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Protecting post-fire watersheds a key goal for Colorado’s U.S. senators. Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service.
Funds for watershed restoration and protection cut from disaster relief bill
By Summit Voice
FRISCO — The refusal by the U.S. House to fund disaster relief for Colorado communities hit by wildfires raises an equity issue, according to Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), who said Americans from different regions must help each other when it comes to bouncing back from natural disasters.
“I am exceptionally disappointed that the House stripped out wildfire relief from this disaster assistance package,” Udall said. “But the House’s lack of action won’t stop us. I plan to continue to find any means available to secure help for Colorado. The Colorado wildfires occurred more than six months ago, well before the Hurricane Sandy emergencies, and should not have to continue to wait to be addressed. I plan to continue to remind Washington that we are all in this together.”
An amendment he and Sen. Michael Bennet introduced in the Senate would have restored funds for communities in El Paso, Larimer, Teller and Weld counties to repair their drinking water infrastructure damaged during the 2012 wildfires. (more…)
Filed under: Colorado, Environment, forest fires | Tagged: Colorado, Mark Udall, Michael Bennet, watershed protection, Wildfires | Leave a Comment »
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