Neguse Proposal to Build Climate Resilient Communities Included in Upcoming Infrastructure Bill
Washington D.C.— Congressman Joe Neguse’s proposal to ensure climate resilience is considered in building back from climate-related weather events has been included in the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, the INVEST in America Act. The proposal would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a report on the benefits to prioritizing resiliency at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The report would include an evaluation of the economic benefits to investing in pre-disaster mitigation efforts, an assessment of the building codes and standards currently used in FEMA’s Federal programs, and recommendations for how FEMA can improve their use of codes and standards to make American communities more prepared for worsening natural disasters and efforts to rebuild afterwards.
“Our communities have felt the effects of climate change first hand through devastating wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “It is critical that our federal efforts for recovery are prioritizing resilience and providing tools to local communities as they rebuild. I’m incredibly grateful that our proposal to prioritize building back better has been included in the upcoming surface transportation bill. We will continue to work to advocate for our communities as they recover and as we all work to tackle the climate crisis together.”
Congressman Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District where in 2020 both the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak wildfires affected large portions of the community. Additionally communities in Northern Colorado are still in the process of rebuilding from the 2013 floods. Local emergency management officials have stressed the need for increased flexibility from FEMA to allow for building back better in the wake of these natural disasters.
This proposal led by Congressman Neguse is being added to the INVEST in America Act infrastructure bill that passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week. The $547 billion bill will offer a new approach to federal transportation policy by focusing on fixing existing structures and record investments in areas such as passenger rail, public transit, and cycling and walking infrastructure.