Rep. Neguse Secures Over $9 Million in Federal Funding for CD2 Labs to Enhance Research on Water-Related Climate Impacts

Lafayette, CO — Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse announced that labs and researchers at higher education institutions in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District will receive a total of $9,198,000 in Federal funding to advance research on a wide range of water-driven climate impacts. This funding—made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—is part of a larger $22.78 million package announced by the Department of Commerce for NOAA labs, programs, cooperative institutes, and other partners. Research topics include coastal and inland flood and inundation mapping and forecasting, and next-generation water modeling activities, including modernized precipitation frequency studies. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) partners in Neguse’s congressional district include the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University. These labs were the recipients of an additional round of funding earlier this week—over $3 million from the Inflation Reduction Act—for research working to provide transparent climate projection products and equitable services for the public. 

“Right now, all across Colorado, we see the real and visceral impacts climate change is having on our communities. We must continue to do all we can to predict the challenges ahead, equipping ourselves with the innovation and foresight needed to adapt and prepare for water-related climate impacts like drought, flooding, and more,” said Assistant Leader Neguse. “Preparedness is our strongest tool in the face of climate change—and I am proud to see and support the work underway at CU and CSU to strengthen the same.” 

“Thanks to President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this investment will help boost NOAA’s efforts to address the rising threat of climate change — putting us on the path to becoming more climate resilient and giving future generations the information and resources needed to tackle the climate crisis,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

“By integrating cutting-edge science and technology into prediction tools, we are working to equip communities to prepare for and respond to water-driven climate impacts on our path to becoming a climate-ready nation,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “These efforts enhance our nation’s resilience and underscore NOAA’s commitment to supporting sustainable and informed decision-making in the face of climate variability and change.”

In recent years, the increasing frequency and severity of coastal and inland flooding, extreme precipitation and other weather events have highlighted the urgent need for better prediction and resilience strategies. Rising sea levels, driven by climate change, are exacerbating these challenges, and putting coastal communities at greater risk. 

These funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help communities prepare for a range of climate impacts and will directly benefit policymakers, emergency responders, researchers, and the general public. Assistant Leader Neguse played a key role in crafting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, successfully securing the advancement of several key priorities for Colorado in the bill. 

A breakdown of the funding for CIRES and CIRA is as follows:

• $2 million awarded to NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado (CIRES) to advance subseasonal to annual coastal flooding risks;

• $2 million awarded to CIRES to modernize probable maximum precipitation (PMP) estimates. These estimates are necessary to help decision-makers better manage the risk of precipitation that may cause severe damage or catastrophic destruction of major bridges, dams, power plants and other infrastructure. This research will help bring estimates more in line with the projected impacts from a changing climate; 

• $1.25 million awarded to CIRES for research to advance NOAA next-generation water prediction using a system that integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning; and 

• $1.975 million awarded to CIRES and $1.973 million to NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University (CIRA) to advance research to modernize PMP estimates.  

Background

Assistant Leader Neguse has been a continued advocate for increases in federal funding for Colorado’s Federal labs and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Throughout this year’s Federal budgeting and appropriations process, he emphasized the importance of their research to the well-being of the nation—from predicting climate patterns to enhancing cybersecurity. 

The Colorado Congressman is also working to ensure lands in Colorado’s 2nd have the support needed to continue their work through his bill, the Federal Labs Modernization Act.

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