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. 

Pause Federal Spending to Save Our Nation

I recently read an opinion piece claiming that there is a “shutdown caucus” in Congress that wants a government shutdown. Yet, as even the author acknowledged, government will keep operating. It’s not a shutdown of government, it’s really a pause in out-of-control federal spending related to nonessentials.

There is no impact to Social Security, Medicare, or other mandatory spending programs. Even within the discretionary spending paused, essential government functions continue and backpay is guaranteed when the pause is lifted.

House Republican leaders promised that we would restore the regular process of producing a budget. That means that 12 separate bills covering the spending of the Great Leviathan, federal government, would be completed in the House by the end of June, and then forwarded to the Senate for consideration.

Typically, there would be disagreements and then a conference committee of members from the House and Senate would get together and work out the differences.

Speaker McCarthy boxed in himself and the Republican House by foregoing the promise of limiting spending to a total of $1.471 trillion and allowing those addicted to the federal spending drug to ignore, manipulate, and gimmick the various bills to actually spend above that level.

A significant plurality in the House has made its position known for almost ten months now. This could have and should have been resolved months ago. I called for a return to pre-COVID spending levels, which are lower than last year’s revenue, and would ensure we don’t add more to the national debt.

We were told that we would work through August to resolve differences and get the bills ready to go forward. That didn’t happen.

Before the August recess the Speaker allowed the Military Construction and Veterans Administration bill to be voted on. We all voted for that because we want to take care of our veterans, and we were told that by the time the recess was over the other bills would be ready.

That, too, didn’t happen.

As it stands today, my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee haven’t finished writing all 12 bills. 

The reason we are supposed to vote on 12 spending bills at the same time is so we can understand what the total spending amount is and place all the spending in that context.

Until last weekend the Speaker was advocating for a “clean” continuing resolution (CR); this would mean that for the foreseeable future we would keep federal spending at the bloated levels of the Pelosi-Schumer-Biden triumvirate. And that means that inflationary pressure will remain. And that means accelerating growth in our national debt.

Now, however, the Speaker is advocating for passage of just a few more bills plus a continuing resolution. And of the four bills that he wants to bring to the floor, three actually increase spending over the current year and fail to hold the Biden Administration accountable for its woke, failed policies.

Now we are told that there is a new plan, that looks a lot like the old plan. Pass a few bills now and pass a CR. The claim is that the new CR cuts spending and requires the Biden Regime to enforce border laws. 

But, instead of limiting the spending to the promised topline of $1.471 trillion, spending will be $1.526 trillion and we will continue to fund a lawless administration that uses resources paid by the taxpayers to attack citizens. For instance, rogue prosecutors Jack Smith and Alvin Bragg can continue their out-of-bounds prosecutions that are persecutions. The IRS still gets to expand its inquiries into the activities of middle-class taxpayers. 

We are told that even though the process has been as bad as usual we can try to get it again next year. 

That’s from the same guy who bartered away to the Senate the House’s proffered debt ceiling increase of $1.5 trillion over 8 months. You may recall that the Speaker returned to the House not with anything that looks like the bill that passed out of the House, but no limit on our increase in debt until after the next election. Yikes!

The old adage is that a fool and his money are soon parted, but in this case it isn’t even the fool’s money.

Another adage comes to mind: “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” 

Pete Townsend said it well, “We won’t be fooled again.”

So back to the op-ed that claims that the “shut-down caucus” wants to take its ball and go home, I say in this time of rapidly growing federal spending, inflationary crunch, and economic problems caused by Biden’s policies, why would you want to continue on that same path instead of fighting to reduce spending, reduce the growth in the debt, and repair the economy?

Perhaps you have forgotten Einstein’s notion that doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.

Conducting Oversight on Biden's Gotaway Calculations at the Border

Yesterday, I sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding reports of DHS underreporting ‘gotaways’ or illegal aliens who have entered the United States unlawfully but evaded capture from immigration authorities. 

The letter requires Secretary Mayorkas to provide information on how DHS currently calculates gotaways, gotaway estimates for Fiscal Year 2023, and how the Department aims to ensure more accurate reporting. 

The United States must know who is entering its country at all times. Gotaway aliens are gushing through our southern border and our Department of Homeland Security doesn’t appear to have an accurate system in place to quantify who is entering our country unlawfully and escaping apprehension. 

I have had many credible sources on the ground indicate to me that current gotaway totals are woefully undercounted and that’s unacceptable. These types of aliens pose significant public safety and national security risks as they are likely evading capture for malicious reasons. 

The last thing the United States needs is another tragedy because it refused to prioritize its national security and enforce the laws of the land. I look forward to hearing from Secretary Mayorkas.

Fox News covered the letter here.

The letter may be read here. 

Testifying Before House Rules Committee

Even though Speaker McCarthy recessed the House yesterday, I stayed behind in DC to voice my concerns over any continuing resolution and our debt in general to the House Rules Committee.

Click the image below to watch some of my remarks:

Happy 76th Birthday to the U.S. Air Force

This week, the U.S. Air Force celebrated its 76th birthday. We are thankful for all who have served to protect and defend our skies.

My Vote on the Rule for the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill

The House held a vote to bring the Department of Defense Appropriations Act to the House Floor, and I voted against it to ensure that the federal government does not continue to spend money it does not have to fund the Ukraine War, woke initiatives, and other waste. Click the image below to hear more: 

House Floor Speech Honoring Michael Pollack and Pollack Investments

Yesterday, I honored the 50th anniversary of Pollack Investments, led by Michael Pollack, with a speech on the House Floor.

Michael is a constituent and has dedicated many years of service and leadership to Arizona’s Fifth Congressional District.

Pollack Investments specializes in commercial restoration and renovation projects, specifically long-term investments in shopping centers and other multi-tenant locations. His company has brought economic growth, job opportunities, and hope to our community and I thank him again for that. 

Conservative Partnership Institute's Annual Partner Conference

I had the opportunity to speak at the Conservative Partnership Institute’s (CPI) Annual Partner Conference earlier in the week. CPI is a DC-based organization that advocates for conservative principles by training thousands of staffers, citizens, and activists. 

At this conference, I spoke about better prioritizing our southern border and why a strong national border is necessary to keep our great nation intact.

House Judiciary Committee Activity

The House Judiciary Committee held a full committee hearing titled “Oversight of the Department of Justice.” My colleagues and I brought in Attorney General Merrick Garland to demand answers on why his department has deviated from its department mission. It is bending the law and abusing resources to target conservatives and its political opponents. AG Garland did not have legitimate answers to my questions and should ultimately be impeached for his dereliction of duties. 

Click the image below to see some of my interactions with AG Garland:

House Oversight & Accountability Committee Activity

The House Oversight and Accountability Committee held a hearing titled “The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Prescription Drug Markets Part II: Not What the Doctor Ordered.” The Oversight Committee is conducting an investigation into the practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers and their impact on prescription drug prices. This hearing offered members an opportunity to discuss anticompetitive practices that PBMs, as well as large pharmaceutical companies, employ which undermine patient health and drive up the cost of prescription drugs. There must be greater transparency within the PBM industry, and the Oversight Committee will continue to examine PBM practices for baseline legislative solutions that can reduce drug costs.

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

Legislation and Letters

Bills Cosponsored:

• H.Res. 684 - Condemning the actions of Governor of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham, for subverting the Second Amendment to the Constitution and depriving the citizens of New Mexico of their right to bear arms (Rep. Newhouse) 
  
• H.R. 5577 - FACE Act Repeal Act (Rep. Roy)  
  
• H.R. 5609 - No Taxpayer Funded Detail for Anthony Fauci Act (Rep. Strong)  
  
• H.R. 5635 - Northern Arizona Protection Act (Gosar)  

Letters Sent:

• Letter to DHS Secretary Mayorkas on Inaccurate, Undercounted Gotaway Reports

Letters Cosigned:

• Letter to Biden Administration on Ukraine Funding (Sen. Vance and Rep. Roy)  

Tele-Town Hall Recap 

I held a telephone town hall this week. Several thousand constituents joined the town hall, and we discussed the congressional impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, President Trump’s indictments, the crisis at our southern border, the appropriations fight in Washington, and much more. 

I appreciate everyone who joined the call and for those who couldn’t make it, please click on the image below to view a recap!

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 Todd Piro and Carley Shimkus on Fox and Friends First to discuss the first impeachment inquiry hearing into Joe Biden that’s happening next week. Click below to watch some of the segment:

I joined Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business to discuss a potential pause in out-of-control federal spending. Click below to watch some of the segment:

I joined Bianca de la Garza on Newsmax to preview the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Department of Justice oversight. Click below to watch some of the segment: 

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.