PHOTOS: Sen. Mark Kelly Visits Yuma, Southern Border and Military Bases

On Monday, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly returned to the Yuma area where he focused on military and border security priorities as well as the resources coming to the region from the COVID-19 relief bill to help beat the virus and rebuild the economy. 

Kelly received a briefing from Yuma Border Patrol Sector Chief Chris Clem before touring Border Patrol operations at the U.S.-Mexico border. This was Kelly’s second visit to the border as a Senator after touring the Port of Douglas in January. 

Kelly, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also visited both Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground and received briefs on the missions at both bases. Finally, Kelly met with area elected and public health leaders including Yuma County Chairman Tony Reyes, Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls, Somerton Mayor Jerry Anaya, Yuma County Supervisor Martin Porchas, Yuma County Health Director Diana Gomez, Campesinos Sin Fronteras and leadership from the Regional Center for Border Health to discuss the resources secured in the COVID-19 relief package for the Yuma area, as well as the situation at the border and infrastructure priorities for the region. In addition to directly supporting working families, small businesses, and schools, the COVID-19 relief bill is bringing $76 million in direct assistance to local governments in Yuma County: 

• Yuma County: $41.6 million 
• City of Yuma: $21.42 million 
• City of San Luis: $8.3 million
• City of Somerton: $3.95 million 
• Town of Wellton: $730,000

See photos of Kelly’s visit to Yuma below. Media can credit photos to the Office of Senator Mark Kelly:

Sen. Mark Kelly at Yuma Proving Ground

Chris T. Clem, Yuma Sector Border Patrol Chief (left) with Senator Mark Kelly at the U.S.-Mexico border

Kelly has continued to press the administration for a plan and necessary resources to handle the response at the southern border to ensure a secure, orderly and humane process that doesn’t fall on local communities. Kelly helped secure $110 million in the COVID-19 relief bill, the American Rescue Plan, which allows FEMA to reimburse localities and organizations assisting with the response at the border.