CONGRESSMAN NEGUSE APPLAUDS BIDEN-HARRIS APPOINTEES TO WILDFIRE COMMISSION

Press Release

Today, Congressman Joe Neguse, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, applauds the Biden-Harris Administration for appointing several Colorado leaders to serve on their Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. The Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Homeland Security, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced this week the selection of members to the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. The commission will play a key role in recommending ways that federal agencies can better prevent, mitigate, suppress, and manage wildland fires. It will also recommend policies and strategies on how to restore the lands affected by wildfire.

Several notable Colorado officials have been selected, including;

Mike Morgan, Division Director, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Jim Hubbard, retiree, USDA NRE Under Secretary/US Forest Service Deputy Chief
Scott Miller, Senior Regional Director for the Southwest Region, The Wilderness Society
Madelene McDonald, Senior Watershed Scientist, Denver Water
"I'm excited to see such a strong representation of Coloradans appointed to serve on the national Wildfire Commission. This group will be tasked with identifying effective ways in which we can protect our communities from the encroaching threats of wildfires. Unfortunately, here in Colorado, we are well aware of the devastating tolls these fires take, and I look forward to working with these Coloradans and the broader commission on our collective efforts to protect our communities." said Congressman Joe Neguse.

The call for nominations for the non-federal members started in March and more than 500 applications were received. 36 non-federal members, 18 primary and 18 alternates, have been selected to serve on the commission, alongside 11 federal members. The commission will be co-chaired by the Departments of Agriculture and Interior, and FEMA. Commission members represent federal agencies, Tribes, state and local municipalities, and private entities, as directed by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The commission will prepare a report with policy recommendations and submit them to Congress within a year of its first in-person meeting in August. More information can be found here.

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