The House Natural Resources Committee is passing a major jobs bill introduced by U.S. Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., that would bring thousands of jobs to Arizona’s Copper Corridor.
Introduced in February, the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act (HR 687) may now advance to a vote before the full House of Representatives. A full House vote is not yet scheduled.
Kirkpatrick said, “I’m pleased to see our bipartisan jobs bill is moving forward, and I thank Congressman Gosar for his efforts. I’m optimistic this bill will pass the full House, but there’s more work to be done with our colleagues in the Senate. I will continue to provide a voice for the mining communities, tribes and environmental groups in my district who have many perspectives on the Superior Mine project. I believe we can create these good jobs while also respecting and addressing outstanding concerns.”
Background:
The Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act authorizes a land exchange near Superior, Ariz., that will open up land for a major copper mine in exchange for protecting more than 5,000 acres of Arizona conservation lands. The effort is projected to create about 3,700 jobs and have an economic impact of more than $61 billion. The region is part of Arizona’s Copper Corridor, where many communities have more than a century-long legacy of copper mining.
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About Ann Kirkpatrick
Arizona born and raised, Ann Kirkpatrick resides in Flagstaff, and her earliest roots are found in Eastern Arizona in McNary on the White Mountain Apache Nation. Her father ran a general store and her mother was a schoolteacher. Ann graduated from Blue Ridge High School in the White Mountains and then worked her way through the University of Arizona, earning a bachelor’s degree and then a law degree there. After earning her law degree, Ann served the people of Greater Arizona in a variety of positions. In 1980, she became Coconino County’s first female Deputy County Attorney, cracking down on criminals and protecting neighborhoods and families in Northern Arizona. She later served as Sedona’s City Attorney. In November 2004, Ann’s neighbors elected her to the Arizona House of Representatives to represent Legislative District 2, which includes Flagstaff and the Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Navajo, and San Juan Southern Paiute Nations. At the state Capitol, Ann championed fiscal responsibility and quality education. During her 2008-10 term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ann’s results stood out in Congress, seeing more of her bills and amendments signed into law than almost any other freshman representative. Ann’s hard work created jobs, helped small businesses, hired more border patrol agents, and protected veterans and seniors in Greater Arizona. In November 2012, the voters of Congressional District 1 elected Kirkpatrick to once again represent them in Congress. She serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.