Congressional Art Competition

Every spring the US House of Representatives sponsors an art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in congressional districts across the nation.

District 1 Representative Ann Kirkpatrick invites high school students in the district to participate. A panel of judges will choose the winner and that student’s artwork will be displayed in the US Capitol for one year along with other winners nationwide. Work by runners-up will be displayed in Kirpatrick’s Washington, DC and district offices.

Entries are limited to two pieces per school. Mail submissions to Ann Kirkpatrick’s Casa Grande District Office no later than April 15.

Art Competition Guidelines

Student Information/Release Form

Art Submission Checklist

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick

Casa Grande District Office

211 North Florence St. Suite 1

Casa Grande, AZ 85122

Kirkpatrick Launches Grants Resources Web Page

District One Representative Ann Kirkpatrick has launched an online page to help small businesses, nonprofits and municipalities seek grants.

The Grants Resources page can be found on Kirkpatrick’s House of Representatives website at kirkpatrick.house.gov/resources/grant-resources.

The page introduces Kirkpatrick’s grants specialist Cathy Melvin who is based in the Globe Distict Office.

Kirkpatrick’s district offices will present a series of grants workshops this summer beginning in Casa Grande on August 13 and in Globe on August 20.

Kirkpatrick Revives Land Swap

US Representative Ann Kirkpatrick introduced legislation yesterday (Wednesday) that throws her support behind a controversial underground copper mine near Superior. Kirkpatrick’s support is considered vital to the project because she represents the area where the mine would be developed and because she is a Democrat. The mine already has the support of Republican Senators John McCain and John Kyl, but it needs bipartisan support in order to be approved by the Democratic-controlled Congress.

The proposed federal land exchange that is necessary for the development of the mine stalled two years ago after Kirkpatrick’s predecessor--Rick Renzi--became involved in a corruption scandal. It has also been blocked by environmental and Native American protests. The land contains cultural and religious sites that are sacred to the San Carlos Apaches and other Native American tribes.

Kirkpatrick says that for her it all comes down to jobs. She says the project could bring as many as 1,000 well paying jobs to the area.

Rep. Kirkpatrick Opens 'Virtual Office'

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick has launched a new official website to serve as her “virtual office.” Kirkpatrick says the purpose of the new website is to make sure that citizens in this large rural district have access to services and have the opportunity to share their thoughts on key issues.

The website is at www.kirkpatrick.house.gov

Ann Kirkpatrick Office Hours Thursday in Globe

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick’s staff will be in Globe on Thursday from 10 until 4 at the Gila County Courthouse.

If you need help resolving matters related to Social Security benefits, veterans’ resources, housing, taxes or other federal issues, you are invited to visit or call the office during these times.

Call 425-3231.

Ann Kirkpatrick in Superior on Friday

First District Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick will be in Superior tomorrow (Friday). She will visit the Superior mine and meet with mine employees and leaders Then she will have a meet-and-greet event in Superior that is open to the public.

The meet-and-greet is at Porter’s Café on West Main Street from 4:30 to 5:30pm.

Kirkpatrick Launches Resource Page for Veterans

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick has launched an online page devoted to Distict One veterans. The Veterans’ Resources page can be found at Kirkpatrick’s House of Representatives website.

The page provides helpful links and answers to a variety of veteran-specific questions about everything from the GI Bill to vocatiobnal rehabilitation. The page also includes links to local sources of support.

You’ll find it at kirkpatrick.house.gov.

Kirkpatrick to Run for Congress Again

Former Arizona District 1 Representative Ann Kirkpatrick says she plans to run for Congress again in 2012. Kirkpatrick lost to Republican Paul Gosar last year.

She told the Arizona Republic that she hopes the 2012 political climate will be more hospitable to her candidacy because it is a presidential year and will probably have a bigger voter turnout.

Arizona’s congressional districts will be redrawn this year to accommodate an additional House seat that the state is getting because of its population growth. This could significantly change the 1st Congressional district. But since Kirkpatrick and Gosar are both from Flagstaff, they’ll most likely be in the same district.

Kirkpatrick Requests $7M to Fund Gila County Projects

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick has requested more than $7 million from the 2010 federal budget for crucial projects in District One. The projects include:



$580,000 to help local physicians align their medical records with Cobre Valley Community Hospital’s electronic health record system.

$1 million to resurface Young Road in the Tonto National Forest. This would allow it to be an evacuation route in case of wildfire.



$420,000 to Eastern Arizona College to expand its programs to address the regional nursing shortage.



$165,000 to acquire five acres of land for police, town hall and other community facilities at Pinetop-Lakeside.



$5 million to create a Job Corps program to serve rural Arizona.



Congresswoman Kirkpatrick is also one of more than 70 co-signers supporting a $10 million request from the Reach Out and Read program that will help fund 31 literacy programs in Arizona’s District One.

Rep. Kirkpatrick Co-Sponors Bill to Audit Federal Reserve

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick says she has signed on as a co-sponsor to the nonpartisan Federal Reserve Transparency Act. The bill calls for an audit of the Federal Reserve to shed light on its operations and check the government’s power. Kirkpatrick says the Federal Reserve has been allowed to operate with little oversight for decades and we are paying the price for it.

The bill has more than 260 co-sponsors from across the political spectrum, including the entire Arizona delegation.

Kirkpatrick Recommends Transportation Projects for District One

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick has announced the projects she has recommended for consideration by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Every six years, Congress considers legislation to authorize surface transportation improvements, including highways, public transit and rail.

Kirkpatrick is requesting $535 million for 35 projects in Arizona’s District One. The requests include $23 million for the Tonto Creek Bridge construction.

Kirkpatrick Introduces Bill to Help Fire Departments

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick has introduced a bill in Congress to help fire departments continue to hire new personnel. The bill waives the cost sharing requirements for a major grant program so that rural communities can afford to keep participating.

The SAFER program—Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response—helps fire departments hire more firefighters by assisting with their salaries for their first four years.Kirkpatrick says the program has been extremely successful, but its cost sharing requirements have become a burden during the recession.

The bill has been assigned to the House Committee on Science and Technology. It is endorsed by the International Association of Firefighters and by local fire chiefs.

Kirkpatrick in Globe-Miami Today

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick will be in Globe, Miami and San Carlos today (Friday). Her schedule includes meetings with seniors, veterans, law enforcement leaders, educators, and local elected officials.

Kirkpatrick will be at the Miami Senior Center today from 11:45 to 12:15. She will be at the VA Clinic from 12:30 until 1:pm.

Kirkpatrick Coming to Globe American Legion Post

Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick will be at the American Legion Post in Globe on Thursday from 4 to 5:pm. Kirkpatrick is a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee. She wants to meet the Post Commanders in the Globe area and will welcome any information you would like to share.

Kirkpatrick's Office Accepting Applications for Nomination to Service Academies

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick is inviting qualified members of the high school class of 2010 to apply for a congressional nomination to one of Amrica’s service academies.

High school seniors who would like to enter the US Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs or the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point must apply for the Congresswoman’s nomination by October 20.

Nomination packets are available from Kirkpatrick’s district headquarters and from high school guidance counselors in District 1.

Kirkpatrick Announces JAG Funding

First District Congressional Representatiove Ann Kirkpatrick announces that nearly $1.5 million has been allocated for this district to go to the Justice Assistance Grant Program. The JAG program allows states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to improve the criminal justice system. The funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies and many other components to an effective law enforcement program. Kirkpatrick says that after meeting with local law enforcement agencies, it was clear that the funding was critically needed to fight the spread of drugs and to crack down on other criminal activities.

Kirkpatrick at GCC Forum

Gila Community College Forums for the Future is hosting First District Representative Ann Kirkpatrick Wednesday at 5:30pm. Rep. Kirkpatrick will be at the Gila Pueblo Campus in Globe. People from other campuses will be able to participate by interactive television. A mixer will follow the forum.

Kirkpatrick Amendment Helps Communities Get Wildfire Assistance

The US House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act. The amendment was introduced by First District Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick. It is intended to help cut through red tape to make it easier for cities and towns to receive federal funds to combat wildfires. The amendment allows communities in wildfire prone areras that make a good faith effort to prepare for the season to access necessary resources by allowing them to be declared “fire ready.” This makes them eligible for Firefighting Capability Grants.
Under the original terms of the bill, communities would have had to meet five different criteria. The FLAME Act establishes a fund dedicated solely to suppressing wildfires, which has taken up nearly half the Forest Service’s budget in recent years, forcing cuts in other vital programs. The bill now goes to the US Senate.

Kirkpatrick's Staff Office Hours Wednesday

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick’s staff hosts open office hours again tomorrow (Wednesday) from 10 until 4 at the Gila County Courthouse.

Kirkpatrick Office Hours This Week in Globe

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick’s office hours in Globe this week are 10:am to 4:pm today (Tuesday) and Thursday at the Gila County Courthouse.