Colorado’s entire congressional delegation is calling on the federal government to issue major disaster declarations that would unlock federal funds for recovery efforts after last year’s historic wildfires and flooding.

Congressional Republicans joined Democrats this week in signing a letter to President Donald Trump calling on his administration to support the appeal of the major disaster declarations, which Trump had previously denied.

“Each event independently meets the statutory and practical criteria for a Major Disaster Declaration, and the consequences of continued denial will be severe, long-lasting, and far more costly if left unaddressed,” the letter states. “Disaster funds are critical for the safety and well-being of Colorado’s most rural residents.”

Gov. Jared Polis submitted the appeal last week after the administration denied his requests for major disaster declarations for the Elk and Lee fires and extensive flooding in southwestern Colorado.

Under a federal law known as the Stafford Act, governors of states affected by disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, storms, earthquakes, wildfires or droughts can request major disaster declarations when they determine the situation beyond the capability of the state. The president has the sole discretion on whether to issue a major disaster declaration, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency website.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican who represents Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes the region where the fires occurred, has previously called on the Trump administration to release the recovery funds. Republican Reps. Jeff Crank, Gabe Evans and Lauren Boebert also signed onto the letter, as well as Democratic Reps. Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, Brittany Petersen and Diana DeGette.

The denial letters issued by the Trump administration in December do not explain why the major disaster declaration requests were denied, but they do state that the request for federal assistance “is not warranted.”

Democratic politicians, including Polis and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, have accused the Trump administration of retaliating against the state and playing “political games” by withholding the disaster funding.

An unnamed spokesperson from the FEMA Press Office said in a statement, “this decision just like all disaster requests was based on policy not politics,” but has not responded to repeated questions about what specific criteria the disasters failed to meet.

The Lee and Elk fires burned tens of thousands of acres in Rio Blanco County this summer, destroying at least five homes. The Lee Fire grew to more than 137,000 acres — or more than 237 square miles, an area larger than Chicago — before it was contained, causing an estimated $27 million in damages, according to Polis’ office.

The flooding in Southwestern Colorado in October led to the destruction of multiple homes and other infrastructure in the region, with damage estimated at more than $13.8 million.