Colorado’s elected leaders have renewed their plea with the Trump administration to approve tens of millions of dollars in aid for floods and wildfires last year after the president denied the requests.
All 10 members of the state’s congressional delegation from both parties, including Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, sent a letter to the White House on Wednesday afternoon. They reiterated the state’s need for aid following the Lee and Elk fires in August and severe flooding in southwest Colorado in October.
“The consequences of continued denial will be severe, long-lasting, and far more costly if left unaddressed,” the congressional letter states. “Disaster funds are critical for the safety and well-being of some of Colorado’s most rural residents.”
The delegation’s letter followed Gov. Jared Polis’ formal appeal of President Donald Trump’s denials, filed Friday. Last year, the congressional members also asked for federal aid after each of the disasters.
“Whether fires or floods, Coloradans have been deeply impacted by these natural disasters,” Polis said in a statement on the appeals. “With this appeal, we hope that the federal government steps in to help Coloradans recover stronger.”
The disasters caused nearly $39 million in claimed damage, according to a presentation from the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to the state legislature. The federal government typically picks up 75% of the tab, leaving — for now — the state on the hook for more than $29 million that the federal government would typically cover.
The Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday afternoon.
In recent months, Trump and his appointees have taken several actions targeted at Colorado, from relocating the Space Command headquarters out of state to vetoing a bill that would help complete a clean water pipeline for rural communities in southeastern Colorado.
The denials issued in December were the first the state had received in 35 years, according to state officials. Division Director Kevin Klein told state lawmakers he didn’t expect the federal government to help out with these or future disasters. Without the promise of help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he called on the legislature to invest in state emergency management infrastructure to minimize future costs.
“I don’t see us getting FEMA money for disasters for the near future, at least,” Klein told lawmakers.
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