Three Colorado congressmen have reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act, a bill aimed at protecting public lands, enhancing outdoor recreation, and boosting the state’s economy. The legislation, which has been in development for over a decade, combines four previous public land proposals into a single measure.
The CORE Act would designate 71,000 acres as new wilderness areas and establish 80,000 acres for recreation and conservation management. Additionally, it seeks to permanently protect over 252,000 acres in the Thompson Divide from future mining and energy development. While Interior Secretary Deb Haaland implemented a 20-year withdrawal of the area in April 2024, the CORE Act would make that restriction permanent.
Sponsored by U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, along with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse, all Democrats, the bill has strong backing from environmental groups and outdoor recreation advocates. “Ranchers, hunters, hikers, and local officials all came together to protect our most sacred lands and invest in our outdoor recreation,” Hickenlooper said.
Bennet emphasized the bipartisan discussions that shaped the bill, stating, “The CORE Act is the result of years of conversation and compromise to boost our economy and protect our public lands for future generations.”
The bill has previously passed the U.S. House but has stalled in the Senate, largely due to Republican opposition. With a divided Congress, it remains uncertain whether the legislation will secure enough Republican support to pass this session.
