For the first time in more than 30 years, a U.S. Senate subcommittee held an outdoor hearing in Flagstaff. Sen. Mark Kelly heard testimony from Col. Andrew Baker, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett, Navajo County Supervisor Alberto Peshlakai, and Pascua Yaqui Tribal Chairman Peter Yucupisio. They discussed how federal funds are working to improve water supply and reduce flood risk in small, rural, and underserved communities. Kelly said after the hearing that once the Rio de Flag project is complete, it will mean no more flooding threat for half of Flagstaff's residents, which will be a game-changer. “Once this Rio de Flag project is completed, I think we'll see economic growth in Flagstaff as well,” Kelly said. Kelly said during the hearing that he plans to introduce new legislation, the Drought Resilient Infrastructure Act, specifically to create new programs to respond to drought conditions and give new powers to the Army Corps of Engineers. It was announced that there is.
