Bringing the Western Caucus to Cochise County.

Last week, I led a group of 12 of my colleagues form the Congressional Western Caucus trip to Sierra Vista, AZ. This was a fact-finding mission, hearing from the men and women who live the border crisis every day. We kicked off the day with a panel of local stakeholders whose industries are increasingly impacted by the border crisis. The second stop included a visit to the border wall and briefing from CBP to hear of their concerns surrounding our national security and the overwhelming flow of migrants. We ended the day with a hearing with the House Natural Resources Committee to focus on the consequences the border crisis has on our environment and public lands. It’s crucial that my colleagues have a firsthand understanding of what our district sees every day at the border. When we have collective knowledge of what is happening at the southern border, we’re able to unite behind policy solutions that much better. 

Training our next generation of miners.

Following our activities on the southern border on Thursday, I hosted the Western Caucus at the University of Arizona San Xavier Mining Laboratory to see the incredible work they are doing here. This mine is number one in the nation for metallurgical engineering and fourth in the nation for mining engineering program. The mining industry continues to become more and more vital to our country, specifically in the national security realm. The UofA is leading the way in training and educating our next generation of miners and it’s an incredible point of pride to have them in southern Arizona.

Supporting the Udall Foundation. 

Last week we celebrated the House passage my legislation to support the Tucson-based Udall Foundation. The Udall Foundation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2882) would reauthorize the foundation, named after Arizona’s former U.S. Congressmen Mo and Stewart Udall, until 2028. The legislation passed with widespread support by a vote of 350-58.

For over three decades, the Udall Foundation has been an important avenue to continue the work of Mo and Stewart Udall, addressing our most pressing concerns surrounding the environment and our natural resources. I am thrilled to see our legislation to reauthorize the foundation PASS the House and cannot think of a better way to honor the legacy of the Udall brothers than to ensure their work is continued by a new generation of scholars.  

Joining together in prayer.

Recently I had the opportunity to worship alongside the nation’s top leaders at this year’s National Prayer Breakfast in the Capitol, sharing a passage from 1 Timothy. This was a great way to come together not as Republicans or Democrats but as individuals of faith. My own faith has been the foundation for my guiding principles, one I heavily rely on in my role in Congress. I was honored to participate in this event with my colleagues and other leaders from across the country. 

Calling all veterans & Gold Star families.

Calling all Arizona veterans & Gold Star families! My office is now looking to fill a 2-year congressional aide position, which will focus on our military and veterans. The position, the Green & Gold Fellow, will assist my office with a number of issues surrounding our veterans, service members, and military families. To qualify, we are looking for honorably discharged veterans released from active duty within the last six years or a Gold Star child, spouse, parent or sibling. Further qualifications are included – please click here for more information.

Highlighting AZ-06 on the House floor. 

One of my favorite parts of my job in Congress is highlighting the incredible people, organizations, or groups in AZ-06. Last week, I had the chance to speak on the House floor to honor the life of General Earl T. O’Loughlin and to recognize Cutter Crawley for receiving the congressional youth award. Through these floor speeches, I can share just a few stories of the amazing people in Arizona’s 6th District each week. If you or your organization would like to be recognized on the House floor, please don’t hesitate to contact my office! 

American Dream: Minerva Torres. 

Imagine starting over at 50. With three kids. In a new country. Unable to speak the language. That’s exactly what Minerva Torres had to do five years ago when she moved to Tucson from Honduras.

She had worked for the United Nations in Tegucigalpa for 20 years but her professional qualifications didn’t amount to much in the U.S. 

“I had to start from scratch,” she says. “I had no choice.” 

Minerva confronted this stark reality with grit and determination. She enrolled in the Adult Basic Education Program at Pima Community College and it changed her life. “It was my springboard,” she says. 
 
Today, Minerva is a student in PCC’s Translation & Interpretation Studies Certificate Program and her goal is to help others achieve the American Dream. “I want to help my community,” she says. “I want to be a bridge to connect people.” 

Her colleagues know Minerva has something to offer. She was the keynote student speaker at this year's Arizona Adult Education Institute, an annual statewide conference for all adult education programs in Arizona. And last week she was part of a delegation from PCC who visited Washington to advocate for community colleges.

But what about the challenge of being an older student? Minerva rejects the premise of the question. 

“It doesn’t matter how old you are,” she says. “Your life is not over at 50. You can enrich your life every day. This is a land of opportunity.” 

Share your story. 

Our district encompasses so many incredible people and stories that I want to share both with my colleagues in Washington and through the platforms I have as a member of Congress. You can visit my website and share your story with me and my team. I look forward to hearing from you!  

As always, my office and I are here to assist you. If you would like to share a comment or tell us your story, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to serving you!

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