Bipartisan CLEAR Act Introduced to Enhance Disaster Resilience in New Mexico

U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) has introduced the Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at helping communities prepare for and recover from extreme weather and natural disasters. The legislation invests $100 million annually over five years to support states, territories, and Tribes in establishing or expanding resiliency offices. Modeled after successful state-level initiatives, these programs will help communities anticipate future risks and coordinate recovery resources to build long-term resilience.

Key Takeaways:

• The CLEAR Act invests $100 million annually over five years to help states, territories, and Tribes establish or expand resiliency offices.
• The bill models successful state-level initiatives like the Colorado Resiliency Office, which helps communities anticipate future risks and coordinate recovery resources.
• Representative Gabe Vasquez has a record of delivering disaster response and preparedness tools for New Mexicans, including the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025.
• Vasquez has worked to improve disaster prevention and response at the federal and local level, including efforts to secure funding for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund and the Fix Our Forests Act.
• The clearance Act has the potential to save lives and prevent disasters, with every $1 spent on hazard mitigation estimated to save $6 in future costs.
• The bill has been endorsed by Rep. Vasquez's previous bipartisan legislation, such as the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025, which aimed to strengthen the aerial wildfire suppression fleet.
• Rep. Vasquez has also pushed for improved coordination between local leaders and emergency managers to ensure rural and Tribal communities are not left behind in response and mitigation efforts.

Statistics:

• The CLEAR Act invests $500 million over five years.
• Every $1 spent on hazard mitigation saves $6 in future costs (FEMA estimates).
• Extreme weather events have already cost the U.S. more than $2.7 trillion in damages since 1980.
• $137 million in federal investments were secured for wildfire recovery and flood mitigation in Southern New Mexico.

Sources:

• U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)
• Office of New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez
• President Trump
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• The Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act of 2025
• The Water Resources Development Act of 2024