2013 Year in Review
It is an honor for me to represent Southern Arizona and to have the opportunity to bring Arizona’s concerns to Washington and bring policymakers in Washington to Arizona to understand the issues firsthand. And it is a priority for my office here in Arizona to be a resource and a helping hand to Southern Arizonans when they need it. My "2013 Year in Review" is an overview of my office's legislative achievements and constituent relations.
The 41-page report includes comments from community leaders that I worked with in 2013 as well as people I represent who received assistance from my offices in Tucson or Sierra Vista.
The complete report is available here.
Sincerely,
“Working on behalf of Southern Arizonans isn’t about party affiliation – it’s about doing what is right,” Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels says in the report. “Congressman Barber and I both believe that and we’ve been able to work together on issues like border security where we’ve found common ground. I appreciate Congressman Barber’s bipartisan approach and that we can work together in spite of our differences.”
The report details how Barber helped lead negotiations between Benson-based Arizona Electric Power Cooperative and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA had ordered the company to install $200 million in emission-control equipment – an order that would have cost Cochise County hundreds of jobs, raised prices on ratepayers and may have closed the Apache Generating Station. The congressman brought company and federal officials together in Washington, then persuaded a top EPA official to travel to Southern Arizona to tour the power plant.
As a result, the EPA is working cooperatively with the generating station to consider an alternative plan that would provide Apache with needed flexibility and lower costs, while meeting emission standards.
The report also includes examples of Barber’s willingness to work with both Republicans and Democrats to find common-sense solutions to the nation’s challenges.
It also highlights the work of Barber’s outstanding constituent services staff which received more than 1,000 requests for assistance during 2013 and recovered more than $7.5 million for Southern Arizonans.
“Within no time, the staff at Ron Barber’s office reviewed my case and took action that resulted in saving my home from imminent foreclosure,” said Daniel Leonard of Tucson. “They acted as a voice for me, reasoning with the mortgage company when my voice wasn’t being heard. I would not be in my home today if it weren’t for the help I received from the absolutely exceptional staff at Ron Barber’s office,” Leonard added. “It is truly a blessing that we as a community have such an incredibly effective and caring resource. They definitely stand out as an example of a group that go beyond expectations and give hope to the individual.”
The report also details the congressman’s accomplishments and legislative work in a number of fields including business, the economy and jobs; the military; veterans; border security; women’s economic security; seniors and others.
The complete report is available here.