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Day 20 of the Shutdown
As we near the end of October, Senate Democrats have yet to take responsibility for what should have been a straightforward appropriations process.
Over a month ago, the House passed a clean continuing resolution to fund the government through November 21, giving Congress time to complete FY26 appropriations. Instead of working with Republicans, Senate Democrats voted no, and have continued to choose political leverage over progress.
The reality is that this shutdown continues because Democrats are demanding to make the ACA’s Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) permanent. They claim premiums will skyrocket if these temporary Biden-era subsidies expire and have misled the public into thinking all ACA tax credits are ending.
That is false. Only the temporary EPTCs are expiring, traditional ACA subsidies will remain intact. For those who truly need healthcare subsidization, little will change.
The real driver of rising premiums lies in the ACA’s subsidy structure itself. Since the ACA’s inception, premiums in the individual marketplace have tripled (see figure below), because subsidies go directly to insurance companies, not enrollees. This system allows insurers to inflate prices without consequence and without making plans better suited for enrollees.
Throwing another $400 billion at a broken system will not make healthcare more affordable. It will only deepen our fiscal crisis. Once the government reopens, you can rest assured that fixing our healthcare system in a fiscally responsible way will be our focus.
Apply to Intern Alongside My Staff
My Scottsdale office is accepting intern applications for the 2026 spring semester. College students interested are encouraged to submit their applications to Ernestina.Borquez-Smith@mail.house.gov.
For more information, please review my website or please call my district office at (480) 946-2411. Applications are due no later than December 1, 2025. We look forward to reviewing your applications!
Update on Flag Requests During Government Shutdown
During the lapse in government funding, flag orders and flag flying requests may be delayed as my office is unable to submit new orders at this time. Any requests submitted between October 1 and October 17 will be processed once the shutdown has ended.
My team will continue to monitor pending orders and provide updates as needed. Should you have any questions regarding your pending flag request, please contact my office in Washington D.C. at (202) 225-2190. Should you have any questions or concerns relating to pending casework issues with federal agencies, feel free to visit my casework page HERE.
USPS Expands Informed Delivery Access
The U.S. Postal Service has launched its new Informed Delivery mobile app to give customers greater convenience when managing mail and packages.
The free app allows users to preview incoming letter-size mail and track packages in real time. It includes features such as push notifications, biometric login, barcode scanning and the ability to share delivery updates. Customers can now access Informed Delivery through email, the USPS website, or directly from their mobile devices.
This update is part of the Postal Service’s ongoing effort to modernize operations and provide reliable service to households and businesses across the country.
Congressional App Challenge
The 2025 Congressional App Challenge is underway, with submissions due October 30th!
The Congressional App Challenge is a competition aimed at encouraging middle and high school students to learn how to code by creating their own applications. The Challenge is intended to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.
This competition is open to all students residing in Arizona’s First Congressional District who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience. We strongly encourage students of all skill levels to participate, enabling them to learn how to create their own apps. Students can register online and submit their apps by October 30th.
To learn more about the competition or to submit an app HERE.
What I'm Reading and Why it Matters
US Air Force wants developers to build an artificial intelligence data center at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson
The U.S. Air Force is considering plans to develop a new artificial intelligence data center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.
This project would use underutilized land on the base and expand computing capacity for national defense and research. It also has the potential to bring new investment and high-tech jobs to Southern Arizona.
I am encouraged to see progress that strengthens our national security and supports Arizona’s growing role in innovation and technology.
JEC Update
I want you to provide you with some critical insights from the Joint Economic Committee’s September 2025 Fiscal Update.
In FY2025, the nation ended with a $1.78 trillion deficit, $50 billion (2.8 percent) less than FY2024. The slight improvement was driven by record-high tariff collections ($195 billion), increased tax receipts, and changes to the student loan program under the 2025 reconciliation act.
Despite higher revenues, federal spending still outpaced income. For every dollar collected, Washington spent $1.34. Net interest payments on the debt hit a record $1.2 trillion, now the fourth-largest federal expense and $100 billion more than defense spending.
At this pace, interest costs are projected to become the largest item in the federal budget by 2051, surpassing even Social Security. |