Rep. Neguse, Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper Welcome Over $9 Million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Advance Wildfire Resilience in Colorado

Lafayette, CO — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, and Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper announced that throughout Fiscal Year 2023, the Department of the Interior has invested over $9.3 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to advance wildfire resilience work and support fuels management projects in Colorado. The projects, which took place on 31,958 acres of land across the state, included improvements for infrastructure resilience, wildfire prevention, and forest health, as well as investments in fuels management, post-fire restoration, and fire science. 

“Colorado has experienced numerous devastating wildfires over the past several years, including the East Troublesome, Cameron Peak, and Marshall Fires which hit communities in the 2nd District. I am heartened to see the investments made possible by the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to assist our communities and continue to deliver for the people of our great state,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “The projects supported by this funding are critical components of our work to reduce wildfire risk, support recovering communities, and to mitigate the impacts of future events for households across the state.” 

“As Coloradans face longer and more extreme wildfire seasons, we need to do more to protect homes and restore our forests. This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help safeguard communities in Colorado and reduce severe wildfire risk, but there’s still more to do to match our efforts to the scale of the challenge,” said Senator Michael Bennet. 

“From the 35,000 Coloradans displaced by the 2021 Marshall Fire to the more than 200,000 acres of land ravaged by the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire, Coloradans are living the climate crisis today. These Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments protect us, our homes, and the environment,” said Senator John Hickenlooper. 

The funding announced last week is part of $468 million allocated by the Department earlier this year to reduce wildfire risk, mitigate impacts and rehabilitate burned areas across the country. 

“As wildfire seasons become longer, more intense and more dangerous, investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda are helping provide for a more strategic approach to wildland fire management and mitigation, greater support of wildland firefighters, and much-needed equipment and preparedness methods,” said Secretary Deb Haaland.  

In October, the Colorado lawmakers called on federal agencies to prioritize forest and watershed health in the Western Slope while implementing funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Last year, Rep. Neguse and Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper announced over $5.1 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 22 fuels management projects across 16 counties including; Dolores, Eagle, Grand, Gunnison, Kiowa, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Ouray, Rio Blanco, Routt, and San Miguel.

Additionally, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides for a temporary pay raise for federal wildland firefighters, a new mental wellness and health program and establishes a new wildland fire management job series for federal firefighters. Congressman Neguse has been leading efforts in the House of Representatives to permanently increase federal firefighter pay, working to open the door for additional pay and benefit improvements. 

Background

Congressman Neguse, who played a key role in crafting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, successfully secured the passage of several key priorities for Colorado in the bill, including supporting wildfire recovery, expanding broadband access, and addressing water scarcity and improving drought preparedness. In the two years since the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, $5.6 billion in funding has been announced and is headed to Colorado with over 304 specific projects identified for funding. Additional information on how the law is delivering for Colorado can be found HERE. 

###