Bennet, Coloradans Applaud House Passage of Historic Forestry Investment in Build Back Better Budget

Press Release

Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry's Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources, released the following statement after U.S. House passage of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Act. This package, now headed to the U.S. Senate for consideration, includes a historic $54 billion investment in forestry and conservation.

"After Colorado saw the three largest wildfires in our state's history last year, I have fought to make critical investments in our forests," said Bennet. "The forestry provisions in the Build Back Better budget, which are largely based on my Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act, will create good-paying jobs and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires while safeguarding our communities and water supplies. As climate change continues to fuel more extreme natural disasters like wildfires across the West, the Senate must swiftly pass this historic investment in our national forests."

The Build Back Better Act invests over $27 billion in America's public, private, urban, and community forests to help sequester carbon, protect water supplies, and reduce the risk of wildfires. Since introducing the Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act earlier this year, Bennet has visited with local leaders across Colorado calling for a major investment in America's forests through the Build Back Better budget. Consistent with the Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act, The Build Back Better Act includes tens of billions of dollars to support locally-led forest and watershed restoration, wildfire mitigation, hazardous fuels, and vegetation management projects, along with funding to enhance outdoor access and restore wildlife habitat.

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