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. 

Save the Date: Salute to Veterans Ceremony

On Friday, November 3 at 6:30 pm, I will be hosting an event called Salute to Veterans in San Tan Valley. Salute to Veterans will express appreciation for America’s servicemembers and their sacrifices to our great nation. All are welcome to join in the celebration.

Please RSVP with the QR code or with this link. Spread the word and we hope to see you there!

House Speaker's Race Remains at Stalemate

House Republicans failed to elect Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) as our next House Speaker and have not been able to elect any other member this past week.

Despite receiving the nomination to become our next House Speaker, 20 House Republicans blocked Jordan’s speakership on the House Floor during the first vote. 22 House Republicans blocked his Speakership in a second vote. In a third vote, 25 House Republicans blocked him once again.

As we concluded the floor vote today, I, along with my colleagues who voted to remove Speaker McCarthy, circulated a letter to the Republican Conference stating our willingness to be censured, suspended, or removed from the Conference if the remaining holdouts against Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) vote to elect him as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

Following that vote on the House floor, the Republican Conference met and 112 Republicans voted by secret ballot against Rep. Jordan remaining our Speaker-Designee. This means that 87 of my colleagues flipped on their support for Rep. Jordan out of view of their constituents. Unfortunately, the Swamp won today. 

A candidate forum will be held on Monday night for the Republican Conference to consider new candidates for Speaker of the House. I remain committed to supporting the most conservative candidate who can reach a majority on the House floor.  

Our nation is suffering from a multitude of crises — ranging from a border crisis to an energy crisis to a crime crisis. The House requires a new, conservative Speaker to help better address these issues.

I will keep you all posted. 

My letter sent to the House Republican Conference may be read here. 

Oversight Committee Releases Evidence of Direct Payment to Joe Biden from Biden Family Influence Peddling Investigation

Despite Joe Biden’s repeated denials of involvement in his family’s influence peddling scheme, the House Oversight and Accountability committee has uncovered evidence that President Biden directly benefited. Bank records obtained over the course of the Committee’s investigation have revealed a $200,000 direct payment from James and Sara Biden, the brother and sister-in-law of the President, to Joe Biden in the form of a personal check. This evidence is a direct result from three subpoenas for Hunter and James Biden’s personal and business bank records issued by Chairman James Comer (R-KY) last month.

In 2018, James Biden received $600,000 in loans from Americore, a failing rural hospital operator. According to bankruptcy court documents, James received these loans “based upon representations that his last name, ‘Biden,’ could ‘open doors’ and that he could obtain a large investment from the Middle East based on his political connections.”

On March 1, 2018, Americore wired a $200,000 loan into James and Sara Biden’s personal bank account–not their business bank account. On the same day, James Biden wrote a $200,000 check from the same personal bank account to Joe Biden.

James Biden wrote this check to Joe Biden as a “loan repayment.” Americore–a failing company–loaned money to James Biden who proceeded to send it to Joe Biden. Even if this was a personal loan repayment, it’s troubling that Joe Biden’s ability to be paid back by his brother depended on the success of his family’s shady financial dealings.

This check to Joe Biden raises new questions about how he personally benefited from his family’s shady influence peddling of his name and their access to him. The Oversight Committee will continue to follow the money in upcoming investigative actions. 

There is more to come. I’ll keep you updated.

Protecting Israel from Terror

I cosponsored H.Res.793 — legislation that calls on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during their October 2023 attack on Israel. Hamas must hand over these innocent individuals.

I will never forget the heinous attacks Hamas committed earlier this month in Israel. More than 1,700 individuals died — including 32 American citizens. Hamas is additionally holding an unknown number of individuals hostage and many more remain unaccounted for. 

The atrocities committed by Hamas are vile beyond comprehension. They are savages with no regard for human life. I strongly condemn the latest Hamas terrorist attacks and support Israel’s right to self defense. My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent Israeli and American victims and their families.

America stands with Israel and we must work together to eliminate these barbaric terror cells.

Check out my office’s resource graphic below:

Condemning Pro-Hamas Protests

This week, protests supporting barbaric Hamas have exploded across the nation and around the world. On Wednesday, protestors infiltrated the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, the building in which my office is located, and interfered with legislative business.

Over 300 individuals were arrested by Capitol police for demonstrating in the Capitol and for assaulting Capitol Police officers. There are members on the Left proudly displaying the Palestinian flag outside their offices and inciting pro-Hamas crowds to take over the Capitol complex. 

The fact that any American would vocally support a terrorist group, especially one intent on destroying one of our biggest allies and taking the lives of others, is abhorrent. I will continue to stand with our ally Israel and the Israeli people.

Addressing the Novel Coronavirus South Wester Intergovernmental Committee

I joined Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) in a video to address the Novel Coronavirus South Western Intergovernmental Committee’s (NCSWIC) hearing today.

This committee is chaired by State Senator Janae Shamp and it examines federal, state and local responses to the COVID emergency. 

The committee members and I want to ensure that Americans’ personal liberties are better protected during disease outbreaks. We will not stand for draconian masks and vaccine mandates made by unelected bureaucrats once again. 

Rep. Crane and I have introduced and co-sponsored a number of pieces of legislation at the federal level to address these issue areas. 

Click the image below to see our latest efforts:

Celebrating the U.S. Navy's Birthday

This week, we celebrated the 248th birthday of the United States Navy. We are thankful for all who have served protecting our seas for the past 248 years.

Legislation and Letters

Bills Cosponsored

• H.Res. 793 - Resolution condemning Hamas' brutal attack, condemning their holding and threatening of hostages, and demanding Hamas immediately release all hostages (Rep. Stevens) 
• H.R. 5959 - Guaranteeing Aggressors Zero Admission Act (Rep. Tiffany) 
• H.R. 5798 - Protecting Our Nation’s Capital Emergency Act of 2023 (Rep. Garbarino) 
• H.Res. 797 - Condemning the Biden Administration for failing to fulfill the United States Government's duty to American citizens left stranded in Israel (Rep. Mills) 

Letters Led:

• Letter to the Republican Conference agreeing to accept censure, suspension, or removal from Conference in order to elect Rep.  Jim Jordan as the 56th Speaker

Letters Cosigned

• Letter led by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Erin Houchin (R-IN), and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), signed by 61 members of Congress, opposing the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) proposed rule to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The rule will classify abortion as a condition related to pregnancy that would qualify for financial relief, against the purpose of the law the rule is interpreting 
• Letter led by Reps. Brian Mast (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), signed by 32 members of Congress, urging the Biden Administration to transfer two idle iron dome air defense systems to Israel to fend off rocket attacks from Hamas

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 Newsmax with Bianca de La Garza to discuss how Congress can support Israel amid the heinous attacks from Hamas. Click the image below to watch some of the segment. 

I joined KFYI-AM (Phoenix, AZ) with James T. Harris to counter the radical Left’s calls to bring in one million Palestinian refugees into the United States. Click the image below to hear some of the segment. 

I joined Real America’s Voice with Charlie Kirk to talk about the obstacles House Republicans are facing in electing a new Speaker. Click the image below to watch some of the segment. 

Top Op-Ed of the Week 

I wrote a column for The Hill that argues how not having a House Speaker for a couple of weeks does not constitute a crisis. The real crises happening in our country result from the Biden Administration’s policies. We are facing border, crime, foreign policy, education, energy, and economic crises that require a new House Speaker. 

I’d rather get the House Speaker right than electing someone that is not cut for the job. 

You may read the piece here. 

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.