Arizona

16 October 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Ann Kirkpatrick today released the following statement mourning the loss of Willard V. Oliver, a Navajo Code Talker from Lukachukai who passed away Wednesday at the age of 88:

“The loss of Mr. Oliver deeply saddened me. Through his service as a Code Talker, Mr. Oliver did so much for this Nation. I would like to extend my sympathies to Mr. Oliver’s friends and family.

“During World War Two and the Korean War, Navajo Code Talkers saved countless American lives. Mr. Oliver’s service to our country as a distinguished representative of the Diné people will be remembered.    » read more »

Senate Bill Would Cut Funds that Arizona's House Delegation Fought to Protect

15 October 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep Harry Mitchell today called on the U.S. Senate to block a $172 million cut to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) that reimburses state and local law enforcement agencies for the cost of arresting and jailing illegal immigrants. Mitchell and other members of Arizona's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives have led the fight in the House to protect the program.    » read more »

Arizona team among 20 in national competition

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Thursday will view the University of Arizona’s entry in the Solar Decathlon, a national competition to design and build the most energy-efficient solar-powered house.

“To compete in the Solar Decathlon is a tremendous honor for the University of Arizona,” said Giffords. “This an exciting time for solar energy and every Arizonan should be proud that a team of students from our state is part of it.”

Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Solar Decathlon is aimed at promoting green technology. More than 800 students from 20 universities in the United States, Canada, Spain and Germany are competing.    » read more »

Public-Private Partnership Brings Dry Lake Project Online

October 12, 2009 -- PHOENIX, Arizona – Calling it a reflection of growing energy concerns across the nation, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today lauded the public-private partnership that developed the Dry Lake Wind Power Project that now feeds clean, renewable energy to homes and businesses in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.    » read more »

9 October 2009 -- FLAGSTAFF, AZ – Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick announced today that the Department of Energy will be making more than $3.7 million available to help develop solar energy in Arizona. The grants are part of $87 million being allocated nationwide, of which $50 million comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The bulk of the funding, $3,328,000, will go to Arizona Public Service to study the impact of running large amounts of photovoltaic electricity through the electric grid. The Flagstaff Community Power pilot project will be the site of these tests, which will determine where technology and infrastructure must be improved so that more consumers can dependably access solar power.    » read more »

05 October 2009 -- FLAGSTAFF, AZ – Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy will be making $6,079,400 available to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use on Navajo Nation. The funds will be allocated through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The grant will be used to develop a comprehensive energy efficiency and conservation strategy, conduct energy audits for homes and businesses, establish efficiency programs across the Nation and improve energy technology in tribal government facilities.    » read more »

Bill to create long-term plan for solar research now goes to full House

October 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ Solar Technology Roadmap Act is on its way to the full House after earning strong bipartisan support today from her colleagues on the Science and Technology Committee.

The committee’s approval of the bill this afternoon in a voice vote was enthusiastically welcomed by one of Arizona’s pre-eminent solar energy researchers, Dr. Roger Angel, a professor of astronomy and optical sciences at the University of Arizona.    » read more »

$9.5 Million Will Help Communities Reduce Utility Bills

September 15, 2009 -- PHOENIX – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today announced the first commitment of funds associated with Arizona’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 for rural Arizona.

More than $9.5 million will be available to five Arizona counties and 68 communities, with a population of 35,000 or less, to develop and implement projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing energy use in their communities.    » read more »

August 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration's effort to strengthen communities and ease pressures on the housing market, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced $309 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding to spur the development of affordable housing units in Arizona, Connecticut, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Vermont.    » read more »

(Phoenix, Ariz. – August 4, 2009) Responding to a report issued today on the results of the federal “Making Home Affordable” loan modification program, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard again called upon mortgage loan servicers to ramp up their efforts to help homeowners at risk of foreclosure.

According to the report, Arizona lenders and servicers vary greatly in the results of their modification programs. Many of the lenders with the biggest Arizona market shares have only single-digit success rates in their modification programs.    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- (Phoenix, AZ) – Arizona’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased five-tenths of a percentage point to 8.2 percent in May from 7.7 percent in April. Arizona remains below the national average which also rose by five-tenths of a percentage point from 8.9 percent to 9.4 percent.

Arizona’s economy had a loss of 21,300 nonfarm jobs in May. After a slight moderation in the over-the year losses in April, the rate of loss increased from 6.6 percent in April to 7.1 percent in May.    » read more »

Recovery Act funding for Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oregon to expand state weatherization assistance programs and create jobs

June 8, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the transfer of nearly $80 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oregon to expand state weatherization assistance programs.

After submitting their comprehensive state weatherization plans that were due on May 12, these states are now receiving 40 percent of the total funding previously authorized under the legislation. Today’s announcement represents the next step in the Obama Administration’s efforts to promote energy efficiency, lower energy costs, and help support new jobs.    » read more »

PHOENIX – During a bill signing ceremony at the State Capitol, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer today signed HB2001 into law. HB 2001 will allow parents of disabled and foster children to continue to choose and utilize the school that best serves the needs of their children.

“I am so honored and proud to sign into law this important legislation,” Governor Brewer stated. “These foster parents and parents of disabled students selected an educational environment that is best suited for their children, and this bill will allow them to continue on the educational path that they have chosen."    » read more »

Produce Cost Savings Of $3 Million

May 19, 2009 -- PHOENIX—As summer approaches, so does the beginning of construction for several highway projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Arizona Department of Transportation has been busy moving these 41 projects forward through the bid process – and realizing cost savings that will help boost the state’s economy.    » read more »

PHOENIX (May 14, 2009) – Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed today that a woman in her late 40’s with underlying lung disease died last week from complications of Novel H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu). This is the first death in Arizona associated with the new flu strain and the fourth in the nation.

“Unfortunately, we knew this was coming. Flu is serious, especially for those with underlying health conditions,” said Dr. Bob England, director of Maricopa Department of Public Health. “However, I need to emphasize that this death does not change our course of action here in Maricopa County.”    » read more »