Sinema-backed Water Resources Development Act includes first step toward federal funding of the projects—
legislation passed Congress and heads to President’s desk to be signed into law
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured a Tonto Creek flood mitigation measure in the Water Resources Development Act, which passed Congress with bipartisan support and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
“Flood mitigation along Tonto Creek will protect the health and safety of Arizona families. I’ll keep working across the aisle and with local stakeholders to make Tonto Creek safer for Arizonans,” said Sinema.
Following Kyrsten’s urging in February, the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act directs the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management in Tonto Creek, AZ. This is the first step to securing Army Corps funding to help either construct a Tonto Creek bridge, or take other steps to mitigate the flooding risk along Tonto Creek.
In May of this year, Sinema wrote Department of Transportation Secretary Chao in support of the Gila County’s application of the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to fund the Tonto Creek Bridge project. In her letter, Sinema highlighted the safety concerns that limit access to schools, jobs, and health care facilities in the Tonto Basin community. Sinema added that the construction of the bridge would also lead to economic growth and encourage private investment on the non-federal land in Gila County.