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.

Tele-Town Hall Next Tuesday, December 10th

I am hosting my virtual tele-town hall next Tuesday, December 10, at 7:30 pm EST/5:30 pm MST. I will provide district updates and discuss what I’ve been working on in Washington. Please join the town hall and ask me questions!

Prioritizing the Protective Mission of United States Secret Service

I introduced the Secret Service Prioritization Act of 2024, legislation to refocus United States Secret Service (USSS) efforts on its protective mission—USSS’s primary responsibility. My bill will transfer non-protective responsibilities, such as the investigation of financial crimes like counterfeiting, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under President Trump and his FBI Director. 

The Secret Service Prioritization Act implements a major recommendation from the DHS Independent Review Panel’s October 15, 2024 Report on the Assassination Attempt in Butler Pennsylvania. The report noted the Panel’s “extreme skepticism that many of the Service’s non protective (investigative) missions meaningfully contribute to the Service’s protective capability and is concerned that they may materially distract from it.” 

The report further stated: 

Whatever else the Secret Service may do, its core, essential, and unique mission is to protect its protectees, including the president, vice president, and nominees for president in an election. No other federal law enforcement agency can discharge this duty. And the duty is a zero-failure mission. All assets should be allocated to that mission before any other tasks—including law enforcement responsibility for financial frauds, for example, or perhaps law enforcement duties entirely—are undertaken. There is simply no excuse to “do more with less” concerning protection of national leaders; unless and until those responsibilities are fulfilled, no resources (funds or time) should be allocated to other missions that are not centrally related to the protective function. 

USSS must be the top governmental protection agency in the world, and the near-assassination of President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, proved that it has failed its no-fail mission. USSS’s $3.1 billion budget and 3,200 special agents must be properly allocated to ensure that non-protective measures do not take priority over the primary duty to protect current and former presidents, vice presidents, and presidential nominees.

Testimony from other federal law enforcement agencies makes clear that the Secret Service’s current dual mission diverts Secret Service agents trained for protective operations away from that mission, while the USSS utilizes personnel from other law enforcement agencies to backfill. In a September hearing with the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Executive Associate Director Katrina Berger testified that HSI provided over 700,000 hours of assistance—costing over $23.3 million—to USSS from 2020 to September 2024. HSI agents tasked on these missions are provided a virtual training prior to deploying to supplement a USSS workforce fully trained in protection, but splitting time between protective and investigative missions. This is unacceptable. While USSS retains under this legislation the ability to draw on the resources of other agencies in furtherance of its protective mission, USSS must focus all of its resources on that mission first. 

Secret Service agents are among the bravest and most selfless individuals in the nation. Congress must ensure that the USSS is exclusively focused on its zero-fail protective mission to ensure the safety of both agents and their protectees.

July 13, 2024, was a wake-up call to the failures of the Secret Service. In no world should an agency with a budget of $3+ billion and 3,200 specialized agents fail to protect the life of one of the most influential figures in the world. The failures of July 13 illustrate the necessity to strip non-protective responsibilities from the Secret Service to ensure it is focused on the execution of its primary duty.

Now that President Trump’s FBI will be shifting away from weaponization against American citizens, they will be fully equipped to take on Secret Service’s non-protective, investigative functions. It’s imperative that House Leadership move this legislation quickly through the House to ensure that no event like July 13 is ever able to occur again.

Read more here.

Tackling Overcriminalization by the Federal Government

I introduced the Mens Rea Reform Act of 2024 and the End Endless Criminal Statutes Act to combat the federal government’s habitual practice of codifying absurd amounts of federal criminal offenses.

The Mens Rea Reform Act of 2024 establishes a default mental state of “knowingly” for federal criminal offenses that lack an explicit mental state standard. This requires the prosecution to prove the defendant was aware that the conduct they engaged in is of a criminal nature or that their conduct was essentially certain to cause the criminal result in question. 

The End Endless Criminal Statutes Act repeals ten federal provisions carrying unnecessary criminal penalties. For example, the bill repeals a federal statute under which simply putting on the uniform of a postal worker incurs criminal charges, even for just a Halloween costume. Other frivolous “criminal” actions overturned by my legislation include:

• Selling or possessing colored margarine unless it’s packaged and labeled or served in a triangular shape;
  
• Discarding produce without sufficient cause or making a false report concerning that produce; and
  
• Detaining a seaman’s clothing.
  

Additionally, the bill repeals a provision which restricts sledding on Capitol grounds in the winter. Historically, Congress temporarily lifts this restriction in annual appropriations measures. However, the End Endless Criminal Statutes Act permanently repeals that restriction, ensuring that children can sled down the slopes of Capitol Hill for years to come.

According to former Harvard University professor Harvey Silverglate, it’s estimated that the average American commits three felonies a day without even knowing. Dr. Silverglate clearly wasn’t referring to violent felonies, like murder, or even felonies like money laundering or fraud, but to silly and petty charges like dressing as a postal worker on Halloween or writing a personal check for less than $1. Add to that, other frivolous crimes like sledding on the Capitol lawn, and it becomes clear that the federal government’s overcriminalization threatens our individual liberties and the fair administration of justice.

An estimated 4,000 federal criminal offenses is dwarfed by an estimated 300,000 federal regulatory offenses, but no government agency can even provide an official count. We have a duty to protect Americans’ right to liberty, and this begins with scaling down the massive overreach in federal criminal offenses.

The End Endless Criminal Statutes Act may be read here.

The Mens Rea Reform Act of 2024 may be read here.

Ensuring that Lawmakers Have the Tools to Properly Assess National Security Along the Southern Border

I introduced the Congressional Border Security Assessment Act. This legislation ensures that Members of Congress and accompanying Congressional staff can fully assess border security on Indian reservations that include at least fifty contiguous miles of the U.S. southern border. Lawmakers have a duty to their constituents to inspect heavily trafficked areas along the border and to report on threats to national security—even when that involves accessing Indian reservations.

The Biden-Harris Administration opened wide our southern border, and Members of Congress must not be restricted from attempting to survey and report on the state of the chaos. Tribal police on Indian reservations have impeded Members’ ability to travel to the U.S. border in the past. My legislation makes clear that this is unacceptable.

The bill may be read here.

Click the image below to hear more about my bill:

Demanding that the Weaponized DOJ and FBI Retain Records of Prosecution Against Pro-Life Protestors

I led a letter with Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX) to AG Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray demanding that they preserve all records of their prosecution of peaceful pro-life protesters under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The FACE Act has long been used to disproportionately target peaceful pro-life advocates praying in front of abortion clinics.

Bad actors in the Biden-Harris regime who have weaponized the federal government against their political opponents must be held accountable. Our demand ensures that President Trump and his appointees will have full access to information on every prosecution under FACE and can work toward remedying the wrongs committed by this Administration. Congress is duty-bound to protect Americans’ First Amendment rights from any overreach by the federal government.

The letter may be read here.

The Daily Wire covered the letter here.

The GOP Must Stand By President Trump’s Cabinet Picks: Op-Ed

Why do Republicans insist on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory? We won the election. We have a mandate. We have slim majorities in Congress, but the American people sent Washington, D.C. a signal to end business as usual.

But instead of making changes that are consistent with the November electoral victory for Republicans, we've got the usual suspects in the Senate willing to blow up the Trump cabinet, pass out-of-control spending packages, and repeat the now routinized promise of "we'll fight next time."

Newsweek published my op-ed, and you can read the full piece here.

No More Continuing Resolutions: Op-Ed

Year in and year out, Congress fails to perform one of its most basic responsibilities: to pass a budget. There is even a statute that sets forth the method and timeline for passing a federal budget. But instead, Congress opts for something known as a “continuing resolution,” which is a monolithic legislative piece that perpetuates the existing level of spending and the monstrous federal programs.

The government really has become the enemy of the people. And, because Congress consistently fails to pass the 12 budget bills as required, our out-of-control spending and weaponized bureaucracy will continue to oppress the citizenry.

This month, don’t be surprised when Congress further enshrines the continuing resolution as a monument to inaction by passing the 35th continuing resolution in the last 10 years. You can never rein in spending or eliminate wasteful or harmful federal programs if you fail to pass budget bills. I’d rather let a lapse in spending kick in on Dec. 20 until the new Trump administration takes over in January 2025.

The Washington Examiner published this op-ed, and the full piece can be found here.

For Veterans: Prepare for VA’s Secure Sign-In Changes

Starting in 2025, you’ll need to use a Login.gov or ID.me account to sign in to manage your VA health and benefits online. After January 31, 2025, the VA will remove the option to sign in with a My HealtheVet user ID and password. You’ll still be able to use your My HealtheVet health portal—you’ll just need to sign in using a Login.gov or ID.me account. Create your account and log in using it today so you’re all set before January 31. 

House Oversight & Accountability Committee Activity

This week, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing titled “Oversight of the U.S. Census Bureau.” I pressed U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos on the American Community Survey, a secondary questionnaire with inane and invasive questions. The Census Bureau threatens American citizens with criminal penalties for refusing to answer questions like whether there’s running water in their home, despite the purpose of the decennial census being electoral apportionment.

Congress has the authority to stop this overreach, and we have a responsibility to do so. Click the image below to see some of my questions:

House Judiciary Committee Activity

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement held a hearing titled “Oversight of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).” My colleagues and I questioned USCIS Director Ur Jaddou on her agency’s failures to address rampant fraud in Biden-Harris “lawful” mass immigration and parole programs.

I pressed Director Jaddou on uncontrolled fraud happening within the Supporter applications of the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela mass parole program. Instances of the rampant fraud include:

• The same Social Security Number was used on at least 20 different CHNV supporter applications. This happened more than 3,200 times.
  
• The same phone number was used on at least 20 different supporter applications. This happened more than 3,300 times.
  
• The same email address was used on at least 20 different supporter applications. This happened nearly 2,000 times
  
• The same 184-word text response to a question on the supporter application was used on more than 1,800 such applications by nearly 190 different CHNV supporters.
  
• More than 460 nonexistent zip codes were used on supporter applications on behalf of more than 2,800 CHNV aliens.
  

Director Jaddou was unable to answer any of my questions. Click the image below to see my questioning:

Team Biggs Attends Mariposa Gardens Veteran Coffee Hour

This week, Team Biggs visited the Mariposa Gardens Veteran Coffee Hour and shared how my office can assist veterans, caregivers, and family members who have hit roadblocks with their VA benefits. 

We invite veterans from across AZ-05 to attend these gatherings on the first Thursday of each month. 

If you are a veteran in need of assistance, please visit my website.

Letters and Legislation

Bills Sponsored:

• H.R. 10270 - Congressional Border Security Assessment Act 
• H.R. 10284 - Secret Service Prioritization Act of 2024   

Bills Cosponsored:

• H.R. 10299 - Medicaid Funds Integrity Act (Rep. Clyde)

Letters Led:

• Letter with Rep. Roy to AG Garland and Director Wray on preserving records and communications related to implementing the FACE Act 

Letters Cosigned:

• Amicus brief to SCOTUS in the case of Smith & Wesson v. Mexico over Mexico's suit against American firearms manufactures for gun violence in Mexico (Sen. Cruz & Rep. Issa) 

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 Dagen McDowell and David Asman to discuss the Oversight Subcommittee on DOGE and how we will work to rein in government spending. Click the image below to watch some of the segment:

I joined Real America’s Voice with John Solomon and Amanda Head to discuss the Biden-Harris regime’s unimaginable failures at the border. Click the image below to watch some of the segment:

I joined OAN’s Dan Ball to discuss the chaos ensuing in Eastern Europe and the Middle East because of the Biden-Harris regime’s lack of leadership. Click the image below to listen to 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.