{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=968", "Reps. Pettersen, Edwards Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Post-Disaster Recovery Through Reforestation and Restoration", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Brittany Pettersen", "P000620", "pettersen.house.gov", "pettersen", "https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Chuck Edwards (NC-11) introduced the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act. This bipartisan legislation would help communities impacted by natural disasters \u2013 including wildfires and floods \u2013 recover and rebuild more resilient to future threats through reforestation and restoration efforts. Specifically, the legislation would require the Department of Interior, in coordination with states, local governments, tribes, and colleges to identify critical lands in need of rehabilitation after natural disasters and support projects through grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.\n\nOver 3 million Coloradans \u2013 more than 50% of the state\u2019s population \u2013 live in a moderate to high risk area for wildfires. As wildfires become increasingly common, it is crucial to implement post-disaster recovery strategies, including reforestation and restoration efforts. This not only helps restore damaged ecosystems but also protects communities from future disasters.\n\n\u201cAs wildfires become a year-round threat, prioritizing post-disaster recovery is more important than ever,\u201d said Pettersen. \u201cBy investing in rehabilitation after wildfires and other natural disasters, we can ensure that our communities not only recover but also rebuild in a way that enhances their resilience against future disasters. I thank Congressman Edwards for his partnership on this bipartisan legislation and will keep working to ensure we are better prepared for wildfires and other threats for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cWestern North Carolina is home to the Pisgah National Forest, much of which was devastated by Hurricane Helene. The work to restore vast swaths of forest land will be difficult but must be done as quickly as possible to mitigate the risk of wildfire and other negative effects if left unaddressed,\u201d said Edwards. \u201cThat is why I am co-leading the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act, which requires the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service to identify priority areas and support targeted projects for reforestation and restoration.\u201d\n\nThe Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act is endorsed by the following organizations: The Nature Conservancy, American Forests, National Association of Counties, the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pettersen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=968"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0070041753351688, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}