Congresswoman Lesko Weekly Update

Good morning,

This week, I was back in Washington, D.C. for votes in the House, and I attended a Judiciary Committee markup on multiple bills, including bipartisan legislation I sponsored to protect incarcerated pregnant women and their babies. I also attended a Homeland Security Committee hearing with FBI Director Christopher Wray on threats to our national security worldwide.

Week in Review 

Watch the video below to get an update on all I’ve been doing this week in Washington, D.C. 

Legislative Update

I am happy to tell you that I am one of the lead Republican sponsors of H.R. 7718, the Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act, which was passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday! I was proud to work on this bipartisan bill with my colleagues, Representatives Karen Bass and Guy Reschenthaler. We must stand for life and support pregnant mothers, and this bill will help improve conditions for incarcerated expectant mothers and their babies. My colleagues and I hope this legislation will come to the House floor for a vote soon.

I am also pleased to tell you that the House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed my legislation to rename the United States Post Office in Surprise, Arizona in honor of Purple Heart recipient Marc Lee. Marc Lee was a decorated Navy SEAL and was the first SEAL to lose his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I am proud to support this bill, and I am grateful to the committee for their recognition of this distinguished veteran. I hope this legislation also comes to the House floor quickly for a full vote.

Encouraging Stories

I want to share this story about an organization in Arizona called Kitchen on the Street that has helped Arizonans in need by handing out “Bags of Hope,” backpacks of food for kids to take home to their families. They are now offering assistance to people unemployed due to the pandemic through a confidential, online program that connects people with the resources they need, from help paying rent to food assistance.

I also loved to see this story from the Goodyear Police Department about kids and their parents who dropped off seven dozen tamales to show their appreciation for the law enforcement officers!

Casework Highlight

A constituent contacted our office because they filed their 2019 tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in February of 2020. They continuously checked the IRS website, and it kept saying that their tax return was being processed. After three months, they contacted our office, and we were able to open a case with the IRS on their behalf. It was discovered that there was a simple error that needed to be fixed on their return. Once that was completed, their return was released and direct deposited into their account.

Coronavirus Casework Highlight

This constituent contacted our office because she filed for unemployment and received a debit card, but no benefits. She saw there was an active issue that she refused telecommuting work, but her employer did not offer this as an option. We sent her information to the Department of Economic Security (DES) and they fixed the issue. However, she still did not receive her benefits. She contacted DES herself and was told there was an IT issue, but after two weeks, it was still not fixed. She contacted us, and we sent her information to our DES contact again. They were able to fix the issue, and her benefits were released within three days.

We are Here to Help

As always, my office is here to help. Both my Surprise district office and Washington, D.C. office are open to serve constituents. We are available over the phone and via email at both offices. In addition, the Surprise district office is taking appointments for in-person meetings with staff. We are not accepting walk-in meetings at this time due to the Coronavirus. For the safety of staff and constituents, we will be observing CDC guidelines, including wearing masks and social distancing. To make an appointment with the office, please call 623-776-7911. 

Please feel free to contact my Washington, D.C. office via phone at 202-225-4576 or via email by going to my website at https://lesko.house.gov/contact/.

I encourage you to visit the website and to also follow me on Twitter and like my Facebook page for up to date information about the ongoing outbreak and available resources. 

May God continue to bless you and our great Nation. 

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko