Trump Administration Commits to Delivering Positive Changes for Arizona During Meetings with Senate President Petersen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                 

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Trump Administration Commits to Delivering Positive Changes for Arizona

During Meetings with Senate President Petersen

PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Upon several meetings in Washington, D.C. this week between members of President Donald J. Trump's cabinet and Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, positive action is being taken to strengthen Arizona and states alike.

On Wednesday, President Petersen and Congressman Andy Biggs met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to remedy four years of the Biden Administration's overly burdensome, costly, and unattainable regulations impacting Arizona's air quality, energy, and water resources. President Petersen requested the EPA recognize Arizona's attainment of ozone standards, specifically transported ozone emanating outside of the United States, as well as the importance of accepting the state's commonsense implementation plan for regional haze. On energy, he encouraged reversal of the Biden Administration's 11th-hour attack on reliable baseload power generation at the Coronado Generating Station, set to occur just before Arizona's peak summer energy demand months. Finally, after discussing issues with definitional uncertainty in the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) program, President Petersen was invited to a press conference with Administrator Zeldin, joined by U.S. Senators and Representatives, where the EPA announced its plan to overhaul WOTUS to the benefit of states, like Arizona, as requested.

"Radical environmental regulations imposed by the Biden Administration have hurt hardworking Arizonans, impeded our state's economic growth, and have contributed to the inflation nightmare that President Trump is diligently working to solve," said President Petersen. " Administrator Zeldin is delivering on President Trump's promises to lead America into a golden era. I appreciate him taking the time to listen to and act on our concerns, as well as for his foresight in developing a commonsense plan to protect the future of Arizona and our great nation."

President Petersen also met with the Office of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to discuss his letter alerting A.G. Bondi of the Mi Familia Vota v. Fontes case concerning Arizona’s proof of citizenship to vote, and whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) should reconsider its position in the case. He also highlighted how problematic the Biden Administration's land grab near the Grand Canyon has become for Arizona, and whether such a move could be reversed. Additionally, he shared recent revelations and the widespread implications surrounding the potential plagiarism of testimony and reports by a key expert witness in the Petersen v. Doe case concerning protections for women's sports against male intrusion. Finally, President Petersen discussed the problematic investigation and report on the Phoenix Police Department that was produced by the DOJ, under the leadership of former A.G. Merrick Garland, and whether the findings in that report could be revisited. 

"Progressive Democrat activists have launched an assault against Arizona's laws and our law enforcement, yet instead of defending our state's interests, Arizona's A.G. is wasting time fighting against the Trump Administration in an effort to obstruct his policies that voters overwhelmingly want implemented," said President Petersen. "I'm relieved Arizona has A.G. Bondi as an ally to help rectify wrongs committed against Arizona, and to defend against a weaponized government."

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov