WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on June 30: Chair Raul M. Grijalva today congratulated the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and Chair Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) on today's comprehensive report recommending a broad and aggressive policy approach to climate change. The Committee, Grijalva said, has done a vital public service in focusing on the greatest threat humanity faces and basing it  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release on July 1: Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today hailed House passage of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, and highlighted the many environmental conservation and water availability improvements the bill includes. A fact sheet laying out the bill's improvements in the Natural Resources Committee's jurisdiction is available at https://bit.ly/31BWJP2, Highli  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- The Congressional Western Caucus issued the following news release on June 29: Today, members of the Western Caucus released the following statements after the Department of the Interior announced the 2020 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) distributions. These distributions go to over 1,900 local governments around the country to help pay for essential public services. "I welcome today's announcement by the Department of the Interior. While not a perfect system, PILT is a  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema introduced the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act with Republican Senator Kevin Cramer (ND). The Senators' legislation fully forgives all Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans less than $150,000. "Fully forgiving Arizona small businesses' PPP loans provides needed economic certainty to local employers--which have suffered losses through no   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: On Tuesday, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis unveiled a comprehensive congressional climate action framework, highlighting Rep. Kirkpatrick's bill H.R.3043 - Permanently Reauthorizing PILT Act, as an important tool in the effort to solve the climate crisis. The Select Committee's climate action framework outlines ambitious and achievable policies to: * Grow our economy and put Americans b  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- The House Judiciary subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet issued the following testimony by David G. Campbell, senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, testifying on behalf of the Judicial Conference of the U.S., at a hearing entitled "Federal Courts During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Best Practices, Opportunities for Innovation, and Lessons for the Future": I am David Campbell, Senior United States District Judge for the D  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release: Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement on President Trump's planned event at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, which will include a fireworks display that had not been practiced for more than a decade due to concerns about wildfires and water contamination. According to the impact assessment that allowed the event to go forward, "A  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: The House Armed Services Committee unanimously advanced the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, including several key provisions introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). "Once again, the Armed Services Committee came together to pass the National Defense Authorization Act in strong bipartisan fashion. The language in this year's bill will help preserve  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: New Democrat Coalition (NDC) Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and NDC Health Care Task Force Co-Chairs Greg Stanton (AZ-09), Angie Craig (MN-02), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) released the following statements on House passage of H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. "New Democrats have been laser focused on ensuring that all Americans can have quality, affo  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the Coronavirus Housing Counseling Improvement Act--legislation increasing funding for NeighborWorks America, a supportive housing counseling program that helps Arizona homeowners, renters, families experiencing homelessness, and families at risk of homelessness navigate their housing options and rights during the coronavirus pandemic. "Arizona families ar  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following statement: The U.S. Department of Labor released its Employment Situation Summary for the month of June, showing that 4.8 million jobs were added last month and the unemployment rate fell to 11.1%. Economists had predicted only 2.9 new jobs and an unemployment rate of 12.4%. * * * "After two months of economic nightmares due to COVID-19 and our states' reactions to the outbreak, the American economy is roaring back as we p  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Biggs, along with Representatives Brian Babin, Jim Banks, Jodey Arrington, and Tom Tiffany, sent a letter to President Donald Trump to encourage him to oppose demands to create openings in the border wall or breaches to the wall's security. Representatives Biggs, Babin, Banks, Arrington, and Tiffany released the following statements: "Border security is national security, and countless Americ  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Biggs, along with Representatives Chip Roy (Texas), Ralph Abraham (La.) and Greg Steube (Fla.), sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, expressing concerns with reports that the VA has issued new guidance that is limiting access to health care choices for veterans enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration in contravention of the VA MISSION Act of 2018 acce  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following statement: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the case of JUNE MEDICAL SERVICES L. L. C. ET AL. v. RUSSO to overturn a Louisiana abortion law designed to protect mothers from doctors who did not have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Congressman Biggs, who had previously signed an amicus brief in support of the law, released the following statement. * * * "Today's Supreme Court decision on the Louisiana abortion   more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced an amendment to the House National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would protect U.S. troops levels and infrastructure in Germany and Europe as part of a larger allied support effort by the House Armed Services Committee and Congress at large. Rep. Gallego introduced the amendment in response to news that President Trump intended to cut the number of U.S. troops st  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: The House Armed Services Committee passed an amendment to the House National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), that would encourage the military services to implement policies allowing individuals to reenlist even if they admit to having used marijuana. Mr. Gallego's amendment would allow an individual to rejoin the military if that person truthfully attests to canna  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced an amendment to the House National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) expressing support for coordinated action to ensure the security of our Baltic allies against Russian threats. "In the days following reports that Russia placed bounties on the heads of U.S. troops, Americans should have seen their President closing ranks with our European allies in NATO and improving ou  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: The House Armed Services Committee passed an amendment to the House National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) that would permit transfer of land at Camp Navajo, Arizona from the U.S. Army to the State of Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. This narrowly tailored land transfer would allow for select commercial activities to take place on parts of Cam  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: The House Armed Services Committee passed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the United States and Taiwan in order to protect our national security and businesses and to improve responses to future pandemics. The first amendment requires the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Health a  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) announced that the Chairman's Mark of the House Armed Services Committee's version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes full protection of the A-10 Warthog. This provision, if agreed to by the Senate and signed into law, will keep all Warthogs flying to protect Arizonans and Americans everywhere. The Senate's version of the NDAA failed to stop the Air Force from preparing  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: The House Armed Services Committee marks up the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision authored by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) that would recommit the United States to maintaining a robust military presence in South Korea for the foreseeable future. Rep. Gallego's provision requires that U.S. active duty forces in the Republic of Korea not fall below 28,500 troops without a cert  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: The House Armed Services Committee begins its markup the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which includes a provision authored by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) that would restore federal funding for Stars and Stripes. "Stars and Stripes was a treasured link to home when I was stationed in Iraq and Okinawa," said Rep. Gallego. "Thousands of troops around the globe rely on them for the kind of news that   more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following statement: This week, the Arizona of Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) announced a settlement agreement to address the overflow of untreated wastewater into the Nogales Wash and Santa Cruz River. * * * "The current state of the International Outfall Interceptor is a public health risk and endangers the health and well-being   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following news release on June 30: Chair Raul M. Grijalva congratulated the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and Chair Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) on today's comprehensive report recommending a broad and aggressive policy approach to climate change. The Committee, Grijalva said, has done a vital public service in focusing on the greatest threat humanity faces and basing its recommendations on thorough public outreach. Grijalva pra  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, which will invest more than $1.5 trillion dollars in rebuilding America's aging infrastructure while creating millions of good paying jobs. "As our infrastructure crumbles in both urban and rural areas and our country faces the impacts of COVID-19, Congress is taking action to modernize our communities all while employing millions of Americ  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Arizona, issued the following news release on June 30: Rep. Kirkpatrick took bold action to build on the Affordable Care Act to lower health costs and prescription drug prices for all Americans by joining House Democrats to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act. Today's vote comes days after the Trump Administration filed a brief asking the Supreme Court to strike down the entirety of the ACA. "In the midst of a pandemic,   more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) sent letters to Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett advocating for cities in Arizona's 8th Congressional District to be selected as the headquarters of the United States Space Force Command. Lesko supported the bids of Glendale, Peoria, and Youngtown, all located within her district. "Arizona is the perfect location for the United States Space Force Command head  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) took control over sponsorship of H.R. 3739, the Red Light Act. The bill, which withholds federal highway funds from states that provide driver's licenses or identification cards to illegal aliens, was originally sponsored by former Representative Chris Collins (NY-27). "It is ridiculous that some states refuse to address our country's illegal immigration problem and i  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Congressman Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ-01) and Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-04) introduced the Flexible Financing for Rural America Act of 2020. Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) Hoeven (R-ND), Boozman (R-AK), and Smith (D-MN), have introduced the companion bill in the Senate. The legislation allows certain rural utility service (RUS) borrowers to take advantage of current low- interest rates without hefty fin  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following statement: Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) voted to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, legislation to shore up the Affordable Care Act (ACA), make available plans more affordable, and strengthen protections for those with pre-existing conditions. * * * "Coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are on the rise throughout Arizona, and in many other states. Now is not the time for  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released their new climate action plan--Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy and Just America. Within the comprehensive list of congressional recommendations to address climate change are two bills--and additional legislative initiatives--authored by Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) to transition  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) voted to pass H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, sweeping legislation to rebuild our nation's crumbling infrastructure and improve our roads, bridges, transit systems, schools, housing, broadband programs, and water and sanitation systems. "Much-needed updates to our infrastructure have been on Congress's back burner for decades, putting the health, safety, and growth of ru  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following statement: Following report https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/how-arizona-lost-control-of-the-epidemic/2020/06/25/f692a5a8-b658-11ea-aca5-ebb63d27e1ff_story.html after report https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-health/2020/06/26/covid-19-continues-arizona-spike-more-than-3-400-new-cases-reported-june-26/3263472001/ about the dangerous trends in Arizona's COVID-19 expansion, including statistics that s  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following news release on July 1: Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) announced that over $400,000 in CARES Act funding he secured for Arizona community health centers had been awarded to North Country Healthcare in Flagstaff under the Federal Communications Commission's COVID-19 Telehealth Program. "The challenges created by this global pandemic have laid bare the urgent need for comprehensive telehealth care and options, especia  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following statement: Following reports that a federal judge had ruled that Alaska Native corporations can access the $8 billion coronavirus aid fund set aside for tribal governments under the CARES Act. * * * "I fought to ensure that the CARES Act set aside specific funding to assist tribal governments in addressing both the public health and economic crises caused by the coronavirus pandemic. "I am disappointed to see that the  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona, has issued the following statement on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's entry into force: "Today, the USMCA will officially enter into force, strengthening our cross-border trade relationship with neighbors Mexico and Canada. As a border state, Arizonans know the importance of strong trade relationships. The USMCA will support over 228,300 Arizona jobs, and create an updated and balanced cross-border trade environment to support our eco  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, issued the following news release on July 2: Yesterday, the House passed H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion package to invest in lasting, 21st century infrastructure and address some of America's most urgent needs. Rep. Greg Stanton, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, cosponsored the legislation. The bill includes measures to tackle the nation's massive backlog of roads, bridges, and transit system  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. Paul A. Gosar, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) and Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) are spearheading an effort to promote Peoria, Arizona as the permanent home for the U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) headquarters. On June 24th, the City of Peoria submitted their self-nomination letter with Governor Ducey's endorsement to the Department of the Air Force. "Space is a primary domain for a 21st century milita  more

WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona, has issued the following news release: The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) adopted Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Congressman Ami Bera's (CA-07) legislation to require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to commission a study on China's influence in setting global standards for emerging technologies. This legislation will be included as an amendment to the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) applauded the Department of Education's approval of 10 additional career and technical education (CTE) plans, including the state of Oklahoma. Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin are the latest states, along with the District of Columbia, to have their CTE plans approved under the new, bipartisan Strengthening Career and Techn  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) on Tuesday introduced legislation to guarantee that survivors of American service members killed at sea receive fair treatment under the law. "Our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line to defend our great nation should have the comfort of knowing that their loved ones will be taken care of should a fatal tragedy occur," McSally said. "My bill provides l  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) advocated for a reduced cost-sharing burden for Arizona's tribes hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. During a U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing, McSally asked Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Region 9 Administrator why Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez had not received a response to his letter requesting a waiver of the 25 percent cost-share bu  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) on Thursday reintroduced bipartisan legislation co-authored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2020, which originally passed out of the committee on a bipartisan 19-9 vote, including all committee Democrats. Joining McSally and Grassley in introducing the bipartisan legislation as original co-sponsors  more

WASHINGTON, June 25 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema discussed the need to expand broadband to help Arizonans access work, education, and health care services during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "I look forward to working with the FCC to support Arizonans with expanded affordable broadband access during the pandemic as jobs, schools, and health care have shifted online," said Sinema. In the Senate Commerce Committ  more

WASHINGTON, June 24 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema held a call with members of the Huachuca 50 to discuss response efforts on Arizona's growing coronavirus outbreak, provide updates on the National Defense Authorization Act and funding for critical Fort Huachuca projects, and answer questions. "Fort Huachuca plays a critical role in America's national defense and Arizona's security. We must ensure Fort Huachuca servic  more

WASHINGTON, June 26 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema urged the administration to disburse unspent COVID-19 relief funds to boost rural broadband access in Arizona. "Congress approved federal funds to boost broadband access in rural Arizona. The administration needs to quickly disburse these resources to support rural Arizona families during the coronavirus crisis and into the future," said Sinema. Sinema's letter stres  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema applauded today's settlement agreement between Arizona, the United States, and Mexico on payment for wastewater infrastructure improvements on an international sewage pipe that flows from Mexico to Nogales, Arizona. "Today's agreement protects the health and safety of Nogales families by improving water quality and managing sewage flow," said Sinema. The City of Nogal  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Martha McSally announced that the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is fully implemented, effective. "Today is a great day for Arizona," said McSally. "Finally, our state can take advantage of a much-improved trade deal that puts American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses on fair footing with our neighbors. Cross-border commerce in Arizona supports over $9 billion in exports each yea  more