Energy and Natural Resources

As the Representative for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, I’ve dedicated my time in Congress to fighting for the hardworking people of rural Colorado, where energy, agriculture, and natural resources are the lifeblood of our communities. Our district is rich in oil, gas, farmland, and forests, and I’ve worked tirelessly to promote American energy independence, reduce federal overreach, and protect our way of life. I was one of the deciding votes to get the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), signed into law. This legislation ensures the Trump Administration has all the tools they need to restore American Energy Dominance. 

I believe in unleashing America’s God-given resources to create jobs, lower energy costs, and strengthen our economy. My all-of-the-above energy strategy supports oil, gas, coal, nuclear, hydropower, solar, wind, and geothermal, but I know fossil fuels—produced cleaner here than anywhere else—are the backbone of our energy security. The Biden administration’s policies, like canceling the Keystone XL pipeline and imposing moratoriums on federal oil and gas leases, drove up gas prices and hurt families. I’ve fought to reverse these policies, streamline regulations, and empower our energy producers. In Colorado, water and land are just as critical, and I’ve stood up for our farmers, ranchers, and timber communities to ensure they have the resources they need to thrive.

I’ve introduced and supported several bills to boost energy production, protect water rights, and support rural economies. These include bills like H.R. 845 the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, H.R. 2758, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025, H.R. 131 the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, and H.R. 132 the Western Water Accelerated Revenue Repayment Act, and H.R. 471, the Fix Our Forests Act. I was also able to secure wins for rural Colorado last Congress by getting the CONVEY Act and Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2024 Act signed into law. 

H.R. 845: Pet and Livestock Protection Act— I introduced H.R. 845 with Representative Tom Tiffany to protect our ranchers from the overreach of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to reissue regulations removing the gray wolf from the ESA’s endangered and threatened wildlife list. Gray wolves are threatening the livelihoods of our ranchers and farmers with attacks on livestock because our agriculture community has their hands tied by out-of-date policies and progressive legal activism. This bill enacts a common-sense solution shared by administrations of both parties and prioritizes the strength of our agriculture community over predators.  

H.R. 2758: Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program Improvement Act of 2025— I was proud to introduce H.R. 2758 to enhance the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which incentivizes farmers to conserve environmentally sensitive land. This bill improves the program’s flexibility, allowing producers to better manage land for conservation while maintaining agricultural viability. It balances economic growth with responsible stewardship, ensuring our farmers can thrive without excessive federal restrictions.

H.R. 131: Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act— Water is critical in Colorado, and I’ve fought to secure resources for our communities. That’s why I worked with Senator Bennet to introduce H.R. 131, the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act to accelerate the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit, a critical water infrastructure project in Southeast Colorado. This bill ensures clean, reliable water for rural communities, supporting agriculture and economic stability. This bill unanimously passed the House of Representatives on July 21, 2025. I look forward to this bill being signed into law. 

H.R. 132: Western Water Accelerated Revenue Repayment Act—  My Western Water Accelerated Revenue Repayment Act is a win-win for water users and fiscal responsibility. My bill allows water users to be free of burdensome federal regulations and paperwork requirements if they repay their debt to the government early. It also expedites payments while generating hundreds of millions for the Treasury. Without my bill, nearly 85% of irrigation districts have no way to make an early repayment. Just like homeowners can pay off their mortgage early if they want to, my bill allows agriculture and municipal water users to use a similar authority to prepay construction and other costs they owe to the federal government.

H.R. 471 Fix Our Forests Act—I proudly supported the passage of the Fix Our Forests Act, a bipartisan bill to restore our national forests and reduce wildfire risks. It streamlines environmental reviews for forest management, expands categorical exclusions for hazardous fuel reduction, and prioritizes active management to protect Colorado communities. This bill mirrors the Trump Administration’s agenda to increase timber harvests and wildfire prevention which will supporting rural economies and forest health.

CONVEY Act—I was thrilled to see the CONVEY Act signed into law in the 118^th Congress. This legislation facilitates the transfer of federal land to local communities for public purposes, such as infrastructure or economic development. In Colorado, it ensures our rural areas can access land for critical projects, supporting local economies and reducing federal control. 

Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2024—I worked hard with Colorado water users and local stakeholders to get to the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2024 signed into law. This critical legislation extends funding for programs protecting endangered fish species while balancing water needs for agriculture and communities. 

Fighting Federal Overreach-- I’ve opposed policies like the Biden Administration’s oil and gas lease moratoriums and the Southwestern Grid Connector Corridor, which threatened Southeast Colorado. I sent a letter to the Department of Energy opposing their radical plan to seize hundreds of thousands of acres in our district using eminent domain. By collaborating with local stakeholders and local governments in Prowers County, Baca County, Crowley County, Bent County, and the Town of Holly to pass resolutions against this plan, I am working hard to protect our communities from federal overreach. 

My work on energy and natural resources is about standing up for the people of Colorado’s 4th District—our oil and gas workers, farmers, ranchers, and timber communities. The legislation I’ve introduced this Congress reflects my fight to protect our resources and way of life. I’ll keep pushing for American energy dominance, less regulation, and more opportunities for our people. Colorado entrusted me with their voice, and I’ll never stop fighting for our land, our resources, and our future.