Crow Leads Bill To Help Communities with Extreme Weather

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) introduced the Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act, a bipartisan bill to help communities respond to and recover from extreme weather and natural disasters.

Inspired by the Colorado Resiliency Office that has proven successful in helping communities adapt to changing environmental conditions, the CLEAR Act would establish a competitive grant program to help states, territories, and tribes establish and maintain resiliency offices to develop tools, provide assistance, and implement policies to strengthen resiliency in communities nationwide. The CLEAR Act would authorize $100 million annually for five years.

Representatives Young Kim (R-CA-40), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), and Carol Miller (R-WV-01) joined Congressman Crow in introducing this bipartisan legislation. 

“Extreme weather events continue to impact Colorado and states across the country. I’m proud to introduce the CLEAR Act to provide communities with the tools and resources to respond and rebuild after natural disasters,” said Congressman Crow. “This bipartisan bill bolsters local efforts to prepare for extreme weather and will help strengthen critical infrastructure, protect small businesses, and save taxpayer money.”

“Too many in our community have felt the devastation of wildfires firsthand,” said Congresswoman Kim. “Natural disasters don’t discriminate—they impact us all. I’m proud to work alongside Rep. Crow to help introduce this bipartisan, commonsense legislation that will strengthen local resiliency efforts and give communities the tools they need to prepare for and recover from weather emergencies.”

“Disasters like the flooding in Ruidoso and Salt and South Fork fires are the new normal, and New Mexicans know firsthand how wildfires, drought, and floods can devastate lives in an instant,” said Congressman Vasquez. “As the climate changes and becomes more extreme, our communities need better tools to fight back and protect working families. We must act now to ensure New Mexico is prepared for the future.”

"West Virginia families know all too well the devastation that flooding can bring to our homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The CLEAR Act will give our communities the support they need to better prepare for future disasters and recover more quickly,” said Congresswoman Miller. “By investing in resilience, we can protect lives, safeguard our communities, and ensure that West Virginians are not left to rebuild alone.”

This legislation is endorsed by the American Flood Coalition, Resilience Force, BlueGreen Alliance, and others. 

“Over the last decade, the Colorado Resiliency Office, most recently housed in the Department of Local Affairs, has been at the forefront, statewide and nationally, of advancing solutions to ensure that our communities can adapt and thrive in the midst of changing conditions. With the frequency and severity of natural disasters increasing risks to lives, property, and livelihoods, it is more crucial than ever to support the work of State Resiliency Offices to reduce risks and build strong communities. We are proud to join Representative Crow by endorsing the CLEAR Act, which will help us expand our impact in Colorado and advance this vital work in other states,” said Anne Miller, Colorado Resiliency Office Director, Department of Local Affairs.

“Supporting state leadership on resilience is essential to protecting communities across the country from the increasing threats of natural hazards. States are key to steering federal investment, driving watershed-scale planning, and providing much needed capacity and technical assistance to local leaders. AFCA is proud to support the bipartisan Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act, as it would strengthen existing state resilience entities, while encouraging more states to take on this vital work. We commend Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO), Young Kim (R-CA), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), and Carol Miller (R-WV) for leading this important policy that reflects the needs and experiences of state resilience leaders working on complex resilience challenges.” said Julie Seger, Government Relations & Policy Director, American Flood Coalition Action (AFCA).

"The CLEAR Act recognizes that training the resilience workforce is critical to preparing for climate change. We applaud Rep. Crow, and the co-sponsors for helping communities build resilience for the climate disasters that could come any day,” said Saket Soni, Executive Director of Resilience Force.

"Scorching temperatures, natural disasters, and insufficient FEMA resources are making our communities more dangerous to live in," said Jason Walsh, Executive Director, BlueGreen Alliance. "The CLEAR Act will provide critical mitigation support that states need to protect communities and working families. Creating resilience offices today means people have the life saving help they need when it really counts."

Since 1980, the U.S. has sustained over 400 weather and climate disasters that caused more than $2.9 trillion in damages to working families, small businesses, and local communities. Not only do extreme weather events create economic hardship, but they also affect public health, threaten our homeland security, damage our infrastructure, and negatively impact our farmers. 

Congressman Crow has long led the fight to protect our nation from the worst effects of climate change. He previously introduced the CLEAR Act during the 118th Congress and has also led the Guaranteeing Resilient Installations for Defense (GRID) Act to protect and strengthen military bases nationwide against changing environmental conditions. Crow helped vote into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, which together represent the largest investment in climate resilience in our nation’s history.

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