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.

Celebrating Columbus Day

This week, we remembered and honored the legacy of Christopher Columbus who helped shape the foundation of our great country. 

We can all learn from his courage and refusal to settle for the status quo. 

Happy Columbus Day!

Letters and Legislation

Bills Cosponsored:

• H.R. 9970 – Transparency and Honesty in Energy Regulations Act (Rep. Hudson)  

Letters Cosigned:

• Amicus Brief to the Fifth Circuit on the case concerning House proxy voting

What’s the Biggs Idea? Podcast with James Hutton

On this week’s episode of What’s the Biggs Idea?, I was joined by James Hutton, a foreign policy expert. He was formerly Assistant Secretary in President Trump’s U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and he served for nearly 27 years as a U.S. Army Officer—during which his assignments took him throughout the U.S., Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Kuwait, and Iraq—retiring in 2013 as a Colonel. He is the author of several books, most recently Biden-Harris: Views of Misguided Policies Foreign and Domestic, 2021-2023. We discussed the failures of the Biden-Harris Administration’s foreign policies and the impact they’ve had on world politics. Check out my website to watch previous episodes. Click the image below to watch this week’s episode:

Gilbert Chamber of Commerce Congressional Update

This week, Team Biggs joined the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to give an update on our work in Washington, D.C. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, from the economy and inflation to federal regulations to government spending and border security. We appreciate the opportunity to engage with our local business community!

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.

Passport Day at Western Passport Center

The Western Passport Center is hosting a special passport day on Saturday, October 26, from 8:00 AM-2:00 PM in Tucson, AZ, as part of the Department of State’s Passport Month. The U.S. Department of State is celebrating Passport Month by offering special events across the country to offer people convenient options to apply or renew their passports ahead of international travel. 

No appointments needed and applicants may choose routine service (4-6 weeks) or expedite service (2-3 weeks). No same-day services will be offered. 

If you travel within 14 days and need urgent passport service, please call the National Passport Information Center to schedule an appointment for another day. 

Before applying for your passport, please visit Travel.State.Gov/Passports for general passport information including updated processing times, requirements, forms, and fees, or call the National Passport Information Center toll-free at 1-877-487-2778/1-888-874-7793 (TTY/TTD). 

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) 699-8239 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 Washington Watch with Tony Perkins to discuss how the Biden-Harris Administration’s border crisis has affected communities throughout the country. Click the image below to watch part 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.