{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", party = \"Republican\" and state = \"AZ\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-schweikert-announces-key-provisions-included-end-year", "Congressman Schweikert Announces Key Provisions Included in End of Year Legislation", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - 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\"I 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.\"\nMultiple pieces of legislation authored and co-sponsored by Congressman Schweikert were incorporated into the legislative package including:\n H.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\tReducing 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\tSupporting 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\tH.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\tH.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\tH.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\tCarbon 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\tH.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\tStudy 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 To read the full text of the end-of-year package, click HERE.\n  \n\t                                  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema partnered in a bicameral,bipartisan effort to ensure Arizona Medicaid providers receivetheir full share of coronavirus Provider Relief Funds (PRF).  We 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, wrote the Arizona Delegation. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) launched HEALTHII  a program, approved by the CentersforMedicare 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. The delegation'sletter 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 revenuecompared to a 2019 baseline when the program did not existitcouldresultin 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 toaddress revenue losses from the pandemic, while HEALTHII payments address low Medicaid reimbursements. Read the full letterHERE.  \n\t\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-schweikert-releases-statement-applauding-surprise-billing", "Congressman Schweikert Releases Statement Applauding Surprise Billing Agreement", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - 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\"I 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.\"\nBackground:\nThe bipartisan, bicameral agreement protects patients and establishes a fair payment dispute process including:\n Holds 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\tProhibits 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\tCreates 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\tUnder 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\tIf 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\tFollowing 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\tProvides 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\tEmpowers 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\tAs 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 Legislative text is available HERE.\nSection-by-section is available HERE.\n  \n\t                                  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/gop-rep-corrects-democratic-myths-about-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act", "GOP Rep Corrects Democratic Myths About the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "14500 N. Northsight Blvd.\nSte. 221\n\n\nScottsdale, AZ 85260\n\n  Phone: (480) 946-2411  \n\tFax: (480) 946-2446\nFor security and to ensure that your needs are met, visitors to the District Office should call, 480-946-2411 to speak with a staff member about establishing an appointment within normal operating hours.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-votes-against-ndaa", "Congressman Biggs Votes Against the NDAA Conference Report", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 6395  Mac Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act. Congressman Biggs voted against this conference report and issued the following statement:\nI 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. \nThe 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  one of the only offices at DOD that saves us money. \nDue 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###\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, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-schweikerts-legislation-included-national-defense", "Congressman Schweikert's Legislation Included in National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - 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.\nThe Ensuring American Leadership over International Standards Act, wouldrequire the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to commission a study on China's influence in setting global standards for emerging technologies.\n\"I 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.\"\nBackground:\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's 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.\nAdditional amendments included:\n Study and report on increasing telehealth services across Armed Force;\n\tFully funds the Navy's Direct Air Capture and Blue Carbon Removal Technology Program; and\n\tRequires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress regarding recommendations on cyber hygiene practices for the DOD.\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC -Today, Congressman David Schweikert joined 48 lawmakers incalling for the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic to be made permanent. Provisions from theCONNECT for Health Acthave 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\"It has been incredible to see the expansion and appreciation for telehealth services being utilized since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,\"said Schweikert. \"This 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.\"\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.. Schweikert 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'Halleran (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.). To read the full text of the letter, clickhere. \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-david-schweikert-announces-chief-staff-departure", "Congressman David Schweikert Announces Chief of Staff Departure", "2020-12-02", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) announced the departure of his Chief of Staff Katherina Dimenstein, who has served as Schweikert's longtime senior aide, at the end of this week.  \n\t  \n\tDimenstein 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's legislative priorities on the Ways and Means Committee.\n\"I want to thank Katherina for her dedication and service to Arizona's 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's an incredibly valued member of our team, and we will miss her. said Congressman David Schweikert\nI am incredibly thankful for Congressman Schweikert's 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's work to provide opportunity and success for all Arizonans. said Katherina Dimenstein  \n\t  \n\tThe Congressman's long time District Director and Deputy Chief of Staff Kevin Knight will take over as Acting Chief of Staff.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-requests-doj-investigate-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", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  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. \nRepresentatives Warren Davidson (OH-08), Andy Harris (MD-01), Debbie Lesko (AZ-08), and Randy Weber (TX-14) co-signed the letter.\nRead the text of the letter below:\nNovember 27, 2020\nThe Honorable William Barr  \n\tAttorney General  \n\tU.S. Department of Justice  \n\t950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  \n\tWashington, D.C. 20530\nDear Attorney General Barr,\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.\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.\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.\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.\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.\nSincerely,\nAndy Biggs  \n\tMember of Congress\nWarren Davidson  \n\tMember of Congress\nAndy Harris  \n\tMember of Congress\nDebbie Lesko  \n\tMember of Congress\nRandy Weber  \n\tMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/house-republicans-introduce-resolution-censure-democrat-lawmaker-bullying-trump", "House Republicans introduce resolution to censure Democrat lawmaker for bullying Trump legal team", "2020-11-29", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a resolution to censure (i.e., formally reprimand) a Democrat official in the chamber who is trying to get Rudy Giuliani's law license cancelled because of the ex-NYC mayor's efforts in contesting the 2020 election results.\nFar-left Democrat Bill Pascrell prompted the GOP censure motion after he filed complaints against Giuliani and 22 other Trump campaign attorneys with the bar associations (sometimes known as grievance committees or by other names), the regulatory organizations that supervise lawyers, in New York Pennsylvania, Arizona, Michigan, and Nevada. Theoretically, these complaints could lead to disbarment, which means the revocation or suspension of the state licenses necessary to practice law.\nAccording to U.S. Rep Pascrell, in what sounds like a classic case of projection, the Trump lawyers are supposedly guilty of filing frivolous lawsuits and trying to help Trump steal the election and dismantle democracy.\nHouse Resolution 1241, introduced by GOP Reps. Andy Biggs, the chair of the Freedom Caucus, along with colleagues Warren Davidson, Andy Harris, Debbie Lesko, and Randy Weber, points out that 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; andeach candidate running for public office in each State has the right to pursue every legal option to ensure ballot integrity and fair elections.\nPascrell, a longtime politician who represents a blue district in north Jersey, should be censured for conduct that threatens the livelihoods of American citizens in a way that is not befitting an elected Member of the House of Representatives, the resolution concludes.\nIf the resolution gains approval, the House Speaker would be required to formally rebuke Pascrell during a legislative session. With the Democrats holding on to a narrow majority in the House after GOP gains, the chances of this occurring are slim to none, assuming the resolution even ever emerges from the ethics committee.\nPascrell, whose relentlessly anti-Trump Twitter feed almost sounds like a parody account, earlier this month called for the criminal prosecution of the POTUS and members of his administration for innumerable crimes against the U.S.\nIn another example of apparent projection, Pascrell, 83,doubled-downon calling for the Trump lawyers to lose their ability to continue in their profession, and by extension, deny the president his day in court.\nIn response to the resolution, Pascrell insisted that Donald Trump and his minions are trying to steal the election after getting blown out by President-elect Joe Biden. His lawyers filing frivolous lawsuits in taxpayer-funded courts are accomplices to Trump's assault on American democracy and they must be held accountable.I have proudly called for them to lose their law licenses.Fascist wannabes won't muzzle my free speech or stop me trying to defend our republic. Those supporting this pathetic resolution are complicit in Trump's attempt to become a dictator.\nJonathan Turley, the prominent George Washington Univ. law professor and a self-described liberal, is taking a dim view of Pascrell's attempt to put the barristers out of business.\nWhat Pascrell is doing is undermining our legal system by using his office to advance a campaign targeting lawyers and legislators who raise objections to his party prevailing in the presidential electionthis is raw retaliation and intimidation to deter the use of our legal process. When such actions were taken against lawyers representing civil rights groups and others in the 1960s, it was correctly denounced as an outrageous abuse of our legal system. Now that Republican lawyers are being targeted, it has become a campaign supported by members of Congress, thousands of lawyers, and the media.\nWhat Pascrell is doing is a dangerous form of demagoguery that should be denounced by people of good-faith regardless of their political affiliations.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/gop-congressman-wants-house-censure-pascrell-trying-get-giuliani-disbarred", "GOP congressman wants House to censure Pascrell for trying to get Giuliani disbarred", "2020-11-28", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) today lashed out at a Republican congressman from Arizona who wants the House to censure him for seeking to disbar former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and 22 other attorneys who have filed lawsuits seeking to change the results of the election, which Joe Biden won, in favor of President Donald Trump.\nFascist wannabes won't muzzle my free speech or stop me from defending our republic, Pascrell said. Those supporting this pathetic resolution are complicit in Trump's attempt to become a dictator.\nThe resolution, introduced on Friday by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona), alleges that Trump's campaign has a legal right to sue to ensure that each legal vote is counted and to challenge any illegal votes.\nBiggs and four other GOP House members, want to censure 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.\nEach candidate running for public office in each state has the right to pursue every legal option to ensure ballot integrity and fair elections, Biggs' resolution reads.\nPascrell dismissed the actions by the Republicans.\nDonald Trump and his minions are trying to steal the election after getting blown out by President-elect Joe Biden, the 12-term congressman said. His lawyers filing frivolous lawsuits in taxpayer-funded courts are accomplices to Trump's assault on American democracy and they must be held accountable. I have proudly called for them to lose their law licenses.\nThe bid by Biggs is unlikely to prevail in a Democratic-controlled Congress, and would be an uphill battle anyway.\nJust seven congressmen have been censured in the last 100 years, all for ethics issues.\nThe first censure in Conrgess came in 1832 when Rep. William Stanberry, a New Jersey native who grew up in Essex County, was disciplined for insulting the Speaker of the House.\nA congressman from Ohio at the time, Stanberry got in hot water for saying that Speaker Andrew Stevenson his attention was too frequently turned from the chair you occupy toward the White House.\nHis censure was for the use of unparliamentary language.\nThat wasn't Stanberry's only problem during his six years in Congress.\nHe also scuffled with the legendary Sam Houston, then a former House member from Tennessee who would later serve as governor of Texas and president of the Republic of Texas.\nStanberry accused Houston of defrauding Native Americans. Houston called him a rascal and hit him with his cane. Stanberry pulled out his gun, but it misfired.\nStanberry lost his bid for re-election that year.\nCo-sponsoring the resolution to censure Pascrell: Reps. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio); Andy Harris (R-Maryland); Debbie Lesko (R-Arizona); and Randy Weber (R-Texas).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/gop-rep-says-americans-choose-freedom-after-more-2-million-fly-over-weekend", "GOP Rep. Says 'Americans Choose Freedom' after More than 2 Million Fly over Weekend", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ARepublican congressman said Americans had chosen freedom after the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) revealed that more than two million travelers had passed through their checkpoints over the weekend leading up to the Thanksgiving holidays.\nReacting to the figures posted on social media, Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona simply tweeted: \"Americans choose freedom.\" He backed the decision of millions of flyers after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned against Thanksgiving travel last Thursday.\nTSA data from Saturday and Sunday shows that more than two million passengers were screened over the weekenda notable increase on the two-day totals stretching back to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.\nWhen the totals for Friday are included, the TSA figures show that more than three million passengers were screened between Friday and Sunday. Roughly twice as many passengers traveled over the same days last year.\nThe CDC said last week that the \"safest way\" for Americans to celebrate the Thanksgiving holidays was to remain in their households to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as cases spike across the country.\n\"Travel may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19,\" the CDC's Thanksgiving guidelines read. \"Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.\"\nThe guidelines later advise travelers to always wear a mask on public transport, adhere to the usual social distancing rules and to get a flu shot before they return home for Thanksgiving celebrations.\nDr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, told Americans to use \"common sense\" when deciding whether or not to embark on trips over the holidays, and repeated CDC advise to wear a face mask in public spaces.\n\"Even if it's a very small group, to the extent possible, keep the mask on,\" Fauci told CBS. \"Nothing is going to be perfect in this. Obviously, it's kind of difficult to be eating and drinking at a dinner with a mask on.\"\nThe leading infectious disease expert added that the risk of infection would be lower if people planning to gather quarantined and got tested for COVID-19 before grouping together. However, he did note that it was not \"risk-free\" as there would still be a window for infection to take place.\nAt the time of writing, the U.S. has recorded more than 12.2 million COVID-19 infections since the outbreak of the disease earlier this year.\nMore than a quarter of a million have died from COVID-19 in the U.S. so far, but the vast majority of those infected have recovered.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/opening-117th-congress-will-be-different-due-pandemic", "Opening of 117th Congress will be different due to pandemic", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "More complicated is planning for the swearing in of members. Members in Washington can be sworn in groups, Hoyer said. But the tricky part is figuring out how to accommodate those who are unable to travel for health reasons.\n\t\tThe issue was raised before, and the parliamentarian ruled you had to be there. He ruled essentially you couldn't be sworn through television, Hoyer said. So I don't know exactly how we're going to do it for people who are unable to come.\n\t\tWhile that hasn't been resolved, Hoyer said he personally doesn't see why swearing in couldn't be conducted virtually if we can vote virtually and make big decisions virtually.\n\t\tUnder the Constitution, opening day of each Congress is supposed to be Jan. 3. In 2021 that falls on a Sunday, so leaders are likely to move the date to Jan. 4 or Jan. 5, which requires both chambers passing a resolution agreeing to the date change.\n\t\tWe've changed it before, Hoyer said. I've been here, as you know, 40 years. I can't remember ever being sworn in over a weekend.\n\t\tIn addition to the speaker's election and swearing in of members, the House also typically passes its rules package on the opening day of each new Congress. In 2019 the package was split into multiple votes and passed over two days.\n\t\tRules ChairmanJim McGovern, D-Mass., on Friday told CQ Roll Call he's hoping to have a package to present to the Democratic Caucus in a couple of weeks.\n\t\tWe've opened it up and asked people for their advice and their guidance, he said. And everybody has an idea. Some of them are good ideas, some of them are OK ideas, some of them are really bad ideas, but we're vetting them all. So, it's just taking us a little while.\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tBecause the 117th Congress follows a presidential election, the House and Senate by law are supposed to hold a joint session to count the Electoral College votes on Jan. 6. Hoyer said he'd like to prevent all members from being on the floor for that, but social distancing could prove complicated if any members want to raise objections.\n\t\t\t\tUsually, as I recall, everybody is not in the chamber for the counting, he said. But usually there's never any controversy.\n\t\t\t\tPresident Donald Trump is contesting the election results in the courts and on Twitter, but so far he's produced no evidence of widespread fraud. And on Friday he brought Republican state lawmakers from Michigan to the White House in an apparent effort to lobby them to overturn the state's results.\n\t\t\t\tIf all those efforts fail as expected, Trump could lean on his allies in Congress to object to the counting of Electoral College votes in a last-ditch effort to protest the results.\n\t\t\t\tI don't know what I'm going to do. That's down the road still, House Freedom Caucus ChairmanAndy Biggs, R-Ariz., told CQ Roll Call on Friday. I haven't really thought about that other than I know that in 2000 they objected repeatedly on Bush, he said, referring to House members who objected to counting votes for George W. Bush but were not able to get a senator to join them.\n\t\t\t\tOne senator and one House member can join together to submit in writing an objection to the counting of any electoral votes. If an objection is raised, the joint session recesses and each chamber meets separately to deliberate and vote. Both chambers must agree to the objection or it fails and the counting resumes.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Democrat-led House is unlikely to agree to any objections, but the process of having to consider objections and abide by social distancing would be cumbersome.\n\t\t\t\tI hope that by the time we get to the counting  that we will have resolved the controversies, the courts will have thrown all this junk out and somehow cooler minds will prevail, Hoyer said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/republicans-accuse-democrats-hypocrisy-thanksgiving-restrictions", "Republicans Accuse Democrats of Hypocrisy With Thanksgiving Restrictions", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Several top Republican politicians have hit out at Democrats for imposing restrictions on travel and gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving, accusing them of hypocrisy and violating the Constitution.\nNevada on Sunday limited private gatherings with more than 10 people following similar restrictions in Minnesota, Oregon, Michigan, and Kentucky. Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, warned that the state's case rate growth is at wildfire levels  even outpacing neighboring states, such as Arizona. All available models indicate that Nevada is in a red zone'and our health experts anticipate continued case growth based on current trends.\nDemocrats attend birthday parties indoors, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said on Fox News on Sunday, in an apparent reference to California Gov. Gavin Newsom. But expect you to celebrate Thanksgiving alone outside. Americans are tired of the hypocrisy.\nThis has gotten so ridiculous and we forget this is America, he continued. When the first lockdown happened, the attorney general of the United States sent out a memo to all U.S. attorneys  near the end of the memo he had a great line. He said, The Constitution is not suspended during a crisis.' And amen to that.\nRep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., added: Many in mainstream media, bureaucrats, & radical leftists cannot stand that Americans are making their own, free decisions by traveling for Thanksgiving. Expect a historic War on Christmas in return. Opponents of freedom will be thirsty for revenge on freedom-loving Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/andy-biggs-and-co-want-full-audit-maricopa-countys-vote-ok-me-conditions", "Andy Biggs and co. want a full audit of Maricopa County's vote? OK by me (with conditions)", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Great Arizona Sharpie Conspiracy ran dry. Cries of bias, green button errors and glitches in the tabulation equipment have gone nowhere.\nWe are now up to Lawsuit No. 3 in the Republican Party's effort to overturn Arizona's vote for Joe Biden, this one objecting to Maricopa County's hand audit of a sampling of the vote by voting center rather than by precinct.\nBut even if Republicans win the lawsuit, it won't satisfy them.\nSo now comes Plan D. Or is it E?\nRepublican Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar and David Schweikert are nowcalling for a full hand auditof Maricopa County's election results.\nAmericans and Arizonans must have full confidence in our election processes and systems in order to maintain the bedrock of our constitutional republic, Biggs said, in a statement on Monday. Although Arizona conducts elections with far more transparency and accountability than other states, there have been some issues raised about the integrity of some of our election systems within the state.\nThe only real issue being this: Trump didn't win.\n The last lawsuit involved 191 votes \nSo now they're asking for a hand check of every one of the more than two million votes cast in Maricopa County.\nHundreds of voters in Maricopa County have signed affidavits alleging their ballots cast in the November 3 election may have been discounted, they wrote, in a letter on Friday to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Every voter has the right to know that his or her ballot was accurately tabulated.\nThat's apparently a reference to last week's green button lawsuit alleging that voters were not given a chance to fill out new ballots when tabulation machines flagged their ballots for errors. The state Republican Party set up a website to find voters who claimed to be victims of green button mischief.\nThe Trump campaign and the GOP, in thatlawsuit, claimed the president lost potentially thousands of votes when poll workers prompted voters to press the green button and submit their flagged ballots, invalidating their vote in whichever race the error was made.\nOnly it wasn't potentially thousands of votes that Trump lost. It was 191 votes  votes that presumably would have been split between the two candidates  and the lawsuit fizzled within days of being filed.\nA hand audit was a 100% match\nNow we are, according to the congressmen, back up to hundreds of voters who say their ballot may have been discounted. So theywant a hand count of every ballot in the county.\nAll two-plus million of them.\nThere is nothing in state law that requires it. There is no evidence of fraud or error that warrants it.\nIn fact, the hand audit of roughly 8,000 early and polling place votes  the one mandated by state law and witnessed by representatives of both parties  turned up a 100% match with the results tabulated by Dominion Voting Systems equipment.\nThat's because the problem wasn't with the machinery. It was with the candidate.\nTrump just flat out lost Arizona and his most ardent supporters cannot accept that.\nA manual audit of ballot images will provide full transparency of Maricopa County's election results, the congressmen wrote. 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.\n A full count won't change the outcome \nI can't imagine that the Board of Supervisors will go along with the request, given the fact that no problems were found during the sample audit.\nAnd given the fact that even if every one of those \"hundreds of voters\" who claim their ballots \"may have been discounted\" are right in their suspicions, Trump still lost the county by 45,109 votes.\nAnd I really can't see the supervisors going along with it given the fact that the GOP-dominated board actually handled oversight of Election Day voting this year rather than have Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, do it.\nStill, I know that Biggs is correct. Many Arizona votershave indeedlost faith in our elections process,thanks to the non-stop conspiracy theories that have been thrown out over the last two weeks by Trump and Republican party leaders.\n Do it, but only if we have these 4 things \nSo, in the interest of restoring faith in our democratic process, thesupervisors should go along with the request of Biggs et al, to do a hand audit of every vote.\nI would, however, require four things from the congressmen:\n1.Provide actual evidence that fraud and/or widespread errors exist. Tweets don't count.\n2.Pay up front the millions of dollars it will cost to conduct this hand audit, which, by the way, must be completed by Nov. 23.\n3.Agree to accept the results of whatever portion of the vote can be audited by Nov. 23. This shouldn't be an attempt to delay the inevitable but to restore the faith in our elections system.\n4.  And finally, offer a guarantee that when the audit is done and Biden is once again declared the winner, the Paul Gosars and the Kelli Wards of the world will cease with the crybaby conspiracy theories, accept the will of the people and move on.\nYour candidate lost. It happens.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/arizona-lawmakers-push-space-command-headquarters", "Arizona lawmakers push for Space Command headquarters", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PHOENIX  Members of Arizona's congressional delegation are advocating for the state to be selected as the location ofthe permanent headquarters of the U.S. Space Command.\nThe offices of Republican U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said the lawmakers on Friday sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett advocating for the selection of an Arizona site and requesting a meeting to discuss Arizona's qualifications.\nThe other delegation members who also signed the letter were Republican Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar and David Schweikert and Democratic Reps. Ruben Gallego, Ann Kirkpatrick, Tom O'Halleran and Greg Stanton.\nThe lawmakers' letter said many Arizona cities meet the specified qualifications and that Arizona would be the perfect location for the command's headquarters because of its many aerospace and defense contractors, good climate and existing military installations.\nThose installations include Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Luke Air Force Base in metro Phoenix, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and the Army's Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista.\nPeterson Air Force Basein Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been designatedthe command's initial quarters.\nPresident Donald Trump formally launched Space Command in December. The goal is to improve the organization of U.S. military space operations and accelerate technical developments.\nThe new command will draw elements from across the military services. It will have the same status as other headquarters such as U.S. Cyber Command, Special Operations Command and Strategic Command.\nThere is also a Space Command within the Air Force. It also is based in Peterson.\nOhio and Kansas are amongother statesseeking the U.S. Space Command's new quarters.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/trump-order-further-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-iraq-inauguration-report", "Trump to order further troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Iraq before inauguration: Report", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Trump is preparing to announce as early as this week that the U.S. will withdraw thousands of troops fromIraqandAfghanistanjust days before Inauguration Day in January, moving to fulfill a campaign promise but also sparking fierce blowback from some of his top political allies.\nThe looming drawdown, first reported by CNN, suggests that the newPentagonleadership Mr. Trump has installed is ready to bring down the number of troops stationed in the region despite pushback from officials and experts who warn that a U.S. presence is still needed to defend national interests and defend longtime allies facing very real threats.\nAccording to multiple reports, the Defense Department has issued a warning order to commanders to start drawing up plans to roughly halve the number of U.S. combat troops inAfghanistanto 2,500, and to reduce the Iraqi deployment by a third, also to 2,500 troops, by Jan. 15  five days before presumptive President-electJoseph R. Bidentakes office.\nU.S. forces have been inAfghanistanfor nearly two decades, making it the longest war in American history. U.S. troops spearheaded the invasion that toppledIraq's Saddam Hussein in 2003, left for a few years early in the Obama administration, and returned toIraqin force in 2014 to deal with the rise of Islamic State.\nThe drawdown move comes despite barely veiled warnings from topPentagongenerals that a drawdown  especially inAfghanistan could leave U.S. troops and U.S. allies exposed at a perilous time.\nA peace deal betweenTrump administrationandAfghanistan'sTalibaninsurgency, struck last February, calls for an end to America's military presence in exchange for guarantees theTalibanwill not permit the country to be a safe haven for al Qaeda and other terrorist groups and that the radical\nThe U.S. had about 12,000 troops in the country when the deal was signed. The number is now about 4,500. There are roughly 3,000 U.S. troops inIraq, down from more than 5,000 last year.\nAdministration officials have previously said the number of troops inAfghanistanwill be down to 2,500 by early year, but Mr. Trump last month abruptly said on Twitter that he wanted all forces home by Christmas  far earlier than the mid-2021 deadline for full withdrawal laid out in the U.S.-Talibandeal.\nPresumptive President-electJoseph R. Bidenhas previously stated that he supports ending the nearly two-decade old war but a limited presence should be maintained inAfghanistanfor counterterrorism efforts.\nAmericans are rightly weary of our longest war; I am, too, Mr.Bidensaid ahead of the election. But we must end the war responsibly, in a manner that ensures we both guard against threats to our homeland and never have to go back.\nThe White House orPentagonhave yet to formally comment on the reports, but the anticipated announcement has already divided Republicans on Capitol Hill.\nIt's time to bring our troops home fromAfghanistanandIraq, tweeted Rep. Andy Biggs, Arizona Republican, adding that Mr. Trump is honoring his pledge to stop America's endless wars and bringing our brave men and women home.\nBut others, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, are cautioning against an early exit.\nThe consequences of a premature American exit would likely be even worse than President Obama's withdrawal fromIraqin 2011, which fueled the rise of ISIS and a new round of global terrorism, Mr. McConnell said Monday in an unusually pointed speech on the Senate floor. It would be reminiscent of the humiliating American departure from Saigon in 1975, he continued.\nThe top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, also issued a rebuke of the rumored plans.\nA premature U.S. withdrawal would not only jeopardize the Afghan government's ability to negotiate, but would endanger U.S. counterterrorism interests, the Texas Republican said. We need to ensure a residual force is maintained for the foreseeable future to protect U.S. national and homeland security interests and to help secure peace forAfghanistan.\nIn Brussels, a spokeswoman for NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg revealed Monday that the NATO chief had spoke to Mr. Miller late last week about the situation inAfghanistan, sounding a cautionary note over the mission that includes troops from a large number of NATO countries.\nNo NATO ally wants to stay any longer than necessary, spokeswoman Oana Lungescu told reporters in Brussels. At the same time, we want to preserve the gains made with such sacrifice, and to ensure thatAfghanistannever again becomes a safe haven for terrorists that can attack the United States or any other NATO ally.\nNo more perpetual war'\nThe reports come just days after Mr. Trump's new acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller called for an end to the era of perpetual war and to bring American troops home.\nMr. Miller, a military veteran and counterterrorism official who was tapped for his new post after the abrupt firing of Mark Esper last week, made it crystal clear in a message toPentagoncolleagues over the weekend that he shares Mr. Trump's view that endless wars abroad are not in America's interest.\nWe are not a people of perpetual war  it is the antithesis of everything for which we stand and for which our ancestors fought, he wrote. All wars must end. Ending wars requires compromise and partnership. We met the challenge; we gave it our all. Now, it's time to come home.\nMr. Miller did not explicitly mentionAfghanistan, but it's clear that is theadministration's top priority in terms of troop withdrawals.\nAlthough the reasoning behind Mr. Trump's eleventh-hourPentagonreshuffling remains unclear, critics have said that it would be a mistake for the president to install Mr. Miller and a series of newly minted senior aides simply to conduct a faster exit.\nThe accelerated withdrawal, however, contradicts the guidance from topPentagonbrass, including Gen. Frank McKenzie, who leads U.S. forces in the Middle East.\nEarlier this year, Gen. McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, told a congressional panel that conditions on the ground will dictate the number of U.S. forces on the ground inAfghanistan, depending on the level of violence in the country.\nAt the time, Gen. McKenzie said that the level of violence was too high to carry out a further drawdown.\nLast month, the Mr. Trump's own special envoy for peace negotiations with theTalibanand Afghan government, veteran diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, warned of distressingly high levels of violence that remain in the country, with theTalibanand government forces routinely engaged in attacks and Islamic State having staged some spectacular terror strikes in the heart of Kabul.\nAlthough the updated pullout has assured some military leaders that a level of counterterrorism forces will be able to remain in the region, skepticism remains that the ambitious timeline may not be logistically attainable.\nWe're not going to leave anything behind that somebody could use against us in another time and another place, Gen. McKenzie said in September. So that's actually a huge logistics effort and it is continuing now.\nThePentagonhas been steadily closing smaller forward based inIraq, as the Baghdad government has taken over the fight against Islamic State elements. But analysts warn that Islamic State is far from finished and thatIraqis facing internal and external pressure from its neighbor Iran to break away from Washington.\nThe Iraqi government has tried to balance the competing pressures from the U.S. and Iran, but Iran's official press reported that Tehran is now pressing for a new defense cooperation agreement even as the U.S. deployment is set to go down.\nThe chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, on Sunday told reporters that a draft agreement between the two countries is in its final stages.\nOnce signed, the partnership could present a new challenge for Mr.Bidenonce he assumes office as tensions between the U.S. and Iran have soared throughout theTrump administration.\nGen. Baqueri said that the agreement would bolster Iraqi security as the number of U.S. forces in the country is expected to decrease as the region faces a resurgence of terrorism.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/lawmakers-want-arizona-picked-space-command-headquarters", "Lawmakers want Arizona picked for Space Command headquarters", "2020-11-15", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PHOENIX (AP)  Members of Arizona's congressional delegation are advocating for the state to be selected as the location of the permanent headquarters of the U.S. Space Command. The offices of Republican U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko and Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said the lawmakers on Friday sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett advocating for the selection of an Arizona site and requesting a meeting to discuss Arizona's qualifications. The other delegation members who also signed the letter were Republican Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar and David Schweikert and Democratic Reps. Ruben Gallego, Ann Kirkpatrick, Tom O'Halleran and Greg Stanton.\n\tThe lawmakers' letter said many Arizona cities meet the specified qualifications and that Arizona would be the perfect location\" for the command's headquarters because of its many aerospace and defense contractors, good climate and existing military installations.\n\tThose installations include Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Luke Air Force Base in metro Phoenix, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and the Army's Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista.\n\tPeterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, has been designated the command's initial quarters.\n\tPresident Donald Trump formally launched Space Command in December. The goal is to improve the organization of U.S. military space operations and accelerate technical developments.\n\tThe new command will draw elements from across the military services. It will have the same status as other headquarters such as U.S. Cyber Command, Special Operations Command and Strategic Command.\n\tThere is also a Space Command within the Air Force. It also is based in Peterson.\n\tOhio and Kansas are among other states seeking the U.S. Space Command's new quarters.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-andy-biggs-asks-trump-withdraw-troops-afghanistan-iraq-time-holidays", "Rep. Andy Biggs asks Trump to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Iraq in time for holidays", "2020-11-12", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Andy Biggs wants President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Iraq before the holidays.\nIn a letter to Trump datedWednesday,Biggs, R-Ariz., characterized the service members' exit from the countriesa \"gift\" for the upcomingseason.\nIn the letter, Biggs asks Trump to \"look abroad and continue to strategically draw down our nation's military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq.\"\nBiggs cites the lack of progress in counterterrorism, nation-building efforts and the human and financial cost of the war as reasons to continue thewithdrawal of U.S. troops.\n\"Nation-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,\" Biggs said in the letter.\nThe U.S. has spent or obligated $6.4 trillion dollars on fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan through 2020, according toBrown University. Additionally, at least 800,000 people have been killed by war violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemenand Pakistan, with more than 310,000 civiliansbeing killed since 2001.\nBiggs claimed that the Taliban retain control of much of Afghanistan with no change in the situationsince 2001. Biggs said that the achievementsthe U.S. have made in Iraq were not worth the cost.\n\"Today, Iraq's government is shaky at best, addicted to continuing foreign assistance, and easily susceptible to pressure from outside actors, especially Iran,\" he wrote.\nBiggsclarified that his comments in the letter were not a criticism of the service members who have served in the Middle East and other overseas engagements.\n\"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,\" he wrote.\nThe U.S. first entered the war in Afghanistan 19 years ago after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In February, the U.S. entered an agreement with the Taliban that soughtto reduce the amount of violence in the war and withdraw the remaining U.S. troops by April 2021.\nHowever, in October, Trumptweetedthat service members in Afghanistan should be home by Christmas, a sentiment shared by Biggs in his letter.\n\"I urge you to continue to aggressively pursue these and all other related efforts in the coming weeks,\" Biggs said in the letter.\"What greater gift could we give the American people as we head into the holiday season?\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-calls-sends-letter-president-trump-about-troop-withdrawals", "Congressman Biggs Sends Letter to President Trump about Troop Withdrawals in the Middle East", "2020-11-12", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GILBERT, ARIZONA  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.\nRead the text of the letter below:\nNovember 11, 2020\nPresident Donald J. Trump  \n\tThe White House  \n\t1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW  \n\tWashington, DC\nDear Mr. President:\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.\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.\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. \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.\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?\nSincerely,\nAndy Biggs  \n\tMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-send-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", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "GILBERT, ARIZONA  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.\nRead the text of the letter below:\nNovember 2, 2020\nThe Honorable William P. Barr  \n\tAttorney General  \n\tU.S. Department of Justice  \n\t950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20530\nDear Attorney General Barr:\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.\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.\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.\nSincerely,                                                             \nAndy Biggs  \n\tMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - 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.\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\"I 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.\"\nFor a section-by-section break down of the bill, click HERE.\nTo view full text of the bill, click HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - 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 MeansCommittee that builds upon the SECURE Act, which became law in 2019.\n\"I 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.\"\nBackground:\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 andimproved the portability of lifetime income options from one plan to another. Congressman 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.\nThe Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2020 will:\n Promote savings earlier for retirement by enrolling employees automatically in their company's 401(k) plan, when a new plan is created;\n\tCreate a new financial incentive for small businesses to offer retirement plans;\n\tIncrease and modernize the existing federal tax credit for contributions to a retirement plan or IRA (the Saver's Credit);\n\tExpand retirement savings options for non-profit employees by allowing groups of non-profits to join together to offer retirement plans to their employees;\n\tOffer individuals 60 and older more flexibility to set aside savings as they approach retirement;\n\tAllow individuals to save for retirement longer by increasing the required minimum distribution age to 75;\n\tAllow 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\tMake it easier for military spouses who change jobs frequently to save for retirement;\n\tAllow individuals more flexibility to make gifts to charity through their IRAs;\n\tAllow taxpayers to avoid harsh penalties for inadvertent errors managing an IRA that can lead to a loss of retirement savings;\n\tProtect retirees who unknowingly receive retirement plan overpayments; and\n\tMake it easier for employees to find lost retirement accounts by creating a national, online, database of lost accounts.\n To read a section-by-section summary of the bill, click HERE.\nA short summer of the bill can be found HERE.\nFull text of the legislation can be found HERE.                                   ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC -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'Halleran (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. \"I am pleased to join this bipartisan bill to coordinate research and demonstration of carbon dioxide removal technology,said Rep. Schweikert. I 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.\" \"Climate change is an existential threat to our national security, our society, and the future of our planet,said Rep. Kuster. In 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.\" \"Congress 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,\"saidRep. McKinley. Our 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.\" \"The 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,said Rep. Tonko. We 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.\" \"The 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,said Rep. Gonzalez. The 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.\" \"We have to invest in innovative solutions that remove carbon from our atmosphere,said Rep. Peters. The CREATE Act would direct our government's 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.\" \"I'm 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,said Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Ranking Member, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). \"Over 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,said Rep. O'Halleran. I 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.\" \"Removing 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,said Roger Ullman, Executive Director of LTC Action. This important bill will ensure that takes place.\" \"BPC 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'Halleran (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,said Michele Stockwell, Executive Director, BPC Action. Carbon removal solutions are necessary to meet global climate goals, but realizing their potential will require a collaborative multi-agency, economy-wide approach,said Noah Deich, Executive Director, Carbon180. The 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.\" \"Complementing 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,said Lee Beck, CCUS Policy Innovation Director, Clean Air Task Force. \"The 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'Halleran (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,said EDF statement of Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs. \"The 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,said Dr. Jan Mazurek at the ClimateWorks Foundation.\nBackground:\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)  one of the primary greenhouse gases  that is already in the atmosphere. CDR technology removes CO2 from the atmosphere, helping to prevent climate change and mitigate its impacts.\nTo read the full text of this legislation, clickHERE.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/radix-law-small-business-update-thanks-arizona-congressmen", "Radix Law Small Business Update Thanks Arizona Congressmen", "2020-10-22", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Radix Law attorneys Jonathan Frutkin and Adam Buck have been hosting their weekly podcast Small Business Update throughout the pandemic. The podcast is included by all the major directory services, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcast, Stitcher and iHeart Radio. The attorneys host and discuss the rapidly changing government programs, laws and regulations that effect small business owners, which is also broadcast on YouTube.\nEach Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and David Schweikert (R-AZ) have appeared as guests, highlighting Congressional action that directly affects Arizona business owners during the crisis. The topics included the CARES Act, employment law, tax law and health care.\nI sincerely appreciate the attention that two philosophically different Congressman have given to the needs of business owners in Arizona. Congressman Schweikert and Congressman Gallego have shown a commitment to keeping their constituents informed and encouraging feedback from the business community, Jonathan Frutkin said.\nThe podcast has recently begun to focus on shorter weekly segments relating to legal topics that impact business owners. In honor of national Estate Planning Week, the new episode of the podcast will focus on the basics of what planning must get done.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/healthcare-retirement-security-seen-top-issues-older-voters-lawmakers-say", "Healthcare, retirement security seen as top issues for older voters, lawmakers say", "2020-10-21", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Concerns over healthcare and retirement securitywill be top of mind for voters over 50 years old in the upcoming election, lawmakers said Tuesday.\nEvery fiber of my being believes retirement security is the biggest issue over the next decade, maybe even longer, Rep.David Schweikert(R-Ariz.) saidduringAARP's \"America's Most Reliable Voter\"event, hosted by The Hill. It's more than just the retiree and their benefits, it's also the cost of Medicarebeing the primary driver of future debt  and how do we provide better healthcare and change the cost curve?\nSen.Bob Casey(D-Pa.), the ranking member of the Senate special committee on aging, explained that voters over the age of 50 always play a key role in elections, but in this particular presidential race, they may be the vote that decides the election. He pointed out that older voters were some of the hardest hitbythe coronavirus pandemic, and that the virus has amplified and greatly enhanced those concerns regarding their health and financial future.\n\nWe know that people across the board were losing health insurance before the pandemic [and] that number has gone a lot higher, he said. That affects people in this age category, as well, and there's also some longer-term retirement financial security issues at play.\nSen.Debbie Stabenow(D-Mich.) further emphasized how very real the threat of lack of accessibility to comprehensive healthcare can be to older voters.\nHealthcare generally is very critical, but when we talk about whether or not we are going to have a real federal plan that gets our arms around the COVID crisis that has rapid testing, that gets a vaccine safely as soon as possible  I think for older people there's a greater sense of urgency, she said atTuesday'sevent.\nStabenow, a ranking member on the Senate finance subcommittee on health care, expressed disappointmentregardingRepublican attempts toreduceaccess to healthcare via Affordable Care Act repeal and Medicare restraint, which could take away benefits like coverage of pre-existing conditions.\nI don't know why it's a partisan divide, healthcare. To me, healthcare is personal, not political, she said. Is it a right or privilege? Is it something all of us need and therefore should we be creating a system that's cost efficient and comprehensive for people?\nStabenow suggested lowering the age for Medicare qualification to 50 tobring down costs of the system in the long run and provide accessforolder voters who are not satisfied with their private insurance. Other lawmakers offered different solutions to concerns.\nSchweikert, who is co-chair of the congressional telehealth caucus, told The Hill's Steve Clemons that the pandemic offered an opportunity for services like telemedicine  which was shrouded in skepticism years before  to flourish. He emphasized that to many, telemedicine was shockingly controversial because it upended the traditional infrastructure of medical practice, but with its current implementation, advocates have found that seniors love it.\nTelemedicine... when coupled with some of the new technology, could be a revolution in changing the price of healthcare and dramatically improving access for everyone, but particularly our seniors, he said.\nSchweikert also noted that healthcare and retirement security are inevitably intertwined and need to be addressed for the sake of older voters.\nThey're big, complicated things for a politician to talk about and absolutely necessary, he said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - 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\"The 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, said Schweikert. One 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.\"\n\"I 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, said Rush. Robust testing is key to ensuring those exposed to this dreaded disease receive timely treatment and prevent the spread to others.\"\n\"Telehealth 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, said Kelly.\n\"As 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, said Thompson. That's 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.\"\n\"We 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.\"said Joel White, Executive Director, Health Innovation Alliance.\nBackground:\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. The 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.  Through 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.\nTo read the full text of this legislation, click HERE.  \n\t\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/keeping-entrepreneurship-alive-and-thriving-pandemic", "Keeping entrepreneurship alive and thriving in the pandemic", "2020-10-19", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To check the pulse of entrepreneurs across the nation during COVID-19, Arizona U.S. Representative David Schweikert and other members of Congress met with business owners from across the nation during a virtual roundtable last week.\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tRep. David Schweikert\n\t\t\n\t\n\tThe lawmakers said they wanted to hear directly from business owners so they can better craft effective legislation going forward and find gaps where small businesses are falling through the cracks.\n\tSchweikert said small retailers and restaurants are showing some of the highest displacement numbers, and an unusually high number of new business filings indicates they are starting new businesses.\n\tCongress needs to find a way to help them succeed, he said.\n\tThis may be really important for the country's economic recovery and those in the policymaking world are going to have to think about everything from access to capital, to the regulatory state, and how do we help microbusinesses that are going to be run from home for awhile, Schweikert said. How do you help them hit the launchpad and take off? That needs to be part of the economic recovery plan as we work through this.\n\tSchweikert co-hosted the event with Rep. Bill Foster (IL) and Rep. French Hill (AR) who spoke of legislation to help, including possibly extending the federal Paycheck Protection Program that helped millions of small businesses keep their employees on the payroll, their lights on and rent paid for months during COVID-19 shutdowns.\n\tAll three, once young entrepreneurs themselves, are co-chairs of the bipartisan House EntrepreneurshipCaucus, which serves as a forum for lawmakers to stay abreast of the most pressing issues facing businesses.  \n\t\tThe event, the Entrepreneurship Roundtable, was hosted with theCenter for American Entrepreneurship. The center is a nonpartisan research, policy, and advocacy organization that works with policymakers in Washington and across the country to achieve a policy environment that promotes new business formation, survival, and growth.\n\t Bumpy ride for all \n\tAt the roundtable event, entrepreneurs from a range of industries including technology, real estate, digital food service, engineering, and marketing detailed the damage all experienced and what they need moving forward.\n\tAll reported deep dives in revenues from the disruptions. All have also managed to keep their companies open.\n\tFederal stimulus programs helped, they said.\n\tWe might have survived without federal assistance, but it would have meant significant layoffs and downsizing. We did not lay off one person, said Jimi Allen, CEO and founder ofBureau Gravity, a marketing and visual services company in Aurora, Colorado.\n\tAlmost all of the executives said they benefited from two federal stimulus loan programs created earlier this year to help businesses with 500 or fewer employees: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, they said.\n\t Remote workers here to stay? \n\tAll of the companies said they have had to go to completely or partially remote operations.\n\tLori Anna Harrison of Scottsdale real estate marketing firmDLP, said working remotely has been so successful for her company, they have no intention of switching back.\n\tWe will never go back to brick and mortar, said Harrison. It hasn't impacted clients at all. We are able to give the same level of service.\n\t Businesses owned by people of color being left behind \n\tSky Kelley, the Black owner of Avisare, a Los Angeles company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help government agencies and small businesses procure contracts, said COVID-19 almost devastated her business.\n\tWhen the pandemic hit, Avisare was in the late stages of negotiating a major contract with their first private client. That deal instantly went away, she said. Other deals also fell through with government agencies that suddenly were financially strapped as well.\n\tMeanwhile, all of her highly skilled engineer employees, who were earning six figure incomes, had to move to independent contractor status.\n\tWhen Kelley applied for a PPP loan, she was turned down. After repeated phone calls and reapplying for an EIDL loan she finally received $68,000.\n\tNevertheless, Avisare has survived by scrambling to find new business, she said.\n\tWe were able to ride through it, but we had to get really creative and do double duty while also managing kids and home and childcare.\n\tKelley also expressed concerns that businesses owned by people of color are falling by the wayside during the pandemic, especially companies owned by African Americans.\n\t Legislation to support entrepreneurship \n\tAfter hearing from the company heads, Schweikert and the other congressional members spoke of measures they and others are making to help spur innovation and prevent entrepreneurs from falling through the cracks.\n\tThe New Business Preservation Act, for example, would provide funding for innovation and startups. The bill also has provisions to protect women and people of color.\n\tSchweikert said Congress is continuing to work to come to agreement on a stimulus package for small businesses.\n\tAmerica's edge relies on entrepreneurship, he said.\n\tSmall businesses have always been, and will continue to be, an integral part of our communities, Schweikert said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC -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. \"We must work to ensure every Arizonan has the option to be protected against a natural disaster, including the recent wildfires sweeping across the West,said Congressman Schweikert.By 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.\" Background:\nThis bipartisan letter asks CMS to review their Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy to:\n Expand the eligibility of disaster designations; and\n\tGrandfather in relief across applicable years.\n Expanding 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.\nTo read the full letter, clickHERE.                                   ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/house-republicans-ask-fbi-director-answers-about-purported-hunted-biden-laptop", "House Republicans ask FBI director for answers about purported Hunted Biden laptop", "2020-10-16", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1318 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/house-republicans-ask-fbi-if-it-had-hunter-bidens-alleged-laptop-during-trumps", "House Republicans ask FBI if it had Hunter Biden's alleged laptop during Trump's impeachment", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1318 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/house-republicans-demand-answers-fbi-over-suspected-hunter-biden-computer", "House Republicans demand answers from FBI over suspected Hunter Biden computer", "2020-10-15", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1318 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-andy-biggs-leads-house-gop-group-calling-changes-va-gun-restrictions", "Rep. Andy Biggs leads House GOP group calling for changes to VA gun restrictions", "2020-10-14", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1318 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/op-ed-cdcs-latest-arizona-mask-study-flawed-beyond-repair", "OP-ED: CDC's Latest Arizona Mask 'Study' Is Flawed Beyond Repair", "2020-10-13", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1318 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/trump-s-biggest-twitter-cheerleaders", "Trumps biggest Twitter cheerleaders", "2020-10-13", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1318 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC -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. \"I 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,said Congressman Schweikert. Too 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.\" Background: Recently, 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.\nTo read the full letter clickHERE.\nTo read the grant announcement, clickHERE.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/andy-biggs-rips-mask-narrative-after-cdc-report-shows-85-symptomatic-people-often", "Andy Biggs rips mask narrative after CDC report shows 85% of symptomatic people 'often' or 'always' wore masks", "2020-10-12", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1318 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-andy-biggs-r-az-we-need-25th-amendment-remove-speaker-pelosi", "Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ): We Need A 25th Amendment To Remove Speaker Pelosi", "2020-10-09", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "1318 Longworth House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/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", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC -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 mom and pop businesses. \"Small 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,said Rep. Schweikert. I 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.\" \"Thank you to Congressman Schweikert for inviting me to join today's 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's conversation on ways Congress can work to support small businesses like mine, especially during these times,\"said Lori Anna Harrison, from Scottsdale. \"Startups are crucial to our economy's ability to keep hardworking Arkansans employed and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,said Rep. Hill. The coronavirus poses a threat to thousands of startups and local businesses. While programs like the Paycheck Protection Program and the Federal Reserve's 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.\" \"Thank 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,said Uday Akkaraju, from Little Rock.\n\"As 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,said Rep. Foster.We 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'm committed to working with my colleagues to find common sense, bipartisan solutions that will benefit our communities.\" \"The biggest challenge in pre-COVID and post-COVID business is the lack of public-private partnership opportunities. Economic development practices haven't changedfor generations. And today, with fewer businesses thriving in local markets it's more obviousthanever a new approach is necessary. Government is not builtfor 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 abouthow 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 economicdevelopment opportunities. In short, if local entrepreneursproduce revenue, then ask, what can we do to facilitate their ability to continue'. COVID has been an opportunity for business to pivot and survive. I'm 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've never been through a time like this before in our history,said Jimi Allen, from Aurora.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/schweikert-soto-introduce-blockchain-records-and-transactions-act", "Schweikert, Soto Introduce Blockchain Records and Transactions Act", "2020-10-06", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC -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\"I am pleased to re-introduce this critical legislation to ensure our laws are working to support emerging technologies like blockchain,said Rep. Schweikert. Too 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' 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.\"\n\"Innovation is embedded into our nation's DNA,said Rep. Soto. With the growth of blockchain technology, it's 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. \nBackground:\nThe Blockchain Records and Transactions Act would:\n Amend the definition of electronic records to include blockchains and records maintained on blockchains;.\n\tAmend the definition of electronic agent to include smart contracts;\n\tDefine blockchain and smart contracts; and\n\tEnsure states cannot avoid giving legal recognition to blockchain records through reverse pre-emption.\n To read the full text of this legislation, clickHERE.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-biggs-requests-judiciary-committee-hearing-investigate-source-riots", "Congressman Biggs Requests Judiciary Committee Hearing to Investigate Source of Riots Across America", "2020-10-02", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  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.\nRead the text of the letter below:\n\nOctober 2, 2020\nThe Honorable Jerrold L. Nadler  \n\tChairman  \n\tCommittee on the Judiciary  \n\tU.S. House of Representatives  \n\tWashington, D.C. 20515\nDear Chairman Nadler,\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.\nMr. Chairman, you recently said in an interview that Antifa  an organization inciting violent riots across the country  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.\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.\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.\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.\nWe look forward to your prompt response.\nSincerely,                         \nAndy Biggs Jim Jordan  \n\tMember of Congress Member of Congress                    \nKen Buck  Doug Collins  \n\tMember of Congress Member of Congress                     \nJim Sensenbrenner W. Gregory Steube   \n\tMember of Congress Member of Congress     \nGuy Reschenthaler Louie Gohmert   \n\tMember of Congress Member of Congress             \nTom Tiffany  Debbie Lesko  \n\tMember of Congress Member of Congress                   \nBen Cline   \n\tMember of Congress", 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-coney", "Congressman Biggs Introduces Resolution to Condemn Vicious Attacks on Judge Amy Coney Barretts Faith, Family, and Character.", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Congressman Andy Biggs introduced a resolution to condemn the vicious attacks on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's faith, family, and character.\nThe resolution calls for the House of Representatives to:\n Condemn 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\tCondemn any attempt to disparage Judge Amy Coney Barrett's constitutional right to exercise her religious faith;\n\tCondemn any attack on any member of Judge Amy Coney Barrett's family or her selfless decision to adopt two children from Haiti; and\n\tSupport the Senate's constitutional advise and consent process on the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. \n After Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination was announced by President Donald Trump this past weekend, Congressman Biggs stated:\nSince 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.\nRead the resolution here.\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, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/schweikert-joins-bipartisan-call-increase-new-markets-tax-credit-access", "Schweikert Joins Bipartisan Call to Increase New Markets Tax Credit Access for Native Communities", "2020-09-28", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC -Today, Congressman David Schweikert joined a group of bipartisan Ways and Means Committee members in calling on the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) to ensure Native Communities have fair access to the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC). The NMTC has been a successful tool to generate jobs and business opportunities in America's most distressed rural and urban communities, yet the latest round of NMTC allocation did not provide any credits to entities that commit 100 percent of their activities to aiding Native communities. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA), Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI), Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY), Congresswoman Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Congressman Jason Smith (R-MO), Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI), Congressman Daniel T. Kildee (D-MI), Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN), and Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS) also signed the letter. \"There is still more to be done to improve this vital tax incentive: increase investment in Indian Country,emphasized the lawmakers. Earlier this year, the Ways & Means Committee's Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures convened to hear testimony on the impact of the tax code on Native American tribes. Both Native American Members of Congress and tribal witnesses testified that the NMTC is crucial for their communities.\" \"While there has been investment in Indian Country and in census tracts with native populations (approximately $3.9 billion through 2019), the latest two NMTC allocation rounds resulted in zero allocation for Community Development Entities (CDEs) that committed 100 percent of their activities to aiding Native communities,the lawmakers continued. Overall, the poverty experienced in these communities, combined with a lack of access to private capital, is evidence that more NMTC investment is needed. The lawmakers requestedthat the Fund examine its allocation application and review process to identify and revise any elements that may inadvertently limit investment in Indian Country or the participation of minority CDEs. As the Subcommittee hearing made clear, we in Congress need to ensure that our tax laws do not result in systemic disparities between Indian tribes and other taxpayers. The same review should be done on the regulatory level to ensure that programs like the NMTC do the most good as possible across all communities.\" The full letter is availableHERE.                                   ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-schweikert-introduces-digital-commodity-exchange-act-2020", "Congressman Schweikert Joins the Digital Commodity Exchange Act of 2020", "2020-09-24", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C  Today, Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) introduced the Digital Commodity Exchange Act of 2020,legislation that creates a single, opt-in national regulatory framework for digital commodity trading platforms under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).\nCosponsors of the Digital Commodity Exchange Act (DCEA) include Congressmen Mike Conaway (TX-11), Tom Emmer (MN-06), Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), Austin Scott (GA-08), and Darren Soto (FL-09).\nBlockchain Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06): We must ensure our laws and regulations are clear to give digital markets the clarity needed to protect consumers while ensuring further innovation can take place. This bill is a great step in the right direction for continuing to update and future-proof our federal policy, and I am pleased to join my colleagues in working to strengthen our regulation framework and fill the regulatory gaps that currently exist.\"\nHouse Agriculture Committee Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway: The Digital Commodity Exchange Act (DCEA) provides a clear path forward to improve the regulation of digital commodities. Digital commodity trading platforms are currently required to comply with a complicated labyrinth of 53 state and territory regulatory frameworks, hindering the ability for newcomers to enter the market. The DCEA provides responsible federal oversight of trading platforms and critical consumer protections, while also paving the way for innovators to develop new digital commodity projects. I'm excited by the support this bipartisan legislation has received in Congress and from those in the industry. I look forward to developing a legal framework and providing clarity for fintech innovators and strong protections for users of digital commodities.\" House Financial Services Committee Task Force on Financial Technology Ranking Member Tom Emmer (MN-06): America is the home of innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit. I am proud to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Digital Commodity Exchange Act to support these foundational principles that our nation should always foster. Digital commodity projects should be encouraged, not hindered by unclear rules of the road. We are holding our innovators back by not providing regulatory clarity, and Ranking Member Conaway's bill will provide much needed consumer protection while ensuring the growth of these emerging technologies.\" House Agriculture Committee Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Subcommittee Ranking Member Dusty Johnson (SD-AL):\"America is an innovative nation. That innovation often outpaces the federal regulatory environment. The Digital Commodity Exchange Act ensures Americans can have confidence in emerging financial tools. This bill offers necessary protections without stifling the creativity of new market commodity tokens.\" House Agriculture Committee Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee Ranking Member Austin Scott (GA-08):\"I appreciate Ranking Member Conaway for his leadership on this legislation which will help us better understand emerging technologies like blockchain, and his continued focus to promote public policy that fosters, rather than inhibits, growth of FinTech in the United States.\" Blockchain Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09): Regulatory clarity is critical for digital commodity markets to promote innovation and consumer protection. Innovators are spending up to fifty percent of start-up costs on legal fees because of the current regulatory ambiguity between what is a security and what is a commodity. That's why the Digital Commodity Exchange Act will provide the necessary consumer protections, responsible federal oversight and regulatory clarity for all participating in digital commodity markets.\" Jerry Brito, Executive Director, Coin Center:\"This bill is a win-win. Innovators and entrepreneurs get greater clarity and more regulatory options, while investors benefit from increased supervision of markets. We're grateful for Mr. Conaway's innovative thinking and leadership on this issue.\" Kristin Smith, Executive Director, Blockchain Association:\"We're proud to support the introduction of the Digital Commodity Exchange Act and the Securities Clarity Act. Together, these efforts will help clarify outstanding issues related to when and how securities laws and commodities regulations apply to digital assets. Uncertainty over the application of these rules of the road continues to act as a strong headwind for the crypto ecosystem. These bills would do much to clarify the situation and put into law pro-growth policies for the crypto economy.\"\nA summary of the legislation can be found HERE. Full text of the bill can be found HERE.\n                                    ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schweikert.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-schweikert-joins-bipartisan-letter-supporting-parents", "Congressman Schweikert Joins Bipartisan Letter Supporting Parents Adopting Children in China", "2020-09-22", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "David Schweikert", "S001183", "schweikert.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC-Today,Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) signed a letter with over 150 Members of Congress and released the following statement supporting the need for American adoptive families to travel to the People's Republic of China to bring their child home.\n\"As someone who has spent a significant amount of time trying to adopt my own daughter, I understand the importance of assisting these families in their own process. American adoptive families must have the exemption of Chinese travel bans in order to travel and meet their new child and get them into a loving home during these difficult times.\"\nBackground:\nCurrently, travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrict access for adoptive parents to enter China. This letter urges an exception to the entry restriction to China for adoptive parents to be united with their child. This would help roughly 300 American families of Chinese Children who have been adopted or who are in the process of being adopted are unable to travel to China.\nTo read the full text of the letter, clickHERE.                                   ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/op-ed-trump-nominate-rbg-replacement-now-heres-why-its-so-important", "Op-Ed: Trump, nominate RBG replacement now  here's why it's so important", "2020-09-20", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Trump should not hesitate to nominate a replacement forRuth Bader Ginsburgon theSupreme Court.\nJustice Ginsburg helped blaze the trail for women in law and society. She served America for decades and will long be remembered. Nevertheless, delaying her replacement is not justified, and isactually dangerousto the institutions of this nation.\nThe Left opposes swift action by the president. A few Republican senators said they will not vote for a replacement before the November election. Leftists are promising violencemore rioting, looting, murder and mayhemifPresident Trumpnominates anyone before the election.\nA Republican senator said she would not support a pre-election nominee because, fair is fair. The implication is that following the Constitution and Senate rules is unfair. The rulebook here is the U.S. Constitution, which is silent on the timing of appointments to the Supreme Court.\nWhat would really be unfair is to effectively shorten the term of President Trump by failing to consider his SCOTUS nominee because of the upcoming election. Waiting would undermine the will of the people who elected him in 2016 for a full four-year term, and not for a term of office that has constraints put on his constitutional authority by selfish senators.\nOf course, the recent riots and the outrageous misconduct of Democrat senators during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings are merely a small appetizer to the banquet of violence and vitriol that the next confirmation process will produce.\nThe next nominee will be Borked' likenever before. The crazies on the Left are already promising to burn it to the ground. While not specifying what they will burn, if the recent mobocracy is any indication, they intend to attack anything and everyone who happens to be in their path.\nAmerica cannot succumb to the threats of those who want to tear down our institutions, ruin lives and control our country through intimidation and violence.\nThis is just more of the left-wing hatred of America. They disdain this president, whom the radicals, and quite frankly, many Democrats, believe was not duly elected. We simply cannot cave to the mob.\nSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who has promised to swiftly bring the confirmation to the floor for a vote, must crack down on the Democrats in the Senate, who already seem to have lost their minds on this. They have vowed to stop this nominee at all costs, a la Sen. Dianne Feinstein's last-minute harassment of Kavanaugh.\nMcConnell must make sure that those who wish to put the nominee through hell pay the price for overstepping the bounds of the Senate rules.\nNever forget that Democrats believethe best bet for enacting their policies is a legislatively active Supreme Court.\nIt goes without saying that, were the shoe on the other foot, the Democrats would support the immediate nomination of a replacement. They would argue that it is the president's prerogative, that he has constitutional authority, and that it would be unfair to limit his authority due to timeconstraints.\nWhat they are saying now is that, We should wait until we have a new president to confirm a nominee.\nBut what if President Trump is reelected? Will they then support a nominee? Of course not. They will riot and try to make the life of the nominee a living hell. So, there is no advantage to waiting.\nIf Joe Biden wins, will the Left fall in line to allow a lame duck President Trump's nomineegeta fair confirmation hearing? Nope. They will riot and try to make the life of the nominee a living hell. Again, the advantage is to appoint now.\nWhat the radicals on the Left wanted was for RBG to remain on the court until Trump was defeated and Biden could appoint her replacement.Butit didn't happen that way. They are now mobilizing to tear the country down because things didn't go their way on RBG anymore than they did in the 2016 elections.\nAnother reason that the president and Senate must immediately act is because Democrats are laying the groundwork to steal the 2020 election. Courts in two states have already determined that they will accept ballots long after the polls are closed on Nov. 3. It would be wise to understand that the presidential election of 2020 will likely be thrown into the lap of the U.S. Supreme Court. We need to have a full complement of justices to tackle that mess.\nNever forget that Democrats believethe best bet for enacting their policies is a legislatively active Supreme Court. They have promised to pack the court if President Trump gets anymore of his nominees on the bench. He must make the nomination now to try and militate against the effects of a leftist-packed Supreme Court.\nThe president simply has no choice but to immediately nominate a replacement of Justice Ginsburg, and Senate Leader McConnell must conclude the confirmation process with alacrity.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/sen-mcsally-calls-more-federal-assistance-az-national-guard", "Sen. McSally calls for more federal assistance for AZ National Guard", "2020-09-20", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - U.S. Senator Martha McSally, along with other prominent Arizona Republicans are asking President Trump to continue current levels of federal cost-sharing for the Arizona National Guard.\nTo date, the Arizona national guard has provided logistical support in the form of distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the state during the COVID-19 crisis.\nThe service-members have also assisted state food banks ensuring citizens in need have access to food during this crisis.\nOn average, they have set up at least four COVID-19 testing sites per day around the state since testing became available.\nSenator McSally spoke to News 11's Cody Lee on Friday, she explains why it's impacting locals.\nOur National Guard has been doing herculean work this year, this is a very challenging year on so many fronts, in order to, you know when I was down at Yuma was working with them at the food bank, McSally said.\nWe've been leading on an effort to make sure that to ask for the federal government to take up all the costs and not have the state have to have any of that share of the cost so I led a letter with a delegation, asking for the administration to waive the cost-sharing, the Senator added.\nAccording to the Arizona congressional delegation, without continued full federal cost-share, the Arizona National Guard would face making the difficult decision of reducing missions that benefit the public.\nRead the full letter to the President below.\nDear Mr. President:\n\t\n\tThe Arizona Congressional Delegation wants to thank you for your continued support of our state's National Guard response to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud of their many accomplishments, which could not have occurred without your continued authorization of the federal cost share.\n\t\n\tMaintaining the one hundred percent federal cost-share for Arizona National Guard units will allow them to continue to execute missions vital to our state and the Republic's response to the COVID-19 threat. To date the Arizona National Guard has provided logistical support in the form of distribution of PPE across the state and aide to state food banks ensuring our citizens in need have access to food during this crisis. On average, they have also set up four COVID-19 testing sites per day around the state. These efforts have supported the economic reopening of rural and tribal communities.\n\t\n\tThere is still significant work to be done to combat COVID-19 in Arizona and throughout the country. As Operation Warp Speed advances forward our Guardsmen are already planning to support mass distribution of the vaccine once it is made available. They are also planning for the reopening of our schools and to support requests from our rural and less financially flexible districts for testing and/or sanitation support.\n\t\n\tWithout continued full federal cost-share, the Arizona National Guard will face making the difficult decision of reducing mission sets to align with available state resources. Food banks, and support to them, are particularly in high demand in Arizona due to the economic impacts COVID-19 has had on our tourism and service industries, resulting in higher unemployment. There will be additional necessary reductions to our support for on-going testing efforts that are vital to re-opening our state, communities, and schools as well as needed to be able to quickly respond in the event of a future and likely outbreak.\n\t\n\tWe ask that you continue your support for our National Guard forces and maintain full federal support levels until these vital missions are no longer needed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/rep-andy-biggs-we-won-t-know-election-results-until-thanksgiving", "Rep. Andy Biggs: We Wont Know The Election Results Until Thanksgiving", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Fox Across America with Jimmy Failla, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) gives his prediction on when the 2020 election will finally have a result and explains why he thinks Nancy Pelosi took so long to condemn the riots and violence happening across the country.\n\"I think we're pushing probably Thanksgiving. Don't forget that when you had the Bush-Gore debacle, that was early December when that rolled out and rolled up. The Democrats in Arizona and other places where I'm going and talking to people, they're content to make this the biggest, messiest election ever and drag it out and drag it out, drag out the count.\"\n\"The poll numbers on that are so bad for the Democrats because they've remained silent. They've not said anything. In fact, they're still showing the CNN clip where the guy says these are mostly peaceful protests as the place is burning down behind him. So finally, enough pressure has been put on Pelosi, where she's at least had to say that because it's it's hurting them politically. And that's the thing to understand. She is a political animal. Nothing she says is from the heart. I would suspect everything's coming out for political objectives.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/in-the-news/coming-weeks-us-troop-levels-iraq-drop-42-and-afghanistan-47", "In Coming Weeks, US Troop Levels in Iraq to Drop by 42%, and in Afghanistan by 47%", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(CNSNews.com)  The U.S. military will in the coming weeks almost halve the number of troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, the top U.S. commander in the region, Marine Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, confirmed on Wednesday.\nDuring the month of September, the commander of U.S. Central Command said during a visit to Iraq, troops numbers in Iraq will be reduced from about 5,200 to 3,000  a reduction of around 42.3 percent.\nLater on Wednesday, McKenzietoldthe Voice of America that the number of troops in Afghanistan would drop from the current 8,600 to around 4,500, by early November. That constitutes a reduction of some 47.6 percent.\nPresident Donald Trump haslong promised to bring U.S. troops homefrom endless wars, and Libertarian Republicans in Congress welcomed the news.\nGreat news. Let's bring our heroes home! tweeted Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), while Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said he was proud of President Trump for continuing to keep his promises to get America out of endless wars and to bring our troops home.\nIt's past time to bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan, said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). President Trump is winding down the forever wars' he inherited from D.C.'s political classes.\nSen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a hawkish ally of the president but one who has differed with him on foreign policy on occasion, offered cautious support, saying he backed the drawdown decision due to conditions on the ground.\nThe physical ISIS Caliphate has been destroyed and the Iraqi security forces are becoming more capable. However, there remains a large number of ISIS-aligned fighters in Iraq and Syria who have the capability to reemerge en masse, he said.\nThe residual US force, combined with Iraqi security forces and other partner nations, should be sufficient to prevent reemergence of ISIS and provide continued stability for Iraq  both of which are in our national security interests.\nBradley Bowman, a defense expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said that by his count, the U.S. is on track to have a combined total of roughly 8,200 in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria by November.\nThat's compared to roughly 485,000 active duty U.S. Army troops, he tweeted. Anyone using the endless war' massive deployment mantra needs to update their talking points.\nAnd what are those 8,200 troops doing? Bowman asked. By advising and assisting partner forces, while conducting [counter-terror] operations as necessary, they are preventing a return of the ISIS caliphate, preventing another 9/11 attack on the United States, & helping to push back against Tehran.\nIraq\nSpeaking in Iraq on Wednesday, McKenzie said the decision to cut troop numbers from 5,200 to 3,000 was made in recognition of the great progress the Iraqi forces have made, and in consultation and coordination with the government of Iraq and our coalition partners.\nThis reduced footprint allows us to continue advising and assisting our Iraqi partners in rooting out the final remnants of ISIS in Iraq and ensuring its enduring defeat, McKenzie said. This decision is due to our confidence in the Iraqi Security Forces' increased ability to operate independently.\nFollowing the Iraq war, U.S. forces were withdrawn at the end of 2011, but began to return in 2014 after ISIS seized large swathes of territory. Since the ISIS insurgency was largely defeated in March last year, the 5,200 troops in Iraq today are mostly involved in training Iraqi soldiers and police.\nTheir continuing presence has drawn strong opposition from some quarters, particularly after last January's U.S. drone strike that killed of Iranian Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. The Iraqi parliament that month voted to recommend that the government ask all foreign forces to leave the country.\nMore serious shows of opposition came in the form of retaliatory Iranian missile strikes against two Iraqi bases housing U.S. forces, where 110 American personnel were diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.\nOver the following months, several rocket attacks by suspected Iran-backed Shi'ite militia targeted U.S. troops. In one such attack in March, two American troops and a British soldier were killed at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad.\nThe U.S.-led international coalition handed over a number of bases to the Iraqis this year, including Camp Taji last month.\nMcKenzie said the drawdown decision was a clear demonstration of our continued commitment to the ultimate goal, which is an Iraqi Security Force that is capable of preventing an ISIS resurgence and of securing Iraq's sovereignty without external assistance.\nThe journey has been difficult, the sacrifice has been great, but the progress has been significant, he said. Your mission is important and there is still much work to be done- so let's get back to it.\nAfghanistan\nIn his comments to VOA about Afghanistan, McKenzie said a reduced number of 4,500 troops there would be sufficient to accomplish the core task that we want to accomplish.\nWe've shown more than ample goodwill in our willingness to demonstrate that we don't want to be an occupying force in this country, but we do have strategic interests, vital interests, that compel us to be certain that these entities such as al-Qaeda and ISIS can't be guests there to attack the United States.\nIn an agreement concluded with the Taliban last February, the U.S. undertook to reduce the number of troops from around 12,000-13,000 to 8,600 by July, and then to zero by April 2021, on condition that the Taliban meets a number of commitments.\nThey include releasing prisoners, entering into intra-Afghan negotiations with the government, and most importantly, severing the links with al-Qaeda that precipitated the U.S. invasion in October 2001, after the terrorist group attacked America.\nThe 8,600 target was met in July, and Wednesday's announcement puts the next stage of the drawdown well on track.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 49, "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 \"party\" = :p1 and \"state\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "Republican", "p2": "AZ"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Republican&state=AZ", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 49, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=AZ", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Republican&state=AZ", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 49, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=AZ", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Republican&state=AZ", "results": [{"value": "AZ", "label": "AZ", "count": 49, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Republican", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Republican&state=AZ", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 49, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Republican&state=AZ&year=2020", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": null, "next_url": null, "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 187.7137329429388, "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"}