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.

AZ-01 Has Been Living Through the Highest Tax Hike in Modern History Under Biden

In my speech on the House Floor last week, I discussed how increases in health care spending are causing U.S. debt and deficits to explode to unsustainable levels. In the span of a lifetime, a typical couple will contribute $214,000 to the Medicare Part A Trust Fund. It's important to note that the trust fund doesn't cover the majority of Medicare expenses; only about 35% of the costs. The remaining funds are sourced from premiums, the general fund, state transfers, and other avenues. Consequently, this average couple will pay $214,000 in Medicare taxes but receive benefits totaling $635,000. This disparity stands as the primary driver of U.S. debt. We've honored our part by contributing to Social Security through years of work and taxes, expecting returns upon reaching 65. Yet, what was overlooked was the escalating costs of health care. We failed to foster innovation and control expenses, perpetuating a fraud that has persisted for decades.

In debates, I've observed us uttering absolutely insane statements, and one can almost witness segments of the market reacting with a sentiment like, 'Well, now U.S. debt seems riskier; these individuals don't appear serious about fostering economic growth and stability.' I’m almost mentally exhausted because is anyone listening? There are solutions. Our problem is the clock is ticking.

Unpacking the 2024 Annual Social Security Trustees Report

Last week, the Social Security Administration released its 2024 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds. Filled with both historical data and projections of future trust fund statuses, this report puts forth data that supports what I speak about many weeks during my House Floor speeches. I mentioned to stay alert for further analysis and explanation on what this report means for the future of Social Security. 

The report for Social Security confirms what I have been saying over the past years. It just added a couple of months and the depletion date has been similar for at least the past 20 years — which means that it’s not going to be fixed by changes in the economic conditions or small changes in the law.

The change in the depletion date for Medicare going from 2031 to 2036 is only a delay of the big dip in the Trust Fund. It’s not that the curve became smoother and the deficit might eventually rebound as a surplus. It’s just that the expected moment when Part A is going to be used by Boomers is delayed. Thank you to the Republican economists with the Joint Economic Committee to help me put into words what this means for the state of our Social Security and Medicare trust funds in the near future. 

AZ-01 Made History During Ways & Means Committee Field Hearing to Empower Native American and Rural Communities

On Friday, I participated in the first-ever Ways and Means Committee hearing on tribal land as I hosted my colleagues for a field hearing in Scottsdale on empowering Native American and rural communities. I've lived alongside the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community my entire life, and I have great admiration for our tribal families who are so interwoven into the fabric of Arizona's rich history. That's why I've been a proud champion in Congress for a number of issues affecting Native Americans, whether it be preserving health care for every family, protecting vulnerable children, or ensuring our tribes have access to economic opportunities. These issues aren't inherently partisan — they're moral.

Last week, I introduced the Tribal Tax Investment and Reform Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure tribal governments can access, on an equal basis with state and local governments, tax programs and economic incentives to empower tribal nations to better meet the economic needs of their members and communities. Provisions in this legislation will empower tribal governments, members, and their families. I'll continue supporting our promise to the 22 federally recognized tribes of Arizona.

Congratulations to Our College Graduates!

Now is the time where we see our change makers enter the workforce and take all the knowledge obtained in college to put forth into their next chapter. Congratulations to the Class of 2024! As you embark on new beginnings, I encourage you to remember your potential to drive innovation and create the changes that we so desperately need to keep America on the most stable track of prosperity. Your hard work and determination have prepared you just for this future of success. Wishing you the best of luck for the journey ahead!

Honoring National Police Week

Our law enforcement, in and outside of Arizona's First Congressional District, have been absolutely crucial in protecting our public safety, especially in today's climate. This National Police Week, we stand with gratitude and respect for the officers who serve and protect Arizona’s First Congressional District. Thank you for your dedication and sacrifice.

Fentanyl Overdoses Kill Three Arizonans in Maricopa County Every Day

It's no secret that the current crisis at our southern border has exacerbated the continuing influx of illicit drugs into our country. The opioid overflow into Arizona has become so severe that according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office (MCAO), three people every day in Maricopa County die from a fentanyl overdose. 

Alongside the immorality that has come from the neglect of creating solutions from our border crisis, MCAO experienced a 20% increase in 2023 of fentanyl-related submittals for prosecution from the year prior. With a current apprehension rate of approximately 2,214 fentanyl cases as of April 2024, MCAO expects to see even further increases in numbers from 2023 rates. Since MCAO has begun utilizing electronic methods of tracking fentanyl cases, it's not shocking that we've seen an enormous jump of 923 reported submissions in 2020 to now 7,877 reported submissions in 2023. This is yet another failure of the Biden Administration to crack down on illicit fentanyl pouring across the southern border.

Recognizing Some Amazing Citizens in AZ-01

Today, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting Hushabye Nursery in Phoenix, Arizona, to learn more about a unique and effective model for healing the tiniest victims of the opioid epidemic.

Hushabye Nursery has been serving opioid-exposed newborns and their families in a hospital- like setting since November 2020. Since then, they have provided intensive in-patient services to nearly 800 infants suffering from Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), as well as out-patient services to over 1600 caregivers, helping support our community’s response to the opioid crisis.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a baby is born every 15 minutes with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) resulting from the mother’s prenatal opioid exposure. The Arizona Department of Health Services reports that from 2017 to 2021, Arizona observed a 41% increase of NAS cases from 592 (2017) to 835 (2021), resulting in an increased case rate of 7.5 cases per 1,000 newborn hospitalizations (2017) to 11.3 cases per 1,000 newborn hospitalizations (2021). Babies with NAS are the tiniest victims in today’s opioid health crisis, one exacerbated by persistent barriers to health care access and equity for infants. Hushabye Nursery is working to change systems and help ensure that every infant experiencing NAS, together with their family system experiencing opioid use disorder receive the right care at the right price, while improving overall health outcomes.

Hushabye Nursery’s integrated, comprehensive approach is the first of its type in Arizona and only the third in the nation. A cornerstone of this program is to ensure they are delivering trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and best practice clinical and case management services for every family. The main role of Hushabye Nursery is related to the medical needs and healing for the babies suffering from NAS. Throughout this process, they work together with the Arizona Department of Child Safety to ensure the safety of the babies is the top priority.

In addition to demonstrating unprecedented outcomes for the health, safety and recovery of babies suffering from NAS, the model has also demonstrated a much more cost-effective service delivery system supporting and healing babies, as well as parents with substance use disorder. For more information about Hushabye Nursery you can visit their website or review their Impact Report.

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. You also may 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

This week, I’m reading about how an mRNA cancer vaccine developed at the University of Florida successfully helped reprogram the immune system to attack glioblastoma in a first-ever human clinical trial of four adult patients. The breakthrough treatment will now be tested in a Phase 1 pediatric clinical trial for brain cancer.

I also wanted to share this Bloomberg article about the rise of Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk into a dominant force across Denmark. Novo’s market capitalization of more than $570 billion is bigger than the Danish economy, and there are no signs of slowing down as Ozempic and Wegovy explode in popularity.

Lastly, I’m reading this BBC Science Focus story on a study conducted by scientists at the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester that applied AI to the data of prostate cancer samples from 159 patients, revealing that there were two distinct cancer groups affecting the patients.

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