The Week in Review 

Happy Friday!

I hope you had a wonderful week. I am grateful to serve you all in the 119th Congress. Read below to see what I’ve been working on this week.

NEXT WEEK: Tax Pre-Filing Season Awareness Event

Join me next Friday in Queen Creek for on-site tax assistance. The event will feature on-site tax preparation from Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and assistance from the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). Representatives from my office will also be on hand for casework assistance.

Details below:

President Trump’s Epic Joint Address to Congress

On Tuesday, President Trump delivered the first joint address to Congress of his second term. The speech was well-attended by Members of Congress, the President’s Cabinet, Supreme Court Justices, and special guests. 

The President’s inspirational and uplifting speech highlighted issues that are important to Americans, including border security, the economy, and protecting women’s sports. Democrats’ childish behavior—which ultimately resulted in the censure of Rep. Al Green (D-TX)—didn’t sway Americans’ reception of President Trump’s words. The vast majority of viewers approved of the address.

Click the images to watch some of my thoughts from the House Floor before the President began his address:

The energy in the House Chamber was palpable, just as the belief in the America First movement has restored optimism and energy in the country today. Newsweek published my op-ed in response to President Trump’s epic address, and the full piece may be read here.

Click the image below to watch President Trump’s full speech:

House Freedom Caucus Meeting with President Trump

It was an honor to meet with President Trump following his address to Congress. 

The Freedom Caucus is ready to stand behind President Trump to enact Americans’ mandate!

Combatting the Weaponization of the Department of Education

I introduced legislation to align the Department of Education (ED) with the mandate delivered by Americans last November. The Guarding Religious And Career Education (GRACE) Act directs the Secretary of Education to eliminate the Office of Enforcement within the Office of Federal Student Aid. A recent report from American Principles Project (APP) revealed that under the Biden Administration, nearly 70% of the ED’s enforcement actions involved faith-based and career schools, despite these institutions representing less than 10% of students nationwide.

An especially egregious example of ED’s targeting of faith-based schools is its $37.7 million fine against Grand Canyon University (GCU), the largest Christian university in the nation. The questionable fine against GCU stands in stark contrast with other recent fines based on similar allegations, including a mere $700,000 levied by ED against a private university in the Northeast. 

I also led a letter to ED Secretary Linda McMahon urging her department to launch an investigation into the Office of Enforcement’s targeting of Christian and technical schools. 

Under the radical Biden-Harris regime, ED clearly weaponized the federal government against Christian universities like GCU.

The unchecked bureaucratic state’s days are limited under America First President Donald Trump. Congress must codify his priorities to ensure that no future administration can ever again weaponize the government against the American people.

The legislation may be read here.

The letter to Secretary McMahon may be read here. 

Leading Bipartisan Effort to Recognize Grand Canyon University's Nonprofit Status

I introduced legislation to clarify that any institution of higher education (IHE) considered a nonprofit organization by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) should also be considered a nonprofit IHE by the Department of Education (ED).

The IHE Nonprofit Clarity Act will provide long-overdue financial relief to Grand Canyon University (GCU). Because the Department of Education has failed to recognize GCU's IRS designation as a nonprofit institution, GCU has been hampered in efforts to improve—like enhancing student services, unlocking student loan opportunities, and receiving tax-deductible donations from outside individuals and entities. My legislation will allow GCU to lower tuition costs, expand athletics programs, conduct more academic research, and provide more and higher quality student services.

I also led an Arizona delegation letter to ED Secretary Linda McMahon urging her department to update GCU’s nonprofit status at ED.

ED’s refusal to designate GCU as a nonprofit institution of higher education is residual damage from the Biden-Harris regime’s weaponization of government against Christian universities.

Now that ED is under new leadership, I am confident that Secretary McMahon will right the wrongs committed by Joe Biden and his cronies. America’s Golden Age is here, and Congress stands ready to enact the mandate delivered by the American people.

The legislation may be read here.

Cosigners of the letter are: Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Rep. Abraham J. Hamadeh (R-AZ), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).

The letter to Secretary McMahon may be read here. 

Under President Trump, America’s Borders Are Secure Again: Op-Ed

In a few weeks, Donald Trump has done what his prevaricating predecessor declared to be impossible: he has brought the border under control. Those of us who watch the goings and comings of illegal border crossings are familiar that Donald Trump 45 did a stellar job of taking a border crisis and bringing it within appropriate management.

But now, under Trump 47’s policies, the number of encounters dropped to about 8,600 in the month of February for the entire border—north, south, land, and sea. Miraculous, some would say.

Townhall published my op-ed, and the full piece may be read here.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Activity

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing titled “A Hearing with Sanctuary City Mayors.” During the hearing, the mayors of Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Boston refused to denounce their cities’ reckless policies. These sanctuary cities  forbid their officials, including those in law enforcement and public safety roles, from sharing information with the federal government about criminal illegal aliens in local custody. They’re also forbidden from transferring these aliens to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), often resulting in their release back into our communities. Congress must not allow these policies–which violate federal law–to continue endangering American communities; we must evaluate federal funding allocated to sanctuary cities and ensure mayors who defy federal immigration law are held accountable.

Click the image below to watch my interactions with the mayors:

House Judiciary Committee Activity

I chaired a Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance hearing titled “The Right to Self Defense.” The Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, which includes firearms and knives. But the Biden Administration weaponized the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to mandate far-left policies through questionable federal agency rulemaking. On February 7, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Protecting Second Amendment Rights,” which requires Attorney General Pam Bondi to review all Biden Administration executive actions, including rulemaking, to ensure they do not infringe on Americans’ Second Amendment rights.

The hearing also provided an opportunity to highlight the need for my bill, the Knife Owners Protection Act (KOPA). Knife laws at the state level vary widely. For example, some states place restrictions on the type of knife and length of the blade that is legally permissible. Traveling across state lines with a knife can easily result in serious criminal penalties as what is legal in one state may be restricted or illegal in a neighboring state. KOPA will protect the right of law-abiding citizens to transport knives interstate, notwithstanding the burden of patchwork state and local laws. I look forward to passing KOPA out of the Judiciary Committee soon.

I’m also grateful to CD5 constituent, Doug Ritter, for testifying before the committee about the need for KOPA’s passage. 

Click the image below to hear my opening remarks from the hearing and to hear more about KOPA:

The Judiciary Committee also held a markup and favorably passed the following legislation out of committee:

• H.R. 1789, Promptly Ending Political Prosecutions and Executive Retaliation Act;
  
• H.R. 1526, No Rogue Rulings Act;
  
• and H.R. 1702, Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act.

2025 Military Service Academy Conference

America needs the next generation of men and women who are ready to defend the principles and freedoms of our great nation as Commissioned Military Officers. Students interested in answering this call should consider attending our Military Service Academy Conference, hosted in partnership with the Office of U.S. Congressman and former U.S. Navy SEAL, Eli Crane (AZ-02). 

Liaisons from the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, and local Reserve Officers' Training Corps programs will be present to discuss the application process and campus life. Staff from both congressional offices will provide information on the nomination application process for the incoming Class of 2030.

Please visit my website for more information and to RSVP.

Letters and Legislation

Bills Sponsored:

• H.R. 1825 - Guarding Religious And Career Education Act (GRACE Act) 
  
• H.R. 1852 - IHE Nonprofit Clarity Act

Bills Cosponsored:

• H.R. 1379 - Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (Rep. Fry) 
• H.R. 1792 - No Taxpayer Funds for the United Nations’ Immigration Invasion Act (Rep. Gooden) 
• H.R. 1841 - Peace on the Korean Peninsula Act (Rep. Sherman) 
• H.R. 1846 - Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act (Rep. Massie)  
• H.Res. 193 - Censuring Representative Al Green of Texas (Rep. Crane)

Letters Led:

• Letter to ED Sec. McMahon re Biden ED Targeting Christian Universities
• Letter to ED Sec. McMahon re Grand Canyon University nonprofit status

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 Steve Bannon’s War Room to discuss the $100 billion investment secured by President Trump from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Click the image below to watch the segment:

I joined The Joe Pags Show to discuss Americans’ reaction to President Trump’s address. Click the image below to watch the segment:

I joined OANN’s Dan Ball to preview President Trump’s joint address to Congress. Click the image below to watch 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.