The Week in Review 

Happy Friday!

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

Securing Arizona's Water Future 

Securing Arizona’s water future remains one of my top priorities in Congress. I recently surveyed and received briefings on our state’s water systems. 

I met with Bureau of Reclamation liaisons at Glen Canyon Dam, which sits on Lake Powell in northern Arizona. This dam uses the Colorado River to help provide power to millions of homes in the region and is the starting point for Arizona’s water system. 

I also met with the Superintendent of the Grand Canyon National Park. We discussed water, recreation, forest, and security management and things Congress can do to help the park function more efficiently. I’m grateful for their service and will bring their recommendations back to our district. 

My water-focused trip wrapped up closer to the Fifth District at Bartlett Dam. This dam rests just outside of Phoenix and helps manage the East Valley’s water supply—including a significant portion of our own district. There, I received briefings from the Salt River Project (SRP) and learned more about their proposed Bartlett Dam modification. 

SRP is currently engaging in a feasibility study with a number of partners in the East Valley to determine whether raising Bartlett by nearly 100 feet is a viable option for increasing storage capacity on the Verde River. This is a vitally important project to ensure that our growing region has sufficient water for years into the future.

I had a wonderful time learning more about our state’s water resources and look forward to converting my insights into sound water policy. 

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

Supreme Court Produces Three Massive Wins
for Americans

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) recently issued three significant decisions that will better serve Americans for generations to come. 

SCOTUS ruled that factoring in race in college admissions is a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, which effectively terminates racist affirmative action policies.  I look forward to returning to a merit-based system and rewarding Americans based on their skills, not the color of their skin. 

In a separate decision, SCOTUS determined that states cannot force workers to promote messages that violate their religious beliefs. This comes after a graphic designer named Lorie Smith refused to design websites for same-sex weddings. This is a major win for religious liberties! 

Lastly, SCOTUS struck down President Biden’s illegitimate student debt bailout plan. This plan never made any sense. If you take student loans out, you need to pay them back, period. This $400 billion bailout is expensive, rewards fiscal irresponsibility, and does little to drive down student loans in the long run. 

SCOTUS’ decisions will positively impact ALL Americans for generations to come. We can thank President Donald J. Trump for appointing these conservative and smart justices! 

Darrell Covert Passing

On June 20, 2023, my good friend Darrell Covert passed away. Condolences to his wife, Rita, and his family. Darrell was a great patriot who loved this country and worked hard to save it. Cindy and I will miss him. May his family have comfort and may Darrell rest in peace. 

What's Happening in Washington Next Week

Reauthorizing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

Next week, the annual NDAA will be be brought to the House floor. The NDAA is legislation that is supposed to set policy and authorize appropriations for the U.S. Department of Defense and the national security programs at the U.S. Department of Energy for the fiscal year. I am offering several amendments to it, which can be read below. 

Amendment 365 - This amendment requires the Department of Defense to perform an audit. If it fails to, the discretionary budget authority available for the Department of Defense, the military department, or the Defense Agency shall be reduced by .5 percent. 

Amendment 367 - This amendment expresses a sense of Congress about the importance of the U.S. - Israel relationship and the need to continue offering security assistance and related support. 

Amendment 369 - This amendment terminates the designation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally. 

Amendment 371 - This amendment prohibits the use of funds for any project or activity related to NATO until the Secretary of Defense certifies to the congressional defense committees that each member of NATO has spent 2 percent of the respective GDP on defense expenditures. 

Amendment 373 - This amendment requires the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and United States Agency for International Development to submit to Congress a report on agreements made by the United States with the Taliban. 

Amendment 375 - This amendment exempts defense-related activities from the Endangered Species Act. 

House Judiciary and Oversight & Accountability Committee Activity 

I’ll be participating in the following committee and subcommittee hearings next week. I’ll be conducting oversight over our nation’s federal agencies, budgets, and policies that are putting Americans last. Congress should hold rogue actors and policies accountable through its statutory authorities. House Judiciary hearings may be watched here. House Oversight & Accountability Committee hearings may be watched here.

House Judiciary Committee and Subcommittee Hearings
7/12/23 “Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation”
7/13/23 “Oversight of the Federal Trade Commission”
7/13/23 “The Consequences of Criminal Aliens on U.S. Communities”
7/14/23 “Fixing FISA, Part II”

House Oversight & Accountability Committee and Subcommittee Hearings
7/13/23 “Beyond the Budget: Addressing Financial Accountability in the Department of Defense”

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

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 Appearance of the Week

I joined Newsmax’s Rita Cosby to unveil the magnitude of the Biden Family’s crime scandals. Click below to watch some of the segment.

Top Tweet 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.