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I am pleased to share that the Paradise Valley Town Hall Post Office will remain open. This outcome follows months of conversations with local officials and postal leadership, during which I made it clear that closing this facility would negatively impact the everyday services residents and businesses rely on.
The Paradise Valley Town Hall Contract Postal Unit (CPU) is more than a mailing station. It serves as an anchor for the community, and for many constituents, it is the most accessible way to send and receive mail. When the site came under threat, I advocated directly with USPS representatives to ensure they understood the practical and symbolic importance of this CPU.
Thanks to strong community support and local municipal negotiations, USPS has confirmed that it will maintain operations at the current site. This is a win for Paradise Valley residents, and I will continue working to ensure that local services remain protected.
Unfortunately, the threat to local postal access isn’t limited to one ZIP code. Across the country, the USPS continues to close CPU sites based on criteria that don’t always reflect the needs of the communities they serve.
That’s why I introduced the Postal Contracting Financial Accountability Act. This legislation ensures that local businesses offering postal services can dispute contract terminations, and negotiate a solution with USPS to continue their services.
We need to make it easier, not harder, for neighborhood businesses to partner with USPS and keep these vital access points available to the public.
Service Academy Deadline is Friday
The online academy application portal for my office remains open to eligible high school students residing in Arizona's First Congressional District who are interested in attending one of our nation's premier military service academies.
To learn more about the congressional nomination process and how to submit an application, please review the nomination application process and resource guide here. I wish prospective students the best of luck and sincerely appreciate their interest in serving our country.
The deadline to apply and submit a completed application file is October 3, 2025 by 5pm.
IRS Launches New Tools To Help Taxpayers and Fight Fraud
This month, the IRS shared several updates aimed at improving customer service and strengthening protections against fraud.
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs are actively recruiting volunteers to help low- and moderate-income individuals file their taxes at no cost.
These programs provide free training and flexible hours, and allow people to give back to their communities while developing customer service skills. Those interested can visit IRS.gov/volunteers to learn more.
The IRS is also testing new one-way text message reminders to alert taxpayers when their callback time is approaching. This builds on the Customer Callback feature, which lets callers avoid long hold times by requesting a callback when it is their turn in the queue.
To stay ahead of fraud, the IRS and its private-sector partners are continuing their work through the Coalition Against Scam and Scheme Threats. The group has focused on identifying new scams, tracking first-party fraud trends, and issuing real-time alerts. Future efforts will aim to close gaps in legislation and expand public awareness.
Recognizing Amazing Citizens of AZ-01!
It is a pleasure to recognize the success and growth of The Tox at their Ribbon Cutting with the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations to the entire team at The Tox for this outstanding achievement!
JEC Update
I want you to provide you with some critical insights from the Joint Economic Committee’s August 2025 Expenditure and GDP Update.
Expenditure
From July 2025 to August 2025, headline personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index inflation was 0.26 percent. Core PCE price index inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, was 0.23 percent.
In the same period, spending increased while savings decreased. Real PCE increased by 0.35 percent, or $57.86 billion, while the nominal personal savings rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 4.6 percent.
From August 2024 to August 2025, headline PCE price index inflation was 2.74 percent, which is higher than the Federal Reserve’s target of 2 percent, and core PCE price index inflation was 2.91 percent.
Month-over-month, headline personal income increased by 0.37 percent, or $95.71 billion, while real disposable personal income per capita increased by 0.05 percent, which means that after tax income rose more quickly than prices.
GDP
In the third and final estimate for Q2 2025, real GDP growth was significantly revised up to an annualized rate of 3.84 percent, and current-dollar GDP growth was revised up to an annualized rate of 6.04 percent, or $444 billion. The size of the U.S. economy now stands at $30.5 trillion.
The Joint Economic Committee releases fiscal updates on a regular basis, and you can receive these updates by registering HERE.
What I'm Reading and Why it Matters
ASU Researchers Use AI to Predict Urban Shade
Research coming out of Arizona State University is showing how artificial intelligence can help cities plan for heat by mapping and predicting shade. The work includes two AI tools. One suggests walking or biking routes that maximize shade coverage in real time. The other simulates how shadows will shift across a city over hours, days, or even seasons.
This matters because shade can lower surface temperatures by more than 20 degrees Fahrenheit and offer relief during heat waves. City planners could use this technology to test the effect of foliage or building heights shade production before making construction decisions.
This is the kind of innovation that makes the lives of Arizonans better and safer.
The official federal deficit for fiscal year 2025 will be released in mid-October. Before that number sweeps in like a budgetary haboob, I’m inviting you to take your best shot at predicting it.
To enter, simply reply to my newsletter with your FY2025 deficit spending estimate by the end of the month. |