The Week in Review 

Happy Friday!

I hope you had a wonderful week. I am grateful to serve you all in the 118th Congress. Read below to see what I’ve been working on this week. 

100 Days Serving You in the 118th Congress

I am grateful to have already served you 100 days in the 118th Congress. I wanted to highlight some items I have been working on during this period. I will continue to fight for your interests and make your voices heard in Washington.

House Judiciary Committee Passes My Immigration Reform Package 

My most comprehensive immigration legislation titled the Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023 passed through the House Judiciary Committee after a 12-hour markup and 23-15 vote. The legislation, also sponsored by Congressman Tom McClintock (R-CA), addresses several of the Biden Administration's immigration policy failures and will alleviate the Biden Border Crisis. The bill addresses asylum abuse, lax immigration detention and enforcement standards, and more.

In just a couple of years, the Biden Administration has eroded American sovereignty and created an unprecedented humanitarian disaster at our southern border. It’s long past time to address this Administration’s border policy failures. This comprehensive immigration package ensures that cartels no longer game our asylum process, protects migrant children and families, and restores integrity and order in our immigration system.

We are witnessing tidal waves of illegal aliens, criminals, and contraband enter our country. The end result has been the erosion of our nation’s sovereignty, the collapse of our social welfare net, and in many cases, death.

Americans should no longer put up with this border chaos—they deserve better. I am grateful for the House Judiciary Committee’s advancement of this immigration package and look forward to the rest of my colleagues in the House of Representatives passing this long-awaited legislation.

The Border Security and Enforcement Act 2023 bill text may be read here.

Reviewing Speaker McCarthy's Debt Ceiling Increase Proposal 

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) released new legislation titled the Limit, Grow, Save Act that will increase the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in exchange for federal government spending cuts. 

The nation currently stands at more than $31 trillion in debt and increasing the debt ceiling without reigning in spending will torpedo our nation into financial collapse. 

I am reviewing this 320-page bill and will keep you posted next week on whether or not I support it. 

Click the images below to see some of my explainer videos on this topic.

House Judiciary Committee Hearing on Violent Crime in New York City 

Earlier this week, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing in New York City to address violent crime in the region. 

During his first day as the District Attorney of Manhattan, Alvin Bragg issued a 10-page policy memo that instituted many progressive soft-on-crime, anti-victim policies. Major crimes—including rape, felony assaults, and robberies—soared by 23% in his first year as he converted 52% of felonies to misdemeanors. 

Since becoming Manhattan’s DA, Bragg has turned a blind eye to this anarchy while abusing federal resources to target conservatives. Just recently, he abused federal funding to pursue the bogus indictment of President Trump. This is why I introduced two bills to defund this weaponized office and require it to repay federal funds.

During this field hearing, I pointed out that Democrats are admitting how unsafe the city has become. I highlighted how fellow House Judiciary Committee Member Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) has admitted on numerous occasions that the city is dangerous and his constituents are afraid of it. 

Democrat New York Councilman Robert Holden also explained to me in testimony that his family won’t take the city’s mass transit systems due to safety concerns. 

The House Judiciary Committee will continue to conduct field hearings in cities that promote lawlessness. We’ll continue to learn more from local residents and seek out solutions for them at the federal level. 

Click the image below to watch some of my remarks from the hearing. 

House Oversight Committee Hearing on Unaccompanied Minors at the Border 

The House Oversight & Accountability Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs held a hearing titled “Oversight of the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Unaccompanied Alien Children Program.”

In this hearing, we discussed how the Biden Administration’s open border policies have overwhelmed the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and endangered thousands of migrant children.

When I asked ORR Director Dunn Marcos why 85,000 children from the border are missing since they've been placed with sponsors through her agency, she had no answer. 

I am concerned but not surprised by her ineptitude. The House Oversight & Accountability Committee Members will continue to hold individuals accountable for this border disaster and create solutions to mitigate this crisis. 

Next Thursday, April 27, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement will also hold a hearing on the UAC crisis and the exploitation that many of them face. Tune in at 3pm EST to watch. 

Click the image below to see some of my remarks from the Oversight hearing: 

House Oversight Committee Hearing on Botched Afghanistan Withdrawal

The House Oversight & Accountability Committee also held a hearing on the Biden Administration’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal. The hearing, titled “The Biden Administration's Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Part I: Review by the Inspectors General,” examined the Administration’s poor planning that led to a botched withdrawal. We highlighted how the withdrawal led to 13 U.S. service member deaths and billions in lost military equipment.

According to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), the United States was paying salaries for 150,000+ Afghan soldiers who didn't even exist! 

Click the image below to see some of my remarks from the hearing: 

House Floor Speeches on China, Debt Ceiling, and 
Taxes

This week, I gave three speeches on the House Floor that addressed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) threat in the United States, the nation’s debt ceiling dilemma, and the FairTax Act. 

It was a tremendous honor and I look forward to giving more speeches on the House Floor soon. 

Click each image below to view my speeches. 

Speaking to University Students at the Washington Symposium 

I spoke to Liberty University and Hampton University students at the Washington Symposium yesterday. 

They asked me various questions surrounding our national debt, election integrity, and more. 

I am very encouraged by this group of students and wish them future success.

Passport Tips from Congressman Biggs 

Planning international travel this spring or summer? Don’t wait to update your passport! The U.S. State Department currently takes 8-11 weeks to process passport applications and recommends you submit your application 4 to 6 months before your travel date. Check out these useful passport tips below. There are several small details that you may not know of! 

For additional assistance with your passport application, call my Mesa office at 480-699-8239.

General Passport Tips
Passport Fees
Passport Process
Child Passport
Child Passport II

Save the Date: Drop Zone 2023

My annual Drop Zone event is coming up! Drop Zone 2023 will occur on Saturday, May 13 from 10am to 2pm at the American Leadership Academy, Applied Technologies Campus, located at 7729 East Pecos Rd, Mesa, AZ 85212.

Drop Zone is the one-stop event for all veterans. You’ll be able to access health screenings, taxpayer advocates services, community support groups, and much more. 

Save the date and we hope to see you there! 

Save the Date: Military Service Academy 

Want to learn more about military service and career opportunities? Join me and Rep. Eli Crane from Arizona’s Second District on May 6 to learn more. Details below! 

Legislation and Letters 

Legislation cosponsored: 

H.R. 2477 - PASS Act. 
H.R. 2640 - Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023. 
H.R. 319 - Legal Workforce Act.  
H.R. 1100 - SAFE for America Act of 2023.  
H.R. 2553 - No More Political Prosecutions Act.  
H.R. 2674 - To amend the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 to prohibit training that includes information on insider threats, and for other purposes.  
H.J.Res. 58 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the sixteenth article of amendment.  
H.R. 1761 – Let Experienced Pilots Fly Act of 2023. 

Letters cosigned: 

Amicus Brief – Supreme Court, AHM v. FDA re abortion pills 
Rep. Alford Letter to White Housel Counsel – Stop inviting TikTok influencers to the White House 

Alien Invasion Border Documentary 

Check out my border documentary titled Alien Invasion. The 30-minute documentary features footage from private ranches along the border, the Darien Gap in Panama, and interviews with members of Congress, Border Patrol, local and state law enforcement, and much more. It addresses how President Biden’s border crisis began, its consequences, and solutions to address the crisis.  

The border documentary may be watched here.

Top Media Appearances of the Week

I joined Real America’s Voice’s Charlie Kirk to provide an update on Biden’s Border Crisis and argue why DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas must be impeached. Click below to watch some of the segment.

I joined Newsmax’s Benny Johnson to discuss the latest news surrounding an IRS whistleblower outing the Biden Administration’s mishandling of Hunter Biden investigations. Click below to watch some of the segment.

I joined Fox News Radio’s Jimmy Failla to provide a recap of my House Judiciary Committee hearing on violent crime in New York City and more. Click below to watch some of the segment.

What's the Biggs Idea Podcast w/ Julie Kelly

Julie Kelly joined me this week on my What’s the Biggs Idea? podcast. Julie is a senior writer for American Greatness and covers political issues including January 6, election fraud, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We discussed the latest with January 6, the weaponization of our federal government, and President Trump’s indictment. We’ll be posting more episodes soon. Check out our social media pages for updates.

Click below to view the podcast. Or visit my website to watch previous episodes. 

Tweets of the Week

Constituent Services 

Flags
Would you like to purchase a flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol? Flags flown over the Capitol include a certificate, which may be personalized for a particular person, event, or organization. Click here to learn more about purchasing a flag.

Internships
If you or someone you know is interested in completing an internship in either my Mesa or Washington, D.C. office, they can apply directly on my website. 

Help With a Federal Agency 
If you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, my office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. For example, my office routinely helps constituents with issues involving the Veterans Administration, the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the State Department, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  You can learn more by visiting my website.

Click here to find out more information about my office’s services. 

Tours and Tickets

Interested in touring the White House or U.S. Capitol? As constituents of the Fifth Congressional District, you may request tickets and tours for various Washington D.C. destinations from my office. 

All tickets are provided to constituents on a first-come, first-served basis, so request tickets early.

Click here for more information.

Definition of the Week

This week, I voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This legislation ensures that biological females only compete against other biological females in women's sports sponsored by entities receiving federal education funding.

Across the nation, I continue to see instances where a transgender woman (a biological man) competes and dominates against female athletes by ignoring their biological makeup and claiming female gender. Take for example University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas. 

Biology isn't bigotry. There are numerous biological differences between a man and a woman. The radical Left is trying to eliminate this distinction.  

Yet, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) asserted that “biological males competing against women in sports is an issue that ‘doesn’t really exist.’”

Inspired by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ remarks, here is the definition of the week: 

Woman: Not a biological male.