Rep. Neguse Announces USDA's New $1 Billion Wildfire Defense Program Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Statement

Congressman Joe Neguse, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, announced the launch of the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new $1 billion Community Wildfire Defense Grant program. This five-year, competitive program is made possible as part of wildfire investments Rep. Neguse worked to secure in the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law -- signed into law November 2021 -- and will provide at-risk communities, including Tribal communities, non-profit organizations, and state forestry agencies, with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks.

"Months after securing passage of this historic law, we've shown exactly what we can accomplish when we work together to deliver for the American people. Transformational investments in wildfire mitigation are imperative and I know that these grants will be life-changing and life saving for communities in Colorado and across our nation." said Congressman Neguse. "As made more and more apparent with each passing day, wildfires across the West are no longer contained to any season -- the threat of these disasters remains persistent throughout the year. I'm proud to have worked with the USDA and other federal agencies to make some much needed and overdue investments to address wildfire risk and combat the climate crisis."

The Community Wildfire Defense Grant program (CWDG) helps communities in the wildland urban interface (WUI) implement three goals:

Restore and Maintain Landscapes: Landscapes across all jurisdictions are resilient to fire-related disturbances, in accordance with management objectives.
Create Fire Adapted Communities: Human populations and infrastructure can better withstand a wildfire without loss of life and property.
Improve Wildfire Response: All jurisdictions participate in making and implementing safe, effective, efficient risk-based wildfire management decisions.
Find more information, including how to apply HERE.

Read Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's initial announcement HERE.

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 also includes 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.

The state of Colorado is already set to receive the following in federal funding from the historic law:

$3.7 billion for highway projects, $716 million in FY 2022;
$225 million for bridge replacement and repairs, $45 million in FY 2022;
$917 million to improve public transportation, $54 million in FY 2022;
$688 million for water infrastructure,
$432 million for airports,
$35 million for wildfire recovery, including $ 20 billion for the Colorado State University Forest Restoration Research;
$57 million to support the expansion of an electric vehicle charging network throughout the state, $8 million in FY 2022; and
A minimum of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state.

Source