The Week in Review

Happy Friday!

I hope you all had a wonderful week. I split my time between D.C. and Arizona this week as Speaker Pelosi called the House back in session on Tuesday to raise the debt limit. Read below to learn more about this and the other important happenings of the week:  

Debt Ceiling

It’s basic budgeting: when you run out of money and have used all your credit, you work to limit spending. You don’t take out more credit so you can take on more debt. Unfortunately for us, the Democrats don’t see it that way and voted this week to raise America’s debt limit by $2.5 trillion. This is yet another reckless action that will burden the American people and further weaken our national security. This increase gives Democrats the green light to continue funding their anti-American, pro-socialist agendas, and further breaks the trust of the American people. Click below to read my full statement. 

Letter to Department of Homeland Security

On Wednesday, I sent a follow-up letter to DHS Secretary Mayorkas demanding answers to questions we asked in September on the vetting process for Afghan evacuees.  We also asked why he has failed to deliver a statutorily mandated report on the evacuees.  These are basic questions - who was allowed into our country and were they properly vetted? Not providing this information out of fear it will reveal the extent of DHS’s failure to vet Afghan evacuees is not an acceptable excuse.  His failure to comply with the law and submit a statutorily mandated report further demonstrates the administration’s contempt for the laws passed by Congress. Secretary Mayorkas, must be removed from his position.

Defending Religious Freedoms

On Thursday, I sent a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra demanding he reverse the decision to rescind the HHS Office for Civil Rights’ responsibility to ensure that the department is complying with its obligations under the Religious Freedoms Restoration Act. Bottom line: President Biden's Office for Civil Rights is attacking religious liberty. The right of each person to worship according to their conscience is one of our nation’s founding principles. Why is the Biden administration implementing policies that weaken religious liberty protections?  The Trump administration prioritized the protection of religious liberties, but the Biden administration appears motivated to undo these efforts. Secretary Becerra should be building on the steps taken by the Trump administration to ensure the department is fully complying with its constitutional and statutory obligations instead of weakening the department’s ability to protect religious liberties. Read the full letter below: 

My Trip to Yuma

Last Sunday, I visited the Yuma sector of the border. It’s no surprise that the crisis at our border continues because the Biden administration has done nothing to enforce our laws and punish those who cross our border illegally. While I was there, over 100 hundred illegal aliens casually walked across our border and patiently waited for Border Patrol to pick them up. Where are the consequences for these actions? Our border is overrun, our Border Patrol agents are dangerously under-staffed and overworked, and Vice President Harris - the Border Czar herself - is nowhere to be found. Check out pictures from my trip here and a video from the border below:

I also went on Varney & Co. to discuss what I saw on the border, check out that interview below: 

ICYMI - Celebrating Veterans

Over the weekend, I had the honor of celebrating the 100th birthday of one of Arizona’s war heroes and Pearl Harbor survivor, Jack Holder. We are eternally grateful for your service, Jack, and we wish you and your loved ones many blessings in the coming new year.

On Thursday, it was my pleasure to be a part of a ribbon cutting event for Arizona veteran, Joseph. Joseph was told by his doctor that he needed to install HVAC unit. Unfortunately, Joseph had fallen on hard times and was not in a position to buy one. Thankfully, the Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Air and Water Mechanical were able to step in and install a new HVAC unit for Joseph. We wish Joseph a very Merry Christmas and many blessings in the coming New Year. 

Remarks of the Week

I condemn all forms of religious discrimination and persecution. The Democrats’ bill, Combating International Islamophobia Act, does nothing to combat discrimination or persecution. This bill was merely an attempt by Democrats to deflect discrimination by their own members. Check out my full remarks below on the House passage of this bill: