Dear ,

I hope you and your family are doing well! Below, please find a few updates on my work last week for the residents of Arizona’s First Congressional District.

ICYMI: Schweikert Introduces Legislation to Ease Costs of Raising a Child for Working Families

In case any of you might have missed it, last week, I introduced the Family Growth and Investment Act, which is geared to take some financial burden off the shoulders of brand-new, working parents and families. 

Although raising a child is costly, it is the most rewarding and fulfilling experience that anyone could encounter in a lifetime. My legislation works to uplift families by providing a one-time, above-the-line tax deduction for non-medical expenses like car seats, strollers, and cribs during their child's first year of life. It's estimated that an average family pays $13,000 per child annually, spending over $233,000 for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise a child through the age of 18. No family should ever be deterred from the joys of raising a child by the daunting costs that are associated. 

Arizona Sector Ranked as Top Hotspot for Illegal Border Crossings

CBS News has just announced that Arizona is now the busiest sector for illegal border crossings. Migrants are said to cross the border in groups of hundreds and sometimes even thousands each day. The influx is facilitated by human smuggling operations. The Tucson and San Diego sectors account for 60% of the entirety of migrant apprehensions during the ongoing crisis.

According to sources from Customs and Border Protection, there have been more apprehensions of Chinese nationals in the past months alone than there was during all of 2021 along the entire southern border. In fact, the San Diego Sector has apprehended 140,000 migrants this fiscal year, with 20,000 migrants coming from China. CBP sources even show that there have been more migrants apprehended from China than from Mexico since the start of FY24. Some migrants come from Turkey, Afghanistan, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and Kyrgyzstan. That's just to name a few of the countries. 

The Pew Research Center has released a new report showing 73% of Democrats give the Biden administration a negative review on how it's handling the border crisis. That is the highest disapproval rating the administration has received since President Biden assumed office. United States Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens revealed that migrants have gotten creative and started to clone Border Patrol vehicles. USBP Tucson Sector Chief John Modlin has confirmed that this is the second clone vehicle to be intercepted in Arizona within the span of a week. 

South American Crime Ring Utilizing New Methods to Carry Out Criminal Activity

According to 12 News Arizona, local law enforcement has seen as many as 111 total cases of burglaries carried out by a South American theft ring since last February. Last week, officers arrested three suspects who were involved in the theft group that were using dangerous methods to carry out their burglaries: Wi-Fi-jammers.

Documents given to 12 News cite the use of fraudulent identification by the individuals who had expired work visas. The Wi-Fi jammers the group utilized would prevent the victims from notifying authorities of the crime and knocking out any signal for a chance to call for help. Court records have shown other methods implemented to carrying out these crimes, like using window punchers to break glass of the homeowner's windows. 

Announcing the 2024 Congressional Art Competition!

I am pleased to announce the 2024 Congressional Art Competition, “An Artistic Discovery” for Arizona’s First Congressional District! Each year, students across the nation participate in this competition to showcase their artistic talents. Since its inception in 1982, over 10,000 students have submitted their works of art. The winning piece from each district is displayed on exhibit for one year in the U.S. Capitol.

The official rules and regulations for students and teachers for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition have been officially released! Students who wish to participate can view and download the rules and regulations from my website. Students will also need to complete TWO copies of the 2024 student release forms, one to turn in upon submission, the other to be attached to the back of their artwork. Both release forms need to be signed by the student’s high school art teacher or counselor. If any students or teachers have questions, please contact Chris Wiley of my District Office staff at (480) 946-2411. I am looking forward to seeing what the talented young artists of Arizona’s First Congressional District create!

Recognizing Some Amazing Citizens of AZ-01

On Tuesday, February 20, I visited a local business by the name of Passport Coffee and Tea – a family-owned coffee roastery and distributer located in Scottsdale. While they roast at their main facility, they distribute coffee across the Valley and around the country. I had the privilege of touring the facility, in which I saw the coffee production process (including the raw beans, to the roasting, to the packaging of the coffee and tea), and spoke with the family on issues that related to costs of health care and taxes on small businesses. Founded in 1983 it has been a family company since day one and all photos are of the Brecheisen family – all of whom are siblings and grew up with the company. This was an absolute treat for me, as most of you are aware of how much I love my coffee. Thank you to the Brecheisen's for welcoming me to their stunning facility! 

Upcoming Mobile Office Hours With My District Office

My district casework team is here to assist residents of Arizona’s First Congressional District with applications and claims pertaining to federal benefits. Staff from my district office may be in your neighborhood to offer one-on-one casework assistance. Check dates and times below or call the district office at (480) 946-2411 for immediate assistance with the IRS, Passports, Medicare, Social Security, VA and other federal benefits.

What I’m Reading & Why It Matters

An additional $1.1 trillion in interest over the coming decade is what the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has predicted the federal government will pay on top of its already unmanageable debt. I've mentioned a multitude of times how we're actually expected to see interest costs surpass the total defense spending this year. Typically, the United States spends around 1.6% of GDP on yearly average interest payments, but this year, we are projected to spend 3.1% of GDP on interest payments alone. In a decade, that number is projected to reach 3.9% of GDP.

What this means for our country is that the Department of Treasury will be under tremendous pressure to keep issuing new bonds The higher our deficit, the more bonds the Treasury Department will have to issue in order to finance unfunded spending. The higher the interest rates, the more debt the government must issue in order to pay bondholders. 

I'm also reading how certain tax credits can be a main cause for refund delays this year. Although it's common for taxpayers to see their refunds 21 days after filing, keep in mind that if you're someone who filed for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), you could see your refunds as late as February 27.

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