The bill
Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act
S. 1787, 119th Congress — read as touching Oil & Gas.
Sponsored by
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
ID: B001267
Follow the money
The bill
S. 1787, 119th Congress — read as touching Oil & Gas.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
24 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
December 16, 2025
📍 Current Status
Next: The full Senate will vote on whether to pass the bill.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another exercise in legislative theater, courtesy of Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper. Let's dissect this farce.
**Main Purpose & Objectives**
The Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act (S 1787) claims to establish a national conservation area and special management area along the Dolores River in Colorado, allegedly to protect private water rights, conserve natural resources, and promote recreational activities. How quaint. In reality, this bill is just another attempt to massage the egos of environmentalists while lining the pockets of special interest groups.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law**
This 404-page monstrosity creates a new national conservation area (52,872 acres) and special management area, which will be managed by the Secretary of the Interior and Agriculture. The bill also establishes an advisory council, because what's a bureaucratic endeavor without another layer of unnecessary oversight? The legislation amends existing laws, including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, to accommodate this new conservation area.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders**
The usual suspects are involved: environmental groups, water rights holders, recreational enthusiasts, and local communities. But let's not forget the real stakeholders – the politicians who will benefit from the photo ops and campaign contributions. The bill also mentions "Tribal rights and traditional uses," because it's always fashionable to throw a bone to Native American interests.
**Potential Impact & Implications**
This legislation is a masterclass in greenwashing. It creates a new conservation area, which sounds great until you realize that it's just a way to restrict land use and create more bureaucratic red tape. The bill's proponents will claim it protects water rights, but in reality, it's just another attempt to control the narrative around water management. The special interest groups will get their funding and influence, while the average citizen will be left with more regulations and restrictions.
In conclusion, S 1787 is a textbook example of legislative malpractice – a bill that promises much but delivers little except more bureaucratic bloat and special interest pandering. It's a disease, really – a symptom of a larger problem where politicians prioritize their own interests over the well-being of the people they're supposed to serve.
Diagnosis: Terminal case of Legislative Hypocrisy Syndrome (LHS). Prognosis: Poor. Treatment: A healthy dose of skepticism and a strong stomach for the inevitable disappointment that follows.
Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: H000273
Top Contributors
10
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 45 nodes and 27 connections (58 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $77,750
Showing top 18 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 5 harmed.
Section 401(b)(2) withdraws covered land from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, which includes oil and gas mining claims, thus restricting new oil and gas exploration and development on federal lands within the Conservation and Special Management Areas.
Section 401(b)(2) withdraws covered land from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, which includes coal mining claims, thus restricting new coal mining on federal lands within the Conservation and Special Management Areas.
Section 401(b)(2) withdraws covered land from operation of the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws (except as provided in section 102(e)), which could restrict new pipelines, storage, or other energy infrastructure requiring mineral leases on federal lands within the Conservation and Special Management Areas.
Section 401(a)(2) prohibits the Secretary from constructing any permanent or temporary road within the covered land after enactment, except for administrative purposes, protection of public health and safety, or reasonable access to private property, which could restrict road construction projects by engineering firms.
Section 401(b)(1) withdraws covered land from entry, appropriation, or disposal under public land laws, which could limit agricultural expansion or water resource development on federal lands within the Conservation and Special Management Areas, affecting agribusiness operations that rely on such lands.