Getting Things Done

I was sent to our nation’s capital with a clear message from hard-working Arizonans living throughout the 4th district: End the status quo of business as usual in Washington D.C.  That means taking bold action to stop out-of-control federal spending and fighting for commonsense solutions to expand economic opportunities for Arizonans.

In pursuit of these goals, I am proud that I was the most effective member of the 113^th Congress.  During those two years I was able to get six bills and 12 other legislative efforts signed into law and pass 24 amendments through the House of Representatives – more than any other Member of Congress.  During my relatively short tenure in Congress, I have passed 11 bills and 20 other legislative initiatives into law and 79 amendments through the House.

Looking Back at 2016

We had a big win back in October of 2016 when the Fish and Wildlife Service held a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the new water intake system and that operations of the rainbow trout stocking program will resume at the Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery.

In November 2013, the Fish and Wildlife Service tried to terminate this program and threatened 1,700 jobs and $75 million in associated economic output in Mohave County. I fought for you to reverse this terrible bureaucratic decision and we were successful. 

The loss of the trout stocking program would have had a devastating economic effect on local communities. In fact, the state’s sport fishing industry relies on the national hatchery system for more than 97 percent of sport fish stocked in Arizona. Click HERE to read more. 

Another big victory came in Lake Havasu City, where we were able to lead a grassroots effort to keep Lake Havasu open for all users. 

When the Fish and Wildlife Service attempted to close down significant areas on Lake Havasu to motorized boating activities, I led the charge to get the agency to withdraw its 2016 proposal and passed an amendment through the House to reopen the part of the reservoir that was shut down for no good reason in 2015. Click HERE to read more. 

Previous Victories at the Local Level

• I am the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional I-11 Caucus. My I-11 Intermountain West Corridor Development Act was signed into law in December of 2015. I-11 and the Intermountain West Corridor will generate $22 billion for our economy and create at least 240,000 permanent jobs. Click Here to read more.

• My Southeast Arizona Land Exchange Act that was signed into law will create approximately 3,700 new jobs, generate $60 billion for Arizona’s economy and provide 25% of the United States’ copper supply. Click Here to read more.
• I successfullly passed legislation that will resolve a non-controversial legal hurdle allowing for the pursuit of new economic development projects within the City of Flagstaff. Click Here to read more. 
• My Grand Canyon Tourism Jobs Protection Act that was signed into law has helped create jobs and allowed for 1,721 additional Grand Canyon flights per year utilizing quiet technology. Click Here to read more.
• My Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act that was signed into law has assisted with preventing dangerous wildfires in Arizona by reauthorizing stewardship contracting and good neighbor authority. Click Here to read more.

• When the Fish and Wildlife Service over-inflated the costs of repairing a broken water supply line by millions of dollars so it could terminate the rainbow trout stocking program at the Willow Beach Fish Hatchery, I acted to save the program and preserve 1,700 jobs and $75 million in associated economic output. Click Here to read more.
• When the BLM was considering merging its Arizona and New Mexico field offices, I acted to prevent that merger and keep those jobs in Arizona benefitting our economy as well as natural resource and agriculture users in the process. Click Here to read more.
• When the Fish and Wildlife Service attempted to close down significant areas on Lake Havasu to motorized boating activities, I led the charge to get the agency to withdraw its 2016 proposal and passed an amendment through the House to reopen the part of the reservoir that was shut down for no good reason in 2015. Click Here to read more.
• When the ICE Detention facility in Florence was considering releasing an illegal immigrant with drug resistant tuberculosis into the Pinal County Community, I led the effort to prevent this occurrence. Click Here to read more.
• I passed the Grand Canyon Bison Management Act through the House as part of H.R. 2406, allowing for the responsible management of more than 800 invasive “beefalo” that have invaded the Grand Canyon and are trampling the park. Click Here to read more.
• In order to facilitate trade and benefit communities like Yuma, I pressed the Department of Homeland Security to provide adequate staffing at Arizona ports and for our state to receive its fair share of 2,000 new Customs and Border Protection officers. Click Here to read more.

• To address increasing burro populations that are threatening public safety in Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Yuma, Oatman and other parts of Arizona, I worked with the Appropriations Committee to direct the BLM “to work cooperatively with States and other partners to control wild horse and burro herds.” Click Here to read more.
• I have continually led the charge to ensure full-funding for our counties through the PILT program, a program that provides compensation for massive swaths of federal lands within county borders. My colleagues and I were able to get the House to provide full-funding in this year’s Interior Appropriations bill. Click Here to read more.
• I successfully passed an amendment that cut wasteful spending and redirected $70 million to wildfire prevention programs. Click Here to read more.
• As a result of the Fish and Wildlife’s failed management of the Mexican wolf, that has caused the wolf to linger on the endangered species list for nearly 40 years, I passed an amendment that will allow for the responsible state management of the population. Click Here to read more.
• I passed an amendment blocking Obama from unilaterally designating the proposed Grand Canyon Watershed, Sedona and expanded Sonoran Desert Monuments. Click Here to read more.
• I passed an amendment prohibiting funds for the “Social Cost of Carbon”. Click Here to read more.
• I passed an amendment providing $2,000,000 for Quagga and Zebra Mussel containment, prevention, and enforcement. Click Here to read more.

   Previous National Victories

• I passed a House amendment blocking funds for sanctuary city policies 236-182. Click Here to read more.
• I inserted an appropriations rider this fiscal year ensuring no funds for Obama’s executive amnesty orders. Click Here to read more.
• After it was revealed that veterans were being forwarded to voicemail and not receiving an adequate response when contacting a suicide hotline, I passed a bipartisan provision through the House that will ensure veterans receive an immediate response from a trained professional when calling the Veterans Crisis Line. Click Here to read more.
• When the Secret Service broke the law and leaked private information about OGR Chairman Jason Chaffetz, I led a bipartisan effort that resulted in 42 employees being fired or suspended. Click Here to read more.
• When the IRS targeted conservative groups, I passed an amendment into law that cut the agency’s budget by $350 million. Click Here to read more.
• When the Department of Transportation was violating our Fourth Amendment Rights, I passed an amendment into public law in multiple years that prohibited funds for the administration’s unconstitutional roadside survey. Click Here to read more.
• I introduced legislation and passed two amendments through the House to block Obama’s regulation that aims to take over the local zoning process and allow Washington bureaucrats to dictate where we live. Click Here to read more.
• After an Inspector General report revealed that more than 5,000 transactions and more $1 million had been squandered, I passed an amendment into public law that prohibited Government Travel Charge Cards from being used at strip clubs and for gambling. Click Here to read more.
• I passed an amendment that prevented $440 million from going to terrorist organizations ISIS, the Hamas/Palestinian authority coalition and other FTO’s. I also passed an amendment previously that  prohibited funds from going to the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran. Click Here to read more.
• I passed an amendment that successfully prevented President Obama’s proposed $500 million raid of the Highway Trust Fund, preserving important federal funding for roads and bridge in the process. Click Here to read more.
• I have been leading the charge to hold the EPA accountable for their continued overreach and introduced legislation to initiate impeachment proceedings against EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. On multiple occasions EPA Administration McCarthy lied to members of Congress and committed perjury. Click Here to read more.
• I have been spearheading the effort to defeat the EPA’s unconstitutional WOTUS rule, a proposed regulation that attempts to expand agency control over millions of acres of water and land. This unlawful new mandate will cause significant harm to farmers, energy companies, small businesses and other job creators throughout the nation. I held a hearing, introduced legislation, defeated a democrat amendment and successfully inserted appropriations riders utilizing the power of the purse to block WOTUS. Click Here to read more.
• I have also been leading the charge to prevent EPA’s new Ozone regulation, projected to be the most expensive rule in the history of this country. Arizona is the hardest hit state as 9 out of 10 counties that currently measure ozone standards would be in noncompliance. This new regulation is so extreme that even the Grand Canyon would be in non-attainment. My bill that blocks this overreach has more than 80 cosponsors. I have also insert appropriations riders and cosponsored legislation that has passed the House to delay this mandate. Click Here to read more.
• I passed two amendments that cut the EPA's budget by more than $130 million. Click Here to read more.
• When the EPA and USGS attempted to expand jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act through unlawful guidance, I passed an amendment to defund this agency document. Click Here to read more.

2015 Legislative Year in Review
(CLICK THE INFOGRAPHIC BELOW TO EXPAND)

During 2015, I was able to get eight of my legislative initiatives signed into public law and passed 27 amendments through the House. I also held 45 town halls and public meetings, completed 940 constituent requests for assistance with government agencies, and sent over 49,000 letters to constituents.  

My Intermountain West Corridor Development Act of 2015 was included in the Transportation bill and signed into law. This legislation extends the future I-11 beyond the Phoenix – Las Vegas region. Extending I-11 and allowing it to become the main transportation corridor in the West will be an economic boon for our communities, creating jobs, allowing for an easier flow of goods and services and authorizing the construction of much needed infrastructure. My WAPA Report language aimed at bringing transparency to this massive bureaucracy. 

Retention of one of my riders prohibited funds for an unconstitutional National Roadside Survey. I was able to secure important resources for the Lower Santa Cruz Feasibility Study. Retention of another of my riders saved taxpayer money and prohibit wasteful spending on Scrims. Another one of my amendments adopted into law blocked Obama's $500 million request for a wasteful new bus program and leaves those dollars in the Highway Trust Fund to be spent on roads and bridges. Another one of my amendments passed into law saved taxpayer money and prohibited funds from being used on Government Travel Charge Card expenses for gaming, or entertainment that includes topless or nude entertainers. Finally, I was able to secure an increase for SCAAP, an important grant program that reimburses states and local governments for the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants convicted of crimes. 

2015 Constituent Services Year in Review

I never forget that I was elected by the people and strive to ensure you all have access and that your needs are being met. Whether it's helping resolve an issue with a government agency, responding to a letter you wrote me, or holding a town hall meeting in your city, my staff and I always give 110%. I'm more fired up than ever and look forward to serving you in 2016. Pictured above are the totals from my constituent services from 2015.

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In the 113^th Congress, I had more success than any other member of Congress, with six bills signed into law by Obama, 12 other of my legislative efforts becoming law, 24 of my amendments passing the House, and positively affecting almost one billion dollars in federal spending. Most of my successful amendments targeted wasteful spending and government overreach. I successfully passed amendments that cut $345.6 million for the IRS budget and prohibited bonuses for IRS executives, blocked funds from going towards an unconditional roadside survey, and blocked Obama's request for $29 million for a new, duplicative climate change program.

Rep. Paul Gosar 113th Congress Legislative Accomplishemets