Funding from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law that Sinema led and Kelly helped shape improves Southern Arizona’s ability to combat historic drought conditions
WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly today announced approximately $82 million is headed to the Yuma area to repair and improve outdated water systems and projects in Yuma. The funding comes from the Sinema-led and Kelly-shaped Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law through the Aging Infrastructure Account, a program Sinema and Kelly prioritized while negotiating provisions of the historic law.
“Improving outdated water systems ensures the health and safety of Arizona communities, strengthens economic opportunities, and secures our state’s water future,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law.
“As the historic drought continues to impact our state, and farmers in particular, repairing our aging water infrastructure is more important than ever. Thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law, these projects to repair dams, pipes, and aging canals in the Yuma area are going to get done,” said Kelly.
The funding comes on the heels of Sinema-led meetings with Arizona local leaders who stressed the importance of modernizing the state’s aging and wastewater infrastructure in order to secure Arizona’s water future. Kelly has maintained a strong focus on water and drought while in the Senate, chairing a hearing to examine federal solutions as well as recently reforming Congress’ Water Resources Development Act to include major Arizona provisions. The urgency is emphasized by record low water levels in Arizona.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law makes the strongest investment in clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in U.S. history, delivering clean water to millions of American families. Sinema and Kelly announced earlier this year that a $82.8 million investment from the bipartisan infrastructure law was coming to Arizona, specifically to strengthen water systems and environmental infrastructure. Additionally, Sinema and Kelly announced in January that over $50.5 million will be invested in Arizona in 2022 for critical drought relief measures from the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Breakdown of funding for Yuma Area Projects secured by Sinema and Kelly in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law be found HERE.
Click HERE to learn more about how the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act impacts water systems and drought resilience