Governor Lewis is a member of Sinema’s water advisory council and has partnered with the Senator on securing key water investments for the American West
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema announced today that Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis will be her guest at this year’s State of the Union address. Governor Lewis serves as a trusted, leading member of Sinema’s Water Advisory Council and has partnered with the Senator on identifying long-term, innovative solutions to secure Arizona’s – and the entire West’s – water future.
“Time and time again, Governor Lewis has demonstrated his deep commitment to strengthening our water future in the face of historic drought, which remains a top priority for me and all Arizonans. I’m confident that, with leaders like Governor Lewis at the table, we can build a broad, inclusive coalition of leaders equally dedicated to delivering lasting solutions and giving Arizonans peace of mind that our water supply is safe and secure for generations to come,” said Sinema.
“I am privileged to be a guest of Senator Sinema for this year’s State of the Union. We have a lot of very important issues in front of us as a Country and we need to continue to build on the momentum of the Congress and the Biden Administration over the past two years to bring innovative solutions to long-term problems so our future generations benefit from the actions and decisions we make today. I have long appreciated Senator Sinema’s approach in thinking outside the box and working across the aisle to bring critical solutions on issues like infrastructure, the drought in the Southwest, and engagement on tribal issues. I am honored to be Senator Sinema’s guest at the State of the Union and looking forward to working in partnership to make sure that the State of our Union is strong and that the partnership between the federal government and tribal nations is strengthened as a result,” said Governor Lewis.
For years, Sinema and Governor Lewis have partnered on water and drought-related issues with a focus on delivering meaningful outcomes for the Arizonans they serve.
Last year, Sinema launched her Water Advisory Council at the Hoover Dam – an assembly of Arizona water experts and key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds – to develop solutions in response to worsening drought conditions in the American West. Governor Lewis serves as an inaugural member of the Senator’s Water Advisory Council and provides key insights, advice, and guidance from a tribal perspective.
Stephen Roe Lewis was raised in Sacaton, “Gu-u-Ki”, on the Gila River Indian Community and is currently in his third term serving as Governor of the Community. The Governor’s vision is to support a new generation of Community member agriculturalists with the goal of promoting and protecting the Community’s shudag (water) and agricultural development.