Congresswoman tours district

CLIFTON — Greenlee and Graham Counties’ representative to Congress made a number of stops in the Gila Valley over the weekend, part of a whirlwind tour of the district.

U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., met with constituents at Tyler’s Taste of Texas restaurant, in Clifton, Friday, and at the Main Street Café, in Safford Saturday. She also met with the Graham County Board of Supervisors, toured Eastern Arizona College’s nursing program, in Thatcher and reviewed development of the new Fort Thomas School District elementary school in Bylas.

“We will be down here. We care about Greenlee, Clifton and Morenci,” Kirkpatrick told the crowd of about two-dozen in Clifton.

Kirkpatrick told the group she had retained seniority from her previous stint in Congress two years ago, and she was assigned to the Veterans and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. And she is the ranking member on one of the Veterans Committee subcommittees.

“So that means I can set the agenda,” she said. “So please, tell your veterans that they are a top priority for me.”

Veterans dominated the talk in Safford, as Kirkpatrick was filled on the concerns facing vets in the Gila Valley. Top is the lack of local counseling services for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and having to go to Tucson for basic health care.

“I have heard throughout the district about the lack of local services,” Kirkpatrick told the group of about seven. “That means the veterans can never establish a good doctor-patient relationship. I understand.”

She also heard constituent concerns over the need for reinvestment in infrastructure, the water concerns hitting the Gila Valley and unemployment.

“We need to diversify our economy. Mining is great but copper prices fluctuate. And now we see the lack of water facing farmers. We have to do something to help Arizona,” Kirkpatrick said.

The first step, she said, is reaching out across the aisle. Kirkpatrick is working with U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., and U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on a proposed land exchange between the federal government and Resolution Copper Mining. The land involves the Oak Flat Campground near Superior, and in return Resolution Copper would transfer 5,300 acres for conservation.

Opposed to the trade is the San Carlos Apache Tribe, citing violation of sacred land and health concerns the mining could have on the water tables.

“I respect the concerns of the San Carlos Tribe,” Kirkpatrick said. “But I think we can find common ground.”

In addition to the tour of the Gila Valley, Kirkpatrick has visited Flagstaff, Sedona, Globe, Casa Grande and the Navajo Reservation. Her district stretches from the Utah border to Duncan and encompasses more square miles than the State of Pennsylvania.

Kirkpatrick said she plans to tour the district quarterly.