Dear WesterlyPost.com
Thank you for taking the time to read this monthly update. I want to keep my supporters
informed about what I have been working on – such as creating jobs and building strong
infrastructures for a stable economy throughout CD1!
Historic water-rights agreement
In late July, I joined White Mountain Apache Tribe Chairman Ronnie Lupe, former Sen.
Jon Kyl and many other tribal and federal leaders as history was made for Congressional
District 1 when U.S. Interior Secretary Jewell signed the final approval enacting the White
Mountain Apache Water Rights Settlement. This was the very first bill I introduced in
Congress – it passed in 2010. It guarantees water rights for the WMAT plus $200 million
for construction of a new water system and an additional $78.5 million for fish production
, lakes, irrigation and other water projects! I grew up on the White Mountain Apache Nation
and my family had to boil our water on the stove before we could use it. So I know how much
it means to folks in this region to finally have safe, clean drinking water.
Student-loan rate compromise reached
I’m pleased to report that on July 31, the House passed HR1911, which mirrored the
Senate’s compromise legislation that restores lower student-loan rates and prevents
growing debt. This passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, and it should help
students and families in our district and across the U.S.! I’d like to thank all of those
students at NAU, U of A, Central Arizona College and across
our district who joined me in calling on Congress to act. Your voices made a difference!
Job Creation and Strong Infrastructures in AZ01
Job creation is one of my priorities because our district and state are still recovering
from the great recession, and we need to get folks back to work. I am committed to
efforts that create good-paying jobs so we can help revive the middle class.
We have already secured a number of important grants for infrastructure, education
and entrepreneurship across our district. These grants infuse our local economies
with critical funding that creates and saves jobs as well as builds a stronger
infrastructure to help these areas grow and thrive.
Here are a few examples of grants we obtained in July:
- A $740,000 Rural Development loan for lodging rehabilitation in Pinetop-Lakeside
- will not only save local jobs but create new ones in the construction industry! Helping
- revitalize this hotel will help the local economy for years to come.
- A $600,000 award to Northern Arizona University’s College of Engineering, Forestry
- and Natural Sciences to provide scholarships to support academically talented students
- with financial need after transferring from community and tribal colleges.
- A $417,600 grant that provides funding for the Eloy Municipal Airport to conduct an
- airport drainage study and rehabilitation of the taxiway.
- A $136,590 grant to the Holbrook Municipal Airport to improve the outdated runway
- lighting system to enhance the safety during low-visibility conditions.
Top 5 race to watch in the Southwest and first opponent
Things certainly are heating up on the campaign trail!
Last month, we were listed on Rothenberg’s ‘Top 5 Races to watch in the Southwest.’
Click here to read the entire article.
We also got our first opponent, Adam Kwasman, who will be running in CD1 for the
Republican Party’s nomination. Having served for only a few months as a state legislator,
this far-right, extremist candidate is virtually unknown in most of our district, so let me
introduce him!
- He is far to the right of Governor Jan Brewer and spent months attacking her
- bipartisan effort to expand Medicaid.
- He fought to keep tens of thousands of Arizonans from accessing health insurance.
- He was the campaign manager for failed Tea Party extremist Jesse Kelly, who
- famously said he “would love to eliminate” Social Security.
You and I both know someone like this is wrong for Arizona and wrong for CD1!
Thank you for reading through this month’s update! I want to keep you as informed as
possible. Please click here to follow my campaign onFacebook or Twitter!
Sincerely, Ann Kirkpatrick
