PHX Reporter

YUMA, AZ – On April 14, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), a member of the House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC), met with officials and stakeholders in Parker and Yuma.

As a member of the HNRC Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries, Rep. Gallego discussed the ongoing western water crisis with La Paz County and Colorado River Indian Tribe leaders in Parker. In the afternoon, he held a listening session with growers, producers, ranchers, and other agricultural stakeholders at the Yuma Center for Excellence in Desert Agriculture.

“As the leaders in Parker know, first and foremost, we need long-term solutions to fix our Western drought,” said Rep. Gallego. “It was exciting to have an engaging discussion with leaders of La Paz County and the Colorado River Indian Tribe. Whether it’s fighting to make sure Arizona gets it fair share of water, preventing foreign governments from exploiting our resources, or encouraging the use of innovative technologies to reduce water loss, I am committed to championing Arizona’s water rights.”

Earlier this week, the Bureau of Reclamation released the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Near-term Colorado River Operations, an environmental analysis outlining alternatives and tools needed to manage drought in the Colorado River Basin and strengthen water security in the West.

In response to the draft, Rep. Gallego released a statement encouraging the Bureau of Reclamation to remember Arizona’s leadership in voluntary water conservation.

Rep. Gallego has long championed Arizona’s water rights in Congress. Last year, he penned an opinion piece in the Tucson Sentinel touting Arizona’s voluntary water conservation efforts and urging neighboring states to do the same.

In February, Rep. Gallego announced $128 million in federal funding was heading to Arizona to settle Indian water rights claims. Last Congress, Rep. Gallego introduced The Domestic Water Protection Act of 2022, a bill aimed at addressing the abuse of water resources by foreign governments in drought-stricken states like Arizona.

At the listening session in Yuma, Rep. Gallego received input from the community on the status of this year’s Farm Bill and identified opportunities to support Yuma’s farmers in Congress.

“Arizona’s agricultural communities not only feed our state, but they also feed the country,” continued Rep. Gallego. “With the Farm Bill under consideration this year I am committed to fighting for Arizona’s farmers. It was a pleasure to meet with stakeholders in Yuma to learn how our office can continue supporting their interests in Congress.”

In January of this year, Rep. Gallego led a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack expressing concern on the recent increase in egg prices in Arizona. He also called on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address concerns regarding the USDA’s lack of oversight in foreign acquisition of U.S. agricultural land.

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Rep. Ruben Gallego is a Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.

Original source can be found here.