Dear ,

I hope you and your family are doing well! I wanted to provide a few updates on my work this past week for the residents of Arizona’s First Congressional District.

New Economic Challenges for Hardworking Americans

Click here or on the image above to view my remarks.

During my speech on the House Floor last week, I pointed out that most Americans are poorer today than they were just a few years ago. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area remains among the highest in the nation. Wage growth is lower than inflation in the metro area, meaning that adjusted pay is down 4.5 percent today compared to last year.

American families are struggling to put food on the table and afford gas at the pump. Because of Democrats’ inflationary policies, American families are spending an extra $371 per month and have lost an average of $11,000 in retirement savings. Inflation has risen over 13 percent since President Biden took office, vastly outpacing wage growth. That wage gap is especially cruel to American families trying to survive paycheck to paycheck.

Introducing the Paws Off Act of 2023

Last week, I reintroduced the Paws Off Act of 2023, bipartisan legislation designed to promote safe labeling requirements for pet safety. This bill is essential for protecting our pets from a deadly chemical ingredient known as xylitol that is commonly found in household products.

Xylitol can be found in items such as chewing gum, breath mints, and toothpaste. When ingested, it can be life-threatening to dogs. Recent reports have shown an increased use of xylitol in household products, making it difficult for pet owners to determine which foods could be deadly to their pets.

This legislation would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require foods containing xylitol to be considered mislabeled unless the product includes a warning label specifying its toxic effects. This would be done through a rulemaking process within one year of enactment.

As a lifelong dog owner, I know that our pets play a cherished role in our lives, which is why it’s important we keep them safe. I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Paws Off Act to increase awareness of xylitol in household food products and protect our four-legged friends.

Attending the Arizona Korean Association Presidential Inauguration

I recently attended the inauguration of Ma Seong-il as President of the Arizona Korean Association. Ma and I developed a friendship when I took up Taekwando lessons as his pupil, and I was grateful to congratulate him in person and accept an invitation to become an advisory board member of the chapter. The Arizona Korean Association represents 25,000 Korean Americans living in Arizona, and the chapter does important outreach to the Korean community in our state. Congratulations, Grand Master Ma!

What I’m Reading & Why It Matters

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects in its latest report that Social Security's trust funds will become insolvent by 2033 if the gap between the trust funds' outlays and income occurs as CBO currently estimates. In this scenario, the Social Security Administration will no longer be able to pay full benefits when they are due and benefits would be automatically cut by 23 percent. Over a 75-year period, CBO projects that Social Security will face a shortfall equal to 4.9 percent of taxable payroll, or 1.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update on my latest work in Washington, D.C. and Arizona's First Congressional District! If you have any comments or concerns, I encourage you to reach out to my office.

Sincerely,

David Schweikert