Giving Thanks:

This week millions of Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving. It's been a strange year for all of us and it has tested us as a nation in more ways than one. As we approach a holiday predicated on giving thanks, it may feel more difficult to do so this year than in years past. However, it's often during times of misfortune that we find true wisdom. Misfortune can lead to stronger community connections as people extend their care and help during hard times. Times of pain help us realize what we're truly capable of, as well as what's really important to us. We are Americans. It's in our blood to overcome adversity and we will overcome this year and be stronger for it.

As we head into Thanksgiving week, I thought it appropriate to share this quote from President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated 57 years ago yesterday. "As we express gratitude, we must never forget that the highest form of appreciation is not to utter words, but to live them."

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve you and do not simply utter those words, but live them. I am proud to represent and work for YOU and I am grateful for you putting your trust in me to do that.

Wishing you and your family a safe and healthy Thanksgiving!

Speaking Directly to You:

Last Monday we held a virtual Town Hall. This was in response to the overwhelming communications we've been receiving regarding the integrity of our election since election day. I provided an update on the work I've been doing to "Stop the Steal" and fight for a free and fair election, as well as answered questions that came in real time. I understand that there were some technical difficulties with Facebook's platform and some of you were not able to tune in and for that, I apologize. We are taking steps to ensure that doesn't happen again in the future. If you missed last week's Town Hall or you were unable to tune in, you can re-watch it by clicking above.

In Session:

The House returned to work this week for the first time since September. As I noted in my newsletter last week, several serious matters remain to be addressed and the 116th Congress is coming quickly to a close. The House was in session for five days and Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer made it clear that this week was more about getting themselves renominated as leaders of the Democratic Party in the House rather than actually convene to pass the outstanding legislative items. We now have just the first two weeks of December to finalize the funding of the government, pass defense policy, and more. What could have been a productive first week turned into a series of noncontroversial bills not related to the most important remaining Congressional business or overly political Democratic bills which will simply die in the Senate. Please find below a short list of my key votes this week and my outlook on what is to come in the waning weeks of the 116th Congress. 

National Apprenticeship Act of 2020:

The only bill with amendments and floor time this week, the Act reauthorizes existing federal apprenticeship programs with the Department of Labor (DOL) while developing new standards, grants, and government bodies to oversee apprenticeships. As in many cases, I agree with the topline statement that for many Americans, a pathway to success runs through apprenticeships and they should be so protected and developed, but once again disagree with the Democrats approach. Why would we grant Washington bureaucrats more control over developing apprenticeships than the actual employers and interns who mutually benefit from apprenticeship programs? Employers must have the ability to innovate and develop programs based on the needs of apprentices and their business, not through mandated settings developed by DOL bureaucrats. Instead of working with Republicans, Democrats stubbornly doubled down on an 80-year old system that actually closes pathways to apprenticeships and gives kickbacks to unions. Because the system was so harmful to private sector apprenticeship development, it actually conflicted with a Trump Administration initiative which was allowing companies to tailor their own programs, and the President therefore issued a formal veto threat. Because of these reasons, I voted no on this bill.

NDAA:

As I mentioned last week, the National Defense Authorization Act is the annual defense policy bill. The House and Senate always pass their own versions and then must reconcile them in what is known as a conference committee, because law mandates that both houses of Congress pass identical bills to be sent to the President. There is much work to be done to resolve differences, for instance, the Left politicized the military once again and even attempted to further undermine our national security by trying to enroll social political movements into the military. This week, the House passed a motion to send our bill to the conference committee, meaning formal negotiations can begin. There are several issues, which you can find here, which need to be revised or removed to earn my support, because this bill should be exactly what the military is: professional, nonpartisan, and focused on countering state and terrorist threats to the United States.

Justice for Warriors Caucus Update:

As a member of the Justice for Warriors Caucus, I am active in fighting for due process and fairness for our nation’s heroes wrongly charged by the military justice system. Working with President Trump, our Caucus has done a lot of good work pardoning or getting paroled service members who have been wrongly charged. We are continuing to push to pardon troops who almost had their lives ruined from an unfair justice system. Below, please find a brief discussion of these warriors and their service to our nation.

• First Sergeant John Hatley: When convicted in 2009, 1Sgt. Hatley was a 20-year combat veteran with numerous awards earned, including two Bronze Stars, a Ranger Tab, and an Army Commendation Medal of Valor. He was convicted for the murder of four Al-Qaida detainees, but there was no forensic or physical evidence to support the accusations, simply a testimony given by a soldier 1Sgt. Hatley had initiated a reprimand against. Having served 10 years of a sentence with an exemplary record while confined, Hatley was paroled last month. We are requesting that President Trump clear his record and allow him to move on in life from this wrongful conviction.
• The Biden Four: Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty, and Dustin Heard are former U.S. soldiers who were working as defense contractors defending State Department officials in Iraq in 2007. While running security for an official, a car bomb was detonated and small arms fire filled the square they were operating in. Firing in return of being attacked, and successfully protecting the official, unfortunately Iraqi civilians died in the fight as is often the case with terrorist attacks. However, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary Clinton all turned against these American warriors and pushed for their conviction for diplomatic and political gain. They have served over five years, and we are calling on President Trump to end this politically motivated and unjust sentence.
• Sergeant Derrick Miller: The case of Derrick Miller hits close to home for the Caucus, as Derrick Miller is currently its Executive Director. In Afghanistan in 2010, Miller was wrongly accused of murdering a Taliban scout crossing American lines disguised as a civilian to do reconnaissance on the American forces. During interrogation, the scout went for Miller’s sidearm and a struggle ensued, which ended in the shooting death of the scout. Prosecutors encouraged his fellow soldiers to change their testimony, and he was convicted to life in prison. After losing nine years of his life, Miller was paroled in May of 2019 because his commanding officer testified how Miller’s interrogation actually saved the lives of his platoon, as the information obtained prepared the unit for an ambush. Since his release, Miller has dedicated himself to working for other wrongfully convicted soldiers through the Caucus. We have tried to get Derrick’s pardon in the past. However, he has remained adamant in helping other Americans before himself. Derrick has shown time and time again to be a selfless leader committed to serving his country, and the time has come to pardon his record to ensure this wrongful conviction is never associated with his outstanding character again.

Oversight Committee Update:

Shortly after the attacks on 9/11, many U.S. troops deploying to Afghanistan were stationed at the Karshi-Khanabad (K-2) Air Base in Uzbekistan. U.S. troops served in total for four years from this base. However, recent reports show that U.S. personnel stationed at K-2 may have been exposed to chemical and radioactive contamination, which can cause serious illness such as cancer. This contamination at K-2 is a result of Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic, serving as a site where the Soviets stored chemical weapons and processed uranium. In fact, there was even an explosion at the base in 1993. Since these reports have come out, the DoD and VA have either denied that exposure at K-2 led to illnesses or have been hesitant to acknowledge the connection. However, I, working with both Republicans and Democrats on the Committee, have been at the forefront of investigating the extent of exposure at K-2 through several hearings, legislation, letters, and more because protecting our troops and veterans transcends party politics. In this hearing, I continued to request information from the DoD and VA to determine how many Americans were exposed at K-2 and to try and begin the process to identify which Arizonans may have been exposed so we can begin to identify and treat all Americans who may be suffering from serious illness connected to their time serving America during the War on Terror. 

To watch my questioning during the Committee Hearing, click HERE.

Wreaths Accross America:

Every Christmas season, Wreaths Across America (WAA) hosts a National Wreaths Across America Day where thousands of volunteers at Arlington National Cemetery, and 2,100 other locations, lay wreaths at the tombstones of our heroes to, as WAA states, Remember the Fallen, Honor those who Serve, and Teach our children the value of Freedom. The event at Arlington is a solemn but breathtaking experience, where thousands of Americans come together and cover the expansive grounds of Arlington National Ceremony to honor our nation’s bravest. On Monday, it was announced that the Arlington event would be cancelled due to Covid restrictions. This is a completely unnecessary precaution since volunteers who choose to attend participate in an outdoor, socially distanced event. The day after this announcement, President Trump and his Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy reversed this decision and announced that WAA at Arlington National Cemetery would go on as usual. I applaud President Trump for this timely and necessary protection of a sacred holiday tradition where Americans come together in remembrance of those who served. Because this action should never have taken in the first place, I joined my colleagues in the House in a letter to the Army and Arlington National Cemetery requesting information as to why the event was cancelled in the first place and inquiring about what protections are being put in place to ensure volunteers are able to freely participate without unnecessary restrictions.

To read the text of the letter, please click HERE

I work for YOU!

I want to serve my constituents in any way I can. Whether you need help with a federal agency, are trying to find out if federal grants are available for your project, or are considering applying to a service academy, my office is always here to help. 

• Help With a Federal Agency
• Federal Job Postings
• Help With Federal Grants
• Service  Academy Nominations

Additionally, the phone numbers for all of my offices are listed at the bottom of this email.