Congresswoman Lesko Weekly Update

Good Afternoon,

I hope everyone had a wonderful week in Arizona!

I was pleased to tour Vitalant’s blood donor center in Tempe, AZ. I was able to thank the top four blood donors, and present the proclamation that September 1-7, 2022, is Arizona Blood Donation Week! If you are able, please donate blood to stop the shortage and help save lives!

Lesko Visits Southern Border

This week, I was honored to have Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03) and Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-07) join me in Arizona to see the southern border. We heard directly from Border Patrol agents about the worsening border crisis and its impact on the U.S. I will continue to advance policies that secure the border and protect America!

We went to CBP’s Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, AZ. The agents there have seized unthinkable amounts of narcotics that were being smuggled across the border. House Republicans are and will continue to work to secure the border and stop the flow of deadly drugs into our communities.

We also visited CBP’s DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, AZ. Thank you to the agents who briefed us on their operations and how the ongoing border crisis is impacting them.

Thank you to CBP's Office of Field Operations and Port agents who briefed us on what they are experiencing on the ground every day at the southern border.

Lesko Fights the Biden Administration's Radical Gender Ideology

As the founder of the Protect Kids Caucus, I am demanding answers from President Biden’s Department of Education regarding its training to promote the radical left’s gender ideology in our nation's schools. I sent a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona requesting important information on this training. It is clear that the Biden Administration will stop at nothing to promote this radical gender ideology in our nation's schools.

GET THE FACTS: Far-Left Climate Policies Create an Energy Crisis

There has been a global push to rapidly turn to green energy policies. Last year, the European Union announced its "European Green Deal" to reduce carbon emissions, use more renewable energy sources, and limit the purchase of gas-powered vehicles. As a result, European energy prices have skyrocketed. The European future electricity prices increased to $993 per megawatt hour. The U.S. currently sits around $129 per megawatt hour for comparison. This should not be a model for the U.S. to follow. Unfortunately, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office issued a report that confirmed that the Democrats' Inflation Expansion Act will raise Americans' energy costs. Meanwhile, California is following this precarious green energy path. The state moved to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, but the state is also asking residents not to charge electric vehicles at the risk of overwhelming the power grid. These far-left energy policies are creating an energy catastrophe and bankrupting our country. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the U.S. House to advance all-of-the-above energy policies that create reliable, affordable energy solutions and unleash our resources right here at home.

Around the District

Monica from our office presented a Congressional Recognition to the Foundation for Service Dog Support in Glendale, AZ! Since 2008, this organization has provided training and educational programs for people and their service dogs.

Monica from our office toured the Banner Sun Health Research Institute located in Sun City, AZ, which focuses on research of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia to help find treatments and cures for these terrible diseases.

Austin from our office attended a promotion ceremony for five members of the Sun City Fire and Medical Department. Congratulations and thank you for your selfless service to Sun City, AZ!

Monica and Austin from our office toured the Aerospace GXO Global’s distribution center located in Goodyear, AZ, which ships aircraft parts across the U.S. and around the world!

Casework Highlight

A constituent who is a business-owner contacted our office for assistance with obtaining an IRS refund over a multi-year return period. After contacting the IRS, we were able to have the error code removed from the account, and the constituent received the refund with interest. 

Encouraging Story

I want to share this story about how Phoenix Fire Department Chief Mike Duran threw out the first pitch at the Diamondbacks game this week to help raise awareness and prevent drowning. Saturday, September 3, 2022, is also First Responders Night at Chase Field. Thank you to all of our first responders for your selflessness and dedication to keeping people in our communities safe! 

District Office Internships

Our district office in Surprise, AZ is now accepting applications for internships! Congressional internships are a wonderful way to gain valuable insight into how the federal government works while serving the community, and I strongly encourage students to apply. Click here to submit your internship application, and please call our office at 623-776-7911 if you have any questions.

Military Academy Nominations

Are you interested in attending a Military Service Academy? Applications for Service Academy Nominations are now open! The deadline for this year’s Service Academy Nominations is October 28, 2022. Visit my website or click here to learn more and apply!

Congressional App Challenge

Submissions for the Congressional App Challenge are now open to all middle and high school students! The Congressional App Challenge is a competition to encourage students to engage in coding and computer science. App submissions are due by November 1, 2022. Winning apps will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol! Register today and submit your app here.

We are Here to Help

As always, my office is here to help. My Surprise district office is 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, Parler, Gettr, and Truth Social, 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