{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"AZ\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/blue-dogs-urge-biden-prioritize-bipartisan-legislation-pandemic-response", "Blue Dogs Urge Biden to Prioritize Bipartisan Legislation for Pandemic Response, Recovery", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden Tuesday requesting that he prioritize bipartisan legislation dealing with novel coronavirus pandemic response and recovery.\nThe letter highlighted the coalition's policy priorities for the 117th Congressional session, including fiscal responsibility, pandemic crisis relief, job creation, government reform and holding foreign adversaries accountable, according to the text of the letter.\nWe firmly believe that in order to make lasting progress, Congress must pursue bipartisan policies that can be implemented, while prioritizing those that pertain to the pandemic response and the economic recovery, the text of the letter read. The American people have sent a clear message: Democrats and Republicans must govern together responsibly.\nThe letter was signed by all members of Blue Dog Coalition, listed as follows: Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz., Lou Correa, D-Calif., Anthony Brindisi, D-N.Y., Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, Charlie Crist, D-Fla., Jared Golden, D-Maine, Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Brad Schneider, D-Ill., Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif.\nIn the letter, the coalition requests that any COVID-19 crisis relief measures signed by Biden contain stronger oversight measures to ensure taxpayer dollars are going to the right places. Further, the coalition noted the need for Congress to take measures to reform the redistricting process, strengthen inspectors general, increase federal transparency and incentivize Congress to pass budget and appropriations bills punctually.\nTo build upon already-passed coronavirus relief legislation, the coalition requested that any new bills pertaining to pandemic response include significant investments in health care, clean energy, education, job training, small businesses, manufacturing and infrastructure in order to sustain middle-class growth in the long-term.\nAdditionally, the Blue Dogs' letter addressed the unsustainable fiscal path taken to swiftly address pandemic relief during the 116th Congressional session. The coalition seeks to tackle the ballooning national debt by exclusively pursuing balanced, bipartisan measures in any upcoming relief measures.\nThe 117th Congress is going to be narrowly divided, with a slim Democratic majority in the House, and, at best, a narrow Senate majority, the text of the letter continued. Our nation faces major challenges as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and Americans are sick of Congress playing partisan games. Pursuing partisan legislation that cannot make it to your desk for your signature will not only hinder our nation's recovery, it will further feed into the divides in our country. Now more than ever we must demonstrate to the American people that cooler heads can prevail and that government can indeed work for all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/o-halleran-says-900-billion-relief-bill-will-benefit-tribal-lands", "OHalleran says $900 billion relief bill will benefit tribal lands", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  U.S. Rep. Tom O' Halleran voted to approve funding for the $900 billion coronavirus aid bill. The measure passed the House of Representatives and Senate, and President Donald Trump signed the bill Dec. 27.\nThe measure approves sending $600 to every adult and every child; a family of five would get $3,000. People would get less if an individual made $75,000 or more and couples would get less if they made $150,000 or more.\nThe bill would also help with funding for businesses and the unemployed.\nTrump had threatened to veto the bill and delayed signing it because he said he wanted $2,000 per person instead of $600.\nThe House of Representatives voted 327-85 and 359-53 in two separate bills for the coronavirus aid funding. The Senate combined the two and approved the measure by a 92-6 vote.\nO'Halleran, who represents Arizona Congressional District One, which includes the Navajo and Hopi nations, said that if Trump had vetoed the coronavirus funding effort that Congress had enough votes to override his veto.\nIt would not be constructive for the American people, he said.\nAccording to O'Halleran, Democratic leadership was originally attempting to get $2,000 per person in order to help businesses and individuals.\nThere are too many people out of work. The coronavirus had a profound impact on the economy, he said. We've had several hard months.\nO'Halleran said it has been difficult to get Republican leadership to vote on the Heroes Act when Democrats were proposing $2,000 per person.\nTrump had also threatened to shut down the government if he didn't get the increase in funding for the relief bill.\nO'Halleran said the Trump administration has made no indication until this point that they wanted more money per individual. He said the Republican leadership in Congress would not even agree to the $600 per person until they entered the negotiation talks.\nPeople have suffered longer because the Senate and the President wouldn't act, he said.\nU.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a recently elected Arizona Democrat, said in a news release that he voted for the measure.\nThis emergency relief will protect jobs and bolster our economy by helping those who need it most right now  individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, small businesses working to make payroll, and families behind on rent or unable to put food on the table, he said.\nKelly stated that Arizona's tribal communities have been hit especially hard by the pandemic and have battled the virus with too little help from the federal government.\nThrough work across the aisle with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and others, we were able to ensure that there is dedicated funding for tribal health care, education, broadband and other needed relief to continue fighting this pandemic, he said.\nIn addition to the $600 per person, the bill also extends the timeline for tribal governments to spend coronavirus relief funds, giving the tribes more time to plan how the funding will be spent.\nThe bill will also help with an agreement of water coming from Mexico to Utah to help with water issues.\nThe bill will also appropriate $3.4 billion more funds for the Indian Health Service, appropriate $1 billion for sanitation and water delivery to reservations, supply more funding for broadband on reservations to help students with their educational needs, add $300 per week for those on unemployment in addition to unemployment benefits people receive from the states, add 15 percent for people receiving funding for food and gives $75 billion for Bureau of Indian Education schools.\nO'Halleran said this funding is in addition to normal funding, not in replace of it.\nO'Halleran stated the final bills passed by Congress was a bipartisan agreement as the Democrats wanted $2,2 trillion in the overall spending bill, but settled for $1.3 trillion in the negotiations.\nHe said more funding for vaccines are needed as the government approved spending $400 million on the vaccines which is enough for 200 million of the 303 million people in America.\nAccording to O'Halleran, Pfizer offered the government another 100 million vaccines, but the Trump administration didn't want to purchase it.\nWe need vaccines faster. During an emergency you don't act based on what you hope happens. This was not the way to address it, he said.\nO'Halleran said he is concerned about the deficit, but the alternative to not funding the coronavirus relief package was worse, since it would leave people out on the street and hungry.\nIf the coronavirus goes up, we need to address it, he said.\nO'Halleran is particulary concerned about restaurants since 110,000 restaurants across the country have closed down.\nOne bill that would help enormously, he said, is an infrastructure bill that has been sitting in the Senate for several years. Infrastructure means fixing bridges and roads, and would create a lot of jobs. He said much of the proposed $1.5 trillion would go for projects on rural tribal lands.\nAdditionally, O'Halleran applauded the recent appointment of Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to Secretary of the Interior.\nO'Halleran serves on the agriculture and energy and commerce committees and will work with Haaland on Native American, forest service and national park issues.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/breaking-congress-approves-sinema-shaped-bipartisan-energy-package", "BREAKING: Congress Approves Sinema-Shaped Bipartisan Energy Package", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, December 23, 2020\n\n      \n            WASHINGTON  The bipartisan energy package passed by Congress includes Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema's energy priorities that create jobs and grow Arizona's economy. Sinema secured her bipartisan Solar Energy Research and Development Act, Launching Energy Advancement and Development through Innovations for Natural Gas (LEADING) Act, and her Integrated Energy Systems Act in the bipartisan package.  \n  \nThis important energy package includes our bills to expand job opportunities for Arizona. The bill's passage boosts Arizona's solar development and helps secure Arizona's energy future, said Sinema.  \n  \nSinema's Solar Energy Research and Development Act, included in the energy package, renews and modernizes the Solar Energy Technology Program, increasing resources to Arizona's government, universities, and companies to help develop solar technology. The package improves Arizona's competitiveness in solar manufacturing and deployment. Arizona ranks third in the nation in solar energy production, and is expected to add another 2,769 million watts of solar energy over the next five years.  \n  \nSinema's Launching Energy Advancement and Development through Innovations for Natural Gas Act (LEADING ACT), included in the package, incentivizes research and development of carbon capture technology for natural gas to ensure a reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy supply. The LEADING Act promotes the continued use of natural gas to keep energy bills low, maintain Arizona's energy security, and protect the environment.  \n  \nSinema's bipartisan Integrated Energy Systems Act, establishes a research and development program at the U.S. Department of Energy to analyze energy systems integration, including emission-reducing energy resources and nuclear hybrid energy systems.  \n\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/12/22/congressman-schweikert-announces-key-provisions-included-end-year/", "Congressman Schweikert Announces Key Provisions Included in End of Year Legislation", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "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 a number of critical provisions that he introduced or co-sponsored were included in the final end-of-year package being voted on by Congress.\n\n\u201cI am very pleased to see many pieces of legislation I introduced or co-sponsored included in the final package being voted on by the House of Representatives today. This package should have been approved months ago, as many of our small businesses are closing permanently and too many hard-working Americans are still out of work. I urge my colleagues to focus on targeted solutions in our appropriations measures to help support government operations and the American people.\u201d\n\nMultiple pieces of legislation authored and co-sponsored by Congressman Schweikert were incorporated into the legislative package including:\n\nH.R. 6821, bipartisan legislation to ensure businesses are allowed to deduct their expenses if they utilized a PPP. In August, Congressman Schweikert wrote a letter to Congressional leadership specifically requesting this fix be included in the end-of-year relief package.\n\nReducing Medical Expense Deduction Income Threshold, legislation to provide financial relief to American families facing the burden of high health care costs by permanently reducing the income threshold for the medical expense deduction to 7.5%.\n\nSupporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act, provides temporary additional funding to support older foster youth, kin caregivers, at-risk families, state courts, adoptive families, and foster care prevention services, and allows older youth to remain in foster care during the pandemic.\n\nH.R. 5405 Southwest Tourism Expansion Act, Expansion of Arizona and New Mexico Border Zone Travel. Under current policy, eligible Mexican nationals can travel in certain areas of Arizona and New Mexico for up to 30 days. With CBP increasing security due to the recurrent vetting of travelers, this policy focuses on efficiencies and has shown both a decrease in costs to CBP and an increase in revenue to local economies in those states as a result of additional opportunities for freedom of movement.\n\nH.R. 3607, the Fossil Energy Research and Development Act, which reauthorizes and expands Department of Energy (DOE) research, development, and demonstration programs for fossil energy programs including carbon capture and storage technologies, methane leak detection and mitigation, and further research into carbon dioxide removal technologies;\n\nH.R 1166, the Utilizing Significant Emissions with Innovative Technologies (USE IT) Act, supports carbon utilization and direct air capture research, and turn captured carbon dioxide into a beneficial resource and economic opportunity while reducing emissions. The bill would also support federal, state, and non-governmental collaboration in the construction and development of carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) facilities and carbon dioxide (CO2) pipelines.\n\nCarbon Removal Program, to examine the methods, technologies, and strategies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a large scale. Additionally, it establishes a Carbon Dioxide Removal Task Force to advise the Secretary of Energy on matters pertaining to carbon dioxide removal, identify barriers to the advancement of carbon dioxide removal projects, and tools for advancing and deploying such projects;\n\nH.R. 5905, Joint Long-Term Storage Act, which directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to run pilot projects of long-duration energy storage technologies. Additionally, it requires the DOE and Department of Defense (DOD) to work together on joint long-term energy demonstration projects, which will increase cooperation while using taxpayer dollars more efficiently and accelerate commercial deployment of long-duration energy storage technologies to increase energy resilience and security; and\n\nStudy on Blue Hydrogen technology, to look at the benefits of blue hydrogen technology and how that can further enhance the deployment and adoption of carbon capture and storage.\n\nTo read the full text of the end-of-year package, click HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-ensures-lower-santa-cruz-river-basin-flood-control-plan-completion", "Sinema Ensures Lower Santa Cruz River Basin Flood Control Plan Completion", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Congressionally-approved bipartisan water bill, Sinema secured a provision directing the Army Corps to finish its flood control plan for the Lower Santa Cruz river basin in Pinal County\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured a provision in the Congressionally-approved bipartisan Water Resources Development Act that directs the Army Corps of Engineers to complete its flood control study and plan for the Lower Santa Cruz river basin in Pinal County.  \n  \nA flood control plan for the Lower Santa Cruz river basin will protect Arizona families, farmers, tribal communities, and small business owners from dangerous and costly floors and help Pinal County's economy continue to grow, said Sinema.  \n  \nFollowing Kyrsten's urging, the Water Resources Development Act directs the Army Corps of Engineers to complete its flood control study and plan for the Lower Santa Cruz river basin in Pinal County. This river basin currently has no flood control system in place, leaving the City of Maricopa, the Gila River Indian Community, and the surrounding farmland at risk of severe flooding. The Army Corps is currently working with stakeholders to finalize a flood control plan, and the Sinema's provision encourages Army Corps to move expeditiously to finalize its flood control plan.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-legislation-strengthens-arizonas-water-supply-through-removal-salt-cedars", "Sinema Legislation Strengthens Arizona\u2019s Water Supply Through Removal of Salt Cedars", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema secured provisions removing invasive salt cedar trees from the Gila River in Congressionally-approved Water Resources Development Act\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured a provision in the Congressionally-approved Water Resources Development Act that strengthens Arizona's water supplies and addresses drought conditions through the removal of invasive salt cedars.  \n  \nArizona's future depends on securing our water supply. Eradicating salt cedars will restore our waterways and ensure Arizona has the resources to address drought conditions so we can continue expanding opportunities across our state, said Sinema.  \n  \nThe proliferation of Salt Cedars in the Gila River has turned our oasis in the desert to a wildfire and flood hazard. Meanwhile the Salt Cedars have consumed millions of acre feet of water and crowded out native vegetation to the point where large sections of the Gila River are now monocultures that can't support native wildlife. We are very grateful to Senator Sinema for introducing the Drought Relief Through Innovative Projects (DRIP) Act and its inclusion in the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA). This legislation will serve Buckeye, the state of Arizona and the Southwest United States well. Thank you Senator Sinema for your time and effort, said City of Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn.  \n  \nFor decades, invasive salt cedar trees have depleted Arizona's water resources, crowded out native plants, increased flood risks, and created a greater fire risk for Arizona communities, especially in Buckeye and other communities along the Gila River. Sinema ensured the bipartisan, Congressionally-approved Water Resources Development Act authorizes the US Fish and Wildlife Service to spend up to $10 million each year to remove and replace invasive plant species, prioritizing salt cedars, in riparian areas in the Lower Colorado River Basin. This language is inspired by Kyrsten's DRIP Act, which authorizes a similar $10 million pilot program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-secures-expedited-completion-rio-de-flag-flood-control-project-bipartisan-water-bill", "Sinema Secures Expedited Completion of Rio de Flag Flood Control Project in Bipartisan Water Bill", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema-backed Water Resources Development Act passed Congress with bipartisan support\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured a provision in the Congressionally passed Water Resources Development Act that directs the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of the Rio de Flag flood control project.  \n  \nCompletion of the Rio de Flag flood control project will protect the Flagstaff community from catastrophic floods, spur job growth, and encourage infrastructure development. I'll continue working with local leaders in Flagstaff and with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure the project's completion, said Sinema.\n\nBecause of Senator Sinema's steadfast and consistent support for expediting completion of the Rio de Flag flood control project, it will protect over half of the City's residents from a catastrophic flood when it is completed in the next several years. We can't thank Senator Sinema enough for her efforts to secure these needed funds, said Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans.\n\nSenator Sinema has long been a friend of Coconino County and northern Arizona. As such, she knows that catastrophic flood is the number one public safety risk in the County. Expedited completion of the Rio de Flag project will help protect a majority of residents in the Flagstaff area while protecting the Southside neighborhood from historic annual flooding and economic disadvantage, said Coconino County Board Chair Liz Archuleta.  \n  \nThe Rio de Flag flood control project will mitigate potential flood damage caused by heavy rain or snowmelt that flows into the Rio de Flag. Following a request from Sinema, the Army Corps of Engineers announced it would provide $52 million for the project's completion. The Sinema-backed Water Resources Development Act further supports the project by directing Army Corps to expedite the completion of the project.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-secures-tonto-creek-flood-mitigation-bipartisan-water-resources-bill", "Sinema Secures Tonto Creek Flood Mitigation in Bipartisan Water Resources Bill", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema-backed Water Resources Development Act includes first step toward federal funding of the projects\nlegislation passed Congress and heads to President's desk to be signed into law\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured a Tonto Creek flood mitigation measure in the Water Resources Development Act, which passed Congress with bipartisan support and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.  \n  \nFlood mitigation along Tonto Creek will protect the health and safety of Arizona families. I'll keep working across the aisle and with local stakeholders to make Tonto Creek safer for Arizonans, said Sinema.  \n  \nFollowing Kyrsten's urging in February, the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act directs the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management in Tonto Creek, AZ. This is the first step to securing Army Corps funding to help either construct a Tonto Creek bridge, or take other steps to mitigate the flooding risk along Tonto Creek.  \n  \nIn May of this year, Sinema wrote Department of Transportation Secretary Chao in support of the Gila County's application of the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant to fund the Tonto Creek Bridge project. In her letter, Sinema highlighted the safety concerns that limit access to schools, jobs, and health care facilities in the Tonto Basin community. Sinema added that the construction of the bridge would also lead to economic growth and encourage private investment on the non-federal land in Gila County.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-strengthens-arizonas-water-security-through-bipartisan-water-resources-bill", "Sinema Strengthens Arizona\u2019s Water Security Through Bipartisan Water Resources Bill", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema secured Arizona priorities in the Water Resources Development Act\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured a number of Arizona priorities in the Water Resources Development Act, which passed Congress with bipartisan support and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law.  \n  \nArizona's future depends on protecting and strengthening our water security. Working across the aisle and with local Arizona stakeholders, I'm proud to have secured critical priorities in this legislation that will fuel jobs, restore our waterways, address drought conditions, and expand opportunity across our state, said Sinema.   \n  \nSinema secured the following priorities for Arizona in the Water Resources Development Act:  \n  \nFlood Mitigation along Tonto Creek: Following Kyrsten's urging in February, the bill directs the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management in Tonto Creek, AZ. This is the first step to securing Army Corps funding to help either construct a Tonto Creek bridge, or take other steps to mitigate the flooding risk along Tonto Creek.  \n  \nRio de Flag Completion: Earlier this year, Kyrsten secured funding for the Rio de Flag project, and the Water Resources Development Act further supports the project by directing Army Corps to expedite the completion of the project.  \n  \nRemoval of Salt Cedars to Improve Arizona's Water Supply: For decades, invasive salt cedar trees have depleted Arizona's precious water resources, crowded out native plants, increased flood risks, and created a greater fire risk for Arizona communities, especially in Buckeye and other communities along the Gila River. The bill authorizes the US Fish and Wildlife Service to spend up to $10 million each year to remove and replace invasive plant species, prioritizing salt cedars, in riparian areas in the Lower Colorado River Basin. This language is inspired by Kyrsten's DRIP Act, which authorizes a similar $10 million pilot program.  \n  \nConstruction of the Little Colorado River Levee Project: Following Kyrsten's urging, the bill authorizes the Army Corps to begin construction on the Winslow Levee project outside the City of Winslow in Navajo County. Congressional authorization is needed before work can begin on this project. This project will significantly reduce the risk of flooding in Winslow, and protect the BNSF Southern Transcon rail line (which is one of the busiest rail lines in the country).  \n  \nCompletion of Flood Control Study for Lower Santa Cruz River: Following Kyrsten's urging, the bill directs the Army Corps to expedite the completion of its flood control study for the Lower Santa Cruz river basin in Pinal County. This river basin currently has no flood control system in place, leaving the City of Maricopa, the Gila River Indian Community, and the surrounding farmland at risk of severe flooding. Army Corps is currently working with stakeholders to finalize a flood control plan, and the bill encourages Army Corps to move expeditiously to finalize its flood control plan.   \n  \nWater control Manual Update for Roosevelt Dam: Sinema secured language allowing SRP to pay the Army Corps to improve the manual for Roosevelt Dam and save more water for cities in the Phoenix area.  \n  \nRural Water Projects: Sinema secured inclusion of Arizona and $150 million annually for Arizona in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program for rural water projects.  \n  \nSinema has long worked to advance commonsense solutions to secure Arizona's water future. Last year, Sinema introduced the DRIP Act, which equips communities in Arizona, and across the country, to address drought conditions and strengthen water supplies. Additionally, Sinema helped get the Drought Contingency Plan across the finish line in the Senate. Sinema also cosponsored the bipartisan Drought Resiliency and Water Supply Infrastructure Act, which allows Arizona cities, tribes, and water providers access to critical funding to secure the state's water future.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/winslow-levee-project-construction-secured-sinema-bipartisan-water-resources-bill", "Winslow Levee Project Construction Secured by Sinema in Bipartisan Water Resources Bill", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tuesday, December 22, 2020\n\n      \n            WASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured a provision in the Congressionally-approved bipartisan Water Resources Development Act that authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction on the Winslow Levee Project to reduce the risk of flooding in Winslow.  \n  \nWorking across the aisle and with local Arizona stakeholders, we secured approval so the Army Corps can begin construction on the Winslow Levee to keep Arizonans safe from floods, said Sinema.  \n  \nFollowing Kyrsten's urging, the Water Resources Development Act authorizes the Army Corps to begin construction on the Winslow Levee project outside the City of Winslow in Navajo County. This project will significantly reduce the risk of flooding in Winslow, and protect the BNSF Southern Transcon rail line--one of the busiest rail lines in the country.\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/12/stanton-covid-19-relief-package-american-people-expected-more", "Stanton on COVID-19 Relief Package: \u2018The American People Expected More\u2019", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Greg Stanton today issued the following statement ahead of a vote on the final stimulus agreement, which he will support. The final agreement on the $900 billion package was reached last night, and the House and Senate are set to vote on it today.\n\n\u201cIt has been nearly nine months since the Senate has been willing to pass COVID relief, and frankly, the American people expected more than what this package delivered.\n\nThere is much that will provide a strong boost to Arizona\u2019s economy: essential funds for testing and delivering the vaccine; reviving the Paycheck Protection Program; and supporting small businesses previously left behind\u2014including more independent businesses and live music venues.\n\nBut for many who need help the most, what they got today is just not enough. A $600 stimulus check and unemployment benefits at $300 a week is not nothing\u2014but for a lot of people struggling to make ends meet, it sure feels that way. That the Senate only agreed to such a meager relief after issuing an ultimatum to include a corporate meal tax write-off is an egregious misplacement of priorities that shocks the conscience.\n\nWe can\u2019t allow this to be the last relief package for the American people. We need to immediately get to work on another plan to deliver additional much-needed support to workers and families first thing in January.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-covid-19-relief-package-american-people-expected-more", "Stanton on COVID-19 Relief Package: \u2018The American People Expected More\u2019", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Greg Stanton today issued the following statement ahead of a vote on the final stimulus agreement, which he will support. The final agreement on the $900 billion package was reached last night, and the House and Senate are set to vote on it today.\nIt has been nearly nine months since the Senate has been willing to pass COVID relief, and frankly, the American people expected more than what this package delivered.\nThere is much that will provide a strong boost to Arizona's economy: essential funds for testing and delivering the vaccine; reviving the Paycheck Protection Program; and supporting small businesses previously left behindincluding more independent businesses and live music venues.\nBut for many who need help the most, what they got today is just not enough. A $600 stimulus check and unemployment benefits at $300 a week is not nothingbut for a lot of people struggling to make ends meet, it sure feels that way. That the Senate only agreed to such a meager relief after issuing an ultimatum to include a corporate meal tax write-off is an egregious misplacement of priorities that shocks the conscience.\nWe can't allow this to be the last relief package for the American people. We need to immediately get to work on another plan to deliver additional much-needed support to workers and families first thing in January.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/key-arizona-health-security-and-education-priorities-included-sinema-end-year-appropriations-bills", "Key Arizona Health, Security, and Education Priorities Included by Sinema in End-Of-Year Appropriations Bills", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema secures resources making health care more affordable and accessible, bipartisan border security initiatives, support for Arizona's military installations, education funding, and investment in Arizona's infrastructure in annual spending bills\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema secured a number of Arizona priorities in the end-of-year appropriations bills that passed the Senate tonight.  \n  \nBuilding bipartisan coalitions and staying focused on getting things done for Arizonans allowed us to make health care more affordable and accessible, strengthen our border security, support our servicemembers, expand job opportunities, and ensure everyday Arizona families have the resources they need to get ahead, said Sinema.  \n  \nAmidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Sinema ensured critical emergency health care preparations and funding were included in this year's appropriations bills. Sinema helped secure $705 million for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement to ensure Arizona is ready in a public health emergency like COVID-19. Sinema also helped secure $300 million in hospital preparedness funding to ensure rural and local health care centers across Arizona have the resources needed to care for Arizonans and save lives.  \n  \nSinema secured the passage of key border security proposals that will help secure Arizona's borders, including her bipartisan Southwest Border Security Technology Improvement Act. Sinema's bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess technology gaps along the southwest border and determine how it could address them. The package also includes language that echoes her bipartisan CBP Hiring and Retention Innovation Act to improve the hiring and retention of Customs and Border Protection agents and officers.  \n  \nSinema also successfully secured critical funding for Yuma Proving Ground, Fort Huachuca, and the Arizona National Guard in Tucson to ensure Arizona servicemembers have the resources needed to keep America safe and secure.  \n  \nAdditionally, Sinema secured a number of priorities strengthening Arizona's water security, fueling jobs, and expanding opportunity through the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act, and she included in the Energy Act section of the bill her Solar Energy Research and Development Act, increasing resources to Arizona's government, universities, and companies to help develop solar technology.  \n  \nThanks to Sinema's leadership, the Impact Aid Program, which ensures schools on federal, military, and tribal lands are equipped to provide Arizona students with a quality education, received an increase of $20 million.  \n  \nSinema also secured the following priorities:  \n  \nSecuring Arizona's Border:\n \n\tThe package includes her bipartisan Southwest Border Security Technology Improvement Act. Sinema's bills requires DHS to identify border security technology gaps and develop a strategy to meet them. This will focus important attention on America's ports of entry and ensure technology is deployed where it is most needed, keeping Arizona's communities safe. \n\tSinema secured language mirroring her CBP Hiring and Retention Innovation Act. Sinema's language directs Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to use more analysis and flexibility when evaluating hiring and staffing needs. The language ensures CBP is recruiting and retaining quality employees, especially in rural areas.\n\tSinema secured a provision in the Fiscal Year 2021 Homeland Security spending bill requiring the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to conduct an analysis of language access programs within DHS, helping ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely.\n \nEnsuring Arizona Veterans Receive the Care and Benefits They've Earned:\n \n\tSinema secured $10.3 billion for mental health programs for veterans, including $1.9 billion for suicide prevention and treatment programs.\n\tSinema secured $32 million for Child Development Centers for Arizona veterans.\n\tSinema secured language supporting her Sgt. Daniel Somers Network of Support legislation.\n\t\n\t\tSpecifically, Sinema ensured cross-collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Labor and partnership with community non-profit programs, including faith-based programs, that provide wraparound employment and counseling services to veterans and their families, including high-risk veterans, to ensure they have a successful transition to civilian life. Sinema secured language ensuring the Department of Veterans Affairs provides an update on these efforts to Congress.\n\t\n\t\n\tSinema secured $300 million for the VA Office of Rural Health and Rural Health Initiative, helping ensure veterans across rural Arizona have access to health services.\n \nSupporting Arizona's Military Community:\n \n\tSinema secured resources for Arizona's military community including:\n\t\n\t\t$37.5 million for Tactical Electronic Warfare Systems used at Fort Huachuca. The resources secured will help Army units conduct advanced intelligence collection and electronic warfare.\n\t\t$850 million for KC-135 tanker aircraft. The KC-135 Stratotanker is a proven and crucial airframe for aerial refueling used by the Arizona National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing located at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. Their mission is important to support training at Luke AFB, DM AFB, MCAS Yuma, and other units across the Southwestern United States.\n\t\t$950 million for Crashworthy, Ballistically Tolerant Fuel Systems, ensuring Arizona servicemembers' aircrafts are safe and secure.\n\t\tFunding for the remanufacture of the AH-64E, which is the most up-to-date model of the Army's Apache attack helicopter.\n\t\n\t\n\tSinema secured nearly $65 million for Yuma Proving Ground including:\n\t\n\t\t$14 million for military construction of a Ready Building the Military Free Fall School at Yuma Proving Ground. The Ready Building will consist of twelve 20-person sleeping bays, multi-purpose/dining area, day rooms, latrines, locker rooms and showers, laundry room, reception area, student luggage storage room, covered training area, and building support space. It will provide permanent facilities and infrastructure for living and sleeping areas for an average daily load of 202 students attending the Military Free Fall School at Yuma Proving Ground.\n\t\t$49.5 million for military construction of a Special Operations Forces Hangar at Yuma Proving Ground.\n\t\n\t\n\tSinema secured $18.1 million in military construction for a Tucson National Guard Readiness Center. The construction of a 86,759 square foot National Guard Readiness Center will support training, administrative, and logistical requirements for the Arizona Air National Guard. This facility will be built on state land and designed to meet mission requirements for the 222 Transportation Company.\n\tSinema secured $33.7 million for military construction on the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Laboratory Building at Fort Huachuca, which will consolidate the Joint Interoperability Test Command (JTIC) operations, which are currently located in temporary trailers, into a modern facility at Fort Huachuca. JITC testbed facility will provide global testing capabilities, which extends to the entire spectrum of DoD, Federal government, private industry, and allies in support of commands and control, intelligence and defense reform initiative.\n\tSinema secured $318 million in funding for the SM-3 II-A missile program, which will allow production of the most advanced U.S. missile defense interceptor to continue at Tucson's Raytheon Technologies.\n \nMaking Health Care More Accessible and Affordable for Arizona Families:\n \n\tThe bill includes a total of $7.9 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen public health efforts and infectious diseases (including coronavirus and influenza). Sinema secured $695 million for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program, which invests in Arizona to ensure state and local health departments have the resources to prepare for and respond to health emergencies.\n\tSinema supported $2.8 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to support vaccine development, influenza preparedness, and to replenish the Strategic National Stockpile.\n\tThe bill includes $7.5 billion for the Health Resources and Services Administration, which supports $1.7 billion for community health centers and $975 million to improve maternal and child health programs.\n\tSinema supported $42.9 billion for the National Institutes of Health, and more than $3 billion to support Alzheimer's and related dementia research. Sinema also supported additional medical research on diseases of significant impact to service members and their families, including $150 million for breast cancer research, $175 million for traumatic brain injury, $115 for overall cancer research, and $110 million for prostate cancer research.\n\tSinema supported $2.3 billion for programs supporting older Americans for nutrition and family caregiver programs, home and community-based services, and strategies to help older Americans and people with disabilities live independently in their communities.\n \nCreating Opportunities for Arizonans:\n \n\tSinema secured reforms that simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), reducing the burdensome, 108-question form to just 36 questions. These commonsense changes make it easier for Arizona students and families to apply for federal financial aid and access the benefits and opportunities they deserve.\n\tSinema delivered $7 million in funding for the Open Textbook Pilot, a program to reduce textbook costs for Arizona students by promoting the use of free textbooks and open educational resources. Arizona State University is a pilot participant. Lowering textbook costs eases financial burdens on Arizona students and their families.\n\tSinema secured $1.5 billion in Impact Aid funding, ensuring Arizona schools on federal, military, and tribal lands are equipped to provide Arizona students with a quality education. Arizona is the second largest Impact Aid recipient in the country, serving 76 Arizona public district and charter schools with 34,131 students who live on Native American or federal lands, whose parents serve in the military or work on federal lands, or who live in low-rent housing.\n\tSinema secured $10.7 billion to help Head Start programs continue providing Arizonans high-quality early childhood education.\n\tSinema secured $29 million for the Ready-To-Learn Television program, helping increase Arizona student academic achievement through the development and distribution of educational video programming for preschool and elementary school children and their parents, caregivers, and teachers.\n\tSinema secured $450 million in Charter School Grants.\n\tSinema secured $1 billion in funding for the TRIO program, providing additional academic support to Arizona high school students, college students, and veterans.\n\tSinema secured $855 million for affordable housing for Arizona seniors.\n\tSinema secured $3.5 billion for Community Development Block Grants, which provided $160 million to Arizona communities in 2020.\n\tSinema secured $1.35 billion for affordable housing for Arizonans through the HOME Investment Partnership Program.\n\tSinema secured $114 billion in food assistance, $25 billion for child nutrition programs, $325 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to support seniors, and $6 billion for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.\n\tSinema secured $3.75 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help Arizona families pay their electric bills.\n \nEnsuring Resources for Tribal Communities in Arizona:\n \n\tSecured funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities, supporting Dine College, San Carlos Apache College, and Tohono O'odham Community College in Arizona.\n\tEnsured the Bureau of Indian Affairs will fully explain its plans to replace tribal public safety and justice facilities for the Hopi Tribe, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe.\n\tSinema helped eliminate the funding cap on the amount that Indian Health Services can spend to demolish health care facilities, ensuring the San Carlos Apache Tribe can demolish an old IHS building on tribal land.\n\tSinema secured $4 million for the EPA to continue cleaning up the Animas River following the Gold King Mine Spill, which affected Navajo Nation communities in Arizona.\n\tSinema secured the requirement that DHS must develop a training program for staff who interact with tribal members and governments.\n\tSinema secured funding for Indian Health Services to assist in addressing the lack of running water for many communities on tribal reservations.\n \nExpanding Arizona's Space and Aviation Research and Innovation:\n \n\tSinema secured full funding for the University of Arizona's Near Earth Object Surveillance Mission, which will bring millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs to southern Arizona, and further solidifies Arizona as one of the leading centers for space research in the country.\n\tSinema secured full funding for Arizona State University's Psyche Mission, which will build and launch a probe to Psyche, a giant metal asteroid in the asteroid belt. This is the first NASA Discovery class mission fully led by a University, and helps solidify ASU's leading role in space innovation.\n\tSinema secured $172.8 million for the FAA Contract Tower Program, which will help ensure flight path safety for Arizona's seven Contract Towers.\n\tSinema secured $5 million in Aviation Workforce Development Programs, ensuring the aviation industry is staffed with qualified aviation personnel.\n\tSinema secured $40 million for the FAA's NEXCOM program, which improves flight safety by improving Air Traffic Control radio technology.\n \nSecuring Arizona's Water and Energy Future:\n \n\tSinema ensured the Bureau of Reclamation can transfer up to $5.5 million to the Lower Colorado River Basin Development Fund, funding a number of water projects and tribal settlements in Arizona.\n\tSinema secured $30 million for infrastructure projects in areas with prolonged drought, including well construction projects authorized by the Drought Contingency Plan.\n\tSinema ensured the Army Corps will prioritize funding for projects removing non-native salt cedars and replacing them with native plants, helping strengthen Arizona's water supply.\n\tSinema secured flood mitigation measures along Tonto Creek, the Lower Santa Cruz River, and the Little Colorado River.\n\tSinema secured continued support from the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the Rio de Flag project. \n\tSinema secured the inclusion of her Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Actlegislation that settles the Navajo Nation's water claim in Utah.\n\tSinema secured inclusion of Arizona and $150 million annually for Arizona in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers program for rural water projects.\n\tSinema secured a mechanism and funding for Yuma water users to improve water infrastructure to create jobs and support the agriculture economy. \n\tSinema secured language allowing SRP to pay the Army Corps to improve the manual for Roosevelt Dam and save more water for cities in the Phoenix area.\n\tSinema secured her Solar Energy Research and Development Act, which renews and modernizes the Solar Energy Technology Program, increasing resources to Arizona's government, universities, and companies to help develop solar technology. The bill improves Arizona's competitiveness in solar manufacturing and deployment. Arizona ranks third in the nation in solar energy production, and is expected to add another 2,769 million watts of solar energy over the next five years.\n\tSinema also secured her bipartisan Launching Energy Advancement and Development through Innovations for Natural Gas Act (LEADING ACT), which incentivizes research and development of carbon capture technology for natural gas to ensure a reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound energy supply. The LEADING Act promotes the continued use of natural gas to keep energy bills low, maintain Arizona's energy security, and protect the environment.\n\tSinema secured the passage of her bipartisan Integrated Energy Systems Act, which establishes a research and development program at the U.S. Department of Energy to analyze energy systems integration, including emission-reducing energy resources and nuclear hybrid energy systems.\n \nStrengthening Arizona's Infrastructure:\n \n\tSinema secured $49 million for the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) to repair the international sewage line between Nogales, Mexico and Nogales, Arizona. The bill also included language ensuring border security needs will continue to be a key part of this initiative.\n\tSinema secured $1 billion for national infrastructure programs, including BUILD grants which help fund infrastructure projects across Arizona.\n\tSinema secured $562 million for transit infrastructure funding, helping Arizona cities improve public transit systems.\n\tSinema secured the inclusion of her Airport Infrastructure Readiness (AIR) Act to provide certainty for Arizona airports about 2021 funding levels.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-backed-coronavirus-response-package-providing-relief-arizona-advances", "Sinema-Backed Coronavirus Response Package Providing Relief for Arizona Advances", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Package includes Sinema's priorities boosting resources for Arizona hospitals and health care workers; immediate assistance for Arizona families, small businesses, and workers; investment in broadband for Arizona students\nRelief legislation was shaped by Sinema and her colleagues' bipartisan negotiations\nWASHINGTON  A coronavirus response bill supported by Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema, which includes investments in Arizona's hospitals and health care workers and immediate economic assistance for Arizona families, workers, and small businesses, is advancing toward a final vote. The package was shaped in part by bipartisan negotiations by Sinema and a group of her Senate colleagues.  \n\nToday's bipartisan agreement is a necessary next step providing critical support to Arizona families, employers, and front line health workersand more must be done. As I've said for months, the only way to stop the spread of the coronavirus and save Arizona jobs is through bipartisan cooperation. I'll continue working closely with Arizona communities and my colleagues in the Senate to secure additional relief and set Arizona up for a full economic recovery, said Sinema.  \n  \nOver the past few weeks, Sinema worked around-the-clock with a group of bipartisan Senators led by Senators Joe Manchin and Susan Collins to find areas of compromise on a coronavirus relief bill, keeping pressure on Congressional leaders to reach a deal. The Senators' bipartisan proposal was an important step to break through partisan gridlock and deliver critical support to Arizonans. Sinema was also among a group of bipartisan negotiators who reached a final coronavirus relief compromise earlier this week.  \n  \nToday's coronavirus relief package includes the following priorities Sinema helped secure:  \n  \nIncreased Testing, PPE, and Vaccine Funding for Front Line Health Care Workers  \nThe bipartisan bill includes $69 billion in health funding overall for vaccines, public health, and support for health care workers, with most funds going to states and localities to prioritize local needs such as: nursing home, congregate care settings, and home based care.  \nVaccines: Nearly $20 billion is provided for the procurement of vaccines and treatments and $8.75 billion to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lead efforts to distribute, monitor, and track coronavirus vaccine efforts, including $4.5 billion in direct aid to states, localities, and tribes. This includes $300 million specifically directed to ensure coronavirus vaccines reach high-risk and underserved rural and minority communities.  \nPPE: More than $3 billion to restock the Strategic National Stockpile with personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure Arizona has the masks, gloves, gowns, and other PPE to keep front line health workers and patients safe.  \nTesting/Tracking: More than $22 billion to states is included for testing, infection tracking, and other measures to slow the spread of the virus. $2.5 billion will be included specifically to meet the needs of underserved communities.  \nMental Health and Substance Abuse: $4.5 billion will be dedicated for mental health programs and substance abuse programs, including for fighting the opioid epidemic.  \nHealth Care Providers: The package includes $9 billion in support of health providers, including $3 billion for the Provider Relief Fund, to delay harmful cuts to providers caring for vulnerable populations (including Medicare sequestration and Disproportionate Share Hospital payments), and to increase payments to physicians.  \nProtecting Arizonans from Surprise Billing: Sinema also worked with a bipartisan group of colleagues to ban surprise medical bills, and provide a pathway for providers and insurers to work out disputed payments, without putting patients in the middle. A separate provision also eliminates Medicare copays for certain colorectal cancer screenings, which mirrors a bill Sinema has supported, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act. The bill also extends Medicare coverage for immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant patients, policy similar to the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act.  \nExtending Crucial Health Programs: Three year funding extensions for Community Health Centers, Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education, the Special Diabetes Program, the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, and the National Health Service Corps are included.  \nAddressing Arizona's Provider Shortages: The legislation creates 1,000 new Graduate Medical Education (GME) slots nationwide to increase the number of physicians training in the United States. Sinema has championed a similar bill, the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, which increases the number of medical training positions in areas with a physician shortage. Also included are provisions to support Arizona's rural hospitals and providers, including promoting rural hospital GME opportunities to encourage new physicians to stay and practice in rural communities where they trained, and expanding access to rural health care and mental telehealth services (similar to provisions from the Sinema-backed CONNECT for Health Act).  \n  \nRenewed Support for Small businesses  \n$325 Billion for small businesses: The legislation includes $284 billion for the PPP and set asides for very small businesses, $20 billion for new EIDL Grants for businesses in low-income communities, $3.5 billion for SBA debt relief, $15 billion for grants for shuttered venue operators, and $2 billion for enhanced SBA lending.  \nExpanded PPP eligibility: The bill makes 501(c)(6) nonprofits, including destination marketing organizations, local newspapers, and TV and radio broadcasters eligible for the PPP.  \nSecond Draw PPP loans: The relief bill allows second draw loans for small businesses with 300 or fewer employees that suffered a decrease in revenues in any quarter of at least 25 percent.  \nExpands covered expenses: The bill includes operations, property damage, supplier costs, and worker and customer protections under covered expenses.  \nProtects deductibility of businesses expenses: The legislation instructs the IRS that small businesses can write off costs paid for with PPP loans.  \nCreates a grant program for shuttered venue operators: A new grant program will provide needed capital to live entertainment venues, performing arts centers, museums, and movie theaters forced to close or limit operations.  \nStreamlined forgiveness for Arizona's smallest businesses: The legislation limits the forgiveness application to one page for those businesses with loans up to $150,000.  \n  \nContinued Unemployment Insurance Assistance and Direct Payments to Arizona Families  \nThe bill contains $286 billion to boost Unemployment Insurance and direct payments to ensure all eligible Arizonans get needed support to pay their bills and stay in their homes.  \nUnemployment Insurance: The bill includes an extension of pandemic-related unemployment assistance, including the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUAA) program which provides UI benefits to the self-employed, freelancers, gig workers, and other part-time workers. It provides an additional $300 per week to supplement unemployment benefits, starting after December 26, 2020 and ending March 14, 2021. Both FPUC and PUA benefits will be available for a total of 50 weeks, instead of the previous maximum of 39 weeks.  \nDirect Payments: Eligible adults making up to $75,000 a year will receive a second round of stimulus payments of $600 each, couples making up to $150,000 a year will receive $1,200, and child dependents will be eligible for $600. Payments will phase out for higher incomes. Individuals with Social Security numbers in mixed status households will be newly eligible for stimulus payments, including those from the CARES Act. Importantly, the bill includes provisions similar to a bill championed by Sinema, the Automatic Cash Assistance Act to allow recipients of Social Security, railroad retirement, and veterans disability benefits to automatically receive stimulus payments.  \nOther Assistance: The package also includes $25 billion in rental assistance to help struggling Arizonans stay in their homes, $13 billion for emergency food assistance (including for food banks and senior meal programs), $10 billion to child care providers that working families depend upon, and $250 million for Head Start providers to safely serve low-income families.  \n  \nTargeted Tax Relief for Arizona Businesses and Families:  \nDeferred Payroll Taxes: The legislation ensures that federal employees and servicemembers who had their payroll taxes temporarily deferred in 2020 according to the President's executive order, will now have until December 31, 2020 to repay deferred amounts.  \nPreventing Tax Increases for brewers, distillers, and wineries: Sinema was successful in including provisions of the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act to protect Arizona small business owners, including the over 90 registered breweries in the state supporting nearly 44,000 Arizona jobs.  \nInvesting in Distressed and Rural Communities: The bill includes a five year extension of the New Markets Tax Credit that Sinema supported (New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act).  \nHelping Workers Pay Back Student Loans: Includes provisions from the Sinema-backed Employer Participation in Repayment Act, to allow employers to provide student loan repayment benefits through 2025.  \nExtending Solar Credits: The legislation extends the 26 percent investment credit for solar projects that began construction by the end of 2022, and a 22 percent rate for solar projects that began construction by the end of 2023.  \nExpanding the ERTC: The relief bill extends and expands the CARES Act Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) to help more workers stay connected to the workforce and help more small businesses and nonprofits across the country.  \nTax Relief for Families: Many families faced a significant drop in income or job loss in 2020, putting at risk money they had saved for health and child care expenses, as well as certain family tax benefits. The bill includes provisions from proposals supported by Sinema, the Dependent Care Expense Relief Act and the Fair FSAs Act to allow families to roll-over remaining funds from Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Dependent Care FSAs. The bill also allows eligible families to use their 2019 reported earned income to calculate their 2020 Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit in order to maximize their benefits.  \n  \nExpanded Broadband Service for Arizona Students, Telehealth, Low-Income Families, and Rural and Tribal Communities  \nIncrease Broadband Access and Affordability: The bill includes $7 billion to expand broadband access and help Arizonans stay connected.  \nHelp Low-Income Arizonans Stay Connected: The legislation includes $3.2 billion for low-income families through a $50 or $75 monthly benefit to stay connected.  \nSupports Telehealth: The relief bill stablishes a $250 million grant program at the FCC to increase capabilities for telehealth providers.  \nAddress Tribal Connectivity Challenges: The bill creates a $1 billion fund dedicated solely to address the significant challenges of connectivity for tribal communities.  \nRural Broadband Expansion: The legislation establishes a $300 million for rural broadband expansion through public/private partnerships.  \n  \nSupporting Arizona Transportation Workers and Strengthening State and Local Transportation Systems  \nFederal Investment for Transportation: The bill includes $45 billion for transportation priorities across multiple modes of transportation.  \nRehire Aviation Workforce: Extends a federal CARES Act program that will allow employers to rehire aviation workers and protect aviation jobs through at least March 31, 2021.  \nProvides Support for Struggling Transit Systems: Dedicates $14 billion to support transit priorities and continue service for transit systems with fewer riders during the pandemic.  \nAirports and Airport Businesses: The bill dedicates $2 billion to support airports and airport concessionaires struggling due to decreased passenger traffic.  \nContinues State Highway Projects: The bill directs $10 billion to support state highways projects to improve infrastructure and boost employment.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-urges-watchdog-review-strengthen-arizona-schools-against-cyber-threats", "Sinema Urges Watchdog Review to Strengthen Arizona Schools Against Cyber Threats", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Monday, December 21, 2020\n\n      \n            WASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema requested the Government Accountability Office to review efforts by the Departments of Education and Homeland Security to assist Arizona school districts in securing themselves from cyber threats, emphasizing the importance of security as schools have transitioned to more online schooling during the COVID pandemic. Sinema additionally requested recommendations on how to improve federal cybersecurity support for school districts.  \n  \nSecuring Arizona schools from cyber attacks protects both students and teachers during online learning, which has grown during the coronavirus pandemic, said Sinema, a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.  \n  \nThe FBI has been issuing warnings of potential increased ransomware attacks during the pandemic. Arizona school districts have experienced ransomware attacks in the past, with the most recent in 2019 where the Flagstaff Unified School District was targeted.  \n  \nClick HERE to read Sinema's letter.\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/12/rural-arizona-leaders-praise-stanton-s-leadership-deliver-federal-resources", "Rural Arizona Leaders Praise Stanton\u2019s Leadership to Deliver Federal Resources for Critical Water Infrastructure", "2020-12-18", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Ahead of Congress\u2019s final consideration of the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), Rep. Greg Stanton hosted a roundtable with local leaders and other stakeholders to discuss the bill\u2019s impact in Arizona communities. The bill unanimously passed the House of Representatives last week and included several provisions to benefit Arizona that were championed by Stanton.\n\nWRDA will invest in critical Arizona infrastructure through projects overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The final package included $150 million for a new Arizona-centered environmental infrastructure program, a provision based on Stanton\u2019s Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Act.\n\n\u201cOur small rural and tribal communities across Arizona often lack the significant financial resources in their budgets to make much needed repairs or replace their aging infrastructure,\u201d Stanton said during the virtual roundtable. \u201cMy provision in WRDA prioritizes our rural areas by providing a new federal resource for our cities, counties, tribes and rural water districts across Arizona to tap to address their critical water infrastructure needs.\u201d\n\nThe roundtable included Maricopa Mayor Christian Price; Buckeye Councilmember Clay Goodman; city officials from Prescott, Tolleson and Flagstaff; Colonel Julie Balten, commander of the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and senior members of the Corps; and representatives from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, Arizona Water Association, Rural Water Association of Arizona and Inter Tribal Association of Arizona.\n\n\u201cI would like to personally thank Congressman Stanton for his leadership on issues affecting the state of Arizona and, in particular, his focus on transportation and infrastructure issues,\u201d said City of Maricopa Mayor Christian Price. \u201cBecause of his leadership on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and his ability to secure a new $150 million environmental infrastructure provision in WRDA, Arizona can now qualify for these important projects. This is critical to fast-growing communities such as Maricopa where a flood plain divides our City in two as we search for creative solutions to eliminate the catastrophic and costly flooding while adding environmental and recreational amenities to our City that will attract more residents.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Prescott grows, we\u2019ve made maintaining our water and infrastructure a priority,\u201d said Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli. \u201cThis bill will help fund those necessary projects to improve our water systems, ensuring the city can keep up with demand and preserve our natural resources for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe city of Tolleson is profoundly grateful for Congressman Stanton's championship for Arizona\u2019s inclusion in the Water Resources Development Act,\u201d said Tolleson City Manager Reyes Medrano. \u201cThis legislation will significantly augment Tolleson's ability to continue to serve communities well beyond its municipal boundaries by taking full advantage of the economies of scale that reside in West Valley cities and towns. Congressman Stanton's efforts will enable the provision of affordable water services for all Arizonans.\u201d\n\n\u201cProviding efficient delivery of services\u2014especially water and wastewater management\u2014is one of the most important functions of local governments,\u201d said Tom Belshe, Executive Director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. \u201cBut too often, cities and towns don\u2019t have the room in their budgets to make much needed repairs to their aging water infrastructure. Federal investment is a necessity for our communities to provide the best possible customer service to their residents, and the League is grateful to Congressman Stanton for his strong leadership on this bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Inter Tribal Association of Arizona (ITAA) wholeheartedly supports Congressman Greg Stanton in his effort to address water-related environmental infrastructure challenges that exist on tribal lands in Arizona through the Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Act,\u201d says Maria Dadgar, Executive Director of the Inter Tribal Association of Arizona. \u201cThe pandemic has brought focus to the longstanding issue of inadequate drinking water and wastewater systems on tribal lands and the long-term investments this legislation supports will be key to addressing these challenges.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/rural-arizona-leaders-praise-stanton-s-leadership-deliver-federal-resources", "Rural Arizona Leaders Praise Stanton\u2019s Leadership to Deliver Federal Resources for Critical Water Infrastructure", "2020-12-18", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ahead of Congress's final consideration of the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), Rep. Greg Stanton hosted a roundtable withlocalleadersand other stakeholders to discuss the bill's impact in Arizona communities. The billunanimously passedthe House of Representatives last week and included several provisions to benefit Arizona that were championed by Stanton.\n\nWRDA will invest in critical Arizona infrastructure through projects overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The final package included $150 million for a new Arizona-centered environmental infrastructure program, a provision based on Stanton's Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Act.\n\nOur small rural and tribal communities across Arizona often lack the significant financial resources in their budgets to make much needed repairs or replace their aging infrastructure,Stantonsaid during the virtual roundtable. My provision in WRDA prioritizes our rural areas by providing a new federal resource for our cities, counties, tribes and rural water districts across Arizona to tap to address their critical water infrastructure needs.\n\nThe roundtable included Maricopa Mayor Christian Price; Buckeye Councilmember Clay Goodman; city officials from Prescott, Tolleson and Flagstaff; Colonel JulieBalten, commander of the Los Angeles District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and senior members of the Corps; and representatives from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, Arizona Water Association, Rural Water Association of Arizona and Inter Tribal Association of Arizona.\n\nI would like to personally thank Congressman Stanton for his leadership on issues affecting the state of Arizona and, in particular, his focus on transportation and infrastructure issues, saidCity of MaricopaMayorChristian Price. Because of his leadership on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and his ability to secure a new $150 million environmental infrastructure provision in WRDA, Arizona can now qualify for these important projects. This iscritical to fast-growing communities such as Maricopa where a flood plain divides our City in two as we search for creative solutions to eliminate the catastrophic and costly flooding while adding environmental and recreational amenities to our City that will attract more residents.\n\nAsPrescottgrows, we've mademaintainingour waterandinfrastructure a priority, saidPrescottMayor GregMengarelli.This bill will help fundthose necessaryprojects to improve our water systems, ensuring the city can keep up with demand and preserve our natural resourcesfor years to come.\n\nThe city of Tolleson is profoundly grateful for Congressman Stanton's championship for Arizona's inclusion in the Water Resources Development Act, saidTolleson City ManagerReyes Medrano. This legislation will significantly augment Tolleson's ability to continue to serve communities well beyond its municipal boundaries by taking full advantage of the economies of scale that reside in West Valley cities and towns. Congressman Stanton's efforts will enable the provision of affordable water services for all Arizonans.\n\nProviding efficient delivery of servicesespecially water and wastewater managementis one of the most important functions of local governments, saidTomBelshe, Executive Director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. But too often, cities and towns don't have the room in their budgets to make much needed repairs to their aging water infrastructure. Federal investment is a necessity for our communities to provide the best possible customer service to their residents, and the League is grateful to Congressman Stanton for his strong leadership onthis bill.\n\nThe Inter Tribal Association of Arizona (ITAA) wholeheartedly supports Congressman Greg Stanton in his effort to address water-related environmental infrastructure challenges that exist on tribal lands in Arizona through the Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Act, saysMariaDadgar, Executive Director of the Inter Tribal Association of Arizona. The pandemic has brought focus to the longstanding issue of inadequate drinking water and wastewater systems on tribal lands and the long-term investments this legislation supports will be key to addressingthese challenges.\n\nWaterandwastewater infrastructureis essential to keep ourwaterwaysclean and our communities healthy. During these trying times when it is critical to ensure proper treatment both in our water and wastewater this is a much-needed tool for our communities who are looking for help. Thank you for all your hard work and considerations, saidJasonJoynes,Executive Director of theRural Water Association of Arizona.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-urges-president-trump-veto-end-year-omnibus-spending-bill", "Congressman Biggs Urges President Trump to Veto the End-of-Year Omnibus Spending Bill", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last night, Congressman Andy Biggs led a letter to President Donald J. Trump, urging him to veto the end-of-year omnibus spending bill expected to pass through Congress in the coming days.\n\nRepresentatives Chip Roy (TX-21), Jody Hice (GA-10), Ted Budd (NC-13), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Scott Perry (PA-10), Steve King (IA-04), Randy Weber (TX-14), Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04), Ted S. Yoho D.V.M. (FL-03), and Louie Gohmert (TX-01) co-signed the letter.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nDecember 16, 2020\n\nPresident Donald J. Trump\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear Mr. President,\n\nWe write to urge you to veto the end-of-the-year omnibus spending bill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is yet again giving us a massive take-it-or-leave-it bill, negotiated behind closed doors, that expands government, spends at record levels well above 2011 base cap levels, and funds unnecessary or even harmful federal programs. Most of all, this bill continues to pile massive amounts of debt on top of the more than $27.5 trillion we already owe.\n\nIt is noteworthy that Speaker Pelosi saw her Democrat majority significantly shrink in the 2020 election. Now she is trying to pass a massive spending bill that fully funds an agenda rejected by the American people, without allowing any debate or amendment whatsoever by the full body of the House of Representatives. The incoming 117th Congress should address the outstanding spending issues for fiscal year 2021 by passing individual appropriations bills through the normal legislative process, giving all members an opportunity to participate in the lawmaking process \u2013 and preventing the disenfranchisement of millions of Americans who have no say. In order to allow that process to happen, a short-term continuing resolution may be necessary until the new Congress is sworn is and ready for business.\n\nAfter signing the March 2018 omnibus package, you rightfully said \"I say to Congress: I will never sign another bill like this again. I'm not going to do it again. Nobody read it. It's only hours old. Some people don't even know what is in \u2014 $1.3 trillion \u2014 it's the second-largest ever.\" This bill promises to be even larger, exemplifying everything that is wrong with the swamp politics of Washington, D.C.\n\nParticularly at a time when our federal government is spending trillions of dollars on an emergency basis, we should be doing the hard work of finding offsetting savings elsewhere. Instead of making any good faith effort to find savings, this omnibus bill spends every penny of the existing \u2013 but elevated multiple times over \u2013 budget caps that were enacted before the coronavirus epidemic. Your veto will send a resounding message to both Republicans and Democrats in Congress to negotiate better budgets for the American people.\n\nIt is also important to note that a vote for this bill \u2013 or signing it into law \u2013 represents acceptance of long-standing policies that are clearly observable to be harmful to America. Supporting this is a vote to fund an education system that is failing to educate our children while teaching them that America is evil; it is a vote to fund grants to states that run a badly broken election system; it is a vote to fund a healthcare system that empowers insurance companies at the expense of hard-working Americans; it is a vote to underfund border security and empower cartels; it is a vote to continue war without so much as a debate much less a vote on a new AUMF for our men and women in uniform; it is a vote to fund Planned Parenthood; and, among many other things, it is a vote to send money to state and local agencies that are perpetuating the shutdowns that are destroying our way of life. We cannot continue to fund programs that are not serving hardworking Americans.\n\nMr. President, we thank you for continuing to fight for the American people and our constituents. Our country will be better off if you veto this omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2021. We will strongly support your efforts to demand better from the fiscally irresponsible Congressional leadership.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/12/17/schweikert-sinema-lead-arizona-congressional-delegation-ensuring-arizona/", "Schweikert, Sinema Lead Arizona Congressional Delegation Ensuring Arizona Providers Receive Coronavirus Relief", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema partnered in a bicameral, bipartisan effort to ensure Arizona Medicaid providers receive their full share of coronavirus Provider Relief Funds (PRF).\n\n\u201cWe are concerned the current reconciliation of CARES Act funding requirements will disproportionally affect Arizona hospitals that continue to operate tirelessly to serve their communities through the end of the pandemic and beyond,\u201d wrote the Arizona Delegation.\n\nThe Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) launched \u201cHEALTHII\u201d \u2013 a program, approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), that helps close the Medicaid payment-to-cost shortfall for hospitals and increase Medicaid reimbursements to try and address doctor shortages.\n\nThe delegation\u2019s letter comes after leaders heard directly from Arizona hospitals who were concerned these supplemental payments would cut into future or recent PRF payments, when compared to 2019 revenue. If HEALTHII payments are counted as new revenue\u2014compared to a 2019 baseline when the program did not exist\u2014it could result in lower provider relief assistance. As a result, this cuts the effectiveness of both programs (HEALTHII and Provider Relief Funds), which are intended to target two different issues. Provider Relief Fund payments are intended to address revenue losses from the pandemic, while HEALTHII payments address low Medicaid reimbursements.\n\nRead the full letter HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/12/12/congressman-schweikert-releases-statement-applauding-surprise-billing/", "Congressman Schweikert Releases Statement Applauding Surprise Billing Agreement", "2020-12-12", "2020", "2020-12", "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 (AZ-06) released the following statement applauding key House and Senate Committees recently introduced legislation to protect patients from surprise billing and provide transparency for medical payment disputes.\n\n\u201cI am very pleased to see us come together to end surprise billing and provide patients with the transparency they deserve when receiving care. This legislation is far overdue, and will put patients first. Americans can now be taken out of the negotiation process, and start a visit with an understanding of the services they are being provided. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to provide accessible, convenient, and affordable care.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe bipartisan, bicameral agreement protects patients and establishes a fair payment dispute process including:\n\nHolds patients harmless from surprise medical bills, including from air ambulance providers, by ensuring they are only responsible for their in-network cost-sharing amounts, including deductibles, in both emergency situations and certain non-emergency situations where patients do not have the ability to choose an in-network provider.\n\nProhibits certain out-of-network providers from balance billing patients unless the provider gives the patient notice of their network status and an estimate of charges 72 hours prior to receiving out-of-network services and the patient provides consent to receive out-of-network care.\n\nCreates a framework that takes patients out of the middle, and allows health care providers and insurers to resolve payment disputes without involving the patient.\n\nUnder the agreement, insurers will make a payment to the provider that is determined either through negotiation between the parties or an independent dispute resolution (IDR) process. There is no minimum payment threshold to enter IDR, and claims may be batched together to ease administrative burdens.\n\nIf the parties choose to utilize the IDR process, both parties would each submit an offer to the independent arbiter. When choosing between the two offers the arbiter is required to consider the median in-network rate, information related to the training and experience of the provider, the market share of the parties, previous contracting history between the parties, complexity of the services provided, and any other information submitted by the parties.\n\nFollowing an IDR process, the party that initiated the dispute may not take the same party to arbitration for the same item or service for 90-days following a determination by the arbitrator. However, all claims that occur during the 90-day period are eligible for IDR after the 90-days.\n\nProvides additional consumer protections when insurance companies change networks, including a transition of care for people with complex care needs and appeal rights for consumers.\n\nEmpowers consumers by providing a true and honest cost estimate that describes which providers will deliver their treatment, the cost of services, and provider network status.\n\nAs part of the legislative agreement, the package includes a long-term extension of expiring public health programs, including: Community Health Centers, National Health Service Corps, Teaching Health Centers, and Special Diabetes Programs.\n\nLegislative text is available HERE.\n\nSection-by-section is available HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-senate-passes-congressman-biggs-bill-honor-fallen-chandler-hero", "U.S. Senate Passes Congressman Biggs' Bill to Honor Fallen Chandler Hero", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last night, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 4983 \u2013 To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Gilbert, Arizona, as the \"Staff Sergeant Alexander W. Conrad Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic.\" This legislation unanimously passed the U.S. House on September 23.\n\nOn June, 8, 2018, Staff Sergeant Conrad, of Chandler, died in Somalia from injuries sustained from indirect enemy fire, while assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, in support of Operation Octave Shield. His service includes two tours in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with Valor, and Meritorious Service Medal. This legislation was endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars \u2013 Department of Arizona, Vietnam Veterans of America \u2013 Arizona State Council, and Concerned Veterans for America \u2013 Arizona, Disabled American Veterans \u2013 Department of Arizona, Military Officers Association of America \u2013 Arizona Council of Chapters, and the American Legion \u2013 Department of Arizona, .\n\nCongressman Biggs issued the following statement:\n\n\"I'm grateful for the unanimous support for passage of this legislation from my colleagues in the House and Senate. Staff Sergeant Conrad was an American hero, who sacrificed his life for the cause of freedom. His life and courage deserve honor and recognition for years on end. I hope that everyone who visits the Southeast Valley Veterans Affairs clinic will take time to reflect on the service of Staff Sergeant Conrad \u2013 and the service of all who continue to wear our nation's uniform.\"\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-prescription-freedom-act", "Congressman Biggs Introduces the Prescription Freedom Act", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Biggs introduced the Prescription Freedom Act, which would eliminate federal prescribing requirements within six months of enactment, while maintaining important pro-life protections. Congressman Biggs offered the following statement:\n\n\"When it comes to healthcare reforms, I have long been a champion of freedom. In 2018, I was honored to watch President Trump sign my Right to Try Act into law, which granted critically ill patients access to potentially life-saving medications that are safe but have not gone through the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) entire multi-year review process. More recently, I introduced legislation to eliminate burdensome FDA oversight of emerging medical technologies.\n\n\"Now I want to eliminate federal control over prescribing. For over eighty years, we have been operating under the nanny-state mentality that Washington bureaucrats know what drug choices are best for patients. But as the coronavirus pandemic has shown, that clearly isn't the case.\n\n\"Even if we think beyond the coronavirus, there is no reason to believe that federal prescribing requirements are inherently beneficial to patients. If federal prescribing requirements are eliminated, patients will almost certainly continue to consult with doctors before taking any potentially risky medications; for their part, the pharmaceutical companies will continue to be incentivized to produce the best-possible and most transparent warning labels to protect their reputations and limit any potential liability. The difference will be that there will be fewer lawyers, lobbyists, and bureaucrats delaying access, driving up costs, and limiting choice.\n\n\"Instead, I want patients and consumers to benefit as much as possible from an open marketplace. And if any challenges remain, my bill will not preclude states from legislating to meet local needs.\"\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4141", "Representative Paul Gosar Introduces H.R. 8897 FIREBREAK Act", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "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 Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after introducing The Future Innovations Regarding Essential Biodefense Responses Equipment and Knowledge (FIREBREAK) Act:\n\n\u201cThe men and women of our Armed Forces have been at the forefront of this pandemic. The FIREBREAK Act will give our military the tools that they need to stay safe during a future pandemic and will also provide a rapidly developed response needed to prevent economic shutdown and save human lives. As Westerners, we know the crucial role that firebreaks play in containing wildfires. Containing the spread of pandemics should be no different,\u201d said Congressman Paul Gosar.\n\nBackground: The FIREBREAK Act would direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program for the development of rapid and cost-effective countermeasures to pandemics. This legislation would continue the work of DARPA\u2019s Pandemic Prevention Platform (P3). DARPA\u2019s P3 program supports military readiness and stability through the pursuit of novel methods to dramatically accelerate discovery, integration, pre-clinical testing, and manufacturing of countermeasures against infectious diseases. This program confronts the reality that Department of Defense personnel are often among the first exposed to outbreaks of diseases with pandemic potential around the world, such as our troops stationed in the Pacific when the current pandemic emerged. Making the P3 program permanent will ensure that we are prepared to defend our troops against any disease.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-votes-against-ndaa-conference-report", "Congressman Biggs Votes Against the NDAA Conference Report", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 6395 \u2013 Mac Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act. Congressman Biggs voted against this conference report and issued the following statement:\n\n\"I support our military and have voted in support of the National Defense Authorization Act in previous years. However, this year's version of the NDAA was chalked full of special and anti-American interests that I could not, in good conscience, vote to support. Both the policies and the process are broken for this NDAA, and the House must begin to consider this bill under an open rule process. The considerations under the NDAA are too important for them not to warrant honest and open debate.\n\n\"The NDAA fails to prioritize strong border security operations along the southern border. It allows our endless wars to continue into perpetuity. It did not include my amendment that would have required the Department of Defense to report to Congress on defense spending by allied countries. And it authorizes the repeal of the Chief Management Officer position \u2013 one of the only offices at DOD that saves us money.\n\n\"Due to these reasons, and others, I was forced to oppose this conference report. I support President Trump's promise to veto this legislation once it reaches his desk, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that Congress will not be able to override his veto. We can and must do much better for our troops. I hope my Democrat colleagues will come back to the table and work with us to give our troops the very best from the United States Congress.\"\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/12/08/congressman-schweikerts-legislation-included-national-defense/", "Congressman Schweikert\u2019s Legislation Included in National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "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 FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act conference report includes his legislation, H.R. 7139, the Ensuring American Leadership over International Standards Act, as well as three amendments he introduced to promote innovation and military readiness.\n\nThe Ensuring American Leadership over International Standards Act, would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to commission a study on China\u2019s influence in setting global standards for emerging technologies.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see each of these pieces of legislation included in the final text of the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). These sections will promote innovation and national security while ensuring the United States will remain a leader on the global stage.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Ensuring American Leadership over International Standards Act, which was introduced by Rep. Schweikert and Rep. Ami Bera, was also included on the House GOP\u2019s China Task Force Report list of recommendations for Congress to consider. This bill also has a recently introduced Senate companion bill, S. 4901, led by Sens. Cortez-Masto and Portman.\n\nAdditional amendments included:\n\nStudy and report on increasing telehealth services across Armed Force;\n\nFully funds the Navy\u2019s Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program; and\n\nRequires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress regarding recommendations on cyber hygiene practices for the DOD.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/12/stanton-backed-bill-spur-growth-semiconductor-manufacturing-passes-house", "Stanton-Backed Bill to Spur Growth In Semiconductor Manufacturing Passes House", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "With a strong bipartisan majority, the House today passed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included an initiative pushed by Rep. Greg Stanton that will support Arizona\u2019s growing semiconductor sector.\n\nTitle XCIX of the bill, Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America, is based on legislation co-sponsored by Stanton and a bipartisan group of nearly 30 House members. It authorizes new federal funding for semiconductor manufacturing incentives and research initiatives to strengthen American leadership in chip technology\u2014innovations critical to the future of our economy and national security.\n\n\u201cGreater Phoenix is an ideal market for high-tech and semiconductor companies\u2014and when those companies build and scale in our region, they add new, quality jobs and lift up our local economy,\u201d Stanton said. \u201cCHIPS for America creates new federal investments to support the construction of manufacturing facilities in one of our state\u2019s fastest-growing industries.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/12/stanton-s-arizona-focused-water-bill-included-bipartisan-infrastructure-package", "Stanton\u2019s Arizona-Focused Water Bill Included in Bipartisan Infrastructure Package That Passes House", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "The House today unanimously passed the final Water Resources Development Act of 2020, which contained several provisions to benefit Arizona that were championed by Rep. Greg Stanton \u2013 including $150 million for a new Arizona-centered environmental infrastructure program that the first-term congressman has been pushing for more than 18 months.\n\nThe new measure is based off of Stanton\u2019s bill H.R. 2206, the Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Act, and will help local governments better meet their infrastructure needs and protect water supplies by providing financial assistance for water-related infrastructure projects. Local projects could include water supply, storage, and treatment; surface water protection, and wastewater treatment and related facilities.\n\nThe legislation has earned widespread support from communities across the state, water associations, and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.\n\n\u201cIn Arizona, water is essential to our way of life, and the Water Resources Development Act ensures we have the resources we need to invest in our desert state\u2019s future,\u201d said Stanton. \u201cI\u2019m especially proud that this bill includes an initiative that will lift small and rural communities across Arizona that lack the financial resources in their budgets to make much needed repairs or replace their aging infrastructure\u2014and help them get the resources they so desperately need.\u201d\n\nThe larger bipartisan legislation authorizes funding for water resources projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is the result of months of negotiations between the House and Senate.\n\nStanton, the only member representing Arizona on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, fought hard to include projects of significance to Arizona communities in the House-passed version as well as the final negotiated agreement. This final legislation includes several Stanton-backed projects that will make a difference in the state:\n\nDirects the Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of a report needed to continue construction of the Tres Rios ecosystem restoration project. The Tres Rios Wetlands are a part of Rio Reimagined, an ongoing green infrastructure project along the Rio Salado spearheaded by the late Sen. John McCain and Rep. Ed Pastor. Specifically, the project is designed to provide flood control protection and the use of treated effluent from a regional wastewater treatment facility to restore hydrological connectivity and sustain fish and wildlife habitat.\n\nAuthorization for construction of a flood control project for the Little Colorado River, consisting of new and reconstructed levees to protect the community of Winslow and other parts of Navajo County. The current levee system is at risk of overtopping or failing in a 100-year flood, leaving approximately 2,700 properties and 1,600 structures, including almost all of the community\u2019s critical public facilities\u2014hospitals, schools, nursing homes and utilities\u2014vulnerable. This important project significantly reduces the threat to the community and surrounding areas.\n\nDirects the Corps to expedite completion of the flood study for the Lower Santa Cruz River. The basin, which includes parts of Pinal County, the City of Maricopa, and the Gila River Indian Community, is one of the fastest growing regions in Arizona. Despite a long history of flooding in the area, no flood control projects have been constructed. Repeated flooding could result in $186 million in damages, according to Army Corps of Engineers estimations.\n\nThe package now heads to the Senate for passage before heading to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-backed-bill-spur-growth-semiconductor-manufacturing-passes-house", "Stanton-Backed Bill to Spur Growth In Semiconductor Manufacturing Passes House", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With a strong bipartisan majority, the House today passed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included an initiative pushed by Rep. Greg Stanton that will support Arizona's growing semiconductor sector.\nTitle XCIX of the bill, Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) for America, is based on legislation co-sponsored by Stanton and a bipartisan group of nearly 30 House members. It authorizes new federal funding for semiconductor manufacturing incentives and research initiatives to strengthen American leadership in chip technologyinnovations critical to the future of our economy and national security.\nGreater Phoenix is an ideal market for high-tech and semiconductor companiesand when those companies build and scale in our region, they add new, quality jobs and lift up our local economy, Stanton said. CHIPS for America creates new federal investments to support the construction of manufacturing facilities in one of our state's fastest-growing industries.\nEarlier this year, the global Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. announced plans to build a $12 billion advanced chip factory in Phoenix, a development that helped solidify Arizona's reputation as a high-tech leader.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-s-arizona-focused-water-bill-included-bipartisan-infrastructure-package", "Stanton\u2019s Arizona-Focused Water Bill Included in Bipartisan Infrastructure Package That Passes House", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The House today unanimously passed the final Water Resources Development Act of 2020, which contained several provisions to benefit Arizona that were championed by Rep. Greg Stanton  including $150 million for a new Arizona-centered environmental infrastructure program that the first-term congressman has been pushing for more than 18 months.\nThe new measure is based off of Stanton's bill H.R. 2206, the Environmental Infrastructure Assistance Act, and will help local governments better meet their infrastructure needs and protect water supplies by providing financial assistance for water-related infrastructure projects. Local projects could include water supply, storage, and treatment; surface water protection, and wastewater treatment and related facilities.\nThe legislation has earned widespread support from communities across the state, water associations, and the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.\nIn Arizona, water is essential to our way of life, and the Water Resources Development Act ensures we have the resources we need to invest in our desert state's future, said Stanton. I'm especially proud that this bill includes an initiative that will lift small and rural communities across Arizona that lack the financial resources in their budgets to make much needed repairs or replace their aging infrastructureand help them get the resources they so desperately need.\nThe larger bipartisan legislation authorizes funding for water resources projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is the result of months of negotiations between the House and Senate.\nStanton, the only member representing Arizona on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, fought hard to include projects of significance to Arizona communities in the House-passed version as well as the final negotiated agreement. This final legislation includes several Stanton-backed projects that will make a difference in the state:\n Directs the Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of a report needed to continue construction of the Tres Rios ecosystem restoration project. The Tres Rios Wetlands are a part of Rio Reimagined, an ongoing green infrastructure project along the Rio Salado spearheaded by the late Sen. John McCain and Rep. Ed Pastor. Specifically, the project is designed to provide flood control protection and the use of treated effluent from a regional wastewater treatment facility to restore hydrological connectivity and sustain fish and wildlife habitat.\n\tAuthorization for construction of a flood control project for the Little Colorado River, consisting of new and reconstructed levees to protect the community of Winslow and other parts of Navajo County. The current levee system is at risk of overtopping or failing in a 100-year flood, leaving approximately 2,700 properties and 1,600 structures, including almost all of the community's critical public facilitieshospitals, schools, nursing homes and utilitiesvulnerable. This important project significantly reduces the threat to the community and surrounding areas.\n\tDirects the Corps to expedite completion of the flood study for the Lower Santa Cruz River. The basin, which includes parts of Pinal County, the City of Maricopa, and the Gila River Indian Community, is one of the fastest growing regions in Arizona. Despite a long history of flooding in the area, no flood control projects have been constructed. Repeated flooding could result in $186 million in damages, according to Army Corps of Engineers estimations.\n The package now heads to the Senate for passage before heading to the President's desk to be signed into law.\nFull text of the conferenced bill is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/12/stanton-mask-denying-governors-can-t-be-trusted-future-federal-covid-relief", "Stanton: Mask-Denying Governors Can\u2019t Be Trusted With Future Federal COVID Relief Funds", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Bad-actor states and cities that refuse to enact mask mandates to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 should not receive money from Congress in future relief legislation, Rep. Greg Stanton said today.\n\nOne of the most effective ways for local governments to control the spread of the virus is to require residents to wear masks in public places. Research and public health data show communities with mask mandates saw drops in their transmission rates and COVID-19 cases.\n\nBut because some local leaders \u2013 including Arizona\u2019s governor \u2013 have refused to acknowledge and embrace the most basic science and enact statewide mask mandates, Congress must provide an economic incentive so that more states will adopt common-sense policies, Stanton said.\n\n\u201cSome officials have made this pandemic worse by refusing to accept basic science, and their increasingly poor decision-making is killing people, overwhelming hospitals, costing jobs, and will soon put more people on the streets,\u201d said Stanton. \u201cThey\u2019ve used federal funds to bail out their own budgets rather than invest in the testing, contact tracing, unemployment support and rental assistance our economy needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress has a responsibility to put resources in the hands of those who are taking this crisis seriously and these bad actors can\u2019t be trusted,\u201d Stanton said.\n\nWhen Arizona\u2019s cases spiked 151 percent in June, Stanton released a five-step plan to control the virus\u2019 spread and was the first federal official to call for a statewide mask mandate.\n\nFollowing Stanton\u2019s call to action and pressure from local leaders that followed his call, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order that rescinded his preemption of cities to implement local health measures, and allowed them to enact mask mandates. Cases then dropped 75 percent across the state over the next few weeks.\n\nAn October report authored by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and members of the Arizona Department of Health Services, including director Dr. Cara Christ, found that mask mandates were effective in controlling and decreasing the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona.\n\nResearchers found similar results in 15 other states and Washington D.C., and as cases rose across the country in late October, 11 of the 15 states with the highest case totals that month did not have a mask mandate in place. Three of those states have since enacted mask mandates.\n\nBut as the nation experiences a second wave of COVID cases, Ducey has held steadfast in refusing to adopt the science-backed measure. There is a significant lack of testing and contact tracing resources in Arizona, and positivity rates have climbed to alarming numbers.\n\nIn Arizona, counties and localities that introduced mask mandates have recorded lower case totals and infection rates than those that did not.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-mask-denying-governors-can-t-be-trusted-future-federal-covid-relief", "Stanton: Mask-Denying Governors Can\u2019t Be Trusted With Future Federal COVID Relief Funds", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bad-actor states and cities that refuse to enact mask mandates to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 should not receive money from Congress in future relief legislation, Rep. Greg Stanton said today.\nOne of the most effective ways for local governments to control the spread of the virus is to require residents to wear masks in public places. Research and public health data show communitieswith mask mandates saw drops in their transmission rates and COVID-19 cases. \nBut because some local leaders  including Arizona's governor  have refused to acknowledge and embrace the most basic science and enact statewide mask mandates, Congress must provide an economic incentive so that more states will adopt common-sense policies, Stanton said.\nSome officials have made this pandemic worse by refusing to accept basic science, and their increasingly poor decision-making is killing people, overwhelming hospitals, costing jobs, and will soon put more people on the streets, said Stanton. They've used federal funds to bail out their own budgets rather than invest in the testing, contact tracing, unemployment support and rental assistance our economy needs.\nCongress has a responsibility to put resources in the hands of those who are taking this crisis seriously and these bad actors can't be trusted, Stanton said.\nWhen Arizona's cases spiked 151 percent in June, Stantonreleased a five-step plan to control the virus' spread and was the first federal official to call for a statewide mask mandate.\nFollowing Stanton's call to action andpressure from local leaders that followed his call, Arizona Gov. DougDuceyissued an executive order that rescinded his preemption of cities to implement local health measures, and allowed them to enact mask mandates. Cases then dropped 75 percent across the state over the next few weeks.\nAn October reportauthored by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and members of the Arizona Department of Health Services, including director Dr. Cara Christ, found that mask mandates were effective in controlling and decreasing the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona.\nResearchersfound similar resultsin 15 other states and Washington D.C., and as cases rose across the country in late October,11 of the 15 states with the highest case totals that month did not have a mask mandate in place. Three of those states have since enacted mask mandates.\nBut as the nation experiences a second wave of COVID cases,Duceyhas held steadfast in refusing to adopt the science-backed measure. There is a significant lack of testing and contact tracing resources in Arizona, and positivity rates have climbed to alarming numbers.\nIn Arizona, counties and localities that introduced mask mandates have recorded lower case totals and infection rates than those that didnot.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-legislation-repeal-outdated-national-voter", "Congressman Biggs Introduces Legislation to Repeal the Outdated National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (\"Motor Voter\")", "2020-12-05", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, Congressman Biggs introduced legislation to repeal the outdated National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (\"Motor Voter\"). This bill would restore states' rights to conduct elections and allow them to enforce state laws that eliminate voter fraud opportunities. In 2004, Arizona passed Proposition 200 to require proof of citizenship before voting. However, under a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court interpretation of Motor Voter, the state is required to allow individuals who can't prove their citizenship, though claim to be citizens, to obtain a ballot to vote in federal elections. Repealing Motor Voter would allow states to take the lead in closing this gap in the law.\n\nU.S. Representatives Scott Perry (PA-10), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Randy Weber (TX-14), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Steve King (IA-04), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Greg Steube (FL-17), and Morgan Griffith (VA-09) co-sponsored this legislation.\n\nCongressman Biggs issued the following statement:\n\n\"Election integrity is central to the bedrock of our constitutional republic. Currently, though federal law requires an individual to be a U.S. citizen to vote in federal elections, it requires states to accept merely a signed attestation from an individual that he or she is a U.S. citizen \u2013 without any further proof of citizenship. This lax procedure, to register individuals to vote in states that have strict citizenship requirements for voter registration, is a threat to the integrity of our elections.\n\n\"Americans of all political leanings deserve to know that our elections were carried out with the utmost integrity. That's why I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this legislation to ensure that states, and not the D.C. swamp, uphold election integrity and restore trust at the ballot box for each of its residents.\"\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/12/south-central-light-rail-granted-530-million-federal-funds-complete", "South Central Light Rail Granted $530 Million in Federal Funds to Complete Construction", "2020-12-05", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "The U.S. Department of Transportation announced plans to provide nearly $530 million through the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program to fund the design and construction of Phoenix\u2019s South Central Light Rail Extension. Rep. Greg Stanton long advocated for support for the project during his time as Phoenix mayor and continued to fight for federal funds as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. \u201cThis critical federal investment will secure light rail\u2019s future in South Phoenix,\u201d said Stanton. \u201cYears of work and advocacy have made this massive infrastructure project possible. And when it\u2019s complete, light rail will be a new connection to South Phoenix that opens new economic opportunities.\u201d Stanton advocated for federal funding for the project as well as increased resources for the CIG program. In July, Congressman Stanton supported the fiscal year 2021 Transportation Appropriations bill that provides $2.175 billion for the CIG program. The Federal Transit Administration within the Department of Transportation submitted a 30-day Congressional notice of their intent to award a Full Funding Grant Agreement on Friday. This is the final step before the agreement is signed and funds are transferred to the City of Phoenix. \u201cIt is thrilling to see this grant agreement, which comes at a time when investment could not be more important, said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. \u201cThank you to our federal partners including our Arizona Senators and Representatives Stanton and Gallego for this important investment.\u201d The balance of funds needed to fully complete the light rail extension\u2014about $815 million\u2014will come from several federal and local sources: the Federal Highway Administration, Surface Transportation Block Grants, City of Phoenix Proposition 104 sales tax revenues, and Maricopa County Proposition 400 Public Transportation Excise Tax revenues.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/south-central-light-rail-granted-530-million-federal-funds-complete", "South Central Light Rail Granted $530 Million in Federal Funds to Complete Construction", "2020-12-05", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. Department of Transportation announced plans to provide nearly $530 million through the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program to fund the design and construction of Phoenix's South Central Light Rail Extension. Rep. Greg Stanton long advocated for support for the project during his time as Phoenix mayor and continued to fight for federal funds as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. \nThis critical federal investment will secure light rail's future in South Phoenix, said Stanton. Years of work and advocacy have made this massive infrastructure project possible. And when it's complete, light rail will be a new connection to South Phoenix that opens new economic opportunities. \nStanton advocated for federal funding for the project as well as increased resources for the CIG program.  In July, Congressman Stanton supported the fiscal year 2021 Transportation Appropriations bill that provides $2.175 billion for the CIG program. \nThe Federal Transit Administration within the Department of Transportation submitted a 30-day Congressional notice of their intent to award a Full Funding Grant Agreement on Friday. This is the final step before the agreement is signed and funds are transferred to the City of Phoenix. \nIt is thrilling to see this grant agreement, which comes at a time when investment could not be more important, said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Thank you to our federal partners including our Arizona Senators and Representatives Stanton and Gallego for this important investment.\nThe balance of funds needed to fully complete the light rail extensionabout $815 millionwill come from several federal and local sources: the Federal Highway Administration, Surface Transportation Block Grants, City of Phoenix Proposition 104 sales tax revenues, and Maricopa County Proposition 400 Public Transportation Excise Tax revenues.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/12/04/schweikert-joins-bipartisan-bicameral-group-48-lawmakers-calling/", "Schweikert Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Group of 48 Lawmakers in Calling for Permanent Expansion of Telehealth Coverage in End of Year Legislation", "2020-12-04", "2020", "2020-12", "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 joined 48 lawmakers in calling for the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic to be made permanent. Provisions from the CONNECT for Health Act have allowed Medicare beneficiaries in all areas of the country, and in their homes, to utilize telehealth services. This provision was included in previous COVID-19 legislation but will expire following the pandemic unless congressional leaders act now to make those measures permanent.\n\n\u201cIt has been incredible to see the expansion and appreciation for telehealth services being utilized since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Schweikert. \u201cThis technology has the ability to provide a comfortable, and accessible tool for patients to connect with their doctors, and must be further expanded beyond this crisis. I am pleased to see this healthcare technology widely supported amongst my colleagues, and look forward to continuing our work on the Telehealth Caucus to ensure every American has access to their healthcare.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the lawmakers highlight the growing use and benefits of telehealth during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as patients seek to avoid traveling to hospitals and other providers and instead receive care at home. New data shows that the number of Medicare beneficiaries using telehealth services increased by nearly 13,000 percent in just a month and a half during the pandemic..\n\nSchweikert was joined by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Angus King (I-Maine), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), David McKinley (R-W.Va.), Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), David N. Cicilline (D-R.I.), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Brendan F. Boyle (D-Pa.), Tom O\u2019Halleran (D-Ariz.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Elise M. Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), and Ron Kind (D-Wis.).\n\nTo read the full text of the letter, click here.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/12/02/congressman-david-schweikert-announces-chief-staff-departure/", "Congressman David Schweikert Announces Chief of Staff Departure", "2020-12-02", "2020", "2020-12", "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 (AZ-06) announced the departure of his Chief of Staff Katherina Dimenstein, who has served as Schweikert\u2019s longtime senior aide, at the end of this week.\n\nDimenstein departs the office after having served as Chief of Staff since July of 2018, previously serving as Legislative Director during the 115th Congress. As Chief of Staff, Dimenstein managed all Washington, D.C. office operations and Schweikert\u2019s legislative priorities on the Ways and Means Committee.\n\n\u201cI want to thank Katherina for her dedication and service to Arizona\u2019s 6th District over the last eight years. She did an outstanding job for our office, especially her excellent work on promoting strong trade relationships for Arizona and helping modernize our tax code through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. She\u2019s an incredibly valued member of our team, and we will miss her.\u201d said Congressman David Schweikert\n\n\u201cI am incredibly thankful for Congressman Schweikert\u2019s support as I move on to this next step in my career. It has been an honor to work for David, and alongside the best team on Capitol Hill. David provided me the incredible opportunity to serve the people of Arizona, and I am forever grateful for his trust and support. I look forward to continuing to follow David\u2019s work to provide opportunity and success for all Arizonans.\u201d said Katherina Dimenstein\n\nThe Congressman\u2019s long time District Director and Deputy Chief of Staff Kevin Knight will take over as Acting Chief of Staff.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-requests-doj-investigation-us-representative-bill-pascrell", "Congressman Biggs Requests DOJ Investigation of U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell for Possible Civil Rights Violations", "2020-12-01", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Andy Biggs sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, urging him to investigate U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell for possible civil rights violations in his efforts to obtain the disbarment of certain members of President Trump's legal counsel in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania, solely because those attorneys attempted to represent President Trump in his efforts to secure the integrity of the 2020 Presidential Election.\n\nRepresentatives Warren Davidson (OH-08), Andy Harris (MD-01), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), and Randy Weber (TX-14) co-signed the letter.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nNovember 27, 2020\n\nThe Honorable William Barr\n\nAttorney General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20530\n\nDear Attorney General Barr,\n\nWe urge you to investigate Representative Bill Pascrell for possible civil rights violations in his efforts to obtain the disbarment of certain members of President Trump's legal counsel in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Pennsylvania, solely because those attorneys attempted to represent President Trump in his efforts to secure the integrity of the 2020 Presidential Election.\n\nOn November 20, Representative Pascrell sent a letter to the State Bar of Arizona, the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission, the Office of the Bar Counsel of Nevada, the State of New York Grievance Committee, and the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, accusing the attorneys of filing \"frivolous lawsuits\" and requesting that each agency \"commence an immediate investigation of their actions and consider sanctions for their conduct up to and including revocation of their licenses to practice law in your jurisdiction.\"\n\nThe President has every right to petition the courts to ensure that every legal ballot is counted and to challenge any illegal votes. And, he has the right to retain counsel to represent him. In turn his attorneys must be free to zealously advocate for the protection of the President's rights. He is attempting to bar the President from legal counsel and take away the livelihood of attorneys who have represented the President.\n\nThe efforts to disbar the President's lawyers simply for representing the President is designed to impede the rights of the President and his counsel. It appears to violate the civil rights of the President and his attorneys.\n\nAccordingly, we urge you to investigate whether Representative Pascrell's injudicious and seemingly malevolent actions have violated the civil rights of the President and his counsel.\n\nSincerely,\n\nAndy Biggs\n\nMember of Congress\n\nWarren Davidson\n\nMember of Congress\n\nAndy Harris\n\nMember of Congress\n\nDebbie Lesko\n\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-biggs-introduces-resolution-censure-us-representative-bill", "Congressman Andy Biggs Introduces Resolution to Censure U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell", "2020-11-30", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Congressman Andy Biggs introduced a resolution to censure U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell for conduct that threatens the livelihoods of American citizens in a way that is not befitting an elected Member of the House of Representatives.\n\nRepresentatives Warren Davidson (OH-08), Andy Harris (MD-01), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), and Randy Weber (TX-14) co-sponsored the resolution.\n\nRead the text of the resolution below:\n\nResolution Censuring Representative Bill Pascrell\n\nWhereas on November 20, 2020, Representative Bill Pascrell sent a letter to the State Bar of Arizona, the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission, the Office of the Bar Counsel of Nevada, the State of New York Grievance Committee, and the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, to file a complaint against attorneys in each jurisdiction representing the campaign of President Donald J. Trump.\n\nWhereas Representative Bill Pascrell's letters accuse the attorneys of filing \"frivolous lawsuits\" and requests each state agency \"to commence an immediate investigation of their actions and consider sanctions for their conduct up to and including revocation of their licenses to practice law in your jurisdiction.\"\n\nWhereas President Donald J. Trump's campaign has a legal right to sue to ensure that each legal vote is counted and to challenge any illegal votes.\n\nWhereas each candidate running for public office in each state has the right to pursue every legal option to ensure ballot integrity and fair elections.\n\nResolved, That \u2013", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/11/stanton-calls-medicare-open-enrollment-extension-ensure-seniors-stay-covered", "Stanton Calls for Medicare Open Enrollment Extension to  Ensure Seniors Stay Covered During COVID-19 Crisis", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "To help protect seniors\u2019 access to health care coverage, Rep. Greg Stanton called for an extension to the Federal Health Insurance Exchange Enrollment Period deadline. Stanton made the request yesterday in a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma. The current deadline to enroll is December 7.\n\n\u201cAs COVID-19 cases continue to rise and in-person resources remain severely limited, Arizonans looking to enroll in Medicare face multiple barriers that hinder their ability to enroll by the current deadline\u2014potentially causing a delay in health care coverage when they need it most,\u201d Stanton writes. \u201cI strongly believe that the current Medicare Open Enrollment period should be extended to ensure that seniors, who remain one of the most vulnerable populations to this virus, have the coverage they need.\u201d\n\nDue to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, all 42 of Arizona\u2019s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) community partners in Maricopa County, which normally provide in-person assistance and counseling to seniors during Open Enrollment, are closed and unable to provide face-to-face assistance. SHIP and its community partners play a key role to bridge the technology gap for first-time enrollees and seniors.\n\nAdditionally, seniors and those assisting them have reported issues with the Medicare Plan Finder\u2019s online tool produced by CMS, in which the website displayed confusing, incomplete or inaccurate information for 9 days. In response, some states even paused enrollment as CMS worked to resolve the issue. In his letter, Stanton calls for, at minimum, a 9-day extension to account for the error.\n\nThe letter is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-calls-medicare-open-enrollment-extension-ensure-seniors-stay-covered", "Stanton Calls for Medicare Open Enrollment Extension to  Ensure Seniors Stay Covered During COVID-19 Crisis", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To help protect seniors' access to health care coverage, Rep. Greg Stanton called for an extension to the Federal Health Insurance Exchange Enrollment Period deadline. Stanton made the request yesterday in a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma. The current deadline to enroll is December 7. As COVID-19 cases continue to rise and in-person resources remain severely limited, Arizonans looking to enroll in Medicare face multiple barriers that hinder their ability to enroll by the current deadlinepotentially causing a delay in health care coverage when they need it most, Stanton writes. I strongly believe that the current Medicare Open Enrollment period should be extended to ensure that seniors, who remain one of the most vulnerable populations to this virus, have the coverage they need. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, all 42 of Arizona's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) community partners in Maricopa County, which normally provide in-person assistance and counseling to seniors during Open Enrollment, are closed and unable to provide face-to-face assistance. SHIP and its community partners play a key role to bridge the technology gap for first-time enrollees and seniors. Additionally, seniors and those assisting them have reported issues with the Medicare Plan Finder's online tool produced by CMS, in which the website displayed confusing, incomplete or inaccurate information for 9 days. In response, some states even paused enrollment as CMS worked to resolve the issue. In his letter, Stanton calls for, at minimum, a 9-day extension to account for the error.  The letter is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-applauds-continued-withdrawal-american-troops-middle-east", "Congressman Biggs Applauds Continued Withdrawal of American Troops from Middle East", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Department of Defense Acting Secretary Christopher Miller announced that the Trump administration would continue to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan and Iraq. According to the acting secretary, there would be 2,500 troops left in both Afghanistan and Iraq by January 15, 2021. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:\n\n\"Today is a great day for our nation and for the men and women who serve in our military. For almost two decades, American troops have occupied Afghanistan and Iraq \u2013 at great cost to our nation both in lives and in dollars. Our men and women in uniform deserve to fight constitutionally sanctioned wars where American interests are on the line. American servicemembers have fought valiantly in the Middle East, but the current stage of these conflicts can no longer justify the tremendous sacrifices made by our troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.\n\n\"Since taking office, President Trump has kept his promises to withdraw our troops from the Middle East and to stop America's involvement in endless wars. President Trump understands that our troops should only be used to defend American interests where there is an immediate or ongoing threat to our citizens or allies. And President Trump knows that our propensity for endless wars has bankrupted our grandchildren's financial futures. I am grateful for the president's courage and commitment to his promises, and I look forward to the return of our troops.\"\n\nLast week, Congressman Biggs sent a letter to President Trump, asking him to continue to strategically draw down our nation's military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq.\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/11/house-passes-stanton-backed-bill-provide-emergency-relief-tribal-nations-after", "House Passes Stanton-Backed Bill to Provide Emergency Relief to Tribal Nations After Inaction by Trump Administration", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a bill cosponsored by Rep. Greg Stanton that will significantly help tribal nations with the financial burden of fighting COVID-19.\n\nThe FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020, H.R. 8266, eases COVID-19-related financial burdens on state, local, and tribal governments by increasing the federal cost share of FEMA assistance from 75 to 100 percent.\n\nStanton repeatedly pushed for the cost share adjustment in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and was an original cosponsor of the bill after the Trump Administration refused to take action on the issue.\n\nIn April, Stanton and more than 175 of his House colleagues urged the Trump Administration to eliminate the non-Federal cost share, noting the severity and magnitude of the crisis. Stanton also echoed Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez\u2019s request that the Administration waive the local cost share to help the Nation fight the pandemic, which the Administration had the authority to do on its own without congressional approval. Stanton\u2019s request went ignored by the White House.\n\n\u201cTribal communities, including the Navajo Nation, have been among the hardest hit by COVID-19. As cases surge to record levels across the country, the federal government has a duty to leverage the full weight of its resources to help tribal communities battle this pandemic,\u201d Stanton said. \u201cAfter months of inaction by this Administration, I\u2019m proud the House has taken this long-overdue step and I hope the Senate acts swiftly to pass this life-saving legislation.\u201d\n\nThe bill now heads to the Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-stanton-backed-bill-provide-emergency-relief-tribal-nations-after", "House Passes Stanton-Backed Bill to Provide Emergency Relief to Tribal Nations After Inaction by Trump Administration", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a bill cosponsored by Rep. Greg Stanton that will significantly help tribal nations with the financial burden of fighting COVID-19. \nThe FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020, H.R. 8266, eases COVID-19-related financial burdens on state, local, and tribal governments by increasing the federal cost share of FEMA assistance from 75 to 100 percent. \nStanton repeatedly pushed for the cost share adjustment in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and was an original cosponsor of the bill after the Trump Administration refused to take action on the issue.\nIn April, Stanton and more than 175 of his House colleagues urged the Trump Administration to eliminate the non-Federal cost share, noting the severity and magnitude of the crisis. Stanton also echoed Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez's request that the Administration waive the local cost share to help the Nation fight the pandemic, which the Administration had the authority to do on its own without congressional approval. Stanton's request went ignored by the White House. \nTribal communities, including the Navajo Nation, have been among the hardest hit by COVID-19. As cases surge to record levels across the country, the federal government has a duty to leverage the full weight of its resources to help tribal communities battle this pandemic, Stanton said. After months of inaction by this Administration, I'm proud the House has taken this long-overdue step and I hope the Senate acts swiftly to pass this life-saving legislation.\nThe bill now heads to the Senate. \nFull text of the bill is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-requests-100-audit-maricopa-county-arizona-ballots", "Congressman Biggs Requests 100% Audit of Maricopa County, Arizona Ballots", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Honorable Clint Hickman\n\nChairman, District 4\n\nMaricopa County Board of Supervisors\n\nThe Honorable Steve Chucri\n\nSupervisor, District 2\n\nMaricopa County Board of Supervisors\n\nThe Honorable Steve Gallardo\n\nSupervisor, District 5\n\nMaricopa County Board of Supervisors\n\nThe Honorable Jack Sellers\n\nVice Chairman, District 1\n\nMaricopa County Board of Supervisors\n\nThe Honorable Bill Gates\n\nSupervisor, District 3\n\nMaricopa County Board of Supervisors\n\nDear Chairman Hickman and members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors,\n\nThank you for your vigilance in working to ensure Arizona's election is fair and accurate. We appreciate the dedicated effort required to manage an election of this scale in Arizona's largest county, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share our thoughts on how best to move forward.\n\nMore than 3.2 million ballots were cast for the presidential election in Arizona, with more than 63 percent of those cast in Maricopa County. Yet hundreds of voters in Maricopa County have signed affidavits alleging their ballots cast in the November 3 election may have been discounted. Every voter has the right to know that his or her ballot was accurately tabulated.\n\nArizona state law sets out various mechanisms to root out fraud and protect the integrity of the results. While the election margins may not be narrow enough to trigger a recount, you are permitted to conduct a 100 percent manual audit. State law requires a manual audit of a minimum number of ballots cast, both those cast early and those cast in-person on election day (A.R.S. \u00a7 16-602(B), (F)). The law does not, however, impose a ceiling on the number of ballots that may be manually audited. Maricopa County has full authority to require a 100 percent audit of ballots cast, allowing tabulators to review ballot images and compare the results to current totals.\n\nThe narrow margin that currently exists between the two presidential candidates, together with questions regarding anomalies and potential errors, is more than enough reasoning to conduct a manual audit of ballot images. A manual audit of ballot images will provide full transparency of Maricopa County's election results. This will ameliorate concerns voters have expressed, will tamp down rumors, and will assuage the concerns of non-Arizonans calling our election results into question. Please use your statutory authority to compel the County Recorder to commence and complete a manual audit of ballot images. Thank you for your leadership and consideration.\n\nAll the best,\n\nAndy Biggs\n\nMember of Congress\n\nPaul A. Gosar, D.D.S.\n\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-sends-letter-president-trump-about-troop-withdrawals-middle", "Congressman Biggs Sends Letter to President Trump about Troop Withdrawals in the Middle East", "2020-11-12", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Yesterday, Congressman Andy Biggs sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump, asking him to continue to strategically draw down our nation's military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nNovember 11, 2020\n\nPresident Donald J. Trump\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, DC\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nUnder your leadership, our nation has achieved unprecedented prosperity. Now, as we observe Veterans Day, I hope you will look abroad and continue to strategically draw down our nation's military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq.\n\nThe wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have both been enormously costly in lives and dollars. In the case of Afghanistan, instead of merely conducting counterterrorism operations in the wake the September 11, 2001, attacks, our troops engaged in full-scale nation-building efforts both before and after the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan, a supposed ally of the United States. Having now lasted over 19 years, the war in Afghanistan has been the longest overseas conflict in American history. But, sadly, the situation on the ground today looks much the same now as it did back in 2001, with the Taliban in control of much of the country.\n\nAnd then there is Iraq. Over the last 18 years, our forces toppled Saddam Hussein's government and successfully fought terrorists of many different stripes in Iraq, including the Islamic State. But these achievements have simply not been worth the cost. Instead of focusing on limited aims, we fell into the same nation-building, \"peacekeeping\" trap in Iraq that ensnared us in Afghanistan, even after major combat operations officially ended in 2011. Today, Iraq's government is shaky at best, addicted to continuing foreign assistance, and easily susceptible to pressure from outside actors, especially Iran.\n\nNation-building doesn't work, as you immediately recognized upon taking office: Afghanistan and Iraq today are clearly not beacons of democracy, stability, or prosperity, despite the thousands of American lives and trillions of dollars we have sacrificed to try to remake these countries. None of this is a criticism of our brave men in women in uniform, who have performed heroically in these and all other overseas engagements. Instead, it is an indictment of Washington's broken foreign policy establishment, which is dominated by arm-chair idealists who never seem to grasp the messy realities on the ground.\n\nI commend your efforts so far to bring our engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq to an end, including your bold decision to open negotiations with the Taliban and your ambitious plan to remove thousands of United States servicemembers from these two countries. I urge you to continue to aggressively pursue these and all other related efforts in the coming weeks. What greater gift could we give the American people as we head into the holiday season?\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-sends-letter-attorney-general-barr-about-potential-riots", "Congressman Biggs Sends Letter to Attorney General Barr about Potential Riots on Election Day", "2020-11-02", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Biggs sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr, urging him to use the tools at his disposal at the Department of Justice to stop any potential criminal behavior stemming from riots on Election Day to ensure order on American streets.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nNovember 2, 2020\n\nThe Honorable William P. Barr\n\nAttorney General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, DC 20530\n\nDear Attorney General Barr:\n\nFor the past few months, Americans have watched as extremist groups and violent rioters seized on the legitimate protests of law-abiding Americans as an opportunity to commit violence and sow discord across our country. We've witnessed billions of dollars in property damage done to small businesses, historical monuments defaced and torn down, and acts of violence committed against our law enforcement and those within our community.\n\nNow, as our nation approaches Election Day, we are being told that violent rioters, potentially numbering in the tens of thousands, are planning to descend upon our nation's capital if President Donald Trump is elected to a second term in the White House. News reports and other documents indicate that these rioters will target the White House, the Capitol, and Republican buildings and citizens throughout Washington, D.C. It is worth noting that there are no such credible threats of similar violence by supporters of President Trump in the event that former Vice President Joe Biden wins the election.\n\nI write to urge you to use the tools at your disposal at the Department of Justice to stop any potential criminal behavior stemming from these planned gatherings and ensure order in our streets. Please describe what plans you have in place to ensure the safety of our nation's capital, its residents, and our federal and local institutions.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/10/30/congressman-schweikert-applauds-house-gop-commitment-defeat-virus-and/", "Congressman Schweikert Applauds House GOP Commitment to Defeat the Virus and Keep America Healthy Act", "2020-10-30", "2020", "2020-10", "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 (AZ-06) released the following statement applauding introduction of H.R. 14, House Republicans Commitment to Defeat the Virus and Keep America Healthy Act. This legislation is comprised of provisions introduced by Members on the Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, and Appropriations Committee.\n\nThis bill includes H.R. 7714, legislation introduced by Congressman Schweikert to reduce the current 7.5 percent income threshold for the medical expense deduction to 5 percent for years 2020 and 2021, and make the 7.5 percent income threshold permanent for all other years.\n\n\u201cI am proud to see my legislation to reduce the medical expense deduction threshold for Americans battling high-medical costs, especially during the pandemic, included in H.R. 14, the Commitment to Defeat the Virus and Keep America Healthy Act. Each provision in this bill will continue our much-needed work to defeat this virus, help individuals safely return to work, and support our businesses working hard to re-open. I urge my Democratic colleagues to join us in passing this bipartisan legislation to support our communities and further grow the economy.\u201d\n\nFor a section-by-section break down of the bill, click HERE.\n\nTo view full text of the bill, click HERE.\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-statement-3rd-quarter-gdp-comeback", "Congressman Biggs' Statement on the 3rd Quarter GDP Comeback", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported that U.S. GDP \"increased at an annual rate of 33.1% in the third quarter of 2020.\" The U.S. Department of Labor reported that weekly jobless claims decreased to the lowest levels since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:\n\n\"In early March, President Trump was leading the one of the greatest economic surges in American history. Thousands of jobs were being created; the unemployment rate was at a near-historic low, and wages were on the rise. Millions of everyday Americans were benefiting from President Trump's pro-growth policies that opened the floodgates for weekly and monthly economic booms.\n\n\"Then came the COVID-19 hysteria, when Anthony Fauci, Deborah Birx, and their bureaucratic and media cohorts worked with state and local governments around the nation to shut down the American economy. The results were catastrophic and devastating to our economy and families, instantly proving that the cure was worse than the disease.\n\n\"Our economic decline rests on the shoulders of every bureaucrat, governor and mayor who shut down or restricted our economy, but our recovery is wholly due to the pre-COVID foundation laid by President Trump and his post-COVID efforts to lead the great American comeback. President Trump promised a second time to lead the American economy back to unparalleled greatness. Today's news proves that he is again keeping his promises to the American people.\"\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/president-signs-mcsallys-ptsd-treatment-bill-into-law", "President Signs McSally\u2019s PTSD Treatment Bill Into Law", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Signs McSally's PTSD Treatment Bill Into Law \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S. SENATE \r\nPresident Trump recently signed into law U.S. Senator Martha McSally's (R-AZ)\r\nbill to expand mental health treatment options for veterans to seek innovative\r\ntherapies to combat PTSD and other mental health issues as part of a larger\r\npackage known as the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care\r\nImprovement Act. Every veteran\r\nis impacted by their service differently and we owe them the best possible\r\naccess to care, McSally said. I was pleased to see my bill to help\r\nveterans access innovative and potentially life-changing therapies signed into\r\nlaw as part of broader mental health legislation. My bill requires the VA to\r\nlaunch a study into posttraumatic growth therapy, which can help turn veterans\r\nlives around. In addition, the broader bill will increase much-needed funding\r\nfor state and local suicide prevention groups and improve VA telehealth access.\r\nThis is a crucial initiative to save lives and improve mental health care for\r\nveterans in our country. Background: On Jan. 28, Senators McSally and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced\r\nthe Veterans Posttraumatic Growth Act. McSally's\r\nVeterans Posttraumatic Growth Act requires the VA to conduct a pilot program to\r\nstudy the benefits of nonprofit posttraumatic growth programs relative to\r\ntraditional models of mental health care. Posttraumatic growth therapy and\r\nwhole health therapy address many factors in a person's life, such as\r\nrelationships, family, jobs, finances, and others, instead of focusing solely\r\non traditional therapies and pharmaceutical options. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/justice-amy-coney-barrett-confirmed-us-supreme-court", "Justice Amy Coney Barrett Confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court", "2020-10-27", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Last night, the U.S. Senate completed its constitutional duties of advice and consent for a Supreme Court vacancy, confirming Amy Coney Barrett by a 52-48 vote. Justice Barrett was officially sworn onto the Supreme Court this morning by Chief Justice John Roberts. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:\n\n\"The United States Supreme Court gained an outstanding associate justice this week with Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation. As we heard repeatedly during her confirmation hearings, Justice Barrett will strive to uphold the original meaning and text of the Constitution, and she will help to restore the separation of powers between our three federal branches of government. Her presence and vote on the high court will be critical for forthcoming decisions in the decades ahead.\n\n\"After attempting to brutally sabotage Justice Kavanaugh's nomination just two years ago with a public spectacle in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media tried a different, more subtle tactic with Justice Barrett's process, claiming that her nomination was illegitimate and threatening that they would fundamentally transform the federal courts should they retake all of Congress and the White House. Thankfully, President Trump, Leader McConnell, Chairman Graham, Senator Martha McSally and dozens of other Senate Republicans did not give into this partisan bluster.\n\n\"I am confident in the job that Justice Amy Coney Barrett will do on the Supreme Court. Yet I am sad for the direction that radical Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media continue to take our nation. Since the nomination of Robert Bork in 1987, Democrats have sought to demonize and derail decent men and women on their ascent to our federal courtrooms. Democrats must stand down and stop their rabid, political gamesmanship with our courts. If not, they will destroy our nation from within.\"\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/10/27/congressman-schweikert-applauds-introduction-securing-strong-retirement/", "Congressman Schweikert Applauds Introduction of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020", "2020-10-27", "2020", "2020-10", "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 (AZ-06) released the following statement applauding the introduction of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020, bipartisan legislation from the Ways and Means Committee that builds upon the SECURE Act, which became law in 2019.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see the Way and Means Committee continue our bipartisan efforts to prioritize the financial wellbeing of all Americans. Improving retirement security for our seniors, along with providing hard-working Americans with further resources needed to prepare for retirement, should be a priority for all of Congress. I applaud the recent introduction of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act to build off our work in the SECURE Act, and I look forward to helping pass this important, bipartisan legislation.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Setting Every Committee Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was signed into law in December of 2019. First introduced by a bipartisan group of Ways and Means Committee members including Chairman Neal and Ranking Member Brady, the SECURE Act expanded opportunities for Americans to increase their retirement savings and improved the portability of lifetime income options from one plan to another.\n\nCongressman Schweikert was proud to support and vote in favor of the SECURE Act, which passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 417-3.\n\nThe Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020 will:\n\nPromote savings earlier for retirement by enrolling employees automatically in their company\u2019s 401(k) plan, when a new plan is created;\n\nCreate a new financial incentive for small businesses to offer retirement plans;\n\nIncrease and modernize the existing federal tax credit for contributions to a retirement plan or IRA (the Saver\u2019s Credit);\n\nExpand retirement savings options for non-profit employees by allowing groups of non-profits to join together to offer retirement plans to their employees;\n\nOffer individuals 60 and older more flexibility to set aside savings as they approach retirement;\n\nAllow individuals to save for retirement longer by increasing the required minimum distribution age to 75;\n\nAllow individuals to pay down a student loan instead of contributing to a 401(k) plan and still receive an employer match in their retirement plan;\n\nMake it easier for military spouses who change jobs frequently to save for retirement;\n\nAllow individuals more flexibility to make gifts to charity through their IRAs;\n\nAllow taxpayers to avoid harsh penalties for inadvertent errors managing an IRA that can lead to a loss of retirement savings;\n\nProtect retirees who unknowingly receive retirement plan overpayments; and\n\nMake it easier for employees to find lost retirement accounts by creating a national, online, database of lost accounts.\n\nTo read a section-by-section summary of the bill, click HERE.\n\nA short summer of the bill can be found HERE.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/10/26/schweikert-joins-bipartisan-legislation-develop-technology-remove-carbon/", "Schweikert Joins Bipartisan Legislation to Develop Technology to Remove Carbon Dioxide from the Atmosphere", "2020-10-26", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Representative David Schweikert joined Representatives Annie Kuster (D-NH), David McKinley (R-WV), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Scott Peters (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Tom O\u2019Halleran (D-AZ), and Diana DeGette (D-CO) in introducing the Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act. This bipartisan legislation authorizes a whole-of-government approach to research, develop, and demonstrate carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology. The bill achieves this goal by directing federal agencies to include the development of CDR as part of their annual budget requests and ensure this work is coordinated across the federal government.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to join this bipartisan bill to coordinate research and demonstration of carbon dioxide removal technology,\u201d said Rep. Schweikert. \u201cI have been a strong proponent of direct air capture technologies, as Arizona has been a national leader in innovative carbon removal technologies research. Eventually scaling up these technologies will ensure Arizonans will have a cleaner environment and stronger economy in the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cClimate change is an existential threat to our national security, our society, and the future of our planet,\u201d said Rep. Kuster. \u201cIn order to prevent the worst effects, we must dramatically reduce the carbon in our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology has the potential to help achieve this goal and the government should vigorously pursue it. I am excited to advance this legislation as part of my larger clean energy agenda to curb climate change and help us transition to a clean energy economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress must do more to encourage innovation to develop the next generation of clean energy technologies, like carbon capture, direct air capture, and negative emissions technologies,\u201d said Rep. McKinley. \u201cOur bipartisan bill will support coordination across the federal government as we look to use our energy resources in the cleanest way possible and remove carbon from the atmosphere.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe fires, floods and hurricanes that are raging across our nation make clear that climate change is not a future problem, but an urgent threat that is devastating our infrastructure, economy and the lives of millions of Americans,\u201d said Rep. Tonko. \u201cWe need to use every tool possible to rise to this challenge, and carbon dioxide removal must be part of this comprehensive approach. The CREATE Act delivers that needed federal coordination in research and development of technologies and techniques that can reduce and remove carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere. I am proud to join my colleagues in cosponsoring this vital legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe development of new and innovative technologies is critical to allowing us to remove carbon from the atmosphere while still benefiting from abundant and cheap natural gas,\u201d said Rep. Gonzalez. \u201cThe CREATE Act will help us to capitalize on our cutting edge research and development capabilities to establish a suite of carbon capture and other technologies to help with decarbonization.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have to invest in innovative solutions that remove carbon from our atmosphere,\u201d said Rep. Peters. \u201cThe CREATE Act would direct our government\u2019s top-notch experts and resources towards the research, development and deployment of various CDR technologies to tackle carbon pollution. Carbon removal is critical to curbing climate change. I am pleased to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to back the bipartisan CREATE Act, an innovative approach to carbon capture that will yield huge dividends for our environmental security. Carbon capture technology can reduce carbon already in the atmosphere,\u201d said Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Ranking Member, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\n\n\u201cOver the last decade, we have seen the increasingly severe effects of our changing planet, underscoring the urgent need for action to both address climate change head on and work to reverse existing damage,\u201d said Rep. O\u2019Halleran. \u201cI am proud to join this commonsense legislation that will streamline, coordinate, and accelerate the implementation of carbon dioxide removal technology in order to preserve our environment and work towards a more sustainable future.\u201d\n\n\u201cRemoving the excess carbon dioxide in our air will be critical to restoring a healthy balance for our climate, and it will take coordination across our government to make it happen,\u201d said Roger Ullman, Executive Director of LTC Action. \u201cThis important bill will ensure that takes place.\u201d\n\n\u201cBPC Action supports the Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act introduced by Reps. Kuster (D-NH), McKinley (R-WV), Tonko (D-NY), Gonzalez (R-OH), Peters (D-CA), Fortenberry (R-NE), O\u2019Halleran (D-AZ), Schweikert (R-AZ), and DeGette (D-CO), which would boost the effectiveness of carbon removal federal programs to scale-up direct air capture, soil, forest, and ocean solutions areas effectively. The bill will help reduce carbon emissions, generate socioeconomic opportunities across the country, and advance the United States as a world leader in this emerging field,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, Executive Director, BPC Action.\n\nCarbon removal solutions are necessary to meet global climate goals, but realizing their potential will require a collaborative multi-agency, economy-wide approach,\u201d said Noah Deich, Executive Director, Carbon180. \u201cThe Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act will ensure there is a strategic plan for the United States to quickly and robustly scale carbon removal solutions across sectors, providing us the best chance to both meet climate goals and access abundant economic benefits.\u201d\n\n\u201cComplementing mitigation efforts, carbon removal is expected to help us to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century. CATF welcomes the bipartisan Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act to enable a coordinated and strategic near-term scale-up and commercialization of carbon removal, as well as related infrastructure. Climate-forward innovation and investment in advanced climate technologies like carbon removal will not only help to realize economic opportunities and societal benefits, but will also contribute to reaching our climate goals,\u201d said Lee Beck, CCUS Policy Innovation Director, Clean Air Task Force.\n\n\u201cThe United States needs to stay focused on aggressive action to cut greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, we recognize the need for carbon removal technologies in order to reach the goal of net zero emissions across the economy by 2050 and avert the worst impact of climate change. EDF thanks Reps. Kuster (D-NH), McKinley (R-WV), Tonko (D-NY), Gonzalez (R-OH), Peters (D-CA), Fortenberry (R-NE), O\u2019Halleran (D-AZ), Schweikert (R-AZ), and DeGette (D-CO) for their leadership in introducing the Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise (CREATE) Act, an important bipartisan bill that coordinates efforts across the federal government to research, develop, and demonstrate these crucial technologies,\u201d said EDF statement of Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs.\n\n\u201cThe CREATE Act is the need of the hour when it comes to fighting climate change. We need to develop, test and bring carbon removal technologies down the cost curve now to be able to remove the massive levels of CO2 required to keep global temperatures from rising beyond 2C,\u201d said Dr. Jan Mazurek at the ClimateWorks Foundation.\n\nBackground:\n\nAccording to the 2019 United Nations Emissions Gap Report, reducing future carbon emissions alone cannot prevent global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, which is the maximum increase we can withstand before we begin to experience the worst impacts of climate change. We must also reduce the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) \u2013 one of the primary greenhouse gases \u2013 that is already in the atmosphere. CDR technology removes CO2 from the atmosphere, helping to prevent climate change and mitigate its impacts.\n\nTo read the full text of this legislation, click HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-daines-urge-deadline-extension-for-tribal-covid-relief-fund", "McSally, Daines Urge Deadline Extension for Tribal COVID Relief Fund", "2020-10-26", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. SENATE \r\nU.S. Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Steve Daines (R-MT) are urging the\r\nAdministration to give Tribes more time to use the Coronavirus Relief Fund\r\n(CRF). Extending the deadline will allow Tribes more time to complete their\r\nmost significant pandemic response projects, including the construction of more health care\r\nfacilities and improvement of water infrastructure.  Starting these critical public health projects with CRF\r\nfunds is not allowed under current CRF guidance. The\r\nSenators sent a letter\r\nto Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark\r\nMeadows asking that the Treasury expand its definition of allowable CRF\r\nincurred expenses to include projects that will be substantially completed by\r\n2021. while tribes will be able to purchase masks and other\r\nshort-term life goods before the end of 2020, the requirement that performance\r\nor delivery must occur during the covered period' severely handicaps tribes'\r\nability to use these funds for some of their most pressing needs in responding\r\nto Coronavirus and largely defeats the purpose of the fund, the Senators\r\nwrote. Updating the guidance to\r\nallow tribes and other CRF eligible entities to complete essential public\r\nhealth infrastructure projects will honor the intent of the CARES Act and\r\naddress the ongoing needs of communities during the pandemic. McSally and Daines were the first Senators to publicly\r\ncall for a tribal government stabilization fund and other direct aid to Tribes\r\nin a March\r\n20 letter. They successfully\r\nfought for over $8 billion in tribal COVID-19 relief to be included in the\r\nCARES Act. As a direct\r\nresult of their efforts, tribal gaming enterprises were included in the\r\nPaycheck Protection Program. In September,\r\nMcSally successfully secured flexibility for state, local, and tribal\r\ngovernments to use Coronavirus Relief Fund allocations to prevent the layoffs\r\nof public health and safety workers during the pandemic, improve public health\r\ninfrastructure, and purchase personal protective equipment for schools. A copy of the\r\nletter can be found here and below. Dear\r\nSecretary Mnuchin and Mr. Meadows: We greatly\r\nappreciate your efforts to continue to work with Congress to provide additional\r\nrelief and assistance to all Americans during this unprecedented global\r\npandemic. We write about tribal governments and tribal communities in our\r\nstates that have been devastated by the pandemic and how updated Treasury\r\nguidance regarding the COVID Relief Fund deadline can help address continued\r\nneeds in Indian Country. It is\r\ndifficult to articulate the depth of impact the Coronavirus has had on tribal\r\ncommunities. Tribal communities live with the historical trauma of viral\r\ndisease spread in their communities, including the Smallpox, Spanish Flu,\r\nPolio, Tuberculosis, and the Hantavirus. These outbreaks are not simply a footnote\r\nin a history book for tribes, these viruses have killed large numbers of their\r\ngreat-grandfathers, -grandmothers, mothers, fathers and children and to this\r\nday, tribal communities in the southwest still face threats of the Black\r\nPlague. Now, COVID-19 is devastating these same communities; robbing tribes of\r\ntheir elders, and in some places, the last of their fluent native language\r\nspeakers. Recognizing\r\nthis, we acted. Working closely with the Trump Administration, we passed a\r\nhistoric measure of assistance to Tribal governments providing $8 billion to\r\nthe Tribal Coronavirus Relief Fund. These funds were provided to assist tribes\r\nacross the country in fighting and mitigating the impacts of this virus on\r\ntheir communities. However, without a clarification in the guidance from\r\nTreasury, many tribes will not be able to fully use these funds to fight and\r\nmitigate the impact of the virus on their communities. Thus, we are writing\r\ntoday to ask the Administration to once again work with us and provide an\r\nimportant clarification to the Tribal Coronavirus Relief Funds guidance that\r\nwill ensure that these desperately needed funds that we all fought so hard to\r\nsecure will be able to stay in Indian Country to assist Tribes. Specifically,\r\nthe CARES Act specifies that funds administered through the Coronavirus Relief\r\nFund (CRF) must be used for unbudgeted expenses that respond to the Coronavirus\r\ncrisis, and that the expenses be incurred by December 30, 2020. The Treasury\r\nGuidance provides that performance or delivery must occur during the covered\r\nperiod (March 2020-December 2020) even if payment does not occur in 2020.\r\nUnfortunately, Tribes have had limited time/access to use these funds and\r\nthrough no one's fault, there was a delay in distributing the funds and\r\nlitigation regarding eligibility to receive funds, which resulted in tribes\r\nhaving six months or fewer to expend funds. Thus, while tribes will be able to\r\npurchase masks and other short-term life goods before the end of 2020, the\r\nrequirement that performance or delivery must occur during the covered period\r\nseverely handicaps tribes' ability to use these funds for some of their most\r\npressing needs in responding to Coronavirus and largely defeats the purpose of\r\nthe fund. For\r\nexample, for tribes in our States who have limited space or a limited number of\r\nhealth care facilities, and desire to expand the size or increase the number of\r\nsuch facilities to respond to the Coronavirus, such projects cannot reasonably\r\nbe completed in 2020 and would likely be completed in 2021. Pursuant to the\r\nguidance provided only amounts which relate to construction completed in 2020\r\nwould qualify as incurred and as a valid use of funds  despite such projects\r\nbeing the most pressing and necessary uses of such funds in responding to the\r\npandemic. Also, Treasury has indicated that CRF payments may be used for\r\nupgrading public health infrastructure, such as providing individuals and\r\nfamilies access to running water to help reduce the further spread of the\r\nvirus, but still requires construction and related that expenses must be\r\nincurred by December 30, 2020. Under the current definition of incurred costs,\r\nsuch improvements are nearly impossible to construct within this timeframe. Thus, we\r\nare asking that Treasury issue clarifying guidance related to the definition of\r\nincurred costs to improve the effectiveness of the COVID Relief Fund.\r\nSpecifically, we request the following language be included in updated Treasury\r\nCRF guidance: Expenditures\r\nwill be considered eligible as incurred expenses if a contract for services\r\nor for the design, planning, engineering or construction of a project related\r\nto the COVID-19 public health emergency is executed by December 31, 2020, and\r\nthe services and/or the construction of the project will be substantially\r\ncompleted by no later than December 31, 2021. Updating\r\nthe guidance to allow tribes and other CRF eligible entities to complete\r\nessential public health infrastructure projects will honor the intent of the\r\nCARES Act and address the ongoing needs of communities during the pandemic. We\r\nappreciate your consideration of this important matter and look forward to\r\nworking with you to ensure Congress and the Administration continue to\r\naddresses the pandemic needs of all Americans, including Native Americans. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-votes-to-confirm-judge-barrett-to-the-supreme-court", "McSally Votes to Confirm Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court", "2020-10-26", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McSally Votes to Confirm Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S.\r\nSENATE  U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) released the following statement\r\nafter she voted to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court today. Today I\r\nhad the honor of casting a historic vote to confirm Judge Amy Coney Barrett to\r\nthe Supreme Court,McSally said.As only the fifth woman to\r\nserve on our nation's highest court and the first with\r\nschool-agedchildren, soon-to-be Justice Barrett is continuing her trend\r\nof shattering barriers for women and girls. Her ascent to the top of her field\r\nin a male-dominated profession is an inspiration to all Americans and proves\r\nonce again that women deserve a seat at the table. Not\r\nonly this, but Judge Barrett willfaithfully interpret the Constitution\r\nand laws as written rather than legislate from the bench or impose her personal\r\npreferences on Americans. She has demonstrated unequivocally that she is a\r\nbrilliant, fair jurist who will bring a stellar judicial temperament to the\r\nbench.Judge Barrett's story is a great reminder that anyone in our\r\ncountry can grow up and achieve their dreams if they put in the time and work.\r\nAs someone who broke barriers myself, I look forward to seeing Judge Barrett\r\ntake her seat on the Supreme Court. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-statement-supreme-court-vote", "Sinema Statement on Supreme Court Vote", "2020-10-25", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sunday, October 25, 2020\n\n      \n            WASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema issued the following statement:  \n  \n\"It is the duty of all federal judges to consistently apply the Constitution and laws to protect the fundamental rights of all Americans. After watching the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings, reading Judge Barrett's legal opinions and scholarly writings, and speaking with her directly, I am concerned about Judge Barrett's inconsistent views on legal precedent, and how those inconsistencies impact her obligation to interpret and uphold the rule of law.\"\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-introduces-bill-to-speed-arizona-forest-restoration-project", "McSally Introduces Bill to Speed Arizona Forest Restoration Project", "2020-10-24", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McSally Introduces Bill to Speed Arizona Forest Restoration Project \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S. SENATE \r\nU.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) today introduced legislation to accelerate\r\nArizona's single most important forest restoration projectthe Four Forest\r\nRestoration Initiative (4FRI). The bill would reduce bureaucratic delays by waiving a requirement\r\nthat the Forest Service must wait an additional 30 days after notifying\r\nCongress of the completed contract before they actually issue the award.\r\nInstead, the Forest Service would be required to report the details of the\r\ncontract to Congress within seven days of its issuance. This Congressional notification waiver\r\nwould only apply to Phase 2 of the 4FRI project, which Congress has followed closely for years. Far too many\r\nArizona communities saw the devastation of catastrophic wildfires this summer,\r\nMcSally said. We cannot afford any more delays on this project to\r\nprevent forest fires in our state. Over the last two years, I've worked with\r\nthe Forest Service to speed the Four Forest Restoration Initiative. This\r\ncommonsense bill cuts through the bureaucratic red tape to ensure there is not\r\none more month of delay in awarding a contract for Phase 2 of 4FRI.  Leaders in\r\nNavajo and Coconino counties expressed support\r\nfor McSally's legislation. Navajo County\r\nSupervisor Jason Whiting:\r\nSimply put, we don't want to burn like we are seeing in states all around us.\r\nNow is the time for action to mitigate the risk of catastrophic fires through\r\nbetter forest management. Senator McSally's legislation will reduce unnecessary\r\nbureaucratic delays to forest management and wildfire prevention by authorizing\r\nthe Forest Service to issue the 4FRI Phase 2 contract as soon as negotiations\r\nare complete. I appreciate Senator McSally's leadership on this important\r\nissue.  Coconino\r\nCounty Supervisor Art Babbott said: I encourage the expeditious awarding of the 4FRI Phase 2 RFP. Time is of\r\nthe essence as the risks to our community are profound. Congress is well\r\naware of the RFP and the need to get Phase 2 forest restoration underway in\r\nnorthern Arizona. I appreciate Senator McSally's bill and hope that all parties\r\n Congress, the Forest Service, and our industry partners can move quickly to\r\nget this RFP awarded.  Read full bill\r\ntext HERE. BACKGROUND: \r\n On September\r\n     25, 2020, Sen. McSally and Rep. O'Halleran led members of the Arizona\r\n     delegation in a letter to the U.S. Forest Service highlighting the need\r\n     for action on the Four Forest Restoration Initiative in Northern Arizona\r\n     to help reduce wildfire risk.\r\n On September\r\n     16, 2020, McSally called out the U.S. Forest Service for delaying 4FRI.\r\n On June\r\n     13, 2019, McSally introduced a bill to streamline\r\n     4FRI. Many of the proposals in her bill were adopted by the Forest Service.\r\n On April\r\n     9, 2019, McSally pressed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)\r\n     about the timeline of Arizona's Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI).\r\n     \r\n On March\r\n     22, 2019, McSally visited Coconino County during her 15-county tour\r\n     and heard from community leaders about the state of the forests.\r\n On February\r\n     12, 2019, McSally helped pass the Bipartisan Natural Resources Management\r\n     Act, which included important provisions to modernize wildfire technology.\r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-introduces-bill-to-enhance-delivery-of-benefits-for-student-veterans-amid-coronavirus-disruptions", "McSally Introduces Bill to Enhance Delivery of Benefits for Student Veterans Amid Coronavirus Disruptions", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McSally Introduces Bill to Enhance Delivery of Benefits for Student Veterans Amid Coronavirus Disruptions \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S. SENATE U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) on Friday introduced\r\nlegislation to transfer CARES Act funding to the Veterans Benefits\r\nAdministration (VBA) to improve the delivery of benefits for student veterans. Our\r\nstudent veterans receiving benefits under the GI Bill have experienced\r\ndisruptions to their education benefits amid the coronavirus pandemic,McSally said.This is largely due to an outdated IT\r\nsystem within the Department of Veterans Affairs that is unable to adapt to\r\nrapidly evolving changes to the GI Bill. As we work to combat the fallout of\r\nthis virus, it is now more critical than ever that the VA modernize its system\r\nof delivering GI Bill benefits to our nation's veterans. My bill will do just\r\nthat. Read full\r\nbill textHERE. Background: Senator\r\nMcSally'sbillwould\r\nmodernize the Veterans Benefits Administration's digital benefits platform\r\nbygiving the VA the authority totransfercertain unobligated\r\nCARES Act funds to the VBA for this purpose. The funds will update the current\r\ninflexible legacy IT system at VBA that is unable to accommodate and administer\r\nlegislative changes to the GI Bill. This will ensure timely, accurate benefits\r\nprocessing and delivery for student veterans \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-speaks-supreme-court-nominee-amy-coney-barrett", "Sinema Speaks with Supreme Court Nominee Amy Coney Barrett", "2020-10-23", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema today spoke with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, the nominee to serve as Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Sinema's call with Judge Barrett comes as the Senate is expected to consider the nomination in the coming days.\nAs I promised Arizonans, I am carefully considering whether this nominee is professionally qualified, believes in the role of an independent judiciary, and can be trusted to faithfully interpret and uphold the rule of law, said Sinema.\nSince being elected to the Senate, Sinema has consistently applied the same criteria to all judicial and executive nominees considered by the Senate.\nClick HERE for Spanish release.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4077", "U.S. Government Looks to Wenden, Arizona to Help End Reliance on China for Critical Minerals", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul A. Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", "gosar", "https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. - Today the United States Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) announced that it has awarded American Manganese Inc. (AMY) a grant to perform work on the United States Government\u2019s manganese ore stockpile located near Wenden, Arizona, with the goal of producing electrolytic manganese metal (EMM) for the nation. AMY will conduct tests of the Wenden stockpile to confirm the viability of using the Company\u2019s patented hydrometallurgical process to recover EMM from the stockpile. If successful, the DLA, together with AMY, will proceed to transform sub-economic manganese resources into a valuable source of EMM.\n\n\u201cAs a Member of Congress, it is seldom that I see such a clearly amazing opportunity,\u201d said Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ). \u201cThe successful execution of this project could transform an unwanted stockpile of low-grade material, long ago paid for by the U.S. taxpayer, into a National Defense Stockpile stockpile material (EMM). The U.S. simply cannot remain dependent on Chinese supply chains \u2014 particularly when electrolytic manganese metal is a designated strategic defense mineral. The proposed project is a strong first step towards advancing a durable American source of supply.\"\n\nOur reliance on China for critical minerals has long been a national security threat to Americans. The COVID pandemic has only accelerated the reality of that threat. The U.S. simply cannot remain dependent on Chinese supply chains. Last month, President Trump issued Executive Order 13953 \u201cAddressing the Threat to the Domestic Supply Chain From Reliance on Critical Minerals From Foreign Adversaries and Supporting the Domestic Mining and Processing Industries.\u201d\n\nOne such critical mineral necessary for National Defense is \"manganese.\" At present, U.S. manganese production is zero, as a nation we are 100% import-dependent, with China being the world\u2019s largest producer. According to USGS, there has been no U.S. manganese production since 1973.\n\nWenden, Arizona happens to have one of the nation\u2019s most significant low-grade raw manganese ore stockpiles-approximately 322,000 metric tons. That stockpile was purchased by the U.S. government in the 1950s-through 1960s. However, due to its low-grade, as well as requirements for a specialized processing method to efficiently transform the raw manganese into useful forms of advanced manganese material, the Wenden stockpile has gone virtually unused - until now.\n\nRecently, the National Defense Stockpile added an acquisitions order for EMM for various advanced defense uses. Our office immediately seized this opportunity to advocate for the immediate use of the Wendon Stockpile. I wrote a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, David Bernhardt, which you can read HERE. I also wrote a letter to the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency - Strategic Materials, which you can read HERE.\n\n\u201cIf enacted, this project will make Wenden the hub for American manganese for decades to come, building a high-tech metal processing facility, bringing many high paying jobs and may allow America to explore or produce other domestic manganese mining.\u201d Gosar continued, \u201cThe action will give the U.S. our first domestic source of manganese since 1973, cut at the heart of Chinese dominance and make our nation more independent and secure. This is how America can fight back and bring jobs and mineral security home.\u201d\n\nCongratulations to the citizens of Wenden and to American Manganese Inc. This is a big win for Arizona, a big win for the American people, and a major step toward ending their reliance on China.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-backed-bipartisan-bill-provides-retirement-benefits-air-america-employees", "Sinema-Backed Bipartisan Bill Provides Retirement Benefits to Air America Employees", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Under Sinema's bill, 40 brave Arizonans would get the benefits they've earned\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Air America Actbipartisan legislation introduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio (Fla.) that provides retirement benefits for Air America employees who honorably served our country conducting covert operations in designated war zones.  \n  \nArizonans working for Air America risked their lives to keep our country safe and secure; they earned federal retirement benefits, said Sinema.  \n  \nAir America was a government-owned corporation that conducted covert operations during the Cold War, Korean War, and Vietnam War. Air America employees worked under direct policy guidance of the White House, Department of Defense, and Department of State while under the management of the CIA. Because of its covert nature, employees have not yet been able enroll in government retirement programs.  \n  \nAir America employed several hundred U.S. citizens, mainly flight crew members286 of which were killed in the line of duty while conducting covert operations in designated war zones. The last helicopter mission that rescued personnel from the rooftops in Saigon in 1975 was planned and executed by Air America and the U.S. Marine Corps.  \n  \nThe declassification of CIA documents in 2009 confirmed that Americans serving Air America were federal government employees at the time of their service and therefore entitled to federal retirement benefits. Sinema's bipartisan legislation returns these earned retirement benefits to the approximate 500 still living former Air America employees or their familiesapproximately 40 of whom are Arizonans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/10/21/schweikert-rush-kelly-thompson-introduce-safe-testing-residence/", "Schweikert, Rush, Kelly, Thompson Introduce the Safe Testing at Residence Telehealth Act", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressmen David Schweikert (AZ-06), Bobby Rush (IL-01), Mike Kelly (PA-16), and Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced the introduction of the Safe Testing at Residence Telehealth (START) Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide robust at-home COVID-19 testing for seniors and other vulnerable populations\n\n\u201cThe coronavirus pandemic has brought on unprecedented challenges for all Americans, particularly our vulnerable, senior populations who are most at risk for contracting COVID-19 and have continued to stay isolated from family and friends,\u201d said Schweikert. \u201cOne area where we have seen incredibly positive changes has been for seniors utilizing telehealth and at-home care tools, with growing appreciation for the flexibility and comfort this care can provide. I am proud to introduce this legislation to continue our much-needed expansion of healthcare technology and I am hopeful this can be included in any future COVID-19 relief to support our seniors and vulnerable populations working to stay healthy and safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am pleased to join Congressman Schweikert, Congressman Kelly, and Congressman Thompson in introducing this critical legislation, which will make testing more accessible and safer for seniors in my district and around the country,\u201d said Rush. \u201cRobust testing is key to ensuring those exposed to this dreaded disease receive timely treatment and prevent the spread to others.\u201d\n\n\u201cTelehealth is revolutionizing medical care. Virtual appointments and remote patient monitoring are allowing Americans to receive top quality care in the comfort and safety of their own homes. This technology will allow seniors to be tested for COVID-19 from their living rooms, and this bill will expand access to this vital service,\u201d said Kelly.\n\n\u201cAs the Coronavirus pandemic continues to impact us all, I am focused on ensuring that everyone can get the health care they need through telehealth, to fight the spread of the virus and keep people safe,\u201d said Thompson. \u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to join with Rep. Schweikert as co-chairs of the Telehealth Caucus to introduce this bill to help seniors get a COVID-19 test at home using telehealth. I look forward to working to pass this bill and continuing to increase the use of telehealth both now, and beyond our current crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe commend the sponsors of this common sense legislation to encourage safe and convenient testing, while avoiding unecessary exposure to the health care system where spread of Covid-19 is more likely and costs are higher.\u201d said Joel White, Executive Director, Health Innovation Alliance.\n\nBackground:\n\nResearch by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Family Foundation have found that U.S. adults age 65 and older account for roughly 16 percent of the population and 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths.\n\nThe Safe Testing at Residence Telehealth Act of 2020 would amend the Social Security Act by adding coverage and payment for Medicare beneficiaries to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved at-home tests. The approved tests would help diagnose or discount a diagnosis of COVID-19 or other similar respiratory infection and be done in conjunction with an assistive telehealth consultation.\n\nThrough this legislation, seniors will be able to safely consult with their physician from the comfort of their home. Relieved of risking exposure or coordinating transportation, families and health officials will now have more complete data to act on. Seniors prove to continue adapting to the new models of care made available thanks to generous telehealth waiver restrictions. From January to June of 2020, 43 percent of Medicare nationwide primary care claims have been through telehealth.\n\nTo read the full text of this legislation, click HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/10/stanton-returns-more-28-million-constituents", "Stanton Returns More Than $2.8 Million to Constituents", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "More than $2.8 million owed to residents of Arizona\u2019s Ninth Congressional District by the federal government has been returned to its rightful owners since freshman Rep. Greg Stanton took office.\n\nStanton\u2019s team has helped nearly 1,800 constituents navigate bureaucratic hurdles on a wide range of issues, from taxes to immigration services to veterans\u2019 benefits. One of the most common kinds of cases Stanton\u2019s office handles is helping residents receive backlogged federal benefits they\u2019re owed, such as Social Security. To date, the office has returned more than $2.3 million in Social Security benefits alone.\n\n\u201cProviding unmatched constituent service makes a real difference in people\u2019s lives, and in at least one case we\u2019ve handled has helped stop one of our constituents from experiencing homelessness,\u201d said Stanton.\n\nAs Arizonans continue to suffer the economic and public health effects of the COVID-19 crisis, Stanton brought on additional casework staff to help constituents seeking unemployment and housing assistance and obtaining CARES Act benefits\u2014including small businesses loans and IRS Economic Impact Payments.\n\nResidents who aren\u2019t getting the information they need from a federal agency, or believe they have been treated unfairly, can call Stanton\u2019s Arizona office at (602) 956-2463 or visit his website at stanton.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-returns-more-28-million-constituents", "Stanton Returns More Than $2.8 Million to Constituents", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "More than $2.8 million owed to residents of Arizona's Ninth Congressional District by the federal government has been returned to its rightful owners since freshman Rep. Greg Stanton took office. Stanton's team has helped nearly 1,800 constituents navigate bureaucratic hurdles on a wide range of issues, from taxes to immigration services to veterans' benefits. One of the most common kinds of cases Stanton's office handles is helping residents receive backlogged federal benefits they're owed, such as Social Security. To date, the office has returned more than $2.3 million in Social Security benefits alone.\nProviding unmatched constituent service makes a real difference in people's lives, and in at least one case we've handled has helped stop one of our constituents from experiencing homelessness, said Stanton.\nAs Arizonans continue to suffer the economic and public health effects of the COVID-19 crisis, Stanton brought on additional casework staff to help constituents seeking unemployment and housing assistance and obtaining CARES Act benefitsincluding small businesses loans and IRS Economic Impact Payments. \nResidents who aren't getting the information they need from a federal agency, or believe they have been treated unfairly, can call Stanton's Arizona office at (602) 956-2463 or visit his website at stanton.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-meets-with-supreme-court-nominee-judge-amy-coney-barrett", "McSally Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McSally Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett \n             She will make an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S. SENATE  U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) met\r\ntoday with President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.  Click here\r\nor above for downloadable photos and video from their meeting. Today, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Judge Amy\r\nConey Barrett, whose grace and incredible command of the law are as evident in\r\nperson as they were during her confirmation hearings last week,McSally said.It is undeniably clear that she\r\nis a principled jurist who will execute the duties of a Supreme Court justice\r\nwith the utmost integrity. I came away from our meeting immensely impressed and\r\nbelieve she will make an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court. On top of her extensive qualifications, Judge Barrett is\r\nan inspiration to young women and girls across the country. She has challenged\r\nnorms throughout her career, and when confirmed, she will be the fifth woman\r\nand the first mother of school-age children to serve on the Supreme Court. Her\r\nlife is a testament to the fact that motherhood, devotion to faith, and a\r\ndemanding career can, in fact, coexist. I look forward to voting in favor of\r\nher historic confirmation. Read Senator\r\nMcSally's op-ed in the Arizona Republic on why she will vote to confirm\r\nJudge Barrett HERE. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/following-calls-sinema-administration-agrees-extend-access-school-meals-arizona-students", "Following Calls from Sinema, Administration Agrees to Extend Access to School Meals for Arizona Students", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, October 21, 2020\n\n      \n            WASHINGTON  Following calls from Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to extend waivers and help Arizona students continue to access school meal programs for the 2020-2021 school year.  \n  \nSchool meals are critical sources of nutrition for 600,000 Arizona children. As Arizona continues distance-learning, ensuring Arizona students stay fed will help keep them healthy during this public health emergency, said Sinema.  \n  \nIn July, Sinema and a bipartisan group of Senators first urged USDA to extend a variety of waivers that will help ensure Arizona students who rely on school breakfast and lunch can continue to access school-provided meals throughout the upcoming school year, even if they are distance-learning or should schools end up closing abruptly based on local pandemic conditions. However, USDA decided not to extend all waivers for the entire 2020-2021 school year, choosing instead to extend some waivers through the end of 2020 in response to the Senators' request. In September, Sinema and her bipartisan colleagues urged the administration to correct this decision immediately to ensure support for Arizona school meal programs through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The administration recently agreed and is extending all school meal waivers through the end of the 2020-2021 school year to help Arizona students access school meals.\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-resolution-recognize-peoples-republic-china", "Congressman Biggs Introduces Resolution to Recognize the People's Republic of China as the Greatest Threat to the United States", "2020-10-20", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Biggs introduced a concurrent resolution, recognizing the People's Republic of China as the greatest foreign threat to United States' peace, security, and stability.\n\nThe resolution\u2026\n\nRecognizes that the People's Republic of China (PRC) currently poses the greatest foreign threat to United States peace, security, and stability;\n\nRecognizes that the PRC, regardless of future leadership, will likely continue to be a major rival of the United States in the coming decades, due to the enormous cumulative size and scale of its population, economy, and military capabilities; and\n\nSupports the Trump administration's overall strategic approach to the PRC, grounded in principled realism and firm-but-measured competitive engagement whenever United States national interests are at stake, that has been outlined in sources including but not limited to:\n\nthe United States Strategic Approach to the People's Republic of China (May 2020)\n\nthe National Defense Strategy of the United States of America (October 2018);\n\nthe National Cyber Strategy of the United States of America (September 2018);\n\nthe National Security Strategy of the United States of America (December 2017);\n\nRead the text of the resolution below:\n\nCONCURRENT RESOLUTION Recognizing the People's Republic of China as the greatest foreign threat to United States peace, security, and stability\n\nWhereas the People's Republic of China (PRC) has a population of approximately 1,400,000,000, compared to the United States population of approximately 330,000,000;\n\nWhereas the PRC's economy is the second largest in the world, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), behind only the United States;\n\nWhereas the PRC's GDP will likely surpass United States GDP in the coming decades;\n\nWhereas the PRC has the largest active duty military in the world;\n\nWhereas the PRC has committed to aggressively modernizing its military capabilities in the coming decades;\n\nWhereas the PRC possesses nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles;\n\nWhereas the PRC does not share the democratic or free market values of the United States;\n\nWhereas Xi Jinping has been the de facto paramount leader of the PRC since November 2012, when he attained the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission;\n\nWhereas Xi became the head of state of the PRC in March 2013, with a title usually labeled \"President\" in Western sources;\n\nWhereas President Xi has decisively broken with the foreign policy restraint practiced by his immediate predecessors;\n\nWhereas President Xi declared in a 2018 speech before the National People's Congress that the PRC \"must ride on the mighty east wind of the new era, charge forward with a full tank and steadily steer the wheel with full power\";\n\nWhereas the PRC has neoimperial ambitions to spread its power throughout the world;\n\nWhereas the PRC launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, to offer financing for transportation and energy infrastructure projects in dozens of countries;\n\nWhereas many of the BRI-participating countries are poor, unstable, or potentially vulnerable to debt dependence on Beijing;\n\nWhereas the United States has very sensitive strategic relationships with many BRI-participating countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan;\n\nWhereas the PRC has released few details about the BRI, despite widespread calls from the United States, the International Monetary Fund, and other governments and multinational organizations for greater transparency;\n\nWhereas while the PRC has been opaque about the BRI, it has been very clear about its ambitions in the South China Sea in recent years;\n\nWhereas the PRC claims \"indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters\";\n\nWhereas this assertion of sovereignty is not, in fact, \"indisputable\" to the other countries in the region;\n\nWhereas Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, all dispute the PRC's expansive South China Sea claims;\n\nWhereas the PRC continues to construct militarized artificial islands in the South China Sea to bolster its position;\n\nWhereas trillions of dollars of ship-borne commerce pass through the South China Sea each year, including to United States markets;\n\nWhereas the PRC continues to aggressively claim sovereignty over Taiwan;\n\nWhereas, on September 30, 2020, the PRC's Premier, Li Keqiang, proclaimed that \"we will\u2026resolutely oppose and curb any \u2018Taiwan independence' separatist behaviors and external interference, \u2026and promote\u2026the reunification of the motherland\";\n\nWhereas Beijing's claims of sovereignty over Taiwan are belied by the fact that the Taiwanese people have independently governed their island for over 70 years;\n\nWhereas Taiwan is a vitally important friend and regional security partner of the United States;\n\nWhereas the Taiwan \u2013 United States bond has been solidified by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Taiwan Travel Act, and the \"Six Assurances\" first promulgated by the Reagan administration in 1982;\n\nWhereas the PRC continues to curtail the rights of the residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;\n\nWhereas, on June 30, 2020, the PRC's National People's Congress passed an expansive national security law to broadly criminalize democratic participation and protest in Hong Kong;\n\nWhereas this law and other efforts to curtail democratic participation in Hong Kong violates the PRC's commitments in 1984 and 1997 to the United Kingdom to respect Hong Kong's long tradition of economic and democratic freedoms for 50 years, beginning on July 1, 1997;\n\nWhereas the Beijing government's increasingly hostile actions threaten the 85,000 American residents and 1,300 United States firms operating in Hong Kong;\n\nWhereas, in addition to the above and other geostrategic threats, the PRC wields enormous influence over the United States economy;\n\nWhereas the PRC holds over $1,000,000,000,000 in United States Treasury bonds, more than any other foreign nation except Japan;\n\nWhereas in recent years the PRC has maintained a massive trade surplus over the United States, valued at $345,600,000,000 in 2019, by manipulating its currency and maintaining unreasonably high tariffs, among other tactics;\n\nWhereas the PRC routinely pressures United States companies entering its market to cede their intellectual property and market licensing rights;\n\nWhereas the PRC frequently carries out cyberattacks on United States companies to steal trade secrets or other sensitive information it cannot obtain by other means;\n\nWhereas cyberattacks originating from the PRC target not only companies, but also United States Government and United States defense interests, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and average citizens; and\n\nWhereas it is likely that the PRC has access to the personal data of most citizens of the United States: Now, therefore, be it\n\nResolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress\u2014", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-bipartisan-senators-express-strong-support-for-the-quad-and-australias-return-to-exercise-malabar", "McSally, Bipartisan Senators Express Strong Support For The Quad & Australia\u2019s Return To Exercise Malabar", "2020-10-20", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. SENATE \r\nU.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) and a bipartisan group of senators expressed\r\nstrong support for India's decision to formally invite Australia to participate\r\nin the annual Exercise Malabar.  The letter,\r\naddressed to Ambassador of India to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu,\r\nwas also signed by U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN),\r\nChris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Cruz (R-TX),\r\nJosh Hawley (R-MO), James Lankford (R-OK), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), Marco Rubio\r\n(R-FL), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Mark Warner (D-VA). From an\r\noperational perspective, the addition of such a uniquely capable and stalwart\r\npartner, like Australia, to this naval exercise is invaluable, providing\r\nincreased interoperability, strengthening threat assessment abilities and\r\nenhancing the maritime roles and missions of the four naval powers, wrote\r\nthe senators. However, of equal importance is the symbolic nature of\r\nAustralia's inclusion in Malabar, marking the first time that the United\r\nStates, India, Japan and Australia will engage collectively at the military\r\nlevel since the formation of the Quad and the Quad-plus-Singapore naval\r\nexercises held in September 2007. China has\r\nopportunistically looked to expand its military footprint across the\r\nIndo-Pacific. From the South China Sea to the Himalayas, Beijing continues to\r\nuse methods of intimidation and territorial aggression to test the resolve of\r\nregional actors, continued the senators. In response to these malign\r\nactions, the U.S. has signaled its increased commitment to the region with the\r\nnewly proposed Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which will complement the Asia\r\nReassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) to provide a more robust military presence.\r\nHowever, without coordinated efforts among committed and capable partners,\r\nsolitary actions will not sufficiently address these ever-evolving security\r\nchallenges. Almost three\r\ndecades ago, the Malabar Exercise acted as a launching pad for increased\r\nU.S.-Indian relations. We hope that Japan's inclusion in the exercise, and now\r\nAustralia's, will have a similar effect, strengthening cooperation among the\r\nQuad as we collectively defend our shared vision for a free and open\r\nIndo-Pacific, concluded the senators. The letter\r\nalso expresses support for increased coordination among Quad members on non-security\r\nissues like humanitarian assistance, vaccine development, and infrastructure\r\ninvestment in the Indo-Pacific region. Read the full\r\nletter here. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-im-voting-yes-to-confirm-judge-barrett", "McSally: I\u2019m Voting Yes to Confirm Judge Barrett", "2020-10-20", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McSally: I'm Voting Yes to Confirm Judge Barrett \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S. SENATE  U.S.\r\nSenator Martha McSally (R-AZ) today released a video statement expressing her strong support\r\nfor President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett. Click HERE\r\nor above to watch Senator McSally's video statement. Read Senator\r\nMcSally's op-ed published today in the Arizona\r\nRepublic on why she will vote to confirm Judge Barrett HERE. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-helps-secure-housing-veterans-experiencing-homelessness-arizona", "Sinema Helps Secure Housing for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness in Arizona", "2020-10-20", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following Sinema's advocacy, U.S.VETS-Phoenix secured a new facility to house over 170 veterans in Arizona using CARES Act funds\nWASHINGTON Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema worked with the Mayor of Phoenix's office and the Phoenix City Council to help U.S.VETS-Phoenix secure a new facility, helping house over 170 veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness in Arizona.  \n  \nI am thankful the City of Phoenix heard our call, took swift action, and approved the purchase of a new facility for U.S.VETS, helping ensure Arizona veterans have a roof over their heads, said Sinema.\n\n\"U.S.VETS is so grateful for the overwhelming support of our elected officials and their staff. With community partners like the City of Phoenix and Senator Sinema, this project is becoming a reality. This housing will provide vital resources for our veterans and will help us advance our mission to end veteran homelessness. This is a huge victory and it would not have been possible without their support, said Michelle Jameson, Executive Director, U.S.VETS-Phoenix.  \n  \nTo read Sinema's full letter advocating on behalf of U.S.VETS-Phoenix click HERE.  \n  \nU.S.VETS-Phoenix is one of the largest housing providers for veterans experiencing and at risk of homelessness in Arizona. Through no fault of their own, they recently lost their lease for 2021. U.S.VETS reached out to Sinema's office for help to identify financial support after finding a potential new building but not being able to raise the necessary funds to move. Sinema quickly sent a letter urging the Mayor of Phoenix and the Phoenix City Council to quickly approve support for U.S.VETS's new building. Less than a week following Sinema's letter, the City Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a new U.S.VETS-Phoenix facility in Northern Phoenix, ensuring over 170 homeless and at risk veterans have safe shelter.  \n  \nThe funding used to help purchase the new U.S.VETS home was made available due to Sinema-backed CARES Act funding.  \n  \nU.S.VETS was established with the goal of ending veteran homelessness by providing programs focused on jobs, mental health and housing plans for at-risk veterans. As advocates on the state and federal level, U.S.VETS  Phoenix looks to bring more resources to help service members transition successfully into civilian life. Since its inception in 2001 U.S.VETS  Phoenix has helped over 10,000 veterans along their journey from homelessness to housing.  \n  \nSinema has long been a champion of ending veteran homelessness in Arizona. Sinema recently introduced the Homeless Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020legislation bringing relief and resources to the VA's Homeless Program Office by expanding its authorities to provide food, transportation, and communications technologies to homeless veterans and easing requirements that are especially onerous during the coronavirus pandemic. Sinema also recently introduced legislation providing a new $75 billion Housing Assistance Fund to help everyday Arizona families afford rent and mortgage payments during the coronavirus pandemic.  \n  \nLast year, Sinema cosponsored the Homeless Veterans Prevention Act that expands upon existing programs that help homeless veterans and provides greater resources to prevent veteran homelessness.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-calls-special-counsel-investigate-former-vice-president-joe", "Congressman Biggs Calls for a Special Counsel to Investigate Former Vice President Joe Biden's Involvement with Son's Business Dealings", "2020-10-19", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Biggs and ten Members of Congress sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, requesting that the Department of Justice immediately appoint an independent, unbiased special counsel to investigate recent issues that have been raised about former Vice President Joe Biden's involvement with his son's business dealings.\n\nRepresentatives Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04), Ted Budd (NC-13), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Jody Hice (GA-10), Mark Green (TN-07), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Ted Yoho, D.V.M. (FL-03), Andy Harris (MD-01), and Steve King (IA-04) co-signed the letter to Attorney General Barr.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nOctober 19, 2020\n\nThe Honorable William Barr\n\nAttorney General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20530\n\nDear Attorney General Barr,\n\nLast week, reports surfaced about an uncovered hard drive and laptop purportedly belonging to Hunter Biden. Emails, allegedly on the hard drive, have indicated that Hunter Biden may have helped to orchestrate a payout to his father, former Vice President Joe Biden, from his dealings with a Chinese energy corporation, and that he may have compromised the integrity of his father's role as Vice President of the United States with his business dealings in Ukraine.\n\nThese alleged revelations raise serious issues about former Vice President Joe Biden's reported participation with his son's business dealings, specifically whether the former vice president (1) received foreign monies during his tenure in the Obama administration, and (2) if former Vice President Biden allowed his son to peddle access to his father with foreign business entities.\n\nAmericans deserve public officials who take great care to protect the integrity of their offices. Our constituents place great trust in their leaders at every level of government to conduct the people's business with the utmost honesty, transparency, and accountability.\n\nIf these reports about former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, are true, the former vice president fell far short of his responsibility to uphold his constitutional oath and betrayed the sacred trust of the American people.\n\nIt is imperative that the American people receive answers and a full accounting of former Vice President Biden's dealings with his son and his son's business partners, and if the former vice president misused his office for personal gain.\n\nWe request that the Department of Justice immediately appoint an independent, unbiased special counsel to investigate the issues that we have raised \u2013 as well as any corresponding legal or ethical issues that might be uncovered from the former vice president's 47 years in public office.\n\nWe ask for a response to our request by Friday, October 23, 2020, at 5 PM EST.\n\nSincerely,\n\nAndy Biggs Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S.\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nTed Budd Jeff Duncan\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nJody Hice Mark Green\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nDebbie Lesko Louie Gohmert\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nTed S. Yoho, D.V.M. Andy Harris, M.D.\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/10/19/schweikert-leads-arizona-delegation-letter-support-medicare/", "Schweikert Leads Arizona Delegation Letter to Support Medicare Beneficiaries Impacted by Natural Disasters", "2020-10-19", "2020", "2020-10", "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 (AZ-06) led a bipartisan letter with the Arizona delegation to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to review their Extreme ad Uncontrollable Circumstances policy. Currently, CMS policy does not acknowledge the impact of all disaster types on beneficiaries and health plan operational and clinical systems, including the long-term impacts of wildfires that have taken place across Arizona.\n\n\u201cWe must work to ensure every Arizonan has the option to be protected against a natural disaster, including the recent wildfires sweeping across the West,\u201d said Congressman Schweikert. \u201cBy submitting this letter, we are asking that CMS make adjustments to their current policy, and acknowledge the impact that all forms of disasters have on beneficiaries in order to improve access to high quality care for those living in disaster prone areas. I am pleased to lead this letter with my Arizona colleagues and look forward to continuing to work together to support everyone impacted by the wildfires in our state.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThis bipartisan letter asks CMS to review their \u201cExtreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances\u201d policy to:\n\nExpand the eligibility of disaster designations; and\n\nGrandfather in relief across applicable years.\n\nExpanding the thresholds used to provide Star Rating relief would improve access to high quality care and support services to beneficiaries living in areas impacted by public health emergencies and natural disasters.\n\nTo read the full letter, click HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-senators-introduce-constitutional-and-legislative-proposals-to-prevent-democrats-from-packing-the-supreme-court", "McSally, Senators Introduce Constitutional & Legislative Proposals to Prevent Democrats from Packing the Supreme Court", "2020-10-19", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. SENATE \r\nAs Democrats plan to pack the Supreme Court with liberal judicial activists if\r\nthey win the election, U.S. Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ), Ted Cruz (R-TX),\r\nThom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), and Cindy\r\nHyde-Smith (R- MS) today introduced two proposals to maintain the number of\r\njustices on the bench, preserve the integrity and independence of the Supreme\r\nCourt, and protect Americans' constitutional liberties. The first proposal would prevent the expansion or contraction of the\r\nSupreme Court by constitutional amendment, also known as the Keep Nine\r\namendment. The second proposal would stop Democrats from unilaterally passing\r\nany court-packing legislation in the United States Senate. Threats by\r\nDemocrats to expand the number of justices on the Supreme Court and add liberal\r\nactivist judges is disturbing and dangerous, McSally said. On top of\r\nthat, some Democrats reluctance to even answer whether they would pack the\r\nCourt proves a far more frightening reality. The left will first deceive the\r\nAmerican people and then use any tool at their disposal to gain power and force\r\ntheir radical agenda on them. Our bills are critical to thwarting any efforts\r\nto fundamentally transform the Supreme Court, keeping the number of Justices at\r\nnine as it has been for over 150 years.  Make no\r\nmistake, if Democrats win the election, they will end the filibuster and pack\r\nthe Supreme Court, expanding the number of justices to advance their radical\r\npolitical agenda, entrenching their power for generations, and destroying the\r\nfoundations of our democratic system, Cruz said. We must take action\r\nbefore election day to safeguard the Supreme Court and the constitutional\r\nliberties that hang in the balance. That's why I'm proud to introduce these two\r\ncommonsense proposals, which will prevent either party from adding or\r\ncontracting the number of justices on the bench for political advantage.  After\r\nDemocrats last week during the confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett\r\naccused Senate Republicans of Court packing for simply\r\nfulfilling their constitutional responsibility to advise and consent on\r\njudicial nominees, Sen. Cruz added: Don't be\r\nfooled by Democrats' hyperbolic rhetoric. Packing the Court means one very\r\nspecific thing: expanding the number of justices to achieve a political\r\noutcome. It is wrong. It is an abuse of power. Democrats are endeavoring to\r\nredefine the language to set the stage for a partisan assault on the Court.\r\nWhen it comes to our fundamental liberties  our religious liberty, our freedom\r\nof speech, our Second Amendment rights  we are often one vote away from losing\r\nthem on the Supreme Court. For the sake of our liberties and the future of our\r\ncountry, we must preserve our independent judiciary. These proposals would do\r\njust that.  For the last\r\nfew years, Democrats have made no secret of their desire to see a radical,\r\nsocialist agenda imposed on the American people, Tillis said. Unable\r\nto implement their job-killing plans through the Democratic process, they've\r\ndecided they'll simply impose it on the American people through the Supreme\r\nCourt. Chuck Schumer and his allies are now saying they'll pack the Supreme\r\nCourt if Senate Republicans fulfill their constitutional duty to confirm Judge\r\nAmy Coney Barrett. Their proposals are dangerous and would give them free reign\r\nto appoint radical judges who would legislate from the bench, threatening the\r\nreligious liberty and Second Amendment rights of North Carolinians. We have had\r\nnine judges on the Supreme Court since 1869, and efforts to change that is not\r\nsupported by the majority of the American people. I am proud to co-introduce\r\nthese proposals to stop Chuck Schumer's radical liberal agenda and maintain the\r\nintegrity of the Supreme Court. Proposals to\r\npack' the Supreme Court and add seats to change its ideological balance should\r\nconcern every American, Wicker said. There have been nine seats on the\r\nSupreme Court for more than 150 years, providing stability and trust in the\r\nrule of law. These two proposals would protect the independence of our federal\r\njudiciary and ensure our nation's highest court is not subject to political\r\ngames. The shameful\r\nattacks on Judge Barrett are especially hypocritical given the Left's calls to\r\npack the Supreme Court and end the filibuster in a desperate attempt to impose\r\ntheir radical agenda on the American people, Loeffler said. These\r\nproposals will prevent Democrats from fundamentally altering the Court and\r\nadding new seats only to fill them with activist judges who will legislate from\r\nthe bench and threaten the right to life, the Second Amendment and all the\r\nindividual liberties that we as Americans hold dear. I am proud to stand with\r\nmy colleagues in preventing attempts to undermine the integrity of our\r\ndemocracy and Americans' freedoms. Having nine\r\njustices on the United States Supreme Court has worked for more than 150\r\nyears, Hyde-Smith said. Today, the long-standing checks and balances\r\nthat are the foundation of our democracy would be thrown into crisis if threats\r\nto pack the court are successful. Packing the court is all about politics and\r\npower, not principle. The legislation we introduce today would keep our\r\ndemocracy intact and isolate the judiciary from the political whims of our\r\ncolleagues across the aisle. BACKGROUND: Before\r\nPresident Trump had even nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Senate Democrats\r\nhad already pledged their opposition to her confirmation. Top Democrats,\r\nincluding Joe Biden, have falsely called Senate Republican's efforts to confirm\r\nJudge Barrett court packing because Republicans have been confirming\r\nprincipled constitutionalists to the federal bench.  It is\r\nabundantly clear that Democrats are desperately trying to redefine court\r\npacking in an attempt to hide their true objective: adding seats to the Supreme\r\nCourt in a radical and partisan attempt to drive the Court to the left. Joe Biden has\r\nfaced growing calls to expand the Court from the media and prominent Democratic politicians alike. Sen.\r\nEd Markey tweeted just hours after Ginsburg's passing, Mitch\r\nMcConnell set the precedent. No Supreme Court vacancies filled in an election\r\nyear. If he violates it, when Democrats control the Senate in the next\r\nCongress, we must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court. Sen. Mazie\r\nHirono, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, also signaled\r\nsupport for packing the Supreme Court, calling Court packing long-overdue court reform. Earlier this\r\nyear, Sen. Kamala Harris voiced her openness to expanding the Supreme Court saying, We are on the verge of a crisis of confidence\r\nin the Supreme Court [] We have to take this challenge head on, and\r\neverything is on the table to do that. And Sen.\r\nElizabeth Warren voiced her support for expanding the Court while perfectly\r\nunderlining the need for Sen. McSally's legislation saying, I'm open. [] Actually, I mean, we could. []\r\nLook, there are a lot of different ways to do it. The number of people on\r\nthe Supreme Court is not constitutionally constricted. The text of\r\nthe Keep Nine Constitutional Amendment can be read here. The full text of the legislative proposal can be\r\nread here. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/10/stanton-leads-colleagues-urging-trump-administration-pause-rule-would-harm", "Stanton Leads Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Pause Rule That Would Harm Arizona\u2019s Universities", "2020-10-16", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Greg Stanton led members of the Arizona Congressional delegation in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget calling for a 30-day extension of the comment period for a proposed U.S. Department of Homeland Security rule that would impact Arizona\u2019s higher education institutions. The comment period is scheduled to close Oct. 26.\n\nSen. Kyrsten Sinema and Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, Ruben Gallego and Tom O\u2019Halleran also signed onto the letter.\n\nThe proposed rule would limit international student visa lengths, place additional restrictions on student visas based on an individual\u2019s country of origin and endanger the academic careers of more than one million international students. If the rule were to move forward, Arizona\u2019s universities could lose thousands of talented international students and their contributions to the institutions and surrounding communities.\n\nA 2018 report from NAFSA: Association of International Educators found that the nearly 23,000 international students enrolled across the state contributed $727.6 million to Arizona\u2019s economy and supported 8,745 jobs. International students who attended Arizona State University contributed the most at $365 million and housed 4,687 of those supported jobs. Arizona is also ranked as the top 14 destination in the United States for international students.\n\n\"As members who represent Arizona in Congress, it is our job to support our world class universities that attract over 22,000 students from around the world who choose to learn from our educators and substantially contribute to our state\u2019s economy,\u201d the co-signers wrote. \u201cWith the current deadline fast approaching and the COVID-19 pandemic straining institutions of higher education who are hard at work ensuring their students have the resources they need, we believe given the importance of this proposed rule that these institutions should be given ample amount of time to express the impact of the policy.\"\n\nEarlier this month, Stanton joined more than 100 of his colleagues in calling on Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to reconsider the proposed rule, citing international students\u2019 economic impact and meaningful contributions to universities\u2019 research, culture, and academic life.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-leads-colleagues-urging-trump-administration-pause-rule-would-harm", "Stanton Leads Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Pause Rule That Would Harm Arizona\u2019s Universities", "2020-10-16", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Greg Stanton led members of the Arizona Congressional delegation in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget calling for a 30-day extension of the comment period for a proposed U.S. Department of Homeland Security rule that would impact Arizona's higher education institutions. The comment period is scheduled to close Oct. 26. \nSen. Kyrsten Sinema and Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, Ruben Gallego and Tom O'Halleran also signed onto the letter. \nThe proposed rule would limit international student visa lengths, place additional restrictions on student visas based on an individual's country of origin and endanger the academic careers of more than one million international students. If the rule were to move forward, Arizona's universities could lose thousands of talented international students and their contributions to the institutions and surrounding communities. \nA 2018 report from NAFSA: Association of International Educators found that the nearly 23,000 international students enrolled across the state contributed $727.6 million to Arizona's economy and supported 8,745 jobs. International students who attended Arizona State University contributed the most at $365 million and housed 4,687 of those supported jobs. Arizona is also ranked as the top 14 destination in the United States for international students. \n\"As members who represent Arizona in Congress, it is our job to support our world class universities that attract over 22,000 students from around the world who choose to learn from our educators and substantially contribute to our state's economy, the co-signers wrote. With the current deadline fast approaching and the COVID-19 pandemic straining institutions of higher education who are hard at work ensuring their students have the resources they need, we believe given the importance of this proposed rule that these institutions should be given ample amount of time to express the impact of the policy.\" \nEarlier this month, Stanton joined more than 100 of his colleagues in calling on Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to reconsider the proposed rule, citing international students' economic impact and meaningful contributions to universities' research, culture, and academic life. \nFull text of the letter is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-leads-letter-fbi-director-wray-about-hunter-bidens-alleged", "Congressman Biggs Leads Letter to FBI Director Wray about Hunter Biden's Alleged Laptop", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Biggs, along with 18 of his House colleagues, sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, raising questions about the FBI's alleged involvement in obtaining and analyzing a hard drive and laptop, which purportedly had emails belonging to Hunter Biden.\n\nRepresentatives Paul Gosar, D.D.S (AZ-04), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Ron Wright (TX-06), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Steve King (IA-04), Chip Roy (TX-21), H. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), Mark Green (TN-07), Jody Hice (GA-10), Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Bill Posey (FL-08), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Ted Yoho, D.V.M. (FL-03), Ted Budd (NC-13), and Randy Weber (TX-14) co-signed the letter.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nOctober 15, 2020\n\nThe Honorable Christopher Wray\n\nDirector\n\nFederal Bureau of Investigation\n\n935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 7240\n\nWashington, DC 20535-0001\n\nDear Director Wray,\n\nYesterday, the New York Post published an article entitled, \"Smoking-gun email reveals how Hunter Biden introduced Ukrainian businessman to VP dad.\" The article documents how a recently uncovered laptop and hard drive allegedly revealed e-mails to and from Hunter Biden that strongly indicated that former Vice President Joe Biden was, in fact, aware of his son's overseas dealings.\n\nMost concerning in the article was the allegation that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was in possession of this computer and hard drive back in December 2019. This action took place right at the end of the U.S. House of Representative's impeachment sham against President Donald J. Trump, and right before the U.S. Senate tried the case. A large portion of the President's legal defense case revolved around strong evidence that former Vice President Biden's son, Hunter, was peddling his influence to his father to land lucrative jobs overseas that he might not have otherwise been qualified for.\n\nIf the FBI was, in fact, in possession of this evidence and failed to alert the White House to its existence that would have given even more weight to the President's legal defense, this was a gross error in judgement and a severe violation of trust. The American people deserve the swift answers to these questions:\n\n1. Was the FBI in possession of the laptop and hard drive that was documented in the New York Post article?\n\n2. Did the FBI take any steps to authenticate the laptop, hard drive, and data that was uncovered?\n\n3. Did anyone at the FBI brief officials at the Department of Justice or at the White House about this laptop or hard drive at any point since December 2019?\n\n4. Why did the New York Post have the information about this laptop and hard drive before the American people?\n\nWe request answers to these questions by Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 5 PM EST.\n\nSincerely,\n\nAndy Biggs Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S.\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nDebbie Lesko Jeff Duncan\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nRon Wright Louie Gohmert\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nSteve King Chip Roy\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nH. Morgan Griffith Mark Green\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nJody Hice Andy Harris, M.D.\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nMichael Cloud Bill Posey\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nScott DesJarlais Mo Brooks\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nTed Yoho, D.V.M. Ted Budd\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/10/stanton-says-thank-you-phoenix-partnership-finding-swift-solution-veterans", "Stanton Says \u2018Thank You\u2019 to Phoenix for Partnership in Finding Swift Solution for Veterans", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Greg Stanton today thanked Mayor Kate Gallego and the Phoenix City Council for making a $10.5 million investment to secure a new facility for US VETS-Phoenix, which currently houses 187 veterans experiencing homelessness in the Valley.\n\nStanton worked with Gallego to help find a solution for US VETS, which is being forced to relocated from its current location in central Phoenix.\n\nFaced with the prospect of being forced to vacate its premises at the end of the year with nowhere to go, US VETS \u2013 which had already been in contact with the City of Phoenix, the State of Arizona and Maricopa County \u2013 convened an emergency call of Arizona\u2019s congressional delegation staff on Sept. 22. That day, Stanton began working with the Phoenix Mayor\u2019s office to find a solution.\n\nThis week \u2013 less than a month later \u2013 the City of Phoenix approved funds to purchase a new facility that US VETS-Phoenix will rent from the city.\n\n\u201cI am very grateful to Mayor Gallego and the Phoenix City Council for quickly and creatively finding a solution to take care of these veterans who served and sacrificed for our country,\u201d said Stanton.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-says-thank-you-phoenix-partnership-finding-swift-solution-veterans", "Stanton Says \u2018Thank You\u2019 to Phoenix for Partnership in Finding Swift Solution for Veterans", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Greg Stanton today thanked Mayor Kate Gallego and the Phoenix City Council for making a $10.5 million investment to secure a new facility for US VETS-Phoenix, which currently houses 187 veterans experiencing homelessness in the Valley. \nStanton worked with Gallego to help find a solution for US VETS, which is being forced to relocated from its current location in central Phoenix. \nFaced with the prospect of being forced to vacate its premises at the end of the year with nowhere to go, US VETS  which had already been in contact with the City of Phoenix, the State of Arizona and Maricopa County  convened an emergency call of Arizona's congressional delegation staff on Sept. 22. That day, Stanton began working with the Phoenix Mayor's office to find a solution.\nThis week  less than a month later  the City of Phoenix approved funds to purchase a new facility that US VETS-Phoenix will rent from the city.\nI am very grateful to Mayor Gallego and the Phoenix City Council for quickly and creatively finding a solution to take care of these veterans who served and sacrificed for our country, said Stanton.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-urges-administration-quickly-disburse-critical-funding-arizona-families-energy-costs", "Sinema Urges Administration to Quickly Disburse Critical Funding for Arizona Families\u2019 Energy Costs", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, October 15, 2020\n\n      \n            WASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to quickly disburse already-approved Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding that assists families facing financial strain with their energy costs.  \n  \nQuickly releasing energy assistance funds keeps everyday Arizona families and seniors safe at home and provides critical support to Arizona families facing financial challenges during the pandemic, said Sinema.  \n  \nLIHEAP assists Arizona families with home energy bills, and weatherization and energy-related minor home repairs. Sinema's letter urges immediate disbursement of these already-approved federal funds to support LIHEAP, which helps Arizonans stay safe from the risk of health and safety problems arising from unsafe cold and heat. Given the financial strain of the coronavirus pandemic and backlogged unemployment and utility assistance in Arizona, the number of Arizonans in need of LIHEAP will increase. Quick disbursement of these federal funds prove more critical now than ever.  \n  \nClick HERE for Sinema's letter.  \n  \nClick HERE for Spanish version of release.\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-leads-letter-president-trump-urge-support-veterans-second", "Congressman Biggs Leads Letter to President Trump to Urge Support for Veterans' Second Amendment Rights", "2020-10-14", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Biggs, along with several Members of Congress, sent a letter to President Donald J. Trump, encouraging him to take executive action to stop the Department of Veterans Affairs from disarming vulnerable veterans.\n\nRepresentatives W. Gregory Steube (FL-17), Tom McClintock (CA-04), Ralph Abraham (LA-05), Bob Gibbs (OH-07), Jody Hice (GA-10), Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Dan Meuser (PA-09), Brian Babin (TX-36), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Jim Baird (IN-04), Rick Crawford (AR-01), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Roger Williams (TX-25), Warren Davidson (OH-08), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), Richard Hudson (NC-08), Randy Weber (TX-14), and Scott Perry (PA-10) joined as co-signers to this letter.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nOctober 14, 2020\n\nPresident Donald J. Trump\n\nThe White House\n\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20500\n\nDear Mr. President,\n\nThank you for your actions to ensure that our veterans have the best mental health care in the world. Our nation's heroes deserve the best care our nation has to offer, and we wholeheartedly support your laudable efforts to protect and empower veterans. However, any efforts that seek to protect veterans must respect the right to keep and bear arms. As such, we encourage you to take executive action to stop the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from disarming vulnerable veterans.\n\nToday, veterans who have been assigned a fiduciary are determined by the VA to be financially incompetent and are treated as persons prohibited from purchasing, possessing, receiving, or transporting a firearm or ammunition pursuant to 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 922(g)(4). These veterans are then reported to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System alongside convicted felons and illegal aliens.\n\nThe VA's fiduciary rule has led to many veterans being wrongly deprived of their constitutional rights. Receiving help to manage your VA benefits is not the same as being \"adjudicated as a mental defective\" or as being \"committed to a mental institution.\" Veterans should not have to worry about being disarmed when they seek assistance with benefits or healthcare from the VA.\n\nWhile this disarmament of our nation's veterans began with the Clinton administration, we recognize that this radical anti-gun agenda will not end with the disarmament of only our nation's veterans. Previously, Americans watched as the Obama administration tried to disarm Social Security beneficiaries in a similar manner. Thankfully, your administration worked with Congress to prevent the unconstitutional final rule from taking effect.\n\nMr. President, there is room for executive action to reconcile the VA's interpretive guidance with the VA's limited statutory authority. In fact, Gun Owners of America and the Independence Fund recently filed a rulemaking petition asking VA Secretary Robert Wilke to do just that.\n\nWe urge you to take this long-overdue action to respect the right of veterans to keep and bear arms.\n\nSincerely,\n\nAndy Biggs\n\nMember of Congress\n\nW. Gregory Steube\n\nMember of Congress\n\nTom McClintock\n\nMember of Congress\n\nRalph Abraham\n\nMember of Congress\n\nBob Gibbs\n\nMember of Congress\n\nJody Hice\n\nMember of Congress\n\nPaul Gosar, D.D.S.\n\nMember of Congress\n\nRalph Norman\n\nMember of Congress\n\nDan Meuser\n\nMember of Congress\n\nBrian Babin\n\nMember of Congress\n\nAdrian Smith\n\nMember of Congress\n\nJim Baird\n\nMember of Congress\n\nRick Crawford\n\nMember of Congress\n\nJeff Duncan\n\nMember of Congress\n\nRoger Williams\n\nMember of Congress\n\nWarren Davidson\n\nMember of Congress\n\nMo Brooks\n\nMember of Congress\n\nGus Bilirakis\n\nMember of Congress\n\nDebbie Lesko\n\nMember of Congress\n\nRichard Hudson\n\nMember of Congress\n\nRandy Weber\n\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/10/13/congressman-schweikert-applauds-niaid-advancing-valley-fever-research/", "Congressman Schweikert Applauds NIAID for Advancing Valley Fever Research Center Proposal", "2020-10-13", "2020", "2020-10", "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 (AZ-06) released the following statement applauding the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for taking action towards funding the Coccidioidomycosis Collaborative Research Centers (CCRC) program, aimed to provide extended research for the improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Valley Fever.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to see NIAID taking the next steps towards such a prominent problem we face here in Arizona, by funding $6 million in Fiscal Year 2022 to these research teams needed for information and future cures for Valley Fever,\u201d said Congressman Schweikert. \u201cToo many individuals are infected by this terrible disease, and face life-long health problems. By funding this program we will take the next step in helping our brothers and sisters whose lives have been forever changed by Valley Fever.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nRecently, Congressmen David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), led a letter to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Francis Collins, and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, in support of proposed efforts to better understand Coccidioidomycosis. Following the letter, NIAID issued a formal funding opportunity announcement to establish Valley Fever research centers with the intent of committing $6M in FY22.\n\nTo read the full letter click HERE.\n\nTo read the grant announcement, click HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-backed-bill-protects-arizona-servicemembers-paychecks", "Sinema-Backed Bill Protects Arizona Servicemembers\u2019 Paychecks", "2020-10-13", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema cosponsored legislation allowing Arizona servicemembers and federal employees to opt out of the administration's payroll tax deferral\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored legislation protecting Arizona servicemembers and federal employees from tax hikes and smaller paychecks next year caused by the administration's payroll tax deferral. Sinema's bill ensures all servicemembers and federal workers have the choice to opt out of the payroll tax deferral.  \n  \nArizona servicemembers and public servants should be able to make their own financial decisions affecting their paychecks and future tax bills, said Sinema.  \n  \nEarlier this year, the administration issued an executive order allowing employers to defer workers' payroll taxes through the end of the year. Federal agencies are requiring federal workers and military servicemembers' payroll taxes be deferred through the end of the year with no ability to opt-out. However, under the executive order workers would still be responsible for paying back the tax in 2021, making their next year's taxes higher and paychecks smaller. Sinema's bill is a commonsense proposal to give workers and military servicemembers a voice and protect them from large tax bills and small paychecks in the future.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-democrats-plot-latest-attempt-remove-president-trump-office", "House Democrats Plot Latest Attempt to Remove President Trump from Office", "2020-10-09", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Today, House Democrats announced plans to establish a Commission on Presidential Capacity, the latest attempt by congressional Democrats to overturn the 2016 election and remove President Trump from office. Congressman Biggs issued the following statements:\n\n\"Over the last three-plus years, Democrats have clearly proved that there is NOTHING they wouldn't weaponize to undermine and overthrow America's duly elected 45th President, Donald J. Trump. This year, following their disastrous impeachment hoax, Democrats have increasingly taken advantage of COVID-19 in an attempt to cause political harm to President Trump. This legislation is more of the same sorry, partisan, spiteful ploys from House Democrats in their never-ending march to remove our president.\n\n\"Americans are tired of these charades, and they want the games to end. President Trump, like millions of Americans, caught a virus this month. Thankfully, also like millions of Americans, he is on the road to recovery from this virus. While recovering from the virus, President Trump never stopped working for the American people. Instead of taking the president's recovery at face value, Democrats have distorted and manipulated the truth, and they have made it a political cesspool.\n\n\"It is time for Democrats to stop their hateful fixation on President Trump and return to the people's business. Our nation cannot survive this partisan warfare. I again call on our House Republican leadership to call up the motion to Vacate the Chair to remove Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. Speaker Pelosi continues to abuse her power for political purposes and denigrate this institution to the point of no return. Republicans and Democrats must act to restore the House to a place of respect, decency, and adherence to our constitutional duties.\"\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-applauds-12-million-telehealth-services-and-distance-learning-arizona", "Sinema Applauds $1.2 Million for Telehealth Services and Distance Learning in Arizona", "2020-10-08", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced telehealth funding for Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center and Benson Hospital and distance learning funding for Cochise Technology District\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema applauded over $1.2 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development funding for telehealth and distance learning projects in Arizona.  \n  \nToday's funding helps ensure Arizonans can continue to access online health services and distance learning, keeping Arizona families healthy and safe during the coronavirus pandemic, said Sinema.  \n  \nThe USDA awarded Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center $744,452 in Rural Development funds to help develop telehealth services for Globe, Kearny, Superior, Young, and Tonto Basin. The USDA also awarded Benson Hospital $377,494 in Rural Development funds to help launch telehealth services in Cochise, Graham, and Greenlee counties.  \n  \nAdditionally, the USDA awarded Cochise Technology District $155,407 in Rural Development funds to help fund the Cochise Technology District Mental and Social Health Distance Learning Project for rural Cochise County and eastern Santa Cruz County Schools. The project will provide students with the technology to access college-level mental and social health courses.  \n  \nSinema has been a champion for expanding access to broadband connectivity across Arizona. During the coronavirus pandemic, Sinema urged the administration to disburse unspent COVID-19 relief funds to boost rural broadband access in Arizona. Sinema is also a cosponsor of the bipartisan ACCESS BROADBAND Actlegislation that streamlines the broadband application process for Arizonans, expanding access to broadband services for rural and tribal communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/10/07/schweikert-hill-foster-host-virtual-roundtable-support-local/", "Schweikert, Hill, Foster Host Virtual Roundtable to Support Local Entrepreneurs", "2020-10-07", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "[[{\u201cfid\u201d:\u201d1817\u2033,\u201dview_mode\u201d:\u201ddefault\u201d,\u201dfields\u201d:{\u201calt\u201d:\u201da\u201d,\u201dclass\u201d:\u201dmedia-element file-congress-small\u201d,\u201ddata-delta\u201d:\u201d2\u2033,\u201dformat\u201d:\u201ddefault\u201d,\u201dfield_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]\u201d:\u201da\u201d},\u201dlink_text\u201d:null,\u201dtype\u201d:\u201dmedia\u201d,\u201dfield_deltas\u201d:{\u201c2\u201d:{\u201calt\u201d:\u201da\u201d,\u201dclass\u201d:\u201dmedia-element file-congress-small\u201d,\u201ddata-delta\u201d:\u201d2\u2033,\u201dformat\u201d:\u201ddefault\u201d,\u201dfield_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]\u201d:\u201da\u201d}},\u201dattributes\u201d:{\u201calt\u201d:\u201da\u201d,\u201dclass\u201d:\u201dmedia-element file-default\u201d,\u201ddata-delta\u201d:\u201d2\u2033}}]]\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06), along with Reps. French Hill (AR-02) and Bill Foster (IL-11), co-chairs of the House Entrepreneurship Caucus, hosted a virtual roundtable with local entrepreneurs. Over Zoom, the representatives heard about the impact of COVID-19 on new and small businesses, identified pressure points and areas of vulnerability on business owners, and discussed potential policy options to address the needs of startups and \u201cmom and pop\u201d businesses.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses have always been, and will continue to be, an integral part of our communities. It was a pleasure to hear from other entrepreneurs across the country who utilized the Paycheck Protection Program, and from our very own, Lori Anna Harrison, Founder and President of DLP Marketing in Scottsdale, about how the program helped her Arizona business,\u201d said Rep. Schweikert. \u201cI appreciate each of the entrepreneurs who took time to join us to discuss their experiences working through COVID19. I am hopeful Congress will re-open the remaining funds available in the Paycheck Protection Program account to help ensure any business on the brink of closing can be supported through these unprecedented times.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you to Congressman Schweikert for inviting me to join today\u2019s roundtable and share the story of my company, DLP Marketing. As a member of the entrepreneurial community in Arizona, I look forward to continuing today\u2019s conversation on ways Congress can work to support small businesses like mine, especially during these times,\u201d said Lori Anna Harrison, from Scottsdale.\n\n\u201cStartups are crucial to our economy\u2019s ability to keep hardworking Arkansans employed and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Rep. Hill. \u201cThe coronavirus poses a threat to thousands of startups and local businesses. While programs like the Paycheck Protection Program and the Federal Reserve\u2019s Main Street Lending Facility have been a helpful lifeline, Congress needs to ensure we are promoting policies that further innovation, job creation and economic growth. I enjoyed hearing from small businesses across the country and look forward to working with my fellow Entrepreneurship Caucus members to find bipartisan solutions.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you Representative Hill for your efforts to support innovators like me. My company, BOND.AI, is a human-centered artificial intelligence platform that helps banks understand user behavior and nudge customers towards improved financial health. As a former community banker and former president of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Representative Hill understands what targeted investments are needed to keep local businesses on Main Street afloat,\u201d said Uday Akkaraju, from Little Rock.\n\n\u201cAs someone who knows what it takes to launch and sustain a business, I know that the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially difficult for small businesses in Illinois and all across our nation,\u201d said Rep. Foster. \u201cWe have a lot of work to do to reverse the economic damage this crisis has unleashed on entrepreneurs and we need to pursue additional relief measures that will help businesses stay open, keep their workers employed, and resume growth once this crisis has passed. I\u2019m committed to working with my colleagues to find common sense, bipartisan solutions that will benefit our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe biggest challenge in pre-COVID and post-COVID business is the lack of public-private partnership opportunities. Economic development practices haven\u2019t changed for generations. And today, with fewer businesses thriving in local markets it\u2019s more obvious than ever a new approach is necessary. Government is not built for innovative thinking and that is exactly what business owners do on a daily basis. They survive by doing what it takes and this is where innovation is born. They think about how to solve their customer problems with forecasting and sweat equity. If that works for businesses then it should be what the government recognizes as the secret sauce to economic development opportunities. In short, if local entrepreneurs produce revenue, then ask, \u2018what can we do to facilitate their ability to continue\u2019. COVID has been an opportunity for business to pivot and survive. I\u2019m grateful the Federal government quickly put into place the PPP program and the SBA supported their 504 and 7a loan programs. The future is now open to more innovation because we\u2019ve never been through a time like this before in our history,\u201d said Jimi Allen, from Aurora.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/2020/10/06/schweikert-soto-introduce-blockchain-records-and-transactions-act/", "Schweikert, Soto Introduce Blockchain Records and Transactions Act", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", "schweikert", "https://schweikert.house.gov/category/congress_press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressmen David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Darren Soto (FL-09) introduced H.R. 8524, the Blockchain Records and Transaction Act, legislation to expand the utilization and definition of blockchain technology, and ensure all blockchain-secured records and smart contracts can be verified as legal e-signatures.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to re-introduce this critical legislation to ensure our laws are working to support emerging technologies like blockchain,\u201d said Rep. Schweikert. \u201cToo many of our laws are continuing to prohibit innovation and advancements for efficiency in our society. This legislation is a part of the Congressional Blockchain Caucuses\u2019 continued work to future-proof our policy, and I appreciate the support from my colleague and Co-Chair Rep. Soto for working with us to advance this bipartisan legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cInnovation is embedded into our nation\u2019s DNA,\u201d said Rep. Soto. \u201cWith the growth of blockchain technology, it\u2019s up to Congress to provide a legal framework to support its technological advances. As a lawyer and notary, I understand the importance of validated signatures for legal documentation as an essential starting point in building a blockchain-enabled infrastructure. Together, with Congressman Schweikert, we can help promote greater understanding and demonstrate the certainty needed to power blockchain records, contracts and transactions.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Blockchain Records and Transactions Act would:\n\nAmend the definition of \u201celectronic records\u201d to include blockchains and records maintained on blockchains;.\n\nAmend the definition of \u201celectronic agent\u201d to include smart contracts;\n\nDefine blockchain and smart contracts; and\n\nEnsure states cannot avoid giving legal recognition to blockchain records through reverse pre-emption.\n\nTo read the full text of this legislation, click HERE.\n\n###\n\nBack to News", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/increasing-covid-19-research-aim-new-sinema-backed-bipartisan-bill", "Increasing COVID-19 Research is Aim of New Sinema-Backed Bipartisan Bill", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema cosponsors bipartisan bill requiring the National Institutes of Health to conduct nationwide, comprehensive coronavirus research\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored a bipartisan bill directing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a nationwide study on mild, moderate, and severe cases of COVID-19 to help America gain a full understanding of both the short and long-term health impacts of the virus and how best to treat and prevent it.  \n  \nIncreasing COVID-19 research will help us better understand the coronavirus and encourage the innovation of trustworthy, proven treatments and preventions, helping stop the spread of the virus and saving lives, said Sinema.  \n  \nThe Sinema-backed Ensuring Understanding of COVID-19 to Protect Public Health Act directs the NIH to study and track patient outcomes to help gain a fuller understanding of the impact of the coronavirus and how to best treat and prevent it. The study would include a wide variety of patients, to ensure diversity among race, ethnicity, geography, age, gender, and underlying health conditions. It would also monitor mental health outcomes. The findings would be released publicly every three months for the first two years, and every six months thereafter.  \n  \nSinema has a resources page on her website, www.sinema.senate.gov/corona, for Arizonans looking for updated information in English and Spanish on the coronavirus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4046", "Gosar, Gabbard, Kennedy Introduce Don\u2019t Push My Buttons Act", "2020-10-05", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul A. Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", "gosar", "https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Representatives Paul Gosar (AZ-4), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2), and Senator John Kennedy (LA) introduced the Don't Push My Buttons Act. This bill reforms Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act by limiting immunity from liability for online platforms to curate content for users based on collected personal data preferences, unless users elect to receive the content.\n\nCustom content curation options for users are not inherently bad, and the bill provides protections to platforms for content curation if the users choose it. The Don\u2019t Push My Buttons Act limits immunity from liability for online platforms to collect personal data and curate corresponding content without consent from the user.\n\n\u201cTech companies are making users the product. Big Tech is collecting user data and manipulating users, often unwittingly. Some may find content curation options convenient, but many users are creeped out and manipulated by data collection and content curation regarding personal habits, preferences, or beliefs. The Don\u2019t Push My Buttons Act empowers users to choose, or decline, custom content curation based on collected personal data, empowering users to protect themselves from unwanted manipulation online,\u201d said Rep. Paul Gosar.\n\n\u201cAnti-social media companies treat us like products, exploiting and dehumanizing us for their own profits, without regard for the consequences. They intentionally create and fuel conflict and hate, causing physical, spiritual and mental suffering and pain. They are tearing us apart and destroying our nation,\u201d said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. \u201cOur legislation takes the power out of the hands of anti-social media corporations and puts it into the hands of the people who use their platforms. We, the people, get to decide whether to subject ourselves to their manipulative algorithms. Their failure to comply lifts all legal immunity they currently enjoy so we can hold them accountable and liable for the devastation and suffering they leave in their wake.\u201d\n\n\u201cSocial media has many virtues, but too often it divides people by feeding them polarizing information\u2014without their awareness or consent. Platforms that incite conflict just to increase their ad revenue have a duty to inform users of that manipulation. My bill would give Americans more control over their privacy and online experience, and I applaud Congressman Gosar for introducing its companion in the House,\u201d said Senator John Kennedy.\n\nText of H.R. 8515 Don't Push My Buttons Act can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-calls-additional-resources-help-combat-wildfires", "Sinema Calls for Additional Resources to Help Combat Wildfires", "2020-10-05", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sinema Calls for Additional Resources to Help Combat Wildfires\n      \n    \n  \n    \n        \n                \n                          \n      \n                \n                \n                          \n            \n    \n  \n  \n    \n  \n          \n            Monday, October 5, 2020\n      \n            WASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema urged the federal government to provide additional resources to help combat wildfires and support western states and tribal communities during fire season.\n\n1,600 wildfires have burned more than 700,000 acres across Arizona this year. The federal government must cut red tape to ensure Arizona gets needed resources to respond to wildfires and keep our communities safe and secure, said Sinema.\n\nIn her letter, Sinema urged the federal government to quickly increase the number of fire personnel and equipment to respond to wildfires now, ensure the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) uses its existing authorities to break down red tape to assistance for all communities, especially those in rural or disadvantaged areas impacted by wildfire, and ensure FEMA is responsive to local leaders' requests to adjust cost-share requirements that can hinder relief efforts.\n\nRead Sinema's full letter HERE.\n\nSinema has also added a resources page to her website, www.sinema.senate.gov/wildfires, for Arizonans looking for resource and assistance on wildfires.\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-andy-biggs-requests-special-counsel-investigate-new-york-attorney", "Congressman Andy Biggs Requests Special Counsel to Investigate New York Attorney General", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Biggs sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, requesting that he appoint an independent Special Counsel to open a non-partisan investigation to determine whether New York Attorney General Letitia James violated any laws by her conduct or rhetoric against President Donald Trump and his family.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nOctober 2, 2020\n\nThe Honorable William Barr\n\nAttorney General of the United States\n\n950 Pennsylvania Ave, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20530\n\nDear Attorney General Barr,\n\nIt appears that the Attorney General of New York, Letitia James, is pursuing a personal vendetta to attack the President and his family for her own political gain. That is why in recent days Jeff Landry, the Chair of the Republican Attorneys General Association, and Jim Jordan, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, have written strongly worded letters decrying James' outrageous behavior. I request that you appoint an independent Special Counsel to investigate her actions.\n\nJames ran on a platform of threatening President Donald J. Trump, his family, and his private businesses with investigations and lawsuits. She promised to \"definitely sue him.\" On multiple occasions before and after her election she accused the President of money laundering, with zero evidence at her disposal. James essentially sought to gain power by promising to abuse power. She even campaigned on passing a bill to change New York's double jeopardy laws just in case she wanted to sue nonspecific people whom the Administration might one day pardon. It seems James is willing to harass the President and \"anyone in his orbit,\" including make up charges and foment public opinion against innocent people. This is an outrageous abuse of prosecutorial power!\n\nSince the election, James has continued to comment publicly on the President and publicly assert conclusions and determinations of wrongdoing. She makes these assertions despite purporting to be conducting on-going investigations with respect to the very same wrongdoing which she claims will prove her right; despite no charges having been filed by the Office of the Attorney General; and despite her claims remaining entirely unsubstantiated.\n\nThe bedrock of American justice are the Constitutional guarantees of fundamental fairness and due process of law; basic tenets of these requirements are the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial. When a prosecutor says or does things that belie a subject's presumption of innocence, they compromise these fundamental rights. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that indictments and verdicts can be set aside on due process grounds when the government improperly comments or creates publicity in a manner that prejudices the presumption of innocence, including by \"offering unsolicited personal views on the evidence.\" The guidance under the National Prosecution Standards is that: \"The prosecutor should excuse himself or herself from any investigation, prosecution, or other matter where personal interests of the prosecutor would cause a fair-minded, objective observer to conclude that the prosecutor's neutrality, judgment, or ability to administer the law in an objective manner may be compromised.\" State Attorneys General are not meant to be leaders of political revolutions who run on platforms of targeting and harassing their political foes.\n\nThere is so much more at stake here than just an ethics violation. 18 U.S. Code \u00a7 241 makes it illegal for two or more persons to conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States. We are a nation of laws; \u00a7 241 applies even if the person you want to threaten, oppress, or intimidate is the President of the United States, and even if you are unashamed about doing it. The omnibus clause of 18 U.S. Code \u00a7 1503 also makes it clear that anyone who \"corruptly influences, obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice\" has committed a crime.\n\nLetitia James and her supporters attempted to curry favor with potential voters by promising to employ the resources and authority of her elected office to target the President of the United States, the political opponent on which she had staked her campaign for election\n\nThe American people have grown weary watching people of power abuse their positions with impunity. This should not become another partisan issue. I respectfully request that you appoint a Special Counsel to open a non-partisan investigation to determine whether Attorney General James violated any laws by her conduct or rhetoric.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-requests-judiciary-committee-hearing-investigate-source", "Congressman Biggs Requests Judiciary Committee Hearing to Investigate Source of Riots Across America", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Biggs and Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Chairman Jerry Nadler, urging him to immediately call a hearing to investigate the funding source of the riots that have plagued cities across the nation.\n\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nOctober 2, 2020\n\nThe Honorable Jerrold L. Nadler\n\nChairman\n\nCommittee on the Judiciary\n\nU.S. House of Representatives\n\nWashington, D.C. 20515\n\nDear Chairman Nadler,\n\nWe write to urge you to immediately call a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee to investigate the funding source of the riots plaguing cities across America. We are concerned with the Committee's lack of oversight of this matter and urge you to consider this request.\n\nMr. Chairman, you recently said in an interview that Antifa \u2013 an organization inciting violent riots across the country \u2013 was \"a myth that's being spread only in Washington, D.C.\" The reality is that Antifa's actions are not a \"myth.\" We know from federal agencies like the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that Antifa's actions pose a security threat to many communities across our country.\n\nRecently, Attorney General William Barr stated: \"We have evidence that ANITFA and other similar extremist groups, as well as actors of a variety of different political persuasions have been involved in instigating and participating in the violent activity.\" FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that \"Antifa is a real thing,\" and that \"we have any number of properly predicated investigations into what we would describe as violent anarchist extremists and some of those individuals self-identify with Antifa.\"\n\nThis Committee has failed to engage in substantial oversight of the forces behind these organized riots. Instead, we have spent our limited time conducting partisan Committee business that does not help us advance safety and prosperity for the American people. We urge you to accept that Antifa and other domestic extremist groups pose a real threat to our communities and to call hearings to investigate the funding sources of these riots.\n\nFailure to conduct these investigatory hearings will result in an abdication of responsibility by this Committee, leading to continued unrest and crumbling security in communities across the nation. We urge you to join us in addressing this time sensitive issue of national priority.\n\nWe look forward to your prompt response.\n\nSincerely,\n\nAndy Biggs Jim Jordan\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nKen Buck Doug Collins\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nJim Sensenbrenner W. Gregory Steube\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nGuy Reschenthaler Louie Gohmert\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\nTom Tiffany Debbie Lesko\n\nMember of Congress Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-statement-september-jobs-report", "Congressman Biggs' Statement on the September Jobs Report", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the U.S. Department of Labor released the Employment Situation Report for September, showing that 661,000 jobs were created, and the nation's unemployment rate decreased to 7.9% last month. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:\n\n\"Thanks to the pro-growth foundation that President Donald Trump has constructed for the first three years of his presidency, America's economy is quickly recovering from the draconian shutdowns instituted by state and local governments. Millions of Americans have returned to work, and more job creations and openings are certainly on the way. President Trump is truly leading the great American comeback.\n\n\"President Trump understands that there is more work to be done to ensure that all unemployed Americans return to work, and he knows that the local cures for COVID-19 were worse than the disease itself. States and local jurisdictions that are still operating under restrictions or lockdowns must reopen. I am confident that President Trump and his administration will continue to lead the way for America's safe economic recovery for our friends and neighbors who want to get back to work as quickly as possible. Our best days are ahead of us, and I am grateful for the president's commitment to free market principles.\"\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/2020/10/stanton-pushes-fema-assistance-navajo-nation-tribal-communities-hit-hard-covid", "Stanton Pushes FEMA Assistance for Navajo Nation, Tribal Communities Hit Hard By COVID-19", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", "stanton", "https://stanton.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Greg Stanton continues to push for COVID-related relief for the Navajo Nation, speaking in favor of the FEMA Assistance Relief Act \u2013 legislation he\u2019s co-sponsored to increase the federal cost share of FEMA public assistance funding for COVID-related declarations \u2013 at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee yesterday.\n\nNavajo Nation leadership asked the Trump Administration to make the FEMA cost-share change in April, which the Administration has the authority to do on its own, but the Navajo request has been ignored.\n\nAfter the Navajos did not hear from the federal government, Stanton urged the President to grant the request a month later, writing: \u201cIn this time of extraordinary need, it is vital the federal government meet its obligation to tribal nations and leverage the full weight of its resources to allow the Navajo Nation to direct more of its limited resources to combatting the virus and other response efforts.\u201d\n\nYesterday, Stanton said Congress is taking action because the Administration has refused, and reminded the Committee of the urgency of the situation.\n\n\u201cThis pandemic has been difficult for so many \u2013 but few have been hit harder than the Navajo Nation,\u201d he said. More than 10,000 tribal members have tested positive for the virus, and 555 have died. \u201cMany tribal communities, just like the Navajo, need the federal government to step up. [This bill] would provide much-needed relief to communities and tribal nations whose budgets are stretched thin in response to this unprecedented public health emergency.\u201d\n\nVideo of Stanton\u2019s full remarks in support of the bill is available here.\n\nThe bill passed the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and now heads to the House floor.\n\nThe proposed legislation also addresses FEMA\u2019s recent policy that discontinues reimbursement to schools, courthouses, election agencies, and other government entities for Personal Protective Equipment and sanitation supplies needed for coronavirus containment.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://stanton.house.gov/media/press-releases/stanton-pushes-fema-assistance-navajo-nation-tribal-communities-hit-hard-covid", "Stanton Pushes FEMA Assistance for Navajo Nation, Tribal Communities Hit Hard By COVID-19", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Greg Stanton", "S001211", "stanton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Greg Stanton continues to push for COVID-related relief for the Navajo Nation, speaking in favor of the FEMA Assistance Relief Act  legislation he's co-sponsored to increase the federal cost share of FEMA public assistance funding for COVID-related declarations  at the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee yesterday.\nNavajo Nation leadership asked the Trump Administration to make the FEMA cost-share change in April, which the Administration has the authority to do on its own, but the Navajo request has been ignored. \nAfter the Navajos did not hear from the federal government, Stanton urged the President to grant the request a month later, writing: In this time of extraordinary need, it is vital the federal government meet its obligation to tribal nations and leverage the full weight of its resources to allow the Navajo Nation to direct more of its limited resources to combatting the virus and other response efforts.\nYesterday, Stanton said Congress is taking action because the Administration has refused, and reminded the Committee of the urgency of the situation.\nThis pandemic has been difficult for so many  but few have been hit harder than the Navajo Nation, he said. More than 10,000 tribal members have tested positive for the virus, and 555 have died. Many tribal communities, just like the Navajo, need the federal government to step up. [This bill] would provide much-needed relief to communities and tribal nations whose budgets are stretched thin in response to this unprecedented public health emergency.\nVideo of Stanton's full remarks in support of the bill is available here. \nThe bill passed the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and now heads to the House floor.\nThe proposed legislation also addresses FEMA's recent policy that discontinues reimbursement to schools, courthouses, election agencies, and other government entities for Personal Protective Equipment and sanitation supplies needed for coronavirus containment.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-introduces-bill-to-protect-native-american-children", "McSally Introduces Bill to Protect Native American Children", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McSally Introduces Bill to Protect Native American Children \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S. SENATE  U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ)\r\nintroduced legislation on Thursday to improve and reauthorize several programs\r\nwithin the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. These\r\nprograms are the only tribal-specific prevention and treatment programs for\r\nNative children who are at risk of or have suffered abuse. There is\r\nan enormous need for family violence prevention and treatment resources in\r\ntribal communities,McSally said.Not\r\nonly are Native women more likely than any other population to experience\r\ndomestic violence, but Native children experience abuse and neglect at a higher\r\nrate than the rest of the country. Preventing child abuse is critical to the\r\nwell-being of our tribal communities. My bill will shore up much-needed funding\r\nwhile making vital changes to several programs to improve the prevention,\r\ntreatment, and investigation of child abuse involving Native children. Governor\r\nStephen Roe Lewis, Gila River Indian Community said:The Gila River Indian\r\nCommunity supports the Native American Child Protection Act.\r\nReauthorization of these programs that impact our youth populations and family\r\nservices programs would provide additional resources that are much needed at\r\nthe Gila River Indian Communityand throughout Indian Country. We\r\napplaud Senator McSally for making these programs a priority. Chairman\r\nPeter Yucupicio of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe said:It's great to see Senator McSally\r\nand Congressman Gallego reach across the aisle to shore up protections for our\r\nNative children. This bill is vital to protecting our community and ensuring\r\nthat our families are safe. Chairman\r\nDennis Patch of the Colorado River Indian Tribes said:By investing in native youth\r\ntoday, we are building stronger community leaders tomorrow. This is not an\r\nissue where we can afford to be reactive, so I thank Senator McSally for\r\nunderstanding that we must take preventative actions now to protect our most\r\nvaluable resource. Read the\r\nbill textHERE. Background: \r\n The Native American Child\r\n     Protection Actmodernizes\r\n     and reauthorizes 3 programs that were originally established by the late\r\n     Sen. John McCain's Indian Child Protection andFamily\r\n     Violence Prevention Act, which expired in 1997.\r\n Representative\r\n     Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-07) sponsored a bipartisan House companion, which\r\n     passed the House by voice vote on Sept 21.\r\n This\r\n     new legislation will: \r\n \r\n  Improve and reauthorize the Indian Child Abuse\r\n      Treatment Grant Program to provide funding to tribal governments to\r\n      establish treatment programs and culturally-appropriate services for the\r\n      victims of child abuse and neglect.\r\n  Establish a new National Indian Resource Services\r\n      Center to provide tribes with technical assistance, advice, and training\r\n      on addressing child abuse, family violence, and child neglect.\r\n  Support efforts to improve intergovernmental\r\n      coordination between federal and tribal personnel responding to those\r\n      issues.\r\n  Improve and reauthorize the establishment of tribal\r\n      programs that investigate, prosecute, and prevent incidents of child\r\n      abuse, child neglect, and family violence in tribal communities. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-applauds-funding-navajo-nation-increase-safety", "Sinema Applauds Funding for the Navajo Nation to Increase Safety", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Department of Justice awarded the Navajo Nation $500,000 to increase safety and reduce recidivism by increasing job opportunities\nWASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema applauded a $500,000 Department of Justice grant to the Navajo Nation to help fund programs aimed at increasing safety and reducing repeat criminal offenders by increasing job opportunities.  \n  \nToday's funding helps increase job opportunities on the Navajo Nation, increasing the safety and security of Navajo Nation members, said Sinema.  \n  \nThe Navajo Nation Judicial Branch was one of 11 recipients of the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program grant. The Adult Reentry and Employment Strategic Planning Program funds the development of strategic plans to increase public safety by reducing recidivism and improving employability in offenders returning to communities from incarceration.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-secures-protections-for-tribes-affordable-housing-funding", "McSally Secures Protections for Tribes\u2019 Affordable Housing Funding", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McSally Secures Protections for Tribes' Affordable Housing Funding \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S. SENATE \r\nU.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) announced today that tribes will not lose\r\nfuture Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) funding\r\nas a result of the CARES Act funding they received. Following a letter\r\nMcSally sent last week to the U.S. Department\r\nof Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Agency is exempting\r\ntribes from the disbursement requirement that would have reduced the amount\r\nof future IHBG funding that a tribe is\r\neligible for. This change will ensure that CARES Act IHBG funding can be used for supplemental expenses related to\r\nCOVID-19, and will not detrimentally impact regular IHBG grant amounts. Indian\r\nHousing Block Grants are vital for improving housing conditions on tribal\r\nreservations and reducing the spread of the coronavirus, McSally said. This\r\nrequirement waiver by the Department of Housing and\r\nUrban Development is a huge win for tribal communities who can continue to\r\nreceive this block grant funding regularly. The goal of the CARES Act was to\r\nprovide needed relief during a crisis, not penalize recovering communities. Background: On September\r\n23, McSally sent a letter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben\r\nCarson asking him to waive the disbursement requirement that would have reduced the amount of future IHBG funding that a tribe is eligible for. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.mcsally.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mcsally-votes-to-protect-americans-with-pre-existing-conditions", "McSally Votes Again To Protect Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Martha McSally", "M001197", "www.mcsally.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "McSally Votes To Protect Americans With Pre-Existing Conditions \n        \n      \n        \n          U.S. SENATE \r\nU.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) tonight voted once again to protect\r\nAmericans with pre-existing conditions.\r\nUnfortunately, the Protect Act that McSally introduced was blocked by Senate\r\nDemocrats. Tonight, I voted again to guarantee protections for\r\nAmericans with pre-existing conditions, McSally said. Chuck Schumer\r\nand Democrats, however, blocked the bill on the Senate floor. Instead of\r\nstanding up for the American people, Democrats once again turned their backs on\r\nthem. I will continue to fight for Arizonans with pre-existing conditions, many\r\nof whom can't afford health insurance right now. Let's come together on\r\ninitiatives like Association Health Plans so small businesses and individuals\r\ncan band together to access health insurance like big businesses do. Earlier this month, I successfully fought to include\r\nlanguage protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions in the Senate's\r\ntargeted coronavirus relief package. Sadly, Senate Democrats blocked this too.\r\nIt seems they will always choose scoring a political point over providing\r\nrelief for the American people they represent. Background: Senator McSally successfully fought to include\r\nprotections for individuals with pre-existing conditions in the Senate's\r\ntargeted COVID-19 relief package. On September\r\n10, Senator McSally voted to pass that package. The Protect\r\nAct that Senator McSally introduced would: \r\n Guarantee the availability of health insurance coverage\r\n     in the individual or group market, regardless of pre-existing conditions.\r\n Prohibit discrimination against patients based on\r\n     health status  including prohibiting increased premiums for patients due\r\n     to pre-existing conditions.\r\n Prohibit insurance companies from excluding coverage of\r\n     treatments for a beneficiary's pre-existing condition. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-helps-secure-20-million-grant-further-arizona-childrens-educations", "Sinema Helps Secure $20 Million Grant to Further Arizona Children\u2019s Educations", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, September 30, 2020\n\n      \n            WASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema helped secure a $20 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant for the Arizona Department of Education to improve Arizona students' reading skills. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to advance education and literacy in Arizona by expanding evidence-based reading instruction for educators and strengthening community collaborations that support reading achievement for children from birth through high school.  \n  \nToday's grant funding increases critical resources to ensure all Arizona students have access to quality educations, said Sinema.  \n  \nThe Arizona Department of Education's new $20 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant will span five years at $4 million per year. Arizona's grant project was developed through the collaboration of the Arizona Department of Education, Read On Arizona, and First Things First. The grant project will target children living in poverty, English learners, children with disabilities, Native American students, and those reading well below grade level. Last May, Sinema wrote in support of the grant project.  \n  \nRead Sinema's letter of support HERE.  \n  \nThroughout her time in Congress, Sinema has championed Arizona students and teachers. Last year, Sinema helped secure an additional $40 million for the Impact Aid Program, which ensures schools on federal, military, and tribal lands are equipped to provide Arizona students with a quality education. Last year, Sinema also introduced the bipartisan Student Loan Tax Elimination Act that eliminates federal student loan origination fees, lessening the burden on students borrowing for college. She also helped secure a $2.5 million grant to Arizona State University to reduce textbook costs for students and their families.  \n  \nRecently, Sinema called for additional funding for the Elementary and Secondary Education Relief Fund in any future coronavirus relief package. The CARES Act provided critical education funding, but more is needed to help cover the additional costs for this school year while also ensuring that schools nationwide will be ready to safely reopen for in-class learning when it is safe to do so. K-12 schools are facing added expenses this year amidst budget cuts and declining state and local revenue.   \n  \nSinema has previously called on the U.S. Departments of Interior and Education to distribute the already-approved $222 million CARES Act funding to support Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, Sinema helped introduce the Emergency Educational Connections Actlegislation that provides $4 billion in federal support for tribal schools and libraries to provide Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and internet-enabled devices (as well as internet service through such equipment) to students, staff, and patrons.  \n  \nSinema has also added a resources page to her website, www.sinema.senate.gov/corona, for Arizonans looking for the latest information on coronavirus.\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.sinema.senate.gov/sinema-highlights-importance-arizona-universities-nasas-continued-research-and-innovation", "Sinema Highlights the Importance of Arizona Universities to NASA\u2019s Continued Research and Innovation", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Kyrsten Sinema", "S001191", "www.sinema.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, September 30, 2020\n\n      \n            WASHINGTON  Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema spoke today in a Senate Commerce Committee hearing and highlighted the important partnerships between Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University and NASA for continued space research and innovation.  \n  \nNASA partnerships with Arizona's universities are strong and beneficial. All three Arizona public universities  the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University  provide students with hands-on STEM education and research opportunities, thanks to the Space Grant program and other NASA partnerships, said Sinema.  \n  \nSinema questioned NASA Administrator Bridenstine about potential changes to the Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission at the University of Arizona. Kyrsten has long championed the Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission, and helped secure 36 million dollars in dedicated funding to further the mission in last year's end of year spending bill. Sinema also recently introduced the NASA Authorization Actbipartisan legislation strengthening American's leadership in space, bolstering national security, and creating economic opportunities for all Arizonans. The bill also directs NASA to fully fund and launch the Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission by 2025.  \n  \nLast year, Sinema introduced the 21st Century Space Grant Modernization Actbipartisan legislation boosting space education and research funding at Arizona universities by reforming the National Space Grant College and Fellowship program to better support state-based space education and research programs. As part of the Space Grant College and Fellowship program, each state creates a Space Grant Consortium which provides funding for space-related research, workforce training, and education programs throughout the state. Space Grant Consortium consists of Arizona State University. University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. In recent years, NASA's office of STEM Engagement has diverted a portion of Space Grant funding to cover administrative overhead and unrelated programs, which deprives states, including Arizona, of federal funding upon which they rely. Sinema's 21st Century Space Grant Modernization Act protects and boosts funding for Arizona space initiatives.\n      \n  \n    Issues", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-introduces-resolution-condemn-vicious-attacks-judge-amy", "Congressman Biggs Introduces Resolution to Condemn Vicious Attacks on Judge Amy Coney Barrett\u2019s Faith, Family, and Character.", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Andy Biggs introduced a resolution to condemn the vicious attacks on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's faith, family, and character.\n\nThe resolution calls for the House of Representatives to:\n\nCondemn any attempt to impose an unconstitutional religious test on Judge Amy Coney Barrett or any other individual seeking election or appointment to public office;\n\nCondemn any attempt to disparage Judge Amy Coney Barrett's constitutional right to exercise her religious faith;\n\nCondemn any attack on any member of Judge Amy Coney Barrett's family or her selfless decision to adopt two children from Haiti; and\n\nSupport the Senate's constitutional advise and consent process on the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.\n\nAfter Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination was announced by President Donald Trump this past weekend, Congressman Biggs stated:\n\n\"Since her Senate confirmation process in 2017, Judge Barrett has withstood brutal attacks from the radical left and their allies in the mainstream media. Over the past week, these attacks have intensified as speculation grew about her likely nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. These despicable attacks are rooted in religious bigotry, hatred, and partisanship, and such attacks on Judge Amy Coney Barrett and members of her family should be condemned by all Americans. Amy Coney Barrett should be judged by her intellect and her record, and not by any other standard - especially not an unconstitutional religious standard.\"\n\nRead the resolution here.\n\n###\n\nCongressman Andy Biggs is a second-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. He lives with his wife, Cindy, in Gilbert.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1402, "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": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 771, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2020&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 631, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2020&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 1402, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=AZ&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "AZ", "label": "AZ", "count": 1402, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 1402, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-09-29,https~3A~2F~2Fbiggs~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fcongressman-biggs-introduces-resolution-condemn-vicious-attacks-judge-amy", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=AZ&year=2020&_next=2020-09-29%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fbiggs~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fcongressman-biggs-introduces-resolution-condemn-vicious-attacks-judge-amy&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 260.50425972789526, "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"}