Chief Moore and Secretary Haaland Will Highlight Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments to Combat Wildfire Crisis, Build Resilience in Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2022 – On Monday, April 11, U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore and U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland will travel to Colorado for an event with Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representative Joe Neguse to help launch the Biden-Harris Administration’s Rural Infrastructure Tour, which will highlight how President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments will help deliver results and resources in rural communities.
Chief Moore, Secretary Haaland, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, and Representative Neguse will visit Boulder County, where they will conduct a joint field visit to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive efforts to protect rural communities from the threat of wildfires and improve the resilience of America’s forests and public lands. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes historic investments to implement this critical work through hazardous fuels management and post-wildfire restoration activities across America’s forests, rangelands, and grasslands.
After receiving a joint operational briefing from wildland fire experts about the seasonal fire outlook, Chief Moore, Secretary Haaland, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, and Representative Neguse will share their vision for the Biden-Harris Administration’s wildland fire preparedness and response. They will also highlight new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address wildfire risk and prepare communities and ecosystems against the threat of wildfire.
This week, the Department of the Interior released a roadmap for making historic investments in forest restoration, hazardous fuels management and post-wildfire restoration in coordination with federal, non-federal and Tribal partners. This roadmap follows the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service 10-Year Wildfire Crisis Strategy earlier this year. Taken together, these plans outline the treatment, monitoring and maintenance strategy the agencies will use to address wildfire risk, better serve communities, and improve conditions on all types of lands where wildfires can occur.
Monday, April 11, 2022
WHO: U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Hickenlooper, and Representative Joe Neguse
WHAT: USDA & DOI Field Visit to Highlight Wildfire Investments
WHEN: Monday, April 11 at 12:40 PM MST
WHERE: Boulder County, Colorado. Please RSVP for location and arrival instructions.
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Statement from the Office of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2022 – Yesterday, after experiencing mild symptoms, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack tested positive for COVID. He is fully vaccinated and boosted. He is sharing the news of his positive COVID test out of an abundance of transparency.The Secretary’s office is conducting contact tracing and is notifying those with whom he may have been a close contact in accordance with CDC guidance.From Monday, April 4, to Tuesday, April 5, the Secretary met with Mexican officials while on official travel. The Secretary tested negative at the time of his departure and after his return. Out of an abundance of caution, the Mexican government has been informed of this positive test.Secretary Vilsack will isolate in accordance with CDC guidelines and will return to the office after testing negative for the virus. During that time, he will continue his official duties.