In the country. And the significant opportunities for conservation which is the crown jewel of conservation programs and of course our National Parks. Its not Just National parks, of course. Its our forests, grounds, and efforts we have with the bureau of indian education. I thought i would talk specifically about some colorado projects today and what land and Water Conservation fund has meant for colorado. This is a photo of wilson peak in colorado, rises over telluride in southwest colorado. Its one of the 54 mountains in colorado that top 14,000 feet. Climbers and hikers eager to summit the 14,017 foot wilson peak have been frustrated for years by key access being blocked by land that made it impossible to get to. Wilson peak remained the last in colorado without public access. Through nine years of complex land negotiations and funding, the trust for public land purchased 25 patented mining claims, including the summit and key porptions of the main summit portions of the main summit trail. The trust for public land formally transferred ownership of land to the u. S. Forest service ensuring access. This is a photograph of the big Thompson River. In 1976, rains began to pour near estes park, colorado and caused one of the biggest natural disasters in colorados history. 12isms of rain fell in about four hours. There are areas of colorado that only get about 14 inches of moisture a year. A remarkable 12isms of rain fell in 12 inches of rain fell in about four hours bring the Thompson River to 19 feet above its normal level and water racing downstream down the canyon carrying everything with it in its path. It claimed 145 lives, 418 homes, 52 businesses and caused millions and millions of dollars in 1976. In the aftermath of the disaster, Larimer County recognized that simply rebuilding new homes in harms way within the floodway didnt make sense. So the county turned to the land and Water Conservation fund as an important part of the solution with just over 1 million from the land and Water Conservation fund and some other matching resources, the county acquired a number of properties along the big Thompson River that provided new Outdoor Recreation opportunities to residents and visitors on 156 acres of land along the river highlighted by four new county parks. This has been an incredible recreation opportunity but certainly led to greater safety for coloradans. The wetlands area of critical Environmental Concern is another incredible area of colorado. The bureau of Land Management has benefited. After decades of water overappropriation caused the lowering of the valleys water table, the rapid disappearance of wetlands and plummeting bird population, the Wetland Restoration effort was initiated, including this wetlands area. You can see the work weve done on this. Red Mountain Pass is another example, a multiphase project completed by the trust for public lands with colorado partners with funding from the lwcf. It lies above luray and forms portions of the panoramic backdrop, the red Mountain Pass and on luray and san juan countys rugged alpine loop. Itsen incredible experience. You can see the work weve done with it here. If you go to the National Forest, over the years lwcf has invested nearly 27 million in the National Forest of colorado to protect this valley which is a tenyear long process that ultimately rutted in the conservation resulted in the conservation of thousands of acres surrounding the town, incredible for recreation and preservation of this critical habitat and environmental treasure and conservation accomplishment for all of the country. I also wanted to point out some of the great news about this bill back in colorado. And i ask unanimous consent that this article from the Durango Herald which was written on june 13 be entered into the record. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Gardner this article is titled the holy grail conservation bill advances in the u. S. Senate. If you talk if you take a look at the article, it quotes conservationists, people across the country working on this legislation and ends with weve been working on this for years and years and this is the holy grail of the Conservation Community. Were ecstatic that this is happening. That from a member of the nature conserve sip. And this article from the denver post talking about the legislation and again the Conservation Community that supports the legislation. This will be a remarkable gift for the future and is also important for the president. Its going to put up to 100,000 people to work each year fixing our National Parks, said tracy stone manning, associate Vice President for public lands at the National Wildlife federation, a Conservation Group of 600 members. It points out in cities like denver where they are pushing to acquire more land and open space, this is an opportunity for us to achieve those goals in our urban areas. Finally, madam president , i would ask unanimous consent that a letter from a number of coloradans in support of the Great American outdoors act sent to the Congress Just a few weeks ago. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Gardner this is signed by david nickham, executive director, suzanne oneil, the wildlife federation, Colorado Mountain club back country hunters and anglers, the Odell Brewing come and on and on talking about the lwcf being built on a simple idea and the fact that we can help restore our National Parks and greatest treasures with the combined efforts of the land and Water Conservation fund and the Great American outdoors act in this legislation. As members prepare for this vote tomorrow, i hope they will consider the impact this will have on generations to come. Yesterday we talked about a letter written from the great grandson of president teddy roosevelt, the fact we are continuing today that legacy to build on the conservation, the environmental successes that started well over a hundred years ago in this country, our public lands is an incredible, incredible treasure that this country has and that we can build on for generations to come. So, madam president , i thank the virus. Dam president , i thank the this is two and a half hours. This hearing will come to order. This thing is another remote hearing by video. A few Video Conferencing for minors, youre probably health used to these. Once you start speaking, there will be a slight delay before years displayed on screen. To minimize the background noise, please click the mute button until its