Honoring the Work of Senator Jon Kyl.

On Friday, January 16, I had the honor of attending and speaking at the University of Arizona’s inaugural Kyl Institute for National Security Forum.

Since his arrival in Arizona for the first time in 1960, Sen. Jon Kyl has embodied a certain love and respect for this place that he, and all of us, call home. 
Sen. Kyl earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in 1964 and this year is the 60th anniversary of his graduation from the University of Arizona law school. What he has achieved since then is an inspiration to anyone who aspires to a career in public service.

Over the course of 26 years in office, Sen. Kyl forged a reputation as a tireless workhorse, a master of public policy and a principled leader.

I am personally grateful for Sen. Kyl’s service and was extremely honored at the opportunity to speak on his life and legacy.

Working To Fix the Nogales IOI.

I am proud to announce that the decades-old problem of untreated wastewater from Mexico overflowing into the streets of Nogales, Arizona is a step closer to being solved.

The House passed legislation last week that secures $12.5 million for the maintenance and repair of the International Outfall Interceptor (IOI), a nine-mile pipeline that for years has posed serious public health and safety risks to the residents and businesses of Nogales.

In addition to repairs and maintenance of the International Outfall Interceptor, known as the IOI, the legislation also transfers ownership of the pipeline from the City of Nogales to the International Boundary and Water Commission, an organization better equipped to operate water infrastructure between Mexico and the United States.

The Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 not only provides funds for the Nogales IOI, but also includes funding to further support American security both domestically and abroad.

Read my press release on this legislation HERE.

Benefits of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

With the April 15 tax filing deadline fast approaching, it’s worth noting that families in Arizona and across the nation will benefit from real tax relief thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts Act passed last year by Congress.

A family with two kids making $73,000 will pay zero dollars in federal taxes this year because we made tax relief a top priority. This family of four would only need to claim the boosted standard deduction and the bigger Child Tax Credit to reduce their tax liability to zero.

The Working Families Tax Cuts Act also created new tax relief that directly benefits working families: no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security. 

Delivering Valentines to Our Veterans. 

We want to show our Veterans in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District they are loved this Valentine’s Day!

Elementary, middle and high school students from our community are invited to take part in this special project making Valentine cards to support our veterans.

The deadline for completed cards to be submitted is Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Completed valentines can be dropped off or mailed to our District Office in Tucson or Sierra Vista. Our office will deliver the cards to local veterans the week of Valentine’s Day.  Be sure to look here in the newsletter for some special deliveries. 

Constituent Services: Fly an Official U.S. flag over the U.S. Capitol.

Did you know that you can contact my office and request to fly an official United States flag over the U.S. Capitol? A flag can be flown over the Capitol for any occasion and on a specific date at your request, and then it will be sent to your home for you to keep.

If you are interested in using this service, please use the following link on my website or contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2542 for further information.

In the News.

House passes $12.5 million for Nogales pipeline repairs 
Sierra Vista Herald 
“The House passed legislation securing $12.5 million to repair a deteriorating nine-mile pipeline that has allowed untreated Mexican wastewater to overflow into Nogales streets for decades, according to Rep. Juan Ciscomani. The Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 funds maintenance of the International Outfall Interceptor (IOI) and transfers ownership from the City of Nogales to the International Boundary and Water Commission, Ciscomani said. The pipeline serves the border community of 20,000 residents.”

Ciscomani’s $1.2M for Graham Fairgrounds water lines passes House 
Gila Valley Central 
“U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., was able to include in a recently-passed Appropriations bill funding for a waterline project in Graham County. ‘This is just one step, though a big one, but now it goes to the Senate. They have to pass it in the next two to three weeks, and then off to the president for his signature. I’m feeling very optimistic this is going to get through,’ Ciscomani said in a posting to social media on Jan. 9. The bill has $1.2 million for Graham County to upgrade and improve waterlines at the Graham County Fairgrounds. If the funding is approved, that will allow Graham County to plant new trees and improve grass fields at the Fairgrounds, using treated effluent water supplied by City of Safford under a previous agreement.”

New charter school funding proposal fuels statewide education spending debate 
Arizona’s Family 
“Southern Arizona Congressman Juan Ciscomani is sponsoring the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, which would provide a funding boost to schools. He says many of the state’s nearly 600 charter schools operate in subpar facilities due to insufficient funding. Rep. Ciscomani also said many charter school facilities lack important amenities such as gymnasiums, libraries and science labs. The bill seeks to give charter schools increased access to state funds.” 

Sign Up for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition.

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District.

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.

The deadline for submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition is Thursday, April 16, 2026.

For more details, click here:

Profiles of the American Dream. 

The typical length of time for a school superintendent to stay on the job is three to five years. It’s even less in some large school districts.

Dr. Manuel Valenzuela is far from typical.

Manny, as he’s known, is like the superintendent equivalent of an ultramarathon runner. He’s been blazing a trail at the Sahuarita Unified School District for 16 years.

To put that superintendent staying power in context, think about this: a Sahuarita kid who walked into a kindergarten classroom in 2010, the year Manny took the district’s top job, graduated from high school and Manny was still the guy in charge.

But Manny’s story is about more than longevity. He’s not the kind of guy who counts the days. He makes the days count.

This son of immigrants from northern Mexico is a staunch believer in the power of education and the enduring promise of the American Dream. Growing up in Tucson,  his parents instilled in him the belief that America is the greatest country in the world.

“Education was the ticket,” Manny said in a recent radio interview about how he was raised. “Education was the gateway of opportunity.”

During his tenure at Sahuarita, Manny has overseen explosive growth – the district has about 6,400 students – and has won numerous accolades along the way, both for himself and the district. Families move to Sahuarita because of the quality of its schools.

Throughout it all, Manny has remained steadfast in his belief that education is “a mission-driven public service, vital to the prosperity and promise of our American ideals.”

Well put, Manny.

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 your Member of Congress, such as speaking on the House floor. 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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