This week, Rep. Eli Crane introduced a bill that would enable Gila County, AZ to build a veterans center on 232 acres in Young, Arizona. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Sen. Mark Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in the Senate, requires the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona.
The transfer of ownership to Gila County would protect and maintain the rich history of the property while providing family housing, meeting and activity spaces, resource rooms, Veteran Ceremonial Grounds, and outdoor recreation.
The center would be the first of its kind in northern Arizona, providing resources and support to primarily rural veterans and their families.
“Veterans in northern Arizona need a space to heal and reconnect with their families after putting their lives on the line for the peace and freedom of all Americans. As a former Navy SEAL and member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I know the importance of providing this resource cannot be understated. This transfer of land ownership to Gila County will serve our state and its heroes well,” said Crane.
Rep. Paul Gosar and former Rep. Tom O’Halleran helped to lay the foundation for this bipartisan effort last Congress.
“Transferring this land to Gila County boosts the economy and opens the door for new veterans support services in the region. I’ll keep working to create a healthy Arizona economy and ensure veterans get the support and benefits they’ve earned,” said Sinema, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.