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. 

Opposing House Republican Leadership's Debt Ceiling Increase Proposal 

I voted against House Republican Leadership’s paltry debt ceiling legislation titled the Limit, Save, Grow Act. This legislation would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion or through March 31, 2024, whichever comes first, while failing to address or reduce our $31.4 trillion national debt.

Whether you drive off a cliff at 60 miles per hour or 80 miles per hour, the end result is the same: a horrific crash. But those are the two options we were presented. The Limit, Save, Grow Act is touted to “save” $4.8 trillion. In reality, it merely reduces the 2033 projected national debt from $52 trillion to around $47 trillion.

The Limit, Save, Grow Act doesn't eliminate our need to borrow money and does not bend the spending curve down. Thus, continues the growth of our national debt. Capping spending at FY2022 levels – levels that were inflated dramatically during COVID and would still exceed our annual revenues – is not aggressive enough.

At the bare minimum, this legislation should have returned federal spending to FY 2019, pre-COVID levels, which would allow us to spend within our means. It isn’t the panacea but it will bend the trajectory down and start correcting the problem.  

Our national debt is a top national security threat. I have never voted to raise the debt ceiling in my time in Congress – even while President Trump was in the Oval Office – and didn’t support this bill for the same reasons.

We owe the American people and our future generations sound and responsible fiscal policy. Increasing the national debt to “only” $47 trillion over ten years – an increase of over $14 trillion from today – is misguided and perpetuates Washington’s spending problem.

Click the topics below to see some of my explainer videos: 

Video 1: Debt Ceiling/Structural Deficit
Video 2: National Debt is National Security Threat
Video 3: Breaking Down Limit, Save, Grow Act
Video 4: Why I Voted No on the Limit, Save, Grow Act
Video 5: Congress Has An Obligation to Address the National Debt

Introducing Legislation to Protect Responsible Homeowners from Increased Fees 

I introduced the Responsible Borrowers Protection Act. This legislation would block the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)’s increased Loan-Level Price Adjustment (LLPA) fees on mortgage borrowers with higher credit scores announced on January 19, 2023. The new FHFA fees will subsidize mortgage borrowers with lower credit scores beginning on May 1, 2023.  

The FHFA—led by a President Biden-appointed director—is punishing financially responsible mortgage borrowers. Their agenda of equity over equality defies common sense and will endanger the stability of the housing market. I hear regularly from constituents about the high cost of housing, which has been exacerbated by the insane interest rates imposed to combat Biden’s skyrocketing inflation. If implemented, the latest FHFA fee change could result in thousands of dollars in additional fees for lower-risk homeowners over time, while encouraging and rewarding financial irresponsibility. My legislation prohibits the new fees from going into effect and I’m grateful for the support of more than 30 of my House Republican colleagues. 

Cosponsors of the legislation include: Rep. Paul Gosar DDS (R-AZ), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL), Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Rep. Josh Breechen (R-OK), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC), Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN), and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA). 

This legislation is supported by FreedomWorks, Heritage Action, and Club for Growth.

The legislation may be read here.

The Washington Examiner covered the legislation here. 

House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on FISA Abuse

I led the House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance hearing on Fixing FISA: How a Law Designed to Protect Americans Has Been Weaponized Against Them. 

FISA (The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) has shown to be a powerful tool for United States intelligence but the intelligence community has shown they cannot be trusted to retain this vast power.

FISA Section 702 explicitly states that it may only be used to target non-U.S. persons located abroad for the purpose of obtaining foreign intelligence information. But it’s clear that the government is using communications acquired through this program to conduct “backdoor searches” of Americans’ communications.

There have been 3.4 million warrantless searches in 2021 alone - which was nearly triple the approximately 1.3 million queries in 2020. And while reports indicate the FBI conducted fewer queries in 2022, it still made roughly 559 searches per day.  

At the end of this year, Section 702 of FISA will expire without Congress’ intervention.

I cannot in good faith vote to renew this authority as it has been warped into a domestic intelligence tool to intercept and catalog Americans’ phone calls, text messages, emails, and other electronic communications.

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

House Judiciary Committee Hearing on ATF Overreach 

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on overseeing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). 

The ATF has long abused its authorities to encroach on Americans’ Second Amendment rights.

In the last year, individuals in our own district have told me that they have been harassed by the ATF. The Biden-run ATF has an agenda to target Federal Firearms Licensees and firearms owners, and are now regularly using minor infractions discovered in investigations that have been closed for 6 – 18 months to revoke retail licenses. 

The ATF reopened these investigations because the ATF’s goal under this administration is not to safely regulate guns: it is to eliminate guns. The ATF–and even Congress–cannot eliminate guns. It’s unconstitutional and unacceptable.

The ATF has long abused its rulemaking authority and discretion, which is why I’ve already introduced legislation to hold them accountable for their actions. 

Click the image below to check out some of my remarks on the ATF’s botched “Fast and Furious” mission in Arizona:

House Oversight & Accountability Committee Hearing on Eliminating Government Waste, Fraud, and Abuse 

The House Oversight & Accountability held a hearing titled The Government Accountability Office’s 2023 High Risk List. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), numerous federal programs are currently susceptible to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement and cost taxpayers roughly $250 billion annually. That’s unacceptable.

This Committee has a responsibility to restore accountability and oversight of these types of programs. In this hearing, my colleagues and I analyzed GAO’s 2023 High-Risk list to discuss solutions on how to better preserve American taxpayers' dollars. 

Click the image below to see my remarks on our weapon stockpile amid the Ukraine-Russia War.  

House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Unaccompanied Minor Children at the Border

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement held a hearing titled The Biden Border Crisis: Exploitation of Unaccompanied Alien Children. 

The Biden Administration has lost upwards of 85,000 unaccompanied alien children since assuming the Oval Office and is essentially facilitating a child trafficking ring. 

A Health and Human Services (HHS) whistleblower named Tara Lee Rodas revealed that she “discovered that children are being trafficked through a sophisticated network that begins with recruiting in their home country, smuggled to the U.S. border, and ends when [Office of Refugee Resettlement] delivers a child to a sponsor — some sponsors are criminals and traffickers and members of Transnational Criminal Organizations. Some sponsors view children as commodities and assets to be used for earning income — this is why we are witnessing an explosion of labor trafficking.”

She revealed to me that “there was no one with law enforcement experience overseeing where children are going.” The revelation confirms my suspicions. The Biden Administration is placing border children in the hands of unvetted sponsors and is failing at adequately protecting children via its open border policies.

My most comprehensive immigration legislation, the Border Enforcement Act of 2023, passed through the House Judiciary Committee last week and reforms policies to better protect migrant children. I am hopeful the House of Representatives passes this much-needed legislation soon. 

Click the link below to see some of my questions from the hearing. 

2023 Congressional Art Competition Results 

The 2023 Congressional Art Competition is now wrapped up and I am pleased to announce this year’s winners:

1st: Sara Zheng – Miracle
2nd: Alice Johnson – Lory Bird
3rd: Yujin Jeon – Reflection of You
Best painting: Maxwell Porter – Walking the Back Streets of Jerome
Best drawing: Kevin Lao – Night in Boston
Best mixed media and collage: Anna Yao – Comfort on the Bed
Best computer-generated art: Tabbytha Tooley – Soap Bubble Photography Turned Space Scene
Best photography: Ashley Pasca – Purple African Flower
People's Choice Award: Makenna Haynie – Fallen Leaves

We had many wonderful pieces submitted this year and I appreciate everyone who participated.

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

Coming Soon: 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! 

Next Event: 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 (next Saturday) to learn more. Details below! 

Legislation and Letters 

Legislation sponsored: 
H.R. 2928 - To cancel certain proposed changes to credit fees charged by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, and for other purposes.  

Legislation cosponsored: 
H.R. 2684 - Capital Loss Inflation Fairness Act.  
H.R. 2933 - To eliminate the Federal Insurance Office of the Department of the Treasury, and for other purposes.  
H.R. 2961 - To ensure that the Department of Defense achieves a clean audit opinion on its financial statements, and for other purposes. 
H.R. 357 - Ensuring Accountability in Agency Rulemaking Act.  
H.R. 2814 - PRIME Act. 

Letters cosigned:
Letter to President Biden requesting an expenditure report as required by 50 U.S. Code § 1641(c).

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 Fox News’ Harris Faulkner to discuss the issues surrounding House Leadership’s debt ceiling proposal, the Limit, Save, Grow Act. Click below to watch some of the segment.

I joined War Room’s Steve Bannon to provide my reaction to the House passage of the Limit, Save, Grow Act and why it is a big letdown for Americans. Click below to watch some of the segment. 

I joined KFYI-AM’s (Phoenix, AZ) Russell & Hunter to highlight the Biden family’s corrupt finances and ties to China. Click below to hear some of the segment. 

What's the Biggs Idea Podcast w/ Alex Epstein 

Alex Epstein joined me this week on my What’s the Biggs Idea? podcast. Alex is an author, and commentator who advocates for the expansion of fossil fuels. He is the founder and president of the Center for Industrial Progress, a for-profit organization in San Diego, California. He is the author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels (2014), and Fossil Future (2022), in which he argues for the expanded use of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. We discussed these exact topics and debunked myths from climate alarmists. 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

In an unprecedented move this week, Fox News terminated its prime-time host Tucker Carlson. For years, Tucker Carlson dominated both Fox News and cable television news programming with impressive viewership and ratings. 

Tucker served as an important voice who revealed the truth amid a period where corporate media controls speech. 

I stand by Tucker and his efforts to challenge the status quo and the DC Uniparty. We need more minds like that in Washington. 

He will continue to be influential wherever he heads next.

Inspired by Fox News’ termination, here is the definition of the week: 

Tucker Carlson: A trailblazer in modern American journalism.