A Colorado lawmaker wants to rename the portion of Interstate 25 that passes through Denver County to "The Barack Obama Highway."
The bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. Dan Pabon, introduced HJR18-1016 to the House and Transportation Committee on Thursday morning. It passed 12 to 1.
"This isn't about politics in Colorado,” Pabon said. “This is simply about recognizing the president of the country regardless of party. There's no mention of his party in our resolution. It's simply to recognize a great American who contributed a lot of things to our state and our country."
Next, the resolution will go to the full house for discussion or a vote.
If Pabon's resolution passes every hurdle, it would designate the portion of I-25 between the northern and southern borders of the city and county of Denver as The Barack Obama Highway, in honor of the 44th president of the United States.
The bill names a number of accomplishments by the former president during his eight-year tenure as reasoning for the change, including “successfully taking on the challenges of a nation experiencing the largest recession since the Great Depression,” along with, “expanding environmental protections and supporting groundbreaking LGBT-rights decisions."
In 2008, Obama accepted the Democratic nomination for president in the Mile High City during the Democratic National Convention.
Pabon said the designation is a way to honor the contributions Obama made to our country during his eight years as president.
"This is recognition in that there is living history among us as the first African American president but also as someone who is still contributing to our society and to our world in a way that we can look forward to for many years to come," Pabon said.
I-25 has had its name changed in other parts of the state too.
In Pueblo County, it's John F. Kennedy Highway and in El Paso County it's Ronald Reagan Highway.
“If successful, Colorado would be the first city to honor President Obama in this way—commemorating his extraordinary message of hope and resiliency that will continue to inspire the nation for generations to come,” Pabon wrote on his website.
