Scott Tipton

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 8265 to extend the Paycheck Protection Program to be able to keep millions of employees on the payroll of America's small businesses.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dianna Coram of Montrose, Colorado, for her lifelong service to her community and to the State of Colorado. Born during the middle of a blizzard on her grandfather's farm, Dianna is a third-generation Coloradan who truly embodies the unique spirit of western Colorado. Dianna has been a loving wife for over 53 years to her husband, Don, with whom they have one son, Dee. Her husband, Don, noted to me that, of those 53 years, 35 of those years have been happy. Dianna spent most of her adult life building a reputation as a respected figure in Delta and Montrose, where she spends much of her time strengthening and improving her community through her dedicated volunteer work with nonprofits, the local school, county fairs, and organizations such as the Dolphin House, the Boys & Girls Club, Downtown Improvement Group, the San Juan Cancer Center, and currently serves as the Third Congressional District representative on the Colorado State Fair Board. Dianna's reputation reaches far beyond the West Slope. If you visit the Colorado State Capitol and mention the name Dianna Coram, legislators and staff from both sides of the aisle will give a smile and be quick to share a story of her. Dianna is always front and center in the political arena within the Third District, where she has been active since the young age of 14. It was then she could very well have been the only person of her age to be found walking the streets of Montrose with a ``Barry Goldwater for President'' sign. A few years back, when the Montrose Chapter of Republican Women's future was at stake, Dianna stepped forward as soon as their president resigned. Since then, her work has paid dividends, where, just this past year, it was the only chapter in Colorado to receive the Gold Achievement Award. Mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor to recognize Dianna for her hard work for her community. Like so many others who have had the privilege to be able to know her, I will always be grateful for her friendship to my wife, Jean, and me. Her service to the State of Colorado and the Third Congressional District is truly appreciated by so many who have gotten to know her over the years. I stand with the residents of Montrose in congratulating Dianna for her achievements, and I look forward to her continued success as a community leader.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Don Coram of Montrose, Colorado. Don was born in Montrose and raised in a farming and ranching family. He has been married to his wife, Dianna, for 53 years. Together, they have a son, Dee. Don's agricultural background provided him with a thorough understanding of the unique needs of the communities on the Western Slope that led him to be a successful businessman and a well-respected elected official. Don began his career in public service first as a county commissioner, later serving in the Colorado State House and, most recently, as a Colorado State senator. At the Colorado Capitol, he has extensive influence in crafting legislation to preserve and to protect water rights, bringing resources to local agencies to more effectively prevent and combat wildfires and revitalize investment into Main Streets across the State. Don consistently works with his colleagues across the aisle on commonsense policies, which has earned him high remarks from legislators from all four corners of the State. Don's leadership, experience, and knowledge of rural interests and needs have helped him to advance legislation that have no doubt improved the lives of thousands of families and businesses and communities throughout western Colorado. While he would never admit it, Don is a role model for others. For decades, he has selflessly supported local causes by serving on the school board, the Delta-Montrose Vocational Center, volunteering for nonprofits, and actively participating with several other local organizations. Don's efforts to serve his community reach all the way to Washington. He has been a trusted adviser to me on numerous pieces of legislation and always puts thoughtful consideration in any time I ask for his input. Don has been a great leader for the Third District during my tenure in Congress, and he is personally a good and loyal friend. Mr. Speaker, I would like to give my utmost praise to Don for his compassionate service to our great State and the Nation over the years, and I wish him and his wife, Dianna, the best as they continue their work to be able to improve the quality of life in communities throughout the West Slope. Honoring Dianna Coram

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4200. I would like to thank my colleagues for the kind words in regard to Sergeant Kinterknecht and the sacrifice that he made on behalf of our communities. H.R. 4200 will make a technical correction to prior legislation signed into law to designate the primary USPS facility in Montrose, Colorado, after Sergeant David Kinterknecht, who was killed in the line of duty on July 25, 2009. Sergeant Kinterknecht was born and raised in Montrose and graduated from Mesa State College and the Delta Montrose Technical College. His career in law enforcement began in the 1980s, and throughout his career, he served in the Telluride Marshal's Office, the San Miguel County Sheriff's Office, and the Montrose County Sheriff's Office. Sergeant Kinterknecht was a respected law enforcement officer, a dedicated public servant, and a family man. His death was mourned throughout the entire State of Colorado, and the passage of H.R. 4200 will help preserve and honor the memory of Sergeant Kinterknecht in his community. I am grateful for the entire Colorado delegation signing on to this legislation to honor someone who gave his all for his community in support of all he loved.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my colleague, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose the amendment from my good friend from Colorado. Like amendments that have come before this, this amendment will do the exact opposite of what we are trying to be able to accomplish here today, which is develop a bill to support and strengthen the national defense. My colleague's amendment has the potential to threaten high-altitude military aviation training that is critical to the readiness of our armed services and to the national security interests of the U.S. Additionally, it would make the United States even more reliant on China for critical and strategic minerals. Our goal is to be able to enact policies that support readiness and sustainable and secure supply chains for critical minerals. This amendment is in direct conflict with those goals. High-altitude military aviation training is critical to the readiness of our armed services and to the national security of the United States. My colleagues have stated that they want to be able to safeguard HAATS. In my conversations with DOD, it said it would look forward to DOD flight guidance with regards to how to operate under the language. And while I appreciate DOD's guidance, we all know too well that regulatory changes do not provide certainty. That is why I have submitted an amendment to codify the safe transit exception for military aircraft flying over the wilderness areas and mountain regions. Unfortunately, my friends in the majority did not rule that amendment in order, and we will not have the opportunity to be able to vote on safe transit. We need to be focusing on the security of the United States not only in terms of critical minerals, but also making sure that our military has the appropriate tools to be able to carry out their missions safely in terms of the guidance that we are providing. This amendment does not achieve that goal. It will not help support the NDAA.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the amendment today will do exactly the opposite of what we are trying to accomplish. This bill is not going to be able to strengthen the national defense. My colleague's amendment would directly threaten the high altitude military training aviation site that is critical to the readiness of our armed services and to the national security of the U.S. Additionally, it would make the United States even more reliant on China for critical strategic minerals. Our goals should be to enact policies that will support readiness and a sustainable and secure supply chain for critical minerals. This amendment is in direct conflict to those goals. My district is home to the national-level asset, the High Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, or HAATS. The life-saving training acquired at HAATS is vital to the military's success and readiness of our Nation. My good friend from Colorado's amendment seeks to establish five wilderness areas within the HAATS training area either immediately or in the future through a new, unprecedented land designation mechanism that the sponsor is calling ``potential wilderness.'' When this legislation was debated before the committee, no one from DOD or the National Guard Bureau, let alone the Colorado National Guard, was given the chance to testify on the legislation's potential effects on readiness. Therefore, it would be completely unacceptable to include this legislation in the 2021 National Defense Authorization. In addition, this amendment further deepens our Nation's concerning dependence on Communist China for critical minerals. The U.S. is 100 percent import reliant on 14 minerals on the critical minerals list and 75 percent import reliant on an additional 10. This map prepared by U.S. Geological Survey shows the critical mineral deposit occurrences in Colorado. The area identified as Colorado Mineral Belt, which spans from Boulder down through Gunnison County and all the way into the Four Corners area, contains minerals on which the U.S. is import reliant. I urge opposition to this bill and inclusion into the NDAA.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in opposition to the resolution on the floor today. We agree that the Community Reinvestment Act is an important historic piece of legislation; however, my friends across the aisle have mischaracterized the OCC's rule and the modernization of the CRA. First, the OCC's rulemaking process has been thorough, inclusive, and thoughtful. CRA regulations haven't been meaningfully updated since 1995, making this a much-needed effort to ensure that regulations match the modern state of the banking industry. The OCC's processes included input from the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, and the Treasury Department. The OCC has also provided ample opportunities for regulated banks and consumer groups to weigh in. What is more, 94 percent of the participants in the OCC's advance notice of proposed rulemaking agreed that the current CRA rules lack objectivity, transparency, and fairness. These are the central themes to the OCC's modernization effort. Second, this update to the CRA is needed now more than ever. One large bank's CEO recently noted that due to COVID-19, the bank has seen somewhere between a 17 and 35 percent increase in online banking activity that normally would have been conducted in the branch. Americans are turning to online banking resources now more than ever. The OCC's rule takes steps to be able to ensure that CRA dollars go into low-to-moderate income communities where banks draw their deposits, not only where they have bank branches. This change is forward-looking and should mark significant new opportunities to be able to invest in underserved communities. Third, the OCC regularly and meaningfully engaged with critics in the rulemaking process. The OCC met with community, consumer, and academic groups to listen to their concerns about the proposal. These meetings resulted in real changes to the OCC's final rule, including a raised exemption threshold for community banks, changes to the treatment of mortgage origination and sale on the secondary market for purposes of the CRA, and raising the bar for a passing grade in CRA examinations. This rule creates greater accountability between banks and the communities they invest in under the CRA. It adds transparency in what activity counts towards CRA credit, creates fairer and more timely examinations, and allows CRA performances to be measured assessment over assessment and against other banks. It also allows banks to reach new constituencies with their CRA dollars, most notably disabled, Tribal, rural, and farm populations. By increasing regulatory certainty and reducing subjectivity, the OCC CRA modernization rule can equal greater lending and investment in underserved communities. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the measure.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Alden Burch Naranjo, Jr. of Ignacio, Colorado, a leader within the Southern Ute Tribe who recently passed away. Alden attended Ute Vocational School and later graduated from St. Catherine's Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. After pursuing his education, Alden enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and served his country honorably. His service to others continued following the Vietnam War, when he transitioned into a career with the Southern Ute Tribe which spanned 40 years. Alden served as the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Coordinator, working to ensure federal laws protect Native American lineal descendants with respect to the treatment, repatriation, and disposition of Native American human remains and culturally important objects were implemented. He also served as a police officer, staffer for the Division of Wildlife, probation officer, and historian. He was also a member of Keepers of the Treasures--which predated NAGPRA--and a spiritual leader for tribal members. This role sent him around the world to educate people on Native American rights, spirituality, and culture. Alden also held the role of President of the Native American Church of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and the United States Chapters. In what free time he had, he was a traditional Sun dancer and took great pride in his Native American heritage. He will be sorely missed by his large extended family, the entire Southern Ute Tribe, and State of Colorado. Madam Speaker, Alden's death is a loss for not only the Southern Ute Tribe but for the entire State of Colorado, and all of us who value the rich culture and historical heritage he worked so passionately throughout his life to share. Alden's legacy will be remembered and live on for generations to come.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sergeant Buck Wenzel of Custer County, Colorado for his valuable service as a law enforcement officer and community leader for over 40 years and to wish him well in his retirement. As a young adult, Buck served as a law enforcement officer with the Security Forces of the U.S. Air Force. Since 1977, Buck has served the Third Congressional District in various capacities as a community leader and law enforcement official at the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office and the Custer County Sheriff's Office. Buck graduated from the Colorado Law Enforcement Training Academy in November 1978 and shortly thereafter served in a Patrol Division as a Patrol Deputy. He was transferred in 1981 to the Investigations Division, where as a Detective he specialized in violent crimes. A few years later, he was tasked with creating a Field Training and Evaluation Program for all new recruit patrol deputies. Later, Buck served as an Instructor at the Law Enforcement Academy and as a supervisor for SWAT. Because of his exemplary service, he was promoted in 1988 and sent to the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University in Chicago. He received the Kremling Honorable Mention upon graduation. In 2001, Buck was tasked with absorbing Colorado State University's Police Department and establishing a contractual Sheriff's Office Policing Division for the university. During his last 10 years of service at the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, he served as the Senior Operations Commander for the Operations Bureau partaking in duties such as daily and long-term planning of the Bureau and Divisions which included Field Training, SWAT, and 9-1-1. Several years later in 2007, Buck retired from the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. For his service, Buck has received innumerable awards and commendations including honorable mentions, sheriff commendations, and team commendations. Additionally, he received the 2005 National Alliance on Mental Illness Heroes in the Fight Award, 2005 Pueblo County Uniformed Officer of the Year Award, and 2014 Custer County Sheriff's Office Officer of the Year Award. Now retired from law enforcement, Buck continues his work as Mayor of Silver Cliff and as a Chairperson of the Custer County 9-1-1 Authority Board. Madam Speaker, Buck has dutifully served his country and community for almost his entire life. He has more than earned his retirement. I wish him the best of luck in this next stage of life and look forward to seeing his future contributions to the community.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, through no fault of their own, hospitals, families, and businesses are facing a public health crisis causing unprecedented hardships for millions of employees and families. In the 3rd District, I have heard from heartbroken families who don't know how to afford next month's rent, small business owners who don't know how they will pay their loyal employees or if they will be able to hold out and reopen their doors ever again, and healthcare workers desperate for more medical supplies. I applaud President Trump and the Senate for focusing on the dire and urgent needs of hospitals, families, and small businesses affected by COVID-19 and standing firm against loading this bill with radical leftist gimmicks that were included in Speaker Pelosi's unserious legislation. I am obviously deeply cautious about the staggering cost, but the cost of inaction today means putting a price tag on lives tomorrow. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the President in doing what is necessary to support the American people and position our economy to make a strong recovery once we defeat this terrible virus.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important contributions of the Peace Corps and its necessity to U.S. national security on its 57th Anniversary. Over 235,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps since its creation in 1961. Of those volunteers, approximately 7,600 have been native Coloradans. All have played a critical role in creating community links that remain the foundation of U.S. security and diplomacy as well as building international personal relationships and living out a mission of service that extends beyond their tenure with the Peace Corps. From teaching English, to helping farmers increase crop yields, to advising local business, the projects these volunteers pursue are wide ranging. In these various capacities, they function as the face of America overseas in locations where people have likely never met an American previously. Immersed in the local community through language and cultural immersion, volunteers are trusted by local decision makers. As an important part of America's soft power arsenal, the Peace Corps has shown exceptional mission, vision, and outcomes. Its work abroad has resulted in improvements along U.S. borders because of its presence in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru, helping to fix conditions that have pushed citizens to leave their homes. In 2017, 121 retired generals and admirals wrote to Congress to convey their support for the Peace Corps because of this work, calling it vital to preventing conflict and reducing the need for military personnel to be put in harm's way. Madam Speaker, through the dedication of each volunteer, the Peace Corps has become an enduring symbol of our nation's commitment to encouraging partnerships, creating opportunity, and expanding development at the grass-roots level in the developing world. I hope its service inspires other students and professionals from all walks of life.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, I thank both my colleagues for their kind words on this legislation. Madam Chair, the Yucca House National Monument is in Montezuma County, Colorado, very near to my hometown of Cortez. It is one of the largest archaeological sites in southwest Colorado, preserving a Montezuma Valley ancestral Puebloan site that is unexcavated. If you were to look at it quickly, you might see just several mounds of rocks, but it contains some valuable information that answers questions that we have about large, active farming communities that existed in the area centuries ago. In 2019, Yucca House National Monument celebrated its 100th birthday. Yucca House National Monument is surrounded by private land, and access is granted through an easement on private property. The owner of that property has experienced trouble with traffic and parking, and the arrangement is interfering with his ability to be able to manage the farm. A private landowner adjacent to the national monument is now seeking to be able to donate 160 acres to the monument to further protect archaeological sites and cultural resources and to alleviate access issues. The land has been studied and determined to be appropriate for inclusion in the national monument. The donation would facilitate a new access road to the monument and parking for visitors. It is important to note that the Montezuma County Commission has approved the road and parking plan and waived a ``no net loss'' of private land policy to officially support the 160-acre donation. In doing this, the county has asked that my office work to be able to release five wilderness study areas within Montezuma and Dolores Counties, areas that pose problems for the counties when it comes to protecting nearby communities from wildfire threats, balancing recreation needs, and managing noxious weeds. I have already started working to release these WSAs, and I am committed to being able to see the process through. Currently, the National Park Service has minor boundary revision authority, as long as the sum total of the acreage added to the unit is less than 200 acres and the lands are adjacent to other Federal lands administered by the National Park Service. Although this proposed donation is less than 200 acres, the donation would increase the acreage within the monument about six times over. Therefore, Congress must authorize a boundary revision before the donation can be accepted. The Yucca House National Monument is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the country and stands as a reminder of how the ancient Puebloans used to live hundreds of years ago. I urge my colleagues to support this bill so that future generations can continue to be able to experience the cultural and archaeological significance of the monument.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Madam Speaker, last year marked the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. While I wish the House would have passed this bill last year to honor the centennial anniversary of the suffragettes' decades-long fight to win the right to vote, I am glad we are debating this bill now. The Every Word We Utter Monument will serve as a continual reminder of the courage shown by women engaged in the suffrage movement, and we must all work to do what we can for the future to be able to ensure quality and inclusion. I appreciate the opportunity to have worked with my colleagues from Colorado on this bill and especially my colleague from the Second District, Mr. Neguse. I have stood across from him a few times on this floor, and it is nice to be in agreement on a public lands bill that we are able to work together on now. It is a bill that will help us bring to light Loveland sculptor, Jane DeDecker's, work to Washington. I think it is an adequate effort to be able to help recognize the suffrage movement and the contribution of women to our Nation. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. TIPTON

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the comments of Ms. DeGette of Colorado, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, military aviation and training is critical to the national security interests of the United States and the readiness of our Armed Forces. My district is home to one of the installations that conducts military aviation training missions for our men and women in uniform, the High Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, or HAATS, located in Gypsum, Colorado. It is both an honor and a privilege to be able to represent the lone U.S. Department of Defense schoolhouse where rotary-wing aviators in our Nation's Armed Forces and our foreign allies learn how to be able to safely fly rotary-wing aircraft in mountainous high-altitude environments. The life-saving training that is required by our servicemen and women at HAATS is vital to our national security and our readiness. Mr. Chairman, Title I of the Protecting America's Wilderness Act would establish five wilderness or potential wilderness areas within the HAATS training area. During this Congress, numerous pieces of legislation designating wilderness continue to be introduced without taking into consideration the potential effects that these designations would have on readiness. Proactively, Congress should work to be able to ensure current and future wilderness proposals do not interfere with readiness of our Armed Forces when it comes to aviation training. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study, which would examine the impacts of the expansion of wilderness designations in the western United States and what they would have on the readiness of our Armed Forces with respect to aviation training. Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I am grateful that my colleague, who I also have a lot of respect for, did come down to Montezuma County. I hope while the gentlewoman was there, she had the opportunity to spend a little money, buy a few presents to take back and help an area that is often left out and forgotten in Colorado. What the gentlewoman spoke to is important. She mentioned that the city council and the mayor were supportive. That is great. But they aren't responsible for the county lands, which the county commissioners are responsible for. It was within the confines of the city limits. Does that diminish their right to be able to have an opinion? It does not. What is not being addressed is these are already protected lands. There isn't a person in the State of Colorado or in the country that can go on any of those lands and try to develop them, to put in a road, to put in a tower for transmission. That would have to go through a planning process, a comment process, if anything were to happen. Those local comments, the impacts that our county commissioners are seeing, those who are responsible for the land should not be ignored, should be listened to, and I would encourage the adoption of my amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, the majority of the land in Title I of the underlying bill would be converted into wilderness and it is in my district. While I am never pleased when another Member of the House tries to tell my constituents what is best for them, I get especially frustrated when they ignore the opinions of elected officials in the communities in which they are seeking to make land management designations. For instance, I might think that designating wilderness between Denver and Boulder would cut down on the challenges the State is facing with population growth might be something to consider, yet I have refrained from introducing such a proposal. The underlying bill seeks to convert several wilderness study areas in the Third Congressional District into wilderness. The two that I focused on in this amendment are in Montezuma County. During the hearing on the underlying bill, Montezuma County Commissioner Keenan Ertel testified in opposition to the proposed wilderness additions in the county. In a letter he sent to me and to the bill's sponsor, the board of county commissioners wrote: We have been consistently opposed since the act was first proposed. We ask you to permanently withdraw those portions of Montezuma County that are included in the bill as per the BLM and our recommendations. Since the early 1990's, Montezuma County has collaborated with Federal land managers in an effort to develop public land management strategies that provide reasonable and responsible protection for our natural resources and wild lands. This collaboration has built an effective working relationship with Federal land managers that allows us to better protect natural resources while also ensuring the public have access to their public lands. We believe we already have a good strategy in place for the protection of the WSAs being proposed for wilderness that maintains or improves their current characteristics for future generations while providing better access for the public to enjoy those lands in a responsible and appropriate manner. In the letter, the commissioners mention the BLM's recommendation. This is because the BLM studied the lands that my colleague is proposing to be added to wilderness and determined that they are not suitable. In fact, one of the parcels has a D8 bulldozer sitting on the land. This doesn't meet the standard of untrammeled by man. Aside from the fact that the BLM has determined that these lands are not suitable for wilderness, the current WSA designation has created management challenges for the county when it comes to noxious weeds, wildfire prevention and mitigation, and managing the challenges of the Federal-private checkerboard that we see throughout the West. It is for all of these reasons, but especially because of the local opposition, that I urged my colleagues to remove the land in Montezuma County from the bill during the legislative process. Additionally, my colleague's amendment to the underlying bill added additional land to Montezuma and Dolores Counties for wilderness designation. I will note that the counties are also opposed to these lands being added as indicated in their opposition letter. While this amendment focuses on land in Montezuma County, I also want to say that the Mesa County Board of County Commissioners has written to me and the bill's sponsor about its opposition to the bill and the proposed wilderness additions in its county. There seems to be a common theme here. I encourage my colleagues to support my amendment. But given the lack of local support this bill has in western Colorado, this amendment is not enough to fix the flaws of the bill. Therefore, I will encourage my colleagues who believe that local input is important in land management decisions to oppose the underlying bill. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter and a resolution from the Mesa County Board of County Commissioners and a letter from the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners in opposition to the legislation that we have on the floor today. Mesa County, Colorado, Board of County Commissioners, Grand Junction, CO, June 24, 2019. Re Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019, H.R. 2546. Hon. Diana DeGette, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Ms. DeGette: As the Board of County Commissioners (``Board'') for Mesa County, Colorado, we are submitting this letter to voice our opposition to the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2019, H.R. 2546. Mesa County has a well-established history of supporting sensible, multiple use of public lands and resources. The Board finds the proposed Wilderness designations of more 140,000 acres within Mesa County unacceptable and in direct conflict of the Mesa County Resolution adopted in opposition of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2015, H.R. 3336 (enclosed). The areas proposed for Wilderness in Mesa County include: 1. South Shale Ridge & Little Book Cliffs Proposed Wilderness--29,045 acres (proposed ``Little Bookcliffs Wilderness'') 2. South Shale Ridge & Little Book Cliffs Proposed Wilderness--27,517 acres (proposed ``South Shale Ridge Wilderness'') 3. Bangs Canyon Proposed Wilderness--20,996 acres (proposed ``Bangs Canyon Wilderness'') 4. Unaweep & Palisade Proposed Wilderness--27,150 acres (proposed ``Palisade Wilderness'') 5. Unaweep & Palisade Proposed Wilderness--20,420 acres (proposed ``Unaweep Wilderness'') 6. Sewemup Mesa Proposed Wilderness--15,208 acres (proposed ``Sewemup Mesa Wilderness'') As the most restrictive designation in land management, the Board believes Wilderness designations are often punitive in nature for many public land users whose impact is negligible. In addition to ending multiple use of public lands, Wilderness designations: 1. eliminate the opportunity to manage forest level concerns with the flexibility necessary for ever-changing conditions; 2. remove the ability to properly address the tremendous buildup of natural fuels due to unprecedented beetle kill thus compounding the potential and severity of wildfires; 3. abolish future uses that enhance the social and economic futures of area residents and businesses; 4. place undue burden on adjacent property owners, lessees and other non-recreation forest users who face potential loss of income due to restricted travel; 5. discriminate against citizens unable to walk or ride horseback, including those with disabilities and the elderly. As a County comprised of 72% public lands, the Board believes the management of these public lands should be decided with area resource management plans developed in cooperation with federal, state and local governments as well as the multitude of user groups and area citizens, not by a process where those most affected have no voice. Given the above concerns and those in the attached Resolution, Mesa County cannot support this proposed legislation. Furthermore, we encourage the Colorado Congressional delegation to introduce legislation to release all Wilderness Study Areas from their perpetual existence as de facto Wilderness. Please do not hesitate to contact the Mesa County Commissioners should you wish to discuss this further. Sincerely, Rose Pugliese, Chair, Board of County Commissioners. Scott McInnis, Commissioner. John Justman, Commissioner.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Cunningham, for putting forward this amendment. I do rise in opposition, though I am not opposed, ultimately, to the amendment. I am glad to join my colleague from South Carolina as a cosponsor, ultimately, of this amendment to be able to ensure that military overflights can continue over areas that will be designated wilderness under the Protecting America's Wilderness Act. As my good friend from South Carolina is aware, my district is home to the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site or HAATS, where our men and women in uniform learn how to fly rotary-wing aircraft safely in high-altitude environments. Mr. Chair, five wilderness or potential wilderness areas are to be established within the HAATS training area under the Protecting America's Wilderness Act. It is essential that when the time comes for aviation training to take place for the readiness of our Armed Forces that it is not interfering with the current and future wilderness proposals being debated and introduced in Congress. Although the gentleman's amendment doesn't deal with the issue of landing zones, I do believe it is an important protection and a promising step forward. I would urge all of my colleagues to be able to support this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I do appreciate the comments. Here is the reality: In the Canyon of the Ancients in the area that I am speaking to, these are already protected lands. The BLM, when we are talking about a wilderness study area, has stated that these do not qualify as wilderness. When we look at our county commissioners, they are going to be the ones in our remote rural areas who are going to be responsible for dealing with the potential of wildfire, which is something that all Coloradans ought to be well concerned about. Without their support, with recognition that this land is protected, and with the BLM stating that this does not qualify as a wilderness area, I would encourage my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.