Dear Friend,

I hope you are staying well, and that everyone had a joyful Easter yesterday with their loved ones.

I wanted to thank everyone who attended my telephone town hall event this past week, where we discussed the current border crisis with Major General McGuire from the Arizona National Guard. I hope we were able to answer many of the questions you had, and I appreciate you taking the time to listen in. To listen to the recording, please click here. 

I also wanted to invite you to join us tomorrow for a live event on my Facebook page at 11am Arizona time for a discussion on telehealth. We have now passed the one-year anniversary of my legislation being approved to make telehealth services more accessible during the pandemic. I'll be joined by health officials for a discussion on the benefits of this expansion, and how we can continue to provide convenient and accessible health care. 

Tax Filing Updates

I wanted to remind you the deadline for state tax filing is still April 15, 2021 in Arizona. The deadline to file your federal taxes has been extended to May 17, 2021. The Arizona State Legislature has pending legislation to extend the state's deadline. If there is an extension, we will be sure to update you. 

The American Rescue Plan Act approved $10,200 in tax free unemployment insurance benefits in 2020. Individuals who have already filed their federal 2020 tax returns, and claimed unemployment benefits will now automatically receive a refund from the IRS. Individuals will not need to take any additional steps for this, as the IRS will issue these refunds automatically beginning in May. Read more from the IRS here.

If you have not yet filed your taxes, I recommend visiting my website for more helpful tips and resources.

Call with Customs and Border Protection

Last week, I had a chance to speak with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Chief Patrol Agents from the Yuma and Tucson Sector. We were able to discuss the challenges at our southern border, and the steps they are taking to keep migrants and our community safe. 

I wanted to share some of the interesting statistics I learned about during the call:

• Border apprehensions are up about 80% compared to last year.
• Less then 5% of migrants claim 'credible fear' at first contact by CBP.
• Holding capacity challenges - for example, pre-COVID19 a facility could hold 460 individuals, with restrictions only 104 individuals. 
• Tucson Sector is on track for 77,000 encounters this fiscal year - this total would surpass 2018, 2019, and 2020 combined. 

I cannot thank our men and women in CBP enough for their hard-work and dedication to keeping our communities safe. I am continuing to urge the Biden Administration to promote stronger border policies used by the Trump Administration to deter the increasing illegal activity at our border. 

State Tax Freedom Act

I recently joined my colleagues as an original cosponsor of the State Tax Freedom Act, legislation that pushes back against an unconstitutional provision inserted into the $1.9 trillion Democratic spending bill that would restrict states’ ability to cut taxes and manage their own finances. 

As our economy continues to recover, we should be focused on building upon the growth we saw in 2018 and 2019, rather than passing legislation that does the opposite. I am pleased to cosponsor this legislation to ensure states are protected from an unconstitutional federal intrusion that would prohibit pro-growth policies in states to lower taxes and grow the economy. 

To read more on this legislation, click here.

Veterans Administration Vaccine Resources 

On March 24, 2021, the Save Lives Act was signed into law which expanded the VA's authority to provide COVID-19 vaccinations. 

The Phoenix VA is currently vaccinating all enrolled Veterans. Veterans can call 602-604-3915 to schedule a vaccination appointment, or walk-in to the main campus during hours of operation. To find more information and locations for COVID-19 vaccines, please visit my website here. Please also don't hesitate to contact my office for other VA related questions.

I appreciate you taking time to read my weekly e-newsletter. If there are any additional services our office can provide you, please feel welcome to contact us.

Sincerely,

David Schweikert