August 4, 2025

Kelly, Gallego Advance Arizona Rural Development and Public Safety Projects

Ag bill includes more than $2.7 million for rural Arizona fire, police, and flood protection projects and major investments in food assistance, rural housing, Tribal colleges, and water infrastructure

Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego announced that they advanced major investments for Arizona communities in the Senate’s annual Agriculture and Rural Development funding bill, including six Arizona projects to upgrade fire and police facilities and improve flood control infrastructure. The bill also supports drought resilience, food assistance, rural housing, and Tribal and Hispanic-serving institutions. It next heads to the House of Representatives where it must pass before going to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“Families in rural Arizona need affordable housing, clean drinking water, and access to healthy food. That’s what we’re working to deliver while giving Arizona firefighters and cops the tools to keep those communities safe,” said Kelly.

“I’m proud to have fought for nearly $3 million for Arizona included in this agriculture appropriations package. These investments will upgrade outdated emergency response equipment, improve water infrastructure, and strengthen public safety in places like Pinal County, Superior, Bisbee, and more,” said Gallego. “I’m especially grateful to the local governments who worked with us to get these proposals in the package, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure they make it across the finish line.”

See below for a breakdown of Kelly and Gallego-led priorities included in the bill

Arizona Priorities Requested and Secured by Kelly and Gallego:

Kelly and Gallego secured over $2.7 million for six Arizona projects in the Agriculture Appropriations bill:

Project Name	Recipient	Investment Amount	Project Purpose
Bisbee Fire Truck	City of Bisbee	$620,000	This project will allow the City of Bisbee to replace a 30-year-old fire truck with a new aerial ladder fire truck so that Bisbee has the resources needed to fight fires in the historic downtown district.
Alpine Fire District Emergency Response Vehicle	Alpine Fire District	$140,000	This project will purchase a new emergency response vehicle for the Alpine Fire District, increasing its capacity to support fire, EMS, and search and rescue operations in rural eastern Arizona.
Clarkdale Police Station	Town of Clarkdale	$150,000	This project will make important structural upgrades to the Clarkdale Police Station. The building dates back to 1918 and needs critical repairs to provide a safe working environment for law enforcement personnel.
Tonto Basin Fire Station Remodel	Tonto Basin Fire District	$158,000	This project will renovate the fire station for the Tonto Basin Fire District. The fire station was originally constructed in 1970 and now needs significant upgrades to meet the needs of today’s first responders.
Superior Fire Engine	Town of Superior	$718,000	This project will replace a 25-year-old fire engine with a new fire engine for the Superior Fire Department.
Smith Wash Watershed Plan	Pinal County	$1,000,000	This project will develop a flood control plan for portions of Smith Wash in Pinal County to protect nearby homes and infrastructure.

Rural Housing and Infrastructure

$26 billion to support rural homeownership through loans for low-income families to purchase, build, or improve homes in rural and Tribal areas, helping address Arizona’s rural housing shortage.
$1.7 billion to preserve affordable rental housing for low-income families and seniors living in rural communities, including those across Arizona.
$1.3 billion for grants and loans to upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems in underserved rural areas, supporting small towns in Arizona with aging infrastructure.
$35 million to help low-income rural homeowners make critical home repairs such as fixing plumbing, roofing, or heating in older homes across the state.
$25 million to expand self-help housing programs that allow Arizona families to partner with nonprofits and build their own homes at reduced cost.
$5 million for the Native CDFI Relending Pilot Program to expand homeownership opportunities in Tribal communities through partnership with trusted Native-led lenders. Kelly has long pushed for funding to close the home loan access gap in Indian Country.

Nutrition Assistance for Arizona Families and Seniors

$8.2 billion to ensure every eligible woman, infant, and child receives nutrition assistance. In Arizona, nearly 150,000 individuals rely on WIC monthly.
Fully funds SNAP and school meal programs for fiscal year 2026.
$425 million to provide monthly USDA food boxes to over 700,000 low-income seniors through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), including thousands in Arizona.
$90 million to expand WIC’s breastfeeding peer counselor program to improve maternal and infant health outcomes in underserved communities.
$80 million to support food transportation and storage so food banks across Arizona can safely provide more meals to families in need.
$1.5 billion for Food for Peace and $240 million for the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program to fund international meal programs using U.S.-grown food, sustaining Arizona’s agricultural exports while supporting global food security.

Support for Tribal and Hispanic-Serving Institutions

$11 million for extension services at 1994 Tribal Land-Grant Institutions—including Diné College, Navajo Technical University, and Tohono O’odham Community College—to support locally-focused youth STEM education and agricultural training.
$5 million for Tribal college research programs to expand institutional research capacity for culturally relevant projects in public health, food systems, and land stewardship.
$16 million to expand agriculture education at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) like Arizona Western College and Pima Community College, preparing Latino students for careers in food, environmental, and ag-tech sectors.

Drought Resilience and Watershed Protection

Directs USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to prioritize implementation of Arizona’s Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan and support projects and programs that conserve surface or ground water, improve drought resiliency, and addresses conservation needs
$52.3 million for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program to identify and provide support for the unique watershed protection and flood prevention needs in rural communities

Public Health, FDA Reform, and Medical Research

Recommends FDA continue to take input on the state of progress toward a Valley fever vaccine and issue guidance for industry seeking approval of such a vaccine.
Requires FDA to analyze delays in prescription drug approvals and identify ways to improve first-cycle approval rates, helping patients access life-saving treatments faster in the face of staff reductions at FDA.
Maintains funding for the HHS Public-Private Partnership for Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases established by the ACT for ALS Act, through which the Tucson-based Critical Path Institute supports the development and design of clinical trials for ALS and related conditions.

Click here for the complete agriculture funding bill summary.