Congressman Neguse Welcomes Secretary Vilsack to Colorado's Camp Hale

Statement

Today, Congressman Joe Neguse, Chair of the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee, welcomed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Colorado's Second Congressional District for a tour of Camp Hale. The pair were joined by Governor Polis and Colorado Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper.

Camp Hale was a center of mountain and winter warfare training during World War II. Now the camp features beautiful views and supports the local outdoor recreation economy through the plentiful opportunities it offers for hiking, fishing, and more. During the visit, lawmakers highlighted the importance of conserving and protecting public lands like Camp Hale for future generations.

"I appreciated the opportunity to show Secretary Vilsack such a storied part of Colorado history at Camp Hale and thank our nation's veterans, including those from the 10th Mountain Division. From its role during World War II to the role the landscape played in developing our state's outdoor recreation industry, Camp Hale holds an incredibly special place in the hearts of all Coloradans," said Congressman Neguse. "When I was first sworn into Congress, I had the opportunity to tour these grounds with a WWII veteran who once trained at Camp Hale, Sanford Morris "Sandy' Treat Jr. Sandy spent much of our trip speaking of his passion for preserving Camp Hale for future generations -- a vision that I share. Ensuring that future Coloradans inherit our treasured public lands is why I'm proud to lead the CORE Act in the United States Congress --a bill that includes a first-of-its-kind designation for Camp Hale as a National Historic Landscape --to make certain that these lands remain a part of Colorado's great outdoors."

As Chair of the National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subcommittee and proud advocate for the preservation of public lands, Representative Neguse is proud to have secured passage of the Colorado Outdoor and Recreation Economy (CORE) Act through the House of Representatives five times since being sworn into Congress, most recently in July as part of the FY 23 NDAA. The CORE Act designates 28,728 acres surrounding Camp Hale as the first-ever National Historic Landscape, an unprecedented designation that speaks to the storied legacy of the Army's 10th Mountain Division in Colorado and around the world. Additionally, to memorialize the passing of Sanford Morris "Sandy" Treat Jr. -- whom Representative Neguse spoke of today -- the lawmaker proposed an amendment to the CORE Act that would name an overlook point by Camp Hale in his honor. Colorado Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper sponsor the legislation in the U.S. Senate.

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