Press Releases

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) met with members of Colorado’s Congressional Delegation, the Bark Beetle Cooperative, and the Northwest Council of Governments today in Washington, DC to discuss stimulus funding and long-term strategy to address the serious bark beetle infestation affecting Colorado’s forests.  

“Our communities are under increasing threat of devastating wildfires compounded by the bark beetle epidemic,” said Polis.  “This meeting was a good first step to get stimulus dollars to Colorado that will help protect our communities.  I’m looking forward to working with my friends in Colorado’s Congressional Delegation to craft effective and environmentally responsible legislative solutions that address this issue from a detail oriented perspective.”

During the meeting, State Sen. Dan Gibbs, State Rep. Christine Scanlan, and leaders from Jackson, Summit, Eagle, Pitkin, and Boulder Counties met with Congressman Polis to discuss future legislation and voice their support the Delegation’s efforts to fund bark beetle mitigation.  

With their support, the Delegation will send a letter this week to heads of the Obama Administration, highlighting Colorado’s unique need for stimulus funding to address the bark beetle epidemic and its increased risk of fire for mountain communities.

The delegation’s letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu, and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is available here.