Senate approves memorial urging U.S. Congress to divest San Carlos irrigation project electric system; senator urges investigation into tribal concerns

The Arizona Senate unanimously approved House Concurrent Memorial 2009 on third reading, urging the United States Congress to enact legislation to divest the San Carlos Irrigation Project electric system, the presiding officer announced after a roll-call vote of 26 ayes, 0 nays, three not voting and one vacant.

During floor proceedings, a senator asked permission to explain their vote and used the opportunity to speak at length about infrastructure and public-safety concerns in the San Carlos Apache community. The senator said upgrades to the irrigation project's electrical infrastructure are important because "when it comes to electricity, it's a life saving force when... we're talking about hospitals, we're talking about oxygen machines," and urged further government action and investigation into recent incidents affecting the tribe.

The same senator offered condolences to the family of Emily Pike, a 14-year-old whose death the speaker described as a "heinous crime," and said the San Carlos Apache chairman had requested investigations into a group home and other matters. "We need to stop finding reasons for why we can't make these inquiries," the senator said, and called for more thorough follow-up on missing and murdered Indigenous people reports.

The presiding officer closed the vote and directed the secretary to transmit the memorial back to the House. The transcript does not record any amendment to the memorial on the floor, nor does it provide specifics on federal legislative language or a timeline for congressional action.