Congresswoman Lesko Weekly Update

Good Afternoon,

I hope everyone had a great week! It has been another busy week in Washington, D.C. If you would like to share this newsletter with others, please direct them to this link and encourage them to subscribe.

Lesko Discusses Hydrogen Technology

It was great to meet with members of the Carbon Utilization Research Council and Clean Hydrogen Future Coalition to discuss future technology that includes hydrogen.

Lesko Tours Visa

I toured Visa to learn more about their consumer protection, fraud prevention, cybersecurity, and women in stem efforts.

Lesko Meets with San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe 

I met with members of the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe to discuss their upcoming treaty with the Navajo Nation that will allow the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe to establish their own reservation. 

Lesko Supports Our Military Officers

It was an honor to meet with members of the Arizona Council of Chapters, an affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), to discuss our military’s recruitment, retention, and TRICARE Pharmacy Network. 

Lesko Meets with Beer and Wine Distributors of Arizona

It was great to meet with the Beer and Wine Distributors of Arizona, which advocates for state-based alcohol regulation as well as economic and regulatory issues. We discussed how they are meeting workforce, labor, and supply chain needs during the labor shortage.

Lesko Explores Manganese Mining 

I talked with South32 about America’s first new manganese mine since 1973! 

Lesko Supports Healthcare Transparency 

My colleagues and I on the House Energy and Commerce Committee met with Fat Joe, ambassador for Power to the Patients, to discuss health care transparency and how to prevent future injustices within the health care system.

Lesko Supports Arizona Seniors

I spoke with Arizona’s Area Agencies on Aging about how they are working to provide Arizona seniors with the care they need from the comfort of their own home.

Lesko Discusses Infusion Medication 

I met with the Infusion Access Foundation to discuss increasing access to important infusion medication for patients.

Lesko Meets with J.P.Morgan

I met with J.P.Morgan to receive an update on its employee and customer footprint, small business lending, and new projects in the community. We also discussed how Phoenix, AZ is their largest market! 

In the News

I want to make sure you don't miss a minute of what I’m doing to fight for Arizonans each and every day. Check out my latest interviews below. 

Russell and Hunter

I joined Mike Russell and Bob Hunter to address how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) trusted teacher’s unions over the science when creating school reopening guidance. We also discussed how the Limit, Save, Grow Act is a responsible proposal that will get our country back on track! Listen to my full interview below:

The Seth Leibsohn Show

I joined Seth Leibsohn to discuss how the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the second-largest teacher's union, worked directly with the CDC to keep our schools closed at the expense of our children’s education. Plus, I discussed the dangers of gain-of-function research without proper biosafety measures in place. Listen below:

Lesko on House Passage of Debt Ceiling Package

This week, I was proud to vote for the Limit, Save, Grow Act to address our debt crisis and save $4.8 trillion in taxpayer dollars. This legislation limits federal spending to Fiscal Year 2022 levels. This package also reclaims billions of unspent COVID-19 funds, defunds President Biden’s 87,000 IRS agents meant to target middle-class Americans, prohibits President Biden’s unconstitutional student loan debt forgiveness scheme, and rescinds Green New Deal subsidies from the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. House Republicans also included the REINS Act to increase accountability and transparency in the Federal regulatory process and H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, to help reduce gasoline and energy costs for the American people.

If we do not address this debt crisis, our interest payments will exceed defense spending as soon as 2025. We simply cannot continue the level of reckless spending we have seen from President Biden and congressional Democrats. With this package, House Republicans have proven that we stand for responsible spending and common-sense reforms. It is time for President Biden to come to the table and negotiate with Congress on the debt ceiling and address this crisis.

Lesko Reintroduces Legislation to Simplify Hydrogen Permitting Process

I reintroduced the Hydrogen Permitting Simplification Act to streamline the hydrogen permitting process for federal hydrogen programs if the programs utilize zero-carbon emission sources. It is important that we utilize hydrogen as part of an all-of the-above energy approach. While Americans are facing high energy costs, companies that produce hydrogen from zero-carbon emission sources are also facing costly environmental regulations. This legislation removes these burdensome regulatory barriers and empowers American companies to become leaders in hydrogen production.

Lesko Investigates School Closures 

We kept our schools closed for too long, and our kids have suffered because of it. During the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, I asked AFT, the second-largest teacher's union, President Randi Weingarten why some employees were considered more susceptible to COVID-19 than others, why some establishments stayed open while schools did not, and why the science was ignored. Watch me ask these questions below:

Lesko Discusses Data Privacy

In the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce, I asked if there should be one standard data privacy law that is clear and consistent across all 50 states. If not, I asked if businesses can innovate and grow with the status quo. I also asked if changes should be made to the American Data Privacy Protection Act. Watch below:

Lesko Investigates Gain-of-Function Research

In the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I discussed how it seems likely that COVID-19 originated from the Wuhan lab. I asked how we should approach gain-of-function research safely, and if the same federal agency that allocates the grant should be responsible for the oversight of the research. Watch my questioning below:

Lesko Discusses Antimicrobial Resistance

During a hearing in the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, I asked how long medical students spend studying Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and how to combat it. I also asked for an update on the success of CARB-X, a global research organization. Watch my questions below:

Lesko Spreads Awareness for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an invasive breast cancer that grows faster than other cancers and has fewer treatment options. A new study has provided clues for new approaches, but we must keep fighting to find a cure and protect women from TNBC! Watch my speech on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives:

GET THE FACTS: The Southern Border is STILL Wide Open

There have been approximately five million illegal migrant encounters at the southern border since President Biden took office and over 1.3 million known gotaways. Sadly, President Biden's self-inflicted southern border crisis continues to worsen as a direct result of the administration's failed open border policies. In March 2023, there were 191,899 illegal migrant encounters at the southern border, which is nearly a 24% increase from February 2023. Even worse, in the first six months of this fiscal year, 80 people with names on the terrorist watch list were caught trying to enter the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection witnessed a 23.7% increase in weight of drugs seized between March and February of 2023 nationwide. House Republicans are stepping up to the plate with legislation to end this crisis. This is exactly why I introduced the Border Crisis Prevention Act to address issues with our asylum system and reinstate President Trump's successful Remain in Mexico policy. I will continue to work with my colleagues on common-sense legislation to secure our southern border!

Around the District

Monica from our office and Gabriela Orozco, a member of our Hispanic Advisory Board, attended a community meeting in honor of Autism Awareness Month hosted by Sounds of Autism. We are proud of their work!

Casework Highlight

A constituent contacted our office after she had issues, as the executor of her late friend's estate, to have her 2020 tax refund processed. Our office contacted the Internal Revenue Service, helped identify the issue, and the constituent received her refund.

Congressional Art Competition

Our office is accepting submissions for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition now until May 3, 2023. The Congressional Art Competition is open to students, grades 9-12, who reside or attend school in Arizona's 8^th Congressional District. The winner will have their work displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. Please click here for more information.

Tell Congresswoman Lesko

Do you know a business or location I should visit? Click the link here and let me know!

We are Here to Help

As always, my office is here to help. My Surprise district office is open and serving constituents. To make an appointment with the office, please call 623-776-7911.

My Washington, D.C. office is open and answering your calls. Please feel free to contact us via phone at 202-225-4576 or via email by going to my website at https://lesko.house.gov/contact/.

I encourage you to visit the website and to also follow me on Twitter, Instagram, Parler, Gettr, and Truth Social, and like my Facebook page for up to date information on what I'm doing and how my office can help you.

May God continue to bless you and our great Nation.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko