VP HARRIS AND SECOND GENTLEMAN EMHOFF TO SPOTLIGHT BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION’S INVESTMENTS IN TRIBAL NATIONS AND NATIVE COMMUNITIES

Phoenix, Arizona  — Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will spotlight water investments in Tribal areas made since the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. They will visit the Gila River Indian Community to speak with leaders about the impact of climate change and the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Native communities.

The Biden-Harris clean energy plan provides a direct investment of capital in Tribal communities, totalling over $13 billion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with $466 million in funding for infrastructure and climate resilience initiatives. The Inflation Reduction Act’s additional $700 million investment in Native communities, is a further testament to the Administration’s ongoing commitment to provide critical resources to Tribal Nations as the impacts of climate change become more severe. 

The announcement in Arizona further highlights the Administration’s focus and strong track record of investing in clean energy infrastructure in the state.  Some examples of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s funding for climate resilience and ecosystem restoration projects in Arizona:

• $1.9 million –  Restoration and Vegetation Management of Multiple Historic Mined Land Repository Areas in the Western United States
• $1 million – Mitigate Physical and Environmental Hazards on Mined FWS Lands
• $500,000 – Optimizing Resilience and Adaptation for Restored Native Seedings in Sagebrush Steppe
• $300,000 –  the Southwest Seed Partnership for Southwestern National Parks
• $250,000 – Drainage Along Colorado River Heritage Trail System
• $220,000 – Increase Native Seed Production for Restoration in Intermountain National Parks
• $181,000 – Mitigate 25 Mine Hazards at Saguaro National Park
• $150,000 – Increasing Westwide Detection of Invasive Species Through Additional Environmental DNA Collection and Analysis
• $101,000 – Active Restoration of 25 Mine Hazards at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
• $50,000 – Increasing Reclamation’s Biocontrol Efforts to Support Invasive Plant Eradication Efforts
• $30,000 – Eradicating Invasive Species to Improve Habitat in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area in Arizona
• $23,000 – Assess Wildlife and Develop Recommendations for Hazardous Mines at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
• $20,000 – Conduct Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Sampling and Analysis Plan at Last Chance Mine, Grand Canyon National Park 

Please reach out to Michelle Diane at michellediane@climatepower.us if you are interested in speaking to Arizona leaders about the state’s clean energy economy and Vice President Harris and Second Gentleman Emhoff’s visit.