In the last few years, Sinema delivered historic resources to the Colorado River Indian Tribes & Tribal communities through multiple bipartisan successes.
PARKER – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema held a roundtable with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Tribal Council to discuss her recent work delivering for tribal communities. In the annual bipartisan defense legislation that passed the Senate last week, Sinema successfully fought for the reauthorization of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) for the first time in 10 years. Sinema also championed the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022 into law and secured multiple historic investments for tribal in her landmark bipartisan infrastructure law.
“I’m grateful for the Tribal Council’s welcome and for their partnership as we work together to deliver priorities such as strong water security, better transportation options, improved internet access, and more,” said Sinema.
During the roundtable, Sinema highlighted how she’s worked in a bipartisan, bicameral way to secure many of CRIT’s top priorities – from increasing affordable housing options and improving pedestrian safety, to rebuilding crumbling infrastructure and expanding internet access to close the digital divide, to strengthening the Tribes’ water future, and more.
Specifically, CRIT received $1,571,681 for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements for Agency Avenue and 1st Avenue East project – constructing new connected sidewalks within the Colorado River Indian Reservation. Last year, CRIT received a $24,989,000 RAISE Grant to reconstruct Mohave Road from State Route 95 south to Agnes Wilson Road for a length of approximately 10.5 miles, including asphalt pavement and shoulders, intersection turn lane improvements, street lighting, signage, striping, and construction to increase safety and efficiency.
In June, Sinema announced a $25 million investment from her bipartisan infrastructure law to deploy a high-speed, affordable internet to La Paz County – benefitting nearly 2,000 people, 41 businesses, three farms, and four educational facilities in the County, representing a tremendous investment in Arizona’s second least populous county which has approximately 16,500 residents.
At the end of last year, Sinema championed multiple pieces of legislation delivering critical water priorities to Arizona tribal communities into law. The bills – which include the Colorado River Indian Tribes Water Resiliency Act of 2022 – were originally excluded from the end of year government spending package, but Sinema ensured unanimous passage through direct bipartisan negotiations with her Senate colleagues.
Since securing more than $12 billion in drought relief and Western water funding in her bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction law she shaped, the Senator has met with diverse water experts, stakeholders, and leaders from across the state to discuss implementing the historic funds. After securing $4 billion for water security in last year’s Inflation Reduction law, Sinema launched her Water Advisory Council to develop short and long-term strategies strengthening the West’s water future. In April, CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores attended Sinema’s Water Advisory Council meeting to update the Senator on how CRIT’s plans to use the Sinema-secured funding.