[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 28, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JOHN SWARTOUT

  Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I rise to commend a great public servant, 
John Swartout, for his dedicated service to the citizens of Colorado. 
After more than three decades of tireless service in the public policy 
arena, I congratulate John on the occasion of his retirement.
  John worked as an adviser to Colorado Governors Bill Owens and John 
Hickenlooper and U.S. Senator Wayne Allard on environmental, natural 
resource, energy, and public lands policy. John was instrumental in 
Federal land negotiations involving the Roan Plateau settlement, the 
closing of Rocky Flats, and the designation of Browns Canyon National 
Monument, James Peak Wilderness, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and 
the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Area. He also served as the head of policy 
for the State of Colorado on habitat protection efforts for the greater 
sage grouse and the Gunnison sage grouse. In these efforts, he showed 
an uncanny ability to balance habitat conservation goals with the 
private property rights of landowners.
  John grounded his work in integrity, trust, humor, and an innate 
ability to form coalitions and partnerships among even the most diverse 
groups. John himself would probably tell you his greatest 
accomplishment was helping people find common ground that then allowed 
them to work toward collaborative policy solutions that benefited their 
community and region. The fact that he worked for governors from both 
parties demonstrates his ability to work in a strong bipartisan manner 
to deliver results for Colorado.
  In addition to his roles working for elected officials, John also led 
multiple Agencies and nonprofits. He served as executive director of 
Great Outdoors Colorado--GOCO--helping to guide millions of dollars of 
investments in public recreational amenities like trails, playgrounds, 
parks, fishing ponds, and campgrounds. As the executive director of the 
Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, he helped preserve and protect 
thousands of acres of open space, wildlife habitat, and working 
agricultural lands.
  John most recently served as executive director of Colorado Counties, 
Inc.--CCI--a nonprofit organization that provides advocacy and 
education for county governments around the State. Under John's 
leadership, CCI negotiated an opioid settlement with Colorado's 
Attorney General and various pharmaceutical companies that provided 
millions of dollars for local addiction counseling and treatment. He 
also successfully steered CCI through the COVID-19 pandemic. CCI was 
integral in assisting county commissioners provide frontline health 
services and invest millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan 
Act and CARES Act in community programs, business retention, and 
infrastructure improvements.
  John served as the campaign manager for my opponent in my first race 
for the U.S. Senate. In Colorado, we believe in working together 
despite different political beliefs, and I came to know and respect 
John for his ability to work in a pragmatic fashion with everyone. John 
became a dependable ally and friend as we worked together to advance 
the interests of Colorado.
  Throughout his career, John embodied the notion put forward by 
Wallace Stegner, that the American West is still ``the native home of 
hope.'' Our great State is better for his vision, his compassion, and 
his service, and I wish him well in his retirement.

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