Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/1787
Last Updated: May 17, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

ID: B001267

Follow the money

The bill

Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act

S. 1787, 119th Congress — read as touching Oil & Gas.

The sponsor

Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$74,350 raised

24 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

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

Introduced

Committee Review

Floor Action

📍 Current Status

Next: The full Senate will vote on whether to pass the bill.

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

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!

Bill Summary

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.

Related Topics

Public Lands & Natural ResourcesWater & Air Quality RegulationsWildlife & Endangered Species
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$74,350
18 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$3,250
Committees
$0
Individuals
$71,100

No PAC contributions found

1
CHEROKEE NATION
2 transactions
$2,000
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$1,000
3
QUILLER GALLERY LLC
1 transaction
$250

No committee contributions found

1
HEGYI, ALBERT
2 transactions
$6,600
2
JAMES, TATIANA B
2 transactions
$6,600
3
PRICE, H CHARLES
2 transactions
$6,600
4
ARNOLD, JOHN D
2 transactions
$6,600
5
FISHER, ROBERT J.
2 transactions
$6,600
6
BARRON, THOMAS A
1 transaction
$5,000
7
WALLINGER, DANIELLE
1 transaction
$5,000
8
WALLINGER, DIRK
1 transaction
$5,000
9
LEPRINO, TERRY LYNN
1 transaction
$3,300
10
SIE, JOHN J.
1 transaction
$3,300
11
JORDAN, KIMBERLEY B
1 transaction
$3,300
12
KAUFELT, JONATHAN D
1 transaction
$3,300
13
TOUFF, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300
14
FATO, LUCIANA
1 transaction
$3,300
15
KAHL, JEFFREY
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

ID: H000273

Top Contributors

10

1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,300
Dec 12, 2023
2
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$1,200
Dec 12, 2023
3
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$900
Dec 31, 2023
4
ALLHASSANI, MEHDI
PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIESOPERATIONS
IndividualPALO ALTO, CA
$3,300
Nov 25, 2023
5
SANKAR, SHYAM
PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIESDIRECTOR
IndividualGREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO
$3,300
Nov 25, 2023
6
CARSON, RUSSELL
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 17, 2023
7
SANKAR, SHYAM
PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIESDIRECTOR
IndividualGREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO
$3,300
Nov 25, 2023
8
CARSON, RUSSELL
NOT EMPLOYEDNOT EMPLOYED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Nov 17, 2023
9
GATES, WILLIAM H. III
BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATIONPHILANTHROPIST
IndividualREDMOND, WA
$3,300
Oct 19, 2023
10
JAIN, AKASH
PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIESEXECUTIVE
IndividualOAKLAND, CA
$3,300
Nov 26, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 45 nodes and 27 connections (58 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $77,750

Top Donors - Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

Showing top 18 donors by contribution amount

3 Orgs15 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 5 harmed.

  • Oil & Gasconfidence 0.80

    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.

  • Coal Miningconfidence 0.80

    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.

  • Agribusinessconfidence 0.50

    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.

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