Polis Scores A Win For Education and the Environment

Press Release

Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., scored a win for education and the environment today when the House of Representatives unanimously approved the ACE Act. The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Chris Stewart, R-Utah, facilitates land exchanges between Western state land offices and federal public land agencies, and helps increase education revenue.

"The Ace Act is a win-win for both the environment and schools, two things I care deeply about. By cutting red tape between state land trusts and the federal government, we can protect our most precious wilderness areas, while generating more revenue for local governments and schools that desperately need it," said Polis.

"The ACE Act proves we can come together to solve complex public land issues. It's a win for Utah, a win for school kids, and a win for conservation. I'm eager for this bipartisan piece of legislation to be passed by the Senate, signed into law, and begin benefiting children across the West," said Stewart.

The Advancing Conservation and Education (ACE) Act specifically focuses on state trust land inholdings within the boundaries of federal conservation areas like national parks, monuments, and wilderness areas. The bill maintains existing rights-of-way, mineral and grazing leases, and water rights, and includes protections for tribal cultural sites and Indian treaty rights.

Some state trust lands are unable to be used for the purposes for which they were intended because of limited access and the incompatibility of development with the surrounding conservation lands. Further, the development of these state trust inholdings could adversely affect the integrity of the surrounding conservation lands.

The ACE Act has diverse support, including from the Western States Land Commissioners Association, The Wilderness Society, and the Western Governors Association.

"This bipartisan bill will help to protect America's treasured parks and wilderness, while providing much needed funds for schools. We thank Representatives Stewart and Polis for their efforts and urge the Senate to swiftly send this bill to the President's desk," said Paul Spitler, The Wilderness Society.

Polis serves on the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He is the top-Democrat on the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee and a member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee. Polis is the former chair of the Colorado State Board of Education, and the founder and former superintendent of The New America School - a network of charter schools in several states serving new immigrants and English-language learners - as well as the Academy for Urban Learning for homeless and at-risk youth. The district he represents today includes Colorado State University and University of Colorado.

Source