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Hello everyone,
Between the pandemic, an economic crisis, and ongoing wildfires, we face no shortage of challenges in Colorado. My thoughts are with everyone who’s struggling in this difficult time, and with our first responders working day and night to keep us safe.
I spent most of the week in Southern Colorado. Our team covered a lot of ground -- from Silverton to Durango, Pagosa Springs, Alamosa, Wolf Creek, Westcliffe, Florence and so many other communities. Wherever we went, we saw Coloradans answering this tough moment with typical creativity and collaboration.
Below are some highlights from the week if you’d like to learn more. As always, please be in touch with any questions and let us know if our team can be helpful in any way.
Stay safe this weekend,
Michael
FIGHTING COLORADO WILDFIRES
This week, the Cameron Peak Fire became the largest wildfire in Colorado history. The fires burning across our state continue to put lives, property, and health at risk. I am so grateful to the first responders and community leaders for everything they’re doing to protect our communities.
As the situation continues to evolve, you can learn the latest on the Colorado Wildfire Information’s Facebook page. You can also check real-time air quality here.
(Photo by Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)
MEETING WITH COLORADANS ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO
This week, I heard from farmers, ranchers, superintendents, teachers, students, community leaders, and business owners across southern Colorado about their work to respond to this difficult moment for our state.
In Silverton, community leaders told me how the pandemic continues to hurt families and business across San Juan County, and how Washington should help by passing urgent relief. I completely agree.
In Pagosa Springs, I learned about the San Juan Headwaters Forest Partnership’s work to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk. Leaders in Archuleta County also shared how the pandemic and economic downturn is putting tremendous strain on their communities. At Wolf Creek Ski Area, local businessman Davey Pitcher described how the federal government can help the ski industry with targeted proposals for small businesses like my RESTART Act with Senator Todd Young of Indiana.
(Pagosa Springs, Colorado)
In Alamosa, I caught up with Adams State University’s president, Dr. Cheryl Lovell, to discuss how the campus is adapting to keep students, faculty, and staff safe during the pandemic. I also heard from over a dozen school superintendents from the San Luis Valley about their efforts to overcome poor broadband access to stay connected with students.
(Alamosa, Colorado)
In San Luis, I joined my friend and predecessor Ken Salazar to learn about challenges to land management in the Rio Grande Natural Area, along with opportunities for federal support.
(San Luis, Colorado)
In Fort Garland, I heard from county leaders and students about the challenges they’re facing with COVID-19 and the drought.
(Fort Garland, Colorado)
In Walsenburg, county leaders described the pandemic’s damage to the local economy and the importance of high-speed broadband to grow their remote workforce.
In Westcliffe, I answered questions from students at Custer County Schools about the recent protests for racial justice, climate change, and COVID-19.
In Florence, I toured the LafargeHolcim cement plant to see firsthand how they’re working to capture carbon from their operations––a global first if they succeed. Their work is one more example of Colorado’s leadership in applying innovation to fight climate change and create high-quality jobs. It’s why, back in June, I jumped at the chance to support this vital project with a federal grant.
(Florence, Colorado)
MAKING THE ECONOMIC CASE FOR U.S. LEADERSHIP ON CLIMATE CHANGE
On Thursday, I joined a virtual discussion hosted by the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver about the economic case for fighting climate change. Over the next 20 years, the world is on track to have invested about $10 trillion in clean energy, more than all projected investment for fossil fuels. I described how if America doesn’t lead, we risk ceding the next generation of clean energy jobs to countries like China. We can’t let that happen.
CASTING YOUR BALLOT
(Denver, Colorado)
This is the most important election in our lifetime, but I worry a lot that disruption from the pandemic has made it harder for college students to vote. It’s why I teamed up with MSU President Janine Davidson to write an op-ed urging leaders in higher education to do everything they can to help.
On Thursday, I dropped off my ballot at one of the 380 secure drop boxes across our state, joining more than 430,000 Coloradans who’ve already voted in the election. At this rate, we’re on track to exceed our total turnout in 2016. So if you haven’t already made a plan to vote, do it today and help Colorado become the number one state in America for voter turnout this year.
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