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 on the VA’s Funding Shortfall and Impacts on Veterans’ Access to Healthcare

I led a letter, cosigned by Arizona Congressmen Paul Gosar and Eli Crane, to Bryan Matthews, Medical Center Director for the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System (PHX VAHCS). The letter addresses conflicting statements from national and local Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) leadership about the VA’s funding shortfall and the impact it could have on veterans’ care. 

On July 15, the VA informed the House Committee on Veterans Affairs that there would be an estimated $2.88 billion shortfall for FY 2024 in addition to $11.97 billion in FY 2025. Constituents reported to my office, as well as the offices of Congressmen Biggs, Gosar, and Crane, that Veterans Health Administration (VHA) representatives conveyed that the funding shortfall could limit referrals for community care and result in a hiring freeze for the VA. Congressional staff raised these concerns with Director Matthews on July 19, and the reports were refuted.

My letter presses Director Matthews to clarify whether PHX VAHCS knew of the funding shortfall before the meeting with Congressional staff and requests information on how this shortfall may impact Arizona veterans seeking health care services. 

Our veterans deserve to receive the care we promised. The VA needs to be upfront with Congress and veterans about the resources they need to provide the level of care that is expected and the benefits that were assured. This eleventh-hour disclosure, well after the appropriations process has begun, is irresponsible and could harm our veterans.

I am grateful for the support of my colleagues on this crucial issue and look forward to a prompt response from Director Matthews.

The letter may be read here.

Tele-Town Hall Wrap-Up

I hosted my virtual tele-town hall on Monday. Thousands of constituents joined the call to hear updates on what I’m doing in DC and Arizona’s Fifth District. We discussed the assassination attempt against President Trump, the potential for a global conflict caused by the Democrats’ reckless foreign policy, and the use of executive orders. Be sure to keep an eye out for updates on my next tele-town hall! If you weren’t able to join us this week, click the image below to watch a recap:

Visiting DaVita Mountain Vista Dialysis Center of Arizona

I'm grateful for the opportunity to visit DaVita Mountain Dialysis Center of Arizona.

DaVita currently serves about 100 patients who require dialysis care at least three times weekly. 

These patients are among the most vulnerable in our community, and I am thankful for DaVita's care.

Touring Polaris Academy

It was an honor to visit Polaris Academy, a K-8th grade school for students on the autism spectrum, in Mesa. 

I’m thankful for those who have worked so hard to make this resource available to our community, and I look forward to witnessing their success!

Coffee with Congress at the Chandler Chamber

It was wonderful speaking with members of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.

Local business owners understand the consequences of this administration's disastrous economic and border policies.

I'm proud to stand with local businesses and work to protect their livelihoods.

Letters and Legislation

Letters Led:

• Letter to PHX VA Director Matthews re Veterans’ Access to Healthcare 

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 Conservative Circus with James T. Harris to discuss Harris-Walz’s outrageous economic plan. 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.