Kelly Secures Major Wins for Arizona Communities, Public Lands, Courts, and Science Programs in Bipartisan Funding Package

Bill invests in Arizona Public Lands and Tribal Communities

Rejects Trump Efforts to Cut NASA Science Funding

Boosts support for wildland firefighters, law enforcement, and court security

Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly announced that he secured key priorities for Arizona and the country that protect public lands and water resources, strengthen the safety and integrity of the federal court system, support Tribal and rural communities, invest in scientific research and space exploration, and ensure law enforcement and first responders have the resources they need to keep communities safe. These were part of a bipartisan three-bill government funding package that passed the Senate on January 15^th and was signed into law over the weekend. It also includes more than $32 million Kelly helped secure for Arizona water infrastructure and law enforcement priorities supporting projects across the state.

"This bipartisan work is going to mean more support for Arizona police departments and crime prevention, improved water infrastructure, and better access to public lands. It also gets wildland firefighters the pay they deserve for keeping Arizona communities safe. And finally, we blocked cuts to NASA that would have set back America's leadership in space exploration. I'll keep working to make sure Arizona families see the benefits of these wins," said Kelly.

Investing in Water Infrastructure and Tribal Communities

Kelly secured and supported significant investments to strengthen water systems and long-term water security across Arizona and the West, including:

• $106.3 million for construction of the White Mountain Apache Tribe Rural Water System, delivering reliable drinking water to Tribal communities;
• $20 million for Colorado River Basin water conservation and delivery projects to improve operational efficiency;
• $20 million for the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program, supporting drought resilience and water recycling across Western states;
• Funding to advance Tribal education and workforce development, including $110.8 million for Tribal Colleges and Universities and $15 million for Tribal Career and Technical Institutions.

Rejecting Deep Cuts to NASA Science and Advancing Space Exploration

Kelly helped block proposed cuts to America's scientific leadership by supporting $7.25 billion for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, rejecting a nearly 50 percent cut requested by the Trump administration. The package also includes:

• $300 million for the University of Arizona's Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission, strengthening planetary defense;
• $19.9 million for OSIRIS-APEX, advancing research on a near-Earth asteroid, and led by researchers at the University of Arizona;
• $30 million to support development of next-generation astronomy facilities recommended by the Astro2020 Decadal Survey, including the Giant Magellan Telescope, which is being constructed at the University of Arizona's Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory.

Supporting Law Enforcement and Community Safety

Kelly championed continued support for state, local, and Tribal law enforcement through:

• $3.1 billion for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), including $964 million for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, supporting crime prevention, behavioral health coordination, and public safety initiatives;
• $253 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, helping departments hire officers and strengthen community policing strategies nationwide;
• $720 million for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs, supporting transitional housing, rural communities, civil legal assistance, the Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP), and the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program.

Protecting Arizona Public Lands

Kelly secured funding to advance the fourth phase of the Yavapai Ranch land acquisition project in the Prescott National Forest, protecting permanent public access to 3,798 acres of public land in Yavapai County. The project helps consolidate fragmented "checkerboard" ownership across a 92,000-acre area north of Prescott, improving forest management and reducing long-term costs for the U.S. Forest Service.

Wildland Firefighter Pay Cap Relief

As wildfire seasons grow more intense across Arizona, Kelly championed pay cap relief for federal wildland firefighters in the Interior-Environment funding bill. During fires like last year's devastating Dragon Bravo Fire, firefighters worked grueling hours under dangerous conditions to protect homes, infrastructure, and lives.

This ensures firefighters aren't penalized for earning overtime and premium pay simply because of payroll timing, and it extends the pay cap waiver through fiscal year 2026 so they can keep the wages they've already worked for. While Kelly continues pushing for a permanent fix, this funding provides immediate relief and stability for the firefighters Arizona communities rely on during increasingly severe fire seasons.

Reducing Wildfire Threats to Arizona Communities

Kelly championed the inclusion of $8 million for the Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes (SWERI), including the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at Northern Arizona University, whose work is critical for reducing the threat of wildfire to communities, forests, and watersheds in the western United States. The SWERI network collaborates actively with rural communities, industry, Tribes, and environmental groups to develop forest management plans grounded in the best available science and on-the-ground experience. Through this collaborative approach to developing, translating, and applying actionable knowledge with forest and wildfire managers, they are critical partners in building wildfire resilience, sustaining healthy forests, and safeguarding communities.

Defending the Right to Counsel, Due Process, and Strengthening Court Security

Kelly helped deliver a more than 21 percent increase in funding for Federal Public Defender Services, addressing budget shortfalls that led to hiring freezes and delayed payments to court-appointed attorneys. This funding helps ensure defendants continue to receive constitutionally guaranteed legal representation and that courts function safely and effectively.

The bill also includes a major increase in funding to protect the federal judiciary and ensure access to justice as threats against judges and court personnel continue to rise. The package provides $892 million for federal court security, a nearly 19 percent increase over last year, strengthening protections for judges, court staff, and the public.

Kelly helped secure$29 million to sustain the Legal Orientation Program, preserving nationwide access to basic legal information for individuals in immigration court and supporting the Immigration Court Helpdesk, advancing due process and improving court efficiency.