Press Releases

WASHINGTON—U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) reintroduced two bipartisan bills – the Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act and the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act – to better utilize early detection technology to prevent wildfires from spreading and help our communities recover and rebuild more resilient to future threats.

Over 3 million Coloradans – more than half of the state’s population – live in a moderate to high risk wildfire area. As wildfires become increasingly common, it is crucial to modernize our early response capabilities by leveraging emerging technologies like satellites to detect wildfires sooner, respond quicker, and better protect communities. Additionally, it’s important to strengthen our post-disaster recovery strategies, including reforestation and restoration efforts, to rehabilitate damaged ecosystems and protect communities from future disasters.

“As Coloradans, we’re all too familiar with the catastrophic effects of wildfires, and the devastation we’re seeing right now in Southern California makes our prevention and recovery efforts even more urgent,” said Pettersen. “These bills will equip our communities with the tools necessary to detect wildfires sooner, respond faster, and rebuild in a way that is more resilient to future disasters. I’m grateful for the partnership of Congressmen Obernolte and Edwards as we work to protect our communities against these natural disasters.”

“To effectively combat and prevent wildfires, we must prioritize investments in cutting-edge technologies to detect and respond to fires before they escalate into widespread disasters,” said Rep. Obernolte.“Advanced tools, such as low-earth orbit satellites paired with artificial intelligence, are critical for identifying fires at their inception and optimizing our firefighting response. These technologies can distinguish between a harmless campfire and a wildfire ignited by lightning, enabling faster and more accurate deployment of resources. It’s time for the federal government to embrace these innovative solutions to protect our community.”

“Along with our people and beautiful views, one of the best parts of Western North Carolina’s mountains is our national forests that attract millions of visitors who support thousands of local businesses every year,” said Rep. Edwards. “While we work to pick up the pieces from Helene, we cannot forget our forests – many of which were ravaged by hurricane winds and flooding. The Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act will make sure that our forests are restored after a disaster, alongside the rest of our communities.”

Specifically: 

• Introduced with Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23), the Strengthening Wildfire Resiliency Through Satellites Act would help prevent the spread of dangerous wildfires through early satellite detection technology. This legislation would establish a three-year pilot program under the United States Geological Survey (USGS), enabling states to use satellite technology for early wildfire detection, monitoring active fire behavior, and supporting post-disaster recovery through public-private partnerships.

• Introduced with Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11), the Post-Disaster Reforestation and Restoration Act would help communities already impacted by natural disasters – including wildfires and floods – recover and rebuild more resilient to future threats through reforestation and restoration efforts. 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.