Dear Neighbor,  I hope you’ve had the chance to enjoy some sun these past few days! After spending time at home, meeting with community members, local leaders, and constituents, I headed back to Washington, D.C. earlier this week, where we are continuing the work to address the urgent needs of all Coloradans.  This past week, we announced two major steps in our work to tackle western wildfires. First, on Wednesday, alongside Governor Polis and Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, I announced that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will receive $1.9 million in federal funding to enhance wildfire smoke preparedness and protection in communities across the state.  Like all of you, I’ve seen firsthand the real and growing threats associated with wildfires and wildfire smoke. And this funding will help the state of Colorado take action to protect our communities.  Also, last Thursday, I led a bipartisan letter calling on the U.S. Small Business Administration to extend their deadlines for disaster loan applications. Narrow time frames between when disaster strikes and when these applications are due are insufficient for those trying to recover. We must expand access to critical federal disaster assistance for households and businesses impacted by natural disasters.  Read our letter to the Small Business Administration, signed by over a dozen western lawmakers, HERE.  Keep reading to learn more about other exciting updates!