the third district,” Hurd said. “It’s my first official trip as a congressman to Southwest Colorado.”
He said he made a point to visit the DAV since there’s a “significant veteran population here.”
“I want to let the veterans in this part of the state know that I care, and care about access to health care,” he said.
In Montezuma County, there’s 3,200 veterans that the DAV is aware of.
Soule said it’s “hard” to navigate “the bureaucracy that is the health system” as a veteran, and made a point to bring that up to Hurd.
“We’re pushing to get a veteran pathfinder here. It’d be someone to meet with and help veterans find a path to the care they need,” said Soule.
Hurd, his Southwest Colorado Regional Director Naomi Dobbs, and his District Director Betsy Bair were all there, and they had just come from a meeting with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council.
Hurd said the meeting with the tribe went “great.”
That meeting largely focused on water, access to quality health care and access to law enforcement resources on the reservation, said Hurd.
When The Journal asked Hurd about Chairman Manuel Heart’s recent special announcement and rumors of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on the reservation, Hurd said there was no verified reports of such activity.
It did come up in the meeting, though.
“From my understanding, the law enforcement on the reservation and ICE have a good working relationship,” Hurd said.
The Southern Ute Indian Tribe posted an “ICE Concern Update” online on Jan. 29 and said that “current ICE efforts are focused on undocumented individuals who have committed serious crimes, have an existing deportation order, and pose a potential risk to our community.”
“Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our Tribal community,” the update said.
Hurd echoed that sentiment and said, “I think a top priority most Coloradoans share is to make sure their community is safe.”
On Jan. 30, the Southern Ute tribe posted a press release detailing Hurd’s visit with its tribal council two days before, on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
The release said that Hurd and the tribal council talked about “several key topics of shared interest and importance,” such as President Donald Trump’s presidential orders and “their impact on Tribal sovereignty and governance and the well-being of the community.”
They also noted talking about water rights, “the implementation and adequacy of federal programs serving Tribal needs” and “collaborative approaches to energy development and sustainability.”
“We appreciate Representative Hurd’s willingness to engage in open and honest discussions with Tribal Council,” said Chairman Melvin J. Baker in the press release.
“It is critical that we work together to ensure the protection of Tribal sovereignty, self-determination, and the rights of our people,” Baker said.
In that same press release, Hurd said, “As Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, I am committed to fostering a positive working relationship with Indian tribes, especially with those I am honored to represent in Congress.”
Hurd left the DAV in Cortez after an hour or so, and headed to north to Grand Junction for a Monday meeting to talk about wolf introductions in the state.
