SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Nov. 1 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following statement by Chairman Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, at a field hearing entitled "Alzheimer's and Other Cognitive Diseases: An Arizona Perspective": "Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here in Arizona with my colleague, Senator Martha McSally, to convene this field hearing of the Senate Committee on Aging. Senator McSally has been a valued and active member of the Aging Committee. Her commitments and contrib  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Chairman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples joined with Ranking Member Paul Cook (R-CA) to introduce the Native American Child Protection Act. The bipartisan legislation improves and reauthorizes several programs within the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act in order to improve the prevention, investigation, treatment, and prosecution of family violence,   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-249) on legislation (H.R. 1305) to implement the agreement on the conservation of albatrosses and petrels. The report was advanced by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, on Oct. 22. Excerpts of the report follow: Purpose of the Bill The purpose of H.R. 1305 is to implement the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. Background and Need for Legislation Albatrosses and petrels are among the m  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The House Natural Resources Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-250) on legislation (H.R. 1225) to establish, fund and provide for the use of amounts in a National Park Service and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund to address the maintenance backlog of the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Indian Education. The report was advanced by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, on Oct. 22. Excerpts of the report follow:  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act, legislation introduced by a group of lawmakers including Arizona Reps. Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01) and Raul Grijalva (AZ-02) that would permanently ban uranium mining in and near the Grand Canyon. In a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives earlier today, O'Halleran urged his colleagues to support the leg  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following news release: Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Reauthorizing Security for Supreme Court Justices Act (S. 2511), which was introduced by Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona). The bill would provide permanent additional security for U.S. Supreme Court Justices. "I am very pleased that the Judiciary Committee passed legislation I introduced with Senator Si  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate to call for the passage of her amendment to block $1.2 billion in cuts to public transportation funds, including $15.4 million in cuts to Arizona transit agencies. "Without legislative action to block this cut, public transit agencies across America will suffer a 12 percent across-the-board funding cut," said McSally. "These c  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) secured key funding for housing, transportation, and forestry in a domestic funding bill that passed the U.S. Senate. The bill appropriates funds for the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Justice, and Interior for Fiscal Year 2020. "This bill shows what Congress can accomplish when they put aside partisan politic  more

GILBERT, Arizona, Nov. 1 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: This week, Congressman Biggs introduced the Small Business Prosperity Act, which builds on his longstanding efforts to extend the enormous economic momentum spurred by the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to hardworking business owners across the country. This bill: * Lowers the maximum tax rate on small business revenue to 21 percent--the same low rate that major multinational corporations have been benef  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following statement: Today, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Res.660 - a feeble attempt to justify their closed-door, Soviet-style impeachment inquisition of President Donald Trump. Two Democrats joined all Republicans in voting against this resolution. Congressman Biggs opposed the resolution and issued the following statement: "After weeks of Adam Schiff's closed-door, Soviet-style, Stalinist hearings, Speak  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following statement: This afternoon, House Democrats announced a forthcoming resolution to direct "certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America." This announcement came as Democrats wer  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Earlier this month, Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System (PVAHCS) Director RimaAnn Nelson was reassigned to a new location, and the search for her replacement is ongoing. To facilitate the search, Congressman Andy Biggs sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilke outlining what he hopes to see in a new Director. Congressman Biggs' top criteria include: encouraging an ope  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chair of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples and an Iraq War veteran, introduced the Native American Veteran Parity in Access to Care Today (PACT) Act, which would end the practice of charging American Indian and Alaska Native veterans a copayment for receiving care at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). America's trust and treaty obligations guarantee Native Ame  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following statement regarding the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a U.S. military operation: "The death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a blow to ISIS, and the world is a safer place without him. I am thankful for the service members who go into harm's way to undertake missions like these. "I share the concerns of Speaker Pelosi and Armed Services Committee Chairman Smith that Russian sources were made aware of this opera  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, issued the following statement after voting to move forward with the impeachment process and establish procedures for open hearings to be conducted by the House Intelligence Committee: "As allegations and evidence regarding President Trump's illegal conduct continue to pile up, the House is fulfilling our Constitutional duty by moving forward with the impeachment probe. "Time and again, President Trump has endangered our national security a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Paul A. Gosar, R-Arizona, issued the following statement on House Resolution 296 for the Armenian Genocide Resolution: "I voted present on Adam Schiff's poorly worded, inflammatory and false Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res. 296. Make no mistake--the Democrats do not care about the Armenian Christians from 1915. In fact, most Democrats today don't care about U.S. Christians, much less Armenian Christians from a century ago. This resolution is a pretext to attack D  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Paul A. Gosar, R-Arizona, issued the following statement after President Trump announced the death of ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: "This weekend President Trump brought one of the world's most ruthless Islamic terrorists to justice. "The decisive mission killing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was fittingly named in honor of Kayla Mueller, a native of Prescott, Arizona. "Kayla was tortured and slain at the hands of al-Baghdadi, but his reign of terror has finally ended  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following speech, which was published in the Congressional Record on Oct. 28, celebrating Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life conference and movement: I rise to recognize the impact created by the Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life conference and movement. In Arizona, much like the rest of the country, student deaths from suicide have increased substantially, and research has shown, many youth related deaths have been found to be preven  more

TUCSON, Arizona, Nov. 1 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Raul M. Grijalva introduced a resolution commemorating the 30th Annual All Souls Procession in Tucson. The event is celebrated to coincide with Dia de los Muertos, the multi-day holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and parts of Latin America that honors the memories of friends, family, and loved ones who have passed. "The All Souls Procession is one of the unique events that makes Tucson so  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement on the news that the Interior Department will reverse its proposed changes to how it processes Freedom of Information Act requests: The move comes after public outcry by lawmakers - including former House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) - pushing DOI to end its politicization of the FOIA process. Grijalva said: "The Interior De  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Arizona, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement on the news that the Interior Department will reverse its proposed changes to how it processes Freedom of Information Act requests: The move comes after public outcry by lawmakers - including former House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) - pushing DOI to end its politicization of the FOIA process. "The Interior Department unde  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Rep. Kirkpatrick today voted with the House of Representatives to pass the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act. The bill's passage comes shortly ahead of a deadline for recommendations by the Trump administration's Nuclear Fuel Working Group, which could suggest opening the Grand Canyon region to new mining claims. Grijalva chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, which passed the bill on July 17.  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following statement statement regarding the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in an American military operation: "Today, I applaud our troops and U.S. intelligence agencies on their collaborative work to find and eliminate the threat of this dangerous ISIS leader. "I am so grateful that none of the brave men and women in uniform who carried out this mission were lost. "This is a critical development in the ongoing fig  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following statement after the House voted to open the impeachment inquiry to public hearings: "The resolution voted on today is simply the next step in an ongoing investigative process that is already underway. It confirms the right of both Republicans and Democrats to call witnesses and allows the White House to be directly involved. "As a former homicide detective, I know that evidence has the power to both convict and exonera  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Tonight, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass H.R.1781, the Payment Commission Data Act, legislation introduced by Reps. Tom O'Halleran (D-Az.), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-Ga.), Tom Rice (R-Sc.), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Ca.) to increase transparency in the drug pricing system. Earlier this year, Congress' independent advisory commissions, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Reps. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, ranking Republican member of the House Natural Resources Committee, Paul A. Gosar, R-Arizona, Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado, and Scott Tipton, R-Colorado, issued the following statements regarding legislation scheduled for consideration on the House floor: H.R. 2182, H.R. 1373, and H.R. 823 would stifle rural economic development, jeopardize our national security by growing our reliance on foreign mineral sources, and adversely affect American jobs.   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-3), Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41), and Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) introduced?the Veteran Deportation Prevention and Reform Act of 2019 to prevent noncitizen veterans from being deported, improve tracking of noncitizen veterans in immigration proceedings, and bring certain eligible deported veterans back home. "We must put an end to the tragedy of dep  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona, has issued the following news release: Today, Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CA-38) introduced H.R. 4911, the Childhood Outcomes Need New Efficient Community Teams, or CONNECT Act, to give youth who come in contact with both the child welfare and juvenile justice system access to grants designed to better address their needs. "Ensuring that we are helping children in the foster system receive the to  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona, has issued the following news release: * * * - CONNECT Act Works to Expand Access to Telehealth Services * * * Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06), Co-Chair of the Congressional Telehealth Caucus, along with fellow Co-Chairs Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05), Rep. Peter Welch (VT-AL), and Rep. Bill Johnson (OH-06), announced the introduction of the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. Th  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) along with Senators Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Doug Jones (D-Alabama), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) yesterday introduced the Small Business Audit Correction Act to provide much-needed regulatory relief to small investment brokers by exempting them from certain audit requirements and reinstating previous regulations. The bill was first introduced in the 115th Congress. La  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: * * * - Legislation Improves Native American Lending Services at HUD * * * U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today introduced the Native American Housing Affordability Act of 2019. The bipartisan legislation reforms the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, which provides mortgage   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) today introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize Operation Stonegarden, which provides grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement to assist in securing our border. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) is the Democratic lead on the bill. The bill authorizes the Operation Stonegarden program through 2024 to increase coordination between local law enforcement, Customs and   more

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Nov. 1 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following statement by Member Martha McSally, R-Arizona, at a field hearing entitled "Alzheimer's and Other Cognitive Diseases: An Arizona Perspective": "First, I would like to for holding this field hearing today in Scottsdale, Arizona. Welcome to the beautiful Grand Canyon State - I hope you can see why I am always excited about coming back home! Also, I want to take a moment to recognize your leadership as Chairm  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, issued the following news release: Last week, U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) was named a Champion of Term Limits by U.S. Term Limits for following through on her pledge to co-sponsor term limit legislation after taking office. In addition to signing the U.S. Term Limits pledge, McSally has also pledged to personally never serve more than two full terms in the Senate. "Our democracy was founded on the belief that elected officials were  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following floor statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Oct. 29, on a joint resolution (S.J.Res. 52) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, U.S., of the rule submitted by the secretary of the Treasury and the secretary of Health and Human Services relating to 'State Relief and Empowerment Waivers': I rise today to address one of the biggest concerns facing everyday families in Ar  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- The Senate conducted seven committee hearings for Oct. 30: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS ACT Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990, after receiving testimony from Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, Government Accountability Office. WATER SECURITY Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power concluded a hearing to examine the use of technology and innovati  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee on Water and Power issued the following testimony by John Louis Sabo, director of Future H2O at the Arizona State University, at a hearing to examine the use of technology and innovation to increase water security and enable economic development in the West: "ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation subcommittee on Aviation and Space issued the following hearing information: Building NASA's Workforce of the Future: STEM Engagement for a 21st Century Education at 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 5: Witnesses: * Jeffrey Manber, Chief Executive Officer, Nanoracks * Linda Tarbox Elkins-Tanton, Managing Director, Interplanetary Initiative and Principal Investigator of NASA Psyche Mission, Arizona Sta  more

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Nov. 1 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following testimony by dementia caregiving survivor Lisa Capp at a field hearing entitled "Alzheimer's and Other Cognitive Diseases: An Arizona Perspective": "Thank you for the opportunity to testify about my experience as my mother's caregiver. I'm a blogger, an activist and a dementia caregiving survivor after an 18-year journey through the disease with my mother, Vera Cappelletti. After her death in 2015, Chairin  more

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, Nov. 1 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following testimony by Roberta Diaz Brinton, director of the Center for Innovation in Brain Science at the University of Arizona, at a field hearing entitled "Alzheimer's and Other Cognitive Diseases: An Arizona Perspective": "Thank you for the opportunity to address you on the Arizona Perspective on Aging: Alzheimer's and Other Cognitive Diseases. I am Dr. Roberta Diaz Brinton, director of the Center for Innovation  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following hearing information: Alzheimer's and Other Cognitive Diseases: An Arizona Perspective at Granite Reef Senior Center, Scottsdale, Arizona at 10 a.m. on Nov. 1: Witnesses * Roberta Diaz Brinton, Director, Center for Innovation in Brain Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ * Lisa Capp, Previous Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver, Phoenix, AZ * Alireza Atri, Director, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the bipartisan Support for Suicide Prevention Coordinators Act, which helps improve the Department of Veterans Affairs' suicide prevention efforts. The bill requires the Government Accountability Office to study and report to Congress how the VA equips its suicide prevention coordinators with resources to ensure Arizona veterans have improved access to ment  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: * * * - Sinema and the Somers are working to expand their Network of Support concept to the Department of Veterans Affairs * * * Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with Howard and Jean Somers and discussed their efforts to prevent veteran suicide. Howard and Jean Somers are the parents of Sgt. Daniel Somers, an Arizona Army veteran who served two tours in Iraq and was diagnosed with traumatic bra  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with forest industry leaders to discuss the formation of a statewide coalition that brings a group of diverse forestry companies together for the first time. This coalition will allow for the most efficient restoration of Arizona's forests and bring good-paying jobs back to the state. "Restoring Arizona's forests responsibly supports jobs and protects communities a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema spoke on the Senate floor today and urged her Senate colleagues to stop playing politics with Arizonans' health care and start protecting access to health care coverage for all Americans. During her speech, Sinema highlighted the stories of Arizonans with pre-existing conditions who deserve critical health care protections. Sinema is focused on protecting health care   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema today voted to maintain protections for Arizonans with pre-existing health conditions, and preserve critical essential health benefits in insurance plans. Today's resolution would end the expansion of "junk" insurance plans, which undermine essential health benefits--such as prescription drug benefits, ambulance coverage, and hospital stays--and jeopardize health care  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) introduced the bipartisan Prison Accountability Act, which makes the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons a Senate-confirmed position, strengthening accountability and oversight to the federal prison system. "Working across the aisle to strengthen accountability of the federal prison system protects Arizona's cor  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator aims to fix Arizona's nursing shortage by supporting nurses who work in communities with a lack of health professionals * * * Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored the bipartisan Nursing Where It's Needed Act, which increases the amount of Nurse Corps nurses in Arizona health care facilities in an effort to close Arizona's health care provider shortage. "We are bringing more   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema cosponsored a bipartisan bill to protect access and lower the cost of skilled nursing care for Arizona seniors. "Arizona seniors have earned their Medicare benefits through a lifetime of hard work. Lowering the cost of care and protecting access to skilled nursing ensures seniors who have been hospitalized receive the care they need when they get discharged," said Sin  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Arizona, issued the following news release: A bill introduced by Rep. Greg Stanton advanced through the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today with unanimous support. The bill, H.R. 3521, would help grow an in-demand sector of Arizona's workforce: wastewater management workers. "Arizona's economy relies on effective and well-managed wastewater treatment and stormwater management programs," said Stanton, a member of the Transportation  more