{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"AZ\" and year = 2018 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2700", "Rep. Grijalva Statement on DHS Secretary's Visit to Yuma", "2018-12-29", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "TUCSON, AZToday, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen is visiting Yuma, Arizona as part of a two-day tour of the Southern Border. This comes at the heels of the deaths of two migrant children in U.S. custody in the past month. In response, Rep. Ral M. Grijalva issued the following statement:  As Secretary Nielsen embarks on her latest photo opportunity and media tour at the Southern Border, she arrives under the dark cloud of a Republican-induced government shutdown, the President's threats to close the border, and the tragic deaths of two children in DHS custody. I've been clear from the beginning. Secretary Nielsen has no business serving as DHS Secretary, and the latest accountability and transparency issues at DHS provide more evidence that she is unfit to lead. I reiterate my call for her to resign.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2699", "Rep. Grijalva on Government Shutdown: 'A Product of Republican Rule'", "2018-12-22", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Tonight, Congressional Republicans and President Trump refused to fund the government, triggering a partial government shutdown. In response, Rep. Ral M. Grijalva issued the following statement:  Once again, Republican cowardice in the face of Trump's temper tantrums have shut down the government. For a party that preaches so-called fiscal responsibility, House Republicans did not bat an eye to shut down the government to fund Trump's disastrous, ineffective border wall. The last major government shutdown in 2013 cost the economy $24 billion over a 16 day periodapproximately $1.5 billion a dayand created numerous hardships for America's workers.  This shutdown leaves almost 800,000 federal workers working without pay right in the midst of the holidays. Trump may have no concept of living paycheck-to-paycheck, but for numerous federal workers and their families, that's the reality.  This shutdown is the latest example of the Republican Party's inability to govern. For the past two years, Trump and House Republicans have given hand-outs to the wealthy and big business, obstructed oversight into corruption, and put their own political interests above those of the constituents they claim to serve.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-statement-secretary-mattis-retirement", "O'Halleran Statement on Secretary Mattis' Retirement", "2018-12-21", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released this statement regarding the retirement of Defense Secretary James Mattis:\nSecretary Mattis has been a steady force of reason within this Administration, and his decades of service have made our nation safer. No one knows the threats we face as a nation better than him, said O'Halleran. We have already seen aggression by Russian and Chinese actors, and ISIS and other terror groups remain a real threat to the safety of our communities. Without a strong voice like Secretary Mattis' in the room, I am concerned how we will respond to these threats.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/it-s-past-time-close-3-loopholes-american-laws-enable-illegal-immigration", "OP-ED: Its Past Time To Close 3 Loopholes In American Laws That Enable Illegal Immigration", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-announces-support-cr-increased-border-security-funding", "Congressman Biggs Announces Support for CR with Increased Border Security Funding", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  After President Trump's renewed request that any year-end continuing resolution include $5 billion to fund our border wall, Congressman Biggs released the following statement:\nPresident Trump promised to secure the border and build the wall. The American people expect him  and Members of Congress  to keep our promise to secure the border. I am pleased by President Trump's commitment to fight for adequate wall funding in a year-end spending bill (CR). I expect a CR to be introduced on the floor, with the inclusion of at least $5 billion of wall and border security funding and no amnesty. I will vote for that bill. The legislation is far from perfect, but it represents the last chance for Republicans to keep our promise to the American people before Democrats take control of the House. I urge my colleagues to join me in my efforts.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-jack-act-391-0", "House of Representatives Passes the JACK Act, 391-0", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the bipartisanJustice Against Corruption on K Street(JACK) Act with a 391-0 vote, sending it to President Trump's desk.TheJACK Actwould amend theLobbying Disclosure Actto require lobbyists to disclose if they have ever been convicted of bribery, extortion, embezzlement, illegal kickbacks, tax evasion, or money laundering. Congressman Biggs released the following statement:\nI'm thankful for this bill's passage, and I hope that President Trump will soon sign this legislation. This is a common-sense policy to continue our quest to drain the Washington, D.C. swamp. Lobbyists should never be able to hide convictions for serious crimes like bribery, extortion, and embezzlement when lobbying Congress. I was pleased to work with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator John Kennedy, who introduced the bill in the Senate, to pass this bill through Congress.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3611", "Two Gosar Forest Management Policies Signed Into Law", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul A. Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", "gosar", "https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) issued the following statement after two of his important active forest management policies were signed into law by President Donald J. Trump:\n\n\u201cFollowing one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in our nation\u2019s history, it is critical that we do everything in our power to provide the Forest Service and public land management agencies with the tools they need to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires and protect our communities,\" said Congressman Gosar. \"One life lost is too many, let alone 88 like we saw in California\u2019s Camp Fire. Years of mismanagement has left our forests vulnerable to insects and disease and ripe for catastrophic wildfires. This flawed approach causes us to spend billions of dollars on the backend to suppress fire, neglecting hazardous fuels reduction and putting our communities at increasing risk of catastrophic fire. While the Forest Service still needs more authorities from Congress, including things like Balance of Harms and Action/No Action policies, I am pleased that we were able to add two more tools to President Trump and his Administration's toolbox today.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nToday, President Donald J. Trump signed into law H.R. 2, legislation that contains two important active forest management provisions championed by U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04).\n\nThe first Gosar-led policy empowers local communities by allowing counties to be included in Good Neighbor Authority cooperative agreements and contracts in order to improve forest health, reduce flooding, mitigate the threat of catastrophic wildfire and improve water quality. Good Neighbor Authority Projects have been remarkably successful. From 2002-2013, 63 projects treated more than 4,100 acres in Colorado and Utah alone. Counties on both sides of the aisle requested this amendment and new authority, including Coconino County in Arizona. This Gosar amendment originally passed the House on 6/21/18. More HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-give-salary-if-government-shuts-down", "O'Halleran to Give Up Salary if Government Shuts Down", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) announced he would give up his salary for the duration of a government shutdown if Congressional leaders fail to fund the government by the end of the week.\nIt is troubling that the White House and Congressional leaders are allowing partisan gridlock to get in the way of funding our government and preventing a shutdown yet again, said O'Halleran. The American people expect their elected officials to do the job they are being paid to do, so if we cannot reach a bipartisan consensus on a funding bill before the end of the week, I will forgo my pay during the resulting government shutdown.\nIf Congress fails to pass a Continuing Resolution before December 21, the federal government will shut down and federal agencies will cease operations. A shutdown could cost our economy billions of dollars and cause a disruption in crucial services for millions of Americans. According to Standard and Poor's Ratings Service, the 2013 government shutdown cost our economy an estimated $24 billion.\nCongress has continued to kick the can down the road for too long, and it is having a serious impact on the readiness of our military and compromises the health and wellbeing of our veterans, seniors, and hardworking families, continued O'Halleran. We must have a bipartisan process that allows us to pass a budget that invests in our country and moves us forward.\nO'Halleran introduced the No Ongoing Perks Enrichment (NOPE) Act that would implement a No Budget, No Pay policy for members of Congress and freeze Congressional salaries at their current rate. Additionally, he cosponsored the SHIELD Act to prevent a government shutdown from impacting the pay of the men and women of our Armed Forces and first responders.\nDuring a government shutdown earlier this year, O'Halleran donated his salary to veterans organizations in Arizona.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CEF95B18-0DDA-440E-96FA-CA8A518DC40C", "Flake, Coons Introduce Revenue-Neutral Carbon Tax Legislation", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) yesterday introduced S. 3791, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, legislation that places an increasing price on carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions. This bipartisan, revenue-neutral legislation is designed to drive down pollution, address climate change, and encourage market-driven innovation in clean energy technologies. A similar bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), John Delaney (D-Md.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), and Charlie Christ (D-Fla.).\r\nWith the administration's recent climate assessment and skeptical response from the president, Republicans need to be at the forefront of addressing climate change, said Flake. Sen. Coons and I have introduced bipartisan, revenue-neutral carbon tax legislation that provides an honest path to clean energy. This free-market solution will reduce carbon pollution and encourage American innovation. \r\nClimate change is a serious threat to our economy, our security, and our way of life, and we need leadership from all parts of our society and government to tackle it, said Coons. Putting an economy-wide price on carbon and other greenhouse gases is a comprehensive way to reduce emissions, spur innovation, and create jobs. I am proud to introduce this legislation with my good friend Jeff Flake, who has long been a champion of market-based climate legislation since his days in the House. I am hopeful that we will continue to have bipartisan conversations about addressing this issue. \r\nA one-pager on the bill is available here. \r\nThe bill text is available here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-announces-opposition-year-end-spending-deal", "Congressman Biggs Announces Opposition to Year-End Spending Deal", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the U.S. Senate announced an agreement on a short-term continuing resolution (CR) through February 8th, effectively ending opportunities to fund and build the wall, defund Planned Parenthood, and return to fiscal sanity in the 115thCongress. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:\nFor two years, Congressional Republicans have been repeatedly told that they must pass a short-term spending package to avert a partial government shutdown. We were last told this before the midterms, and we were told that we would fight for wall funding, among other Republican promises, in the last spending package of the 115thCongress. Sadly, we did not even fulfill this promise.\nThe American people gave Republicans control of the White House, the Senate, and the House. We promised the nation that we would accomplish our agenda under this unified government, starting with a repeal of Obamacare and construction of the border wall. Unfortunately, Congress wasn't serious about the commitments we made to our constituents. Long after we leave Congress, my colleagues and I will wish we addressed these challenges when we still had the chance. I will not give up fighting for the promises I made to Arizona's Fifth District and I urge my colleagues to oppose this latest CR.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2698", "Rep. Grijalva Celebrates Passage of Library and Museum Funding Bill", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, the House passed S. 3530, The Museum and Library Services Act of 2018, after the Senate passed the legislation in early December. The bill will increase funding to libraries and museums across the country, ensuring that they have the ability to provide communities with workforce development, literacy programs, and access to technology as well as expanding access to museums and libraries in diverse communities. In addition, the bill promotes a career path for those seeking employment in libraries and museums, with a special emphasis on recruiting librarians from underrepresented communities. Rep. Grijalva introduced the companion legislation in October 2018.  Modernizing our libraries and museums and prioritizing a diverse workforce that reflects the communities they serve is critical to ensuring a lifetime of learning for all individualsno matter their race, age, or socio-economic status, said Rep. Ral M. Grijalva. I've seen the important role that libraries play in educating and serving our communities, and I'm thrilled that more funding will be heading their way to help them fulfill their mission. This bipartisan legislation conquered the gridlock of Washington, and countless libraries across the country will now have the resources to improve their services and reach more people.  Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) introduced the bill along with Rep. Grijalva.  Our public libraries, especially in rural areas, go far beyond simply providing books. They serve as the primary provider of literacy programming, technology training and job seeking assistance in many communities I represent across South and West Texas, said Rep. Will Hurd, who represents more than one hundred public libraries, college libraries and school districts in the 23rd District of Texas. The grant funding authorized through this bill directly serves libraries across our state and is vital for their continued success. I am glad my colleagues came together today in a bipartisan manner to support this bill, and I will continue to ensure that South and West Texans can continue to access quality educational resources.  Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.  Local libraries and museums enrich our communities, providing educational opportunities and preserving our history and culture. This bill represents our national commitment to these institutions. Through a relatively modest federal investment, this law helps build capacity to support and expand access to library and museum services at the state and local level, said Senator Reed.Passage of the Museum and Library Services Act will help us write a new chapter in the digital age, as IMLS helps libraries and museums modernize, collaborate, and strengthen their capacity to serve their communities well into the future.  In Arizona alone, libraries receive an average of 466,000 visitors each week. In 2017, visitors checked out a combined 45.3 million items and logged 4.7 million sessions on public access computers.  Click here to see Rep. Grijalva's speech in favor of the legislation on the House floor.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sinema.house.gov/latest-news/sinema-urges-consumer-watchdog-to-protect-arizona-servicemembers-from-predatory-lending/", "Sinema Urges Consumer Watchdog to Protect Arizona Servicemembers from Predatory Lending", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "sinema.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON- Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09) is calling on the nation's top consumer watchdog agency to reinstate protections for military servicemembers from financial fraud and abuse.\r\n\r\n\tSinema joined with 22 other members of the House Financial Services Committee to urge that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau restore critical protections for active-duty servicemembers and their families from predatory lending practices and credit gouging.\r\n\r\n\t\"Honoring our servicemembers and their families must include enforcing the laws that protect them from financial predators,\" said Congresswoman Sinema. \"That's why we're calling on the agency to restore these critical protections and protect Arizona's military families.\"\r\n\r\n\tThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureaurecently discontinued the supervision of regulated entities for compliance with theMilitary Lending Act, neglecting its responsibility under the law to protect servicemembers and their families.\r\n\r\n\tSinema will serve on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee when she is sworn in to the Senate in January and has pledged to continue her work on behalf of Arizona veterans, servicemembers, and military families.\r\n\r\n\tRead a copy of the letterhere.\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BB97636D-1403-4EC9-9E5F-6BDC9CAC58BB", "VIDEO: Flake, Coons, Booker Continue Bipartisan Effort to Protect Special Counsel", "2018-12-19", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today spoke on the Senate floor with Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in their third attempt to secure immediate passage of S. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. The bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in April by a bipartisan vote of 14-7, would protect the integrity of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. The bill was blocked by an objection from Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.):\r\nI know that some of my Republican colleagues have sincere objections to S. 2644. Some of them believe that a president must be able to fire anyone within the executive branch, since he is the head of it. I understand the constitutional arguments and know that some of my colleagues hold them in all sincerity. \r\nI would respond that if this bill becomes law, the president still has a key role in overseeing the process, and there is accountability to him, as the U.S. Constitution requires there must be. Under this act, the attorney general would still oversee the investigation and be able to remove the special counsel for good cause. \r\nThis is not a witch hunt. We are seeking truth. It is clear we need to put protections in place and send the right signal to the president: nobody is above the law. The truth must be told, whatever it is.\r\nVideo of Flake's remarks can be viewed here.\r\nA complete transcript of Flake's prepared remarks can be viewed below.\r\n***\r\nMr. President, I rise today for a third time to defend the integrity of our political process by defending the ongoing investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.\r\nThe continuity of this investigation is crucial to upholding public trust in our institutions of government, due both to the substance of the investigationthe extent to which a foreign government was able to interfere in our political processAND the principle that no person, however high the rank, is above the law. \r\nThis investigation has produced results, including the indictment of more than 12 Russian nationals for interference in the 2016 election. \r\nWe need to protect the independence of the special counsel and allow this critical investigation, and any like it in the future, to run their course. \r\nS. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, was approved on a bipartisan basis in April by the Senate Judiciary Committee, by a margin of two to one. \r\nIt has awaited a vote on the floor ever since. \r\nIn a moment I will once again attempt to secure immediate passage of this important legislation.\r\nI know that some of my Republican colleagues have sincere objections to S. 2644. Some of them believe that a president must be able to fire anyone within the Executive Branch, since he is the head of it. \r\nI understand the constitutional arguments and know that some of my colleagues hold them in all sincerity. I would respond that if this bill becomes law the president still has a key role in overseeing the process, and there is accountability to him, as the Constitution requires there must be. \r\nUnder this act, the attorney general would still oversee the investigation and be able to remove the special counsel for good cause. So the special counsel would not be fully insulated from presidential control. The attorney general, who oversees the special counsel, would still answer to the president. \r\nThis legislation simply adds one layer of protection for the special counsel and makes his removal reviewable to make sure it is for a sufficient cause. \r\nIt maintains a significant degree of presidential control while protecting special counsel investigations from being terminated by a president who is starting to feel the heat because of a personal interest in the outcome.\r\nThis bipartisan request today is timely and necessary. Just last month, right after the midterm elections were over, President Trump forced his attorney general to resign after many public complaints from the president that he should not have recused himself from the investigation, even though he was a key player in the 2016 campaign. \r\nIt is clear we need to put protections in place and send the right signal to the president. Nobody is above the law. The truth must be told, whatever it is.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-congratulates-martha-mcsally-her-senate-appointment", "Congressman Biggs Congratulates Martha McSally on Her Senate Appointment", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Governor Doug Ducey appointed Martha McSally to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator John McCain and Senator Jon Kyl. Congressman Biggs released the following statement:\nCongratulations to Martha McSally on her appointment to the U.S. Senate. I look forward to working with her in the next Congress.\nI wish Representative McSally the best of luck in her tenure to fill the seat left by Senator John McCain.It was my honor to serve with Senator McCain for a year  especially to pass the Ashlynne Mike AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act. I commend Senator Kyl for stepping up to serve Arizona, once again. It was a privilege to serve alongside him in the delegation this year. I wish him and his family the very best in their new chapter of life. I'm excited to work with the entire Arizona delegation on behalf of our constituents, including both of our two new Senators.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2018/12/18/congressman-schweikerts-statement-appointment-rep-martha-mcsally-us/", "Congressman Schweikert\u2019s Statement on the Appointment of Rep. Martha McSally to the U.S. Senate", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman David Schweikert released the following statement.\n\n\u201cI congratulate my colleague Martha, for her appointment as Arizona\u2019s new U.S. Senator. I have had the pleasure of working with her in the House and seen her be a good leader, serving her constituents well. I\u2019m confident she will do a terrific job representing the interests of our state.\u201d \u2013 Congressman David Schweikert\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-schweikerts-statement-appointment-rep-martha-mcsally-us", "Congressman Schweikert's Statement on the Appointment of Rep. Martha McSally to the U.S. Senate", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congressman David Schweikert released the following statement.\n\"I congratulate my colleague Martha, for her appointment as Arizona's new U.S. Senator. I have had the pleasure of working with her in the House and seen her be a good leader, serving her constituents well. I'm confident she will do a terrific job representing the interests of our state.  Congressman David Schweikert", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=2EA1D31B-A489-4474-BE49-7B9D5D6D586A", "Flake Applauds Passage of Criminal Justice Reform Bill", "2018-12-18", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the passage of S. 756, the First Step Act, which passed the Senate by a vote of 87- 12. This bipartisan criminal justice reform is endorsed by President Trump and cosponsored by more than a third of the Senate. The First Step Act aims to reduce federal recidivism and crime, prepares inmates for successful transition to society, enhances prison security and officer safety, and reforms federal criminal sentencing. Flake was an original supporter of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 and has worked alongside his colleagues in this effort to push comprehensive criminal justice reform:\r\nTonight's passage of the First Step Act marks a bipartisan victory for all of us who have worked for criminal justice reform. This bill aims to reduce recidivism, enhances prison and officer security, and makes much needed reforms to our federal criminal sentencing process. I urge the House to take swift action and send this legislation to the president's desk.\r\nTo see a complete list of original cosponsors and supporters, clickhere.\r\nA PDF copy of the legislation is available here. \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2697", "Rep. Grijalva Statement on the Firing of Secretary Ryan Zinke", "2018-12-15", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, President Trump fired embattled Secretary of the Department of the Interior Ryan Zinke. In response Rep. Ral M, Grijalva issued the following statement:  This is no kind of victory, but I'm hopeful that it is a genuine turning of the page. Secretary Zinke's successor has a chance to move on from an unfortunate Trump Administration record of environmental mismanagement and decline. A well-managed Interior Department  one that puts the public good ahead of fossil fuel and mining industry demands  can be a boon to the entire country. The next Interior Secretary should respect the American people's desire for strong environmental standards and an end to corporate favoritism. The Democratic majority on the Natural Resources Committee will be ready to assist in that effort starting in January.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/whats-biggs-idea-podcast/setting-example-public-servants-sen-jon-kyl", "Setting the Example for Public Servants - with Sen. Jon Kyl", "2018-12-14", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"What's the BIGGS Idea\" Podcast", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2696", "Rep. Grijalva Demands Investigation into Death of Guatemalan Child in DHS Custody", "2018-12-14", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Yesterday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that a seven-year-old girl from Guatemala died in their custody from shock and dehydration after apprehension by Border Patrol while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. In response, Rep. Ral M. Grijalva issued the following statement:  My heart breaks for the loss of an innocent child who underwent a harrowing journey to seek safety in the United States, only to be met with cruelty, pain, and death. Her death, and similar situationslike the death of Roxsana Hernandez in ICE custody, raise serious questions about whether or not DHS is providing those in their custody with humane treatment and even basic safety.  CBP and ICE continue to operate with a startlingly low level of transparency and accountability, and that must change. I demand a thorough, independent investigation into the death of this young girl, and that those responsible face the full consequences. Furthermore, the Department of Homeland Security should immediately instruct Border Patrol officers to cease any interference with humanitarian organizations providing migrants with food, water, and medical attention.  This horrific situation must be a wake-up call to all elected officials. Instead of wasting time, money and energy on a useless border wall, we must work now to enact comprehensive immigration reform that puts families and children first.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/congress-should-pass-25-billion-border-wall-and-security-next-week", "OP-ED: Congress should pass $25 billion for a border wall and security next week", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2695", "Rep. Grijalva Condemns Republican Tactics on Yemen War Powers Resolution", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted to block debate on a War Powers Resolution that would end the U.S. military support for the War in Yemen. Rep. Grijalva was not on the floor to vote. In response, he issued the following statement:  Unfortunately, I was not present on the floor of the House of Representatives at the time of the vote due to a miscommunication about the number of votes in the series. It was not an abstention, but an honest mistake. Had I been present, I would have voted nay.'  When it comes to my support for ending U.S. involvement for the War in Yemen, my record speaks for itself. I co-sponsored all three War Powers Resolutionsincluding the most recent oneand have consistently condemned the U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's reprehensible actions in Yemen.  The Republican Party's complicity in Saudi Arabia's actions is nothing short of an accessory to war. Whether it is this Republican Congress suppressing any debate on the U.S. role in Yemen or the Trump Administration's egregious refusal to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, it's time for this travesty of justice to end.  Like many of my constituents, I am horrified by the images and stories coming out of Yemen, and I remain committed to using congressional authority to take action. Come January, I will work with the leadership of my party to make this issue a priority and end our country's immoral and unauthorized involvement in Yemensomething Republican leadership has utterly failed to do.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=C283FF56-930B-428E-9885-059F11F44C7C", "VIDEO: Flake Delivers Farewell Remarks", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today delivered his farewell address on the Senate floor:\r\nI rise today to say that it has been the honor of my life to represent my home  Arizona - in the United States Senate, and before that, in the House of Representatives. That is, it's been the honor of my life after being Dean and Nerita's son, Cheryl's husband, and Ryan, Alexis, Austin, Tanner, and Dallin's father. \r\nToday, I am filled with gratitude. Grateful for the privilege of loving and being loved by those people I just mentioned, and of serving the state and the country that I love as well. Grateful beyond measure, and luckier than I deserve to be.\r\nAs we in America  during this moment of political dysfunction and upheaval - contemplate the hard-won conventions and norms of democracy, we must continually remind ourselves that none of this is permanent, and that it must be fought for constantly.\r\nI echo today that serious challenges lie ahead, but any honest reckoning of our history and our prospects will note that we have confronted and survived more daunting challenges than we now face. Ours is a durable, resilient system of government, designed to withstand the foibles of those who from time to time occupy this place, including yours truly.\r\nAnd so I leave here grateful and optimistic. I will always treasure the friendships that began here, and the kindnesses shown to me and my family by all of you, my colleagues. And I will forever cherish the work of our country that we were able to do here together. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.\r\nAfter his remarks, Flake was honored by a number of his Senate colleagues, including Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).\r\nVideo of Flake's remarks can be viewedhere.\r\nA complete transcript of Flake's prepared remarks can be viewed below.\r\n***\r\nMr. President,\r\nI would like to begin today by noting that had the people of Arizona and America been truly lucky, my mother or father would have served in the United States House and Senate. \r\nEverything I know about what matters most in life I first learned at their dinner table. But for many reasons  they were otherwise occupied raising and feeding eleven kids, working the land running cattle to keep the F-Bar business going, and serving their church and community daily, and in ways too many to count  my parents were too meaningfully engaged in life to detour into something that can sometimes be so frivolous as politics. \r\nSo you got their son instead. \r\nAnd I rise today to say that it has been the honor of my life to represent my home  Arizona - in the United States Senate, and before that, in the House of Representatives. That is, it's been the honor of my life after being Dean and Nerita's son, Cheryl's husband, and Ryan's, Alexis's, Austin's, Tanner's, and Dallin's father. \r\nThrough eighteen years in Washington, our kids grew up thinking it was normal to have their faces plastered on campaign signs along the roadside when election time rolled around. \r\nThey were dragged to countless fundraisers and campaign events. They were used to having their dad join them, sort of, with a choreographed wave on C-Span at dinnertime. \r\nThey spent summers in Washington catching fireflies and voting with their dad on the House floor. They served as interns and Congressional Pages. Much of it they enjoyed, some of it they endured, and through all of it they were not just good sports, but were extraordinarily understanding and supportive. \r\nAnd Cheryl - well, Cheryl is the rock on which our family is built. \r\nHer strength, equanimity, endless patience and love  her good humor even when congressional life wasn't always funny, and her belief, when disbelief would have been perfectly reasonable  these are but a few of a long list of things that have me simply awestruck at my wife. \r\nI think all of us who presume to hold these positions owe someone who loves us a debt that we can never, ever repay. And if they are not to be repaid then they can at least be properly recognized  Cheryl, that girl I met on that faraway beach so long ago, our wonderful children, my brothers and sisters and our extended families. \r\nJohn McCain often joked that the only way I ever got elected to anything was because of my hundreds of siblings and thousands of cousins. Well, the truth hurts, I reckon - Senator McCain might have been on to something there. \r\nToday, I am filled with gratitude. Grateful for the privilege of loving and being loved by those people I just mentioned, and of serving the state and the country that I love as well. Grateful beyond measure, and luckier than I deserve to be.\r\nAs so I leave here grateful and optimistic. I will always treasure the friendships that began here, and the kindnesses shown to me and my family by all of you, my colleagues. And I will forever cherish the work of our country that we were able to do here together. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all.\r\nAs I stand here today, I am optimistic about the future, but my optimism is due more to the country that my parents gave to me than it is due to the present condition of our civic life. \r\nWe of course are testing the institutions of American liberty in ways that none of us likely ever imagined we would  and in ways that we never should again. \r\nMy colleagues, to say that our politics is not healthy is something of an understatement. \r\nI believe that we all know well that this is not a normal time, that the threats to our democracy from within and without are real, and none of us can say with confidence how the situation that we now find ourselves in will turn out. \r\nOver the past two years, I have spoken a great deal on that subject from this chamber, and there will be time enough later to return to it in other settings. \r\nBut in the time I have here today, and with your indulgence, I would instead like to speak somewhat more personally. \r\nAs the authoritarian impulse reasserts itself globally, and global commitment to democracy seems to now be on somewhat shaky ground, I have been thinking a lot recently about the American commitment to democracy  where it comes from, and how, if the circumstances were right, it might slip away. \r\nAnd this got me thinking back to when I was a much younger man, and had the privilege of witnessing the birth of a new democracy in Africa. \r\nWhen I was about half the age that I am now, for my church mission, I went to South Africa and Zimbabwe and fell in love with the people of those countries. \r\nWhen Cheryl and I were drawn back to southern Africa a few years later for a job, we were in Windhoek, Namibia, in February of 1990, at the very moment that much of the world enslaved by totalitarianism was throwing off its shackles, and the free world that the United States had led since World War II was growing exponentially. \r\nThe Soviet Union was in a glorious free fall, shedding republics seemingly by the day, and Eastern Europe was squinting out into the light of liberation for the first time in forty years. Free markets and free minds were sweeping the world. \r\nFreedom was breaking out in the Southern Hemisphere as well. The country where I was sitting that morning was itself only days old. \r\nIn November 1989, the same week the Berlin Wall fell, Namibia had held its first election as an independent nation, freed from the apartheid administration of South Africa. \r\nThis came to pass in no small part because of leadership from the United States, through the United Nations. \r\nJust days earlier, an awe-inspiring document had been drafted only blocks away from where I sat in Windhoeka new democracy's founding constitution, the inspiration for which had been the marvel of free people everywhere and those who aspire to be free, the United States Constitution. \r\nAt the time, I was in Africa working for the Foundation for Democracy, trying to ensure that Namibia emerged from the process of gaining its independence as a democratic country.\r\nIn my role at the foundation, I evangelized for democracy and democratic values, the benefits of which had been a given for me for my entire life. \r\nI can safely say, though, that I learned more about democracy from the lives of those around me who aspired to it, rather than those who experienced it as a birth-right. \r\nAs I sat there in the brand-new African democracy, I read the speech that the playwright and new president of a newly democratic Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel, had just delivered before a joint session of the United States Congress, right across the way in the House chamber. \r\nHavel, who had spent much of the previous decade in a communist dungeon and whose last arrest as a dissident had been a mere four months before, was quite astonished to find himself president of anything, much less the country of his oppressors. \r\nI sat there in Africa and read Havel's speechan encomium to democracy, a love letter to America, literary and inspiringand I was overcome by his words. \r\nThere is nothing quite like the sensation of having someone who has been stripped of everything but his dignity reflecting the ideals of your own country back at you, in such a way that you see them more clearly than ever before, and maybe for the first time. In some ways, that man knows your country better than you do.\r\nI can now only imagine how surreal it must have felt for Havel as he stood before the entire Congress, the president's cabinet, the diplomatic corps, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff assembled before him in the House chamber in our Capitol Building, with the vice president and the Speaker of the House behind him, all standing in a sustained ovation, a deep show of respect from the oldest democracy on earth to the newest, whose leader had been a political prisoner just a season earlier. \r\nHavel soberly poured out his gratitude to the United States for the sacrifices that our country had made in liberating Europe once again and for the moral example of its leadership around the world in opposing the Soviet Union, the country, he said, that rightly gave people nightmares. \r\nHavel's awed appreciation for the values that too many of us might take for granted bought home to me, an American in my mid-twenties sitting there in Africa, the power of the American example to the whole world. \r\nAnd the humbling responsibilities that come with that power. It is no exaggeration to say that Havel's disquisition on democracy before Congress that day in 1990 was a turning point in my civic education. \r\nHavel similarly called out to the whole world from Washington that day in early 1990, with grace and without rancor, but for one mistaken prophecy, that to me now reads as tragic, especially in the context of the here and now. \r\nAt the time, as the wall fell and the Soviet bloc that had been encased in Stalinism thawed, it was a vogue among some historians, scholars, and others to declare the end of historythat the big questions had been settled, that liberal democracy was triumphal and inexorable, and that the decline of the impulse to enslave whole countries was also inexorable. Freedom had won, it was said, and forever. \r\nThe historian Francis Fukuyama, who had coined the end of history in an essay the year before, was much in demand, and it is likely that Havel would have been inspired by the fervor, which would explain this passage from his speech: \r\nI often hear the question: How can the United States of America help us today? My reply is as paradoxical as the whole of my life has been. You can help us most of all if you help the Soviet Union on its irreversible but immensely complicated road to democracy. \r\nOf course, history was not over, and the road to democracy is not irreversiblenot in Moscow, not in America, not anywhere. \r\nAfter erecting a Potemkin village of democracy for an agonizing decade or so, the Russians thrust forward a strongman amid the chaos, a strongman who was determined to reassemble the pieces of a broken empire, in the process strangling Russian democracy in its cradle. \r\nVladimir Putin would go on to be president and he is president still, and just as he hijacked democracy in his own country, he is determined to do so everywhere. \r\nDenial of this reality will not make it any less real. This is something that is staring us in the face, right now, as we are gathered here today.\r\nAs we in America  during this moment of political dysfunction and upheaval - contemplate the hard-won conventions and norms of democracy, we must continually remind ourselves that none of this is permanent, and that it must be fought for constantly. \r\nCivilization and the victories of freedomhistory itselfare not a matter of once achieved, always safe. Vaclav Havel lived this. \r\nThe lovers of democracy I met in Namibia lived this. Our children, whose rights and prerogatives have never before been in doubt, are for the most part unaware of it. But we are being powerfully reminded just how delicate all of this isright now. \r\nThe stability of tested alliances, the steadiness of comportment, and the consistency of words and deeds sum up the best of water's-edge postwar American consensus on foreign policy. \r\nIt might seem that all of this has lately been tossed around like pieces on a board, but it is important to remember that we have seen tumult and trial before, and it is the genius of the architects of our liberty that we can withstand it all and emerge stronger for it.\r\nWhat struck me in Namibia that day with such force that it has stayed with me ever since, is how vital a beacon the United States is and has always been to the peoples of the world both to those who are already free and to those who suffer tyranny. \r\nMr. President, that is a solemn obligation that we have as Americans. \r\nLet us recognize from this place here today that the shadow of tyranny is once again enveloping parts of the globe. And let us recognize as authoritarianism reasserts itself in country after country that we are by no means immune.\r\nI stand here today recognizing that have had the good fortune during my time in the Senate to have been surrounded by supremely smart and dedicated staff, some of whom have worked with me for the entire 18 years in Washington. \r\nMy chiefs of staff  Steve Voeller, Margaret Klessig, Matt Specht, Chandler Morse and Roland Foster have ably supervised a legislative team that included people over the years as Colleen Donnelly, Helen Heiden, Chuck Podalak, Kris Kiefer, Sarah Towles, Emily Nelson, Brian Canfield, Blake Tonn, Flaka Ismaili, Chance Hammock, Matt Sifert, Colin Timmerman, Melanie Lehnhardt, Hannah Grady, Brian Kennedy, Katie Jackson, James Layne, Andrea Jones, Kunal Parikh, Gary Barnett, Michael Fragoso and so many others, who have drafted substantive legislation and crafted consequential amendments that have been signed into law. \r\nMy schedulers, office managers and press shop have been asked to explain a lot over the years, including my penchant for marooning myself on deserted islands, sometimes with people like Senator Martin Heinrich, or forced to explain why I had been chased by elephants in Mozambique with Senator Chris Coons. People like Celeste Gold, Meagan Shepherd, Caroline Celley, Megan Runyan, Christine Chucri, Michael Christifulli, Jacob McMeekin, Jason Samuels, Bronwyn Lance, Liz Jones, Dan Mintz, Krista Winward, Jonathan Felts, Elizabeth Berry, and many more. \r\nThey have kept me largely out of controversy, if not out of elevators, during my time in office. \r\nDedicated caseworkers in my state offices have helped countless Arizonans with matters from immigration to Veterans issues to social security. \r\nI am frequently stopped in airports and grocery stores and thanked for the good work done by my staff. Thank you to Buchanan Davis, Mary Baumbach, Julie Katsel, Melissa Martin, Mike Nelson, Jeremy Thompson, Michael Vargas, Chris Stoller, Bob Brubaker, Blake Farnsworth, Chelsea Lett, Elizabeth Bustamante-Lopez and so many others for such dedicated constituent work over the years.\r\nTo all who have served in my office: I will miss your wise counsel, but most of all your friendship. Thank you.\r\nMr. President, as I give this last speech from this chamber I cannot help but look back on my maiden speech given in the senate six years ago. \r\nIn it I talked about how the twelve newly elected Senate freshmen in 2012 were invited to the National Archives and taken to the legislative vault where we viewed the original, signed copy of the first bill enacted by Congress, as well as other landmark pieces of legislation and memorabilia. \r\nOaths of allegiance signed by Revolutionary War soldiers, witnessed by General Washington, documents and artifacts related to the civil war, segregation, women's suffrage and the civil rights movement were also on hand. \r\nI noted then that it was an affirmation to me of the tumultuous seas through which our ship of state has sailed for more than 200 years, with many brilliant and inspired individuals at the helm, along with personalities ranging from mediocre to malevolent. But our system of government had survived them all. \r\nI noted then and echo today that serious challenges lie ahead, but any honest reckoning of our history and our prospects will note that we have confronted and survived more daunting challenges than we now face. Ours is a durable, resilient system of government, designed to withstand the foibles of those who from time to time occupy this place, including yours truly.\r\nSo, as I start a new chapter in the coming weeks, I am grateful for having had the privilege of serving here.\r\nIt is my sincere hope that those in this body will always remember the words of Lincoln: We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. The way forward, he said, is plain, peaceful, generous, just  a way which, if followed, the world will forever applaud and God will forever bless.\r\nI yield the floor.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F8225CBB-EAE2-4D07-8671-3BA17E0C7465", "VIDEO: Flake Encourages Support, Accountability for Zimbabwe", "2018-12-13", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, last night took to the Senate floor to encourage constructive bilateral relations with the Zimbabwean government:\r\nDuring these past several months, I have thought often of friends in Zimbabwe who deserve far better from their government than they have received over the past four decades. They deserve a government that represents them; a government that provides an environment that allows them to follow their dreams and realize the dreams of their children. \r\nZimbabwe deserves a government worthy of its people, and I encourage my colleagues to look for ways to engage constructively with Zimbabwe's new government moving ahead. The new ZDERA provides a worthy framework.\r\nVideo of Flake's remarks can be viewedhere.\r\nA complete transcript of Flake's prepared remarks can be viewed below.\r\n***\r\nMr. President, last week I chaired a hearing of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health that focused on Zimbabwe. \r\nAs a young man, I fell in love with the continent of Africa and the country of Zimbabwe when I served my Mormon mission there. The year was 1983 and the country had recently gained its independence. A man by the name of Robert Mugabe was serving as Prime Minister at the time. I do not think anyone could have predicted back then that Mugabe would serve as leader of Zimbabwe until November 2017, nor could have anyone imagined the damage Robert Mugabe would do to that beautiful country. \r\nJubilation erupted in the streets of Harare in November of 2017 when Zimbabweans heard the news that Mugabe had been ousted by his own party and forced to retire. \r\nThe people of Zimbabwe burst into spontaneous celebration hoping that, with Mugabe finally removed from power, the country might begin to move on after nearly forty years in power. \r\nI had the opportunity to visit Zimbabwe in February of 2016, when I led a delegation to southern Africa. \r\nMugabe's misrule and the economic devastation wrought had clearly taken its toll on the capital city of Harare.\r\nYet somehow, the people of Zimbabwe, so capable and resilient, had persevered and looked to a brighter future. \r\nI was able to reconnect with friends there whom I had not seen in thirty years, including one of my missionary companions, Peter Chaya, who despite a severe disability brought on by polio as a child, managed to raise four children and contribute a great deal to his church, his community, and his country. \r\nZimbabwe's greatest potential lies in its people, and it is time for the government to take the steps to ensure that this potential can be fully realized. \r\nI want to work with Zimbabwe to help make this happen, and that is why I introduced the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Act, along with Senator Coons, last March. \r\nSeventeen years after the original ZDERA statute was signed into law, our amendments provide a roadmap for the new government that, if followed, will lead to a better, more constructive bilateral relationship with the United States. \r\nThe ZDERA Amendment Act, signed into law in August, reiterates that in order for sanctions on Zimbabwe to be lifted, the government must restore the rule of law, it must hold free and fair elections, and it must demonstrate a sincere commitment to land reform. \r\nBut, and this is different from the prior statute, our changes send a signal to the government of Zimbabwe, to the opposition, and to the Zimbabwean people that the United States is interested in improving the state of our bilateral relationship, including in the areas of trade and investment. \r\nThe bill asks that the government of Zimbabwe take concrete, tangible steps toward good governance and the enactment of economic reforms.\r\nIt asks that all statutes inconsistent with Zimbabwe's 2013 constitution are either repealed or amended to bring them in line with the constitution. \r\nAnd finally, it underlines the need for a robust civil society that is allowed to function freely without government interference.\r\nThe conditions outlined in the ZDERA Amendment Act are reasonable and would not take long to achieve.\r\nI urge President Mnangagwa to move ahead to repeal troublesome statutes and engage in meaningful economic reform along the lines of what finance minister Ncube has recommended. \r\nI remain concerned that a lack of momentum for reform in Zimbabwe will squander the opportunity presented by former President Mugabe's ouster.\r\nWe cannot expect Zimbabwe to flip a switch and reverse nearly four decades of misrule in a few months' time. But we should expect more urgency to reform the economy and expand political space for the opposition. \r\nThere is no more outward sign that Zimbabwe has yet to turn the page than the government leveling charges against opposition figures like Tendai Biti and others. There is no purpose served by going after one's political opponents, especially in the wake of a contested election. \r\nThe new government in Zimbabwe bears much of the responsibility for forging a positive path forward but the opposition party needs to play a constructive role, as well. \r\nThe leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, Nelson Chimisa, is young and capable. He has a long career ahead of him. It would be to his benefit, and the benefit of all Zimbabweans, to recognize the legitimacy of the new government and to help create an inclusive process moving ahead. \r\nAs in any democracy, Zimbabwe needs a loyal opposition in the form of an opposition party, or parties, that hold the government accountable within the framework of the rule of law. There will be new elections to contest, more chances to make a case to voters. \r\nDuring these past several months, I have thought often of friends like Peter Chaya, and others in Zimbabwe who I know deserve far better from their government than they have received over the past four decades. \r\nThey deserve a government that represents them, a government provides an environment that allows them to follow their dreams and realize the dreams of their children. \r\nZimbabwe deserves a government worthy of its people, and I encourage my colleagues to look for ways to engage constructively with Zimbabwe's new government moving ahead. The new ZDERA provides a worthy framework.\r\nBy next month, my role will change, but I will remain involved and committed to a strong partnership between the United States and Zimbabwe.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-votes-pass-2018-farm-bill", "O'Halleran Votes to Pass 2018 Farm Bill", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), member of the House Committee on Agriculture and conferee on the Farm Bill Conference Committee, voted to pass the 2018 Farm Bill, which includes provisions he championed during negotiations.\nArizona agriculture contributes more than $23 billion to our state's economy and employs hundreds of thousands of hardworking men and women. The Farm Bill is critical to the continued success of our farmers, ranchers, and growers and rural communities across the state, said O'Halleran after the vote. After months of negotiations and hard work in both the House and Senate, Congress stepped up and signaled our strong support for rural America by passing this bipartisan Farm Bill.\nIncluded in the Farm Bill Conference Report are programs and resources that O'Halleran championed, including:\n A $350 million dollar a year grant program for rural broadband deployment;\n\tIncreased funding for rural hospitals;\n\tNutrition programs;\n\tGreater protections for dairy producers;\n\tConservation and forestry programs vital for rural Arizona.\n An additional effort led by O'Halleran to allow for the easier exportation of timber from the Four Forest Restoration Initiative area was not included in the final language of the bill. Rather, it will require a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for which O'Halleran will continue to work.\nFor decades, the Farm Bill has been a hallmark of bipartisanship in Washington, continued O'Halleran. While I am disappointed that this law was allowed to expire before we reauthorized it, I am pleased with the outcome. This is a victory for every community in Arizona.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sinema.house.gov/latest-news/sinema-helps-pass-bipartisan-farm-bill/", "Sinema Helps Pass Bipartisan Farm Bill", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "sinema.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator-elect Sinema: Farm Bill provides certainty toArizonafarmers and ranchers, puts food on the table for Arizona families\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON- Arizona farmers and ranchers will get needed certainty after Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema helped pass a bipartisan Farm Bill today.\r\n\r\n\tThe Farm Bill sets the nation's agriculture and nutrition policy. Partisan provisions inserted into the bill earlier this year had delayed its passage, but those partisan provisions have now been dropped.\r\n\r\n\tSinema, who had strongly urged Congress to stop \"playing politics with family farmers and our economy,\" praised today's passage of the bipartisan bill.\r\n\r\n\t\"This is good news for Arizona, and shows what can get done when leaders stop playing games and start working together,\" said Sinema, who will be sworn in next month as Arizona's next Senator. \"This strong bipartisan Farm Bill gives Arizona farmers and ranchers the certainty they need to stay on the land and the opportunity to build a stronger future - and it puts food on the table for Arizona families. I'm proud to help push it across the finish line.\"\r\n\r\n\tThe Arizona Farm Bureau praised Sinema's consistent support for a bipartisan Farm Bill.\r\n\r\n\t\"This Farm Bill is the right bill at the right time. Farm families across the nation, and here in Arizona, are struggling. Net farm incomes are in the sharpest decline since the Great Depression, current trade policies threaten our access to international markets and our ongoing drought conditions create additional uncertainty. The 2018 Farm Bill protects the rural economy, maintains our commitment to working lands conservation, improves essential risk management tools, and improves access to credit - all while remaining budget-neutral. In addition to farm and conservation programs, the Farm Bill also provides crucial nutrition assistance to underprivileged families across our nation. We are pleased to see that the 2018 Farm Bill maintains funding and protects access for families who need a hand up while closing loopholes exploited by those who seek a hand out.\r\n\r\n\tThe AZFB would like to sincerely thank Congresswoman Sinema for her support of the Farm Bill and what it means to the farmers and ranchers in Arizona.We appreciate her continued support of Arizona's agriculture industry.\r\n\r\n\tSinema has supported previous bipartisan Farm Bills, and passed a provision better protecting Arizona producers from foreign agribusinesses that fraudulently mislabel their produce.\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=748BFD18-59B3-4182-9ADC-7F4FF141AF7A", "Flake, Heinrich Applaud Bipartisan Conservation Measures Included in Farm Bill", "2018-12-12", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), both members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today applauded the passage of several conservation provisions included in the 2018 Farm Bill conference report. These measures were originally included in the bipartisan Restoring America's Watersheds Act, Flake and Heinrich's bill to protect, restore, and improve the health of watersheds in national forests.\r\nSen. Heinrich and I have toured the forests of Eastern Arizona and have seen the success of forest restoration efforts in reducing fire risks, protecting communities, and safeguarding our water quality,\" said Flake. \"These important measures will allow similar collaborative projects in watersheds throughout the country.\" \r\nI'm proud to pass these common-sense measures to improve the management of watersheds in our national forests and reduce the risks of costly catastrophic wildfires, said Heinrich. We are living in an era of severe drought, extreme wildfires, and climate disruption. We must utilize the best available science and deliver resources to help our communities promote long-term sustainable use of our land and water.\r\nFlake and Heinrich's conservation measures included in the Farm Bill would:\r\n \r\nPrioritize fire-impacted watersheds and encourage partnerships with non-federal stakeholders to invest in forests that provide important water resources\r\nEncourage collaboration in restoring our forests' health and establish the Water Source Protection Program within the U.S. Forest Service\r\nProvide much-needed jobs in the forest products industry in rural communities by clarifying and enhancing the U.S. Forest Service's ability to partner with communities\r\n \r\nTo view a PDF of the conservation measures, click here.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-calls-potential-shutdown-devastating", "O'Halleran Calls Potential Shutdown 'Devastating'", "2018-12-11", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON - Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) released this statement following President Donald Trump's threat to shut down the federal government:\nBorder security is an important issue that Congress must address in a bipartisan way, and I am ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. However, President Trump's threat to shut down the government over this issue is wrong. We have already seen the devastating impact a shutdown will have on our rural economies. This will only make life harder for seniors and veterans and prevent us from addressing the needs of the nation. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-signs-farm-bill-conference-report-ahead-house-vote", "O'Halleran Signs Farm Bill Conference Report Ahead of House Vote", "2018-12-11", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Yesterday, Congressman Tom O'Halleran, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and a conferee on the Farm Bill Conference Committee, signed the bipartisan, bicameral Farm Bill Conference Report. Once passed by the House of Representatives and Senate and signed into law, this legislation reauthorizes the Farm Bill for five years.\nDuring negotiations, O'Halleran led efforts to protect nutrition programs for children and veterans, invest more money in rural broadband deployment, maintain critical resources for Indian Country, and ensure Arizona forests receive the necessary care to protect homes across the state.\nAfter months of negotiations and hard work, I am pleased with the resulting Farm Bill Conference Report. We have secured vital funding for programs that our farmers and ranchers, working families, and tribal communities rely on every single day, said O'Halleran. The importance of this legislation cannot be overstated.\nIncluded in the Farm Bill Conference Report are programs and resources that O'Halleran championed, including:\n An annual $350 million dollar a year grant program for rural broadband deployment;\n\tIncreased funding for rural hospitals;\n\tNutrition programs;\n\tGreater protections for dairy producers;\n\tConservation and forestry programs vital for rural Arizona.\n An additional effort led by O'Halleran to allow for the easier exportation of timber from the Four Forest Restoration Initiative area was not included in the final language of the bill. Rather, it will require a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for which O'Halleran will continue to work.\nIt is unfortunate that Congressional leaders chose to drag their feet and allow this legislation to expire at the expense of our ag producers and the American people, continued O'Halleran. Our farmers and ranchers and rural communities are the backbone of rural America's economy. If we cannot support them, our whole nation suffers. We need a Congress that is focused on the needs of the country, not political gridlock and hyper-partisanship.\nClick here to read the text of the report.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rubengallego.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gallego-gallagher-introduce-bipartisan-bill-impose-denial-orders-chinese", "Gallego & Gallagher Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Impose Denial Orders on  Chinese Telecommunications Companies That Violate US Sanctions", "2018-12-11", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ruben Gallego", "G000574", "rubengallego.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the bipartisan Telecommunications Denial Order Enforcement Act (H.R. 7255) to direct the President to impose denial orders banning the export of U.S. parts and components to Chinese telecommunications companies that are in violation of U.S. export control or sanctions laws. The legislation follows news that Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer, was arrested in Canada at the request of U.S. prosecutors on charges of violating U.S. sanctions. Click here for text of the bill.\nChinese telecommunications firms like Huawei represent a growing threat to American national security. As state-directed enterprises, they ultimately report to the Chinese Communist Party and will be employed where and whenever possible to undermine American interests and those of our allies. This bipartisan legislation sets a simple standard: if a Chinese telecommunications firm is found to have violated U.S. sanctions moving forward, it will be subject to the same severe punishment originally imposed on ZTE, said Rep. Gallagher. Huawei and ZTE's every action is dictated by the Chinese Communist Party. For years, they have conducted complex and systematic attacks on U.S. telecommunications, compromising the information security of our government, our allies, and private companies around the world. Meng Wanzhou's recent arrest and the resulting outrage in Beijing shows how Chinese oligarchs think that laws are for the little people. This bill is designed to ensure that if Chinese government officials choose to use the companies they operate as weapons against the United States or the world's rules based system, there will be severe consequences for those choices, said Rep. Gallego.\n  Measures included in the Telecommunications Denial Order Enforcement Act include:\n Establishing that it is U.S. policy to enforce denial orders banning the export of U.S. parts and components to Chinese telecommunications companies that have violated U.S. export control laws or sanctions.\n\tDirecting the President to impose the same strict penalties originally faced by ZTE on any Chinese telecommunications firm found to be in violation of U.S. export control laws or sanctions.\n\tEnsuring that penalties for violating U.S. export control laws or sanctions are not withdrawn until a pattern of compliance and cooperation over the course of a year proves that policies surrounding systematic lawbreaking by Chinese telecommunications firms have been changed.\n\tProhibiting any executive agency official from modifying any penalty imposed on Chinese telecommunications companies, their agents, or affiliates until the President certifies that the company has not violated US laws for one year and is cooperating fully with U.S. investigations.\n\tHighlighting the Congressional role in overseeing Executive Branch export control and sanctions determinations regarding Chinese telecommunications companies.\n \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=CBDF7A3B-EC49-4909-A182-0FE88AB6F4BD", "Flake Reintroduces Bill to Protect Minor Sexual Assault Victims", "2018-12-11", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, last night reintroduced legislation preventing the cross-examination of minor victims of sexual assault by a defendant acting as his own attorney. The bill was prompted by the trial of Arizona resident Chris Simcox, who wanted to cross-examine two young girls he was accused of molesting. Flake's bill, S. 3736, would require any cross-examination of a child victim to be conducted by a court-supervised attorney on behalf of the defendant:\r\nThis bill protects child victims of sexual assault from having to endure any further trauma from their assailants. I urge the Senate to take swift action and protect these victims.\r\nBackground:\r\n \r\nOn December 8, 2016, Sens. Flake and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced S. 3524, which was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.\r\nOn June 9, 2016, a Phoenix jury found Chris Simcox guilty on two counts of child molestation and one count of furnishing pornography to a minor. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison for his crimes.\r\n \r\nTo view a PDF of the bill, click here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-supports-mark-meadows-white-house-chief-staff", "Congressman Biggs Supports Mark Meadows for White House Chief of Staff", "2018-12-10", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Andy Biggs released the following statement in support of Mark Meadows for White House Chief of Staff:\nMark Meadows is a proven conservative leader in Congress. Under his watch, the House Freedom Caucus has become one of the most-influential caucuses in the House. He would make an exceptional Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump.\nPresident Trump has accomplished a lot in his first two years in office. However, House Democrats are looking to overturn his endeavors and sideline his administration. President Trump needs a fighter like Mark to wholeheartedly defend his policies of smaller government and economic prosperity. I appreciate serving with Representative Meadows in the House and hope I will have a chance to work with him in the administration in the near future.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2018/12/10/congressman-schweikert-announces-congressional-app-challenge-winner/", "Congressman Schweikert Announces Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2018-12-10", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman David Schweikert announced the 2018 Congressional App Challenge winner for Arizona\u2019s 6th Congressional District.\n\nThis year, the Congressional App Challenge winner from Arizona\u2019s 6th District is Esha Sidhu, from BASIS Scottsdale. Esha created an app focused on time management for high school students juggling school work and extracurricular activities. Esha\u2019s submission showed the difficulty endured in creating the app, and clearly explained the benefit of use for high school students.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is an annual competition created to challenge students across the nation to create their own app for a chance to win the CAC in their home congressional district. The CAC looks to inspire, include, and innovate students across the country in a challenge to further explore the STEM and computer science fields.\n\nThank you to all of the students who submitted an app for the CAC. Our office looks forward to your submission in next year\u2019s competition.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:11:43Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-schweikert-announces-congressional-app-challenge-winner", "Congressman Schweikert Announces Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2018-12-10", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congressman David Schweikert announced the 2018 Congressional App Challenge winner for Arizona's 6th Congressional District.\nThis year, the Congressional App Challenge winner from Arizona's 6th District is Esha Sidhu, from BASIS Scottsdale. Esha created an app focused on time management for high school students juggling school work and extracurricular activities. Esha's submission showed the difficulty endured in creating the app, and clearly explained the benefit of use for high school students.\nThe Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is an annual competition created to challenge students across the nation to create their own app for a chance to win the CAC in their home congressional district. The CAC looks to inspire, include, and innovate students across the country in a challenge to further explore the STEM and computer science fields.\nThank you to all of the students who submitted an app for the CAC. Our office looks forward to your submission in next year's competition.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mike-broomhead-show-rep-david-schweikert", "The Mike Broomhead Show: Rep David Schweikert", "2018-12-09", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep Schweikert joins the show to talk about how the House will look under Speaker Pelosi", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/i-heard-comey-friday-here-are-three-most-important-takeaways", "OP-ED: I heard from Comey on Friday -- Here are the three most important takeaways", "2018-12-08", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/comey-heart-anti-trump-mueller-investigation", "OP-ED: Comey is the heart of the anti-Trump, Mueller investigation", "2018-12-07", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-members-commemorate-one-year-anniversary-president-donald-trumps-official", "House Members Commemorate One-Year Anniversary of President Donald Trump's Official Recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel", "2018-12-06", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Congressman Andy Biggs and 42 cosponsors introduced a resolution to commemorate the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump's official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel and the announcement of his intention to relocate the American embassy to Jerusalem. Congressman Biggs, along with many of the cosponsors, released the following statements: Israel is one of the United States' most enduring allies, and President Trump kept a significant promise by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and announcing his intention to move our embassy to Jerusalem. That embassy was opened in Jerusalem earlier this year. These milestones signify our commitment to our ally. I thank my many colleagues who joined me in this resolution. Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) I am pleased to be an original cosponsor on this important legislation. This year has marked a restoration of the U.S.-Israel relationship. President Trump's moving of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was monumental not because he is the first president to promise this move, but because he is the only president who made good on that promise. I have supported moving the embassy since my start in Congress and am proud to have seen it come to fruition. I want to thank my colleague Rep. Biggs for initiating this great commemoration and for working with me collaboratively on the final bill.  Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) Today, we celebrate the one-year anniversary of President Trump's momentous decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to the recognized capital of Jerusalem. During his campaign, President Trump committed to finally make this move, and I applaud him displaying strong leadership and courageous action in support of one of America's closest allies in the world.  House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01) My support remains unwavering for President Trump's courageous and just decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This decision is a profound reflection of the President's commitment to fulfilling his promises and advancing peace in the Middle East.  Congressman Gregg Harper (MS-03) One year ago, President Trump announced his decision torecognize Jerusalem as the unquestionable capital of Israel. The United States was the first to recognize Israel's independence in 1948.ThisMay, we celebrated 70 years of Israeli independence, and in a sign of our support, ceremoniously moved the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, again becoming the first country to do so. I applaud President Trump's leadership as we continue to reinforce our commitment to our closest friend and ally, Israel, and support her right to defend herself.  Congressman David Kustoff (TN-08) Jerusalem is the rightful capital of Israel. The recognition of this reality continues to build on our two nation's special bond which is why I support Representative Biggs' resolution to commemorate the anniversary of the President's declaration. Our ally has continuously stood by our side, and we should continue to stand by them.  Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) Moving our embassy to Jerusalem, Israel's self-declared, historic, and eternal capital, sent a strong message to the world, that Israel is an ally of the United States and a bulwark of democracy and freedom in the Middle East.  Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) On the one-year anniversary of President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a momentous event, I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution affirming our support for the United States' strongest Middle East ally, a Jewish homeland, and the Israeli people. Although Congress authorized moving the U.S. embassy more than two decades ago, only our current President, fulfilling a promise other presidents have made but broken, had the courage to act. Anti-Semitism and terrorist threats must never deter us from standing up for our principles, including a free and independent Israel with Jerusalem as its capital. In fact, standing up for our principles and supporting our allies is essential to creating peace and stability in the region.  Congressman Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) As this resolution memorializes, the relocation of United States Embassy in Jerusalem is further proof that President Trump is keeping his promises to the American people. Seventy years after the official formation of Israel and more than 20 years after the United States Congress voted to recognize Jerusalem as its capital, this fulfilled promise signals strong support for our friend and ally. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (TX-26) I am honored to join my colleagues in recognizing the one-year anniversary of the United States moving our embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalemthe eternal capital. This strong and historic move will forever stand as a message to the rest of the world that the U.S. stands with our Jewish brothers and sisters in the world's only Jewish state.  Congressman Tedd Budd (NC-13) On the one year anniversary, I applaud President Donald Trump for fulfilling his campaign pledge to recognize Jerusalem as the rightful capital of Israel. Under the leadership of President Trump, our relationship with Israel has never been stronger. We must never forget the important role Israel plays in the world and I will continue to be a vocal supporter of our eternal friendship.  Rep. Alex X. Mooney (WV-02) President Trump's decision, one year ago, to recognize Jerusalem for what it actually has been and is the actual capital of Israel, demonstrated great commitment to truth. President Truman had the courage to recognize Israel as an independent nation only minutes after it formed. Since then, we have had eleven Presidents who discussed Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel, but did not recognize it formally. A year ago, our president kept another of his promises made to the American people. This historic decision displayed to the world that the United States will fervently stand with its ally, Israel. I am proud we have a President who courageously did the right thing for the United States, for our ally Israel, and for the world, including those parts that do not know it.  Congressman Louie Gohmert (TX-01) Let today be a world-wide reminder that America stands with Israel, our greatest ally. We recognize that Jerusalem is Israel's rightful and eternal capitaland shall no longer be questioned.  Congressman Ralph Norman (SC-05) The city of Jerusalem holds a special place in the history of civilization and in the hearts of the people of Israel. By recognizing it as the capital of Israel, President Trump reaffirmed our commitment to a steadfast ally and carried out a law passed overwhelmingly by Congress in 1995. On the first anniversary of this important event, I am proud to join my colleagues in celebrating the ties that continue to join the United States and the State of Israel in friendship.  Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09) Israel, our strong ally, has the right to determine its capital city. Our president chose to honor their choice by moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, the historic home of the Jewish people. One year after the president's announcement that we would relocate our embassy, I join my colleagues applauding this historic move and urge other nations to follow the United States' example.  Congressman Dave Brat (VA-07) One year ago, President Donald Trump made a historic announcement to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to relocate our embassy there. I applaud President Trump for standing up for one of our closest allies. This recognition is based on ancient history and current political realities, and we must continue to voice that Jerusalem belongs to the people of Israel.  Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) America and Israel's unbreakable bond has been cemented through decades of trust, respect, and mutual cooperation. President Trump's public recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's eternal capital, and his decision to relocate the US Embassy to Jerusalem, were historic moments for US-Israel relations, now and in the future. I am proud to stand with Israel, and to be a cosponsor of Congressman Biggs' important resolution.  Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) A year after recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, we are seeing good progress in the Middle East. It is encouraging to see a number of other countries follow our example in relocating their embassies to the one, true capital of Israel  Jerusalem. Though there are still challenges to overcome, we will continue standing by our greatest ally. I'm delighted to celebrate this milestone with my colleagues and with the great people of Israel.  Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) I am excited to be a part of the one year anniversary of Jerusalem's recognition in Israel. The Administration's step to recognize Jerusalem as the capitol of the State of Israel and spiritual home for the Jewish people helped further our friendship with Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. Congress has voted favorably many times in the past on this issue, and past Presidents have campaigned on this only to backtrack in office for fear of angering Palestinian and Arab communities. This year marks the continuance of my strong support on this issue.  Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) Israel is our strongest friend and ally in the Middle East. This time last year, President Trump properly recognized Jerusalem as its capital and showed the world that the United States will always stand with her people, said Rep. Williams. For this reason I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Andy Biggs' resolution, Commemorating the Anniversary of President Trump's Recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel. I commend the President for his unwavering support of Israel and for remaining dedicated to backing our allies.  Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) All in one year, President Trump made the historic announcement to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's rightful capital, and the State Department moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. These actions were long overdue and exemplify the strong devotion and commitment the Trump Administration and the nation have to Israel. I am thankful to be working hand in hand with President Trump as we both stand wholeheartedly with Israel, our great ally and friend.  Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03)  One year after President Trump publicly recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and soon after moved the U.S. embassy there, the United States remains committed to supporting the State of Israel. I applaud this administration in their decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and the eternal friendship between our countries remains strong.  Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) One year ago, President Trump issued a proclamation to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. With Israel's legislature, Supreme Court, President's office, and Prime Ministers office all being located in the city, Jerusalem is the epicenter of governance in the country. Congress has repeatedly voted to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite previous administrations - both Republican and Democratic - failing to deliver. This proclamation, which also relocates our embassy to Jerusalem, is yet another promise that President Trump has fulfilled. As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Israel Victory Caucus, I firmly believe that by moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing it as Israel's capital, we are sending a strong message of America's support for our great ally - asserting the belief that Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people, and that Israel has the undeniable right to exist and defend herself.  Congressman Bill Johnson (OH-06) I was incredibly pleased when President Trump announced the United States' official recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. As the eternal capital of the Jewish people, this was a long-overdue and necessary action to demonstrate America's unwavering support on behalf of our strongest ally in the Middle East. I look forward to the ongoing progress we will make to advance the important partnership and longstanding bond between our nations.  Congressman John Ratcliffe (TX-04) It is the diplomatic right of any sovereign nation to choose where their capital is located; and, for 67 years, Israel has recognized Jerusalem as their capital, said Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA). I applaud President Trump for moving the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem a year ago, and my good friend Rep. Andy Biggs for commemorating this seismic event between the United States and Israel.  Congressman Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) America's relationship with Israel is unique, and it's strength is the foundation of American leadership in the Middle East. One year ago, President Donald Trump announced that our embassy was to be relocated to Jerusalem, and I was grateful for the opportunity to lead the House delegation to the embassy's opening in May. The President's commitment to Promises Made, Promises Kept strengthens our bond with the people of Israel, who know they have an ally in America.  Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) Israel has long been a friend and an ally to the United States, and it is a priority of mine to continue to stand with them and fortify our bonds. One year ago that bond was strengthened when the President did the right thing by affirming U.S. Law and recognizing Jerusalem as the eternal and undivided capital of Israel.  Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) We have a special partnership with Israel -- the country is our greatest ally in the Middle East and the only democracy in the region. We share the same values regarding individual rights and liberties, and it is essential we stand by them. I am grateful for President Trump's leadership on this important issue and that he made the move to affirm Jerusalem as Israel's rightful capital one year ago.  Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) It has been a year since President Trump fulfilled his pledge to move the United States embassy to Jerusalem. This long-overdue action demonstrates the close friendship between the United States and its strongest ally in the region. I know President Trump will continue to strengthen our bond with Israel after neglect from previous Administrations.  Congressman Todd Rokita (IN-04) One year ago, President Trump announced that the Unites States officially recognized the city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Israel has long been our closest ally in the Middle East, and it was a great honor to witness the historic  and long overdue  opening of the American Embassy in the holy city of Jerusalem just a few months later. Today, I'm proud to celebrate the anniversary of this recognition, and I look forward to continuing to strengthen the enduring ties between our two nations.  Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/david-schweikert-arizona-congressman-chad-benson-show", "David Schweikert, Arizona Congressman on the Chad Benson Show", "2018-12-06", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman David Schweikert joins to talk about the possibility of a Government shutdown and how Congress can avoid it.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=706F73D5-AB15-4EAF-9A6D-29919325898F", "Flake, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Cut Wasteful Government Spending", "2018-12-06", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced the REDUCE Government Waste Act to cut wasteful spending and save the federal government tens of millions of dollars each year.\r\nIt's just nuts to shell out millions of dollars to subsidize surplus piles of peanuts, bug-based foods, and robobartenders, said Flake. With $1 trillion being added to the national debt every year, it especially bugs taxpayers that all they hear from Washington about cutting waste is crickets. The REDUCE Government Waste Act gives Congress a starting point by saving millions.\r\nWith the national debt standing at more than $21 trillion dollars, we must begin to eliminate wasteful spending happening in the federal government, said Cortez Masto. The REDUCE Government Waste Act is a good starting point to help us eliminate unnecessary government spending. This legislation will save tensof millions of dollars that could go towards paying down our national debt, supporting our veterans, or funding important medical research.\r\nTo view the full text of the bill, click here.\r\nBackground:\r\nThe bipartisan Removing Excessive Dollars to Uproot and Cut Expensive (REDUCE) Government Waste Act would eliminate some of the most bizarre examples of wasteful spending. It includes provisions to:\r\n \r\nProhibit The Repayment of Loans with Peanuts: This bill would end a USDA program which accepts peanuts as payment for federal loans. This program cost American taxpayers a whopping $13.6 million in 2016 and $31.5 million in 2017.\r\nProhibit Agricultural Subsidies for Bug-Based Foods: This bill would prohibit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration from using funds to research the development and taste-testing of insect-based foods for human consumption. It would also prevent funds from being utilized to research cricket farming. The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture spent more than $1.3 million in grants for companies to research taste-testing of insects and the costs of farming crickets.\r\nPermanently Eliminate Grants for Robot Bartenders: This bill would permanently prohibit the Department of Defense from using funds to research the development of beerbots and robot bartenders. The Department of Defense and National Science Foundation recently gave grants, with one worth nearly $175,000 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that was then utilized to work on robots that served beer. However, the concept of robot bartenders has already been extensively researched by and involved in the private industry. For example, in 2014, Royal Caribbean cruise ships featured the Makr Shakr, a robot developed by MIT that would prepare customers' drink orders.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rubengallego.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-gallego-and-lamalfa-lead-bipartisan-call-appointment-native", "Reps. Gallego and LaMalfa Lead Bipartisan Call for Appointment of a Native American Affairs Expert  at the Congressional Research Service", "2018-12-04", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ruben Gallego", "G000574", "rubengallego.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Yesterday, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), ranking member of the House Natural Resources Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee, and Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), chair of the subcommittee, led a bipartisan letter to the Director of the Congressional Research Service requesting immediate appointment of a Native American Affairs expert. 29 Members of Congress signed on to the request.\nIt is critical that Members of Congress have access to readily available experts who can monitor legislative developments and quickly provide information and analysis on the unique challenges and opportunities of American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, the group wrote.\nThe Library of Congress currently employs around 600 policy experts, attorneys, librarians and support personnel who specialize in various disciplines, but none in the well-established field of Federal Indian law and policy. \nTribal Affairs expertise is vital for enabling Members to understand and assess the complex dynamics shaping the unique relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes and make informed policy decisions, the letter said.\nThe full letter can be found here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/whats-biggs-idea-podcast/remembering-fundamentals-senator-mike-lee", "Remembering the Fundamentals - with Senator Mike Lee", "2018-12-03", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Mike Lee joins Congressman Andy Biggs to talk about how the United States' government continues to allow out-of-control spending levels and a rising national debt, and what we can do to return our country to the fundamentals of the of the Constitution.https://soundcloud.com/user-171694389-215186623/remembering-the-fundamentals-with-senator-mike-lee", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=7CE389B7-DCBD-4D00-A8E4-44308A30737D", "Flake Statement on Former President George H. W. Bush", "2018-12-01", "2018", "2018-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the passing of former President George H. W. Bush:\r\nI was sorry to hear of the death of former President George H. W. Bush last night. We all owe a debt of gratitude to President Bush. He leaves behind a legacy of enduring kindness and humble service to the nation. We express our heartfelt condolences to the entire Bush family.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/newsletters/wrapping-115th-congress", "Wrapping Up the 115th Congress", "2018-11-30", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2693", "Rep. Grijalva Congratulates New CPC Leadership", "2018-11-30", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Rep Ral M. Grijalva issued the following statement after the Congressional Progressive Caucus elected Reps. Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) as the new Co-Chairs for the upcoming Congress:  After ten years of serving as a CPC Co-Chair, I can rest assured that the progressive agenda is in good hands for the upcoming Congress under the leadership of Rep. Pocan and Rep. Jayapal. The American people spoke loudly when they elected a wave of progressive Democrats to the new Congress, and now more than ever, we must take bold action on policies like healthcare, infrastructure, education, and climate change to fulfill the promises we made. I look forward to continuing my work with the caucus as the Chairman Emeritus and implementing progressive policy priorities that will help everyday families thrive.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2694", "Rep. Grijalva Statement on Secretary Zinke Tweet", "2018-11-30", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Rep. Ral M. Grijalva, who will seek to chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, released the following statement on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's recent tweet. Grijalva called on Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to resign this morning in a USA Today op-ed available athttp://bit.ly/2SlZLz0.  The American people know who I'm here to serve, and they know in whose interests I'm acting. They don't know the same about Secretary Zinke.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rubengallego.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-gallego-and-veterans-congress-call-full-reimbursement-underpaid-gi", "Rep. Gallego and Veterans in Congress Call for Full Reimbursement of Underpaid GI Benefits", "2018-11-30", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ruben Gallego", "G000574", "rubengallego.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Yesterday, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) led a group of veterans serving in Congress in sending a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, calling for full repayment of benefits owed to veterans under the Forever GI Bill.\nThe letter follows troubling reports that Department of Veterans Affairs officials do not intend to reimburse veterans for acknowledged underpayment of benefits required by law. The lawmakers expressed concern about the ongoing and persistent delays and continued uncertainty experienced by affected veterans and their families.\nAs veterans ourselves, these reports are deeply dismaying to us, and we urge you to work toward a swift solution that will not further jeopardize the educational pursuits, housing, or financial security of veterans and their families, the group wrote.\nOur nation's veterans have served our country with honor, often making incredible sacrifices to do so. It is imperative that we also honor our promises to them in return.\nThe group also expressed concern over second order losses suffered by the affected veterans and their families, including emotional stress, underserved interest charges and overdraft fees, and educational and professional setbacks.\nThe full letter can be found here.\nThe letter was signed by Reps. Jos E. Serrano (D-NY), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), Chris Stewart (R-UT), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Don Young (R-AK), and Robert C. Bobby Scott (D-VA).\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2692", "Rep. Grijalva Introduces Congressional Resolution in Honor of Native American Heritage Month", "2018-11-29", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Rep. Ral M. Grijalva introduced a resolution honoring Native American Heritage Month for the month of November and issued the following statement:  The Native American story is woven into the fabric of our nation's history and is the original American story. It's one of tragedy, triumph, and perseverance that deserves to be honored and celebrated for generations to come. From educational institutions and the military to local government and the halls of Congress; Native Americans are defying stereotypes, reasserting their identity, and embracing the rich cultural inheritance that was theirs all along.  This Native American Heritage Month, let's renew our commitment to preserving and promoting Native American history and culture, upholding the federal trust responsibility, and protecting tribal sovereignty to ensure a bright, prosperous future for all our Native American brothers and sisters.  Click hereto learn more about Rep. Grijalva's events and legislation during Native American Heritage Month.  Click hereto watch Rep. Grijalva's Native American Heritage Month video message.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3576", "Congressman Gosar's Statement on the Passing of Former Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul A. Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", "gosar", "https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after learning of the passing of former Arizona Congressman Ed Pastor:\n\n\"I'm saddened to hear of the passing of my friend Ed Pastor. He was proud of his heritage and the people he served, said Congressman Gosar. \"He was a true spirit of a gentleman, he included me and took the time to talk, to say hi, to smile and to laugh. His warm heart and dedication to serving Arizona will always be remembered. His family and loved ones are in my prayers.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:10:16Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2691", "Rep. Grijalva Statement on the Passing of Congressman Ed Pastor", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Rep. Ral M Grijalva issued the following statement after the passing of Congressman Ed Pastor:  The passing of Congressman Pastor is a loss to all of usbut none more so than to his family, his beloved wife Verma, his daughters Yvonne and Laura, his mother, and his grandchildren who he cherished dearly.  To me, he was a friend, mentor, and a rarity in politics who treated people with honesty and good humor. Arizona will miss Edwe all will.  Ramona and I extend our genuine sympathy and prayers to the Pastor family. My friend Ed was a giant in Arizona's history and should be memorialized as such.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mcsally.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mcsally-city-douglas-receive-major-update-port-entry-modernization", "McSally, City of Douglas Receive Major Update on Port of Entry Modernization Efforts", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "mcsally.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Douglas, AZ  Yesterday, the General Services Administration and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that the Feasibility Study, which began in the fall of 2017, confirmed a need for a two-port solution in order to modernize the Douglas Port of Entry. Upon receiving this news, Representative Martha McSally issued the following statement.\n\"I have been working on modernizing the Douglas Port of Entry with a two-port solution since I arrived in Congress. This project is absolutely vital to our security and local economy. Yesterday's announcement is a major win for Douglas, our region, our state, and our country and represents a critical step towards updating this antiquated facility.\"\nOver the last four years, Representative McSally has fought tirelessly to update the Douglas Port of Entry (POE). She has engaged with administration officials under both President Obama and President Trump. As Chairwoman of the Border Maritime Security Subcommittee, Representative McSally held a hearing on border infrastructure and manning needs where she highlighted the importance of improving the Douglas POE. In addition, Congresswoman McSally has repeatedly called on CBP to accelerate their modernization projects. Because of her advocacy, the Douglas Port of Entry project was placed on CBP's 5-year plan and the feasibility study was funded.Most recently, she hosted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen in May to highlight the issues that the port faces.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-commitment-reform-congressional-rules-o-halleran-votes-nancy", "Following Commitment to Reform Congressional Rules, OHalleran Votes for Nancy Pelosi", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, following months of negotiations and discussions between members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and Democratic Party leader that resulted in an agreement to reform House Rules, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) voted for Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House.\nI came to Congress focused on making the House of Representative work for the American people. Today, we took a decisive step in the right direction and agreed to reform House of Representative rules that will increase transparency and accountability and allow lawmakers to address top priorities for Arizona, said Rep. O'Halleran following the vote. I am pleased that Leader Pelosi has accepted many of the Problem Solvers' reform proposals for the 116thCongress that will increase bipartisanship and give the American people a greater voice in the process. I look forward to working with members of both parties in the next Congress to address rising health care costs, infrastructure funding, and job growth.\nList of rules changes:\n Every Member Gets a Voice:Adopt a rule creating a Consensus Calendar. Once a bill reaches 290 co-sponsors, a 25 legislative day clock will begin. If the primary committee of jurisdiction does not report the bill by the end of the 25 legislative days, the legislation will be placed on the new Consensus Calendar where it will remain until the bill is considered. For every in-session week, after February 28thof the First Session and before September 30th of the Second Session, majority leadership will be required to bring at least one bill on the Consensus Calendar to the Floor.\n\tBipartisan Amendments:Create a Rules Committee Protocol that specifically adds a preference to amendments that comply with the rules, and have at least twenty Members of each party cosponsoring the amendment.\n\tModernize the Discharge Petition:Allow discharge petitions to be considered under a 3-day notice process similar to privileged resolutions in order to facilitate their use and effectiveness, while still requiring 218 signatures. The current process only allows perfected petitions on certain Mondays and only if the House is in session on those days.\n\tIncrease Committee Transparency:Require three business days' notice for committee markups, but preservetheentiregoodcauseexception.\n\tReform the Motion to Vacate the Chair:Adopt arule stating that aresolution causing a vacancy in theOffice of the Speakerwill be privilegedif offered by the direction of amajorparty caucus or conference.\n\tLegislative Committee Party Ratios:Commit to a more fair party ratio for committees. Since ratios change throughout the year due to resignations, special elections etc., ratios have never been and should not be set through the standing rules of the House. We are also aware of the Minority's need to negotiate for seats they need and how setting ratios in the standing rules could inadvertently restrict their needs. However, we agree that to the extent possible party ratios on legislative committees (including Intelligence and Joint and Select Committees, but excluding Rules and Ethics) should reflect the party ratio of the entire House.\n\tA More Inclusive Amendment Process: Commit to a more fair and inclusive legislative process where more ideas and amendments are debated, and there is less of a reliance on closed rules.\n\tPreserve Majority Markups:Ensure that a majority of the Members of a committee can request and schedule a markup of the committee they serve on.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rubengallego.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ruben-gallego-statement-passing-congressman-ed-pastor", "Rep. Ruben Gallego Statement on the Passing of Congressman Ed Pastor", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ruben Gallego", "G000574", "rubengallego.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) released the following statement:\nToday we mourn the passing and honor the legacy of an Arizona legend, Congressman Ed Pastor. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Verma, his daughters, Yvonne and Laura, his sister Eleanor, and the rest of his family during this difficult time.\nCongressman Pastor was a trailblazer who dedicated his life to fighting for working families. He represented Arizona's 7th district with distinction for 12 terms, during which he earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for the people of our great State.\nCongressman Pastor dedicated his career to protecting the civil rights of every American and making the American Dream accessible to everyone, including the most vulnerable in our society. His legacy will live on in the transportation projects he championed, the legislation he authored, the working families he helped, and a generation he inspired.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2018/11/28/congressman-david-schweikert-statement-passing-former-congressman-ed/", "Congressman David Schweikert Statement on the Passing of Former Congressman Ed Pastor", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman David Schweikert released the following statement preceeding the news of Former Congressman Ed Pastor\u2019s passing.\n\nCongressman Pastor was a Dean of our delegation. I am saddened to hear of his passing, but I know Arizona will forever be grateful for his exceptional legacy of service to fight for all Arizonans, politics aside. Joyce and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Pastor family.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:10:16Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/rep-david-schweikert-announced-abilityone-congressional-champion", "Rep. David Schweikert Announced as AbilityOne Congressional Champion", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Arizona Industries for the Blind welcomed Rep. David Schweikert as the newest AbilityOne Congressional Champion to pledge support of the AbilityOne Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-david-schweikert-statement-passing-former-congressman-ed", "Congressman David Schweikert Statement on the Passing of Former Congressman Ed Pastor", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Congressman David Schweikert released the following statement preceeding the news of Former Congressman Ed Pastor's passing.\nCongressman Pastor was a Dean of our delegation. I am saddened to hear of his passing, but I know Arizona will forever be grateful for his exceptional legacy of service to fight for all Arizonans, politics aside. Joyce and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Pastor family.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=53B4AC9D-0293-4D12-9F46-B209CB22C00F", "VIDEO: Despite Objection, Flake Continues Bipartisan Effort to Protect Special Counsel", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today took to the Senate floor with Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) in another attempt to secure immediate passage of S. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. The bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in April by a bipartisan vote of 14-7, would protect the integrity of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. The bill was blocked by an objection from Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). Flake has vowed to block all judicial nominees until this legislation receives a full Senate vote:\r\nOne wouldn't expect that such an investigation would be controversial, but it somehow warranted a tweet from the president earlier this week, calling special counsel Mueller a conflicted prosecutor gone rogue' and claiming that the $30 million witch-hunt' is doing nothing but ruin lives. To be clear, this is the same investigation that brought indictments for more than a dozen Russian nationalists for attempting to influence the 2016 election. Why shouldn't we be up in arms about that? My colleagues and I will not rest until this body acts to protect the special counsel and this vital investigation.\r\nVideo of Flake's remarks can be viewedhere.\r\nA complete transcript of Flake's prepared remarks can be viewed below.\r\n***\r\nMadam President, I rise today to once again speak in defense of special counsel Robert Mueller, and to speak about the importance of the investigation he is leading into the attacks on our electoral system during the lead-up to the 2016 election.\r\nOne wouldn't expect that such an investigation would be controversial, but it somehowwarranted a tweet from the president earlier this week, calling special counsel Mueller a conflicted prosecutor gone rogue and claiming that the $30 million witch hunt is doing nothing but ruin lives.\r\nTo be clear, this is the same investigation that brought indictments for more than a dozen Russian nationalists for attempting to influence the 2016 election. Why shouldn't we be up in arms about that?\r\nEven so, the president has made it clear that he wants the investigation reigned in or terminated altogether. \r\nBut the findings of this investigation are too important to our national security and the well-being of our democratic institutions to be halted or watered down.\r\nMr. Mueller must be able to preserve the work he has done by completing a thorough investigation, and his findings must be made public.\r\nLegislation has been proposed to ensure this outcome.\r\nS. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, serves one purpose, and that is to protect the integrity of the special counsel's investigation and prevent the executive branch from inappropriately interfering in an independent investigation in the future. \r\nThis legislation was passed out of the Judiciary Committee in a bipartisan manner nearly eight months ago and has been awaiting action on the Senate floor ever since. \r\nMy colleagues have said that this legislation isn't necessary because there hasn't been any indication that Mr. Mueller will be removed from office. \r\nBut after the forced resignation of the Attorney General on the day after the election, it is clear that something must be done to protect Mr. Mueller's investigation, and to ensure the future independence of our justice system in America. \r\nSo a few weeks ago, my colleague from Delaware, Senator Coons, and I came to the Senate floor to ask for unanimous consent to bring to the floor S. 2644. \r\nAfter our efforts were blocked with an objection, we promised to come to the floor again and again as many times as needed, to ensure that this important legislation receives a vote. \r\nMy colleagues and I will not rest until this body acts to protect the special counsel and this vital investigation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=EC583408-0C9E-4B77-8FD6-2AEBB76C59B0", "Senate Foreign Relations Committee Approves Flake Amendment to Hold USAGM Accountable, Promote Democracy", "2018-11-28", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today offered an amendment to S. 3654, the U.S. Agency for Global Media Reform Act, that will ensure that Congress is informed about pending investigations into, and any delays in formal disciplinary action being taken against employees placed on administrative leave for producing content that is inconsistent with the Agency's mission. The amendment was adopted by unanimous consent. Following the recent broadcasting of anti-Semitic programming by TV Marti, a U.S.-funded Spanish language network overseen by USAGM, this timely amendment will serve as a safeguard to journalistic integrity and the proper use of taxpayer dollars:\r\nLast spring, a TV Marti program that was introduced with the phrase, George Soros, a multimillionaire Jew,' was paid for and broadcast to Latin America in our name. American taxpayers should not be funding the dissemination of anti-Semitism. The USAGM's purpose is to inform and connect people in support of freedom and democracy, and this amendment will ensure those creating and approving its content will be held to a higher standard.\r\nBackground:\r\n \r\nOn October 29, 2018, Flake sent a letter requesting USAGM immediately investigate the evolution of TV Marti's anti-Semitic segment. USAGM CEO John Lansing condemned the content of the TV Marti segment and promised disciplinary action for those deemed responsible for the programming.\r\nIn October 23, 2018, it was reported that Radio Television Marti had produced and broadcasted a program with anti-Semitic content in May 2018. TV Marti is a U.S.-funded Spanish-language network that falls under the United States Agency for Global Media.\r\n \r\n\r\nTo view a PDF of the bill, click here.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-calls-greater-focus-impact-climate-change", "O'Halleran Calls for Greater Focus on Impact of Climate Change", "2018-11-27", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, following the holiday weekend release of a climate report, Congressman Tom O'Halleran urged the Administration to take a more serious role in addressing the causes and consequences of climate change on our nation.\nThroughout the West, and across the country, communities are facing the effects of climate change every day. From larger, deadlier forest fires to crippling droughts, it is something that can no longer be brushed under the rug. The Administration's decision to release this report on Black Friday when no one would be paying attention is an irresponsible move that undermines our ability to properly address the issue. We need to take a serious look at the impact of climate change.\nThe report, compiled by the National Climate Assessment, found that among other concerning facts, the United States is 1.8 degrees warmer than a century before and ocean levels are nine inches higher. Additionally, the report details the effect of climate change on Phoenix. Whereas the city previously has seen fewer than 100 days per year over 100 degrees, by the end of the century, that number could increase to between 120 and 150 days.\nIf we want to secure a prosperous future for future generations of Americans, we need to act. This will impact everything from crop yields to the safety of Americans living in high-risk areas near the ocean, or those living right in Arizona who face the threat of wildfires every year. This is not a partisan issue; it is something that Congress and the Administration should come together to address before it is too late.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-chosen-co-chair-blue-dog-coalition", "O'Halleran Chosen as Co-Chair of Blue Dog Coalition", "2018-11-27", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONToday, the Blue Dog Coalition announced its leadership for the 116th Congress and inducted several new members. In the 116th Congress, the Coalition will fight to restore the American Dream and put our country on the path to prosperity. The Coalition will continue to focus on its long-held mission to pursue commonsense, bipartisan solutions that will get our country's fiscal house in order and ensure a strong national defense.\nThe Blue Dog Coalition's leadership for the 116th Congress will include:\n Representative Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Co-Chair for Administration\n\tRepresentative Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Co-Chair for Policy\n\tRepresentative Lou Correa (CA-46), Co-Chair for Communications\n The Blue Dog Coalition's new members for the 116th Congress will include:\n Representative-elect Anthony Brindisi (NY-22)\n\tRepresentative-elect Ben McAdams (UT-04)\n\tRepresentative-elect Max Rose (NY-11)\n\tRepresentative-elect Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)\n\tRepresentative-elect Abigail Spanberger (VA-07)\n\tRepresentative-elect Xochitl Torres Small (NM-02)\n\tRepresentative-elect Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02)\n STATEMENTS FROM THE BLUE DOG LEADERSHIP OF THE 116TH CONGRESS:\nFor too long, the Washington elite has ignored the needs of hardworking men and women in communities across America,said Rep. Tom O'Halleran, incoming Co-Chair for Policy.I am ready to help lead the Blue Dog Coalition as we give these Americans a seat at the table. The Blue Dog Coalition is readyto hit the ground running with a positive agenda to address the lack of good-paying jobs and stagnant paychecks, rising health care costs, and our crumbling infrastructure. Most importantly, we are ready to be the voice of commonsense and thoughtful leadership the American people want. We firmly believe that a strong economy, in every community, will lead to a strong future for our children and grandchildren. No one is more focused on these issues than the Blue Dogs in Congress, and we are going to get to work on Day One to improve the lives of every American.\nI'm proud to help lead this hardworking group of principled, pragmatic Democrats who will develop solutions that move this country forward,said Rep. Stephanie Murphy, incoming Co-Chair for Administration. In this new era of divided government, we Democrats must introduce bold ideas and fight for our shared values, and we must also seek bipartisan cooperation that keeps our government functioning and improves the lives of our constituents; the alternative is a partisan stalemate that brings our country to a halt. The Blue Dog Coalition remains focused on bipartisan cooperation, fiscal responsibility, and national security, and we look forward to being active and constructive partners in the 116th Congress.\nAs the son of working-class Americans, I understand that the path to the middle class depends on a strong education, a good job, and a robust infrastructure, said Rep. Lou Correa, incoming Co-Chair for Communications. That is why I have made it my mission to keep the American Dream alive for all Americans. As a leader in the Blue Dog Coalition, I will put working-class families first, and ensure hardworking families get what they deserve.\n\nBACKGROUND ON THE BLUE DOG LEADERSHIP OF THE 116TH CONGRESS:\n Rep. Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Co-Chair for Policy:Rep. O'Halleran currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Agriculture Committee. He was elected to Congress in 2016. Prior to his service in Congress, O'Halleran served three consecutive terms in the Arizona House of Representatives followed by a term in the Arizona State Senate. At the beginning of his career, O'Halleran joined the Chicago Police Department, where he was an officer and then a sergeant in a special operations unit. O'Halleran waslatercommissioned to be one of the youngest homicide investigators in the city's history.\n\tRep. Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Co-Chair for Administration: Rep. Murphy is the first woman of color to lead the Blue Dog Coalition. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Small Business Committee.She was elected to Congress in 2016. Prior to her service in Congress,Murphy was a businesswoman and college instructor after serving as a national security specialist in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense where she received numerous awards for her distinguished service, including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. She worked on a wide range of security issues from counterterrorism toforeign military relations to strategic planning for the department.\n\tRep. Lou Correa (CA-46), Co-Chair for Communications: Rep. Correa currently serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. He was elected to Congress in 2016. Correa has spent his entire career fighting for the middle class in his local community. Prior to his service in Congress, Correa served in the California State Assembly, then the Orange County Board of Supervisors, followed by the California State Senate. In his early career, Correa worked as an investment banker and real estate broker.\n THE BLUE DOG COALITION OF THE 116TH CONGRESS BY THE NUMBERS:\n24 members of the Blue Dog Coalition.\n54 percent have previous experience in a state legislature.\n42 percent represent districts that went to President Trump in 2016.\n29 percent are people of color.\n21 percent have previous national security experience.\n21 percent have been a small business owner.\n21 percent are military veterans.\n17 percent are women.\n13 percent have experience in law enforcement.\n13 percent are farmers.\nBLUE DOG FRESHMAN CLASS BY THE NUMBERS:\n7 incoming Blue Dog freshman members.\n7 represent districts that went to President Trump in 2016.\n4 will hold an elected position for the first time at the start of the 116th Congress.\n3 are women.\n3 have national security experience.\n2 have been mayor of a city or township.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2018/11/26/reps-schweikert-mccaul-introduce-bill-champion-american-businesses/", "Reps. Schweikert, McCaul Introduce Bill to Champion American Businesses Abroad", "2018-11-26", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06), member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Economic Committee, today introduced the Championing American Businesses Through Diplomacy Act of 2018. This bill prioritizes economic and commercial diplomacy at the Department of State and U.S. missions throughout the world, allowing U.S. businesses better access to markets abroad.\n\nCongressman McCaul: \u201cWith the emergence of China\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative and their coercive lending practices, we must make it easier for our businesses to have access to foreign markets. The enactment of the BUILD Act earlier this year was an important first step in leveraging the weight of the federal government behind this problem, but more can be done. Our diplomatic personnel on the ground in these countries and have unique insights on their political and economic complexities. We must do more to use this information to help the private-sector do business abroad and support U.S. foreign policy in upholding global stability.\u201d\n\nCongressman Schweikert: \u201cI am very pleased to be an original co-sponsor of this legislation which helps to ensure American businesses succeed abroad. While diplomatic relationships change over time, we must support U.S. businesses in areas that otherwise would not be prioritized.\u201d\n\nThe Championing American Businesses Through Diplomacy Act of 2018 would make the following changes to support economic and commercial diplomacy:\n\nAuthorizes in statute the Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, setting in statute their responsibilities to promote and support U.S. economic and commercial diplomacy;\n\nStreamlines and combines two commercial diplomacy guides \u2013 the Investment Climate Statement and the Country Commercial Guide, respectfully produced by the Department of State and Department of Commerce \u2013 into one annual guide for each country focused on critical information that businesses rely upon when assessing whether to do business in a particular country;\n\nRequires Ambassadors and their Embassies to submit a report to the Department of State of the specific actions they took in the year prior of how they are aided businesses achieve market access, while assessing levels of private-sector commercial competition from other strategic competitor nation-states;\n\nRequires the Secretary to report to Congress general commercial diplomacy trends, as well as assessments of commercial activity in strategic areas from competing nation-states that threatens U.S. national security; and\n\nPlaces further emphasis on training our diplomats on matters of commercial diplomacy.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:10:16Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-schweikert-mccaul-introduce-bill-champion-american-businesses", "Reps. Schweikert, McCaul Introduce Bill to Champion American Businesses Abroad", "2018-11-26", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. CongressmanMichael McCaul(TX-10),Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, andCongressman David Schweikert (AZ-06), member of the Ways and Means Committee and the Joint Economic Committee, today introduced theChampioning American Businesses Through Diplomacy Act of 2018.This bill prioritizes economic and commercial diplomacy at the Department of State and U.S. missions throughout the world, allowing U.S. businesses better access to markets abroad.\nCongressman McCaul:With the emergence of China's Belt and Road Initiative and their coercive lending practices, we must make it easier for our businesses to have access to foreign markets. The enactment of the BUILD Act earlier this year was an important first step in leveraging the weight of the federal government behind this problem, but more can be done. Our diplomatic personnel on the ground in these countries and have unique insights on their political and economic complexities. We must do more to use this information to help the private-sector do business abroad and support U.S. foreign policy in upholding global stability.\nCongressman Schweikert:I am very pleased to be an original co-sponsor of this legislation which helps to ensure American businesses succeed abroad. While diplomatic relationships change over time, we must support U.S. businesses in areas that otherwise would not be prioritized.\nTheChampioning American Businesses Through Diplomacy Act of 2018would make the following changes to support economic and commercial diplomacy:\n \nAuthorizes in statute the Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, setting in statute their responsibilities to promote and support U.S. economic and commercial diplomacy;\n\tStreamlines and combines two commercial diplomacy guides  the Investment Climate Statement and the Country Commercial Guide, respectfully produced by the Department of State and Department of Commerce  into one annual guide for each country focused on critical information that businesses rely upon when assessing whether to do business in a particular country;\n\tRequires Ambassadors and their Embassies to submit a report to the Department of State of the specific actions they took in the year prior of how they are aided businesses achieve market access, while assessing levels of private-sector commercial competition from other strategic competitor nation-states;\n\tRequires the Secretary to report to Congress general commercial diplomacy trends, as well as assessments of commercial activity in strategic areas from competing nation-states that threatens U.S. national security; and\n\tPlaces further emphasis on training our diplomats on matters of commercial diplomacy.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/whats-biggs-idea-podcast/standing-border-patrol-agents-brandon-judd", "Standing with Border Patrol Agents - with Brandon Judd", "2018-11-23", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Border Patrol Agent, Brandon Judd, talks to Congressman Andy Biggs about the pathway to secure the border and support the work of the thousands of Border Patrol agents on the front-lines of the fight against illegal immigration.https://soundcloud.com/user-171694389-215186623/standing-with-border-patrol-agents-with-brandon-judd", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/newsletters/happy-thanksgiving", "Happy Thanksgiving!", "2018-11-22", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/newsletters/have-you-listened-yet-0", "Have you listened yet?", "2018-11-19", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/op-ed-house-republicans-must-prepare-battle-new-democratic-majority", "OP-ED: House Republicans must prepare to battle new Democratic majority", "2018-11-16", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With Democrats set to become the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives in January, I call on my Republican colleagues in the chamber to gear up for the inevitable Democratic attacks on everything we've worked to accomplish in the past two years in partnership with President Trump.\nWe need Republican leaders who are prepared for the fight against the Democrats and who recognize that our political opponents don't consider legislating a process. They consider it a war. We need to alter the House rules, procedures and processes to slow down their inevitable weaponizing by the Democrats.\n\nWe will continue to find many points of comity with our friends across the aisle, but it would be folly to believe that we will not have to take the fight to them and take our message to the American people. Republicans in the House will have a tough slog for the next two years, but surrender is not an option.\nDemocrats and Republicans spent the last year 18 months telling Americans that the midterm elections held last week were pivotal in determining the direction of our country  and even the survivability of this great nation. It is not too much now to fight, even from the minority position, to prevent a gigantic move to the left.\nOur leaders must courageously take on Democrats, who will seek to impose an ever-increasing number of socialist policies on our nation. We must have leaders who are articulate and knowledgeable about issues and about the rules and procedures that will allow even the minority to function effectively. The entire Republican leadership team must have a foundation of core conservative principles to rely on as they push back on the Democratic onslaught coming in the House.\nTrust me, the Democrats have no policy prescriptions. Since the 2016 elections they have made every issue solely about President Trump. They have filed three different resolutions to impeach the president. They are promising to continue their ephemeral dream of ending President Trump's presidency prematurely. We must pop their balloon with the appropriate pointed object regularly.\nNot only must we be prepared to aggressively defend the progress we have made on the Republican agenda we promised in the 2016 campaign; we must use the lame duck session in the final weeks of our control of the House to further Republican objectives.\nWe can take another run at solving the health-care issue by voting on a bill that cleanly repeals ObamaCare, and additional bills that resolve issues related to lowering health-care costs. Republicans can also pass a bill that will actually fund construction of a border wall. And we can pass the heartbeat bill that applies a scientific standard to protect the unborn.\nThese bills can pass the House, but skeptics will say that they will never pass the Senate. That may be true, but members of the House can only govern and vote on legislation in the body in which we serve. We do not and cannot control the Senate. We can and should do our work in the House regardless of potential Senate inaction.\nIf that means we work through the holidays, then so be it. Republicans in the House should not accept subservience in the minority. We must begin reasserting our agenda in the lame duck session and then through strategic aggressive action in the coming legislative session.\nThe campaign for the 2020 elections starts now, with the leadership team we put in place. I urge my colleagues to recognize that our leaders will reflect whether we are going to fight for our values of faith, family and freedom. We must work with the Democrats where we can, but we must have the courage to stand up and fight in the face of the onslaught coming.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/newsletters/honoring-our-veterans", "Honoring Our Veterans", "2018-11-16", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-votes-manage-our-wolves-act", "Congressman Biggs Votes for the \"Manage Our Wolves Act\"", "2018-11-16", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6784  Manage Our Wolves Act by a vote of 196  180. This bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the gray wolf from the endangered species list; allows states to manage individual wolf population, and exempts the gray wolf delisting from judicial review to prevent further litigation.Congressman Biggs released the following statement:\nThe federal government's listing of the gray wolf is no longer necessary and yet continues to cause economic harm for ranchers across the United States.I will continue to work with Chairman Gosar, Chairman Bishop, and the Trump administration to continue to reform the Endangered Species Act and return power back to the states.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/whats-biggs-idea-podcast/honoring-our-veterans-bill-montgomery", "Honoring our Veterans - with Bill Montgomery", "2018-11-16", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery joins Congressman Andy Biggs on the podcast to talk about Veterans Day, his service in the United States' Armed Forces, the opioid crisis, and criminal justice reform.https://soundcloud.com/user-171694389-215186623/honoring-our-veterans-with-bill-montgomery", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/house-gop-urged-use-lame-duck-session-fund-border-wall-make-good-other-promises", "House GOP Urged to Use Lame-Duck Session to Fund Border Wall, Make Good on Other Promises", "2018-11-15", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1626 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-congratulates-western-caucus-chairman-paul-gosar", "Congressman Biggs Congratulates Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar", "2018-11-15", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Yesterday, the Congressional Western Caucus Executive Committee re-elected Congressman Paul Gosar as Chairman for the 116thCongress. Congressman Biggs, Regulatory Reform Officer of the executive committee, voted in favor of Chairman Gosar's re-election and released the following statement:\nI congratulate Congressman Gosar on his re-election as Chairman of the Western Caucus. Under his leadership, the membership has grown significantly, and our influence has expanded throughout the House and Senate. We have effectively fought for our priorities of eliminating onerous regulations and fostering economic prosperity throughout the past two years. The Western Caucus has never been in better shape, and I am privileged to serve with Chairman Gosar.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/whats-biggs-idea-podcast/being-fiscally-responsible-congressman-dave-brat", "Being Fiscally Responsible - with Congressman Dave Brat", "2018-11-15", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"What's the BIGGS Idea\" Podcast", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2683", "Rep. Grijalva Calls for Investigation into Military Actions at Nogales Port of Entry", "2018-11-15", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. After reports and images surfaced of military units blocking access to two lanes of traffic, installing razor wire, and conducting military exercises at the Nogales Port of Entry; Rep. Ral M. Grijalva issued the following statement:  Treating Nogales as a war zone because of a manufactured crisis from the Trump administration is nothing short of an outrage. Although Trump's hysteria-inducing caravan' is weeks away from arrival at the border of Arizona, the consequences of his reckless military deployment are having an immediate impact on border communities. New barriers and longer lines divide families, hinder economic activity, and further militarize the Nogales community.  A full investigation is needed to ensure that the military's actions in Nogales are not violating its authority at the border. Furthermore, the Department of Commerce should conduct an analysis to assess the economic impact that military deployments and subsequent closure of lanes at ports of entry have on border communities. Make no mistake; Trump's reckless disregard for the rule of law will no longer be met with impunity.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-colleagues-introduce-legislation-protect-native-american-voting", "O'Halleran, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Native American Voting Rights", "2018-11-15", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. -This week, Rep. Tom O'Halleran joined Rep. Ben Ray Lujn (D-NM) to introduce the Native American Voting Rights Act of 2018, landmark legislation to provide the resources and oversight necessary to protect Native Americans' access to the ballot box. The bill incorporates principles of self-determination into the electoral process, meaning that Indian Tribes and their members will be the decision-makers when it comes to ensuring their communities and members have equal access to their constitutional right to vote. Recent events highlight the urgency and necessity of federal legislation to secure the voting rights of Native American voters.\nEvery American in every community has the right to vote, but unfortunately, for many living in tribal communities, access to the voting booth is not always guaranteed. From remote polling locations to a lack of language assistance, the barriers for these voters to exercise their rights are often too high. This Congress has a responsibility to ensure every voter can participate in our democracy, and this legislation is an important step. I am proud to cosponsor the Native American Voting Rights Act, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure tribal communities are represented in Washington, saidRep. O'Halleran.\nVoting today anywhere in America should be easier, not harder,said Rep. Lujn. Yet, Native Americans continue to face obstacles to exercising their fundamental right to participate in our democratic processes. This legislation will help create equal access to the ballot box for Native voters, ultimately strengthening our democracy and the voice of Native America.\nThe legislation is cosponsored by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, Rep. Ral Grijalva (D-AZ), Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA), Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA).\nThis bill will help close many of the gaps in registration and accessibility that have persisted in Indian Country,said Rep. Gallego. It is unacceptable in this day and age that any American faces barriers to participating in one of the most basic functions of our democracy.\nA strong and vibrant democracy relies on the civic engagement of every voice, saidRep. McCollum. I'm proud to join Rep. Lujn in introducing legislation to remove barriers to voter participation for Native Americans, because every American citizen deserves the right to vote unimpeded. This legislation will empower tribal communities in their efforts to improve access to voter registration, education on voting procedure, and ensuring equal treatment of tribal identification at the ballot box.\nIntroduced in the Senateby Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and eleven additional Senate Democrats, the Native American Voting Rights Act would establish a Native American Voting Rights Task Force, increase Native access to voter registration sites and polling locations, and ensure equal treatment for tribal ID cards for voting purposes.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sinema.house.gov/latest-news/sinema-continues-to-deliver-results-for-rural-arizonans/", "Sinema Continues to Deliver Results for Rural Arizonans", "2018-11-15", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "sinema.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09) wasted no time getting results for Arizonans upon her return to the U.S. House, working across the aisle to pass a bill that expands parks and protects land in rural Arizona. Sinema's bipartisan legislation to expand broadband access in rural Arizona also continued to gain momentum. Her ACCESS Rural America Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate today by Republican Senator Joni Ernst and Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin.\r\n\r\n\tCommunities in rural Arizona deserve commonsense solutions from their leaders,said Congresswoman Sinema.This week, we worked across the aisle to expand parks in Yavapai County and made important progress to ensure rural Arizonans can stay connected through fast, reliable high-speed internet. I'll continue to work with both parties to deliver results for communities across our state.\r\n\r\n\tSinema was an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Cottonwood Land Exchange Act, which passed the House this week and helps the communities of Cottonwood and Cornville expand park land and protect the Arizona Cliffrose through a land exchange between Yavapai County and the federal government. Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-04) introduced the bill with Sinema and Reps. Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), David Schweikert (AZ-06), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01). Sinema's legislation to expand broadband internet to rural communities was introduced in the Senate today by Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). HerACCESS Rural America Act, which she passed through the House Financial Services Committee earlier this year with Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07), cuts through red tape to encourage investment in high-speed internet for rural communities in Arizona. Bringing broadband to rural communities can lower health care costs for patients and providers, offer patients greater access to specialists and medical services unavailable in rural areas, and provide more timely care, among other benefits.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=BED506AA-918D-4F2D-9368-5D3EC3D4F4A2", "VIDEO: Flake Delivers Keynote Address at RTCA Dinner, Defends Free Press", "2018-11-15", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) last night delivered the keynote address at the 2018 Congressional Radio and Television Correspondents' (RTCA) dinner. In his remarks, Flake reiterated the importance of the freedom of the press and its role in upholding democracy in an increasingly unstable world: Despotism is the enemy of the people. The free press is the despot's enemy, which makes the free press the guardian of democracy. The values of free expression and a reverence for the free press have been our global hallmark. It is our ability to freely air the truth that keeps our government honest and keeps people free. Between the mighty and the modest, truth is the great leveler. That is why respect for freedom of the press has always been, and must always be, one of this country's most important exports.\r\n\r\nVideo of Flake's remarks can be viewedhere.\r\nFlake's full remarks can be viewed below.\r\n***\r\nI appreciate the invitation to speak here tonight. If I'm a bit winded, it's because I took the stairs. I saw Suzanne Malveaux and a CNN camera next to the elevator in the Russell Building this morning and I got nervous. \r\nThis morning Chris Coons suggested that there's surely got to be room for a television show out there along the lines of Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Something like Senators in elevators with advocates.\r\nThere's an old joke that says when serving in the House of Representatives, you run toward the press at every opportunity. When you're in the Senate, you run from the press as fast as you can. My experience has been that that's not a joke, it's an axiom. \r\nLet me get serious here for just afew minutes. I'd like to say a few words tonight about the search for truth, which is what all of you here tonight are all about. It's what defines your profession.\r\nNear the beginning of the document that made us free, our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote: We hold these truths to be self-evident... So, from our very beginnings, our freedom has been predicated on truth. \r\nThe founders were visionary in this regard, understanding well that good faith and shared facts between the governed and the government would be the very basis of this ongoing idea of America. Without truth, and a principled fidelity to truth and to shared facts, our democracy will not last. \r\nOver the past few years we have seen the truth  objective, empirical, evidence-based truth  more battered and abused than at any time in our history. The term alternative facts has been enshrined into the American lexicon. We've seen an unrelenting daily assault on the constitutionally-protected free press, an assault that is as unprecedented as it is unwarranted. \r\nI would say that the truth has been, well, accosted, but my kids would call that a dad joke. It seems you all agree with my kids.\r\nIt is said that if you serve long enough in Washington, you'll see just about everything. My eighteen years in this town hasn't been all that long  especially compared to politicians like Orrin Hatch, whose retirement party I left early to be here tonight. \r\nBut I can tell you that I thought that I would have to serve a lot longer than Orrin Hatch, and I still would never hear the President of the United States refer to our free press as the enemy of the people, a phrase that has such an ignoble pedigree. \r\nAnd, of course, as those in this room tonight know well, the president has it precisely backward. Despotism is the enemy of the people. The free press is the despot's enemy, which makes the free press the guardian of democracy. \r\nThe careless use of the term fake news is not just injurious to the body politic, it puts journalists in real danger. Those of us who travel overseas, especially to war zones and other troubled areas around the globe, frequently encounter members of the U.S. based media who risk their lives, and sometimes lose their lives, reporting on the truth. \r\nTo dismiss their work as fake news is an affront to their commitment and their sacrifice. It also lends language to dictators, language used to stifle legitimate dissent and to crack down on journalists in their own countries.\r\nThe values of free expression and a reverence for the free press have been our global hallmark. It is our ability to freely air the truth that keeps our government honest and keeps people free. Between the mighty and the modest, truth is the great leveler. \r\nThat is why respect for freedom of the press has always been, and must always be, one of this country's most important exports.\r\nAnd in our country, from the trivial to the truly dangerous, it is the range and regularity of the untruths we now see that should be cause for profound alarm. As George Orwell warned, The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.\r\nIn America, we do not pay obeisance to the powerful  in fact, we question the powerful most ardently  to do so is our birthright and a requirement of our citizenship and so, we know well that no matter how powerful, no person, not even the president, will ever have dominion over objective reality. \r\nOf course, a major difference between politicians and the free press, is that the press usually corrects itself when it makes a mistake. We politicians usually don't.\r\nAny of us who have spent time in public life have endured news coverage we felt was jaded or unfair. But in our positions, to employ even idle threats to use laws or regulations to stifle criticism or to take away credentials is corrosive to our democratic institutions. Simply put: it is the press's obligation to uncover the truth about power. It is the people's right to criticize their government. And it is our job as politicians to take it.\r\nThe question of why the truth is now under such assault may well be for historians to determine. But for those who cherish American constitutional democracy, what matters is the effect on America and her people and her standing in an increasingly unstable world -- made all the more unstable by this parsing of truth. What matters is the daily disassembling of our democratic institutions. \r\nIf we compromise the truth for the sake of our politics, we are lost. That is why the work that you in this room do has never been more important than it is today.\r\nNow, if I can address those beyond this room for a moment. To my colleagues whom you will be covering in the next Congress. I'm sure they're watching on CSPAN.\r\nThe historian Jon Meacham, in his book, The Soul of America, reassures that history shows us that we are frequently vulnerable to fear, bitterness, and strife. The good news, he says, is that we have come through such darkness before.\r\nPerhaps. But not with both nuclear weapons and Twitter. And certainly not with such an anomalous presidency as this one. But I take Jon Meacham's point, and I am heartened by it. \r\nWe will get through this. But at the moment, we are in it, and we must face it squarely. Because too much is at stake for us to turn away.\r\nA culminating event such as the election of our current president scrambles normal binary notions of politics, and we are all disoriented at this dealignment. We find that many of the day's biggest issues simply don't break down neatly to familiar ideas of left v. right, but rather more along these lines:\r\n--Do you believe in democracy, or not? \r\n--Are you faithful to your country, or to your party? \r\n--Are you loyal to the law and the Constitution, or to a man?\r\n--Do you reflexively ascribe the worst motives to your opponents, but somehow deny, excuse, or endorse every repulsive thing your compatriot says, does, or tweets?\r\nThese questions have sent some of us wandering into the political wilderness. Fortunately, I'm no stranger to the wilderness.\r\nIn fact, during one congressional recess I spent a week alone, voluntarily marooned, on a tiny island called Jabonwod, a remote spit of sand and coconut trees in the central Pacific, about 7,000 miles from Washington.\r\nDetermined to test my survival skills, I brought no food or water, relying solely on what I could catch or collect. That, it turned out, was the easier part. More difficult was dealing with the stultifying loneliness that set in on the first night and never left me. \r\nBy day three, for companionship, I began to mark the hermit crabs that wandered through my camp with a number, just to see if they would reoccur. By the end of the week, I had 126 numbered friends. I still miss number 72. I was not so fond of number 12, who pinched my big toe.\r\nNow, I would not recommend such drastic measures for my colleagues to measure their independence, but I hope that should they be asked to go along with policies they cannot abide, or condone behavior that should never be condoned, that they will eschew the comfort and security of the tribe and set out into the wilderness rather than compromise their conscience.\r\nI would urge them to challenge partisan assumptions, regularly. Recognize the good in political opponents. Apologize every now and then. Admit to mistakes. Forgive, and ask for forgiveness. Listen more. Speak up more. Partisan politics sometimes keeps us silent when we should speak out. \r\nA prominent strain of my political party has traditionally claimed an instinctive mistrust of concentrated power, and when the White House has from time to time been occupied by the other party, these stalwarts of small government and constitutional principle have been eagle-eyed in defense of liberty, and in full throat  rushing to your cameras to defend against grave threats to the institutions of American liberty posed by Democrats. \r\nWhere are these guardians of liberty, one can fairly ask, when objective reality itself is commandeered by a president from their party? Crickets, as the kids say.\r\nI would tell my colleagues, if you find yourself in a herd, crane your neck, look back there and check out your brand, ask yourself if it really suits you. From personal experience, I can say that it's never too late to leave the herd. \r\nWhen you peel off from the herd, your equilibrium returns. Food tastes better. You sleep well. Your mind is your own again. You cease being captive to some bad impulses and even worse ideas. \r\nIt can strain relationships, to be sure, and leave you eating alone in the Senate dining room every now and then. But that's okay. To revise and extend a remark the president himself may recognize: I like people whose minds weren't captured. How I miss John McCain.\r\nNow, in closing, if you'll indulge me for a minute while I talk about my beloved state of Arizona. Nearly a century and a half ago, Brigham Young sent my great-great grandfather, William Jordan Flake, from Utah to settle in northern Arizona. He started a community, and after the arrival of a man named Erastus Snow, the town was named Snowflake, for the two of them. \r\nIt was in this small community that I was raised, on a ranch, with ten brothers and sisters and 69 first cousins on my father side alone. If you're wondering how a Flake can get elected, well, now you know. I just wish I had more cousins in New Hampshire.\r\nBack in those early days, Snowflake was still very much the wild west. A few years after its founding, William Jordan's son, James Madison Flake, my great-grandfather, was deputized along with his brother, Charles, to disarm an outlaw. They did so, but not before the outlaw killed Charles and wounded my great grandfather, James Madison. \r\nJames Madison Flake pitched in to help raise his brother's four children, and within three years he lost his own wife to illness, leaving him to raise his nine children alone. In his journal he wrote: Once again I must kiss the sod and face a cloudy future. That phrase sticks with me whenever I have my elevator moments, or when Manu Raju jumps out from behind the Russell trolley to pepper me with gotcha questions. I still have it pretty good.\r\nIn the ensuing years, James Madison Flake went on to honor his wife's memory by traveling around Arizona and as far away as Colorado to promote the cause of women's suffrage.\r\nI have to think that this week, more than a century later, James Madison Flake would be as proud as his great-grandson that Arizona has elected its first female senator.\r\nLet me close by thanking all of you for the important work you do. For the past eighteen years I've run toward you, and I've run away from you, and I've enjoyed everywell almost every minute of it. \r\nThe work you do is more important than ever. You are doing it well. Please keep doing it.\r\nAnd lastly, and most sincerely. Go get 'em Acosta. Do. Not. Back. Down!\r\nThank you for inviting me here tonight.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2682", "Rep. Grijalva Leads Members of Congress and Calls for the Resignation of Secretary Nielsen", "2018-11-14", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, Rep. Ral M. Grijalva led Democratic Members of Congress in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen urging her to resign. This comes at the heels of rumors of her imminent firing by President Trump. Their letter read in part:  You are responsible for the unimaginable trauma of thousands of children across the United States. From the children torn from their parents at the border, to Dreamers facing exile from their home, and to the U.S. citizen children who face losing a parent to deportation; your actions continue to wreak havoc on communities across this nation. In order to restore our values and the public's trust in the DHS, we demand your resignation and urge the reversal of the policies implemented at DHS and DOJ designed to destroy families.  The evidence is clear. During your tenure as DHS Secretary, you have inflicted real harm on children and families coming to the United States, immigrant youth growing up in communities across the country, and U.S. citizen children born to immigrant parents. These actions have ruined the moral credibility of the United States and are an affront to American values. For these reasons, we ask that you immediately resign.  Click here to read the letter in its entirety.    ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/trump-signs-opioid-bill-ohalleran-provision", "Trump signs opioid bill with O'Halleran provision", "2018-11-14", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  In an effort to address the country's opioid crisis, President Donald Trump signed on Wednesday comprehensive legislation that contains provisions introduced by one of Pinal County's congressional representatives.\n\n\n\tThe Support for Patients and Communities Act is a collection of bipartisan bills meant to combat addiction to medically prescribed painkillers.\n\n\n\tOne element of the legislation will allow 10 states with high overdose rates to receive enhanced Medicaid funds to strengthen provider networks and improve treatment.\n\n\n\tThis provision was included in a bill introduced earlier this year by U.S. Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Sedona.\n\n\n\tAcross this country, Americans are falling victim to an epidemic that knows no boundaries, and today our bipartisan work to address this crisis was signed into law, O'Halleran said in a press release.\n\n\n\tThe first-term Democratic lawmaker represents Arizona's 1st Congressional District, which stretches from Flagstaff to Casa Grande.\n\n\n\tThe Support Act had 252 bipartisan cosponsors from the U.S. House of Representatives, according to website GovTrack Insider, and passed through the House in a 396-14 vote.\n\n\n\tU.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, was listed as one of the few lawmakers who voted against the legislation in June.\n\n\n\tThe legislation signed by the president will also increase penalties for manufacturers who over-prescribe opioids, boost efforts to keep drugs like fentanyl from crossing international borders and allow federal agencies to pursue research into pain treatment.\n\n\n\tThere is still a great deal of work to do that requires a strong partnership with local and state leaders who are at the forefront of this battle, added O'Halleran, who is running for re-election this year against Republican Wendy Rogers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=F8A19205-A2B2-41A7-BCEC-F3D2A87A5833", "VIDEO: Flake Vows to Block All Judicial Nominees Until Senate Votes to Protect Special Counsel", "2018-11-14", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today took to the Senate floor with Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) in an attempt to secure immediate passage of S. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. The bill, which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee in April by a bipartisan vote of 14-7, would protect the integrity of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. The request was blocked by an objection from the Majority Leader:\r\nOne further note on this unanimous consent request: because it has failed today, Senator Coons and I are prepared to raise it again and again, until there is a vote on this vital bipartisan legislation on the Senate floor. And I have informed the Majority Leader that I will not vote to advance any of the 21 judicial nominees pending in the Judiciary Committee, or vote to confirm the 32 judges awaiting a confirmation vote on the floor, until S. 2644 is brought to the full Senate for a vote.\r\nVideo of Flake's remarks can be viewed here.\r\nA complete transcript of Flake's prepared remarks can be viewed below.\r\n***\r\nMr. President,\r\nI rise today to speak in defense of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and to defend the vital role he has been playing since May of last year in yet another act of service to his country, in what has been a life of distinguished service.\r\nFor his trouble, Mr. Mueller has been accused repeatedly and without basis in fact of conducting a witch hunt in the course of his current investigation - by none other than the president of the United States.\r\nAnd so, I would like to also take this opportunity to say a few words about what Mueller and his team have been investigating and why, as the point of this vital investigation seems to have been purposely confused and maligned by the White House in a rather alarming way.\r\nMy colleague from Delaware, Senator Coons, and I have asked for unanimous consent to bring to the floor S. 2644, the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, which passed on a bipartisan vote out of the Judiciary Committee in April. This request has received an objection.\r\nThis bill is designed to do one thing: protect the integrity of the Special Counsel's investigation, and spare it of any interference from the executive branch, including from those who may themselves be subjects of the investigation.\r\nMr. President, the findings of Mr. Mueller's investigation are of utmost importance to the security of this country, and to the well-being of our democratic institutions as well.\r\nIn America, as we all know, no one is above the law; our doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of our judicial system is what sets us apart from lawless countries; and presidents do not get to determine who and what gets investigated, and who and what does not.\r\nFor the record and for history, this Special Counsel was appointed to thoroughly investigate the attacks on our electoral system by elements of the Russian government during the lead-up to our 2016 general election.\r\nHow such an investigation could be a cause of controversy is beyond me  surely we all recognize that it is essential to understand this new form of foreign aggression so that we might better defend America against such attacks in the future, right?\r\nOne would think that there would be unanimous national resolve to get to the bottom of such aggression from an enemy foreign power, especially a foreign power with whom we spent much of the second half of the twentieth century locked in a global ideological struggle, especially when in their renewed aggression toward us they have targeted the institution that we have and they don't  free and fair elections.\r\nVladimir Putin knows that he could never defeat us on the battlefield. And he knows that the ideas at the center of his former empire were soulless and bankrupt.\r\nSo he wants to rob us of what makes the United States superior to his autocracy: His goal is to turn us against ourselves and in so doing try to destroy our democracy.\r\nThis is a matter of grave national importance. This is not a moment for our own national leadership to be weak or irresolute or compromised in any way.\r\nBut some of us in Washington have seemed strangely incurious about just what the Russian malefactors did to America in 2016 at the direction of Vladimir Putin.\r\nOur president has been so incurious that at times over the past two years he has been eager to accept Putin's denials at face value. In fact, our executive branch has generally been in such a state of denial about the attacks on our democracy that the White House has not been at all aggressive to defend against future attacks.\r\nI defy any of us to name a threat so grave, to which the government of the United States - that we, all of us, including this Senate - has responded so lackadaisically. Why is that?\r\nAnd why have we been so meek in the face of outrageous claims from the White House that this investigation is a witch hunt  claims that we know are false?\r\nBecause in spite of what the White House has said at various times since that election of 2016, our intelligence agencies  corroborated by allied intelligence agencies as well - possess a mountain of forensic data that establishes the fact of these incursions and establishes Russian responsibility beyond the shadow of a doubt.\r\nPresumably, this shameful counter-offensive by the White House has taken place because another part of Special Counsel Mueller's charge is to determine whether the Russians had any American cooperation in their effort to undermine the sanctity of our electoral process.\r\nNow, we have been told that the bill that Senator Coons and I have brought up is not necessary, as there have been no indications that the independence of Mr. Mueller's investigation is in jeopardy. That may have been an arguable position before last week. But it is not arguable anymore. \r\nWith the firing of the attorney general, and (in my view) the improper installation of an acting attorney general  who has not been subject to confirmation by this body  the president now has this investigation in his sites, and we all know it.\r\nMy purpose here is not to divine the president's motives in his seeming determination to sow doubt about and curtail Mr. Mueller's investigation. If, as the president says, there was no involvement by anyone in his campaign with the Russian malefactors, then this investigation, properly concluded, will discover and document that.\r\nBut Mr. Mueller has already brought dozens of indictments against Russian nationals. And it is in the national security interest of the United States to fully understand what they did to us in 2016. If the president doesn't understand that, we must. If he doesn't prioritize that, we will.\r\nWe  all of us - talk much here in this place in defense of all that we hold dear. Those are the words that we speak. All that we hold dear.\r\nBut what do we actually mean by those words? And do we really mean it when we say them? Speaking personally, I cannot think of values held more dear than the independence of our judicial system and an electoral system free of malign influence, either foreign or domestic.\r\nWhen I think of the things that we hold most dear, those things are right at the top of the list. It is our sworn oath to keep it that way.\r\nOne further note on this unanimous consent request: because it has failed today, Senator Coons and I are prepared to raise it again and again, until there is a vote on this vital bipartisan legislation on the Senate floor.\r\nAnd I have informed the Majority Leader that I will not vote to advance any of the 21 judicial nominees pending in the Judiciary Committee, or vote to confirm the 32 judges awaiting a confirmation vote on the floor, until S. 2644 is brought to the full Senate for a vote.\r\nThank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/op-ed-democrats-have-civility-problem-fix", "OP-ED: Democrats have a civility problem to fix", "2018-11-13", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rhetoric from the left drips with irony and devastates civil political discourse in this country. A week prior to the midterm election, I was eating lunch with a friend at a restaurant in my congressional district. Another friend arrived early for his lunch appointment and joined us in conversation while waiting for his associate. \nHis appointment arrived, and I was introduced as his friend's congressman. In this popular restaurant during the busy lunch hour, the new arrival began a loud tirade of profanity-laced invective toward me and the president. I tried to reason with him, but he was off the handle. I assured him that I was willing to meet with him when he was more rational and calm to discuss his concerns, which only provoked him to the limits of his vocabulary and even a brief exploration of my faith (also punctuated with profanity).\nThe irony is that his beef with the president, if I can take substance from his vulgar communication, is that the president is a bully and a boor. I think the irony is clear, though lost on my angry constituent. \nHe even rejected my offer to sit and talk another time when he was calmed down by saying that my support for the president was disqualifying. Now think about that. That attitude is dehumanizing. It suggests that if one supports the elected president of the United States, talking in a reasonable manner, in a civilized way is not necessary  and would actually be beneath him. And this attitude is the destructive nature of this irony in American politics today.\nIf this was the only time this conduct has occurred to me or other supporters of the president, we could write this off as a fellow who was simply having a bad day. However, we see this type of ironic behavior recurring daily.\nA writer at a Comcast-owned media outlet was content with the strategy of terrorizing Fox News host Tucker Carlson's family and vandalizing his home as a strategy. \nMaxine Waters incited criminal conduct by promoting harassment and intimidation of Republicans, conservatives, and Trump supporters. I offered up a motion to censure Ms. Waters because I believe that elected officials should be encouraging discourse not destruction in American politics.\nIt is ironic that those who champion diversity in fact hate diversity of political thought.\nThose who demand civility only need be civil if you agree with them, or, in the case of Hilary Clinton, are Democrats.\nThose who demand tolerance need only be tolerant to those with acceptable viewpoints.\nFor those on the left, toning down rhetoric means that conservatives should not express their cogent, reasoned, and deeply held views, while the left can castigate, hurl invective, and incite criminal behavior.\nIrony often makes great literature, but rarely good politics. Political discourse today is rotten. Some say it is the worst ever, but I remind them of a time when states threatened to, and actually seceded, when Abraham Lincoln was elected president. We've seen threats from some in a couple of states to secede because President Trump won the election.\nI suspect we will continue to see masked domestic terrorists commit crimes against conservatives and reprehensible conduct toward conservatives. How long will this be tolerated by leaders on the left? Will it go on in its destructive and ironic way until civility is a long-forgotten American virtue?\nThese are the destructive ironies in American politics today, and they must be corrected before the foundations of our Republic collapse.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/op-ed-republican-agenda-prevent-democrats-taking-wrecking-ball-america-s-progress", "OP-ED: A Republican agenda to prevent Democrats taking a wrecking ball to Americas progress", "2018-11-13", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Republicans in Congress will hold the majority for less than two months. We must do all we can to further the agenda we promised in 2016 and in 2018before the Democrats take a wrecking ball to the progress America has made in the last two years.\nWe need to repeal ObamaCare and implement the rational replacements that will protect all Americans and reduce health insurance premiums while providing better access to health care. Let's vote for a clean repeal of ObamaCare. That's what we promised. We must deliver on that promise.\n\nWe must fund and complete a border wall. Failure to secure the border is a major problem for this country and Republicans promised to fix it. We must deliver on that promise.\nWe must pass the heartbeat bill that provides protection to the unborn in a scientifically rational manner. We promised we would. We must deliver on that promise.\nAs we speed toward another budget deadline in December, we must make real steps toward balancing our national budget. We must deliver on that promise.\nWe have hinted at another tax package that will further help the middle class, small businesses, and make individual tax cuts permanent. We must deliver on that promise.\nThere are a host of additional bills that will move the Republican agenda forward. We must deliver on those promises, too.\nIt is a lame duck session for the House. I call on our leadership and my colleagues to work assiduously to complete the race and complete our legislative term on a high note by bringing these bills to the floor.\nWhen our constituents lament our health care systemthey are lamenting the fact that America is still operating under the rules and provisions of ObamaCare.\nWhen they complain that a wall and border security aren't in place, they are frustrated that Obama's policies remain.\nThey want the prolife agenda to move forward, they want a balanced national budget, and they want more personalized tax relief.\nWe can still fulfill these promises before the Democrats give us Speaker Pelosi, and committee leaders like Maxine Waters, Adam Schiff, and Jerry Nadler.\nNow is not the time to capitulate, it is the time to lead.\nWe should be reviewingand modifyingrules and processes that Democrats are likely to abuse when they have the keys to the congressional car.\nRepublicans can either lead by keeping our promises or we can curl up in the fetal position and lick our wounds while reflecting on what might have been.\nIt's time to push forward.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-statement-right-try-developments", "Congressman Biggs' Statement on Right to Try Developments", "2018-11-13", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. This month, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. announced he plans to strengthen the FDA's expanded access program, including efforts to implement Right to Try legislation that was signed into law earlier this year. Congressman Biggs, a leading sponsor of the Right to Try bill, released the following statement:\nI applaud Commissioner Gottlieb and the FDA for their diligence in swiftly implementing Right to Try. This policy will give hope to countless of patients facing terminal illnesses around the country. It was an honor to play a small role in passing this legislation earlier this year, and I look forward to seeing the FDA's continued work to give Americans the right to try.\nFor more information about the FDA's latest efforts to implement Right to Try,please visit this new website.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3563", "House Passes Congressman Gosar\u2019s Cottonwood Land Exchange Act", "2018-11-13", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul A. Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", "gosar", "https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) and Yavapai County Supervisor Randy Garrison released the following statements after HR 6146, the Cottonwood Land Exchange Act passed the House of Representatives by unanimous consent. The bill would require the U.S. Forest Service to exchange, at the request of Yavapai County, 80 acres of federal lands in the Coconino National Forest for 369 acres of lands owned by the county. The result is a usable additional 80 acres for Yavapai County versus the currently unusable 369 acres, giving Cornville a much larger and more functional park.\n\n\u201cRural communities in Arizona are being harmed as checkerboards of federal land are creating roadblocks and preventing growth,\u201d said Congressman Gosar. \u201cThe Cottonwood Land Exchange Act is common-sense legislation that will benefit local communities and families in Cornville by allowing for expansion of Windmill Park. This locally-driven solution is a win-win. I am grateful for everyone who played a role in making this victory happen, especially the Yavapai County Supervisors and the parents of Cornville.\u201d\n\nYavapai County Supervisor Randy Garrison said, \"This is a great step forward for our communities. Putting public land back into the hands of our local citizens will provide generations of enjoyment of these great resources which include a rich riparian corridor, ancient archeological sites while providing a direct access to our State wide trail system and further protects our endangered Arizona Cliff Rose. I want to personally thank Congressman Gosar and the entire Arizona Congressional Delegation on providing the leadership and support to move this Decades long process to completion. Our Citizens are extremely thankful for the hard work and dedication to see this day through.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nThe text of H.R. 6146 can be found HERE.\n\nA map of this land exchange can be found HERE.\n\nCosponsors of H.R. 6146 include: U.S. Representatives Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09), David Schweikert (AZ-06), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Tom O\u2019Halleran (AZ-01).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:10:16Z"], ["https://www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=182AB38D-417D-42E8-B16A-5DD0DB2E2212", "Flake, Booker, Coons Welcome Appointment of New Special Envoy for Great Lakes Region of Africa", "2018-11-13", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Jeff Flake", "F000444", "www.flake.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chris Coons (D-DE), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on the appointment of Dr. J. Peter Pham to be the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Flake and Booker are the top lawmakers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy.\r\nWe welcome today's appointment of a new Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Dr. J. Peter Pham. With elections next month in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United States must continue to engage at a high-level with all stakeholders to ensure the elections occur on time and are credible. We hope Dr. Pham will take up this important mission with urgency and work closely with regional leaders to make clear to the DRC government that delays and failure to take critical steps now to ensure the credibility of elections on December 23 will be met with condemnation and financial consequences from the international community.\r\nIn the broader Great Lakes, it will be critical for the Special Envoy to engage multilaterally to address the ongoing conflict, displacement, and public health emergencies that have affected millions of people throughout the region. It is vital that the Special Envoy focus attention and resources on the containment of the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has been exacerbated by the conflict. In order to end these cycles of violence and instability, our focus must be on strengthening institutions and civil society. Citizens of the Great Lakes region deserve the safety and stability that transparent and accountable government can bring as well as economic opportunities to improve their wellbeing. We applaud the efforts of our previous Special Envoys for the Great Lakes Region and look forward to working with Dr. Pham to continue to address these important issues.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2018/11/12/freedomworks-endorses-congressman-schweikert-policy-chair/", "FreedomWorks Endorses Congressman Schweikert For Policy Chair", "2018-11-12", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 On Friday, November 9, 2018, Congressman David Schweikert received an endorsement from FreedomWorks, an influential political think-tank specializing in free-markets and grassroot freedom. The article urges Republican Members of Congress to vote in support of Rep. Schweikert for Policy Chairmanship in the 116th Congress.\n\nIn the article, President of FreedomWorks Adam Brandon writes \u201chis approach to policy and innovation and his ability to inspire and motivate grassroots activists is critical at this moment to help Republicans better define themselves, adapt and take advantage of changing technology, and win elections in the future.\u201d\n\nAs Policy Chairman, Congressman Schweikert plans to lead by example, in demonstrating that Republicans are forward-thinking problem solvers.\n\nTo read the full article of endorsement:\n\nFreedomWorks Endorses Rep. David Schweikert for Republican Policy Chair Committee\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:10:16Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/freedomworks-endorses-congressman-schweikert-policy-chair", "FreedomWorks Endorses Congressman Schweikert For Policy Chair", "2018-11-12", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - On Friday, November 9, 2018, Congressman David Schweikert received an endorsement from FreedomWorks, an influential political think-tank specializing in free-markets and grassroot freedom. The article urges Republican Members of Congress to vote in support of Rep. Schweikert for Policy Chairmanship in the 116th Congress.\nIn the article, President of FreedomWorks Adam Brandon writes his approach to policy and innovation and his ability to inspire and motivate grassroots activists is critical at this moment to help Republicans better define themselves, adapt and take advantage of changing technology, and win elections in the future.\nAs Policy Chairman, Congressman Schweikert plans to lead by example, in demonstrating that Republicans are forward-thinking problem solvers.\nTo read the full article of endorsement:\nFreedomWorks Endorses Rep. David Schweikert for Republican Policy Chair Committee\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2678", "Rep. Grijalva Decries Trump's Intentions to Block Asylum Seekers at Southern Border", "2018-11-09", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "TUCSON, ARIZ.Yesterday, the Trump Administration announced a directive to effectively end asylum requests for certain asylum seekers. In response, Rep. Ral M. Grijalva issued the following statement:  The Trump administration will do anything in its power to attack immigrantseven if it means violating domestic and international law. Our laws are clear. No matter how or where an individual enters the country, U.S. law gives them the right toseek asylumthrough the credible fear process, and nothing short of an act of Congress can change that. U.S. policies should be based on compassion and humanitynot the prejudices of the president.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2679", "Rep. Grijalva Stands Up For Veterans, Leads Letter Urging CFPB Acting Director Mulvaney to Collect Needed Information to Make Sure VA Home Loan Program Better Serves Veterans", "2018-11-05", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "TUCSON, ARIZ.Recently, Rep. Ral M. Grijalva led a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Acting Director Mick Mulvaney urging him to improve information gathering processes to ensure better data on veterans under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Improved data collection will allow the Veterans Administration to better access and understand the barriers and issues that veterans face when buying a home and increase effectiveness of the VA Home Loan Program. The letter read, in part:  As you open rulemaking to reconsider regulations implementing HMDA, we strongly urge your consideration of the merits of adding a veteran's data collection point. With veteran homelessness, unemployment, and persistent wage stagnation across our country, the federal government must work to ensure that all veterans have a fair lending experience. Adding a veteran status to the HMDA will provide the information necessary to engage with veterans regarding the VA home loan process. We respectfully urge the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to act swiftly on this pressing issue.  Veterans advocates have long argued for improved data to better serve veterans through all stages of the home-buying process.  By improving the HDMA information gathering process, CFPB will assist the VA in identifying reasons why less than 10% of eligible veterans, take advantage of their VA Home Loan benefit, thus identify ways to increase usage of this wealth building tool to our veteran brothers and sisters, and further promoting additional opportunities for financial stability, said G-II Varrato II, National Legislative Chairman, VAREP. Furthermore the improved HMDA reporting of this group of mortgage applicants, turned mortgagees will help the VA develop enhanced mechanisms to dissuade and prevent predatory lending practices that harm our veteran community.  Read the full letter here.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/president-trump-stands-migrant-caravans-and-enforces-immigration-laws", "President Trump Stands Up to Migrant Caravans and Enforces Immigration Laws", "2018-11-01", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, President Trump outlined the Administration's response to the immigration crisis at the southern border. Going forward, no migrant who enters the United States illegally, rather than entering legally through a port of entry, will be eligible for asylum. Additionally, any alien apprehended after crossing the border illegally will be detained until their immigration status is adjudicated. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:\nI applaud President Trump's actions to fully enforce our nation's immigration laws and to show the world that illegal entry will not be tolerated or rewarded. The Obama Administration's use of catch-and-release policies, coupled with deficiencies in our asylum system, have allowed hundreds of thousands of aliens to gain legal entry to the United States even though they may not qualify. \nPresident Trump is well within the law to limit asylum to individuals entering the United States legally. However, it is time for Congress to get serious about securing the southern border and strengthening our immigration laws. I introduced the Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act, H.R.6657, to finish building a border wall and to provide much-needed assistance to our Border Patrol agents. I hope my colleagues in Congress will heed their oath to protect the United States and work with President Trump to close the loopholes in our immigration laws.\n###\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a first-term Representative from Arizona's Fifth Congressional District, representing parts of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek. Congressman Biggs is a member of the House Judiciary and Science, Space, and Technology committees, and is the chairman of the Environment Subcommittee. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3562", "Congressman Gosar Urges DOJ To Investigate Source of Caravans", "2018-11-01", "2018", "2018-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul A. Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", "gosar", "https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "\u201cFor years our immigration laws have been exploited. Right now, thousands of Central American migrants are traveling thousands of miles to reach our border. The level of organization, logistics and coordination being depicted in reports of the most recent caravan raises serious concerns. I urge the Department of Justice to investigate the matter to determine the actors responsible for this invasion.\u201d\n\nSee full letter HERE.\n\nAdditional cosigners include U.S. Representatives Andy Biggs, Rod Blum, Jeff Duncan, Bob Gibbs, Louie Gohmert, Andy Harris, M.D., Steve King, Ralph Norman, Scott Perry, Todd Rokita and Ted S. Yoho, D.V.M.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:10:16Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/reps-o-halleran-and-gallego-call-investigation-alleged-misconduct-az-parks", "Reps. OHalleran and Gallego Call for Investigation into Alleged Misconduct of AZ Parks Director Sue Black", "2018-11-01", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Reps. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) wrote a letter to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into whistleblower reports that Arizona State Parks and Trails Director Sue Black recklessly disregarded procedures designed to minimize damage to lands identified as containing protected cultural and historical sites.\nThe Congressmen also encouraged Gov. Ducey to request Black's immediate resignation so as to avoid further damage to Arizona and Native American antiquities.\nThe full letter can be found here.\nThe allegations of systemic disregard by Arizona State Parks leadership for state and federal laws that govern and protect our most sensitive and treasured lands are concerning for all Arizonans,said Rep. Tom O'Halleran.Retaliation and abuse of power have no place in any public office, and I join Ranking Member Gallego in urging Governor Ducey to conduct a robust investigation into all allegations. Our appointed officials are entrusted by the publicto uphold laws, not skirt them at the behest of private special interests.\nDirector Black's indifference to indigenous rights and history-preserving laws has no place in our State's government,said Rep. Ruben Gallego, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.We cannot allow state officials to jeopardize our shared Native American and Arizonan history.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rubengallego.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-gallego-and-o-halleran-call-investigation-alleged-misconduct-az", "Reps. Gallego and OHalleran Call for Investigation into Alleged Misconduct of AZ Parks Director Sue Black", "2018-11-01", "2018", "2018-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ruben Gallego", "G000574", "rubengallego.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Reps. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) and Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) wrote a letter to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey calling for an immediate and thorough investigation into whistleblower reports that Arizona State Parks and Trails Director Sue Black recklessly disregarded procedures designed to minimize damage to lands identified as containing protected cultural and historical sites.\nThe Congressmen also encouraged Gov. Ducey to request Black's immediate resignation so as to avoid further damage to Arizona and Native American antiquities.\nThe full letter can be found here.\nDirector Black's indifference to indigenous rights and history-preserving laws has no place in our State's government, said Rep. Ruben Gallego, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs. We cannot allow state officials to jeopardize our shared Native American and Arizonan history.\nThe allegations of systemic disregard by Arizona State Parks leadership for state and federal laws that govern and protect our most sensitive and treasured lands are concerning for all Arizonans, said Rep. Tom O'Halleran. Retaliation and abuse of power have no place in any public office, and I join Ranking Member Gallego in urging Governor Ducey to conduct a robust investigation into all allegations. Our appointed officials are entrusted by the publicto uphold laws, not skirt them at the behest of private special interests.\nOn behalf of the Member Tribes of the Inter Tribal Association of Arizona, we are concerned that sacred and protected sites may have been disturbed. We are alarmed at the information that is being brought forward and await responses from authorities in the State of Arizona and the affected Tribes as to how this will be investigated and handled according to the law. As the indigenous people of Arizona, cultural protection is at the forefront of our concerns. We stand ready to assist as needed, but we ask that state authorities take action immediately to investigate the state agencies that are involved and to find a pathway toward preventing any possible wrongdoings from reoccurring in the future.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mcsally.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mcsally-statement-troop-deployment-secure-southern-border", "McSally Statement on Troop Deployment to Secure the Southern Border", "2018-10-31", "2018", "2018-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "mcsally.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "TUCSON - Today, U.S. Representative Martha McSally issued the following statement after confirming troops deployed as part of Operation Faithful Patriot will be housed at military installations in Southern Arizona.\n\n\"I confirmed with military leaders that Davis-Monthan and Fort Huachuca will be hosting military assets deploying soon to help secure our border. Arizona's military installations are yet again demonstrating their value to our national security and safety. Border security is national security and I fully support the President's decision to deploy the military to protect our border and Arizona communities. We will welcome the troops into our community as we do all who serve and sacrifice for our nation.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-and-congressman-jeffries-introduce-justice-against-corruption", "Congressman Biggs and Congressman Jeffries Introduce the Justice Against Corruption on K Street (JACK) Act", "2018-10-30", "2018", "2018-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GILBERT, ARIZONA Today, Congressman Andy Biggs and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries introduced the bipartisan Justice Against Corruption on K Street(JACK) Act.The JACK Act would amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act to require lobbyists to disclose if they have ever been convicted of bribery, extortion, embezzlement, illegal kickbacks, tax evasion, or money laundering. Congressman Biggs, Congressman Jeffries, and Senator John Kennedy released the following statements:\nThis common-sense piece of legislation is another step forward in draining the Washington, D.C. swamp. There is no reason these individuals should be able to hide convictions for serious crimes like bribery, extortion, and embezzlement when lobbying Congress.Theseremissions foster corruption and the remedy is full transparency.I am pleased to work with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator John Kennedy, who introduced the bill in the Senate, and I look forward to the JACK Act becoming law.  Congressman Biggs\nWe must clean up Washington and make it work for the people. The JACK Act will boost transparency and accountability by requiring lobbyists to disclose any criminal convictions for bribery, money laundering, embezzlements or other related crimes. Corruption in this town is an American problem and we must come together in a bipartisan way to fix it.  Congressman Jeffries\nThis idea is simple: If you have been convicted of a felony like bribery, extortion, embezzlement or tax evasion, you should have to disclose that when registering to become a lobbyist.Corrupt lobbyists need to be brought into the sunlight, even if they're wearing $6,000 suits. Political leaders and businesses need to know the backgrounds of those who are trying to influence public policy.These corrupt lobbyists are the worst kind of swamp creatures and they need a one-way ticket out of Washington.  Senator Kennedy\nThe bill's title refers to Jack Abramoff, who was convicted of tax fraud and bribery. Jack re-registered as a federal lobbyist in 2017 and did not have to include his criminal history on his registration. The JACK Act will provide the public with much needed transparency and accountability over Congress' actions.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2674", "Rep. Grijalva Statement on Trump's Birthright Citizenship Comments: 'An Attempt to Influence the Midterm Elections'", "2018-10-30", "2018", "2018-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "TUCSON, ARIZ. Today, President Trump expressed interest in ending birthright citizenship. This follows weeks of immigration enforcement actions that included sending troops to the borderlands and a rumored executive order that would block individuals from Central America from seeking asylum at the southern border. In response, Rep. Grijalva issued the following statement:  For weeks, President Trump has stooped to incredible lows to create a culture of lies and fear to save the Republican Party in the upcoming elections. Whether militarizing border communities, closing our doors to asylum seekers, or violating the Constitution and ending birthright citizenship; Trump's baseless actions and fearmongering falsehoods put his own political goals ahead of American values and the law. Comments like these should be taken for what they are: attempts by an unhinged, uninformed president to stoke the fires of anti-immigrant sentiment and influence the midterm elections.  ###  Stay in touch with Rep. Grijalva:  NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramWebsite", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=2676", "Rep. Grijalva and Arizona Democratic Delegation Urge Arizona AG to Withdraw Lawsuit Attacking Protections for Pre-existing Conditions", "2018-10-30", "2018", "2018-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "TUCSON, ARIZ.Today, Rep. Ral M. Grijalva and Arizona's Democratic delegation in the House of Representatives sent a letter to Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich urging him to withdraw his support for a lawsuit that would dismantle the Affordable Care Actincluding consumer protections for the 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. The letter read in part:  President Trump recently tweeted, All Republicans support people with pre-existing conditions and if they don't they will after I speak to them. I am in total support.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, There's nobody in the Senate that I'm familiar with who is not in favor of coverage of preexisting conditions.' President Trump and Leader McConnell are clearly responding to the national sentiment that recognizes the importance of these protections. According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 75 percent of Americans say it is very important to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on a person's medical history.  Given that national Republican leadership is claiming to defend pre-existing conditions protections, we expect that you will immediately drop your lawsuit which, if successful, would nullify these protections.  The full letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ohalleran-leads-letter-calling-ag-brnovich-protect-arizonans-pre-existing", "O'Halleran Leads Letter Calling on AG Brnovich to Protect Arizonans with Pre-existing Conditions", "2018-10-30", "2018", "2018-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK  Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) sent a letter, signed by Reps. Ral Grijalva (AZ-03), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09), urging Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich to drop a lawsuit that would nullify, if successful, pre-existing condition protections for Arizonans.\nAccording to leaders in the Republican Party, no one wants to take away the health coverage of the 133 million Americans under 65 with pre-existing conditions, but unfortunately, the misguided lawsuit AG Brnovich has joined will do just that, said Rep. O'Halleran. More than 2.8 million Arizonans are at riskif this lawsuit is successful. No one believes our health care system is perfect, but scrapping protections for millions of Americans is not the right way to fix the problem. We must work on a bipartisan solution that stabilizes the health insurance market and reins in skyrocketing premiums for working families.\nAccording to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 75 percent of Americans say it is very important prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on a person's medical history. In Arizona, it isestimated nearly 3 million individuals live with pre-existing conditions.\nIn the letter, the lawmakers state, Allowing discrimination based on pre-existing conditions will be devastating to those living with chronic health challenges like asthma, diabetes, or cancer, and drive up costs forworking families, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Given that national Republican leadership is claiming to defend pre-existing conditions protections, will you drop your lawsuit which, if successful, would nullify these protections?\nRead the full letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sinema.house.gov/latest-news/sinema-calls-on-az-attorney-general-to-protect-preexisting-conditions2/", "Sinema Calls on AZ Attorney General to Protect Pre-Existing Conditions", "2018-10-30", "2018", "2018-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "sinema.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09) today called on Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich to drop a lawsuit that, if successful, would eliminate existing protections for Arizonans with pre-existing conditions. Sinema joined three other Arizona Congressmen to call for Brnovich to end the lawsuit and work to help maintain the critical patient protections.\r\n\r\n\tArizona families deserve access to quality, affordable health care, said Congresswoman Sinema. If Attorney General Brnovich's lawsuit is successful, the health care of more than 2.8 million Arizonans with pre-existing conditions will be at risk. Elected officials of both parties have professed their support for protections for pre-existing conditions, and now it's time to back up those words with action. I urge all my colleagues to put aside the partisan games and work together to stand up for health care that Arizona families count on.\r\n\r\n\tBrnovich brought the lawsuit in February, joining the attorneys general from 19 other states. The suit could, among other effects, eliminate key patient protections that prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage or charging dramatically more for Arizonans with pre-existing health conditions.\r\n\r\n\tAll members of the Arizona delegation were invited to join the request to Brnovich. Joining the letter were Congressmen Tom OHalleran (AZ-01), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), and Ruben Gallego (AZ-07).\r\n\r\n\tRead a copy of the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/whats-biggs-idea-podcast/stopping-caravan-jessica-vaughan", "Stopping the Caravan - with Jessica Vaughan", "2018-10-26", "2018", "2018-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Andy Biggs talks with Jessica Vaughan, the Director of Policy Studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, about the caravans of illegal immigrants marching towards America's southern border and what the U.S. response should be.https://soundcloud.com/user-171694389-215186623/stopping-the-caravan-with-jessica-vaughan", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2018/10/26/blockchain-caucus-leaders-commend-nist-standard-blockchain-technology/", "Blockchain Caucus Leaders Commend NIST Standard For Blockchain Technology", "2018-10-26", "2018", "2018-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "Chairs of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus, Reps. Schweikert, Emmer, and Foster, Commend NIST\u2019s Standard for Blockchain Technology\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, leaders of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus issued the following statements in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalizing their internal report on an Overview of Blockchain Technology.\n\n\u201cI commend NIST on all of their hard work in finalizing their Blockchain Overview, said Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06). I am happy to state we are using the NIST standard for the definition of blockchain in all three of our recently introduced blockchain related legislation. I look forward to continuing to work with NIST and my other colleagues on the Congressional Blockchain Caucus to further our understanding of blockchain technology to ensure that potential public policy does not hinder its development.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am pleased NIST began to tackle a clear definition of blockchain more than ten months ago. This final report presents welcome clarity and I appreciate the federal government taking a close look at understanding and supporting these innovative technologies. I am pleased to work with my colleagues and the Congressional Blockchain Caucus as we continue to ensure government avoids unnecessary roadblocks to development of these transformative technologies here in the United States,\u201d said Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06).\n\n\u201cThe work NIST is doing to establish standards will be crucial to maximizing interoperability and security while allowing blockchain technology to flourish. Opportunities for innovation are enhanced when everyone speaks the same technical language.\u201d said Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11).\n\nBackground:\n\nThis NIST Report on blockchain aims at helping further the public\u2019s understanding of this exciting technology at a pivotal time where further research and development is imperative. NIST has long been a leader in providing technical guidance in the field of emerging technology. The Congressional Blockchain Caucus had worked with NIST to use the same definition of blockchain that they have written in their report in recently introduced legislation.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-27T23:08:35Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 934, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "AZ", "p2": "2018"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2018", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 535, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2018&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 399, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2018&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2018", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 934, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AZ&year=2018", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2018", "results": [{"value": "AZ", "label": "AZ", "count": 934, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2018", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2018", "results": [{"value": "2018", "label": "2018", "count": 934, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2018-10-26,https~3A~2F~2Fschweikert~2Ehouse~2Egov~2F2018~2F10~2F26~2Fblockchain-caucus-leaders-commend-nist-standard-blockchain-technology~2F", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2018&_next=2018-10-26%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fschweikert~2Ehouse~2Egov~2F2018~2F10~2F26~2Fblockchain-caucus-leaders-commend-nist-standard-blockchain-technology~2F&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 259.14513785392046, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}