Commissioners send Rep Hurd letter of support on Productive Public Lands Act

During the April 15 public hearing, the Mesa County Commissioners approved a letter of support to U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd pertaining to House Resolution 1997, the Productive Public Lands Act, which aims to restore the Resource Management Plans (RMPs) from the last Trump administration to allow access to vital public lands across Colorado and the Western United States.

In the letter, the Board of Commissioners said, “From boosting local economies to creating jobs and fostering energy independence, this bill will be a vital step toward building a more prosperous and sustainable future. As a county that depends on access to public lands for agriculture, energy, and recreation, Mesa County stands firmly in support of this bill. We urge Congress to pass the Productive Public Lands Act and restore access to our resources while reaffirming the multiple-use mandate that has long been a cornerstone of responsible public land management.”

The full letter is below:

On behalf of the Mesa County Board of Commissioners, we write to express our strong support for your Productive Public Lands Act (H.R. 1997). This critical legislation would restore the Resource Management Plans (RMPs) from the Trump administration and reverse the restrictions imposed by the Biden administration that have limited access to vital public lands across Colorado and the Western United States. 

Specifically, the bill requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reissue nine Biden-era RMPs that severely restricted access to viable lands, hindering our ability to tap into the energy, mineral, and agricultural resources that are essential to the prosperity of our communities. By reversing these limitations, we can put our nation on a path to energy independence and a stronger, more secure future. 

Here in Mesa County, we understand firsthand how critical access to public lands is for local economies. The Biden Administration’s approach to locking up lands under the guise of conservation has placed unnecessary burdens on ranchers, farmers, and industry workers. These actions have threatened our way of life and economic stability. The Productive Public Lands Act is an opportunity to restore balance by opening up public lands for multiple uses—whether it's recreation, grazing, timber harvesting, or responsible resource extraction. 

From boosting local economies to creating jobs and fostering energy independence, this bill will be a vital step toward building a more prosperous and sustainable future. As a county that depends on access to public lands for agriculture, energy, and recreation, Mesa County stands firmly in support of this bill. We urge Congress to pass the Productive Public Lands Act and restore access to our resources while reaffirming the multiple-use mandate that has long been a cornerstone of responsible public land management. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter and your continued commitment to ensuring that public lands serve the needs of all Americans.