Senate President Petersen Advances Arizona's Priorities in Washington Despite Federal Government Shutdown

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Senate President Petersen Advances Arizona's Priorities in Washington Despite Federal Government Shutdown

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— State Senate President Warren Petersen is returning from the nation's capital after high-level meetings this week with members of President Trump's Administration to advance Arizona's top priorities – border security, water, land management, and election integrity. His visit comes as Democrat federal lawmakers, including Arizona's U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, continue to block efforts to reopen the federal government.

To obtain reimbursement for Arizona's border enforcement costs, President Petersen met with senior administration officials on Tuesday and emphasized the hundreds of millions of dollars the state was forced to spend during the Biden Administration's refusal to secure the southern border. HR 1, also known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill" signed by President Trump earlier this year, sets aside dedicated funding to pay states back for border security costs. He stressed that Arizona's taxpayers should not shoulder the burden of Washington's failures and requested swift distribution of funds.

Additionally, President Petersen reinforced Arizona's position that any new Colorado River agreement between the seven Upper and Lower Basin states must be fair and must safeguard Arizona's families, farmers, and businesses – without ceding state authority to federal agencies.

President Petersen continued discussions with officials from the U.S. Department of Interior on reversing the Biden Administration's unlawful land grab of nearly a million acres in northern Arizona. This designation of a "national monument" effectively blocks access to critical uranium reserves needed for national security and energy independence. It also limits Arizona's ability to manage its natural resources responsibly and support local economies in the region.

President Petersen also met with top officials at the U.S. Department of Justice to address the Mi Familia Vota v. Fontes case, which challenges Arizona's proof-of-citizenship requirement to register to vote. With the potential for this litigation to reach the U.S. Supreme Court, President Petersen requested federal support to ensure Arizona's election laws are respected and faithfully enforced as written.

"While Senators Kelly and Gallego join other Washington Democrats in dragging out an unnecessary and harmful government shutdown, Arizona's conservative leadership is moving forward," said President Petersen. "We're fighting for our taxpayers, for our water supply, and for our right to secure our elections. The Trump Administration understands what's at stake for Arizona, and they're working with us to get results where Washington gridlock has failed."

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov