U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona visited Mr. Parker on Tuesday, November 23rd. Kelly, a Democrat, said the trip accomplished his goal of visiting every county in Arizona in his first year in office. La Paz was the only county in the state that he had not visited since his election, although he had visited several times before that.

Kelly's first stop was the Parker Learning Center at Arizona Western College. He met with staff, discussed higher education issues in small communities, and toured the campus. He also discussed workforce development with Catherine Ocampo, AWC's associate dean for La Paz Services.

After touring the university, Kelly met with leaders from the Colorado River Indian Tribe, stopped by the Parker Community/Senior Center, and then had lunch with leaders from La Paz County, the Town of Parker, and the Town of Quartzsite. He also visited Parker Dam and met with officials from the Bureau of Reclamation.

La Paz County District 2 Supervisor Duce Miner said his meeting with Kelly went well. He said they discussed a variety of issues, including water issues, concerns about the recent U.S. Census and Planet Ranch Road, and the issuance of housing for federal prisoners at the La Paz County Jail so the prison district can support itself. The final issue was raised by Sheriff Will Ponce.

“We respectfully expressed our concerns to him,” Miner said. “He seemed to be paying attention and responding to the concerns that were raised. He did what a senator is supposed to do: ask his staff to look into all of this. We also appreciated his assistance in land transportation for the Bureau of Management.”

Parker Mayor Karen Bonds also said the meeting was productive.

“I had the opportunity to discuss community concerns and share ideas with other local elected officials,” Bonds said in an email to the Pioneer. “Senator Kerry and his staff were very receptive to what was discussed.”

Kelly also sat down with Parker Pioneer for a while. One of the topics he wanted to talk about was the infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He said there is a lot in this $1.2 trillion bill that will benefit Arizonans.

Among the benefits for Arizonans would be funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. It would also pump $8.3 billion into water infrastructure in Western states, including funding to repair aging dams in Arizona and fund drought contingency plans. The infrastructure bill also resolves many of the tribes' water claims.

One item in the bill that Kelly mentioned to Ocampo includes $65 billion to expand high-speed internet access, of which an estimated $100 million would go to Arizona. The idea came to him after Ocampo told him about the challenges the university is facing with remote instruction from its Yuma campus.

The bill also includes funding for highways, bridges, public transit, passenger and freight rail, and airports. The bill also includes $3.85 billion for land port improvements. In Arizona, this means $178 million for the Port of San Luis, $216 million for the new Port of Douglas, and $184 million for the rehabilitation of the current Port of Douglas.

Another provision of the bill would provide $65 billion for power grid improvements. This also allows for increased energy usage and renewable energy sources.

“We've never made this kind of investment in infrastructure before,” he says. He added that the bill also provides funding for infrastructure maintenance.

Mr. Kelly also promoted President Joe Biden's budget plan, or “Build Back Better.” He said the bill would bring positive changes to Arizona families when it comes to child care and health care. It also helps people return to work.

“Middle-class families will have fewer expenses,” he says. “It would be paid for by taxing wealthy corporations.”

Kelly was asked about the U.S.-Mexico border issue. He said the federal government had failed to meet the expectations of bordering states.

“We need an administration that addresses this issue, but it does so in accordance with our values,” he said. “We need to treat immigrants with respect.”

At the same time, Kelly said border security is essential. He said this could mean building walls and fences in some areas, increasing the use of technology and increasing Border Patrol personnel.

“We have to control our borders,” he said.

Kelly said large illegal drug cartels are also involved in transporting people to the border and smuggling across the border. He said human trafficking was just one of their many criminal enterprises.

“They are a threat to our national security,” he said.

Kelly said he works with the Department of Homeland Security on border issues and meets frequently with Border Patrol administrators.

“I ask them, 'What do you need?'” he said.

Mr Kelly said one of the big needs is to increase the number of judges adjudicating asylum claims.

When it comes to the border, Kelly said, “We can do better.”

Mr. Kerry acknowledged the country's partisan divisions, which he said are hurting the United States in the long run. One thing he's trying to do, he said, is reach out to his Republican colleagues across the aisle in the Senate. He has worked with some of the most conservative members of the Senate, he said.

“It’s important to listen to those on the other side of the aisle,” he said. “We don't agree on everything, but there's a lot we can agree on.”

“We need to get people talking again,” Kelly said of the polarized state of American society today. “We can speak to each other with respect. We have to bring people together.”