Rep. Neguse Honored by YMCA of Northern Colorado for Relief and Recovery Support in the Immediate Aftermath of the Marshall Fire

Lafayette, CO — This past weekend, Congressman Joe Neguse was inducted into the YMCA of Northern Colorado Hall of Fame for his work to provide assistance to community members in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Marshall Fire on December 30th, 2021. The Colorado lawmaker was one of nine individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame during a commemorative event which was held in conjunction with the Boulder YMCA grand reopening and a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the facility’s new childcare center. 

Inductees were chosen for having a significant impact on the YMCA through time, talent, or treasure. Congressman Neguse was honored for his efforts to assist individuals displaced by the Marshall Fire while working at the Lafayette YMCA pop-up emergency shelter. During the fire and in the first 24 hours that followed, Rep. Neguse also fought to secure federal funding to help cover the cost of battling the flames, swiftly obtaining FEMA authorization for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). Additionally, Neguse was responsible for getting an expedited Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance, so that local communities and families would receive direct reimbursements for the damage. 

“As I reflect on the initial 24 hours of the devastating Marshall Fire, I am reminded of the incredible resilience and outpouring of kindness that I witnessed from so many in our area – law enforcement, first responders, firefighters, and neighbors helping neighbors. Tragedies like these have the power to reshape our towns for years to come, and it is thanks to the dedication of so many that we’ve been able to make significant progress in our recovery efforts,” said Congressman Neguse. “I am deeply grateful to the YMCA for this recognition and will work with them and folks across our community to make certain that those impacted continue to feel supported every step of the way.”

The Marshall Fire devastated communities across Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, destroying over 1,000 homes and businesses in Louisville, Superior, and Unincorporated Boulder County. In the nearly two and a half years since the tragedy, Congressman Neguse has continued to be a leader in the fight against wildfires. He has helped to secure over $11 billion in federal funds related to helping families impacted by the Marshall Fire recover and rebuild. Neguse has introduced numerous bills in the House of Representatives meant to directly benefit the Boulder, Louisville, and Superior communities—leading a monumental legislative package composed of over 50 stand-alone bills all focused on tackling wildfires, boosting firefighter pay, and funding resiliency. 

The Office of Congressman Joe Neguse has also remained committed to assisting impacted households navigate the road to recovery, working to replace lost documents, ensuring critical federal assistance for families and small businesses, obtaining adequate insurance coverage, avoiding post-disaster scam and fraud, and more. One of their success stories includes successfully calling on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to update reverse mortgage foreclosure guidelines for victims of the Marshall Fire, protecting an 80-year-old Superior resident who lost his home as a result of the Marshall Fire from facing foreclosure. 

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