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One-on-one with Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema

Posted at 6:34 AM, Feb 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-20 08:35:13-05

In a quiet, empty room at American Legion Post 41, Arizona's first elected female U.S. Senator, Kyrsten Sinema, is talking about her first Senate Bill - The Legion Act.

Angel Juarez helps head up the post. He says for years, the organization, as a whole, has turned away veterans because they didn't serve during a declared period of war. The Legion Act would change that.

"Most probably don't know that many of the Veterans that we love and care about, and sometimes even our own family members, don't qualify for membership," said Sinema.

The Senator is also focused on active duty military at Luke Air Force Base. She's concerned what President Trump's national emergency declaration will mean for the base. It could divert about $3.5 billion in the United States away from military construction to fund a border wall.

RELATED: Will Luke Air Force Base pay a price for the border wall?

"It is Congress's job to appropriate funds to secure our border," said Sinema. "That is our duty."

"I don't think it's appropriate to take dollars from important programs like those offered to our men and women in uniform at Luke Air Force Base and frankly, throughout our country."