For many Americans, Washington can feel disconnected from the challenges people face at home. Too often, political debates generate headlines but little progress. When I ran for Congress, I made a simple commitment: focus on delivering results for Colorado’s 3rd District and work on issues that actually matter to the communities I represent.
That commitment continues to guide my work today.
This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, bipartisan legislation that I introduced to help unlock one of America’s most promising energy resources. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. The legislation combines six bipartisan measures designed to improve coordination, reduce unnecessary permitting delays and create a more predictable process for geothermal development on federal lands. It also includes my legislation to establish a geothermal ombudsman and permitting task force within the Bureau of Land Management to help projects navigate the federal permitting process more efficiently.
While geothermal energy may not receive the same attention as some other energy sources, it has enormous potential, particularly in the American West. Geothermal provides reliable, around-the-clock power. It strengthens our electric grid, supports domestic energy production and creates jobs in rural communities. Colorado is well positioned to benefit from continued innovation and investment in this sector.
For too long, promising projects have been slowed by bureaucratic obstacles, overlapping reviews and a lack of clear accountability within the federal permitting system. My bill takes a practical approach to addressing those challenges. Rather than creating new mandates or expanding government bureaucracy, it improves coordination, establishes clearer lines of responsibility and helps ensure projects receive timely decisions.
This legislation is also an example of something that often gets overlooked in today’s political environment: bipartisan problem-solving still works.
The Geothermal Energy Advancement Act received support from Republicans and Democrats because it focused on a shared goal. Reliable energy is not a partisan issue. Affordable electricity is not a partisan issue. Creating jobs and strengthening American energy security should not be partisan issues either. When lawmakers focus on practical solutions instead of political theater, progress is possible.
The geothermal package is just one example of the work underway on behalf of Colorado’s 3rd District. Over the past year, I have worked to advance legislation on water infrastructure, public lands, outdoor recreation, tribal communities, wildlife conservation and energy development. My first bill was signed into law last year. Several additional bills have passed the House, and I continue to work to move them through the Senate and to the president’s desk.
The people of Southwest Colorado did not send me to Washington to become part of the noise. They sent me there to represent their interests, solve problems and deliver results. That means focusing on the issues that affect daily life: affordable energy, reliable water supplies, strong local economies, good-paying jobs and opportunities for future generations.
Congress works best when elected officials spend less time seeking attention and more time doing the work. While many headlines focus on division, much of the most important work happens through conversations, committee hearings, negotiations and bipartisan cooperation that rarely make the evening news.
That work is not always glamorous, but it is how lasting progress gets made.
As your representative, I will continue fighting for practical solutions that strengthen rural Colorado, protect our way of life and create opportunities for the communities that call the Western Slope and Southern Colorado home. Whether it is advancing responsible energy development, protecting our water resources, supporting agriculture or improving public lands management, my focus remains the same: delivering results for the people I serve.
Congressman Jeff Hurd represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. He serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.