Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) reintroduced the Colorado Wilderness Act, a landmark bill that would permanently protect more than 720,000 acres of wilderness across 36 distinct areas in Colorado with the highest level of federal protection available.
The legislation comes as the Trump administration has spent the past year selling off public lands to oil and gas companies and mining firms, threatening some of America’s most treasured places.
“We cannot let Donald Trump and his cronies sell our country for parts and permanently destroy our public lands,” said DeGette. “Colorado’s majestic landscapes and vast wilderness areas are what make our state so special, and it’s why millions of outdoor adventurers come here each year to visit. It’s up to us to protect these precious lands for future generations to enjoy just as we’ve been able to do.”
The Colorado Wilderness Act would provide statutory protection against future attempts to privatize federal lands since once designated by Congress, these areas are protected in perpetuity, ensuring they remain for future generations. Senator Mike Lee’s twin efforts last year to embed land sale provisions in H.R. 1 and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) demonstrate that wilderness designation is the only way to ensure these areas remain in the public trust.
Protecting What Coloradans Want
Like much of their agenda, the Trump administration’s attacks on conservation protections run counter to the will of the people. According to a recent Colorado College poll, over 70% of respondents support protecting more wilderness and wild lands—compared with just 24% who want to see oil and gas development. The issue transcends partisan divides, with protecting public lands ranking as a top priority across the political spectrum in Colorado.
Despite this overwhelming public support, the administration has pursued unprecedented cuts to the staff and budgets dedicated to stewarding public lands across the United States, all while opening these areas up to exploitation by a handful of big oil billionaires and donors.
An Economic Imperative
Colorado’s public lands provide more than just unique places to visit—they are a major economic driver for the state. According to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry generates $37 billion in consumer spending each year and supports 511,000 jobs throughout the state.
The Colorado Wilderness Act strikes the necessary balance between preserving wild places and promoting economic development by ensuring these lands remain accessible for recreation, tourism, and the industries they support.
A Long Fight for Protection
Since 1999, Rep. DeGette has championed efforts to protect Colorado’s public lands. The House has voted to approve the Colorado Wilderness Act five times, including as part of DeGette’s Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act in February 2020 and most recently as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in July 2022.
Conservation Groups Rally Behind Protections
The Colorado Wilderness Act has garnered support from leading conservation organizations across the state.
“I applaud today’s action to renew efforts to achieve permanent protections for some of the most revered wildlands in Colorado, such as the renowned Dolores River canyon and three fourteen-thousand foot peaks in the San Juan Mountains – Redcloud, Sunshine and Handies. The BLM first proposed these areas be protected as wilderness more than 40 years ago, and it’s time Congress acted. I’ve been intensively engaged in advocacy on behalf of these wildlands for decades, and have had the great privilege of visiting a number of these areas with Rep. DeGette,” said Mark Pearson, Executive Director, San Juan Citizens Alliance.
“Wild Connections applauds Representative DeGette for introducing the Colorado Wilderness Act in 2026. Over the past year, we have witnessed mounting challenges to our public lands and waters and the agencies that steward them. Representative DeGette’s leadership to expand Wilderness protections — especially for BLM-managed landscapes that have long been underrepresented in Colorado and across the West — reflects the urgency of safeguarding our most wild and ecologically important public lands in Colorado for future generations,” said John Sztukowski, Co-Executive Director for Conservation, Wild Connections.
More details about the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026, including a map of areas included in the bill can be found here. A copy of the bill text is available here.