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. 

House Passes Continuing Resolution to Fund the Federal Government at Biden-Schumer-Pelosi Levels

I voted against H.R.6363, the Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the federal government until after the new year.

When Republicans took the House majority in January, we committed to restoring regular order in the appropriations process. That meant analyzing current spending, drafting bills to cut unnecessary and woke federal programs, and passing 12 individual appropriations bills in the House before the statutory deadline of June 30. Under Speaker McCarthy’s failed leadership, the House once again didn’t meet the deadline and passed a CR to fund the government from October 1 to November 17. 

This new “laddered” CR to fund a portion of the government to January 19 and the remainder to February 2 is another missed opportunity to rein in bloated Biden-Schumer-Pelosi policies. The CR does not reduce spending, does not secure our border, and has no policy wins for the American people. Again, more Democrats than Republicans supported the bill in the House. 

Advancing CRs instead of our annual spending bills is unacceptable. Our nation faces $33 trillion in national debt while our country continues to be invaded by foreign nationals. If we can't change our trajectory now, when can we?

Continuing the Fight to Impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas

This week, eight House Republicans voted with all House Democrats to prevent full consideration of a resolution to impeach Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. I am appalled by the vote and the failure of my colleagues to take the impact of Secretary Mayorkas’s actions seriously. 

I was the first Member of Congress to file impeachment articles against Secretary Mayorkas, introducing them in 2021 for dereliction of his constitutional duties and posing a danger to the American people.

I remained hopeful that at least my Republican colleagues would join these efforts. But they sided with Democrats to protect Mayorkas instead of the American people. I am disappointed in this week’s results but will continue to fight for the American people and ensure America’s sovereignty remains intact.

45 Republicans Voted AGAINST Accountability for Biden HHS Crony

I sponsored an amendment to defund the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Director Robin Dunn Marcos. 

Ms. Marcos is a failed leader who has lost track of some 100,000 children who entered the United States illegally without an accompanying parent or guardian. After placing the children with “sponsors” to look after their well-being and immigration court hearings, ORR has been unable to make contact with the children and has no plan for regaining contact. Her failures–and the policies that prompted them–are well-documented in the media, including The New York Times, and in her direct correspondence with my office. This situation is yet another facet of the Biden Administration’s self-made border crisis, which could be solved by enforcing our immigration laws. 

My amendment was struck down by 45 Republicans who would rather vote with Democrats than hold dangerous, unelected bureaucrats accountable. Click the image below to hear more:

Floor Debate on Defunding Department of Education

I introduced four amendments that would defund several components of the Department of Education. In total, the amendments would have cut $15 billion in funding from the department. 

Increased funding for the Department of Education over the last several decades has driven up the cost of higher education and allowed unelected bureaucrats to target schools and programs they dislike. 

For example, the department has been unfairly targeting Christian-affiliated universities such as Grand Canyon University (GCU) and Liberty University. The department has repeatedly gone after GCU, the largest Christian university in the country, and most recently levied a $37.7 million dollar fine on GCU for bogus “deceptive practices” - the largest fine in the department’s history.  

These amendments ultimately failed, but I will continue to seek new ways to defund the unconstitutional Department of Education and drive down the cost of college. 

Click the images below to watch me debate my amendments on the House Floor. 

Addressing COVID-19 Vaccine Injuries

I participated in Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) roundtable on COVID-19 vaccine injuries. 

I learned more from experts Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Kimberly Biss, and Thomas Renz about the dangers of COVID-19 vaccines and stand by my argument that no one should be forced to take an experimental vaccine to appease the federal government.

I thank Congresswoman Greene for hosting this important discussion. I will continue fighting to correct the negative impacts of the federal government’s vaccine mandates, and to prevent similar future mandates. 

Check out my existing anti-COVID-19 vaccine legislation below:

H.R. 118 - No Vaccine Passports Act;

H.R. 119 - The Freedom from Mandates Act;

H.R. 117 - To prohibit any entity that receives Federal funds from the COVID relief packages from mandating employees receive a COVID-19 vaccine; and

H.R. 403 - No Mandates Act.

Click the image below to watch the roundtable: 

Ribbon Cutting for Giving Machine

This morning, I was honored to join faith leaders, charities, and community members in the grand opening of the 2023 Giving Machines at the Gilbert Water Tower. Thank you to the incredible individuals and organizations across the East Valley who do so much for families in need. May we all carry the spirit of giving in our hearts this season.

Mourning the Death of Sgt. Andrew P. Southland

This past week, Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, tragically passed away in a helicopter crash over the Mediterranean Sea.

Sgt. Southard, along with four other servicemembers, were conducting a routine training exercise before an emergency occurred in their MH-60 Blackhawk. All five of these patriots died. 

Please join me in mourning his death. During his military service, Sgt. Southard obtained two Army Commendation Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, an Army Service Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Basic Aviation Badge.

May he and his colleagues rest in peace. God bless. 

Expressing Unwavering Support for Israel

Today, I sent a letter to Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services (HASC), and the 70 other House members who have been named to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Committee regarding my amendment to the House-passed NDAA for Fiscal Year 2024. My amendment expressed the United States’s commitment to Israel and was included in the House-passed version of the bill as Section 1220E.  Today’s letter urges Chairman Rogers and House conferees to support inclusion of Section 1220E into the final text of the FY24 NDAA. Section 1220E states the following: 

(1) since 1948, Israel has been one of the strongest friends and allies of the United States; 
(2) Israel is a stable, democratic country in a region often marred by turmoil;
(3) it is essential to the strategic interest of the United States to continue to offer security assistance and related support to Israel; and
(4) such assistance and support is especially vital as Israel confronts a number of potential challenges at the present time, including continuing threats from Iran. 

I strongly condemn Hamas’s heinous attacks on Israel. Hamas thugs are filled with pure evil and are needlessly perpetrating heinous acts of terrorism. I fully support Israel’s right to defend itself from those who wish to eradicate it. The United States must continue to make clear its unwavering support for one of its closest allies.

America stands with Israel. I look forward to Congressman Rogers’s inclusion of this section.

The full list of Republican recipients may be found here; the list of Democratic recipients may be found here.

The letter may be read here.

Legislation & Letters

Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act Amendments Sponsored:

• H.Amdt. 750 - Amends H.R. 5894 - Cuts funding to the Student Financial Assistance Account by $9.25 billion 
• H.Amdt. 751 - Amends H.R. 5894 – Eliminates all funding to the Student Aid Administration in the amount of $1.76 billion 
• H.Amdt. 752 - Amends H.R. 5894 – Eliminates all funding to the Higher Education Account in the amount of $2.76 billion 
• H.Amdt. 753 - Amends H.R. 5894 – Eliminates all funding to the Institute of Education Sciences Account in the amount of $707.3 million 
• H.Amdt. 760 - Amends H.R. 5894 – Prohibits the Department of Health of Human Services from making any voluntary contributions to the World Health Organization (Passed by Voice) 
• H.Amdt. 761 - Amends H.R. 5894 – Prohibits the use of funds to pay for the salary and expenses of Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Director Robin Dunn Marcos

Bills Cosponsored: 

• H.R. 6431 - Trust But Verify Act (Rep. Ogles) 
• H.R. 6432 - Safeguarding Honest Speech Act (Rep. Ogles) 
• H.J. Res. 97 - CRA of disapproval of the rule submitted by the Department of Justice relating to "Office of the Attorney General; Home Confinement Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act"
• H.Res. 863 - Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors (Rep. Greene) 
• H.R. 6383 - To prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from implementing or enforcing a remain in Texas policy (Rep. Jackson) 
• H.R. 6390 - To amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act to permit the refusal of credit to aliens who do not have lawful status in the United States (Rep. Self)

Letters Cosigned:

• Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court in the case of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA (Rep. Pfluger)

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 Business with Maria Bartiromo to provide an update on the Biden Crime Family and how the House Oversight & Accountability Committee intends to hold them accountable. Click the image below to listen to some of the segment. 

I joined War Room with Steve Bannon to discuss why passing a “clean” continuing resolution to fund the federal government would be a major mistake. Click the image below to watch some of the segment. 

I joined Fox Radio’s Jason Chaffetz to illustrate how Bidenonomics is negatively impacting Arizonans. Click the image below to hear 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.