Senator heard agriculture leaders’ priorities for infrastructure implementation and the 2023 Farm Bill
Sinema’s meeting follows her success securing $4 billion in the recent Senate-passed Inflation Reduction Act for drought mitigation across the American West
CASA GRANDE – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema held a roundtable with Arizona farmers and ranchers from the Arizona Farm Bureau in Pinal County to discuss their priorities as she shapes the 2023 Farm Bill and implements historic investments for the region from her bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
During the meeting, Sinema heard from farmers and ranchers about the importance of strengthening Arizona’s water reliability to secure the state’s water future. Sinema’s visit follows her success securing significant funding strengthening drought mitigation and resilience in the last year – including more than $8 billion in Western water infrastructure from her historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law and, most recently, an additional $4 billion in the Senate-passed Inflation Reduction Act.
“Arizona’s farmers and ranchers know best about the challenges – and opportunities – facing our agricultural industry. I’m glad to count them as critical partners as we continue implementing and advocating for crucial investments that will help them grow and thrive,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law.
Prior to the roundtable, Sinema toured Desperado Dairy to better understand agricultural needs as she helps craft the 2023 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is updated and passed every five years, with the current package set to expire next year. Sinema has pledged to work hand-in-hand with Arizona agricultural experts to ensure the new package adequately reflects Arizona’s needs and priorities, including bolstered resources for drought and wildfire mitigation and recovery.
The purpose of Sinema’s visit is in-part due to the funding she secured to mitigate Arizona’s ongoing drought crisis, which is the worst it’s been in 1,200 years, and how it will provide relief to the agricultural industry amid water cutbacks. As it stands, Pinal County farmers are positioned to be among those hit hardest by the Drought Contingency Plan Tier 1 cuts, losing almost all of their Central Arizona Project water allocations. Last weekend, Sinema secured $4 billion for drought mitigation across the American West in the Senate-passed Inflation Reduction Act. Last year, Sinema co-authored and led negotiations for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law, which makes historic investments in drought resilience.
In February, Sinema hosted a roundtable discussion with Arizona farmers, ranchers, and agriculture leaders from the Arizona Farm Bureau on their infrastructure priorities, and highlighted the positive impacts her bipartisan infrastructure law makes in strengthening the long-term sustainability of multi-generation family farms.