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.

Government Shutdown Resources and Guidance

On Wednesday, the federal government officially entered a shutdown. I voted YES on legislation to fund the government through November 21, 2025, which ultimately passed the House of Representatives, but Senate Democrats blocked this approach. As a result, we remain at an impasse until at least 60 Senators agree to advance a funding bill to the President's desk.

While many federal agencies will face disruptions during this period, my offices remain operational. If you are in need of assistance with casework, please call my Mesa district office at (480) 699-8239 or visit my website. My staff and I are here to help.

For your awareness, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and VA medical care will remain operational during the shutdown. Other agencies are actively coordinating their plans until spending resumes. For agency-specific details, visit each department’s .gov site (e.g. www.dhs.gov or www.va.gov). 

The programs listed below will remain operational, but the agencies in charge of them will see workforce shortages until the shutdown is resolved. This is not a full list, but an overview of key services:

• Medicare and Medicaid benefits
• Social Security payments, including SSI benefits
• VA medical care and benefits (some regional offices may close)
• Disability payments
• SNAP benefits (longer shutdown could cause disruptions)
• Mail delivery
• Federal law enforcement and military operations
• Federal employee retirement payments
• Air travel
• Student aid, including Pell Grants and Federal Direct Student Loans
• Visa and passport services (longer wait times are possible)

Information for Federal Employees:

For the foreseeable future, many federal employees will be furloughed. Others will be required to work, but may experience a delay in their paycheck until a funding agreement is reached. All federal employees will receive back pay under federal law.

I have requested that my salary be withheld until Democrats open up the government. I’ll keep you posted.

Below are helpful links with more information:

• OPM Operating Status
• OPM Shutdown Furlough Guidance
• Thrift Savings Plan - Lapse in Appropriations

The Congressional App Challenge is Back!

Applications are now open for the 2025 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 30th.

Top Media Appearance of the Week

I joined Fox News with Martha MacCallum to discuss Charlie Kirk’s legacy. Click the image below to watch part of the segment:

I joined Fox Business with Dagen McDowell and James Freeman to discuss the Left’s government shutdown and OMB Director Russ Vought’s commitment to restoring power to the states. Click the image below to watch the segment:

I joined Steve Bannon’s War Room to discuss the importance of righting our fiscal ship before Congress spends the country into oblivion. 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.

Please note that we will not be able to fulfill flag requests until government funding is approved.

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.

Please note that Capitol and White House tours are not available during a lapse in appropriations. If you have a tour scheduled, my office will be in touch to reschedule for a new date.