Rep. Crane Touts Rural Healthcare Win, Hosts Secretary Burgum

Recently, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) attended several engagements to advocate on behalf of rural Arizonans. With the annual district work period drawing to a close, he used the time to strengthen partnerships, host Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and meet with stakeholders at key sites across the Grand Canyon State.

Last week, Rep. Crane visited the Gila River Indian Community as the University of Arizona and Gila River Health Care announced a new partnership. The initiative aims to expand medical education and improve physician recruitment in the community. This new Doctor of Medicine-granting program marks a national first by establishing a rural regional branch in partnership with a federally recognized Tribe on Tribal land.

Students will begin their foundational science coursework in Phoenix before continuing clinical training at Gila River Health Care and regional sites. This structure is designed to draw future physicians into rural and Tribal communities that depend on reliable access to care. Rep. Crane called the program a strong step toward building a long-term physician workforce from within the community.

The visit came on the heels of his support for the Ak-Chin Indian Community's selection under the Indian Health Service Joint Venture Construction Program. That collaboration will fund a new health center offering primary care, dental services, behavioral health, and specialty care close to home.

Rep. Crane pointed to these two announcements, along with recent investments through the Rural Health Transformation Program, as meaningful progress for rural healthcare. That program has already directed more than $160 million to Arizona for clinics, workforce development, and infrastructure. He views the combined efforts as significant movement toward closing longstanding gaps in essential services.

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On Tuesday, Rep. Crane joined Secretary Doug Burgum of the U.S. Department of the Interior for visits to both the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon National Park. The trip allowed park staff to brief the Secretary on the current challenges facing the region, including ongoing recovery from the Dragon Bravo Fire and strain on core water and infrastructure systems.

At the North Rim, stakeholders outlined the scope of the 2025 fire's damage, which destroyed or severely harmed critical facilities and left the area grappling with erosion, flash flooding, water-system disruptions, and long-term needs. Rep. Crane discussed his North Rim Restoration Act of 2025, which would streamline federal contracting to help the National Park Service move quickly on rebuilding. He also highlighted his amendment to the 2026 Farm Bill, which provides similar support for the Forest Service as it continues its response to the White Sage Fire. Both measures passed the House unanimously and await further consideration in the Senate.

Rep. Crane appreciated Secretary Burgum's willingness to meet with personnel on the ground. He remains hopeful the Senate will finalize these solutions and deliver much-needed support for park staff, concession operators, small businesses, and gateway communities.

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The next morning, Rep. Crane and Secretary Burgum traveled to Theodore Roosevelt Dam on the Salt River northeast of Phoenix. The site supports Arizona's water system by providing storage, flood control, hydropower, and recreation on Roosevelt Lake, the largest lake located entirely within the state. The team at Salt River Project (SRP) described how recent dry winters and shifting runoff patterns have increased the importance of reliable in-state storage. They also reviewed ongoing work with state and federal partners to keep the system resilient.

During the engagement, officials reviewed the 2024 decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allowing SRP to hold water in a portion of the dam's Flood Control Space for up to 120 days instead of the previous 20-day limit. The added flexibility allows substantially more water to be kept on site after major runoff events rather than being released downstream before it can be put to beneficial use. SRP estimates the change could support water needs for hundreds of thousands of households during eligible periods.

Although Roosevelt Dam is not part of the Colorado River system, it plays an important role as Arizona prepares for potential reductions to Lower Basin allocations beginning in 2027. Rep. Crane reiterated concerns about the disproportionate projected cuts for Lower Basin states and noted previous letters he cosigned to Secretary Burgum and House Leadership urging assistance as the drought continues.

He discussed several ongoing issues in the negotiation process with Secretary Burgum, including ways to avoid costly litigation, ensure adequate storage capacity, and support potential desalination projects. While the Governor's team drives the interstate negotiations, Rep. Crane made clear his opposition to the proposed cut share for Lower Basin states and pressed for federal involvement if the states' discussions fail to reach a balanced agreement.

Later that afternoon, Rep. Crane, Secretary Burgum, and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) visited the Miami Smelter, a century-old copper processing facility in Claypool operated by Freeport-McMoRan. The site is a key component in the domestic copper supply chain, processing concentrate from Freeport's Arizona mines and serving as the company's most significant U.S. source of sulfuric acid for its leaching operations. As America works to strengthen domestic mineral and critical-mineral production, the facility's role has only grown more important.

During the tour, Freeport leaders outlined recent developments at the smelter, including the 2025 maintenance turnaround and the roughly 821,200 metric tons of copper concentrate processed that year. They also discussed the approximately 209,300 metric tons of copper anodes produced and the nearly $73 million in maintenance and idle-facility costs tied to that work. Company officials noted they are evaluating an expansion of the site, citing existing infrastructure as a more practical route than permitting and constructing an entirely new domestic smelter.

Rep. Crane discussed federal regulatory barriers that have obstructed the facility's competitiveness. He noted the Environmental Protection Agency standards for primary copper smelters finalized in May 2024, which Freeport had warned could impose significant costs and equipment changes. Rep. Crane welcomed the two-year regulatory relief the Trump administration granted to the facility in October 2025 while emphasizing the need for a permanent, pro-growth solution that supports American production rather than reliance on foreign suppliers. He appreciated the Secretary's feedback and renewed his support for continued operations and future expansion in the region.

"To our friends at Grand Canyon National Park, Salt River Project, Freeport-McMoRan, as well as the Gila River Indian Community and the University of Arizona, thank you for your generous hospitality. This past week and a half has been invaluable in terms of briefings, new partnerships, and progress toward recovery and growth. I'm also grateful to Secretary Burgum for taking the time to visit our state and meet with leaders across our vital industries. It was a tremendous honor to host the Secretary and his team as we worked to strengthen our blueprint for long-term stability," said Rep. Crane.