|
Remembering Charlie Kirk
Instead of my usual economic presentation, I spoke on the House floor this past week in remembrance of of Charlie Kirk. At just 31 years old, Charlie was assassinated for sharing a message rooted in prosperity, morality, and hope.
Paper Social Security Checks Are Ending
At the end of this month, the Social Security Administration will stop issuing paper checks for all federal benefit payments. From that point forward, all payments will be delivered by direct deposit only.
If you or someone you care about still receives a paper check, now is the time to set up direct deposit. You can do this online by creating a free My Social Security account HERE. This account also allows you to view your earnings history, apply for benefits, and request a replacement Social Security card without needing to visit an office.
This shift is part of a larger effort to cut wait times and make services more accessible. Offices will remain open, and phone support will still be available, but more services are moving online to make the process faster and easier.
Please share this with anyone who might be affected. Taking a few minutes now could help avoid missed or delayed payments later.
Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Hearing
Tomorrow I will be chairing an Oversight Subcommittee hearing on a critical but often overlooked issue: how tax-exempt hospitals are using the billions in tax benefits they receive. The hearing is titled Virtue Signaling vs. Vital Services because we are taking a hard look at whether these hospitals are prioritizing community care or spending resources on unrelated expenses.
Taxpayers deserve transparency. If a hospital is receiving generous tax breaks, it should be held accountable for how that money is used. Our job on the Oversight Subcommittee is to ask the tough questions and ensure that communities benefit from these dollars.
The hearing will take place Tuesday, September 16, at 2:00PM EST in 1100 Longworth. If you are interested, you can watch the livestream HERE.
Recognizing Some Amazing Citizens of AZ-01
I want to share a bit of inspiring news from our district. Each year the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) selects individuals and organizations from across the country as Angels in Adoption honorees, and I am extremely honored to recognize, Nick and Maggie Zehring, as the 2025 Angels in Adoption family for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.
It was an honor to nominate Nick, Maggie and their family, for their unselfish contributions to our community as they have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, safe and nurturing homes through their tireless dedication and advocacy work for children and families in the foster care program.
Congratulations for being a 2025 Angels in Adoption Honoree!
Proud to See One of Our Own Serve
Scottsdale native Larsen Emig, Class of ’25, recently graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Now a fully licensed U.S. Merchant Marine Officer, Emig has a service obligation as a U.S. Navy Strategic Sealift Officer.
Larsen was nominated to USMMA by my office back in 2021, and I’m proud to see someone from our community stepping up to serve in such a vital role in national security and maritime operations.
Join me in congratulating Larsen and wishing him fair winds and following seas as he begins this chapter of service.
Additionally, the October 3rd deadline for current high school seniors interested in applying for a congressional nomination to one of our nations service academies is fast approaching. Interested applicants should review the application process HERE.
Withholding Changes Are Coming For 2025
Starting in 2025, several new tax provisions from H.R.1 will affect how much federal income tax is withheld from your paycheck. If you want your withholding to reflect these changes, you will need to submit an updated 2025 Form W-4 to your employer.
The IRS has published a new worksheet for the updated W-4 that helps taxpayers account for new deductions like those for tips, overtime pay, car loan interest, and expanded credits for families and seniors. You can fill this out on your own or with help from a tax professional.
The IRS’s online Tax Withholding Estimator is available to help you adjust your withholding for 2025. However, it does not yet reflect most of the new deductions. Right now, it only incorporates the higher standard deduction and the updated child tax credit.
If you want to update your withholding this year, take note of which changes are included and which are not. And be prepared to revisit your W-4 again in early 2026 once all the tax law updates are fully in effect.
More information and links to the IRS tools are available at irs.gov.
JEC Update
Last week, the Joint Economic Committee released the FY2026 Views and Estimates letter along with Debt, Inflation, and Fiscal Updates.
FY2026 Views and Estimates
The Joint Economic Committee submitted its annual Views and Estimates letter to the House Budget Committee, as required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The letter, available here, provides the JEC’s evaluation of the federal budget, identifies the programs driving federal debt and deficits, and offers policy recommendations to strengthen long-term growth in line with the goals of the Employment Act of 1946.
September Debt Update
As of September 4th, total gross national debt stands at $37.43 trillion, with $30.12 trillion held by the public and $7.31 trillion in intragovernmental holdings. The debt is $2.09 trillion higher than one year ago and has grown at an average pace of $5.72 billion per day ($66,156 per second). Interest on the debt remains significant, with an average marketable rate of 3.415 percent and $241.3 billion in interest credited to trust funds over the past year. Roughly 31 percent of marketable debt will mature within 12 months, and the average maturity of outstanding debt is 72 months.
August Inflation Update
Consumer prices rose 0.38 percent in August, with food prices up 0.46 percent, energy prices up 0.69 percent, and core prices (which exclude food and energy) up 0.35 percent. Year-over-year, headline inflation was 2.92 percent and core inflation was 3.11 percent.
Real earnings declined modestly in August. For all employees on private nonfarm payrolls, real average weekly earnings fell 0.11 percent, and hourly earnings fell 0.09 percent. For production and non-supervisory employees, real weekly earnings were nearly unchanged (-0.01 percent) and real hourly earnings were flat.
August Fiscal Update
The federal government ran a $344.8 billion deficit in August, bringing the fiscal year-to-date deficit to $1.974 trillion—4.3 percent higher than the same period last year. Through August, 29.6 percent of FY2025 outlays were not covered by revenues, meaning the government spent $1.42 for every $1.00 collected.
Net outlays totaled $689.1 billion in August and $6.665 trillion fiscal year-to-date, up 6.1 percent from last year. Net receipts were $344.3 billion in August and $4.691 trillion fiscal year to date, up 6.8 percent from last year.
What I'm Reading and Why it Matters
AI "Paul" Helps Arizona Senior Communities Avoid Falls
I read a story about a cutting‑edge AI‑powered monitoring system called Paul being used in senior living facilities across Arizona to reduce falls among residents. Paul uses radar technology to analyze motion without cameras or microphones. It alerts caregivers through an app if it detects changes in movement, gait, or behavior that could lead to a fall.
At one facility, Fellowship Square in Mesa, falls dropped dramatically after Paul was installed. They went from about 20 falls a month to six in August and just four each in September and October.
This matters because falls among seniors often lead to serious injury, high medical costs, loss of independence, and strain on families and health services. Using Paul shows how technology can offer early warnings so caregivers can act proactively instead of reacting after a fall. The system also preserves privacy which helps with acceptance.
I believe we should watch this closely. There is real potential here for scaling this kind of tech to more senior living communities in our district. It could help seniors live safer and more independently. |