The Week in Review

Happy Friday!

I spent my week back in the district as the House was out of session. It was a still busy week, so I hope you’ll read below to learn about the important happenings:

Examining the 2022 National Drug Control Strategy
and the Federal Response to the Overdose Crisis

On Monday, the House Oversight and Reform Committee held a hearing to examine the Biden Administration’s 2022 National Drug Control Strategy and the federal response to the overdose crisis. Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy, served as the hearing’s witness. 

Drugs are pouring across the southern border right now with ease. The Biden Administration has halted all southern border construction and has created a humanitarian crisis where Border Patrol agents are being pulled from the front lines and can no longer adequately patrol and secure the border. 

When I asked Dr. Gupta about the situation, he said 'the border is secure.' Wow! We will never regain control over the southern border if our federal officials refuse to even recognize the crisis.

After Dr. Gupta claimed that the border is secure, I invited him to come with me to the southern border to see the disaster his Administration has created. He has yet to respond to my invitation. 

Click the image below to view some of my remarks from the hearing.  

Demanding Answers from the ATF Regarding Unprecedented Increase in Federal Firearm License Revocations

This week, I sent a letter along with 24 Republican members from the House of Representatives—including every Republican member of the Judiciary Committee—to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acting Director Gary Restaino, regarding the Department's broad and unprecedented effort to revoke Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs) from law-abiding business owners throughout the country. 

The Biden Administration’s radical anti-gun agenda is infiltrating the ATF and law-abiding business owners are having their businesses destroyed. Under this Administration, the number of FFL revocation proceedings initiated by ATF has skyrocketed and are often based on minor infractions.

In this letter, I challenged ATF’s new practice of initiating revocation proceedings based solely on ATF inspections that took place up to 18 months ago and that ATF initially decided did not justify a revocation. This pattern is deeply troubling and makes it abundantly clear that this Administration seeks to advance its anti-firearm agenda at any cost.

Acting Director Restaino must provide us with details surrounding ATF’s FFL revocation policies.

The full letter may be read here.

The Daily Caller covered my letter in a story here. 

Co-signers include: Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL.), Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA.), Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA), Rep. W. Gregory Steube (R-FL), Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI.), Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR), Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Andre Clyde (R-GA), and Rep. Ted Bud (R-NC).

Challenging USDA's Woke Gender Policy Changes

On Monday, I sent a letter along with 13 Republican colleagues to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack. The department is threatening to withhold funding for school meal programs unless local schools indoctrinate children about radical gender identity programs. 

In an effort to advance the Left’s woke agenda, the USDA is now attempting to hold American schools hostage. The department is coercing American schools to adopt the Biden Administration’s radical gender equality platform or else it will strip student benefits from these schools.

This expanded definition is unacceptable and does not have legal standing. Secretary Vilsack must rescind this policy change immediately.

The full letter may be read here.

Co-signers include: Rep. Mary E. Miller (R-IL), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI.), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Rep. Dianna Harshbarger (R-TN), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC), Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), and Rep. Barry Moore (R-AK). 

Honoring the Yarnell 19 

This week, we honored the Yarnell 19. Nine years ago, 19 brave firefighters lost their lives while protecting Arizonans from the Yarnell Hill Fire. This was one of the state's most tragic wildfires. We will remember their sacrifice and remain grateful for our firefighters today. My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the deceased individuals. 

The flags at all Arizona state buildings were lowered to half-staff on June 30, 2022, in their honor.

Meeting with Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan

Today, I had the honor and privilege to meet with Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan.

I met with Chairman Chi-chen Chiang, Legislator Sz-huai Wu, Legislator Mong-kai Hung, Director General Louis Huang, and David Chen. We discussed Arizona’s special trade relationship with Taiwan, our common interest in the U.S. protecting Taiwan against Chinese aggression, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)’s plans to up a new sector of its operations in Arizona.

Arizona offers tremendous incentives for businesses to relocate to our state, and I have no doubt that TSMC will thrive in our pro-growth environment. I am grateful for TSMC’s expansion in my state, Arizona’s relationship with Taiwan, and the opportunity to meet with this committee.

Touring the Li-Cycle Battery Recycling Plant

This week I toured Li-Cycle’s new lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Gilbert. I learned how Li-Cycle recovers critical materials from lithium-ion batteries and reintroduces them back into the supply chain.

I’m grateful for Li-Cycle’s presence in the Fifth District and how they contribute to the growth and overall improvement of our community while ensuring a healthier planet through innovative technology.

Letters and Legislation

Bills Cosponsored

H.R. 8223 – Citizen Ballot Protection Act (Palmer, R-AL)

H.R. 8224 – Fueling American Prosperity Act (Boebert, R-CO)

H.R. 8196 - Protecting Mothers and Babies from Terrorism (Greene, R-GA)

H.R. 8244 - Granite Mountain Hotshots Commemorative Coin Act (Gosar, R-AZ)

H.R. 5409 – To require the Secretary of Agriculture to convey the Pleasant Valley Ranger District Administrative Site to Gila County, Arizona (Gosar, R-AZ)

H.R.1417  – the Safety and Opportunity for Girls Act (Miller, R-IL)

H.R.7684 – No Corporate Tax Breaks for Abortion Travel (Mast, R-FL)

Letters Cosigned

Letter to Secretary Blinken demanding documents and information regarding the creation of the State Department’s “Special Representative for Racial Equity and Justice.”

Letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding the Department of Justice take action to protect Americans from the meteoric rise of violent attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches.

Letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding action from the Department of Justice after several pro-life pregnancy centers were vandalized and threatened.

Letter to AG Garland and ATF Acting Director Restaino regarding the increase in revocations of Federal Firearm Licenses (FFL).

Top Media Appearances of the Week

I joined Newsmax’s John Bachman to provide an instant reaction to the Supreme Court's decision to allow the Biden Administration to terminate the “Remain in Mexico” program. Click below to watch the full segment.

I joined Real America’s Voice’s Charlie Kirk to discuss the Supreme Court’s overruling Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision and how pro-abortionists attempted an insurrection at the Arizona Senate building in response to the decision. Click below to watch the segment. 

I joined KTAR-AM’s (Phoenix, AZ) Mike Broomhead to break down the illegitimate January 6 Committee's most recent hearing and the misleading testimony from ex-White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson. Click below to hear the segment.

Top Op-Eds of the Week

The Washington Times and Human Events published two of my columns regarding the illegitimate January 6 Committee. The Committee has been a sham since Day One and I refuse to testify before them. I hope you enjoy these reads. 

Washington Times: Questioning the Accuracy of the 2020 Presidential Election is Not un-American

Human Events: Media Inflation Surrounding the January 6 Committee Distracts Americans from Democrats’ Failures

Top Tweets of the Week

Definition of the Week 

This weekend, Americans across the country will celebrate the 4th of July—the anniversary of American independence. Whether it is barbequing, traveling, or watching fireworks, celebrating the 4th is always one of the best traditions all year. But this year’s holiday will be a bit more stressful for most Americans. 

Under the Biden Administration, Americans face historic gas prices, unprecedented inflation, and supply shortages. The Administration’s reckless economic, energy, and COVID policies have decimated our economy, exacerbated supply chain issues, and led to unnecessary burdens for millions of Americans. This means your cost to barbeque and to fill up your gas tank is going to be way up. The Biden Administration has yet to implement or recommend any legitimate policy change to steer our country in a better direction. 

Courtesy of Michael Knowles’ Speechless, here’s what we think is the latest definition: 

4th of July: A day to celebrate American independence and American exceptionalism despite the costs the Biden Administration has imposed on Americans.