Congresswoman Lesko Weekly Update

Good afternoon,

It was great to be back home in Arizona this week after a crazy few days with Speaker Pelosi in Washington, D.C. I was glad to leave behind the senseless Pelosi mask mandates and head home to the West Valley.

This week, I participated in a Facebook Live event with my House Freedom Caucus colleagues and Virologist Dr. Li-Meng Yan to discuss COVID-19 origins and the role the Chinese Communist Party played in the start of this deadly virus. To watch the full event, click here, to check out my questioning of Dr. Yan, click here. I also attended a briefing with the Congressional Research Service to take an in-depth look at some of our nation’s immigration policies and look for creative ways to improve the system and secure our border.

I was also fortunate to present Congressional Recognitions to some very deserving constituents from across the 8^th Congressional District. More on that below!

In the News

I want to make sure that you don’t miss a minute of what I’m doing to fight for our Arizona values each and every day. Check out some of my latest interviews and press clips to learn more.  

Legislative Update

I cosponsored Congressman Jeff Duncan’s (R-SC) Restore the Rights of Property Owners Under the Eviction Moratorium Issued by the CDC Act to nullify any eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As you probably heard, this week the Biden Administration’s CDC extended their unconstitutional eviction moratorium across the United States. They took this action despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the CDC does not have the authority to issue such a moratorium. This bill will make sure that these unlawful moratoriums do not stand!

GET THE FACTS: Immigration

The number of Illegal immigrants entering the United States at the southern border is at a record 21-year high. More than 1,000,000 illegal immigrants have taken advantage of President Biden’s open-door immigration policies since he assumed office in January 2021. When added together, the total number of illegal immigrants captured in 2021 surpasses the population of the tenth largest city in America. The Biden Administration’s pro-amnesty and weak border security policies have created a surge in COVID-positive migrants unlawfully entering the United States. Click here to learn more about the crisis from Republican Whip Steve Scalise. 

Congressional Recognition

This week, I was honored to present a Congressional Recognition to the Peoria Diamond Club for their dedication to making a difference in our community through their volunteer and fundraising efforts during Spring Training. With their over 500 volunteers, they have donated over $2 million to the children of the West Valley through awards, contributions, and grants for the development of educational, athletic, therapeutic, and fine art goals.

Pictured Left to Right: Steve Harvey, Roz Shanley, and Leeanne Gardner

This week, I also had the honor to meet a constituent and his family that I have been proud to advocate for over the last few months. Two-year-old Woodrow Miller has a fatal neurological condition called Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC). His mom reached out to our office for assistance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to get Woodrow access to a lifesaving drug. I wrote a letter to the FDA advocating for Woodrow and other children with NPC and will keep fighting for his access to this medication. It was an honor to meet Woodrow and his parents, Denise and Rickey—I even presented Denise with a Congressional Recognition for her tireless work to advocate on behalf of her son.

Casework Highlight

A constituent reached out to our office after receiving a CP2000 income discrepancy notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) explaining that he owed $29,616 stemming from his 2017 taxes. The constituent was a veteran who served at Luke AFB and worked throughout 2017 to plan a Marine Corps Ball. Throughout the planning of the ball, the constituent received numerous reimbursements from other individuals to pay for the expenses of the ball via Paypal, Square, etc. These reimbursements were reported to the IRS as taxable. Our office reached out the IRS and provided them with detailed financial records and statements from the ball that outlined all of the funds he had received. As a result, the IRS adjusted his 2017 tax liability to correctly reflect the taxes he owed. 

We are Here to Help

As always, my office is here to help. My Surprise district office is now open and serving constituents. To make an appointment with the office, please call 623-776-7911.

My Washington, D.C. office is open and answering your calls. Please feel free to contact us 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, Instagram, and Parler and like my Facebook page for up to date information on what I'm doing and how my office can help you.

May God continue to bless you and our great Nation.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko