by Ethan Faverino | May 6, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved an amendment presented by Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) to accelerate recovery efforts in the Kaibab National Forest following the devastating White Sage Fire.
The amendment, included in the 2026 Farm Bill, grants the U.S. Forest Service critical emergency contracting flexibilities to bypass unnecessary bureaucratic delays and speed up restoration work in the fire-affected areas.
Modeled after the North Rim Restoration Act of 2025, the measure targets nearly 60,000 acres impacted by the wildfire in Northern Arizona.
“Page, Fredonia, the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, and other impacted communities were dealt a setback due to the devastating White Sage Fire,” stated Rep. Crane. “In response, I’m honored to have introduced and passed an amendment to help pave the way to a full and timely recovery.”
Key provisions of Rep. Crane’s Amendment (Sec. 8409 – Kaibab National Forest Restoration):
- Authorizes the use of emergency acquisition flexibility under federal regulations to contract for forest management restoration activities, rebuilding, planning, design of structures, ground improvements, and other recovery efforts.
- Removes the need for a Presidential emergency or disaster declaration, allowing immediate action to support local communities.
- Requires robust transparency through detailed reports to Congress every 180 days on expenditures, expected costs, cost overruns, contractor performance, potential conflicts of interest, waste/fraud/abuse, and project timelines.
- Includes a 12-month extension option if new wildfires impact ongoing recovery, subject to congressional approval.
- Sunsets the authority five years after enactment or upon completion of recovery efforts, whichever comes first.
In addition to his own amendment, Rep Crane signed on as the sole cosponsor of an amendment led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) to eliminate provisions that shielded pesticide companies from accountability while preserving critical public health protections. The measure restores Americans’ right to hold these companies accountable in court when their products cause harm.
He also cosponsored an amendment introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) to reform evidence standards for compensating ranchers for livestock losses caused by Mexican wolves.
“I’m also grateful for the leadership of Representatives Gosar and Luna, who successfully passed provisions that assist our ranchers and help protect our food supply,” added Crane. “These results advance critical priorities for rural Arizonans, and I’m thankful for the positive outcomes.”
The amendments now move forward as part of the broader Farm Bill package.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Oct 5, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) released a memo on Friday, detailing the state-level impacts of the government shutdown imposed by congressional Democrats and detailing the projected effects. The effects on Arizonans could be profound if the shutdown is not resolved quickly.
According to the Council of Economic Advisers, Arizona could face a decline of $296 million in Gross State Product each week or approximately $1.3 billion per month, and an increase in unemployment of about 1,000 people. Around 58,000 federal employees, or about 1.8 percent of Arizona’s workforce, could face furlough without pay.
For Arizona seniors and those who receive SSI disability benefits, they will be “likely delayed for those that(who) receive their Social Security benefits by check instead of direct deposit,” per the CEA. In Arizona, approximately 6,200 seniors currently receive their benefits by check.
If the shutdown extends beyond 30 days, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits of 887,000 total enrollees, including 344,000 children, could be impacted.
However, the council warned that families relying on WIC are at greater risk of disruption, saying, “Due to the government shutdown, federal funding for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program stops immediately and becomes reliant on very limited local contingency funding. If the government shutdown is prolonged, those reserves are likely to run out by the end of the first week. In Arizona, there are approximately 153,000 WIC recipients who rely on the program for nutritional support for themselves and their children.. “
Seventy-six million dollars in small business loans, such as those made available to the victims of the Dragon Bravo and White Sage Fires, could also be delayed. Federal contract spending is expected to lose approximately $560 million should the shutdown persist for one month. Overall, the council warns that Arizona could lose $15 billion in GDP each week the government is shut down — a crisis that will ripple across every state.
Kush Desai, a White House Spokesperson, said in a statement emailed to AZ Free News, “President Trump and Republicans remain committed to ensuring families receive the support they deserve. Sadly, Democrats have chosen to shut down the federal government for political purposes…The Democrats’ shutdown is hurting the American people and letting millions of Americans’ livelihoods hang in the balance. Democrats need to vote on the clean, bipartisan funding extension.”
In a press release issued Thursday, Arizona Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) explained that Congressional Democrats are ultimately responsible for this shutdown. He stated, “This nonpartisan funding bill, passed 13 times under Biden, was rejected by Democrats solely due to their opposition to the new president. Their shutdown halts critical services like benefits for Veterans, military pay, and national security programs.”
Hamadeh added, “As the White House points out, the Democrats proposal would require Medicaid to pay more for emergency care provided to illegal aliens than it does for American patients who are disabled, elderly, or children.’ That is unacceptable. We can no longer afford to fund the results of the Biden Administration’s broken border scheme. Americans deserve a functioning government, and House Republicans delivered by voting to keep it open. Yet, Democrats voted to shut it down, prioritizing free healthcare for illegal immigrants over American citizens’ needs.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 2, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ02) and the U.S. Small Business Administration announced last week that low-interest federal disaster loans are now available. The aid applies to businesses, nonprofits, and tribal nations that suffered losses from the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and Kaibab Plateau.
The SBA has since announced that a series of meetings will be held across Coconino County, with in-person mobile services available to assist with the application process.
According to a press release from Rep. Crane, “These loans are intended to cover working capital needs and operating expenses that could have been paid had the disasters not occurred.”
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is available to eligible businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. However, the administration noted it is “unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.”
The purpose of the loans, as explained by the SBA, is “for working capital needs caused by the disaster, and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.”
As of this report, the Dragon Bravo fire has burned 145,504 acres and is 64% contained. It has cut a smoldering path of destruction from the north rim of the Grand Canyon along both sides of Arizona State Route 67 reaching as far as House Rock Valley and then along the east side of the State Route for nearly another twenty miles, leaving a scar almost 16 miles wide at its widest point.
The White Sage fire burned nearly 59,000 acres and was completely contained as of August 21st after spreading in a widening eastward arc from White Sage flat through the Kaibab National Forest toward Coyote Valley.
For more information about the SBA EID loans or to apply, please click here, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Aug 23, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Eli Crane announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), under President Trump, is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to help businesses, nonprofits, and tribal nations recover from the devastating 2025 wildfires. The loans respond to the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, which scorched the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon and the Kaibab Plateau in Northern Arizona.
The federal disaster declaration, issued by the SBA on August 13th, covers the Arizona counties of Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai, as well as the tribal nations of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, Havasupai Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe.
According to a press release from the SBA, “The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses and 3.625% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.”
The administration clarified that the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is available to eligible businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. However, the administration noted it is “unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.”
The SBA explained that the purpose of the loans is “for working capital needs caused by the disaster, and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.”
As of this report, the Dragon Bravo fire has burned over 145,000 acres and is 62% contained. It has cut a swath of destruction from the north rim of the Grand Canyon northward along both sides of Arizona State Route 67 for about 12 miles and then along the east side of the State Route for nearly another twenty miles, leaving a scar almost 16 miles wide at its widest point.
The White Sage fire has burned nearly 59,000 acres and is 95% contained after spreading in a widening eastward arc from White Sage flat through the Kaibab National Forest toward Coyote Valley.
In July, Governor Katie Hobbs met with Trump administration officials, including Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, to coordinate with federal authorities on the Dragon Bravo wildfire, days after Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ09) joined a growing bipartisan coalition of Arizona leaders calling for an investigation into it. The fire claimed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge along with 50-80 other structures in the area in mid-July.
For more information about the SBA EID loans or to apply, please click here, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
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