3B

Dear ,

Spring has sprung! Happy Saint Patrick's Day. ♣ Below, please find a few reminders and updates on my work for the residents of Arizona’s First Congressional District. 

My House Floor speech last week reveals how the looming fiscal crisis facing our country is not a matter of ideology, but rather inevitability. The political class remains entrapped in a cycle of partisan folklore, but the real importance is glaring: the nation’s debt trajectory—already consuming 40 percent of global sovereign borrowing—is poised to spiral out of control, with interest payments alone eclipsing essential expenditures.

With the Social Security trust fund set to collapse by 2033, Congress continues to stagger into an era where the threat of senior poverty doubling overnight remains a topic untouched. Amidst this fiscal recklessness, a solution exists—not in outdated bureaucracy, but in technological modernization. Congress's failure to leverage data science and AI-driven efficiencies has further exacerbated our fiscal demise. If Washington neglects the opportunity to embrace innovation and prioritize truth over political expediency, I hope this speech stands as a warning to future generations who ultimately will inherit an economy from those who refused to confront reality. See below for more highlights from my speech:

Announcing This Year's Congressional Art Competition!

I am pleased to announce the 2025 Congressional Art Competition, An Artistic Discovery, is underway and open to high school students residing in Arizona’s 1^st Congressional District! You can find 2025 official rules, regulations, and student release form on my website, along with the winners from previous years. Students and high school art teachers will need to complete TWO copies of the 2025 student release forms— one to turn in upon submission, and the other attached to the back of their artwork. Artwork must be submitted at the Scottsdale Artists’ School at 3720 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday, April 21. This is the only time available for students to submit their artwork. If students or teachers have any questions, please contact Chris Wiley of my District Office staff at (480) 946-2411. I am looking forward to seeing the creativity of young artists in our community on display!

Are You 65 Or Older and Need Medicare Part B? General Enrollment Period Ends March 31st!

If you’re 65 or older and didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) or through a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), now’s your chance.

You can sign up for Part B (medical insurance) during the annual Medicare General Enrollment Period (GEP), which is January 1 through March 31.

Your Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) is likely free for you because you (or your spouse) paid Medicare taxes while working. Part B is voluntary, and most people pay a monthly premium as well as other costs.

Recognizing Some Amazing Citizens of AZ-01

Members of my staff had the opportunity of attending a ribbon cutting for the first Valley location of FooteWork– Arizona’s premier third-party motor vehicle provider. To celebrate the opening of their newest location, FooteWork partnered with the Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation to help support teachers and students.

FooteWork provides title and registration services for both vehicles and mobile homes, along with driver licenses, ID cards, permits, and more. For over 25 years, FooteWork has been assisting with even the toughest motor vehicle or license situation.

May 7 Marks the Deadline for Real ID Compliance

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. The cost is $25.00. 

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.

The Arizona Travel ID is the credential that complies with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. 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. For more information on the REAL ID Act, please visit the Department of Homeland Security website.

Rules for international travel are unchanged, and a valid passport or equivalent will be required to travel outside the United States.

Unveiling the Joint Economic Committee Response to the Economic Report of the President

I am incredibly excited to announce the release of the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) response to the Economic Report of the President (ERP). The JEC Republican team has worked tirelessly and diligently to ensure this report contains the most accurate and prevalent economic figures in order to effectively present the current state of our country.

At the core of these five chapters lies an inevitable truth: the prosperity of our nation is on borrowed time. Stopping excessive spending now is crucial to ensure generations in the future are not burdened by our current disregard. Read our response to the ERP for a deeper dive into policy that cements American prosperity for today and tomorrow.

What I'm Reading & Why It Matters

The U.S. government is exploring new strategies to address the housing crisis, including leveraging federally controlled public lands for residential development. This approach aims to alleviate housing shortages and improve affordability by increasing the supply of available homes. The federal government controls vast expanses of land that could be repurposed for housing projects, potentially easing the pressure on urban areas experiencing high demand and limited supply. Strategy: To increase the availability of land for residential development so there will be a larger supply to hopefully meet housing demand. Goal: to stabilize or reduce housing costs over time.

Medicare has approved coverage for Zepbound for approximately 3.7 million patients diagnosed with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Including Zepbound under Medicare won't be cheap. At over $1,000 per month, it's expected to lead to significant expenditures and highlights overall concerns about the program's sustainability given cost. While the coverage provides access to an effective treatment for eligible patients, the issue is truly about balancing patient access to innovative therapies with the economic challenges faced by public health insurance programs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that expanding Medicare coverage to include weight-loss drugs like Zepbound could increase federal spending by $35 billion from 2026 to 2034. Zepbound's approval brings to light the balance between providing access to effective treatments and managing the financial sustainability of public health programs.

The U.S. government has proposed a 2.2 percent increase in reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans in 2026, managed by private insurers. Including a 2.1 percent adjustment for higher-risk patients, the total estimated payment increase is 4.3 percent, amounting to over $21 billion. This proposal aims to address the healthcare needs of an aging population and ensure that insurers receive adequate compensation for managing these plans. The proposed increase is expected to benefit major insurers such as UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and CVS Health, which have significant enrollments in Medicare Advantage plans. The payment rate affects how much insurers charge for monthly premiums, the benefits they offer, and ultimately, their profitability. 

Do you have any general questions that I can help answer? Do not hesitate to reach out to my offices at (202) 225-2190 or (480) 946-2411.

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