Rep. Neguse’s Proposal to Provide Additional $2 Million to Support Forest Service Staffing in Grand County Passes House
Washington, D.C. — Last week, the House of Representatives passed an amendment led by Congressman Joe Neguse to direct $2 million in additional funding to the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado to support staffing needs at the Sulphur Ranger District. As part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill, this measure invests in the federal workforce responsible for tackling western wildfires, stewarding Colorado’s public lands, and implementing critical climate readiness programs.
The Sulphur Ranger District consists of 442,000 acres of outdoor recreation spaces and treasured public lands within the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest. Rep. Neguse has been working to secure additional funding for the region in order to support fire rehabilitation efforts in the areas impacted by the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome fires. In March, he announced $39 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) has been allocated to the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest for fire recovery.
“As wildfires continue to threaten communities across the West, I am excited to announce that our proposal to increase federal funding for Forest Service staffing in Grand County has passed the House. These increased resources will better ensure folks on the Western Slope can access key services provided by the Sulphur Ranger District,” said Congressman Neguse.
After an uptick in wildfires across the state of Colorado, including the East Troublesome and Cameron Peak fires in 2020, Rep. Neguse has been a vocal advocate for increased funding for forest health and watershed management. Last month, he joined U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper in writing to the United States Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service (USFS), urging the prioritization of BIL funds for Colorado’s Western Slope, which serve as headwaters for rivers and streams extending beyond state boundaries.
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