Sharing my love of reading.

Visiting schools and talking with students and educators is one of my favorite parts of this job! As a proud product of our public school system, I firmly believe that education is the cornerstone of the American Dream and will equip our students with the tools and knowledge they need to climb as far as they can dream.  
 
I had a fantastic time visiting Butterfield Elementary School and Los Niños Elementary School to share my love for reading and provide a behind the scenes look at my work in Congress. These students are the leaders and innovators of tomorrow and I could not be more excited for them. 

Vail Pride Day.

It was a pleasure to be a part of Vail Pride Day, where we celebrated all the achievements and positive marks the school district leaves on our students and community. There were community booths, art displays, music performances, and a showcase of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects. I even had the opportunity to host a round of academic jeopardy! This is definitely a must attend community event. A huge shoutout to Vail School District and Superintendent John Carruth for organizing such a wonderful event! 

Hosting Tucson's Fire Department in D.C.

Our firefighters always go above and beyond the call of duty to keep us safe and protect our communities. It was my honor and privilege to host firefighters from Tucson, and across Arizona, to thank them for their service and discuss the best way I can continue to support their critical mission. On behalf of our grateful community, thank you for your service, today, tomorrow, and always. 

I gave a speech honoring the brave firefighters from our district who took time away from their families to help our neighbors in southern California during the recent devastating fires. Watch my speech here.  

Executive Orders vs the Role of Congress. 

One of the most common documents a President signs is an Executive Order (EO). Every American President has signed at least one EO, totaling over 14,000 since the beginning of our country. While Congress, as the Legislative Branch, is charged with writing and passing legislation, this process is often deliberative and drawn out. EO’s are a tool for the President to deliver on their promises and start implementing their agenda from day one.  
 
An EO is a written, signed, and published directive from the President to manage the operations of the federal government and direct agencies in the execution of laws and policies. However, an EO cannot create a new law or allocate funding without Congressional approval. While they are powerful tools for shaping policy, they are subject to review by the Judicial branch. Additionally, future Presidents can change or revoke existing EOs, making them less permanent than legislation passed by Congress. 

Happy Birthday Arizona.

This past Friday, February 14, the best state in the Union - Arizona - celebrated its 113th birthday. In 1912, the Arizona territory officially became the 48th state when then-President William Howard Taft signed the Arizona Statehood Act, with George W.P. Hunt serving as our first governor. 113 never looked so good, Happy Birthday Arizona! 

Art Competition.

Enter the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for a chance to have your art displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and a trip to attend the annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC! The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in AZ-06. 
 
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in Arizona’s Sixth District. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country. The winning artwork is also featured on House.gov's Congressional Art Competition page. The deadline for submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition is Friday, April 18th, 2025 at 5pm. Enter HERE. 

In the news.

Lawmakers slam VA for ‘rinse-and-repeat cycle’ of delays in fixing problems administering the GI Bill 
Stars and Stripes 
"Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., asked about the VA’s progress in advancing financial assistance for veterans pursuing their commercial trucking licenses and for taking information technology courses, also known as VET-TEC, that will lead to jobs in high-demand fields."
 
House Passes Legislation Targeting High-Speed Chases Along the Border 
Herald/Review 
"The measure, known as the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act (H.R. 35), passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 264 to 155. The bill, named in honor of Border Patrol agent Raul Gonzalez, who was killed during a high-speed chase in 2022, seeks to criminalize failure to yield in such situations. If an individual causes a fatality during the apprehension, the bill mandates a life sentence."

 Ciscomani announces submissions being accepted for Congressional Art Competition 
Gila Valley Central
"The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in Arizona’s Sixth District. The winning artwork of our district’s competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country. The winning artwork is also featured on House.gov’s Congressional Art Competition page."

American Dream.

The path to becoming the police chief in one of Arizona’s safest communities began for Kara Riley when she was pulled over for speeding.  

Kara’s been in law enforcement for more than 30 years. She’s worked in corrections and for the Tucson Airport Authority Police Department before joining the Oro Valley Police Department in 2004. Five years ago this month, she became the town’s top cop.

“I’ve loved every minute of it,” she says. “I’ve been so blessed.”

But it all began when Kara was 16 years old and saw those flashing lights in her rearview mirror as she was buzzing through central Tucson. She spent much of her childhood in Taiwan, Abu Dhabi and Sudan, where her dad was working, so the experience of getting pulled over sparked her curiosity.

“I asked a lot of questions. Tell me about what you do? How this works? And then I asked, can women be in this field? Remember where I was raised. He looked at me as if I was crazy and said, well yeah, of course. That was the aha moment.”

Kara holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in sociology and a master’s degree in education. In September 2015, she graduated the FBI National Academy, and in 2012, from Northwestern University Police Staff and Command School. She is an active member of the FBI National Academy Associates Arizona Chapter, member of the International Association Chiefs of Police and a member of the National Public Information Officers Association.

“My father’s motto is, he always told us, love what you do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

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, such as speaking on the House floor. Please 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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