Grand Junction — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper convened a meeting with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Grand Junction community leaders, and local elected officials. The meeting comes as the Interior Department reviews the future of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) headquarters in Grand Junction. Bennet and Hickenlooper invited Haaland to visit Grand Junction to hear from the community firsthand.
“It was incredibly important that Secretary Haaland come to Grand Junction to hear directly from the community, and I am glad that we were able to have this critical conversation,” said Bennet.
“We need a fully functioning Bureau of Land Management to protect our public lands and restore responsible management,” said Hickenlooper, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. “We’re encouraged by Secretary Haaland’s open mind and appreciate today’s discussion with Grand Junction community leaders.”
Bennet and Hickenlooper support a fully functioning BLM headquarters in Grand Junction, which the previous administration failed to deliver. The senators have asked President Joe Biden to work with the delegation on a path forward to ensure that BLM’s presence in Grand Junctionis more than symbolic and includes the staff and resources to improve management and protect our public lands.
In addition to Bennet and Hickenlooper, Haaland met with Colorado Governor Jared Polis, U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert (R) and Joe Neguse (D), and community leaders including:
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Scott Braden, Colorado Wildlands Project, Director
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Christian Reece, Club 20, Executive Director
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Bonnie Petersen, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, Executive Director
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Cody Davis, Mesa County Commissioner
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Chuck McDaniel, Grand Junction Mayor
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Mike Benett, Fruita City Manager
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Janet Hawkinson, Palisade town Manager
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Robin Brown, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Executive Director
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Katie Powell, Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce Chair
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Nathan Fey, Colorado OREC Office Director
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Kathryn Bedell, Owner of Roan Creek Ranch
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John Marshall, Colorado Mesa University President
Haaland’s trip continues with meetings on several other Colorado priorities, including drought and wildfire mitigation, maintaining resilient rural economics, and passing the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act.