My Maiden Speech and a Historic Investment in Our Nation’s Infrastructure
By: Senator Mark Kelly
Tags: Arizona, John Mccain, Afghanistan, Senate, Infrastructure

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Hello, Arizona.

Welcome to the first edition of my office’s newsletter. We’ll be sharing key updates on how my staff and I are serving the people of our state. There’s a lot going on in Washington and around Arizona so this newsletter is one of the ways we can stay in touch.

I want to start by expressing how grateful I am to each of the more than 800,000 U.S. servicemembers, from those who signed up in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our country to those who rapidly deployed over the past few weeks, for their service in Afghanistan over the twenty years of this war. We owe a debt to them and to the families and loved ones of those who did not return home including the servicemembers who were killed and injured protecting the airlift that evacuated more than 120,000 people. I will continue working to assist Americans and Afghan partners trying to leave Afghanistan. Leaving any American citizen behind is unacceptable, and I will keep pushing this administration to do everything in its power to get our people out.

Three weeks ago, the Senate passed the historic, bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to invest in rebuilding our aging infrastructure, to create good-paying jobs for Arizonans, and to prepare our economy for the 21st century. I was part of the group of Republican and Democratic Senators negotiating and writing this legislation.

This bill is a huge win for Arizona. You can read more details on how this bill will help Arizonans here.

Senator Kelly with Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and local leaders discussing how the bipartisan infrastructure bill will benefit public transit in Tucson.

Earlier in August, I delivered my Maiden Speech on the Senate floor, and I shared the many ways we’re delivering results for Arizona while also remaining focused on beating the COVID-19 virus and reinventing our economy for the future. I spoke about what Senator John McCain’s legacy of service means to Arizona. Senator McCain was a hero of mine when I was a young Naval aviator. I was honored that Cindy McCain joined me in the Senate gallery as my guest. You can watch the full speech here.

My team and I are always here to help any Arizonan who needs assistance navigating a federal agency. Please contact one of our offices or go to our website: kelly.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Senator Mark Kelly

The bipartisan infrastructure deal is a big win for Arizonans

On August 10, the Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a historic, bipartisan infrastructure bill that will make critical investments in Arizona’s future. We’ll be able to upgrade our state’s roads and bridges, increase our resilience to drought, improve wildfire management, and expand access to affordable high-speed internet. The legislation will also upgrade Arizona’s drinking and wastewater infrastructure, modernize our state’s ports of entry, improve water and transportation infrastructure in tribal communities, and clean up environmentally hazardous areas.

Senator Kelly is a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where he worked with Republicans and Democrats to shape the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, the Energy Infrastructure Act, and the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 — three bipartisan bills that form the backbone of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

A number of bills that Senator Kelly introduced with Republican Senators also made it into the final agreement, including legislation to improve federal wildfire response, strengthen electric grid reliability, improve safety on rural roads, and study vehicular highway use. This bill proves that when Republicans and Democrats work together, it’s possible to find common ground and get big things done.

Senator Kelly will keep working across the aisle to bring home the resources that Arizonans need to get ahead.

More details about the bill and the investments Senator Kelly helped secure for Arizona can be found here.

Did you see Senator Kelly’s Maiden Speech on the Senate floor?

On August 4, Senator Kelly delivered his first speech on the floor of the United States Senate. There’s a Senate tradition of new senators giving an official “Maiden Speech” during their first term. Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Senator John McCain, attended Kelly’s speech as his distinguished guest and received a standing ovation from the Senate.

In his Maiden Speech, Senator Kelly highlighted how he’s worked with Republicans and Democrats to get direct relief to Arizonans struggling under the weight of the pandemic. He also shared how he is working to rebuild and reinvent Arizona’s economy for the future by creating new, good-paying jobs in high-tech industries like microchip manufacturing, and getting Arizonans the technical training and skills they need to work those jobs, including at Arizona’s community colleges.

Here’s what some of Arizona’s business, education and community leaders had to say:

Watch the full speech here:

Our staff is hard at work serving Arizonans

Our office is ready to serve Arizonans in need of help with any federal agency. Just recently, our team successfully worked to secure more than $250,000 in critical Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) assistance for four Arizona small businesses who contacted our office after facing delays or other hurdles.

One of the Arizona businesses our office assisted was Naughton’s Plumbing, Heating and Cooling in Tucson. Here’s what Frank Naughton, the owner, had to say:

“My 70-year-old, family-owned business was denied PPP funding based on a technicality. We reached out to Senator Kelly for much-needed help. Senator Kelly and his constituent services team worked tirelessly to help our small business get our funding approved by the SBA. These funds will ensure our small business will continue serving the Tucson community today and into the future. Thank you, Senator Kelly, to you and your staff for your focus and tenacity addressing our situation in these unprecedented times. We are forever grateful!”

Our office has returned more than $1 million to Arizona taxpayers by cutting through red tape and getting them the benefits or payments they were owed by the federal government. We encourage any Arizonan facing an issue with the federal government to reach out to us for assistance. Please contact one of our offices or visit kelly.senate.gov!

How Senator Kelly is working for Arizona

In addition to being a critical member of the bipartisan group that passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Senator Kelly has introduced other pieces of legislation currently before the Senate that will benefit Arizonans, including:

The VA Quality Health Care Accountability and Transparency Act to improve the way the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shares its performance metrics with veterans, their caregivers, and the public.

to improve the way the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shares its performance metrics with veterans, their caregivers, and the public. The Highway Formula Modernization Act , which will ensure that growing states like Arizona are no longer shortchanged on federal highways funding.

, which will ensure that growing states like Arizona are no longer shortchanged on federal highways funding. The Accelerating Rural Broadband Deployment Act , which will increase access to existing infrastructure that will allow easier and faster installation of broadband services.

, which will increase access to existing infrastructure that will allow easier and faster installation of broadband services. The Urban Waters Federal Partnership Program, which will authorize an EPA program to revitalize the Salt and Gila river systems through the Rio Reimagined Project.

Senator Kelly also passed an amendment to the bipartisan infrastructure bill with Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. The amendment will require the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to conduct a study that will provide up-to-date information to make decisions about our highway infrastructure and investment, which is critical to growing states like Arizona.

Senator Kelly in the news

Arizona Republic: Invoking spirit of late Sen. John McCain, Sen. Mark Kelly delivers first Senate speech

KTAR: Here’s what Arizona would be allocated under infrastructure plan

Gila Herald: Sen. Kelly secures key Arizona priorities in landmark bipartisan infrastructure legislation

KYMA: Sen. Mark Kelly says new infrastructure bill will benefit Yuma County

Arizona Republic: Infrastructure bill could fix polluted water near Arizona air force bases

Roll Call: Photo of the Day “Raising Arizona”

Senator Kelly with Cindy McCain at the Capitol

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