New Members in Congress Offer Opportunities for Arizona Agriculture
By Dennis Nuxoll, Jonathan Sarager and Stephanie Metzinger W hen Washington, D.C., greeted the 116 th Congress in January, it welcomed a new slate of Arizona Capitol Hill delegates, who represent a shift in the state’s political landscape. Ann Kirkpatrick and Greg Stanton were added to Arizona’s nine-member contingent in the U.S. House of Representatives, flipping the 5-4 majority from Republican to now Democrat. This is the first time there has been a majority Democratic Arizona House delegation in half a century. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally are making the jump to the Senate as the two newest seat holders for the state. Arizona previously has never had a female senator; now it will have two. While this cadre of lawmakers potentially signals a new
political era for Arizona, it may also put the state in a better position to represent those in agriculture. Here are the four Congressional freshman to watch this term. U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) McSally replaced U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, who was appointed to the Senate in September 2018, filling the seat of the late John McCain. She sits on the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, as well as the Armed Services Committee. Additionally, she sits on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where she may play a significant role in decisions relating to water and environmental issues that affect Western Growers (WG) members. This includes potential regulatory changes to the Endangered Species Act to make the 1973 law more effective in achieving its intent while remaining workable for all affected stakeholders. “Farmers and ranchers play a huge role in Arizona’s economy,” said Senator McSally. “As our U.S. senator, I will continue advocating for farm country and work to protect the long, vibrant legacy it holds in our great state.” U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) Balancing out the Senate is Sinema. Sinema defeated McSally in the November 6 general election to replace Republican Jeff Flake, who retired. She is the first Democrat to win a Senate election in Arizona in 30 years. “Supporting Arizona farmers and ranchers is crucial for our state’s economy, and we’ll continue making sure Washington dysfunction doesn’t stand in the way of their success,” said Senator Sinema. “We are working across the aisle in the Senate to secure our state’s water future and protect our producers from harmful tariffs.” She currently is on the following committee assignments: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Veterans’ Affairs; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Sinema has been an advocate of implementing commonsense solutions to fix the broken immigration system. Though her focus lies on border security and protecting DREAMers, she has been vocal about Washington’s failure to act on immigration and its effect on Arizona’s economy and communities. Both Sinema and McSally met with the WG Board of Directors last May in D.C. to speak about key issues such as trade and the need for immigration reform. U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.-02) Kirkpatrick is a new face in the 116 th Congress, but she
Senator Sinema with Vic Smith
16 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com MARCH | APRIL 2019
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