Gov. Katie Hobbs delivered a keynote address in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event ahead of a new federal infrastructure bill.
At the Keep America Moving: Transportation, Infrastructure, and America's Future event, Hobbs used her speech to emphasize Arizona’s importance in infrastructure advancements, the need for Colorado River water solutions and international trade agreements.
“Let me be very clear, this administration's goals rely on Arizona receiving our fair share of Colorado River water,” she said. “It relies on Arizona-made missiles, Arizona-made semiconductors and Arizona-grown agriculture.”
Hobbs’ office declined a request for comment following her speech.
Her visit to D.C. comes ahead of the 2026 joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which she said is “essential to Arizona’s economic success.”
“I am here right now in Washington, D.C., to advocate for Arizona and make sure that our interests are represented in any changes considered for USMCA renewal,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs said the trade policy deal must be one “that effectively advances our economic competitiveness.”
“Our shared prosperity depends on a strong and resilient infrastructure in the Grand Canyon State,” Hobbs said.
Arizona was allocated more than $5 billion from federal formula funding for highway and bridge investments. The money was part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. In addition, the state received billions of dollars more for various infrastructure improvements.
Congress is working to reauthorize surface transportation funding – like IIJA – before it expires in September.
During a panel conversation at the event, Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Phoenix, said “the only way to get things done is in a bipartisan way.” Stanton went on to say a bipartisan approach to infrastructure work was the way to help move the country forward.
“The good news is that American people want infrastructure investment,” Stanton said.
The Keep America Moving initiative has four priorities ahead of the next surface transportation bill: enhance safety, efficiency and reliability; sustain necessary funding levels; modernize the permitting process; and fix the Highway Trust Fund.
Hobbs also used her three days in D.C. to speak with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, congressional staff from the House Ways and Means Committee, Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S. and senior Canadian Embassy officials.
Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, was among the Arizona delegation with Hobbs.
“Arizona's economy doesn't run on autopilot,” Seiden said in a press release before coming to Washington. “It runs on predictable trade relationships, reliable water, and a federal government that understands what's at stake here.”
Annie Dockendorff, vice president of communication for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, said while in Washington, the numerous meetings aimed to establish more certainty on the future of Arizona’s resources and advancements.
“Whether it's trade policy, water, or federal investment in infrastructure, the state's growth trajectory depends on federal decisions that don't undercut the investments Arizona businesses have already made,” she said in an email.
Stanton told Cronkite News that while “Arizona has a lot of important transportation infrastructure priorities,” in order to pass new infrastructure legislation, “everybody would have to be a winner.” He said he has worked closely with the governor’s office “ to make sure that we're working on issues that are in alignment.”
Stanton and Hobbs emphasized the need for infrastructure advancements and legislation that benefits Arizona and the growth of industries around the state.
“Arizona has the ability to defend our nation, feed our nation and build the high tech economy of our nation's future,” Hobbs said.
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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