Congressman Salazar applauds Senator Salazar’s decision on Piñon Canyon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman John Salazar commended U.S. Senator Ken Salazar’s efforts to stop the U.S. Army’s plan to expand the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site.  Senator Salazar announced that he will follow the effort led by the Congressman and introduce an amendment identical to language that was adopted by the U.S. House in June.  Senator Salazar will introduce the amendment today to the Senate Military Construction and VA Appropriations Bill.

“I am proud that Senator Salazar is standing up for private property rights and cares so deeply for the farmers and ranchers of Colorado,” Rep. Salazar said.

In June, Rep. Salazar, the only veteran among the Colorado Congressional delegation, successfully added language to the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill, prohibiting the use of funds in that legislation from being used to expand the maneuver site.  The amendment was coauthored by U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4).  The Salazar/Musgrave amendment overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House on a vote of 383-34.

Opened in 1985, the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) is located 150 miles southeast of Fort Carson, Colorado and is used as a training area for the U.S. Army and National Guard.  Its 235,896 acres, combined with Fort Carson's training areas, comprise maneuver training lands second only to the National Training Center in size.  In 1978 approximately one half of the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site was acquired through the process of condemnation.  If the Army succeeds in this expansion, Fort Carson and Piñon Canyon combined will be larger than the state of Rhode Island.

“Southeastern Colorado is a vital part of Colorado’s agricultural community.  As many as 400,000 head of cattle are raised in this region of the state,” Rep. Salazar said. “The survival of these communities now lies in the hands of the U.S. Senate,”