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Dear ,

I hope you and your family had a fulfilling and relaxing holiday season, and a happy new year! Below, please find a few reminders and updates on my work for the residents of Arizona’s First Congressional District.

 Congressman Schweikert's Continued Commitment to the Navajo Nation

Round Rock, Arizona. After Christmas, Olivia and I were so graciously invited to pay a visit the Navajo Nation. We spent three days understanding the true tribulations Navajos endure to obtain running water.

We visited the Benally family sheep camp in Naasłah Canyon, which is near Round Rock. Fortunately, we were able to assist another family repair their plumbing. Olivia pitched in to help haul water for the family’s flock, which is a daily chore.

On the road into the heart of Navajoland, Olivia and I saw dry, sandy washes, Navajo sandstone formations shaped by millions of years of erosion, and sparse vegetation across miles of rangeland.

On our last day, we explored Navajo cultural landmarks, buildings, Navajo Veterans Memorial Veterans Park beneath the renowned Window Rock, and distributed holiday presents to children at Hogan Hozhoni.

This trip was exactly the reason I introduced the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act. The scale of the challenges across the Navajo Nation is enormous. I owe President Nygren a huge thank you for this incredible visit. The shared experience strengthened our resolve.

The patriotism of countless Navajos through their military service, the skill of Navajo Code Talkers has proven valuable to not only the state of Arizona, but the country as a whole. I have immense appreciation for the Navajo people’s rich traditions and how they’ve overcome adversity throughout their history.

The AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe: Let's Talk About the Math

Just last week, I sat down with a good friend of mine– Mr. Jim Sharpe with the AZ Political Podcast– to explain how we are living in a time of folklore when it comes to discussing our national debt and deficit. The Social Security Actuarial Report doesn't actually include any Republican or Democrat ideas; it's just math. There are solutions, but every day we wait, it gets harder and harder, as in just nine years, 45 percent of all tax receipts will pay just toward interest.

Look; the fact of the matter is that Arizona's priorities have shifted. People care about the constitution, they care about issues involving the Supreme Court, and they care about how they're going to put food on the table for their families at night. They care about economic prosperity and survival because they spent the last four years being stressed out of their minds, due to increasing prices. No longer is it political; there is real suffering in our community. And I thank my friend Jim Sharpe for having me on to discuss reality for our AZ-01 families. 

Make Sure You Are REAL ID Ready

Effective May 7, 2025, only the Arizona Travel ID (driver license or ID card), a U.S. passport and other federally approved identification will be accepted at TSA airport security checkpoints for domestic travel. It is available as both a driver license and identification card. There is a gold star embedded in the card to show that the cardholder has provided added proof of identification to ensure the license or ID meets strict federal requirements. 

Note: Rules for international travel are unchanged, and a valid passport or equivalent will be required to travel outside the United States. For more information on the REAL ID Act, please visit the Department of Homeland Security website.

Apply for a Travel ID

Current Arizona residents:
Visit AZ MVD Now to gather your documents and make an appointment for your Travel ID.

No Arizona Driver License or ID:
Visit an MVD office or Authorized Third Party driver license location with the required documents.

Health is Wealth: 2025 Recipes from The Juice Lady

Slimming Beet Soup

Ingredients
3 medium beets, grated 
1 medium potato, cut into small pieces 
1 medium onion, medium diced 
2 carrots, grated 
1/2 head of cabbage, thinly shredded 
4 cloves garlic, minced 
2 Tbsp olive oil 
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped 
2 bay leaves 
1 Tbsp fresh or dry dill 
10 cups water 
6-8 cups vegetable broth 
3 Tbsp tomato paste 
4 Tbsp lemon juice 
1 tsp salt 
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper 
1 Tbsp sweetener (honey, maple syrup, coconut nectar), optional

Instructions

1. In a large stock pot, add 10 cups of water with salt.
2. Add grated beets, cover and cook for about 20-30 minutes, then set aside to cool, keeping the water.
3. Add the potatoes to the same water and boil 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, thinly shred 1/2 head of cabbage and add it to the pot when potatoes are halfway done.
4. Pour the olive oil in a sauté pan and on med-high heat, add carrots, onion, garlic and sauté for 8 minutes or until soft, then stir in tomato paste and add all of it to the pot. Then add beets to the pot.
5. Add 6-8 cups vegetable broth, lemon juice, pepper, bay leaves, parsley, dill, and sweetener, if using, in the pot.
6. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
7. When ready to serve, garnish with chopped parsley.

Adapted from Souping is the New Juicing by Cherie Calbom, MS

**A note from the nutritionist: "Beets have nitrates, which convert to nitrites (nitric oxide), and help reduce insulin resistance. When insulin receptor sites take up insulin more efficiently, blood sugar will decrease. This signals the body to start burning more fat for energy rather than glucose," -Cherie Calbom, MS

Snowy Sights at Our Nation's Capitol!

It's always fun for us Arizonans here in Congress to have these snowy days that aren't normal to the Grand Canyon State. Check out this photo I took from a window facing the Capitol. 

Better, Faster, Cheaper: How Innovation is Expanding Optimism for the Future

Many of you know my fascination with innovation and the further implementation of technology into different facets of many industries. The up-and-coming innovation is extensive, and luckily, there are thousands of scholarly studies and research pieces being released daily that expand on progress of these projects. Not enough members of Congress take the time to capitalize on how these innovative advancements actually promote the health and well-being of our society. This segment dives deeper into technological implementations that are actively making life better and cheaper for our brothers and sisters.

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