WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- The U.S. Senate received the nomination of 17 individuals for positions in the Trump Administration on Sept. 9: Barbara McConnell Barrett, of Arizona, to be Secretary of the Air Force. Ryan McCarthy, of Illinois, to be Secretary of the Army. Robert John Sander, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of the Navy. Sandra E. Clark, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to Burkina Faso. Kelly C. Degnan, of California, to be Ambassador to Georgia. Peter M. Haymond,  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - 'We Need a Better Way of Doing Things' * * * Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today hailed the House passage of three bills to protect the Atlantic, Pacific, and Eastern Gulf of Mexico coastlines from offshore drilling and to block the Republican push for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The House just passed Rep. Jared Huffma  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release: Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and other leading Democrats will speak at a press conference with Alaska Native and conservation advocates at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning outside the U.S. Capitol on the need to pass Rep. Huffman's Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, a bill set for a Thursday vote in the Hou  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following news release: Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), chair of the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross today requesting a series of documents on his reported threats against long-time National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials in connection with President Trump's inaccu  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Chuck Schumer (D-New York) along with Congressmen Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) and Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper urging him to use all available statutory authorities to combat the Chinese Communist Party's espionage against the U.S. defense-industrial base. The letter specifically requests that the Department of Defense publ  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) pressed Ambassador Barbara M. Barrett, nominee to be the Secretary of the Air Force, on the Air Force's role in addressing groundwater contamination in Arizona. Recent tests identified high-levels of a toxic chemical compound known as PFAS in private wells north of Arizona National Guard Facilities at Tucson International Airport. The contaminated water is not pa  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) pressed top officials on how to prevent future housing crises. During a U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing on housing finance reform, McSally heard from top officials including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on the need to reform the federal government's role in housing. Th  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) touted Luke Air Force Base's innovative F-35 maintenance program that saves time and resources and increases effectiveness of the base's squadrons. At a U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services nomination hearing considering Ambassador Barbara Barrett as the next Secretary of the Air Force, McSally encouraged the nominee to implement a maintenance program utilize  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Martha McSally's (R-AZ) bill to enhance the long-term sustainability of U.S. nuclear power was heard by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. During the hearing, McSally highlighted the benefits of Arizona's nuclear power leadership. "The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in my state is the largest electricity generating plant of any source in the United Stat  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today Congressman Andy Biggs was honored by National Taxpayers Union (NTU) for having one of the strongest voting records in Washington, DC on supporting lower taxes, limited government, and economic freedom. This year, Congressman Biggs is one of only 17 Representatives to have earned the "Taxpayers' Friend Award," the top award in this category, for their outstanding voting record during the 2018 Congression  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following statement being selected as next chairman of the House Freedom Caucus: This week, the House Freedom Caucus membership selected Congressman Andy Biggs to be its next chairman. Biggs becomes the third Freedom Caucus chairman, following Congressmen Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows. "I'm grateful for the trust of my colleagues in selecting me to serve as the next chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. The Freedom Caucus has revolut  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following statement after the Homeland Security Department released August numbers for alien apprehensions at the southern border: Approximately 50,000 apprehensions were made in August, and over 800,000 in the first 11 months of the fiscal year. "The crisis at our southern border has shown significant signs of improvement due to the efforts of President Trump and our Border Patrol agents. Yet there are still too many illegal crosse  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) sent a letter to the Medical Center Director of the Phoenix VA seeking answers regarding the burdensome reimbursement requirements imposed on certain veterans who pay out-of-pocket for prescriptions at non-VA pharmacies. Eligible veterans participating in the Community Care Program (CCP) can receive up to a 14-day supply of prescription medication for an urgent or emergent  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Paul A. Gosar, R-Arizona, issued the following on the 18th anniversary of Sept. 11 terror attacks: "Today we reflect on the vicious attack on our country on September 11th. We honor the lives of those who perished and the first responders who ran toward danger to help. "Compelled by a religious and political fervor, Islamic extremists took innocent lives. "We must continue to confront radical Islam and remain vigilant and strong. "Never forget this attack and t  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Rep. Paul A. Gosar, R-Arizona, issued the following weekly column: As the Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, I have a unique insight into many of America's energy issues. Since 1993, the bipartisan Western Caucus has been on the front lines of tackling some of the biggest energy issues facing America. "The Western Caucus led the fight against the f  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court granted the Trump administration permission to continue to enforce the migrant protection protocols: Since the policy was implemented, more than 42,000 migrants have been forced to return to Mexico for an indefinite period of time while their asylum case is being processed. This new policy continues to be litigated in lower courts. "The Supreme Court is giving a green light to this Ad  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) introduced the Providing Recovery Opportunities and Mitigating the Industry's Shifting Economics (PROMISE) Act, legislation that would provide economic development resources to communities affected by the closure of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) and the Kayenta Mine and establish job and skills training programs for displaced employees. The legislation is co  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) joined a bipartisan group to introduce the Bridging Agency Data Gaps and Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act. The legislation would address barriers that stand in the way of improving the efficiency of law enforcement agency data sharing and officer recruitment and retention, both of which are imperative to addressing the growing crisis of missing   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona, has issued the following news release: Today, Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) received the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) "Taxpayers' Friend Award" for having one of the strongest voting records in Washington, DC on supporting lower taxes, limited government, and economic freedom in 2018. Since being elected to Congress in 2011, Congressman Schweikert has proven to support economic prosperity, winning this award six additional times  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), joined by Reps. Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), introduced the Teacher Diversity and Retention Act to help combat our nationwide teacher shortage by increasing recruitment of diverse teachers and improving teacher training and retention programs. The nationwide teacher shortage was estimated to be over 110,000 in the 2017-2018 school  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, Representatives Grijalva and Slotkin reintroduced the Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act, following the release of the latest Census Bureau reporton poverty which shows household income has risen at its slowest pace in four years. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides assistance to people who are disabled or elderly and have low income, and has gone largely unchanged sinc  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) applauded the EPA's finalized rule to fully roll back the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. Put in place by the Obama Administration in 2015, the WOTUS Rule levied heavy-handed, unnecessary bureaucratic regulations on the backs of hard-working farmers, ranchers, builders, and property owners in Arizona. "The WOTUS Rule gave Washington bureaucrats th  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) commended the nomination of Judge Scott Rash to serve as Judge on the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. "Congratulations to Judge Scott Rash for being nominated to the District of Arizona," said McSally. "Judge Rash is a highly respected judge on the Pima County Superior Court and will make an excellent federal judge. With the huge caseloads in A  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following statement on cuts to military projects: "Mr. President, I join my colleagues in opposition to cutting congressionally-mandated support from critical military construction projects in Arizona, the United States, and around the world. This misguided effort takes $30 million away from Ft. Huachuca, home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, where all Army Intelligence professionals train at least once in the  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Sept. 10, on Fort Huachuca: I join my colleagues in opposition to cutting congressionally mandated support from critical military construction projects in Arizona, the United States, and around the world. This misguided effort takes $30 million away from Ft. Huachuca, home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, where all Army intelligence profes  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema today met with Arizona tourism leaders and discussed their efforts to continue growing Arizona's tourism industry. Sinema, a cosponsor of the Brand USA Extension Act, underscored her support for the long-term renewal of Brand USA, which promotes the United States as a premier travel destination. "Tourism fuels Arizona jobs, and renewing Brand USA represents a critica  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema is leading a bipartisan effort to review how the VA manages its contracts. Sinema partnered with Senators Jon Tester (D-Mt.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) on a letter to the top federal government watchdog, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), after the VA's acquisition management was added to the GAO's list of government programs at risk for waste and fraud. "We are   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Rep. Greg Stanton and Rep. Greg Steube of Florida this week introduced a bipartisan bill to permanently extend security protection of Justices of the Supreme Court outside the Supreme Court grounds. Current law authorizes the Supreme Court Police to protect justices--however, the authority to protect them outside of Supreme Court grounds is temporary and set to expire at the end of this year. "Ensuring the  more