On Tuesday evening, June 24, Rep. Jeff Hurd of Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District held a telephone town hall, addressing questions asked by constituents over the course of an hour.
It was reported near the end of the town hall that there were more than 7,000 attendees.
Hurd answered questions about veterans services, the possible public land sale provision in the Senate budget reconciliation bill, wolves, crime, immigration, Second Amendment rights, oil and gas, bipartisan work, Medicaid, and roads.
Hurd began by welcoming everyone to the event and thanking everyone for participating.
Veteran care
The first question, about veterans affairs, asked when Hurd thought lawsuits and complaints regarding the PACT Act of 2022 would take to resolve.
“I think it’s surprising the veterans,” the caller said of the fighting.
Hurd noted that his understanding is veteran care in western Colorado is pretty good with regard to those served by the VA hospital in Grand Junction.
He added veterans with issues relating to disability qualifications or issues with qualifications for service can contact his office for help, with his office aiming to help veterans get the care they deserve.
“I know, unfortunately, that the quality of care that our veterans get around this district can be spotty,” he said, noting he’d heard concerns about care for veterans in the San Luis Valley and Archuleta County. “We can do better. We must do better. What I need is for you to help identify what those issues are and let us get on them.”
Regarding litigation, he said, “That is a big problem here.”
He noted too much litigation slows down “government’s efficient operation” in providing services and that decisions should be made with the best interests of veterans in mind, not by lawyers.
Public land sale provision
The second question centered on the proposed public land sale provision included in the Senate reconciliation bill, asking Hurd his position on the matter.
Hurd explained he was the one Republican in the House who voted against a last-minute land sale provision that was introduced in the House Natural Resources Committee in the middle of the night.
“I thought the decision with respect to that land was not necessarily informed and supported by the individuals that lived in those congressional districts that were affected, and so I opposed it,” he said, adding he then worked behind the scenes to have it removed from the House version of the bill.
Hurd then shifted to his thoughts on Sen. Mike Lee’s proposal for land sales.
“This gives me some concern,” Hurd said, stating he read through the original proposed amendment.
Hurd noted they might be able to knock out that amendment, but that it would have required federal land sales of at least a half of a percent of Bureau of Land Management land and at least a half of a percent of U.S. Forest Service land up to a maximum three-quarters of a percent of each across 11 western states.
The congressman then listed several concerns with the proposal, including that there was nothing stopping all the land sales from occurring in a single state, that political appointees shouldn’t be the ones deciding what land should be sold, it was unclear if there would be protections for existing uses on land to be sold, that the issue was rushed through without input from constituents, that no one in his district asked for the land sale, that Montana was carved out for political reasons and creates questions about fairness, that the first right of refusal for state and local governments is likely meaningless for under-resourced areas, that privatizing large pieces of land could cut off access to public lands, that there are not affordability guardrails for affordable housing, and that there is already a process for selling public lands.
He added he would work hard to keep it out of the bill on the Senate side.
The Senate parliamentarian ruled Monday evening to remove provisions that sell off America’s public lands from the budget bill.
Wolves
The next question came from a livestock producer and centered on wolves, with the constituent noting it took 100 years to get rid of wolves, which are “the ultimate predator.”
The person asked Hurd’s perspective.
Hurd noted he heard about the “forced wolf introduction” from agricultural producers, hunters, outfitters and more who have been affected.
He noted the decisions that affect the congressional district should have input, noting it was people in the high-population area of Colorado on the Front Range making decisions about things that affect livelihoods in the western part of the state.
He added he’s “adamantly opposed” to the reintroduction and it’s not fair to producers or the wolves.
He noted he is working on legislation to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act and is working in other ways at the federal level.
He suggested the “forced translocation” into Colorado may not pass “legal muster” at the federal level and that he is working with the Department of the Interior and White House to see what can be done to prohibit further reintroduction of wolves and manage the population that exists.
He also spoke about compensation and the fact that even if wolves don’t kill cows, they can stress them out and cause other issues.
He added he will continue to be on the forefront of fighting the continued introduction of wolves into the state.
Crime and immigration
Hurd took a pair of comments/questions relating to crime (specifically the crime rate in Pueblo) and immigration over the course of the hour-long town hall, with the congressman stating the border needs secured.
He spoke in favor of the work by the Trump administration to lessen the illegal border crossings, but noted it is up to Congress to ensure the border is secured into the future, noting cartels would love to have a future president reopen the border.
He spoke of legislation passed to help with immigration and the “scourge of illegal immigration and the drugs and the crime that flow across the border.”
Part of it, he noted, is a state law problem, noting that “criminals” are getting out of custody quickly on bail and qualified immunity for law enforcement has been stripped away, making it more difficult for law enforcement to do its job and easier for criminals to commit criminal acts.
He also spoke of decriminalizing drug offenses and the need to elect “law and order representatives” at all levels.
He added public safety is a top priority for him.
In response to a later question regarding current immigration enforcement efforts being dangerous and racist, Hurd noted that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants and diversity, and his wife is an immigrant, but that the U.S. is also a nation of laws.
He reiterated the need for border security and that he welcomes legal immigrants.
Hurd went on to voice support for Trump’s “crackdown” on drug trafficking and gang activity, stating some of it is driven by multimillion-dollar cartels.
He added it is important for the executive branch to comply with court orders and to properly vet suspected gang members.
He added he also believes the country’s asylum system needs reformed and there should be a way to work in the U.S. legally without obtaining citizenship.
Second Amendment rights
Another question centered on legislation pushed by population centers that minimizes gun rights, but that rural areas have concerns with law enforcement response times and the need to protect yourself.
Hurd brought up the idea that when the seconds count, law enforcement is minutes away and spoke of the rural nature of the congressional district.
He added that he believes that a number of the pieces of legislation passed at the state level will fail under legal challenges.
“I trust that the courts will resolve them in a way that protects and defends that fundamental Second Amendment right,” he said.
In the meantime, he noted, there is need to help those in metro areas understand the need, the fundamental right, and the self-reliance and the independence of the rural areas.
He suggested electing people who support Second Amendment rights and spoke about legislation he is involved with to help protect that right.
Oil and gas
In response to a question about oil and gas wells and the use of using local supply to build up reserves instead of buying foreign oil and gas, Hurd noted that the U.S. is producing more energy than ever before.
Hurd spoke about the need for energy independence and energy dominance, which would help the U.S. and its allies not have to rely on buying energy from countries that are “enemies.”
He also pointed out the high quality of the gas in Colorado.
“If you genuinely care about reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, you ought to support getting as much energy out of western and southern Colorado as possible,” he said.
He also spoke about the need for material and mining independence, adding the energy industry can be responsible and balance having clean air and water and being good stewards
Bipartisan legislation
When asked about bipartisan legislation he’s been a part of, Hurd noted a bill he is working on with Rep. Joe Neguse relating to accurate measurement of snowpack.
He added there are a number of different acts he is working on, such as one related to compensation for the Gold King Mine spill and restoring probationary employees terminated by the federal government to ensure those employees don’t lost seniority if hired back.
Hurd added he will work just as hard for anybody, citing the very varied political opinions across his congressional district, but also acknowledged he’ll make mistakes at times.
Medicaid
In response to a question about the effects potential cuts to Medicaid would have on rural hospitals and state funding, and the possibility of other solutions, Hurd noted that 31 percent of people in the congressional district rely on Medicaid — the highest percentage of any Colorado district and among the highest percentages in the nation.
He spoke about signing on to a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier that day about preserving Medicaid for “those who need it most.”
That letter, from 16 Republican members of Congress, in part, states, “we believe it is essential that the final reconciliation bill reflects the priorities of our constituents—most importantly, the critical need to protect Medicaid and the hospitals that serve our communities. Throughout the budget process, we have consistently affirmed our commitment to ensuring that reductions in federal spending do not come at the expense of our most vulnerable constituents.”
Hurd noted that having a sustainable system is important, but, as a policy maker, he has seen an explosion in cost in the last 10 years, but that he’s not sure quality is keeping up with what’s being spent on it.
He noted that the reforms being talked about in the house aren’t perfect, but are a step in the right direction, though he is concerned about what the Senate is talking about.
He later noted there is need to do better, “otherwise the system risks collapse entirely,” he said.
Road conditions
The final question of the event centered on the condition of Douglas Pass Road south of Rangely.
Hurd noted he is on the House transportation committee and is working hard to ensure adequate funding and voted to increase funding to the state.
He suggested a need to make sure those federal dollars not spent on things like mass transit projects and bike paths, “that have nothing to do with western or southern Colorado.”
randi@pagosasun.com
