SIERRA VISTA - The Upper San Pedro Partnership will be receiving $400,000 as part of earmarks put in an approved appropriations bill.

While the amount isn't as much as the full request - $750,000 - Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said she is looking at other bill avenues to provide additional funds, noting that Republican Arizona U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl has indicated he will seek an additional $200,000 for the partnership to make up for the $350,000 not approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.

Giffords said the requirements for earmarks are becoming more stringent, with members of Congress having to certify they, or any family members, will not gain from the funds, and that those requesting the money will have their names listed.

Protecting the San Pedro River, which also means ensuring Fort Huachuca is not put into jeopardy, is a major goal of the freshman congresswoman.

She made her initial comments about the importance of the partnership to the Herald/Review editorial board Monday and to the partnership's executive committee meeting later that day.

There are many areas where the partnership can use funding but each one of them has to be defended, Giffords said, noting that the Iraq War is draining the nation's coffers, which is detrimental to domestic needs.

Two other requests she submitted - one for $1 million and another for slightly more than $250,000 - were tuned down, the congresswoman said.

However, two other possibilities, one for $750,000 and another for $250,000, are still available, although she could not guarantee her requests will be successful.

In the past, the partnership has received an annual $1 million amount through former Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, who represented the district seat now occupied by Giffords. Kolbe retired from Congress after more than two decades of service.

"Earmarking is contentious," she said, noting there have been extreme cuts of funds available. Such programs have been almost cut in half of what previously was allowed.

The partnership has to continue to show the funds are being used to help the river and the fort, she said.

Judy Gignac, the chair of the partnership's executive committee, said that is the goal of the organization.

Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain, the chairman of the group's advisory commission, said there will be a need for more funds in the future, especially when it comes to importing water to the Upper San Pedro River Basin.

He estimated it will take about $200 million to build a pipeline from Tucson to Sierra Vista to bring in Central Arizona Project water.

Earlier, Giffords told the newspaper editorial board she isn't convinced CAP water can be transported because there are no more allocations for using the water from the Colorado River elsewhere in the state.

What the partnership has to do is develop a national marketing strategy to, "keep the pressure on," she told the executive committee.

Such a strategy will keep the San Pedro River and its needs in the spotlight, she said.

"It's a complicated issue," Giffords added.

Congresswoman's visit

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will be in the Sierra Vista area during the current recess of Congress.

Monday, she met with the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review editorial board, the advisory committee of the Upper San Pedro Partnership and visited Forgach House, a center for victims of domestic abuse.

On Wednesday, she will spend part of the 4th of July in Sierra Vista when she takes part in the 11:30 a.m. program at Veterans Memorial Park.

On Saturday, the 8th Congressional District representative, will meet with the United Veterans Council of Cochise County at 9 a.m. at VFW Post 9972, 549 Veterans Drive, followed by a 11 a.m. meeting with Fort Huachuca families and soldiers at the Murr Community Center on the post.

Today, she will hold meetings on immigration issues in Tucson.