Rep. Joe Neguse | Rep. Joe Neguse Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Joe Neguse | Rep. Joe Neguse Official U.S. House headshot
Lafayette, CO — On June 5, Congressman Joe Neguse announced $390,000 in federal funding is headed to communities impacted by the Marshall Fire. The Biden-Harris Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are making investments, including from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, in America's watershed infrastructure, helping communities recover from and prepare for natural disasters.
Funding will go to the Town of Superior, and will be used to repair damages sustained in Boulder County by the Marshall Fire; specifically, restoring stormwater infrastructure to safeguard lives and property from an imminent hazard in the event of infrastructure failure.
“The Marshall Fire devastated neighborhoods across our district—destroying homes, businesses, and critical local infrastructure. And as our communities continue down the long road to recovery, I am heartened to see investments made possible by the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law make their way to the folks in need,” said Congressman Neguse. “Natural disasters have the power to reshape our communities for years to come, and this significant funding will not only aid in making recovery as quick and effective as possible, but it will also support future preparedness efforts.”
“The damage Superior sustained in the Marshall Fire was vast and the economic consequences of that damage continues to impact our town. We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Neguse for his continued support to aid fire-impacted communities like Superior as we rebuild and recover,” Mark Lacis, Town of Superior Mayor.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $265 million through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in 28 Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) infrastructure projects in 16 states impacted by extreme weather events. These projects include streambank stabilization, flood prevention and watershed restoration projects. Funding comes from investments made in both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
Congressman Neguse played a key role in the swift passage and enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a historic piece of legislation that invests in the economy, rebuilds crumbling roads and bridges, and ensures American communities can compete in the 21st Century. Thanks to the advocacy and leadership of Congressman Neguse, the bill included several other wildfire response initiatives including funds for wildfire prevention, a pay raise for federal wildland firefighters, and investments in collaborative forest programs, such as the Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Program.
Background
In the year since the Marshall Fire, Rep. Neguse has continued to be a leader in the fight against wildfires. He helped to secure over $11 billion in federal funds related to helping families and communities impacted by Marshall Fire. He introduced 3 bills to directly benefit Marshall Fire victims and led the House-passed Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, a monumental legislative package composed of over 50 stand-alone bills all focused on tackling wildfires, boosting firefighter pay, and funding resiliency and mitigation projects for communities impacted by recent climate-induced disasters. Most recently, Rep. Neguse successfully advocated that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) update reverse mortgage foreclosure guidelines for victims of the Marshall Fire. The Congressman was made aware of this issue after hearing that a foreclosure notice was sent to an 80-year-old Superior resident who lost his home as a result of the Marshall Fire; since urging action the notice has been rescinded.
Original source can be found here
Alerts Sign-up