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.

Demanding Answers for Secret Service’s Potential Pattern of Negligence

I sent a letter to United States Secret Service (USSS) Acting Director Ronald Rowe regarding the failures of his agency in protecting the life of a former President and current presidential candidate. Secret Service’s failure to properly secure the location resulted in the tragic death of firefighter Corey Comperatore, who lost his life protecting his family, and critical injuries to two other rally-goers, David Dutch and James Copenhaver.

Prior to the July 13th assassination attempt, the Secret Service was in possession of a draft report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) detailing Secret Service’s preparation for and response to events on January 6, 2021. The report recommended various changes to Secret Service policies and protocols, some of which had not been implemented before July 13, raising concerns over the existence of a larger pattern of negligence on the part of the Secret Service.

My letter demands that Acting Director Rowe provide the following information in furtherance of the House’s investigation into the Secret Service and the attempted assassination of President Trump:

1. A summary of the findings of the draft DHS OIG report;
   
2. A summary of the recommendations included in the DHS OIG report;
   
3. What steps the Secret Service took to implement those recommendations ahead of the July 13, 2024, rally;
   
4. What recommendations are still outstanding as of the time of the Secret Service’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee on July 22, 2024.

The letter requests that Acting Director Rowe provide this information by August 7, 2024.

Secret Service’s security failures leading up to July 13, 2024, are unacceptable. The allegations that the Secret Service received a draft report of previous security failures from DHS OIG but might not have implemented changes are highly concerning. Agencies like the Secret Service should constantly strive for maximum efficiency; failure is not an option.

I look forward to working with my colleagues, including Representatives Cory Mills (R-FL) and Eli Crane who bring technical experience and expertise, in getting to the answers that Americans are seeking about the assassination attempt on President Trump.

Congress will continue investigating the failures of the Secret Service. I look forward to Acting Director Rowe’s cooperation.

Fox News covered the letter here.

The letter may be read here.

Accountability for Abuse of Marriage Parole Program

I sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the Biden-Harris administration’s unilateral declaration to grant parole to illegal aliens married to American citizens, allowing them to apply for lawful permanent resident status without the statutory penalties that accompany illegal entry. This latest expansion of parole is likely to result in the growth of an existing international criminal network used to allow aliens to illegally enter the country through fraudulent marriages.

Marriage fraud has been one of the major avenues used by aliens to illegally enter the country under the guise of legitimacy. Its use is so common that Homeland Security Investigations has investigated and prosecuted numerous criminal rings, some based on familial relationships and friendships while others were fueled by organized criminal enterprises charging hefty fees for arranging fraudulent marriages.

Marriage fraud is also known to be a tool used by terrorist organizations. Members of both Al Qaeda and Hezbollah have used marriage fraud to allow their members to enter the United States under the guise of legitimacy. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of 9/11, said that marriage fraud is “a fantastic mechanism for [terrorist] operatives to acquire valid documents.”

My letter demands that Secretary Mayorkas provide answers to the following questions:

1. How many cases of marriage fraud does DHS identify each year? 
   
2. What are the current procedures for identifying marriage fraud? 
   
3. How many cases of marriage fraud does DHS estimate go undetected each year? 
   
4. How much does DHS anticipate instances of marriage fraud schemes to increase due to the implementation of this new parole program?
   
5. Was there a consideration for the likelihood that at least some of the qualifying individuals under this new program would only be qualified due to fraudulent marriages?
   
6. Beyond DHS’s current system for detecting marriage fraud, what further measures are DHS planning on implementing to better detect marriage fraud due to this new parole program? 

The letter requests that the questions are answered by August 31, 2024.

Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Alejandro Mayorkas are the architects of the border crisis that has destroyed so many American families.

Instead of securing the border and cracking down on lawlessness, the Biden-Harris administration continues to find new ways to reward illegal aliens. Their apathy towards enforcing our nation’s laws serves as the biggest incentive for illegal immigration to continue. It’s time the Biden-Harris administration takes seriously the dangerous national security crisis they have created, and puts American citizens ahead of the desires of illegal aliens.

I am grateful for the support from my colleagues, and I look forward to Secretary Mayorkas’s cooperation and provided information.

Fox News covered the letter here.

The letter may be read here.

Letters and Legislation

Bills Cosponsored:

• H.R. 9146 - Ensuring Continuity in Veterans Health Act (Rep. Franklin) 

Letters Led:

• Letter to U.S. Secret Service Acting Director Rowe on DHS OIG Report
• Letter to DHS Secretary Mayorkas re Abuse of Marriage Parole Program

Letters Cosigned:

• Letter to Phoenix VA Director re Phoenix VA OIG Report (Rep. Gosar)  

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.

Service Academy Nominations for Class of 2029 Now Open

Every year, my office has the pleasure of interviewing and nominating some of the brightest young men and women in Arizona to the most prestigious military institutions in the world.

Students interested in attending a U.S. Service Academy need to apply and obtain a congressional or presidential nomination in order to receive an appointment to four of the five Service Academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY.

Our nomination applications for the Class of 2029 are now open for students from Arizona’s Fifth District. Applications must be submitted by October 25, 2024. 

To request a Military Academy Nomination from my office or additional information, please contact Victoria Armijo at (480) 980-9609 or [email protected] for an application packet.

The Congressional App Challenge is Back!

Applications are now open for the 2024 Congressional App Challenge! I encourage all interested Arizona students to participate for the chance to have your app featured in the U.S. Capitol and on the House of Representatives’ website. 

Visit the Congressional App Challenge website to register before October 24th:

Top Media Appearance of the Week

I joined the Andrea Kaye Show to discuss Biden-Harris’s plea deal with the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks. Click the image below to listen to 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 
I 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.